Residents urge reinstatement of special‑needs work and exercise programs; city staff says no active employment pilot

At an Ormond Beach City Commission meeting, parents, volunteers and a job coach urged the commission to reinstate a volunteer job for a young adult with Down syndrome and to restore an inclusive exercise class and a pilot program intended to provide job training for people with disabilities. Speakers asked the commission and the city manager to reverse a decision that ended the participant’s paid or volunteer placement.

Advocates said the volunteer job and exercise class helped participants develop routines, social connections and job skills. “My son, Lance, was a successful example of the pilot program,” said Annie Saudi, a parent and longtime program volunteer, asking commissioners to “vote tonight to allow Lance to have his volunteer job back and to consider reinstating the inclusive exercise class.”

The request prompted extended public comment from residents, family members and volunteers. Valerie Stella, who volunteered in the class, said the program “gives people like me access to understanding people with disabilities and an opportunity to serve and connect in a meaningful way.” High‑school student John Stella also urged the commission to reinstate the placement, saying it helped build self‑esteem.

Chris Bonn, identified as Lance’s job coach, described on‑the‑job training he supervised at the NOVA Rec Center and said Lance “was able to independently complete his daily tasks with only mild prompts.” Bonn told commissioners that with continued supported routines and a job coach, Lance could work reliably.

Parks and recreation director Robert Carolyn described the department’s existing special‑populations offerings and clarified how the training placements had been structured. Carolyn said the department runs multiple award‑winning programs and provides space and programming for vocational training conducted by outside partners. “We are one of the few municipalities that actually has a parks and recreation division that runs ongoing programs every single day,” Carolyn said, and he listed Challenger Sports, Social Squad, Pickleball Squad, a six‑week special‑populations summer camp and an annual pageant among offerings.

When asked directly whether the city currently operated a paid pilot employment program, Carolyn said the city had hosted or provided space for training run by external partners and agencies but that “there is no current pilot program” administered by the city. Carolyn said the vocational training had involved partnerships — he referenced a program run through the Department of Education/Volusia County Schools and noted involvement by vocational rehabilitation resources — and that placements after training typically required an external employer or additional resources to provide long‑term supported employment.

Commissioners and the city manager responded to the public comments without making a formal motion to reinstate the job or the class. Deputy Mayor Lori Talon said the city is limited in its role: “It’s not the primary role of government to directly employ individuals with special needs,” she said, while adding that the city supports inclusion and the department’s existing programs. Commissioner Kristen Deaton and others encouraged connecting families to outside agencies and nonprofit partners that offer supported employment and vocational services.

Speakers asked the commission to reallocate discretionary budget items to fund a city‑run employment program; several members of the public suggested shifting training/education or event line items. Commissioners did not adopt budget reallocations at the meeting. City staff offered to continue working with the family, the job coach and partner agencies to locate appropriate placement and resources.

The public comment period and the parks and recreation presentation together lasted more than an hour, reflecting sustained community interest in expanding employment and volunteer opportunities for people with disabilities. Several speakers emphasized the emotional and social benefits for participants who had lost placements.

Commissioners encouraged continued collaboration with external vocational programs and nonprofit partners; staff said they would follow up with the job coach and the family about placement options and resource connections.