The Florida Youth Council

On June 13, 2008, Governor Charlie Crist signed Senate Bill 856, commonly referred to as The Disability and History Awareness Bill.

In honor of Disability History and Awareness weeks October 1-15, 2009, here are some facts on Disability in America today.

• Senate Bill 856 was promoted by the Florida Youth Council. The members of the FYC worked hard and had  set backs, but were successful during their second year of trying to pass the Disability History and Awareness Legislation
• Florida was the fifth state to pass similar legislation. The first was West Virginia.
• In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Act was founded on four principles: inclusion, full participation, economic self-sufficiency, and equality of opportunity for all people with disabilities.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law.
• According to the 2000 United States Census there are 3,274,566 people with disabilities living in the State of Florida.
• According to the Florida Department of Education, in October 2008, there were a total of 351,179 K-12 students with disabilities being served in Florida.
• Disability History and Awareness weeks in Florida will lead to better treatment for people with disabilities in society, especially for youth in school, increased attention to preventing the bullying or harassment of students with disabilities, students becoming more likely to hire, retain, and promote people with disabilities as employees once they become adults, increased self-esteem and pride among persons with disabilities, resulting in more of them going to college, entering the workforce, and contributing to their communities and a commitment to the full inclusion of all individuals with disabilities in society.