Agency Begins Special Grant During
Disability Awareness Month
Florida — The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
will officially kick off its new APD-AmeriCorps program with a news
conference at 10 a.m. on October 27, in Sarasota, at Longwood Park.
The park’s address is 6050 Longwood Run Boulevard. APD Director Jim
DeBeaugrine will announce this unique program to serve people with
disabilities. A new AmeriCorps member will also speak. October is
Disability Employment Awareness Month.
APD has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant of $389,080. The money
is being used to recruit five full-time and 50 half-time AmeriCorps
members throughout Florida for the APD-AmeriCorps program. Many of
the positions are being filled by people with disabilities, including
individuals on the APD waiting list for Medicaid waiver services. The
main responsibility of these newly enrolled members will be to help
other people on the waiting list for waiver services have access to
community events and activities.
Many of the newly enrolled APD-AmeriCorps members will be in
Sarasota to begin their required training for the program. Their
responsibilities will include supporting meaningful daily activities
for people on the waiting list in the areas of volunteerism,
community exploration and participation, job exploration, and
employment.
APD Director DeBeaugrine said, “The agency is very excited
about this new partnership with AmeriCorps and Volunteer Florida. It
provides much needed funding to recruit people with disabilities who
will serve others with disabilities. It is a win-win-win for all
involved.”
“APD-AmeriCorps is a fantastic opportunity for people with
disabilities to become an AmeriCorps Member and serve Florida’s
communities,” said Wendy Spencer CEO Volunteer Florida. “They will
change not only the lives of those they serve, but also their own
lives—gaining valuable skills and having a one-of-a-kind experience.”
In addition to the APD-AmeriCorps activities, APD is partnering
with other disability organizations to host an Informational Fair at
Longwood Park from 10:30 to 2 p.m. Dozens of groups will have booths
providing literature and activities for the public. It is free of
charge.