Blog

Sunrise Woodworks is a one-of-a-kind woodshop located in Daytona Beach, Florida, where participants learn about the safe use of machinery and how to produce items such as wooden stakes. The shop’s origins are founded on the vision to see and actualize the potential in everyone. The woodshop currently has six participants, some of whom have been working in the woodshop for over 30 years.

We are excited to announce that Violet Gonzalez has joined the Sunrise team as Director of Government Affairs. As a Florida native, Violet has a profound understanding of the Florida legislative system and has worked to advance the lives of people with disabilities for over 18 years.

When we think of the National holidays in April, many people will instinctively think of Autism Awareness Month. Well, the autism community and many leading disability organizations want to see a change from awareness to acceptance for the community.

During March, we are celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM), an annual event, recognized across the country. DDAM serves to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in community life and shines a light on the obstacles people with disabilities continue to face.

On National Caregivers Day, Care Can’t Wait, in partnership with Caring Across Generations, NDWA, and Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network kicked off a month-long #PortraitsOfCare campaign across Times Square and throughout Washington, D.C. The campaign’s goal is to pay tribute to the beautiful and crucial caregiving that occurs in our homes and communities every day and to push for greater visibility and acknowledgment of caregiving in its many forms.

At Sunrise, our mission to support people with disabilities to the best of our abilities is the driving force behind all our decisions. This year, First United Methodist Church expressed its support for our mission with two contributions.