The state of Florida will recognize 12 outstanding businesses during the month of October that are truly making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. These groundbreaking employers embrace diversity by hiring individuals with disabilities to work alongside workers without disabilities.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Chief of Provider Supports Lynne Daw was recently awarded the Excellence in Public Service Award by the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (FARF) and RESPECT of Florida. This award is given to a public-sector employee who has made an outstanding contribution to the rehabilitation of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The awards ceremony was part of the 46th Annual FARF Conference on September 21 and 22 in Clearwater Beach.

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) hosted a leadership meeting in Orlando in August for this first time since the pandemic. APD Regional Operations Managers got in person updates from State Office managers on ongoing agency issues and projects. APD held a joint meeting with the Florida Hospital Association.

The Area 4 Family Care Council is excited to announce the return of its annual Connecting the Dots conference. This year’s event will be held on October 21 at the Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville. The conference will feature keynote speaker Shelley Gottsagen and her son Zackary, an award-winning actor, and star of the 2019 independent film, The Peanut Butter Falcon.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses needed to keep the workplace safe for both customers and employees. One of those frontline workers was Devontaye Hicks, who works at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Quincy, Florida. Hicks’ duties included sanitizing the entire store during the pandemic, and he continues to help keep it clean today.

APD is working to bring iBudget Florida waiver funded Adult Day Training (ADT) and Supported Employment into compliance with the federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule by March 2023. Changes to the iBudget Florida waiver were approved effective October 1, 2022.

On September 16, Sunland attended the Special Olympics State Games in Orlando for competition in bowling. Sunland was proud to send four bowlers to compete.

Pine Castle, founded in 1952, will be hosting a 70th anniversary barbecue celebration on Saturday, November 5, at their campus in Jacksonville.