CONNECTABLE news

The CDC estimates that 26% of adults in the United States have some form of disability. A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. There are many different types of disabilities…

We encourage you to learn what matters most to our community members with Autism, Down syndrome, and other IDD and invite you to be a part of positive change.During Connectable Roundtable Discussions, over forty stakeholders gathered to answer the question: How do we make Jacksonville the best place to live, work, and play for individuals…

Living in our house together has been really great. We love to cook, workout, and we support each other through good and tough times. We especially love hanging out with our best friends. We go out every Friday night and sometimes we do a cookout. We go to church on Sundays and enjoy going to…

Connecting with people of varying abilities teaches us that we are more alike than different. Encourage your children to reach out to peers who are differently abled. Exposure at an early age promotes a lifetime of inclusion. We also encourage you to volunteer with your children in a special education school. Most offer “reverse inclusion” programs where students with IDD and those typically developing can socialize and become friends.

Today there are still many misconceptions about Down syndrome and those who have it. During Down syndrome Awareness Month, we hope to dispel some of the common myths about Down syndrome. Discover how we are more alike than different! MYTH: Down syndrome is a rare disorder. TRUTH: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal…

This article appeared in the Florida Times-Union on January 1, 2021. Read the original article here. By Beth Reese Cravey Robbie Culliton might be the first person people see when they enter the lobby of the VyStar Credit Union’s headquarters building in downtown Jacksonville. He also might be the first person VyStar employees see when they…

When JU geography professor, Ashley Johnson, PhD, made an open-ended offer for her students to create a map as a service-learning study, she didn’t know she would set into motion a citywide campaign. Johnson’s offer and the students’ efforts were the foundation for Connectable’s Shopability, a citywide campaign to recognize Jacksonville’s inclusive employers and their…

Auld & White is Building a Brighter Future for People of All AbilitiesNathan Marty, CEO of Auld & White Constructors, made the pledge to employ an individual with intellectual differences as a part of the 20 in 20 campaign. This decision came full circle when Auld & White hired a young man from North Florida…

Miller Electric Brings People of All Abilities off the Sidelines to Work“When businesses can be flexible and adaptable in bringing people off the sidelines to work, we all win as a community.” ~ Henry Brown, CEO of Miller Electric Company and JAX Chamber Chair.We applaud the efforts of our business leaders who are making Northeast…

JAX Chamber Celebrates 20 in 20 Campaign During National Disability Awareness Employment MonthEarlier this year, Connectable and JAX Chamber launched the 20 in 20 campaign to encourage 20 Chamber members to hire people of all abilities. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, JAX Chamber highlighted the 20 in 20 campaign and member business…