Speakers Guild
Our Ambassadors with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) meet with potential employers (businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, etc.) to discuss and demonstrate the value of hiring people with IDD.
This group also speaks at meetings and events to advocate for people with IDD and to emphasize the incredible value of work and inclusion.
Mary and Beaver accepting the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's Community Impact Award in 2023.
In Florida, students with IDD time out of school at age 22.
They often lose the social interaction opportunity that school environments provide.
We work with our friends with IDD to practice and hone their public speaking and social skills. They gain the self-esteem and confidence needed to successfully advocate for themselves and their peers in their communities and workplaces.
Every year that we were open, our coffee and ice cream shop in downtown Sarasota (Rise Up Cafe) was presented with a City of Sarasota Proclamation naming October as Disability Employment Awareness Month. Our 35 team members with intellectual and developmental disabilities were so proud to be recognized and included. Manning gave an amazing speech as she accepted the 2002 Proclamation.
Please consider a donation to support our programs.
83% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities do not have a paid job in the community.
We need to fix that.
Of the 17% who have a paid job in the community:
33%
Have an Individually Supported Job
Receiving publicly funded services or support.
39%
Have a Competitive Job
Not receiving publicly funded services or support.
28%
Have a Group Supported Job
Receiving support, works in a job mainly done by a group of people with disabilities.
Marketplace Employment Comparison
People with no disability vs. people with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD)
People with no disability
65.8%
Percentage of people with no disability who have a paid job in the community
People with IDD
17%
Percentage of people with IDD who have a paid job in the community
People with no disability
34.3hrs
Average number of hours worked per week
People with IDD
14hrs
Average number of hours worked per week
People with no disability
$34.91
Average hourly wage
People with no disability
$11.97
Average hourly wage
Inquire About Our
Jobs Program