Disability Rights Florida Blog (employment_the_road_less_traveled_by)

Americans have come a long way since the Vietnam Era in their efforts to thank and recognize our brave soldiers when they return home. But when our service members transition permanently from the military back to civilian life, and the welcome home parades and parties are over, oftentimes so too is the vital support they need to be successful.

While there are still times when a dedicated assistive technology (AT) device is necessary or recommended, the rise of the smartphone and tablet age has changed the way we look at AT. Often there is an app for less than $100 that can do the same or similar job as a multi-thousand-dollar dedicated device, which makes approvals and delays much less of a factor. And one device, such as a $500 tablet, can provide a number of functions that would have taken several dedicated devices to accomplish in the past.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Please enjoy this blog post by Ilene Greenberg, mother of Richie, as she relays his journey to employment and independence.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). We continue to recognize NDEAM with this blog post written by Julie Stern. Julie's son, Brady, is on a path to employment and we are fortunate to share his story with you.

I do not refer to employment as “the road less traveled” because I think that people with disabilities are intentionally not seeking employment. Nothing could be further from the truth, because people with disabilities want to work and seek work daily. Rather, it is the road less traveled due to low expectations, stigma, and systems that limit employment potential through arbitrary limits on income which can constitute a choice between working and literally living.

In thinking about the upcoming Mental Health Awareness Month, October 4-11, I wanted to offer some thoughts about the students entering into the postsecondary college settings. Over the past 30 odd years, I have worked in Disability Service offices for a community college, a private, liberal arts residential college, a research university, and a state college. The commonality of college students with mental illness, from my experience, is that they battle the stigma and seek understanding and acceptance. In my experience, the families of the student are seeking the same.

Earlier this month, Disability Rights Florida’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the organization’s proposed Goals, Priorities and Objectives (GPOs). A total of 1,344 responses were collected from this year’s survey, which was administered over an eleven-week period from June to August through largely electronic channels. Each year these surveying and policy-setting efforts help to ensure that DRF receives vital public feedback regarding the range of activities and intervention strategies that are allowable under the organization’s nine federal grants.

We encourage preparedness because disaster zones are chaotic! The more preparation prior to an emergency, the less chaos and stress. Getting prepared can also be stressful. There are so many things to think about. Having the answers to your questions ahead of time can decrease stress and possibly save lives.

With the new school year rapidly approaching and the unpredictable and ongoing impact COVID-19 has on education, Disability Rights Florida reached out to every school district in the state to gather information about their school re-opening plans.

Olivia Babis discusses her personal connection with the ADA and how her life has changed over the years since its inception.

Disability Rights Florida staff member Victor Panoff shares his thoughts about the ADA on the eve of its 30th anniversary.