Employment First Florida Staff Individuals and Families, Presentations

Presentation | FAAST: Helping people with disabilities access assistive technology

Eric Reed, FAAST

Assistive technology (AT) is any item or piece of equipment that helps increase function. Most people think about wheelchairs, hearing aids, and screen readers, but there is so much more!

In some cases, AT may not be covered by insurance or government-funded supports. So where do you get AT devices in Florida? Luckily, the Florida Alliance for Assistive Technology (FAAST) is there to help. They have initiatives and programs that connect job seekers with the resources they need to thrive at home and at work.

In April 2018, the deputy director of FAAST, Eric Reed, presented to the EFF Grassroots Group. He gave an overview of FAAST and shared details about programs and initiatives, including device demonstrations, trainings, and the New Horizons Loan Program.

Watch Mr. Reed’s presentation recording to learn more about FAAST’s programs and how they can help people with disabilities.

You can also visit the FAAST website or contact Mr. Reed at ereed@faastinc.org. Also, connect with FAAST on Facebook and Twitter.

Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles

CareerSource Florida partners with organizations to address barriers that often coexist with disabilities

CareerSource Florida is the statewide agency responsible for compliance with workforce-related legislation. It creates policies that local workforce boards implement to increase community access to work opportunities. CareerSource Florida often collaborates with other agencies to organize job fairs, conferences, and other opportunities to connect the business community with job seekers, including those with disabilities.

Continue reading “CareerSource Florida partners with organizations to address barriers that often coexist with disabilities” →

Employment First Florida Staff In the news, Presentations

Self-Advocate Ashley Wolfe Presents at Florida Conference

Ashley Wolfe, an ICI research liaison, presented at the Florida SAND Conference in Orlando on February 3. Wolfe, who has intellectual disabilities, spoke about a new curriculum the ICI developed to help people with disabilities find fulfilling jobs and advocate for what they need.

The Explore Work Curriculum provides a chance for people with all kinds of disabilities to think about what kind of work they might like to do and to explore employment options. The curriculum includes short videos focused on asking for accommodations and finding transportation to the workplace.

Wolfe explained that the curriculum is intended “to give a sense of confidence and independence…giving real hope that you can work, capable of working, can be given the right kind of employment services.”

Wolfe said that the most fun part of the conference for her was meeting other participants from Florida. They had the chance to “socialize, dance, go out to eat and have a nice Italian dinner.”

When asked why others should attend this conference, Wolfe said, “This can be a way of connecting and having social interaction with [a] new and diverse population…People of different backgrounds, cultures, interests.”

Employment First Florida Staff Presentations

January 2018 | Business Relations Project

GG Meeting Summary & Resources

aleka B
Aleks Bologna

As a result of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) has changed the way it engages businesses. VR established a business relations project which provides customized services to local businesses to help them recognize the value people with disabilities have and how to recruit and hire these individuals. Continue reading “January 2018 | Business Relations Project” →

Employment First Florida Staff Community

Being Involved in Your Community

Young volunteers cleaning up a local neighborhood

What do you do when you’re not at work? Don’t just watch TV. You need to be involved in the community because it gives meaning to people’s lives. It can help you make friends, develop relationships, and have fun. You can join a religious organization, a sports team, or self-advocacy group. Or you can volunteer and help others. You can also connect with your local library, school, or social clubs. You can meet new people you have things in common with and who like the same things you do.

Continue reading “Being Involved in Your Community” →
Employment First Florida Staff Individuals and Families, Transportation

Resources: Getting to Your Job

We put together a list of helpful materials that can help you develop a plan for transportation and learn more about how to get where you want to go. Use the links to get more information.

Disability Rights Florida

Disability Rights Florida is an organization that protects and advocates for individuals with disabilities. Check out their webpage on transportation.

Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged

This group helps make sure that everyone in Florida can get low-cost, high-quality transportation. Click here to go to their website.

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

The FDDC wrote a paper about transportation that you can read here. If you need help understanding it, ask a friend, family member, or support staff.

Continue reading “Resources: Getting to Your Job” →
Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles

DMS & HRM: Collaboration toward inclusive employment

The Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) serves as the business arm of Florida state government by providing workforce and business operational support to Florida’s state agencies, also known as the State Personnel System (SPS). One of DMS’ nine divisions, Human Resource Management (HRM), serves the SPS by providing lawful, effective, and efficient human resource programs and services that attract, develop, retain, and reward a high-performance workforce. One of the ways HRM supports the SPS is by providing training, templates, roundtable discussions, and other resources that assist state agencies in their efforts to recruit and retain ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

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Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles

Credentialing job seekers through the Ready to Work project

The Florida Ready To Work portal was designed and funded by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity as a workforce development tool. Job seekers use this tool to learn and test themselves on functional workplace skills, while employers use it to make more confident hiring decisions.

Continue reading “Credentialing job seekers through the Ready to Work project” →
Employment First Florida Staff Agency Profiles

The Rural Routes to Employment Project: Using Communities’ Social Capital to Find Employment

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) has been a key player over the last decade as Florida’s state agencies have formed strong partnerships to expand employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The FDDC and other partners have noted the need for agencies at the local level to replicate state-level partnerships to bridge the persistent employment gap for people with IDD.

Continue reading “The Rural Routes to Employment Project: Using Communities’ Social Capital to Find Employment” →