FAAST 30 Years Anniversary Logo with our Collaborative Graphic. Text reads: Thank You for 30 Years of FAAST!

Today Marks an Important Day for FAAST, We are Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary!

With this exciting milestone comes celebrations across the state, time spent with old and new friends, and a reflection on the impact of serving Florida’s disability community for the past three decades. While I have only been a part of the FAAST story for about a third of this time, I have been fortunate enough to speak with and gather information from several early leaders of the organization to create a written history based on how they remember things.  Through this research, coffee meetings, and emails back and forth, one recurring theme certainly was consistent: FAAST was only able to achieve what it has through vital partnerships and collaboration with other groups, agencies, and organizations.

Hearing about early relationships with partners such as the Florida Disabled Outdoor Association, better known as SportsAbility for many years and now SportsAbility Alliance, was new but not surprising information. I learned that they were an early hybrid type of regional demonstration center (RDC) for FAAST, which was important for the growth of both organizations at the time. But what struck me as even more significant than that early relationship is the fact that, after about 25 years, while SportsAbility Alliance is no longer an RDC, there is a consistent, mission-focused relationship that has created a strong continuing partnership between these two organizations. This is just one example of thirty years of a continued desire to build a program that doesn’t operate in a silo but collaborates with peers and like-minded groups to achieve positive outcomes for those who really matter: the individuals with disabilities that we serve on a daily basis.

Of course, not all relationships progress smoothly, and there are always ups and downs with leadership changes, budget fluctuations, and changes in state or federal priority. However, as time goes on, it has become evident to me that FAAST has maintained a core group as well as a growing list of organizations that all recognize each other’s strengths, lean on the others when needed, and seek valuable partnerships to create or grow programs and services. FAAST, of course, has focused on specific Assistive Technology (A.T.) programs but has supported the growth of programs that we can partner with, which demonstrates collaboration and cohesiveness with our fellow disability advocates.

When I accepted the role of FAAST’s Executive Director in 2023, collaboration was at the crux of my ideas and plans, and that has not wavered. We have developed a strategic plan with a significant focus on improving our collaboration effort and many key initiatives to support this. And while I have been committed to successfully advancing this plan, I admit my drive is significantly strengthened as I realize that so much of what FAAST has built over thirty years has been built with this same mentality. Even more notable is seeing this collaborative spirit put to work as we planned for all the activities of our 30th Anniversary Celebration.

For us to truly celebrate FAAST’s successes, our partners needed to be a part of it all. We have twelve vibrant and diverse RDCs across the state. Our oldest, Central RDC, is located at Tampa General Hospital and is also celebrating its 30th year as an RDC! They were our first RDC and continue to be a consistent, essential provider for individuals with disabilities, not just in the Suncoast area but across the state, as we lean on their expertise and vast experience. All of our RDCs are hosting open houses today, October 22nd, to help celebrate the anniversary. And while some centers have only been a part of the FAAST team for a year or so, a true sense of partnership and teamwork has been revealed in the planning and preparations. Each center has put their own touch on how they will celebrate, just as each center has its unique and individual way in providing FAAST services. But, despite different programs or event schedules, all will be contributing to making this day a success. Our RDC network proves that there is important collaboration happening from Pensacola all the way down to Miami!

Another example of collaboration that made me realize that all of us are working in a true community came from all the support and acknowledgment from the other disability-focused organizations and agencies that FAAST calls friends and partners. As we open our doors for the community to see all the wonderful programs and services that FAAST offers, our partners will also be there to celebrate. More importantly, not only will they be there to say hello and happy anniversary, but several of them will also stay for several hours, providing information to consumers and clients who stop by our office. Not only will AT services be shared with someone who may need them, but all aspects of disability-related services will be available for them to learn about and get involved with. Partners such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Family Café, ABLE United, Division of Blind Services, the CARD Center, Career Source, Lighthouse of the Big Bend, and others have said yes, we want to be a part of your celebration, a commemoration of all our work together to enrich the lives of those we serve.

Finally, collaboration is not always just in the form of two organizations working together. There is also the ability for groups, businesses, and individuals to recognize their ability to team up and partner through financial or in-kind means. We were fortunate to have Independence Landing support us by providing lunch for our open-house attendees. Not only does this help us with our costs, but it gives their awesome culinary team the opportunity to work, learn, and provide some incredible food, and in turn, spotlight the great living environment that they have built in their community. While this type of support still provides some benefit to each organization, other support is more one-way, such as monetary donations from a for-profit business or the incredible work our marketing group, Bella Business Solutions, did for us to make memorable and impactful materials for our celebration. I truly believe that the reason for all of their generosity of time, talent, and money, was because they recognize the work being done by, through, and with FAAST across the state to help increase the independence of individuals with disabilities.

It takes all of us to make our vision a reality. If we all work with tunnel vision, based on our specific goals and mission language, we will stay in that tunnel, not seeing all that is happening around us and not being able to be a part of greater change. But, if we make collaboration a top-of-mind attitude, we expand our vision, benefit from others’ strengths, and give all individuals with disabilities in Florida a more independent life. I hope you return to this blog page in the future as we highlight collaboration as our theme in sharing FAAST stories, inviting guests to join in, and sharing how our community is getting it done!

(If you would like to be a part of the FAAST Blog in a future edition, please reach out to Eric Reed – ereed@faast.org)

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