MacDonald Training Center

10/09/2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Congratulations to Daniel Hernandez, RESPECT of Florida Rookie of the Year.
A graduate of our Innovation Program, Daniel earned his logistics certification, mastered our RFID production technology on the SunPass contract, and helped recover more than $50,000 in product value in his first year..

Our thanks to Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (Florida ARF) and RESPECT of Florida for 50 years of advancing employment for Floridians with disabilities, and to our team, participants, and partners who make this work possible.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and this month we'll be highlighting individuals who were recognized at our 2026 Awards Luncheon last month. We're kicking it off by celebrating our 2026 Rookie of the Year, Daniel Hernandez of MacDonald Training Center!

Daniel enrolled in MTC's Innovation Program looking for a way forward. After impressing everyone as an intern and earning his logistics certification, he joined the team and hasn't looked back. In just one year, he has learned every area of the SunPass operation, mastered advanced RFID production technology, and kept perfect attendance with no absences or tardies.

Daniel also played a key role in an inventory recovery project that recovered more than $50,000 in product value. Coworkers describe him as dependable, team-oriented, and adaptable.

Congratulations, Daniel, on an outstanding first year!

10/09/2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Congratulations to Laura Martin, RESPECT Micro-Enterprise Grant recipient. Supported by our Employment Services program, Laura founded Silent Creations, LLC, an art business that celebrates Deaf culture.

Our thanks to Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (Florida ARF) and RESPECT of Florida for 50 years of advancing employment for Floridians with disabilities, and to our team, participants, and partners who make this work possible.

At our 2026 Awards Luncheon last week, RESPECT of Florida celebrated three honorees who help create meaningful employment for Floridians with disabilities.

Micro-Enterprise Grant: Laura Martin, Silent Creations
After pandemic layoffs and unexpected challenges kept Laura from returning to work, she turned her lifelong passion for art into a business. Through Silent Creations, LLC, she celebrates her Deaf identity with whimsical ASL gnomes, floral designs, and faith-based artwork. Our Micro-Enterprise Grant is helping her grow. Find her work on Etsy at Silent Creations-Goods!

Customer of the Year: Florida Commerce
Ten years ago, this agency was willing to go first, bringing RESPECT its first major contact center work. Together with Lighthouse Works, the partnership has generated more than $10 million in wages for people with disabilities, creating real careers with benefits and room to grow.

Employment Center of the Year: The Right 2 Work Corporation
Right 2 Work expanded across multiple districts this year, successfully taking on three new contracts at once while continuing to deliver quality service to existing customers.

Congratulations to each of our honorees, and thank you for your commitment to inclusive employment. Stay tuned next month as we highlight the employees who received awards during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

10/07/2026

Target Circle Voting Is Now Live for MacDonald Training Center (MTC)!

✅ The voting Period is through December 31, 2026

Vote for MTC via the Target app or at: https://www.target.com/circle/community-voting/

Thanks for supporting our mission: To empower people with disabilities to lead the lives 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 choose.

10/06/2026

✨ Shine Bright. Do Good! ✨

New Kendra Scott Tampa Location at Tampa International Plaza.

MacDonald Training Center (MTC) is thrilled to partner with Kendra Scott for a "Kendra Gives Back event!"

Every purchase you make helps empower people with disabilities to shine even brighter.

Here’s how to join the fun:
🛍️ Shop in-store: November 8, 12–2 PM.

🌐 Shop online: November 8–9 using code GIVEBACK-MYQBX

20% of your purchase will be donated back to MTC - making a difference has never looked so good!

10/06/2026

Save The Date: October 23 - for the Tampa Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Disabilities Awards Luncheon!

Early registration ends October 10, so be sure to register soon!

📆 Date: October 23, 2026
📍 Location: Fair Oaks Community Center.
🕚 All Abilities Showcase, Exhibits & Registration: 11:00 a.m.
🏆 Awards Luncheon & Formal Program: Noon

The annual Awards Luncheon recognizes the achievements and contributions of individuals, businesses, and organizations that promote inclusive workplaces, recreation, and communities for persons with disabilities throughout the City of Tampa.

Mayor’s Alliance Registration Link: https://www.tampa.gov/form/mayors-alliance-award-ceremony

10/03/2026

It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month - and MTC is celebrating workers with disabilities and the employers who champion them! 💙💛

Stephanie Ivey, MacDonald Training Center (MTC) Instructor & Transition Coordinator, connected with advocates and organizations advancing employment across Hillsborough and beyond at the NDEAM Celebration with The Grow Group and Florida APSE.

📸 Stephanie with Denise Barnes of FCIC and CARD-USF.

09/30/2026

Tax-Smart Giving · 2026

A Smarter Way To Give - Turn Your IRA Into Impact

Support MacDonald Training Center with a Qualified Charitable Distribution ✨

For donors age 70½ and older · Up to $111,000 per person in 2026. To count toward your 2026 Required Minimum Distribution, your gift must be completed by December 31, 2026.

Learn more:

Reflecting on the memorable evening of Celebrating MTC's Community Recognition Dinner, showcasing heartfelt moments and shared vision.

09/29/2026

TODAY: September 29 at Tampa City Hall, Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera - District 7 and Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen are hosting a community meeting on how we can combat the high rates of those with Autism and disabilities drowning.

Save the date: September 29 at Tampa City Hall, we will be having a community idea gathering meeting on how we can collectively as a community combat the high rates of those with Autism and disabilities drowning.

Even though about 1 in 25 children have Autism, children with Autism account for more than 1 in 5 drowning deaths.

This is a community information gathering session where we will be listening to representatives of different advocacy organizations, as well as everyday activists and moms, dads, and others with family members who have Autism or are disabled.

Commissioner Harry Cohen, representing the county, and I, representing our City of Tampa, will be working together on a City and County strategy on how to best prevent these terrible tragedies involving our most vulnerable.

All elected officials, Republican and Democrat, are welcome and encouraged to come. It’s all hands on deck for this population. 

Florida Autism Center of Excellence CARD-USF Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation MacDonald Training Center LaVoy Exceptional Center Hillsborough County Special Education PTA Get Set Therapy, LLC City of Tampa Down Syndrome Association Of Tampa Bay Friends - Down syndrome/Special needs 10th Annual Rotary Cycling for Autism Tampa Tampa Police Department Tampa Firefighters Local 754 Tampa Fire Rescue Hillsborough Firefighters

09/23/2026

Join us this Saturday for HCPS and FDLRS Parent Services - Hillsborough County "Creating a Plan for the Future."

Visit our table at the Provider Fair and attend our Breakout Sessions:

▪️10:45 – 11:45 am:
Adult Day Training Programs – Room 130

▪️12:00 - 1:00 pm
Post-secondary Options - Room 130
LAUNCH at USF and MacDonald Training Center's eMerge Career Collaborative are teaming up to share post-secondary options available to students with disabilities in Hillsborough County.