Practical Access Podcast

S9 E8: Inspire of Central Florida

• Eric Imperiale • Season 9 • Episode 10

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In today’s episode, we have two special guests from Inspire of Central Florida, Nashalie Soto and Liliana Continanzi. Tune in to learn more about Inspire of Central Florida and how they provide educational, vocational, residential, and transportation services to adults with special needs in Central Florida. Their various Special Needs Adults Day Programs provide a safe environment for adults of differing abilities as they pursue independence and success in their lives and careers. 

 Don't forget we love to hear from our listeners! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We look forward to receiving your questions on our Google Phone (407) 900- 9305, Facebook (Practical Access), Twitter (@AccessPractical), or Instagram (@Practical_Access).

Lisa Dieker:

Welcome to Practical Access. I'm Lisa Dieker.

Rebecca Hines:

And I'm Rebecca Hines. And today, Lisa, we have guests who represent a couple of our favorite things and one of one of our favorite things is community. Yeah, so and another of our favorite things is transition for persons with

Lisa Dieker:

disability right and employment so we're gonna be talking about that. So we are excited to have two guests from inspire with us today. Liliana Continanzi and Nashalie Soto from Inspire. Thank you, ladies for being with us today.

Nashalie Soto:

Thank you for having us.

Rebecca Hines:

So can one of you guys tell it first of all, tell us just a little bit about Inspire?

Liliana Continanzi:

Yes, so Inspire of Central Florida is the largest and longest standing organization of it's kind here in Seminole County. We assist adults with disabilities through our adult day training facility. So we have different programs here, where we give them with life enrichment activities, and opportunities in the community. And then I'll let Nashalie tell you about our GROW

Nashalie Soto:

So we offer vocational training and pre employment, we have an internship that we offer our individuals who want to seek integrated employment. It's called Operation GROW. And it stands for giving real opportunities for work. So we partner with different host businesses in the community. And we start off sometimes volunteering, learning those skills, learning the job, and hopes of

Lisa Dieker:

Wow, that sounds really exciting. Well, and so I think the first thing I'm curious about, and I think our listeners will be too, is really what who funds you where, where if I'm in a community, and I want to do something like this, where do I go to get started.

Liliana Continanzi:

So there's a variety of areas we can look for funding in. The first one is the agency for persons with disabilities, Medicaid waiver. And so it's a process where you have to apply to go through their program. And then based on based on the level of services that the individual needs, we are lucky enough to partner with the Seminole County government and we do get a scholarship

Nashalie Soto:

Now, we have two fundraisers throughout the year. And that supplements for those individuals who are in financial need one is in April, it's a golf tournament, and then one is coming up actually in December. It's called Maks and Martinis. Sounds fun. I don't guess.

Rebecca Hines:

So Nashalie tell us a little bit about the internship because I know sometimes setting up internships, I know, high school teachers, for example, you know, that's hard. They even at the high school level, sometimes they want to do that it's really hard to get it started. I know at the college level, we have students here with disabilities who we look for internships, but it's kind of

Nashalie Soto:

Absolutely. So social networking, and building those relationships is key. So within the actual program, we have two job coaches, Natasha and Vincent, and they are really the ones that build those relationships with our community partners. And once we assess an individual's need and what they want to do in their life, and what jobs they want to begin, we really try and seek our

Lisa Dieker:

else. So, you know, I'm curious, and either one of you can answer this question. But I have a friend who did similar model in Wisconsin, and I know there was a young man that she really struggled with, like, what job could he do, because he had very limited mobility. And she got him to wrap the communion wafers for the Catholic Diocese of all of Wisconsin working with the nuns, and

Nashalie Soto:

So at Kiante use this individual, he knew he wanted to work in the restaurant, and he just didn't know what he was good at. So the actual manager started him in janitorial cleaning the bathrooms, and dishwashing, that's where he started. And come to find out, he was a great food prep. So now he's doing garlic knots. He's doing the pastas the measuring, because he's good in numbers.

Lisa Dieker:

Well, you might think he'll be a manager someday. Is the manager worried?

Rebecca Hines:

Yeah, so I want to ask you guys kind of on a personal level, you guys are young and energetic. And, you know, it's great. I'm, I'm so glad to see that. Because we need we need young people, you know, kind of sharing this, this passion in this mission. So I want to ask you each to answer this, you know, what is the best part of the job for you?

Liliana Continanzi:

Oh, my gosh, I honestly it has to be walking out to that floor. And everybody treats you like you're a celebrity, everybody's like, hi, even from all the way up are, they're screaming my name, I'm like, Who's calling my favorite. They have just such optimistic outlook. Regardless of what situation they might be in, whatever might be going on at home, or you know, even

Nashalie Soto:

As for me, I've been in this field for about seven years. And when I first started, I really didn't realize the potential that our individuals have, as many individuals have that mindset. And as time has gone on, I think the biggest is seeing their accomplishment, and obtaining their goals, that would have to be my biggest reward. And working through that, you know, is just

Lisa Dieker:

So my last question for you is 10 years from now, if your crystal ball was working, I'd love to hear from each of you. What type of jobs because Becky and I both believe this is kind of a civil rights movement for people with disabilities. It's their time, it's their time for equity, access, inclusion, employment 10 years from now, what jobs do you hope you'll be finding for all of

Nashalie Soto:

My vision is, I think every business should have an individual with disability employed. That's my vision. I think businesses don't realize the advantage that they have hiring an individual with disabilities. One thing that's unique about our folks is, once they learn a skill, they master that skill, and they are forever going to learn and know that skill.

Liliana Continanzi:

I agree. I think we do a lot of questioning, or asking our individuals, you know, what kind of job would you like? And they always say something along the lines of foodservice or fast food restaurants, but I think any at all, I think anybody that's willing to go to a different type of business should be able to do that. And I don't think their disability should hold them back

Lisa Dieker:

We know that well thank you so much for joining us and for all the work you're doing, and we appreciate it. If folks have questions they can send us and we'll follow up with you ladies and our Twitter account @accesspractical or send us a question on our Facebook page at Practical Access. Thank you Nashalie and Lily, we really appreciate it.

Rebecca Hines:

Thank you guys.

Nashalie Soto:

Thank you for having me. Thank you for having

Unknown:

us.