CEO MESSAGE

OCTOBER 2022

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and an important time dedicated to recognizing the contributions people with disabilities make to our workforce.

Employers worldwide are making greater efforts to ensure their hiring strategies include persons with disabilities. It's a win-win situation and we're excited that the October issue of Florida Trend magazine is featuring the documentary Because of Sam about Sam Piazza, who has Down syndrome, and the impact he is having not only on his employer but on other Tampa businesses and their training programs.

Also included in the Inclusive Workplaces section of Florida Trend is a special feature on our Hidden Solutions report that shows changes taking place in employing persons with disabilities.

Check out these special articles and take this opportunity to learn more about disability employment.

If you've already successfully hired persons with disabilities, we would love to know more and share your story. If you are interested in learning more, we have several opportunities including a webinar series that can provide you with information to help you get started.

Visit www.abletrust.org/deam for more information. The Able Trust team looks forward to working with you all as we strive to reach our goal of adding 300,000 more Floridians with disabilities to our state's workforce by 2032.

As we are all aware, last week Hurricane Ian made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm. Our hearts go out to the communities that were impacted by this devastating storm.

We are listing a few resources that are available for those Floridians who suffered loss from the storm, as well as for those who want to help the affected areas.

- Collier Comes Together Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund - Click here to donate.

- Florida SBDC - Small businesses can visit here to get connected to resources.

- FEMA Resources - Click here.

We join Floridians around the state in holding our neighbors in our thoughts and prayers.

Allison Chase

President & CEO

HOW DO WE ADD $1.08 BILLION TO

FLORIDA'S TAX REVENUE?

In case you missed it, The Able Trust recently released a report that calculates the economic impact of increasing Florida’s labor force participation rate for people with disabilities. For more than 40 years, there has been a workforce participation gap of approximately 40 percentage points between persons with disabilities and the general population without disabilities.

The new report, The Benefits of Increasing the Labor Force Participation Rate for People with Disabilities, states that increasing the number of persons with a disability in the workforce by one percentage point per year for the next ten years would have a $111.78 billion impact on Florida’s economy over the course of the 10-year period, from 2023-2032. That would also increase state tax revenues by an estimated $1.08 billion.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RESEARCH.

WHAT'S YOUR NEXT BUSINESS MOVE?

If you’re ready for the next step in becoming more inclusive, The Able Trust has an online course that will show you the benefits of hiring persons with disabilities as well as addressing some common concerns, and providing additional resources. This free online course is a great first step in learning more about disability employment.

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED

UPCOMING WEBINARS PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES

Check out our upcoming webinars designed to help employers better understand disability employment in Florida. Your participation is a great way to show support for Disability Employment Awareness Month and learn more about a valuable, yet hidden talent pool.

October 19, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Join us for a conversation with Bill Santos. We will discuss recent findings from a national study on the business benefits of hiring from nontraditional sources of labor and how employment service providers can be a resource to employers who are interested in hiring Floridians with disabilities. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
October 26, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.: Jim Sinocchi, formerly with IBM Corporation and JP Morgan Chase & Company, will outline steps businesses, large and small, should consider if they are planning to hire persons with disabilities. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

ARE YOU WORKING 9 TO 5?

As the Dolly Parton song says, many of us rely on our "cup of ambition" as we head to work each day. However, there is a large untapped talent pool -- Floridians with disabilities -- that have the ambition and all they're missing is the employment opportunity.

The Able Trust’s theme for this year’s Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) is “A Cup of Ambition.” Inspired by the lyrics of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” this campaign was developed from the belief that everyone who is willing should have the opportunity to go to work each day.

Please show your support during Disability Employment Awareness Month by posting a photo of yourself with your morning beverage on your favorite social media platform with #cupofambition, and tag The Able Trust.

Your support ensures Floridians with disabilities have opportunities to gain meaningful employment.

To make your tax-deductible donation to The Able Trust,

click here.

Forward this newsletter to other colleagues, and business and community leaders who care about being more inclusive.

Click here to join our mailing list

We welcome the opportunity to share information about disability employment. Invite us to speak at your upcoming board meeting, conference or webinar.

Click here to fill out our Speaker Request form

The Able Trust | Contact Us