What is RESPECT of Florida?

The mission of RESPECT of Florida is to provide all governmental agencies within the State of Florida quality products and services produced by persons with varying degrees of disability, helping to employ Florida citizens with disabilities, reducing their dependence on welfare and the need for costly institutionalization.

RESPECT of Florida is the central nonprofit agency of the State of Florida.

RESPECT works with nonprofit organizations around the state of Florida whom employ persons with disabilities in the production of products and services. The products and services offered span technologies and industries, providing a wide array of training opportunities for Florida's citizens with disabilities. RESPECT's prupose is to ensure a constant market for these products and services to state and local government agencies.

Since 1997, the Polk County Association for Handicapped Citizens, Inc. (PCAHC), in partnership with the FloridaDepartmentofTransportation, through Respect of Florida, has maintained the 59 acre I-4 Rest Area located at mile marker #47.

PCAHC employs ten (10) full time attendants, two (2) full time lawn maintenance employees, five (5) part time (32hr) employees and one full time supervisor. Most of the seventeen (17) individuals employed at the rest area are disabled.

Attendant’s duties include cleaning and sanitizing restrooms including fixtures, floors, walls and mirrors,  pick up litter, empty trash cans, sweep sidewalks, pressure wash, and assist the public. The grounds staff must maintain well-groomed and edged lawns and pruned shrubbery. A monthly inspection by the Department of Transportation requires a minimum compliance percentage of 85% or better. PCAHC consistently scores at 90% or above.

With the success at achieving these goals, PCAHC has also recently been acknowledged as the “Work Center of the Year for outstanding performance in the provisions of services which provides employment to Florida citizens with disabilities”.