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Leadership Committee
Leadership Committee Minutes
Programs Descriptions
The ARC of Volusia, Inc. is hosting a four-part, one-day workshop series to include training and information on Health Care Needs; Effective Case Management and Resources; Community Inclusion and Policy Development with nationally-known speakers. The ARC expects to provide funding so that 200 individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members from Volusia and Flagler counties can attend this workshop. The ARC will provide transportation on a first come, first serve basis to assist individuals in attending the training. The ARC will make videos of the training available to those unable to attend.
The Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida, with support from University of Central Florida, is hosting the second annual Florida Down Syndrome Conference August 15-16 in Orlando at the University of Central Florida. The prime objective of the conference is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome by increasing the attendees’ knowledge about rights, access and advocacy. Several nationally-known keynote speakers will present at the conference, including a self-advocate who swam across the English Channel and Lake Tahoe. For further information contact DSACF at (407) 540-1121.
The ARC of Florida, Inc., is hosting its annual convention on August 18-20 in Daytona Beach. Several nationally recognized speakers will be at the convention, including two speakers who will assist participants to explore what it means to value disability and working with rather than on people. Another presenter will speak to self-advocates about employment issues and work to dispel stereotypes that hinder self-advocates who wish to work in inclusive settings.
The Family Café, Inc. held its 10th Annual Family Café Conference in June in Orlando.
Infants and Young Children of W. Central Florida, Inc., is hosting a training series of at least 10 workshops, provided through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) , in Hillsborough and Polk counties, and through the West Central Early Steps program of Pinellas and Pasco counties. The workshops will be taught by parents and professional training teams and will increase family and provider knowledge and skills in enhancing the development and quality of life for infants and young children with disabilities and other special needs. The workshops will also help support families and increase collaboration among families and those who provide services.
Florida Gulf Coast University is hosting a project designed as a pilot for potential state-wide expansion. This project provides education and training to teachers and caregivers, providers, and families across early care and education programs (e.g., Early Steps, school readiness, Head Start, Voluntary Pre-Kindergartern) to build the capacity of the targeted region to ensure that children with challenging behaviors are educated with their typically-developed peers in inclusive preschool settings. The contract will use tested Positive Beginnings and Developing Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behaviors curriculum. Parents participating in the training will receive mini-grants to cover their travel expenses to the five training sites throughout the region.
2008 Youth Leadership Forum - The Able Trust hosted the 8th Annual Florida Youth Leadership Forum on July 18-22, 2008, in Tallahassee, Florida. At least 50 current high school sophomores and juniors who have disabilities were selected as delegates for the forum. At least 15 of those selected were students with developmental disabilities. The YLF is designed to bring together young people with disabilities who have leadership potential and help them prepare for the future. By serving as delegates from their communities at the four-day event in Tallahassee, students with disabilities cultivate leadership, citizenships and social skills.
You Make a Difference - These awards, presented annually by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, serve as a venue to inform school administrators of the importance of inclusion in the classroom, provide positive recognition to educators who show exemplary inclusion practices and encourage educators to use exemplary inclusive practices in their classrooms.