Florida BLN Steering Committee
CHAIR
Sue Moore
Walt Disney World Co
PAST CHAIR
Sharlyn Lauby, SPHR
ITM Group, Inc.
VR LIAISON
Eladio Amores
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
HR FLORIDA LIAISON
Catherine Mallozzi, SPHR
Florida Metropolitan University
BIG BEND BLN CHAIR
Sarah Butters
Holland & Knight
BREVARD BLN CHAIR
Douglas Barclay
Mercedes Homes, Inc.
BROWARD BLN CHAIR
Steven McCarty
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
EMERALD COAST BLN CO-CHAIRS
Sheryl Hollarn
MTI/MTC Technologies
Gail Waller
Ft. Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce
FIRST COAST BLN CHAIR
John Wagner
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
FT. MYERS BLN
Erin Wilkinson
SunTrust Bank
GREATER ORLANDO BLN CHAIR
Mayra Hernandez
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
MIAMI-DADE BLN CHAIR
Bob Bromberg
Bromberg & Associates
PALM BEACH BLN CO-CHAIRS
Rita Barreto Craig
The Craig Group
Rose Lee Archer
Rose Lee Productions Inc.
PANHANDLE BLN CO-CHAIRS
Lara Burnside
The Studer Group
Jennifer Grove
Gulf Power Company
POLK COUNTY BLN CHAIR
Karen Mitchell
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
TAMPA BAY METRO CHAIR
Angela M. Rosario
JOBING.com
About the Florida BLN
The Florida Business Leadership Network is a peer-to-peer membership group of employers seeking resources to recruit, hire and market to persons with disabilities. Members include small and large businesses who recognize that success in the 21st century hinges on a diverse workforce that includes employees with disabilities. For more information about the Florida BLN, visit www.floridabln.org. To suggest an article or upcoming event to be included in this newsletter, e-mail the editor at kristen@abletrust.org.
|
|
Message from the Chair
I would like to thank the Florida BLN Steering Committee and members for welcoming me as the new BLN Chair. I look forward to serving as your chair and continuing the success that the Florida BLN has already accomplished under the leadership of Sharlyn Lauby, who continues to remain involve in our activities.
This month's issue is all about saving the date; it's about getting prepared, and getting excited for several local and national events coming your way. We are especially thrilled and honored to have two national meetings taking place right here in Florida. Both the Bridges to Employment and the USBLN Conferences will be centered on the employment of people with disabilities. Disability Mentoring Day although far away, is also something to get excited about. We look forward to increasing the number of participants this year of both mentors and mentees.
We also have a wonderful employer best practice story to share with you this month. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida has made a statewide commitment to Recruiting and hiring people with disabilities. See how a relationship with the Florida BLN inspires the company's commitment to diversity and the employment of people with disabilities. If your organization has taken similar strides to improve workforce opportunities for people with disabilities, we'd love to hear about it. Email or call Kristen Knapp at the Florida BLN at Kristen@abletrust.org or toll-free 888-838-2253 so we can share it with our readers.
Please continue to visit the Florida BLN website for new updates, current news and upcoming events.
Disability Mentoring Day: Save the Date
The third Wednesday of October this year will mark eight years of a national tradition that had grown strong. On Wednesday October 17, 2007, Florida, along with many other states will celebrate Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), coinciding with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Florida's DMD program is organized though a collaborative partnership of The Able Trust, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The statewide planning committee raises funds for Florida DMD activities and provide support to local community liaisons. These liaisons coordinate the one-on-one shadowing experience between mentors and mentees and the group visits to worksites.
Florida alone had more than 700 students and job seekers with disabilities matched with over 300 business professionals last year, which resulted in many internships, employment, volunteer opportunities and continued mentoring relationships.
Visit the website at www.floridadmd.org for more information on how to participate and a resource guide for employers on disability accommodations.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Makes Statewide Commitment
One of Florida's largest employers with 10,000 employees statewide, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF), is committed to a diversified workforce. BCBSF's involvement with local BLN chapters has strengthened the company's commitment to recruiting and hiring people with disabilities.
Last year BCBSF hosted the successful First Coast Business Leadership Network (BLN) Kick-Off Breakfast in Jacksonville. Not only did the event feature special guest such as former Governor Jeb Bush and Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, but chairman and CEO of BCBSF, Robert Lufrano, M.D. shared and inspiring tale of overcoming a surgery that left him disabled for part of his childhood.
The company now has a growing committee chaired by Kathy Haskins, vice president of Strategic Staffing and Human Resource Services, dedicated towards the goal of becoming an "employer of choice" for people with disabilities. BCBSF continues to take active roles in local BLN chapters across the state, including the role of sponsor at the Greater Orlando BLN chapter's kick-off event later this year.
Job Accommodations for People with Speech-Language Impairments
In the workplace, it's important to remember and understand that limitations in speech and language may result from non-vocal impairments and disabilities. These disabilities include, but are not limited to stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury,and dementia. Work environments that have persons with speech and language impairments should take the following accommodations into consideration.
When communicating one-on-one or in groups you can provide pen and paper or chalk/dry erase boards, word processing/word prediction/speech output software, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and allow e-mail or instant messaging.
When communicating via telephone you can provide telephone equipment with outgoing speech amplification, Text Telephone (TTY), or Speech-to-Speech (SRS) relay services. However, the best accommodation is patience. Do not complete words or phrases for the individual.
Fore more information about making accommodations for individuals with disabilities, visit the Employer Resources section of the Florida BLN website at www.floridabln.org.
Accommodations and Compliance Web Training Series
One-hour training opportunities via Webcast are now available to you from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). This nationally acclaimed series unites experts on job accommodation and disability employment law to inform human resource managers, disability and diversity managers, and other professionals on new ways to enhance the accommodation and employment of people with disabilities. The following webcast, Hiring Veterans with Disabilities and Focus on Technology, will be held on March 13 and April 10, respectively. These webcast are a few of the many in its series. All webcast can be viewed here.
BLN Local Chapter News
Panhandle BLN Chapter
The next meeting of the Panhandle BLN Chapter will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. For further details please contact Lara Burnside at lara.burnside@studergroup.com.
Upcoming Events
Hands on Pensacola's Adjusting Attitudes Seminar
On March 2, 2007 form 9:30 to 1:00, The Florida Panhandle BLN Chapter will be sponsoring the Hands on Pensacola's Adjusting Attitudes Seminar. If you are interested in attending and would like further details, please contact Lara Burnside at lara.burnside@studergroup.com.
Bridges to Employment Conference: Exploring Career Opportunities for Latinos with Disabilities
On June 13-15, 2007, the national Bridges to Employment Conference will be held at the Radisson Miami Hotel in Miami, Florida. This event is hosted by Proyecto Vision, the national technical assistance center on employment, in partnership with Best Buddies and AT&T.
The two-day conference, dedicated to connecting the Latin community of persons with disabilities to employment opportunities, will feature workshops and roundtables discussing topics such as recent legislation, disability employment rights, employer narratives on recruiting/employing people with disabilities, and financial literacy and asset-building for jobseekers. Click here for details about registration and fees and a sample itinerary.
2007 USBLN Annual Conference
The USBLN has revised its dates for their annual conference being held in Florida. The event will take place September 24-26, 2007 at the Lake Buena Vista Palace in Orlando, Florida. Visit http://www.usbln.com/ for more information.
|
