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APD > News & Reports > Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 9, 2007
  CONTACT:
Melanie Mowry Etters
Communications Director
850-488-4257

APD Honors Businesses

TALLAHASSEE, FL -In celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month, today the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) recognized businesses in Florida committed to hiring people with disabilities.

APD presented seven businesses with the Florida Exceptional Employer Award. The Florida Exceptional Employer Award recognizes both the long term commitment of these businesses to hiring people with disabilities and creating unique employment opportunities. The businesses that were recognized are:

Publix based in Lakeland

Chef Imondi's Bakery and Cafe of Panama City

Fidelity National Information Services of Jacksonville

Health First of Brevard County

Palm Beach Kennel Club of Palm Beach County

Studer Group of Pensacola

Wendy's of Jacksonville/Ramsey Development, Inc.

  • Publix based in Lakeland
  • Chef Imondi's Bakery and Cafe of Panama City
  • Fidelity National Information Services of Jacksonville
  • Health First of Brevard County
  • Palm Beach Kennel Club of Palm Beach County
  • Studer Group of Pensacola
  • Wendy's of Jacksonville/Ramsey Development, Inc.

APD Director Jane Johnson said, "We are very excited to recognize these businesses that have made a significant commitment to hiring and keeping people with disabilities as part of their employee team. These workers are extremely reliable and committed to their jobs. We think it just makes good business sense to include employing individuals with disabilities in every company's hiring practices."

The event also highlighted the contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce. Leon County Supervisor of Elections employee Renee Llewellyn read the Cabinet resolution declaring October as Disability Employment Awareness Month. The chairman of the new Governor's Commission on Disabilities, Lance Block, also spoke about the scope of the new commission.

APD currently serves about 35,000 Floridians with developmental disabilities of mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Prader-Willi syndrome. For more information on the agency, call 1-866-APD-CARES or visit www.apd.myflorida.com.

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