APD has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant of $389,080

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.