UF to receive award for programs involving people with disabilities

June 11, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida is being recognized by a statewide organization for helping young people with disabilities gain exposure to the world of work.

The Florida Governor’s Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities (The Able Trust) will award UF the Business Mentor of the Year Award for its outstanding commitment to serving the community by providing mentoring and internships to Florida youth with disabilities.

Since 2002, mentors from 15 UF departments have worked with students with disabilities as part of Florida’s Disability Mentoring Day and the Florida High School/High Tech program. Florida’s Disability Mentoring Day is a one-day program in October when young people with disabilities shadow professors and other professionals to gain exposure to different careers and potential internships. The High School/High Tech program is a year-round program designed to reduce the dropout rate for students with disabilities, increase their enrollment in post-secondary education and improve employment opportunities.

UF has had a long history of working with these programs to benefit the Gainesville area, said Sally Ash, Florida High School/High Tech assistant program manager and Disability Mentoring Day coordinator.

“We just want to recognize them for all the service to their community,” she said.

Carl Crane, a professor in the UF mechanical and aerospace engineering department, has been the individual most involved with the mentoring programs, Ash said. In 2008, UF had four departments participate in the two programs, resulting in seven mentored students and two internships. Crane will attend the 2009 Ability Awards ceremony on Friday to accept the award on the university’s behalf.

Crane said the point of the program is not only to expose students to jobs they wouldn’t know about otherwise, but to contribute to the richness of people who will be involved with the university in the future.

“It’s a people business,” he said.

The Able Trust Ability Awards annually recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions toward the employment of Florida citizens with disabilities. The awards ceremony will be held in Tallahassee at the Golden Eagle Golf and Country Club. Other recipients in the business community will include Lockheed Martin, Florida Public Radio and Volunteer Florida.

Information about volunteer or sponsorship opportunities with The Able Trust may be obtained at info@abletrust.org or 888-838-2253. For more information about its programs, visit www.abletrust.org.