Florida Department of Education Recognizes Thirteen Palm Beach 'Successful 75' Award Winners
May 30, 2017
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Florida Department of Education Recognizes Thirteen Palm Beach 'Successful 75' Award Winners
Tallahassee, Fla., May 30, 2017 – Today, the Department of Education’s Division of Blind Services (DBS) announced 13 Palm Beach recipients of the “Successful 75” Awards. Over the last year, DBS celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a series of informative, family-friendly events throughout Florida. At each event, local individuals, organizations and businesses were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the blind and visually impaired community.
“It is with great pleasure that I congratulate and thank these individuals for the difference they are making in our blind and visually impaired communities,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “We have come a long way in just 75 years, thanks in large part to the individuals, organizations and businesses who have supported our efforts to continue opening doors for blind and visually impaired Floridians. We remain committed to increasing accessibility, and I hope that these recipients will serve as an inspiration for more Floridians to get involved.”
"We are pleased to recognize these dedicated individuals as members of the Division of Blind Services' Successful 75," said DBS Director Robert L. Doyle. "The recipients have worked tirelessly to make a difference in their communities through outreach, advocacy, hiring practices and via their individual commitments to achieve self-sufficiency. Through these efforts, Florida continues to strive to become a barrier-free environment for residents with visual disabilities."
The following Palm Beach individuals, organizations and businesses were recognized with the Successful 75 award.
Client Award: Tiffany Bowman
With the assistance of DBS, Tiffany Bowman earned her degree in elementary education from Florida Atlantic University. She is now a second grade teacher at Somerset Academy, where she serves as a leader for students and staff. Students enjoy working with Bowman as she uses her video magnifier and Zoomtext screen magnification program. Students view different objects using the CC TV, which makes lessons much more fun and interesting.
Client Award: Don Gerschick
Don Gerschick has been a vendor for the Bureau of Business Enterprise for more than 31 years. Don’s Coffee Spot in the Palm Beach County Courthouse is the bright spot on a cloudy courthouse day. The customers are not the only ones who benefit from his special brand of service; Gershick has mentored a number of Bureau of Business Enterprise trainees during their work experience and on-the-job training. He says that it is his way of giving back to the program that has done so much for him.
Client Award: Donté Mickens
Overcoming his own personal adversities, Donté Mickens used his talents to become one of the most recognized advocates for persons with visual disabilities. He is a two-time paralympian, having competed in 2004 in Athens, Greece, and in 2008 in Beijing, China. Mickens serves on several nonprofit advocacy boards and is currently chair of the Lighthouse of the Palm Beaches board of directors and the Florida Rehabilitation Council.
Community Advocate Award: Carolyn Lapp
Carolyn Lapp is the founder and director of the Florida Outreach Center where she has developed a nurturing environment that fosters growth for the blind and visually impaired population. The Florida Outreach Center is not just a training facility, but also a home away from home for many DBS clients. Lapp is a strong proponent of integrated employment and her employment practices demonstrate that.
Community Advocate Award: Larry McDowell
Larry McDowell provides countless opportunities for training, learning and socialization at no cost for many members of the blind community in West Palm Beach through the Braille Club. He is always willing to support DBS and its clients by providing volunteer and employment opportunities.
Community Advocate Award: Manes Pacius
Manes Pacius is an inspirational advocate for DBS clients. He tutors and trains DBS clients so that they may reach their full potential. At the Florida Outreach Center, he works to better the lives of clients. He always makes sure that training is timely and effective and works with DBS on every level.
Community Partner Award: Genie Salzverg
Genie Salzverg works as a certified vision rehabilitation therapist for the Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches where she ensure clients are able to receive the training needed for their own independent living and successful employment. With regards to the students she serves, Salzverg demonstrates various methods of how to complete a daily living task so that students can make informed decisions. In collaboration with the local police department, Salzverg created “Cane Fu,” a self-defense course for individuals who are blind.
Community Partner Award: Crystal Samuels
St. Lucie Eye Associates has been the source of at least five referrals per year. Crystal Samuels coordinates eye medical care for DBS clients and works with DBS to ensure that clients receive surgery and follow-up care. She also connects clients to other resources when necessary. Samuels not only advocates for her patients, but also ensures they receive quality services. She has assisted many clients in maintaining employment in cooperation with DBS.
Community Partner Award: Sarah Smedley
Sarah Smedley runs the Braille and Talking Books Library in Palm Beach County. She oversees the daily operations of the library to ensure that patrons who are blind and visually impaired are able to access reading materials in the format of their choice. She has assisted DBS counselors with getting Learning Ally books into a format that could be accessed on the digital National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) player. Because of her diligence, students have been able to succeed in their course work using the NLS player. She has also been willing to provide work experience opportunities to job-ready participants.
Community Partner Award: Betty Stenberg
Betty Stenberg is the manager of Walgreens in Boynton Beach. For the past two years, Stenberg has helped DBS clients at health fairs and open houses by providing them with talking pill bottles, free flu shots and personable service. Stenberg has also made herself available to many of the DBS community rehabilitation partners in the Palm Beaches and maintains contact to service clients.
Employee Award: Grazyna “Grace” Golasz
Grace Golasz provided exemplary service to clients for more than 35 years. Golasz started with DBS as a secretary, and went on to serve as a rehabilitation technician and then a rehabilitation specialist. Golasz showed devotion to the clients she served, staff she worked with and to the agency’s mission and values. By educating herself on the changes being made so that she could provide the most current, information to her clients.
Employee Award: Herbert Mejia
Herbert Mejia is a West Palm Beach team liaison who consistently goes the extra mile for his clients and colleagues. He is described as always cordial and ready to share uplifting messages that give clients hope and reasons to stay connected to the agency.
Business Award: MV Transportation
For more than 35 years, MV Transportation has provided safe, reliable, affordable transportation services. Drivers receive diversity and other special training to handle and work with individuals with visual impairments. MV Transportation is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with all types of disabilities through their services and hiring practices.
Throughout the year-long anniversary celebration, 75 honorees were bestowed with this honor. For a full list of the DBS Successful 75 Award recipients, click here.
For more information about the Division of Blind Services and its programs, visit dbs.fldoe.org
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