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.
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Message from the Chair
November was a month filled with opportunities for businesses to receive training on how to handle hiring individuals with disabilities. This month's newsletter highlights some of the seminars that were held to help businesses around the state of Florida to improve their practices and knowledge of hiring people with disabilities.
The Able Trust was happy to announce its funds that are available to assist nonprofit agencies that want to help Florida veterans with disabilities find meaningful employment.
Also included in this issue is information about the upcoming Assistive Technology Industry Association's Leadership Forum on Accessibility. This will give corporations an opportunity to view the technology available to make their business accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Please be sure to visit our Florida BLN website at http://www.floridabln.org/ for additional helpful resources and information. If you have an event or best disability employment practice you'd like to share with the membership, please email or call Kristen Knapp at the Florida BLN at mailto:Kristen@abletrust.org or toll-free 888-838-2253.
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Assistive Technology Industry Association holds Leadership Forum on Accessibility
The Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Leadership Forum on Accessibility is an exciting two-day event designed specifically to help large corporations, government agencies and educational institutions derive business value through accessibility.
During the two days, participants will hear the business case for providing accessible solutions for your employees and clients with case studies from major corporations, government agencies and educational institutions. There will also be the opportunity to see the latest technology from over 100 leading assistive technology manufacturers and service providers.
The Leadership Forum on Accessibility will be held January 31, 2008-February 1, 2008 at the Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort & Convention Center in Orlando.
For more information about the forum, please visit www.atia.org/leadershipforum.
Grant Funds Available to Provide Assistance to Veterans with Disabilities
The Able Trust is joining the cause to create better employment opportunities for veterans with disabilities.
The Able Trust issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) aimed at Florida not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations, associations and agencies that provide Florida citizens with disabilities with employment related services.
The RFP will provide funding for one or two projects that will create employment opportunities for Florida residents who are veterans of a branch of the United States Military Service and have disabilities.
Established Florida nonprofits agencies are eligible to submit a proposal that outlines a project that will result in competitive employment for Florida veterans with disabilities.
One or two not-for-profit agencies in Florida will be awarded up to $60,000 to boost employment opportunities for Florida veterans with disabilities. A complete copy of RFP #08-5 can be found on The Able Trust website, http://www.abletrust.org/, or calling toll-free at 888-838-2253.
The deadline to submit proposals is March 4, 2008.
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Turning Diversity into Dollars
The Greater Miami Society for Human Resource Management (GMSHRM) hosted Turning Diversity into Dollars, in conjunction with the Miami Dade Business Leadership Network and Florida International University.
Corporate Consultant for the Florida Department for Vocational Rehabilitation and former project director for Marriott International Community Employment and Training Programs, Eladio Amores, served as the program presenter for this free seminar.
His presentation included a brief overview of the Employment Provisions of the ADA, which emphasized employers' positive experiences, the low cost of accommodations and resources on accommodations. Amores also discussed Business Best Practices in the Recruitment, Hiring, Training, Supervision and Performance Management of people with disabilities. He went over interviewing techniques that focus on what employers can and cannot ask during an interview, and basic disability etiquette.
After the seminar, there was a career fair that had over 40 businesses in attendance. Some of the businesses in attendance were FedEx, AFLAC, IRS and Jackson Health Systems.
Upcoming Events
Tampa Bay Metro BLN Kickoff event, tentatively scheduled for February 1, 2007. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has agreed to participate in kickoff.
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