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CEO MESSAGE

AUGUST 2022

This summer has been an important time as The Able Trust seeks input from employers and employment service providers. With the launch of Inclusive Florida: Powered by The Able Trust, it has been a priority to learn about the challenges and opportunities in disability employment across Florida.


In addition to surveying employers, providers and persons with disabilities and their families, our team has been traveling to communities around Florida conducting Listening Sessions. What we are learning from employers is that while they want to hire job seekers with disabilities, many aren't sure how to take that first step.


  • What's involved?
  • Who do they contact?
  • Is the hiring process any different?


Our message to each of them has been that they do not need to be the experts in hiring individuals with disabilities. That's our role and The Able Trust is here to help, along with our network of providers. If you want a few steps on how to get started, click here, and if you have more in-depth questions or would like to schedule a meeting, please feel free to contact me directly at Allison@abletrust.org.


Next week, our Listening Sessions continue as we meet with employers in Pensacola and Jackson County, and employment service providers in Tampa. We look forward to learning more about disability employment in these communities, and if you would like to join us, contact Donna@abletrust.org to attend Pensacola or Jackson County Listening Sessions, or Joseph@abletrust.org for the Tampa Provider Listening Session.


What we learn through these conversations will be integrated into our Inclusive Florida research project that will be released later this fall. 


I look forward to working with you all as we strive to reach our goal of adding 300,000 more Floridians with disabilities to our state's workforce by 2032.


Allison Chase

President & CEO

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Congratulations to the 2022 Disability:IN® Inclusion Award winners, recognized as visionary brands and individuals that are advancing disability inclusion.


Click here to view the

complete list.

THANK YOU TO OUR LISTENING SESSION PARTNERS

We appreciate the partnership with companies around Florida who work with us

as we hold Inclusive Florida Listening Sessions.

TAKE-AWAYS FROM MOFFITT CANCER CENTER PARTNERSHIP WITH MACDONALD TRAINING CENTER

In order to expand disability employment in Florida, it is important that employers recognize the contributions individuals with disabilities can make to their company. In a recent webinar, we learned about a partnership between the Moffitt Cancer Center and the MacDonald Training Center in Tampa that is changing lives and providing pathways to employment for people with disabilities. 


Cathy Grant, Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer of Enterprise Equity with the Moffitt Cancer Center noted that what made their partnership successful was a commitment from leadership and strong collaboration between the two organizations. She also noted that they knew the program would not be perfect right out of the gate, but they were willing to invest the time to make adjustments. The partnership has been very successful and today, they are expanding their collaboration and looking into new employment opportunities.


If you missed the webinar, click here to watch the video.

COUNTDOWN TO DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH BEGINS

As the song says, many of us rely on our "cup of ambition" as we head to work each day. However, there is a large untapped talent pool -- Floridians with disabilities -- that have the ambition and all they're missing is the employment opportunity. 


We will share more about a "cup of ambition" in the next few weeks as we prepare for Disability Employment Awareness Month in October. While The Able Trust is focused on disability employment year-round, we are gearing up to recognize this special time of year. Over the next few weeks, we will share new tools for Disability Employment Awareness Month along with  opportunities to get involved, but we have two quick ways you can begin preparing: 


  • Follow The Able Trust on LinkedIn and @AbleTrust on Twitter and Instagram to learn how businesses throughout Florida are working to close Florida’s talent gap by engaging with the under employed population of persons with disabilities.
  • Click here to share your story of inclusion and experience hiring persons with disabilities so we can include your story in our growing catalog of best practices.

WHAT WE'RE READING

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Disability Representation on Boards Is Up, Yet Inclusion Lags


An increase in people with disabilities in boardrooms and corporate leadership isn’t always translating to more inclusive workplaces for rank-and-file employees.


Of the 415 companies that participated in the 2022 nonprofit Disability:IN’s Disability Equality Index Report, 30% have at least one senior executive who is disabled and 6% have someone who identifies as disabled serving on their corporate boards.


READ MORE


Your support ensures Floridians with disabilities have opportunities to gain meaningful employment.

 

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We welcome the opportunity to share information about disability employment. Invite us to speak at your upcoming board meeting, conference or webinar.


Click here to fill out our Speaker Request form

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