On May 16^th, RESPECT of Florida recognized Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a day to raise awareness about the importance of digital accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. GAAD aims to inspire people to learn, share, and act on making the digital applications and content more accessible for all citizens.

Digital accessibility refers to the ability of people with disabilities to independently consume and/or interact with digital (e.g., web, mobile) applications and content. From a business perspective, people with disabilities are underserved by today’s digital products. Common disabilities and the accommodations they may need are:

• Visual – People who are blind need alternative text descriptions for meaningful images and use the keyboard and not a mouse to interact with interactive elements.
• Hearing – People who are deaf or hard o hearing will need captioning for video presentations and visual indicators in place of audio cues.
• Motor – People with motor impairments may need alternative keyboards, eye control, or some other adaptive hardware to help them type and navigate on their devices.
• Cognitive – An uncluttered screen, consistent navigation, and the use of plain language would be useful for people with different learning disabilities.

Did you know that RESPECT can assist you to ensure you are digitally accessible? RESPECT offers digital accessibility and remediation as well as Section 508 compliance services. If you are interested in learning more about our how we can make sure you are accessible, reach out to customerservice@respectofflorida.org.

RESPECT of Florida congratulates Employment Center Goodwill Industries of South Florida for achieving the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard Green Building Criteria Certification with honors. In achieving this designation, Goodwill South Florida has successfully demonstrated a commitment to delivering environmentally preferred services designed to meet customers’ needs and expectations. This achievement underscores Goodwill’s dedication to sustainability and innovative design ensuring not only complying with rigorous environmental standards but also enhancing the overall customer experience. By prioritizing eco-friendly practices Goodwill South Florida is leading the way in respectable business operations and setting a benchmark for others to follow in the industry.

Congratulations to Goodwill Industries South Florida!

Hurricane season is coming, and the time to prepare is now. In recent years we have seen increased hurricane activity, and many situations with rapid intensification occur before landfall, leaving little time for last-minute preparations. By planning ahead, you can ensure you stay safe and weather the storm.

Floridians who have experienced living through a storm can tell you how intense the wind and the rising water can be, and for those citizens, you can be assured they will be prepared with a plan when the next storm approaches. We should all follow their example and put a plan in place now so that we never have to go through the dangerous situation they have lived.

The first step to surviving a hurricane is to know where you are vulnerable:

• Do you know your storm evacuation zone?
• Are you in a flood zone?
• Do you have storm shutters?
• Are your doors and windows impact resistant?
• Have you secured items in and around your home or business before tropical force winds arrive?

Make an emergency plan:

• Sign up for local alerts and warnings.
• Create an evacuation plan that removes you from danger. Hurricanes can come from many directions, so have more than one trip charted to get you out of harm's way.
• Locate a place to stay if evacuation is needed.
• Know what supplies you will need, both if you choose to shelter in place, or should you evacuate.
• Don’t forget your pets and their needs.
• Plan how you will communicate with family and loved ones.
• Discuss your plan with your family/household.

You also need to build your emergency supply kit in preparation for the hurricane season. The Florida Division of Emergency Management encourages Floridians to have at least 7 days of supplies on hand and has developed a disaster supply-kit checklist.

Floridians can make purchases during the two Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays which are June 1 through June 14 and August 24 through September 6. If you have not already gathered your emergency supplies, the tax holiday would be an excellent time to get ready and check out the commodities RESPECT has to offer to add to your kit. The Florida Department of Revenue has outlined the products that are applicable for consumers and during the 2024 tax holiday.

In the aftermath of several recent destructive hurricane seasons, it is a wise idea to have ample supplies well in advance of impending storms. Often at the moment landfall is imminent, supplies run out or are difficult to find. Buying supplies in advance can save your family valuable time when preparing your house to stay or evacuate.

Purchase your Outdoor Flags and Indoor Flag Kits from RESPECT of Florida! Check out our high-quality, nylon, 100% American-made outdoor flags - including material, thread, and dye. They come in a variety of styles and sizes to suit your needs. All are guaranteed for up to 7 months for colorfastness and defects in manufacturing.

We also sell Indoor Flag Kits! Each kit includes:

• 100% American-made nylon 3' x 5' American or State of Florida flag, with or without fringe
• 7-foot oak flag pole
• Liberty flag pole stand
• Gold eagle or gold spear for tip of flag pole

DID YOU KNOW?? EVERYONE benefits when you purchase from RESPECT!

• Floridians with disabilities employed by our Employment Centers across the state benefit from the security and pride of steady, gainful employment.
• State agencies and local government offices save valuable time and money by bypassing the competitive bid process when purchasing directly from RESPECT.
• Your organization benefits from securing quality commodities and services at competitive pricing.
• Florida’s taxpayers save money and our overall economy benefits by decreasing the number of individuals who are dependent upon welfare and other tax-supported subsidies.

Browse our online catalogue for all flag options – along with many other valuable commodities and services for your organization! 

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