Florida Businesses Celebrate the Abilities of Employees with Disabilities
- Chatequa Pinkston
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
In addition to large companies that hire people with disabilities in Florida such as Publix, Walmart, and Goodwill Industries, the Sunshine State has numerous small businesses that celebrate the talents and value of individuals with disabilities by providing training and employment opportunities.
Florida Self-Advocacy Central celebrates disability employment year round with a special emphasis in October -- National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The commemoration began in 1945 to recognize the contributions of people with physical disabilities to the workforce. Over the years, it has grown to include employees with invisible disabilities. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” The Office of Disability Employment Policy explains more about NDEAM.
Businesses in Florida and around the country that hire people with developmental disabilities create inclusive environments where everyone can learn skills and earn competitive income. For many of these businesses, training employees in skills they can transfer to other jobs is part of their mission. Here is a sample of these businesses in Florida.
Bitty & Beau’s is a coffee shop with multiple franchise locations across various states, including Florida. The Florida location is in Jacksonville. Amy and Ben Wright started the coffee shop as an opportunity to create a space where their adult children with Down syndrome could have meaningful employment. Now over 450 people with disabilities are hired nationwide.
PossAbililties Plus offers job training through several businesses at its location in Atlantic Beach near Jacksonville. The Cup of Dreama Tearoom teaches employees essential skills, including food preparation, hosting, serving, and customer service. Unique Boutique is a resale store where employees learn how to take inventory and operate a cash register. The Secret Garden provides opportunities for learning plant identification and care, and the production of goods to be used in the tearoom and sold in the store. After training, employees are supported in finding meaningful employment around town.
The CUP has a mission that goes beyond serving delicious coffee to create opportunities. The nonprofit opened its first location in 2021 to supply adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. It now has four locations throughout the Tampa Bay area. Many of the employees move on to other jobs.
Rolling Tide Car Wash was started as a family’s desire to address the high unemployment rate among people with autism. They currently have locations in Parkland, Margate, and Coral Springs.
NDEAM encourages the celebration of the values and talents that employees with disabilities offer to the workforce. Advocating for businesses that value hiring people with disabilities by spreading the word and supporting them can help society recognize the contributions that people with disabilities offer to the workforce.
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