APOPKA, Fla. \u2014 If you know an adult with a disability, you understand that finding a job isn\u2019t easy. But a new local initiative is changing that, and supporting this effort could give a significant boost to Quest employees after their first 90 days, exceeding 90 percent.<\/p>\n
For Lisa Lofano, working at the Snack Shack is more than just a job. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to work here because the cash register is a good place to learn,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Lofano is among many clients gaining practical skills at Quest, Inc. in Apopka. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe help individuals with disabilities experience a full life, and here at the training center, specifically, we focus on improving interpersonal and community skills,\u201d said Latanya Thompson, Director of Quest\u2019s Training Center. <\/p>\n
Thompson emphasized that these skills are crucial for enhancing employment prospects. According to federal data, in 2024, 75% of individuals with disabilities remained unemployed. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are clients who have gone from coming to a training center like this to actually finding jobs in the community,\u201d Thompson said. <\/p>\n
Research from The Able Trust, a state nonprofit that promotes disability employment, shows that a 1% yearly increase in disabled workers could add $111 billion to Florida\u2019s economy over 10 years. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we are able to tap into that special skill that they have, then it\u2019s just about giving them that opportunity,\u201d Thompson said. An opportunity she wants to see increase, as only 20% of disabled adults in Florida are currently employed. <\/p>\n
And while not everyone can work, parents say programs like this still make a difference. \u201cFor people with severe disabilities, often there\u2019s not a lot for them to do,\u201d said Nathan Hinds, whose son Chris attends Quest. <\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you get out of school, you kind of fall into a black hole. I think it\u2019s wonderful that there are facilities like this\u2026something where they can feel productive and just not sit at home and waste away.\u201d<\/p>\n
The retention rate for Quest employees after their first 90 days exceeds 90 percent. One Quest placement even recently retired after 25 years with SeaWorld.<\/p>\n
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