Governor Crist Launches Web site for Floridians with Disabilities
Nov 23, 2010
The Office of Florida Governor Charlie Crist issued the following news release today, November 23, 2010:
Governor Crist Launches Website for Floridians with Disabilities
Enhances accessibility of information resources for persons with disabilities and their families
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.”
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 (1-877-232-4968). 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. Petersburg, 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.