FSU PANAMA CITY TO HOST FIRST-EVER NWFL DISABILITY CONFERENCE ON MAY 13

Florida State University Panama City will host the inaugural Northwest Florida Disability Conference on Tuesday, May 13, an inspirational event with the theme, “Where do we go from here?”

“This conference is the first of its kind in this region,” said Irvin Clark, associate dean of Student and Strategic Initiatives at FSU PC. “The event aims to provide networking space for professionals, individuals and families of those with disabilities. The goal is to empower attendees to be agents of change, leaving them with a sense of community and a list of agencies that will help them navigate challenges.”

Admission is free; register in advance on Eventbrite.com. The conference will be in the Holley Academic Center, 4750 Collegiate Drive, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13. Coffee and continental breakfast will be available in the morning, and lunch will be provided. Dozens of vendors and partner agencies will be on hand.

Speakers will include Lorena Fulcher, interim state director with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities; Amber Wagner, assistant dean of students and director of the Office of Accessibility Services; Crystal Grey-Hewitt, an autism consultant for the FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities; J.R. Harding, FSU College of Business faculty advisor; FSU student Elijah Toomey; and Marquesas Blimes, an assistive technology specialist from the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology; clinical psychologist Dr. Brent Decker; Ron Sharpe, president and CEO of The Arc of the Bay; Joe La Belle, director of Programs Impact at the Family Network on Disabilities: Bay County Commissioner Clair Pease; Cheryl Joyner, director of Panama City Beach Parks & Recreation; and Dr. Kesia Blenn, coordinator of Panama City Parks, Culture & Recreation. 

Partner agencies include: Arc of the Bay, Career Source Gulf Coast, Chautauqua Charter School, City of Panama City Parks, Culture & Recreation, Disability Resource Center, ECAP at FSU PC, EmployU, Family Network on Disabilities, FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, NWF Health Network, Office of Accessibility Services, Office of Equal Opportunity Engagement and Compliance, Student Accessibility Resources, Gulf Coast State College and University of Choice Initiative.