vetoes appropriation for Dan Marino Foundation Florida Vocational College.

[Guest guest]

DAN MARINO FOUNDATION EXPRESSES

DISAPPOINTMENT IN VETO OF

CRUCIAL FUNDING BY GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT

FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - The Dan Marino Foundation, whose commitment is to serve Florida’s Autism and developmental disability community, is joined today by thousands of young adults with autism across the state of Florida, and their families, friends and advocates, in expressing tremendous disappointment in Governor Rick ’s veto of the Legislature’s appropriation for the Dan Marino Foundation Florida Vocational College.

The appropriation of $500,000 supported and sponsored by Senator Joe Negron, Representative Grimsley, Representative Matt Hudson, Senator Anitere , Representative , Representative Steve Precourt, and many others, received overwhelming legislative support.

“Today is a sad day for students with Autism and developmental disabilities in the state of Florida. Governor ’s decision to use his veto authority to deny funding for the Dan Marino Foundation Florida Vocational Campus impacts the state’s most vulnerable population. Instead of educational opportunities for employment and self sufficiency, they will be met with a 20,000 person waiting list for services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and possible institutional placement.†said Partin, CEO of the Dan Marino Foundation.

The action taken by Governor will significantly delay the fall opening of the DMF Florida Vocational Campus, since it was part of a $1 million build out, and required to meet matching donor commitments. “The Foundation had already raised $3 million in contributions to purchase the building and surrounding properties. The State funding would have created a private public collaboration to create jobs, address the med waiver list and give parents and students a choice.†said Ms. Partin, “The elimination of this funding from the budget is a setback in offering a best practice model that can be replicated throughout the State.â€

While other Autism and developmental disabilities groups focus strictly on finding a cure, the Dan Marino Foundation is working everyday to provide direct services and improve the quality of life for people with Autism and developmental disabilities in a fully inclusionary setting.

The Dan Marino Foundation Florida Vocational Campus, located in the heart of Broward County’s urban community will provide a safe and welcoming environment where young adults with disabilities can acquire vocational training and become productive and independent citizens. It will be a hub of activity for teens and young adults who may have never experienced a sense of belonging before. There is a wide range of apartment complexes nearby providing students, eager to experience independent living, with a campus support system to ease their transition from home to self-sufficiency. The campus will be a first of its kind, providing a national model. The campus will provide interaction with the Foundation’s transitioning teen foster care population and will include “reverse mainstreaming†with nearby partnering universities.

ABOUT THE DAN MARINO FOUNDATION:

The Dan Marino Foundation was established by Dan and Claire Marino in 1992. The Foundation’s mission is to “open doors†towards independence for the Autism community, children special needs, teenagers transitioning from foster care and young adults with disabilities. The Foundation fulfills this mission by supporting comprehensive integrated treatment programs, providing outreach services, advancing scientific research, and building independence through employment and daily living transition programs. The Foundation has raised over $31 million since its inception, which has been used to fund major medical research, build the Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center, and operate life-changing programs. For more information, please visit www.danmarinofoundation.org.

-DMF-

Source: Dan Marino Foundation Press Release

http://www.ffddnews.com/articles0b.php?art_id=2011052620591172DAN MARINO FOUNDATION EXPRESSES

DISAPPOINTMENT IN VETO OF

CRUCIAL FUNDING BY GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT

FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA -

The Dan Marino Foundation, whose commitment is to serve Florida’s

Autism and developmental disability community, is joined today by

thousands of young adults with autism across the state of Florida, and

their families, friends and advocates, in expressing tremendous

disappointment in Governor Rick ’s veto of the Legislature’s

appropriation for the Dan Marino Foundation Florida Vocational College.

The

appropriation of $500,000 supported and sponsored by Senator Joe

Negron, Representative Grimsley, Representative Matt Hudson, Senator Anitere , Representative , Representative Steve Precourt, and many others, received overwhelming legislative support.

“Today

is a sad day for students with Autism and developmental disabilities in

the state of Florida. Governor ’s decision to use his veto

authority to deny funding for the Dan Marino Foundation Florida

Vocational Campus impacts the state’s most vulnerable population.

Instead of educational opportunities for employment and self

sufficiency, they will be met with a 20,000 person waiting list for

services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and possible

institutional placement.†said Partin, CEO of the Dan Marino

Foundation.

The

action taken by Governor will significantly delay the fall

opening of the DMF Florida Vocational Campus, since it was part of a $1

million build out, and required to meet matching donor commitments. “The

Foundation had already raised $3 million in contributions to purchase

the building and surrounding properties. The State funding would have

created a private public collaboration to create jobs, address the med

waiver list and give parents and students a choice.†said Ms. Partin,

“The elimination of this funding from the budget is a setback in

offering a best practice model that can be replicated throughout the

State.â€

While

other Autism and developmental disabilities groups focus strictly on

finding a cure, the Dan Marino Foundation is working everyday to

provide direct services and improve the quality of life for people with

Autism and developmental disabilities in a fully inclusionary setting.

The

Dan Marino Foundation Florida Vocational Campus, located in the heart

of Broward County’s urban community will provide a safe and welcoming

environment where young adults with disabilities can acquire vocational

training and become productive and independent citizens. It will be a

hub of activity for teens and young adults who may have never

experienced a sense of belonging before. There is a wide range of

apartment complexes nearby providing students, eager to experience

independent living, with a campus support system to ease their

transition from home to self-sufficiency. The campus will be a first of

its kind, providing a national model. The campus will provide

interaction with the Foundation’s transitioning teen foster care

population and will include “reverse mainstreaming†with nearby

partnering universities.

ABOUT THE DAN MARINO FOUNDATION:

The

Dan Marino Foundation was established by Dan and Claire Marino in 1992.

The Foundation’s mission is to “open doors†towards independence for

the Autism community, children special needs, teenagers transitioning

from foster care and young adults with disabilities. The Foundation

fulfills this mission by supporting comprehensive integrated treatment

programs, providing outreach services, advancing scientific research,

and building independence through employment and daily living

transition programs. The Foundation has raised over $31 million since

its inception, which has been used to fund major medical research,

build the Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center, and operate

life-changing programs. For more information, please visit www.danmarinofoundation.org.

-DMF-Source: Dan Marino Foundation Press Release Date: May 26, 2011