Embracing Our Differences

MacDonald Training Center was founded in 1955 by J. Clifford MacDonald and a group of parents of individuals with developmental disabilities. It was one of the first organizations to develop supported employment and living services as alternatives to sheltered workshops and traditional group homes for the people with disabilities. Its members participate in a variety of career service tracks and activities, including work experience, on-site service teams, and life enrichment, enhanced and senior services. The center provides training and oversight to direct support staff responsible for its member s medication administration, acute and emergency evaluation, and nursing care to individuals within the center, and liaison services between the individual, families and health care providers. MacDonald Training Center also offers employment services, including skills training, resume preparation, job development, mock interview sessions, job fairs and placements, and employer consultation. The center is headquartered in Tampa, Fla.

Associated Marine Institute is a nonprofit organization that serves at-risk youth age 14 to 18, through residential and day treatment programs. The organization operates more than 50 programs for juvenile offenders in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. It rehabilitates adjudicated kids in small, middle and high school settings, with academic instruction, experiential education, mentoring, goal setting and working to increase self-esteem through responsibility and accountability. The overall goal of its programs is to provide an opportunity for kids who are academically behind in school, and have behavioral issues, to catch up academically or surpass their peers. Associated Marine Institute is located in Tampa, Fla.