FW: Governor Crist Launches Website for Floridians with Disabilities

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Fw: Governor Crist Launches Website for Floridians with Disabilities

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11/23/2010 02:55 Subject

PM Governor Crist Launches Website for

Floridians with Disabilities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 23, 2010

CONTACT:

GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE,

Governor Crist Launches Website for Floridians with Disabilities

~ Enhances accessibility of information resources for persons with

disabilities and their families ~

www.FLDisabilityInfo.com

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today launched a new comprehensive

clearinghouse website for the more than six million Floridians with

disabilities. Created by the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, the

enhanced website, www.FLDisabilityInfo.com, provides links to local, state

and national resources on disability information and services.

“Floridians with disabilities deserve easily accessible information about

programs and services that can help remove barriers to independence, and

this new website helps us achieve that goal,†Governor Crist said.

“Information about available resources helps persons with disabilities and

their families experience a greater quality of life.â€

On the website, Floridians can learn about disability friendly travel

destinations, services, hotels and recreation via a link to

www.VisitFlorida.com/Disabilities_Travel. To help prepare for emergencies,

visitors to the website can also link to www.floridadisaster.org/disability

, which offers resources and information specifically tailored for people

with disabilities and their families.

Displayed prominently on every page of the website is the toll-free number

for the Clearinghouse on Disability Information, available by calling

1-877-ADA-4YOU (1-). The clearinghouse also serves as the

primary referral source for Vocational Rehabilitation’s Order of Selection,

the Agency for Health Care’s Nursing Home Transition Initiative, the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other state agencies

serving persons with disabilities and seniors. Floridians can also learn

about Medicaid Waiver programs, including a description of available

services, eligibility requirements and the state agencies involved with

each program.

The website accomplishes one of the recommendations made by the

commission’s Education/Employment Committee, made possible through a

$25,000 grant from The Able Trust. Information about the commission’s

other committees, recommendations, and accomplishments are also available

on the website. The commission’s other committees are Independent

Living/Transportation, Health Care, and Legal Issues and Civil Rights.

Some of the commission’s other initiatives are as follows:

Education

Increase American Sign Language (ASL) classes in public school –

Conduct public awareness campaign in October 2009.

· Expand the Florida College Transition Program: STINGRAY –

Offers a solution to the underemployment of Floridians with

disabilities by providing individualized postsecondary transition

services to students between ages 18 and 22 with significant

cognitive disabilities. The pilot program is currently housed at the

University of South Florida at St. sburg, and the commission is

exploring partnerships to expand the program.

Employment

Employment and career awareness campaign – In October 2009 and 2010,

the commission and The Able Trust focused on positive aspects of

hiring, retaining, and promoting persons with disabilities.

Independent Living

Statewide special needs shelter registry – Partnering with local law

enforcement agencies to expand the “Take Me Home†Program statewide.

The “Take Me Home†Program is an interactive, searchable database to

assist in the identification and timely return of persons with

disabilities and the elderly who wander away from their caregivers

during times of emergency or disaster. Although initially designed

for children with autism, the program expanded to serve as a

safeguard for persons with disabilities of all ages and their parents

or caregivers. Since its inception, the registry software has been

provided free of charge by the Pensacola Police Department and the

Autism Society of America to all law enforcement agencies.

About the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities

Established by Governor Crist in July 2007, the commission represents all

Floridians with disabilities, including persons with developmental

disabilities, mental illness, brain and spinal cord injuries, and visual

and hearing impairments, as well as senior citizens and veterans with

disabilities. The Commission acts as an advisory body on policy by

collecting and analyzing information and advocating on issues involving

persons with disabilities.

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