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NYSCB Salutes 2008 NDEAM Winners
October 2008 was the National Disability Employer Awareness month (NDEAM). It marks the 61st year that our country celebrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Highlighted below are some of the regional and state-wide NDEAM award winners, including businesses recognized for their proactive and positive practices in hiring and supporting workers with disabilities, and entrepreneurs with disabilities who have developed their own successful businesses, often providing employment opportunities for other individuals with disabilities.
The Long Island Working Partnership & Nassau Suffolk Placement Networks
In the entrepreneur category, the Golden Apples Candy Company owner, Joseph Piccione was recognized for his dedication and perseverance. He saw his vision loss as a challenge and as an opportunity. Joseph has shown others with a vision loss that they can use their previous work experience to begin new careers.
New York City NDEAM
The New York City NDEAM awards honored William Robinson for the Entrepreneur award. William is self-employed, producing and engineering music out of his own studio. He was referred to the Helen Keller Services for the Blind to explore ways to develop his music business.
Westchester County Awards
These businesses were honored for hiring people who are legally blind: Boys & Girls Club of America; Goodwill Industries; TJ Maxx, Mt. Vernon; Stop & Shop, White Plains; Yonkers Waterfront/Bid; Eurest Dining Services Compass Group; and Able and Ready Appliance Repair.
Orange & Sullivan County Employment Alliance Network
Independent Living Inc. received an award for “significant contribution to furthering employment opportunities for people with disabilities” and “providing meaningful and valuable work experiences for individuals with visual impairments”. They also made adaptive technology available at their center. The award was nominated by NYSCB and the Association for the Visually Impaired.
Other winners in the region included:
Orange County Commissioner of Social Services, Dave Jolly, nominated by NYSCB counselor, Julie Cardone. He hired an intern and has since hired a second one. Dave has empowered NYSCB and his staff to work together to improve knowledge and awareness of people with visual impairments and their needs when they come to DSS. “He is a very good partner to us”, said Julie Cardone. Rich Magoch accepted the award for Dave Jolly.
The Western New York Employment Consortium
The Western New York Employment Consortium gave an Employer Recognition award to Eileen Kudrick, a BEP manager, for her ECMC snack shop. She demonstrated outstanding achievement in her role as an employer. Eileen employs several people with visual impairments as well as people with physical disabilities.
The Capital Region NDEAM Annual Employer Recognition Awards
The Capital Region NDEAM Annual Employer Recognition Awards gave John Hastings of John’s Place, the Entrepreneur Regional Award. He was recognized for providing work experiences and hiring people with developmental disabilities from New Visions.
