Help us advocate for better access to services! Please share how you, your family, or caregivers use intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) support services in order to participate in community life. This survey is for people with I/DD, their families, and caregivers and should take about 5 to 15 minutes to finish. Click on the links below to participate.

• Screening survey/ Encuesta de detección: here
• Survey/ Encuesta: here

More information at FLProviderSolutions@mathematica-mpr.com.

From the FDDC's Valerie Breen:

"This week, we are celebrating Direct Support Professionals Week, a time to honor our DSPs for the work they do to help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live fulfilled lives.

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. (FDDC) is concerned about the shortage of DSPs and is supporting a research project to identify solutions to that problem. We are interested in how individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their family members are recruiting and retaining DSPs. Identifying creative ways to address this problem is a primary objective of the FDDC." 

Read her article here.

From the FDDC's Susan Kabot:

"I think back to the role my own grandparents played in my life, shaping my own cultural and religious beliefs. One set was younger and could take my brother and me for weekends. I remember fondly our trips to eat at the Hamburger Express, where toy trains traveled throughout the restaurant delivering your meal, and our weekends to the Jersey Shore, where my pop-pop rode every ride with us, even though it made him sick. My other grandparents were older and didn’t have the strength for that, but every time we visited, there was homemade chicken noodle soup and sour ball charms that came in a can." 

Read her article here.

"Reunited and It Felt So Good"

After two years, self-advocates across Florida reunited on August 18-20 for the 2023 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference in Orlando.

More than 130 self-advocates and their supporters convened at the Rosen Plaza for “Reunited, Lifting Our Voices Together - the 2023 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference.” Read more here.

Hurricane Season Is Here

Florida’s hurricane season is here and every Floridian, especially those with disabilities and other special needs, should plan ahead and begin preparations right away!

Visit this important site for hurricane preparedness and other disaster planning information here.

Download Your Guide Today!

Make an impact in your community: download the Advocacy and Leadership Opportunities Guide today! The Guide is available in English and Spanish here.

This exciting resource is a guide for Floridians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to empower strong advocacy and leadership across the state of Florida.