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The Florida Grantor, Summer 2007

FGA Update

USBLN National Conference

The United Stated Business Leadership Network (BLN) will host the exciting US BLN National Conference, September 24-26, 2007 at the Lake Buena Vista Palace in Orlando.

"Building the New Workforce: Inclusion & Innovation" conference will feature seminars discussing such topics as: developing successful BLN chapters; effectives practices for recruiting and retaining students for internships and job openings and hiring and retaining war veterans.

The conference will feature special presentations by CEO and President of the American Association of People with Disabilities, Andrew Imparato and Neil Romano of America's Strength Foundation.

The USBLN Conference is also home to this year's Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) Kick-off celebration and career fair, hosted by The Able Trust. The DMD kick-off and career fair will take place on Monday, September 24, 2007. For more information about the USBLN National Conference, visit www.usbln.org.

NCD Selects New Executive Director

The National Council on Disability welcomes Michael C. Collins of Sacramento, California as the organization's new executive director. Michael has previously served as the executive director of the California State Independent Living Council. He was a key participant in The State of California's efforts to implement changes in the state policies resulting from the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, which has increased the demands for community-based services. To learn more about the National Council on Disability, please visit www.ncd.gov.

High School/High Tech Program Receives National Recognition

On July 23, 2007, the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services issued an information memorandum to their State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) grantees highlighting the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) High School/High Tech (HS/HT) program as a comprehensive transition program model with proven success.

In addition, it describes the evolution of the HS/HT Tech initiative under ODEP's leadership from a network of local programs to a national state-led program model which incorporates the Guideposts for Success. Florida's HS/HT program is sponsored by The Able Trust and leads the nation with 33 project sites statewide. For more information about Florida HS/HT, visit www.floridahsht.org.

The Able Trust Plays Host to Three National Disability Associations

The Able Trust recently hosted a joint meeting of the Association of Youth Leadership Forums (AYLF), the National Association of Governor's Committees on People with Disabilities (NAGC), and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) . Serving her second term as Chair of the NAGC, The Able Trust President and CEO, Sharon Griffith, served as moderator to this distinctive conference.

The conference welcomed more than 100 participants and members of the NAGC, AYLF and AAPD. This unique "meeting of the minds" provided attendees information on new developments and programs affecting the disability community around the state of Florida and the nation.

The two-day conference also featured workshops and seminars focused on employer and disability hiring practices, transition strategies, disability advocacy and programs. Featured speakers included Bill Palmer, director of the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Jeannie Amendola, The Able Trust Board secretary and member and past president of Walt Disney World Co. CastABLE and Andrew Imparato, president & CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.