HELL0. I’M FRANK SHALETT. I’M FROM HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA, AND I’M SPEAKING HERE TODAY TO PUT A “HUMAN FACE” ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT FOR SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

I’M ONE OF THEM.

I HAVE A DISABILITY THAT HAS MADE GETTING AN EDUCATION AND A CAREER A REAL CHALLENGE. LIKE SO MANY OTHERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, I WANT TO BE INCLUDED WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN CLASSROOMS, JOBS AND HOUSING, BUT WE NEED HELP TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO OUR BEING PART OF SOCIETY.

I WAS LUCKIER THAN MOST. THOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT – MAYBE EVEN MORE FOR MY TEACHERS THAN ME – I DID MAKE IT THROUGH MY SPECIAL-EDUCATION PROGRAM AND GOT MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN 1984.

I WAS LUCKY TO GET A JOB AS A BAGGER WITH A GREAT COMPANY – PUBLIX – AND THEN I FOUND A SPECIAL PROGRAM IN SOUTH FLORIDA THAT CHANGED EVERTHING FOR ME. I GOT CERTIFIED AS A CASHIER AND I’VE HAD A GOOD JOB FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

I’VE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE CAN SUCCEED IF THEY ARE GIVEN A CHANCE – AND ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WILL TEACH THEM HOW TO SUCCEED.

NOW, I’M PROUD TO BE A SELF-ADVOCATE … AND TEACHING OTHERS HOW TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THEMSELVES. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF “PEOPLES FIRST OF SOUTH FLORIDA,” WHICH HAS CHAPTERS IN DADE AND BROWARD COUNTIES AND HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 30 YEARS. PEOPLES FIRST WORKS WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND HELPS THEM HELP THEMSELVES.

THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE FLORIDA DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL I ALSO HAVE BEEN TRAINED – ALONG WITH TWO OTHER PEOPLE – TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR DISABILED PEOPLE TO BECOME ADVOCATES … TO TEACH THEM HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR OTHERS. I’M USING MY VOICE TO HELP THEM FIND THEIR VOICES.

AND, TODAY, ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS DAY, I URGE MY FELLOW ADVOCATES WHO ARE HERE TO USE THOSE VOICES. VISIT YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS WHO ARE HERE IN THE CAPITOL AND LET’S ALL USE OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE TO ASK THAT THEY SUPPORT AND TAKE ACTION TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILIES WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO ENSURE INDEPENDENT LIVING

ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN FLORIDA WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, I ASK OUR LEGISLATORS TO PLEASE, PLEASE PROVIDE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL HELP US LIVE GOOD, FULFILLING LIVES.