The following are local, state and national resources that can help your business learn more about hiring people with disabilities:

 

  

Assisted Technology Devices

             Local/State

Division of Blind Services

http://dbs.myflorida.com

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST)

www.faast.org

National

EnableMart

www.enablemart.com

JAN (Job Accommodation Network)

www.jan.wvu.edu

Government Agencies

Local/State

     Able Trust

     www.abletrust.org

                 Agency for Persons with Disabilities

                 www.apd.myflorida.com

     Florida Division of Blind Services

     http://dbs.myflorida.com

                 Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

                 www.rehabworks.org

National

Americans with Disabilities Act

www.ada.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Council (EEOC)

www.eeoc.gov

JAN (Job Accommodation Network)

www.jan.wvu.edu

Social Security Administration

www.ssa.gov

Tax Incentives for Business

www.dol.gov/odep 

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

www.irs.gov

One Stop Career Centers

Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance

www.workforcetampa.com

WorkNet Pinellas

www.worknetpinellas.org

 

Employment Providers:

 

Hillsborough County

 

Agency Name: Signs of

Contact Number:  293-6077

Description:  Many persons with disabilities say, regardless of their skills and knowledge, businesses do not want to hire them.  In an effort to make it easier to hire persons with hearing impairments, Signs of Success, Sign-Language Interpreters will offer free Interpreting services to businesses.  This offer is for the job interview phase.  If you need an Interpreter to help you, please call:  813-293-6077

Agency Name: Bureau of Rehabilitation and Reemployment Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Contact Name:  Liz Madry

Email: Elizabeth.madry@vr.fldoe.org

Website: www.fldfs.com/wc

Description:  Program provides injured workers with reemployment services at no cost.

 

Agency Name: Enable America, Inc.

Contact Name: Maria Gumina

Email: maria.gumina@enableamerica.org

Website: www.enableamerca.org

Description: Enable America works to increase employment opportunities by making connections between the disability and business communities.

 

Agency Name: Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.

Contact Name: Jean-Marie Moore

Email: jean-marie.moore@goodwill-suncoast.com

Website: www.goodwill-suncoast.com

Description: Goodwill Industries Suncoast provides job development supported employment, supported living, vocational assessment/planning and operates NISH contracts.

 

Agency Name: MacDonald Training Center, Inc.

Contact Name: Don Corwin

Email: dcorwin@macdonaldcenter.org

Website: www.macdonaldcenter.org

Description: Our Mission is :To empower people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose.

 

Agency Name: Melba Lee, Inc.

Contact Name: N/A

Email: Luna29_912@hotmail.com

Website: N/A

Description:  Supported Employment Phase I with Vocational Rehabilitation, Supported Employment Phase II with Med WAIVER, Companion, Supported Living, In Home Support and Willow Pine Group Home for standard and behavior focus individuals.

 

Agency Name: Tampa Lighthouse for Blind

Contact Name: Rich Petras

Email: jobplace@tampalighthouses.org

Website: www.Tampalighthouse.org 

Description:  Our purpose is to maximize independence and provide employment opportunities for persons who are blind or visually impaired.

 

Agency Name: TBASS/Tampa Bay Area Support Services

Contact Name: Cindy Stephens

Email: cstephens@tbass.org

Website: www.hillsarc.com 

Description: TBASS assists Tampa Bay Area Employers with their hiring needs in providing reliable, prescreened job candidates for their open positions.

 

Pinellas County

 

Agency Name:  Abilities of Florida, Inc.

Contact Name:  David Higgins

Email:  dhiggins@ourpeoplework.org

Website:  www.ourpeoplework.org

Description:  Abilities is a private, not for profit agency that assists individuals to become active, integral and valued members of the communities in which we operate. We have programs throughout the state of Florida that create opportunities through valued employment, training and support services.

 

Agency Name:  Bureau of Rehabilitation and Reemployment Services  Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Contact Name: Liz Madry

Email: Elizabeth.madry@vr.fldoe.org

Website: www.fldfs.com/wc/

Description: Program provides injured workers with reemployment services at no cost.

 

            Agency Name: Deaf Service Bureau of West Central Florida,  Inc.

Contact Name: Ramona Richardson

Email: Ramona@deafservicebureau.org

Website: www.deafservicebureau.org

Description:  Deaf Service Bureau is an Employment Network with SSA and Job Placement Provider for Vocational Rehabilitation.

 

Agency Name: Division of Blind Services

Contact Name: Lynn Ritter

Email: Lynn.Ritter@dbs.fldoe.org

Website: www.dbs.myflorida.com

Description: We provide support in finding jobs, maintaining jobs for those working and accommodating worksites as needed for those individuals with low vision or blindness as their primary disability.

 

Agency Name:  Goodwill Industries Suncoast, Inc.

Contact Name: Jean-Marie Moore

Email: jean-marie.moore@goodwill-suncoast.com

Website: www.goodwill-suncoast.com

Description:  Goodwill Industries Suncoast provides job development supported employment, supported living, vocational assessment/planning and operates NISH contracts.

 

Agency Name: Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services/Gulf Coast Community Care

Contact Name:  N/A

Email: hgallup@gcjfs.org

Website: www.gcjfs.org

Description:  Supported housing specifically has an Employment Specialist who works with each referred consumer on personal job skills, job development skills and linkages to job leads in the community.

 

Agency Name: Lighthouse of Pinellas, Inc.

Contact Name: Beverly Seeber

Email: bseeber@lighthouseofpinellas.org

Website: www.lighthouseofpinellas.org 

Description:  Consumers receiving Lighthouse supported employment services are referred by the Florida Division of Blind Services.

 

Agency Name: PARC

Contact Name: Maureen Nowotarski

Email: mnowotarski@parc-fl.org

Website: www.parc-fl.org

Description:  From infant/toddler education/development to adult job coaching/employment services.

 

Agency Name: Placement Works

Contact Name: Christy Boccabella-Brown

Email: Christy@placementworks.com

Website: N/A

Description: Placement Works is eager to learn of the expanded network of employers willing to work with people with disabilities. We believe a collaborative effort is necessary for successful employment outcomes.

 

Agency Name: The Lighthouse Team

Contact Name: Judy Pell

Email: jpell@aol.com

Website: N/A

Description: N/A

 

Agency Name: Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens

Contact Name: Margaret Cody

Email: cote_margaret@yahoo.com

Website: www.uparc.com

Description: N/A

 

Agency Name: Work Opportunities Unlimited

Name Contact: Hillary Morris

Email:  hmorris@workopportunites.net

Website: www.workopportunities.net

Description:  We want to build long-term relationships with employers as consultants and become a hiring resource.

 

Agency Name: Community Based Training, Inc.

Contact Name: N/A

Email: cbtinc@tampabay.rr.com

Website: N/A

Description:  Medicaid Waiver-Phase 2 Supported Living Coaching Services

 

Agency Name: Freedom of Choice, Inc.

Contact Name: Ian Coates

Email: icoates@tampabay.rr.com

Website: N/A

Description:  Supported living, supported employment, personal care assistant, in home support, respite. We serve Medicaid waiver customers.

 

Agency Name: J & J Will Care, Inc.

Contact Name: N/A

Email: Chrissiew@comcast.net

Website: jjwillcare@comcast.net

Description: Quality services for developmentally disabled: SLC, SEC, Companion. Also, CPR, First Aid, and Bloodborne training.

 

Agency Name: Peak Provider Services, Inc.

Contact Name: N/A

Email: peakprovider@hotmail.com

Website: N/A

Description:  N/A

 

Agency Name: The Center for Independence, Inc.

Contact Name: N/A

Email:  lhagaman@arcpasco.org

Website: www.arcpasco.org

Description: Serves individuals 16 years old and over with Developmental Disabilities with group homes, adult day training, employment, transportation services, advocacy and work with the Center for Guardianship Services. 

         

Agency Name: Veterans' Industries

Contact Name: Cinda Goeken

Email: cinda.goeken@va.gov

Website: n/a

Description: Our organization works with Veterans with disabilities