Disability Employment Awareness Month

Every October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) and commemorates the contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workforce and economy. DEAM is an excellent time to celebrate workers with disabilities and learn more about how individuals from this highly talented group continue to enhance Florida’s workforce at all levels.

What fuels your workplace ambition?

Our Disability Employment Awareness Month theme is Fueling Workplace Ambition, demonstrating that people with disabilities are ambitious and have the knowledge and skills to be meaningful additions to the workforce. We look forward to seeing disability employment continue to expand in Florida. And what better way to start each workday than with a cup of tea, coffee or any beverage that fuels your ambition.

Celebrations and Employer Recognition

During Disability Employment Awareness Month, several events were held to celebrate inclusive employers and their talented employees with disabilities.

Disability Employment Awareness Month Kickoff
Marriott Water Street, Tampa

Jane Castor Mayor, City of Tampa
Jane Castor Mayor, City of Tampa Presents Proclamation to Allison Chase, President & CEO, The Able Trust
Allison Chase; Stephanie Westerman, The Able Trust Board of Directors, Director, Group Go-To-Market, Florida; Alexis Doyle, The Able Trust Board of Directors, Sales Manager, Saddlebrook Resort; Dr. Mavara Mirza-Agrawal, The Able Trust Board of Directors
Steve Nyilas, Senior Employment Specialist and Job Developer, The Grow Group; Robert Young, Manager, Dick’s Sporting Goods; Mel McCray, Dick’s Sporting Goods
Employer Recognition - Dick's Sporting Goods
Employer Recognition - City of Tampa
Employer Recognition - Amazon
Employer Recognition - Marriott Water Street

Disability Employment Awareness Month Celebration
Monin, Inc., Tampa
Miranda Ray, HSHT Program Director, ServiceSource
Wolfgang Neuwirth, Business Advisor: Bay Area Manufacturing Association, FloridaMakes
High School High Tech Students
Monin Tour
Monin Tour
Monin Tour

THANK YOU TO OUR
2023 DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT
AWARENESS MONTH SPONSORS

Espresso Enthusiast Sponsor

Disability Employment Awareness Month Kickoff Sponsor

Tea Trailblazer Sponsors

Cold Brew Believer Sponsors

Project Venture Sponsor SBDC Logo

Latte Leader Sponsors

Project Venture Sponsor Florida Blue Logo
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Watch the Video Recap below of the DEAM Kickoff in Tampa

In this Disability Employment Awareness Month Kickoff recap video, Mel McCray discusses his experience in disability employment.

Read the Op-Ed from
The Able Trust Board Member Doug Hilliard

Social Media Highlights

Thank you for showing your support and helping fuel our workplace ambition!

The Able Trust Board Member Stephanie Westerman at our Kickoff Event for 2023 Disability Employment Awareness Month in downtown Tampa.
Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities: It's Wednesday and we could all use a little mid-week pick-me-up to help us finish out the week and the rest of #DisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth this month, where we have been #FuelingWorkplaceAmbition and spreading awareness about individuals with disabilities and their contributions in the workplace.
Madison County High School High Tech Club - is at Norris Café. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! Thank you to Norris Cafe for welcoming our students with open arms and providing them the opportunity to explore employability skills, such as customer service, teamwork, and communication skills. Our students had a great experience and enjoyed their time! #FloridaHSHT
Madison County High School High Tech Club - is at Norris Café. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! Thank you to Norris Cafe for welcoming our students with open arms and providing them the opportunity to explore employability skills, such as customer service, teamwork, and communication skills. Our students had a great experience and enjoyed their time! #FloridaHSHT
Limbitless celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). #NDEAM honors the achievements and contributions made by workers with disabilities and highlights inclusive practices in the workplace. Limbitless works closely with The Able Trust - an organization that promotes employment of Floridians with disabilities and supports disability employment stakeholders around the state. Consider visiting www.abletrust.org to learn more.
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Thank you
Disability Employment Awareness Month sponsors for your support!

At Elevate, Inc., we understand that it is of the utmost importance to support and include persons of all types of abilities in the workforce. Elevate, Inc. is pleased to support The Able Trust and their efforts to promote Disability Employment Month, as they ensure job seekers with disabilities gain access to contributing roles in Florida's workforce.
Aakash Patel, President Elevate, Inc.
A strong workforce is crucial to Florida’s economy and must include persons of all abilities. AIF is pleased to support The Able Trust and their efforts to promote Disability Employment Awareness and the importance of expanding disability employment in Florida.
Brewster B. Bevis, President & CEOAIF
Publix values and respects that we’re all individuals and our differences make each of us special. We strive to foster and grow a diverse workforce where all associates are represented, supported, and appreciated. By focusing on the abilities of our associates, we provide an overall sense of belonging and extension of the Publix family. We are proud to support The Able Trust and their efforts to promote Disability Employment Awareness Month, year-round, as we focus on accelerating disability employment in Florida.
Dwaine Stevens, Director of Community RelationsPublix Supermarkets
At Florida Blue, we have long understood that all team members, including team members with disabilities, bring skills and talent to the workplace. During Disability Employment Awareness Month and year-round Florida Blue is pleased to support efforts to drive inclusion for everyone, including people with disabilities in partnership with The Able Trust, accelerating disability employment in Florida.
Florida Blue
At Monin, we celebrate diverse talents and perspectives, providing equal opportunities and accommodations for persons with disabilities. We proudly support Able Trust and their commendable efforts in raising awareness about disability employment in Florida.
Megan Meiers, SHRM-CPMonin
At FloridaMakes, we take pride in endorsing The Able Trust and its commendable efforts to facilitate the integration of job seekers with disabilities into our dynamic team. Embracing diversity and inclusion, we believe that empowering individuals with disabilities not only enriches our workplace but also contributes to a stronger, more resilient organization.
Marcelo Dossantos, Director of Workforce Development.FloridaMakes
As community leaders, it is essential that we continue to promote that a successful workforce is one that includes persons of all abilities. Pepin Family Foundation is proud to support The Able Trust and their efforts to accelerate disability employment in our state workforce during Disability Employment Awareness Month and year-round.
Tina Pepin, Executive DirectorThe Pepin Family Foundation
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Bay County
Chamber of Commerce

During the Bay County Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday, The Able Trust High School High Tech Director Coleen Agner shared information on local High School High Tech programs and the importance of preparing today’s students for the future. 

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Webinar Wednesday Series

If you missed any of the great presentations in the series of webinars, you can view the recordings. CLICK HERE for information.

Share Your Story

Share your story of inclusion and experience hiring persons with disabilities with us so we can include your story in our growing catalog of best practices. CLICK HERE to contact us.