Employment First Florida Staff Individuals and Families

Top 3 reasons people want to work

  1. Money. People work to make money. They need money for food, for rent, and to have fun with their friends and family. 
  2. Independence. Money isn’t the only reason to work. Working can also give you more independence and more control over your own life. When you work, you are learning new things, getting more skills, and making friends with people you meet through your job.
  3. Community. People work to be part of and contribute to their communities. This means that jobs exist not only for your benefit, but jobs also let you help others. For example, let’s say I have a job in an office delivering the mail. I’m helping the whole office save time and get stuff done.

Do you know why you want to work? Visit our Explore Work lessons to read and do exercises about community employment.

man explaining a piece of equipment
Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles

Apprenticeships Benefit both Employers and Job Seekers in Florida

Apprentice Florida

Businesses are searching for employees with specialized skills and training, while job seekers want to gain work experience and earn good wages. In Florida, the apprenticeship employment model is helping to meet both the needs of job seekers and employers. The state’s goal is that by 2030, 80% of Floridians will have essential work skills. The policy of CareerSource Florida, the state’s workforce investment board, supports the use of sector strategies to align educational and economic resources in support of this goal. Apprentice Florida is a strategy to implement this policy and reach the state’s goals.

Download the full story

Continue reading “Apprenticeships Benefit both Employers and Job Seekers in Florida” →
Men shaking hands
Employment First Florida Staff Other

Nominate a self-advocate! Deadline 2/26

2021 Idelio Valdes Leadership and Advocacy Award
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is collecting nominations for the Idelio Valdes Award! The Idelio Valdes Award was created in honor of self-advocate Idelio Valdes, who had a tremendous impact on the people around him and the community in which he lived and worked. This award program is facilitated by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council annually year during Developmental Disabilties Awareness Day to recognize those who are committed to advocating for themselves and others with developmental disabilities. The submission deadline is Feb. 26, 2021 – 5 p.m. ET. Visit for all the details on who, how, what! ddday2021.com/#!/awards You can also find out more information on the 2021 Virtual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day (DD Day) set for Tuesday, March 30 at ddday2021.com/#!/up
Employment First Florida Staff FDDC, Other

Virtual DD Day is March 30!!

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) is thrilled to announce that the 2021 Virtual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day (DD Day) is set for Tuesday, March 30! Join them as we make our voices heard in support of Floridians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their family members and our dedicated caregivers.
Continue reading “Virtual DD Day is March 30!!” →
people talking
Employment First Florida Staff Presentations

Announcement – How to Talk to People about Work presentation: January 19, 2021

Ever wonder what you can do to help someone with a disability obtain a job in the community?
Join us January 19 for some guidance!

The How to Talk to People about Work presentation will introduce the Employment Empowerment Toolkit. It will also offer ideas and actions job seekers, families, teachers, case managers, employment staff, and adult day training staff can take to help people with disabilities work in their communities. 
Date: January 19, 2021
Time: 3-4pm ET
Format: Zoom webinar

Register now! 
Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles

Arc of the Bay, Lynn Haven, FloridaThe Arc of the Bay Supports Staff to Transform Employment Services

Download the full story

EMPLOYMENT FIRST SUCCESS STORIES: EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

 The Arc of the Bay’s board of directors developed and implemented a plan to transform the agency’s ADT to support employment in the community as a priority outcome. “We decided to play offense and lead the way,” said Ron Sharpe, the Arc of the Bay’s executive director during a recent presentation about this transformation for Employment First Florida.

They framed ADT and employment services around supporting adults with IDD to build employment skills and find employment in the community. This led to the development of organizational goals and objectives to achieve this mission.

Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles

BRICK by BRICK: Building a Talent Pipeline through Work-Based Learning Experiences for Students with Disabilities

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 requires that state vocational rehabilitation (VR) departments create local partnerships with school districts. These partnerships have led to improvements in the transition from school to work for youth in Florida with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  

Many students with IDD aged 14–21 are accessing VR services before completing school through a work-based learning experience, or WBLE. While participating in a WBLE, students spend their time in a real work environment, taking on workplace responsibilities, acquiring skills, and gaining insight into their own work interests and the requirements of careers.

Continue reading “BRICK by BRICK: Building a Talent Pipeline through Work-Based Learning Experiences for Students with Disabilities” →
Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles, Resources for Employment Service Professionals, Videos

Interview with Kiersten Lee, Agencies for People with Disabilities

Kiertsen joined Employment First Florida for our third session of the Profiles of the Employment First Interagency Collaborative Team seres. Kiersten provided us with updates on the work the Agencies for People with Disabilities has been doing to support Employment First in Florida. Listen to her recording to learn more!