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The Florida Grantor, Fall 2005

Footnotes

Call for National Scholar Award Applications

National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH) is accepting applications for the 2005-2006 National Scholar Award for Workplace Innovation & Design. This award is given to encourage students to create technological solutions to barriers that prevent people with severe disabilities from entering or advancing in the workplace. Up to three cash awards will be presented. The deadline to apply is January 30, 2006 at 5 p.m. Applications must be e-mailed to scholarship@nish.org. Hardcopies will not be accepted.

For more information on the National Scholar Award, visit www.nish.org.

VISIONS XIII

The Florida Federation Division on Career Development and Transition (FFDCDT) and the Florida Special Needs Association (FSNA) are hosting the 13th annual VISIONS Conference, February 15-17, 2006, in Destin, Florida. The VISIONS Career Development and Special Needs Conference, “Picture the Possibilities...Destin for Success,” will showcase best practices, resources and information about career development and transition opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities. The conference will be held at the Hilton Sandestin Golf Resort and Spa. To qualify for the VISIONS special group rate at $95.00, reservations must be made by January 14. For more information on VISIONS XIII, visit www.coe.ufl.edu/fldcdt.

Staff Updates

Ellen Shields, bookkeeper for The Able Trust, is retiring after almost nine years of service and dedication to the Foundation. The Able Trust board and staff would like to wish her a happy retirement and the best in her endeavors.

The Able Trust would like to welcome Leona Boutwell to the Foundation as the new Financial Manager. Boutwell will be responsible for accounting, bookkeeping and fiscal transactions for the Foundation. She is a Tallahassee native and was previously employed with the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association as Comptroller. She can be reached at leona@abletrust.org.

SportsAbility Tallahassee 2006

SportsAbility 2006 will be held April 21-22, 2006 in Tallahassee, Florida by the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association (FDOA) to promote an active lifestyle for people with disabilities. The event will be held on Friday at Tallahassee Community College’s Lifetime Sports Complex and on Saturday at Florida State University’s Seminole Reservation.

People that attend SportsAbility will learn about the value of recreation and active leisure. Attendees will also discover the latest developments in equipment, trends and resources and have the opportunity to participate in indoor and outdoor recreational activities.

For more information on SportsAbility Tallahassee 2006, visit www.fdoa.org or contact David Jones by phone at 850.668.7323 or via e-mail at info@fdoa.org.

The Able Trust is All Over the Web

Access all there is to know about The Able Trust through our growing online community. All these sites can also be linked to at www.abletrust.org.

Florida Business Leadership Network: Check out what business leaders are doing to learn more about hiring Floridians with disabilities at www.floridabln.org.

E-Mentoring: Get involved in 21st century career mentoring where a caring adult is matched with a student with a disability and communicates via e-mail at www.abletrust.org/ementor.

Disability Mentoring Day: See what’s going on every October that promotes career development for students and job seekers with disabilities at www.floridadmd.org.

The Able Trust Endowment: Learn more about how people are benefiting from planned giving options through The Able Trust at www.myabletrust.org.

The Knowledge Center: Discover all there is to know about The Able Trust grants program at www.abletrust.org/knowledge.

Youth Leadership Forum: Find out what high school students with disabilities are learning from this annual summer career and leadership program at www.floridaylf.org.

High School/High Tech: Coming Soon! The newest addition to our online family will inform you on what transition opportunities are available to Florida high school students with disabilities.