Florida Department of Education Recognizes Sixteen Big Bend 'Successful 75' Award Winners
May 30, 2017
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Florida Department of Education Recognizes Sixteen Big Bend 'Successful 75' Award Winners
Tallahassee, Fla., May 30, 2017 – Today, the Department of Education’s Division of Blind Services (DBS) announced 16 Big Bend recipients of the “Successful 75” Awards. Over the last year, DBS celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a series of informative, family-friendly events throughout Florida. At each event, local individuals, organizations and businesses were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the blind and visually impaired community.
“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate and thank these individuals for the difference they are making in our blind and visually impaired communities,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “We have come a long way in just 75 years, thanks in large part to the individuals, organizations and businesses who have supported our efforts to continue opening doors for blind and visually impaired Floridians. We remain committed to increasing accessibility, and I hope that these recipients will serve as an inspiration for more Floridians to get involved.”
"We are pleased to recognize these dedicated individuals as members of the Division of Blind Services' Successful 75," said DBS Director Robert L. Doyle. "The recipients have worked tirelessly to make a difference in their communities through outreach, advocacy, hiring practices and via their individual commitments to achieve self-sufficiency. Through these efforts, Florida continues to strive to become a barrier-free environment for residents with visual disabilities."
The following Big Bend individuals, organizations and businesses were recognized with the Successful 75 award.
Client Award: JoAnna Neely
JoAnna Neely has a positive attitude that shows in everything she does. She has been described as eager to learn, and her positive attitude was often displayed in her orientation and mobility class. Neely, who works on her family farm, shows all she encounters that people who are blind or visually impaired can be independent and self-sufficient.
Client Award: Denyece Roberts
Denyece Roberts is a registered clinical social worker and CEO of DR Peaceful Solutions Inc. She has spent more than 20 years providing mental health services including grief and loss, domestic violence, anger management, and mental health counseling throughout the state of Florida. Her experience working with persons with disabilities centers around the strong belief that anyone can accomplish anything if they put themselves in a positive environment that promotes growth and empowerment. She is certified as a Guardian Ad Litem, Adoption Competency Therapist, HIV Counselor, and Big Bend Hospice Loss & Grief Counselor.
Community Advocate Award: Michael Elliot
Michael Elliott is the CEO of SOAR Consultants, which provides services for blind clients in Florida. Through his company, Elliott promotes positive action for blind persons and has been a mentor for younger clients who have recently lost their vision. As the CEO of the small business, Elliott has provided former and current DBS clients with work opportunities. He is a previous recipient of the Paula Bailey Dining in the Dark Award.
Community Advocate Award: Nancy Folsom
Prior to losing her vision, Nancy Folsom was a word processor for the Tallahassee district office. She is customer oriented and always open to provide support to others in the community. Folsom currently works for the Department of Management Services as a Central Office Operator.
Community Advocate Award: Teri Newsome
Teri Newsome is a certified teacher of students with visual impairments for Leon County Schools. In her position, she travels to schools within the district and provides direct and/or consultative special education services relating to visual impairments.
Community Partner Award: FSU College of Education Visual Disabilities Program
As the only Visual Disabilities program in the southeast, FSU offers one of the most respected and longest-standing programs with an elite, nationally recognized faculty who have blindness experience in all majors. The overall mission of the Curriculum and Instruction for the Visual Disabilities program is to prepare highly qualified individuals who have a personal and professional commitment to improving opportunities for individuals who are blind or who have low vision.
Community Partner Award: Lighthouse of the Big Bend
The Lighthouse of the Big Bend is a nonprofit agency dedicated to assisting people with vision loss through direct services, community engagement and education. Some of their services include independent living, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, employment skills and individual and family adjustment counseling. This is the second year of their Children’s Program.
Community Partner Award: Tallahassee Community College (TCC) Student Accessibility Services Office
TCC is committed to creating an accessible environment where individuals are viewed on the basis of their ability, not their disability. It has the highest percentage of graduates with disabilities among all state and community colleges in Florida. Currently, Student Accessibility Services provides educational support services to nearly 1,000 students with disabilities.
Employee Award: Wanda Stokley
Wanda Stokley has been with the Division for 31 years. She remains an active advocate for citizens who are blind or visually impaired through organizations such as the Florida Council of the Blind. Stokley, who is visually impaired, is currently serving her second term as president of the Tallahassee Council of the Blind.
Employee Award: Antoinette Williams
Antionette Williams worked with DBS for nearly 20 years. As deputy director, Williams provided supervision and oversight to four bureaus: Client Services, Business Enterprise, the Rehabilitation Center and the Braille and Talking Books Library. Additionally, she oversaw the Division’s strategic plan and unified state plan for vocational rehabilitation, federal and state reporting, and compliance and audits. She also served as senior management analyst, where she worked on projects such as stimulus funding, internal and external audits, federal and state reporting and other special projects.
Business Award: Convergys
Convergys, a marketing company, provides room for careers to grow and evolve at an individual pace. Convergys promotes active inclusion of minority, women, small disadvantage, HUBZone and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in its procurement processes. Convergys has hired more than 60 DBS clients – with one client working with the company for more than 17 years. Convergys’ work-from-home positions allow clients to use Zoom text and JAWS to complete their daily tasks.
Business Award: Florida Department of Health
The Department of Health has hired four individuals with visual impairments over the last four years. When vision loss begins to impact their employees’ abilities to perform their respective duties, Department of Health HR Personnel Liaison often seek DBS technical advice. In addition, DBS and DOH have often collaborated for effective communication training team meetings with the Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Blind Project Team.
Business Award: Home Depot
The foundation of Home Depot’s commitment to diversity and inclusion was established more than 35 years ago. The company is committed to creating a work environment where there are no limits on achieving personal and professional goals. In addition, the organization advocates for full access to social, recreational and employment opportunities for associates and customers with challenges or disabilities. The Home Depot has also actively sought a diverse set of suppliers in its sourcing and procurement process. Statewide, the company has hired 36 DBS clients.
Business Award: Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut understands that diversity and inclusion are critical to the long-term success of their business. They believe that diverse teams yield better and more creative solutions, and inclusion is a business priority. Statewide, Pizza Hut has provided employment to 64 DBS clients.
Business Award: Publix
Publix has hired several DBS clients throughout the years — most recently in 2015. The grocery chain has always been open to provide DBS clients with work experiences and job opportunities.
Business Award: Wal-Mart
Building upon its diversity and inclusion success, Wal-Mart has broadened its efforts to embed diversity and inclusion across the company to drive exceptional business results. Wal-Mart has hired more than 130 DBS clients, which showcases the company’s commitment to fostering a trust-based inclusive environment where associates are provided unlimited opportunities to develop and grow.
Throughout the year-long anniversary celebration, 75 honorees were bestowed with this honor. For a full list of the DBS Successful 75 Award recipients, click here.
For more information about the Division of Blind Services and its programs, visit dbs.fldoe.org
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