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This Month, Advocates Stress Importance Of Hiring People With Disabilities

Governor Rick Scott's twitter
The Florida Cabinet along with several Florida agency officials and advocates commemorated Disability Employment Awareness Month.

The Florida Cabinet commemorated Disability Employment Awareness Month at its Tuesday meeting.

During the meeting, Rachel Caylor Long spoke about the importance of including people with disabilities in the workforce. Caylor Long—who has a developmental disability—has worked at a Pensacola Walmart for about 11 years.

“I really love to help people with disabilities overcome their fears and dreams,” she said. “Just let them know they can do it, if they set their minds to it, because they have been able to grow as a person. Due to my employment, I have been able to achieve many things. Having a job truly makes a difference in a person’s life.”

Caylor Long says she’s also now very active in the community, which includes working as an advocate for people with disabilities through a non-profit organization called Project Empower of Northwest Florida.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.