By Emma Slier, Special to the Democrat
TALLAHASSEE- The first thing you will notice upon meeting Stacy Powell is a good, solid handshake and a big smile.
Powell, 21, a St. Augustine native, has been working at Sonic Drive-In on Capital Circle Northwest in Tallahassee for five years. He is a full-time employee. Powell takes orders, prepares and delivers food to customers and does prep work for the next day’s business.
Powell feels that the best part of his job is providing good customer service. “I like delivering the orders out, and it doesn’t hurt that you get good tips, too,” he said.
Powell’s supervisor, Lakysha Bradley, has only good things to say about Powell. “Stacy is wonderful. I love him. He strives harder than other employees. He has a wonderful personality, great smile, and a wonderful work ethic,” Bradley said.
Another supervisor, Enoch Wingate, said, “I wish I had more employees like him.”
Powell has a disability and receives services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. In addition, Powell works with a counselor from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. They are working on future career possibilities, talk about his current job and go over the ways in which he can achieve his long-term goals.
Powell is gaining computer skills at Lively Technical Center that he hopes will one day lead to a new career. “I like learning new things. I’m always up for a challenge,” he said.
Speaking of challenges, Powell is working on getting his driver’s license; he has passed the written portion and is practicing for his driving test.
APD supports people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, and work in their communities. The agency annually serves more than 50,000 Floridians with autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome. For more about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, visit APDcares.org or call toll-free 1-866-273-2273.
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities 