Curriculum Vitae
Dr. James R. Harding, II Ed.D
6027 Ox Bottom Manor Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32312
Phone: 850-907-0652
Fax: 850-907-9301
Mobile: 850-510-4628
Email: jrfsu@comcast.net
Disability Expert
Proactive consultant for the disabled community with a track record
of success enacting change
at the local,
state, and national levels to improve the quality of life for more than 60
million Americans.
Highly dedicated and policy-oriented
executive committed to maximizing the independence and
self-sufficiency of persons with disabilities by applying America’s public and private policies and procedures
to the built environment and employment sector. Partner with state and national organizations to ensure the highest degree
of reasonable accommodation and integration of diverse disabled populations.
Recognized as a community ambassador and change
agent with a solid ability to
influence board member elections through presidential and gubernatorial
connections. Expertise
in driving change across a broad spectrum of industries including
the employment, education, transportation, and building code sectors. Outstanding
communicator, effective negotiator, and motivational team builder; able to
communicate needs and merge teams in support of overall objectives.
Core Skill Areas:
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Executive Board Leadership
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Strategic / Tactical Planning
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Presentations / Negotiations
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Public / Community Affairs
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Public Policy Development
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Legislative Appropriations
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Budget Administration
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ADA Compliance
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Cross-Functional Communication
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Staff Development / Training
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Organizational Development
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Team Building /
Leadership
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Selected Professional Achievements
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Appointed
by President Bush to the United States Access Board
to develop and
maintain design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles,
telecommunications equipment, and electronic and information technology.
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Serve as Chairman of the
Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged to ensure the availability of efficient,
cost-effective, and quality transportation services for transportation
disadvantaged persons; manage a $360 million annual operating budget. Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve as Chairman.
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Elected
to the Executive Board of the ADA Working Group to teach state, county, and
city governments and other interested parties how to comply with the
Americans with Disabilities Act; appointed by Governor Jeb Bush.
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Recognized
as the only disabled graduate of Leadership Tallahassee;
represented the disabled community by challenging and educating existing
community leaders on various issues and facilitating positive change.
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Procured in excess of $360
million from the Florida Legislature for disability issues; led the charge to pass House Bill 1175 and
House Bill 4871 –
two critical transportation disability bills that enhanced outdated legislation.
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Secured more than $3.5 million
to fund and develop Billy Joe Rish Park, a
98-acre virtual paradise that includes
a park, multipurpose event hall, and residential living that are completely accessible to all
citizens.
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Served
as member of transition team, for Governor Elect, Charlie Crist (Education
and Disability Team.)
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Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee, FL 2002-Present
Partnership Specialist III
Serve as a key advocate for persons with disabilities, Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR), and the Florida Department of Education (DOE), acting as a valued representative for
multiple national and statewide committees and organizations, including the
United States Access
Board, Transportation Disadvantage Commission, and the Florida Building
Commission. Educate
lawmakers and the community regarding VR services for persons with disabilities
and conduct frequent
presentations at state and national conferences.
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Policy
Development
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¨ Shaped policy that resulted in
persons with disabilities achieving, retaining, and / or maintaining gainful
employment; secured 52,000 competitive fulltime jobs across the state.
¨ Administered a
$360 million budget as Chairman of the Transportation
Disadvantaged Commission to bring more choices and self-sufficiency to disabled and elderly citizens
throughout the state; lead 8,900
employees who deliver more than 52 million trips annually.
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ADA Compliance
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¨ Elected as Vice-Chair of the
Waiver Counsel and voting member of the Accessibility Technically Advising
Committee within the Florida Building
Commission to ensure that
buildings comply with Florida Vertically Accessibility issues as well as
related access issues to all structures.
¨ Collaborated with more than 800 Florida businesses
to assist them in meeting ADA requirements;
served on a tribunal that made recommendations to expedite the compliance
process.
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Self-Employed, Tallahassee, FL 1990-Present
Disability Consultant
Work closely with national and statewide organizations to promote a specific agenda
that supports the integration of the disabled population into the mainstream of American life, including
employment, education, business, politics, healthcare, and recreation. Travel across the country to meet with business leaders, speak at national
events, and tour public facilities to ensure that the disabled community is
being included in all facets of life.
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Legislative
Initiatives
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¨ Serve on Governor Charlie Crist’s Commission on Disabilities (Vice Chairman); currently leading a team to deliver the
State of the State Disability Report to the Governor’s office on July
1, 2008.
¨ Co-authored
multiple legislative initiatives, including the new Americans with Disabilities
Act Accessibility Guidelines in 2004 and the Volunteer Voting System
Guidelines in 2006.
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Organizational Development
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¨ Co-founded and lead a Florida
Disability Mentoring Day, raising more than
$500K for the program; placed 7,000+ individuals with disabilities in
jobs of their choosing across the state.
¨ Provided training for any
private, not-for-profit, or government entity to improve compliance with ADA rules, and implemented a one-stop
clearinghouse for disability issues.
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Additional
professional experience includes:
Program Specialist – Office of the Director of
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (2000-2002)
Interim Executive
Director –
Occupational Access and Opportunity Commission (1999)
Special Assistant
to House Appropriations Chair – Florida House of Representatives (1996)
Assistant Analyst – Governor’s Planning and
Budgeting Department Education Unit (1995)
Ed.D. – Doctorate of Education in Higher Education (1999)
Specialization in Leadership and Public
Policy
Ed.S.
– Educational Specialist in Higher Education (1996)
Specialization in Public Policy
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Master of Education – Educational Leadership / Curriculum and Instruction
(1993)
Specialization in English
University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL
Bachelor of Arts in English (1991)
Wright State University, Dayton, OH
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National, State and Community Service
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U.S. Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
(EAC) Advisory and Technical Guidelines Committees
Governor’s Commission
on Disabilities
Governor’s Working Group on Americans with Disabilities, Florida
Florida Building Commission (FBC) Waiver Council
Member
Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) Commissioner for
Department of Education
Tallahassee Transportation Citizen’s Advisory Committee
(CAC)
Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Tallahassee Class XIX
UWF and FSU Alumni Board of Directors
Big Bend Business Leadership Network
Member (Greater Tallahassee)
The Florida Family Network on Disabilities (FND)
Presidential:
2007-2010 and 2002-2006 – United States Access Board
(Vice Chairman, 2005-2006)
2004-2006 – United States Election
Assistance Commission Advisor and Technical Boards
Gubernatorial:
2006-2010 – Chairman, Transportation
Disadvantage Commission
2007-2008 – Vice Chairman,
Governor’s Commission on Disabilities
1999-2006 – Governor’s ADA Working Group
1996-1997 – Board of Regents, State University System, Florida (2x appointed
by Dem.
governor)
Secretary
/ Cabinet:
2001-2005 – Florida Building Commission
2001-2006 – Transportation Disadvantage Commission
Mayor:
2001 – Tallahassee Transportation Planning Advisory
Committee (TPAC)
1996 – Citizens Search Committee for new Police Chief, Tallahassee, FL
County Commission:
2003 – Tallahassee Transportation Citizen’s Advisory
Committee (TCAC)
Highly recruited to speak in front of a variety of audiences,
including US Congressional testimonies, state Congressional testimonies, university
lectures, high school graduations, organizational fundraisers, and various conferences.
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