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The Florida Grantor, Winter 2007

FGA Update

Now Accepting Applications for the 2008 YLF!

The Able Trust is currently accepting applications for the 9TH annual Florida Youth Leadership Forum (YLF), a prestigious leadership conference for high school students with disabilities. The event will take place July 24-27, 2008, in Tallahassee.

Each year, The Able Trust selects 50 young people with wide-ranging disabilities to spend four days learning about self-advocacy and leadership skills and to live independently after high school. The goal of the forum is to give these individuals resources and encouragement to reach their full potential in all aspects of their life. Students selected as delegates to attend YLF will receive free travel to Tallahassee, lodging and meals. The event is co-sponsored by The Able Trust and the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.

The forum also offers students the opportunity to interface with government dignitaries, YLF alumni, professionals from diverse career backgrounds and community leaders with disabilities. The YLF is held at Florida State UniversityÕs Southgate Campus Centre dormitory. Here, students will participate in interactive workshops focused on team building, career development, community and individual leadership, disability history and self advocacy. They also participate in social activities to build self-esteem, make new friends.

The Florida Youth Leadership Forum is part of a national initiative that was started in 1992 by the California GovernorÕs Alliance for the Employment of Disabled Citizens. Today, more than 30 states replicate the YLF in an effort to develop a national network of young adults with disabilities.

Current high school students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants should demonstrate an ability to work well with others, adapt to new surroundings and follow an intense schedule. For more information, visit www.floridaylf.org or call (888) 838-2253.

Gov. Charlie Crist Honors Disability Employment Awareness Month

In commemoration of Disability Employment Awareness Month, Florida Governor Charlie Crist adopted a resolution in support of the employment of individuals with disabilities.

The resolution, presented to the Florida Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, was introduced by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink. It recognized October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Oct. 1-15, 2007 as Disability History and Awareness Weeks in Florida.

The resolution also highlighted the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act and the importance of hiring a person with a disability.

Several of FloridaÕs disability community leaders were present for the reading, including Sharon Griffith, President and CEO of The Able Trust; Jane Johnson, Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Bill Palmer, Director of the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

For more information about the 2007 Disability Employment Awareness Month resolution, contact The Able Trust at (888) 838-2253.

The Able Trust Seeks Proposals for Programs to Provide Employment for Veterans with Disabilities

This Veterans Day, The Able Trust is joining the cause to create better employment opportunities for veterans with disabilities.

The Able Trust has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP #08-5) aimed at existing Florida not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations, associations and agencies that provide Florida citizens with disabilities with employment related services.

The purpose of the RFP is to provide funding for a project(s) to create employment opportunities for Florida residents that are veterans of a branch of the United States Military Service and have a disability in gaining competitive employment in the community.

Established Florida not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations are eligible to submit a proposal which outlines a project that will lead to competitive employment for veterans with disabilities.

The Able Trust will award up to $60,000 to one or two not-for-profit agencies throughout Florida. It is anticipated that one of two projects will be funded for a one-to-two-year grant period.,/p>

Projects should serve a minimum of 25 individuals and result in an 80 percent community employment outcome.

A complete copy of RFP #08-5 can be found on The Able Trust website at www.abletrust.org or by calling toll-free 888-838-2253 Voice/TDD. The deadline to submit proposals is March 4, 2008.

For more information about The Able Trust Grants Program, visit www.abletrust.org.