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The Florida Grantor, Summer 2003

FGA Update

USDOL Issues WIA Compliance Checklist To Help People With Disabilities
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L Chao today issued a compliance assistance “Checklist” designed to ensure nondiscrimination against and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities under Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The checklist was sent to all WIA program operators who receive government financial assistance.

The “WIA Section 188 Disability Checklist,” which is strictly voluntary and does not create or change legal requirements, was sent to national One-Stop centers, workforce agencies, Job Corps contractors and directors, and WIA program grantees. The Checklist was issued to WIA participants in a departmental memo signed by Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Roy Grizzard, Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management Patrick Pizzella, and Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco.

“The Checklist is designed to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in programs and activities operated under government funding by WIA,” Secretary Chao said. “It provides a uniform procedure for measuring compliance with the provisions of Section 188 and the regulations that pertain to persons with disabilities. And it helps fulfill the goal of the President’s New Freedom Initiative to better serve the needs of job seekers with disabilities.”

The Checklist, which was developed by ODEP and the Department of Labor’s Civil Rights Center, includes examples of policies, procedures and other recommended steps that recipients of WIA financial assistance may follow to ensure nondiscrimination and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

For more information about the Section 188 Disability Checklist, access www.dol.gov/odep.

Grants Awarded To Expand Florida’s High School/High Tech Program
The Able Trust recently awarded $296,050 in grants to fourteen agencies throughout Florida to expand its High School/High Tech program to reach out to more students with disabilities.

High School/High Tech is an after-school enrichment program that provides students in grades nine though twelve with an opportunity to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Since becoming the statewide sponsor for High School/High Tech in 2000, The Able Trust has seen the program grow to serve more than three hundred students annually. The following organizations received funding to expand their High School/High Tech projects in these areas: Brevard Schools Foundation, Center for Independent Living of Broward, Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida serving Alachua, Marion and Citrus Counties, Center for Independent Living of North Florida serving Leon and Taylor Counties, Childrens Haven and Adult Community Services of Sarasota, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida in Orange County, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida in Lee County, Independent Living Resource Center of Northeast Florida serving Duval County, Madison County School Board’s ESE Department, the School District of Hillsborough County, Space Coast Center for Independent Living of Brevard County and Suncoast Center for Independent Living serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

For more information about the Florida High School/High Tech program, visit The Able Trust website at www.abletrust.org or contact State Coordinator Donna Mundy at flhsht@aol.com.

US Paralympics Seeking Soccer Players
The US Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, is coordinating with the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) to identify and recruit soccer players with disabilities for the US Paralympics Soccer National Team and for Paralympic club teams throughout the United States.

According to the NDSA, soccer in the Paralympic Games is played by athletes who have cerebral palsy, who have an acquired/traumatic brain injury, or who have survived a stroke. National Team athletes are usually active players in high school, college, or U.S. Soccer club teams. No assistive devices, such as crutches, are allowed during play.

Register by completing a survey at www.radissoncommunity.org/soccersurvey.html.

Website Lists Grants in Disability Field
The Foundation Center maintains a bulletin board with information on requests for proposals (RFP) to fund disability-related programs. You can subscribe to the RFP bulletin by visiting www.fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_disabled.html.

Seeking Applicants for Disability Leadership Awards
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is seeking applications for the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards. Three people with disabilities who are emerging as leaders in their respective fields will each receive $10,000 to help them continue their progress as leaders. AAPD defines an “emerging leader” as someone who is just starting to be recognized at a local, regional or national level.

Applications can be found online at www.aapd-dc.org. The deadline to apply is September 26, 2003.

YLF Alums Selected for National Youth Leadership Event
Stephanie Kovacs (‘01) and Evan Wainwright (‘02) were recently selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) Advanced Leadership Institute scheduled for August 21-25, 2003, in Washington, DC. Stephanie and Evan are the first Florida Youth Leadership Forum alumni selected to participate with the NYLN. The NYLN’s mission is to promote leadership development and education that ensures all youth with disabilities have the opportunity to attain their maximum, unique and personal potential.

The Institute will bring together approximately 32 experienced, young disability leaders from across the country who are Resource Consultants with the National Youth Leadership Network and/or who have participated in their State Youth Leadership Forum.

Congratulations to Stephanie and Evan for achieving such an accomplishment. For more information about the NYLN, visit www.nyln.org.