Governor Scott Names Carl Littlefield and Bryan Vaughan to Lead Agency for Persons with Disabilities

The Office of Florida Governor Rick Scott issued the following news release today, February 4, 2011:

Governor Scott Names Carl Littlefield and Bryan Vaughan to Lead Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Scott named Carl Littlefield to serve as his Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Littlefield, a former state representative, is currently an area administrator for the agency, where he helps oversee the agency’s vital mission of supporting people with developmental disabilities.  The Governor also announced Bryan Vaughan as Chief of Staff to the agency. Vaughan is currently the Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, where he oversees the commission’s goals to serve as an advocate and voice for Floridians with disabilities.   

Littlefield has a long history of public service to Florida. Previously, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Developmental Disabilities at the Department of Children & Families and as a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Elder Affairs. He served as Florida’s First Chairperson of the Health and Family Services Council, where he coordinated all state policy in the Florida House of Representatives relating to healthcare services, healthcare standards and long-term care. He has served as a member of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, the State Advisory Committee for the Education of Exceptional Students, the Florida Public Health Foundation, and as Florida’s Representative to the President’s Council on Mental Retardation.

Vaughan has been a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities in Florida. He was a decorated law enforcement officer when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, became a wheelchair-user, and was determined legally blind. Since then, Vaughan has worked with a variety of ex-felons and individuals with physical, mental, and emotional conditions to help them overcome barriers to employment, independence, and inclusion. As a recipient as well as a provider of services, Vaughan has a unique perspective of the various difficulties faced by people with disabilities. He was awarded the Public Employee of the Year, Able Trust’s Ability Award in 2010 for his work as an advocate for the disabled.  He was awarded the Outstanding Achiever Award by the Georgia Association of Rehabilitation Facilities for developing Georgia’s Ex-Offender Employment Program, which assists released felons in securing permanent employment.

“I am honored to be naming these two qualified individuals to lead the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Carl has a long history of public service to Floridians with disabilities, and his experiences as a state legislator and agency executive will serve APD well. Bryan is a living example that a person with disabilities can excel, and he will be an inspirational and vocal advocate,” Governor Scott said.

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What People Are Saying about Governor Scott’s Appointments:

“The Able Trust is very pleased with Governor Scott’s selection of Carl Littlefield and Bryan Vaughan as the new leadership at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.  Both are not only champions of the rights of people with disabilities, they are equally strong advocates and believers in the capabilities of those they serve, and both bring great knowledge and compassion to their new positions.  We look forward to working with them on our common mission.” 

– Dr. Susanne Homant, President & CEO, The Able Trust

 “Governor Scott knows there is nothing more important to persons with developmental disabilities and their families than self-determination, independence and dignity, and that was the driving force behind his selection of two outstanding, accomplished experts for APD Director and Chief of Staff.  Carl Littlefield has spent his entire public service career dedicated to helping persons with disabilities achieve work skills, employment and their own success.  Bryan Vaughan’s public service has placed him at the front lines of both public safety and as an advocate for the disability community.  His personal successes in life speak for themselves.  Carl and Bryan will make a terrific team, and I applaud Governor Scott both for these appointments as well as for his commitment to persons with developmental disabilities and their families.”

-Alan Levine, Former ACHA Secretary and Chair of Governor Scott’s Health and Human Services Transition Team

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