Contact Information
3320 Thomasville Road
Suite 200
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850-224-4493 Voice or TDD
850-224-4496 Fax
Email:info@abletrust.org
Questions or Comments?
Email the webmaster.
The Able Trust is pleased to announce the newly-elected officers for the Board of Directors, who will each serve a two-year term. Elections were recently held at The Able Trust’s fall board meeting in Palm Beach in November.
Florence Seiler, who was first appointed Chair of the Board in 2002, was re-named Chair of The Able Trust. Seiler is CEO of Paradise Punch in Palm Beach Gardens. She serves as the chair of the Gala at Mar-a-Lago and is also involved in a number of local disability organizations, including The ARC of Palm Beach County.
Additional members of the board’s Executive Committee include James Saunders, Vice Chair, of Tampa; Dennis McNenney, Treasurer, of Sebastian; and Sherra Payne, Secretary, of Hollywood.
The Able Trust is accepting nominations for the 2005 Ability Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations that have instituted and promoted best practices toward the employment, independence and service to Florida citizens with disabilities. Specifically, they seek to recognize those that have not only met the legal compliances of the ADA, but have demonstrated a clear and conscious effort to be ‘disability-friendly.’
Nominations are being accepted for the following awards: Beverly Chapman Award for Outstanding Employment Placement Program, which recognizes a nonprofit organization that has developed an outstanding job placement program for people with disabilities; The Able Trust Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur, which recognizes an individual with a disability who has shown proven advancements in his or her self-owned business; Employer of the Year, which recognizes small, medium and large-sized businesses showing outstanding leadership in the employment of people with disabilities; Media Award, which recognizes a member of the media for his or her innovative promotion of the employment of people with disabilities through the use of print, radio, television or electronic media in Florida; and Youth Leader Award, which recognizes a young adult (age 15-21) with a disability who has shown outstanding leadership, community service or advocacy to help advance the efforts or raise positive awareness about Florida’s disability community. This youth should serve as a model leader for other young adults with disabilities.
Visit www.abletrust.org or call toll-free 888.838.2253 for a nomination packet. The deadline to submit nominations is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 4, 2005, to The Able Trust headquarters, located at 3320 Thomasville Road, Suite 200 Tallahassee, FL 32308.
Award winners will be recognized at The Able Trust’s Ability Awards at the Westin Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, March 11, 2005.
The Florida Bioterrorism Task Force is statewide group working together to address emergency issues for people with disabilities in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The Task Force is seeking volunteers with disabilities to participate in mock training events that will help develop plans for first responders, such as EMS, local law enforcement, hospital staff, etc. The trainings will take place in seven regional areas across the state, and selected volunteers will receive a $50 stipend.
If you wish to be considered as a volunteer, please send your name and contact information, as well as your type of disability and any accommodation needs to Sharon Griffith at The Able Trust at sharon@abletrust.org.
The Able Trust has extended the deadline to accept applications for the Florida Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) from students with disabilities statewide. Applications are due February 4, 2005. The YLF, which is co-sponsored by The Able Trust and the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, is designed to bring together young people with disabilities with leadership potential and help prepare them for the future. The YLF will take place July 21-24, 2005, in Tallahassee.
Fifty current Florida high school sophomores and juniors who have disabilities will be selected as delegates for the forum, which addresses topics on self advocacy, career options, academic resources and independent living. Participants also enjoy a field trip to the Capitol, meetings with government dignitaries, a talent show and a farewell dance.
Selected student delegates must show proof of health insurance (private insurance, KidsCare, Medicaid acceptable). Delegates will be housed at Southgate, a private dormitory between Florida State University and Florida A & M University. There is no fee for delegates to attend the YLF. The Able Trust will pay all travel and housing/meal expenses through corporate sponsorships and donations.
For more information or an application, please call Abby Cruz toll free at 888.838.2253 V/TDD, e-mail abby@abletrust.org or visit our website at www.abletrust.org.
The final report of the Governor-appointed Blue Ribbon Task Force on Inclusive Community Living, Transition and Employment of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (Blue Ribbon Task Force) is now available online.
The purpose of the Blue Ribbon Task Force is to develop a plan of action for expanding and improving inclusive community living options for individuals with disabilities, coordinate the provision of transition services statewide for students with disabilities who are leaving school and work on improving employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
For more information about the Blue Ribbon Task Force and for a copy of the report, visit www.apd.myflorida.com/blue/index.shtml.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Rural Housing Program offers up to $7,500 to make dwellings accessible for household members with disabilities in rural areas. For more information on how to apply, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/sfh/brief_repairgrant.htm or call 202.720.4323.
The “ADA Game” is a new training, leadership and community-building resource for anyone interested in the ADA and the rights of people with disabilities. The online game challenges players with multiple-choice questions about the law and how it is applied to real-life situations.
The “ADA Game” is sponsored by the Southeast Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC). For more information, visit www.adagame.org or send an e-mail to the Southeast DBTAC at sedbtacproject@catea.org.
The theme for the 2005 National Training Conference for Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Government is “Think, Act, Lead.” This year’s event will be held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on May 9-11. For more information about the conference, visit www.dhhig.org/ntc.
