Kristy Carter has been volunteering with FDOA since 1997, when she got involved through a class project at Florida State University. She is active in all FDOA events, including Miracle Sports and SportsAbility. Her favorite FDOA event is SportsAbility, about which she said, “That is how I got hooked. The variety of programs offered and the amount of people that it can serve.” She worked as the Inclusion Specialist for FDOA from 2007 to 2011. Kristy has been on FDOA’s board since 2003. She served as the board secretary from 2011 to 2018 and has served as the vice-president since 2018.
Inclusion means...
“ALL people no matter abilities. Each individual would be respected and valued in society.”
Outside of FDOA, Kristy has worked as the Assistant Program Supervisor at the City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Affairs since 2012. She received her bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Services Administration from FSU and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). She specializes in training and advocacy within the Tallahassee and surrounding communities.
When she is not working with City of Tallahassee and volunteering with FDOA, Kristy loves spending time with her family and friends, boating, reading, and listening to country music. Kristy is a big fan of all FSU sports, especially football and women’s basketball. She enjoys traveling, whether it be abroad or taking trips with her husband, John, in their camper. Kristy hopes to travel to Ireland someday. “My maiden name is Ireland, and I have always wanted to visit. I was scheduled to go in March of 2020 though the pandemic had other plans,” she said.
Throughout her life, Kristy has advocated for inclusion for people from all walks of life. Kristy says that to her, inclusion means “ALL people no matter abilities. Each individual would be respected and valued in society.” She is active in numerous community service events throughout Tallahassee, including being an annual participant in the Buddy Walk for the Down Syndrome Association of Tallahassee. If she could share one message to the world, it would be “Be nice and show respect.” Kristy is a valued member of the community, and FDOA is fortunate to have her as the vice-president.