St. Petersburg College issued the following announcement on July 29.
SPC Instructional Technology Coordinator Chris Littlewood was recently one of six people from across the state who were appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Florida Independent Living Council.
Littlewood, of Seminole, is a past Vice President of the Association of Late Deafened Adults and is a member of the Hearing Loss Association, Florida Association for the Deaf and the National Association for the Deaf Emergency Management Committee. Littlewood earned bachelor’s degrees in social sciences and secondary education and his master’s degree in instructional technology from the University of South Florida.
“We are so proud of the work Chris does on behalf of people who are deaf or hard of hearing and others with access and functional needs, both personally and professionally,” said Eileen LaHaie, Executive Director for SPC’s Center for Public Safety Innovation.
The Florida Independent Living Council is an organization that promotes independence, full access, and informed choice for people with disabilities.
Littlewood said that in his appointment, he will provide input for the Florida State Plan for Independent Living, and more.
“I’ll advise on improving the independence and quality of life for all Floridians with disabilities and focus on improving the quality of life for youth with disabilities,” he said. “I’ll also make recommendations so that people with disabilities have equal access to the community resources as a result of emergencies and disasters.”
One of the other appointees, Whitney Harris, also has an SPC connection. Harris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from SPC’s Orthotics and Prosthetics department in 2012 and serves as Executive Director of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology based in Tallahassee, Florida.
Littlewood, who began losing his hearing in his early 20s, now has progressed to a severe to profound hearing loss. He said the experience has moved him to get involved in advocacy.
“It runs in my family,” he said. “So I have been a self-advocate for all disabilities for more than 15 years now.”
Original source can be found here.
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