Below is an overview of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council's current projects.

Early Care and Education Inclusion - Increases inclusive early care and education opportunities for children with disabilities by providing training and assistance to existing early care and education providers.

Employment and Transition Website - Now in its third year, FYITransition is focusing on the development of a transition and employment website. The website is an efficient vehicle for delivering Florida-specific information on transition planning, career and post-secondary education planning, job development and support, career exploration, funding options, work incentives, and other pertinent information that is vital to the transition planning process. Youth with disabilities and their families will be involved in developing the website, as well as evaluation the content, usability and navigability of the website. To view the website, go to www.fyitransition.org.

Gulfstream Goodwill Wellness Project – Designed to improve the overall health and quality of life for individuals with disabilities through a comprehensive health and wellness program that enriches and strengthens the spirit, mind and body of individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. The program provides easy access to adaptive exercise equipment, health screenings, and diet and nutrition classes that help deter preventable illnesses. This program will promote healthier lifestyles and encourage individuals with disabilities to be more physically and mentally fit to fully participate in their communities.

I Can Do It! You Can Do It! – Designed to increase the number of school-age children with developmental disabilities in recreational programs offered outside the school setting , and work to increase the number of community recreational programs that include students with disabilities.

Inclusive Recreation - Now in its second year, this program trains individuals who work in parks and recreation settings to learn how to include people with disabilities in those programs. The training begun in Tallahassee will continue at a second site in Pinellas County. Staff and administrators will be trained to implement inclusive recreation practices into the established recreation programs where they work.
 

Project Discover – Works with students in middle and high school to use the discovery process to ensure successful employment outcomes for students with developmental disabilities. Project Discover is beginning its third year. This year the project will shift its focus to embedding the discovery process into the curriculum throughout each district's K-12 program. Project Discover will also create a “how to” manual on the Discovery process that will be able to be used in other school districts across the state.

Self-Advocacy Grassroots Campaign – Designed to increase the self-advocacy skills of individuals with developmental disabilities living in Florida, this project, now in its third year, will identify and develop two additional self-advocacy groups in Florida. The provider will continue to provide technical assistance to the first eight groups that have been established statewide.

Special Education and Advocacy Workshops - The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is sponsoring four, one-day Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training workshops presented by Peter Wright, Esq. These workshops are designed to inform parents and guardians of their children’s educational rights under the law and how to advocate on behalf of their children.
Subjects covered will include:
Special education law, rights and responsibilities
Tests and measurements to determine progress or regression
SMART IEPs
Introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy.

Transportation Guide - The Council has produced "Let's Go! - A Guide to Getting Around Your Community in Florida". This publication provides county-by-county transportation information, including specific services available in each county, as well as contact information for the various agencies that manage transportation services in Florida. To order a copy of the guide call 1-800-580-7801 or go to the Council website at www.fddc.org and order a copy online.