FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Education Department Recognizes Employers of Individuals with Disabilities
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
The New York State Education Department will celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) throughout October, an annual campaign to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities. The Department’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES), with the help of several partner organizations, will host events across the state to recognize businesses that do an outstanding job of employing individuals with disabilities. This year’s NDEAM theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.”
“Individuals with disabilities make great employees when they are given the opportunity,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. “We need more businesses to devote themselves to hiring qualified individuals with disabilities. This month, we celebrate the diversity of employees and the businesses that hire them.”
“Employing qualified individuals, regardless of disability, is simply the right thing to do,” Interim State Education Commissioner Beth Berlin said. “We are thrilled to honor the businesses that understand hiring employees with diverse abilities enriches them and their communities. These businesses set the standard for hiring individuals with disabilities, and I encourage other businesses to adopt similar hiring practices.”
“The New York State ACCES-VR office is pleased to once again support National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” Deputy Commissioner Kevin Smith said. “The businesses being honored this month recognize that a diverse workforce can strengthen their business and drive innovation. Through our Vocational Rehabilitation program, we are a proud partner in helping businesses and their employees realize the benefits of diversity.”
2019 NDEAM Celebrations
This year, ACCES-VR will hold events across New York State to celebrate and honor businesses and workers that reflect the ideals of ACCES-VR’s mission to assist individuals with disabilities to achieve and maintain employment and to support independent living through training, education, rehabilitation and career development.
The celebrations will emphasize local businesses that have provided employment opportunities that enable workers with disabilities to contribute to their communities, earn a living wage and have meaningful careers.
ACCES-VR’s 2019 NDEAM celebrations are listed below.
2019 National Disability and Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) &
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) Statewide Event Listing
| District Office | Date | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Manhattan District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/4/19 |
135 W 23rd St New York, NY 10011 |
8:30am - 11:00am |
|
White Plains District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/11/19 |
455 S Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591 |
8:30am - 10:30am |
|
White Plains District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/25/19 |
233 Spook Rock Rd Suffern, NY 10901 |
8:30am – 10:30am |
|
Bronx District Office |
11/7/19 |
Bronx District Office Conference Room 1215 Zerega Avenue Bronx, NY 10462 |
9:30am – 11:30am |
|
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) |
10/30/19 |
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Corporate Office 4 World Trade Center 150 Greenwich St New York, NY 10007 |
TBD |
|
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) |
10/31/19 |
Journal Square Transportation Center Path Plaza 138 Magnolia Ave Jersey City, NJ 07306 |
TBD |
| District Office | Date | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Garden City, Hauppauge, Queens District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/18/19 |
99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, NY 11735 |
8:30am – 11:00am |
| District Office | Date | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mid-Hudson District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/10/19 |
58 Eagles Nest Rd Bloomingburg, NY 12721 |
5:00pm – 9:00pm |
|
Mid-Hudson District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/16/19 |
40 Civic Center Plaza Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 |
7:30am-9:00am |
| District Office | Date | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Utica District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/16/19 |
207 Genesee St Utica, NY 13501 |
11:00am – 1:00pm
|
|
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) |
10/12/19 |
246 W Seneca St Oswego, NY 13126 |
Registration begins at 8:30am |
|
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) |
10/18/19 |
1203 Hilton Ave Utica, NY 13501 |
9:00am – 11:00am |
|
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) |
10/23/19 |
800 Nottingham Rd Syracuse, NY 13224 |
Registration begins at 8:00am |
|
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) |
10/23/19 |
435 Glenwood Rd Binghamton, NY 13905 |
TBD |
| District Office | Date | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rochester District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/17/19 |
200 W Ridge Rd Rochester, NY 14615 |
5:00pm – 7:00pm |
|
Buffalo District Office NDEAM Award Ceremony |
10/22/19 |
Roswell Park, Gaylord-Cary Room Elm and Carlton Streets Buffalo, NY 14263 |
12:30pm – 3:00pm |
|
Buffalo District Office Networking & Panel Discussion |
10/23/19 |
Wyndham Garden Buffalo Williamsville 5195 Main St Williamsville, NY 14221 |
5:00pm – 6:00pm Networking 6:00pm – 7:00pm Panel Discussion |
|
Diversity Career Fair |
10/24/19 |
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, NY 14203 |
10:30am – 12:30pm |
2019 NDEAM Winners
The NDEAM 2019 statewide and regional winners are listed below.
| Business Size | Name/Address |
|---|---|
|
500 or More Employees |
Sam's Club |
|
499-100 Employees |
A+ Towel & Linen Supply |
|
99-25 Employees |
Grandaisy Bakery |
|
24 or Fewer Employees |
Lone Maple Farm |
|
Entrepreneur |
Buffalo Grave Tenders |
| Business Size | Name/Address |
|---|---|
|
Capital District/Hudson Valley |
Blaze Pizza |
|
Market Bistro |
|
|
Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill |
|
|
Orange & Rockland Utility |
|
|
Shop Rite of Wallkill |
|
|
Sunoco |
|
|
Central New York |
Advanced Auto Parts |
|
Big Time Transportation |
|
|
Cugini's Pizzeria |
|
|
Leatherstocking Council, BSA |
|
|
Little Peeps Play Care |
|
|
McDonalds |
|
|
RFS Construction Solutions |
|
|
The Garage Taco Bar |
|
|
Toonie Moonie Organics |
|
|
Long Island |
Amazon |
|
Atria on Roslyn Harbor |
|
|
Big Lots |
|
|
Camp Bow Wow |
|
|
Cannon |
|
|
Canon U.S.A. Inc. |
|
|
CardWorks |
|
|
Evero Corporation |
|
|
Gallagher Family Markets - Shoprite |
|
|
Henry Schein, Inc. |
|
|
Home Depot |
|
|
LA Fitness |
|
|
Levy Restaurants |
|
|
Parker Jewish Institute for Health and Rehabilitation |
|
|
St. John's Episcopal Hospital |
|
|
Sunrise Credit Services |
|
|
New York City |
Bill Kolb |
|
Cambridge Security Seals |
|
|
Chili's |
|
|
Double Tree Hilton |
|
|
Dunkin Donuts |
|
|
Marshalls |
|
|
Marshalls |
|
|
Montifiore New Rochelle Hospital |
|
|
Montifiore Nyack Hospital |
|
|
New City Library |
|
|
Nolan Painting |
|
|
Northern Riverview |
|
|
NYS Vets Home |
|
|
Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center |
|
|
Rockland County Facilities Management |
|
|
Shop Rite |
|
|
Welllife Clean Corp. |
|
|
Werok |
|
|
Westchester Co. Office for People with Disabilities |
|
|
Wheelabrator Westchester |
|
|
Western New York |
Biel's Document Management |
|
Big Lots |
|
|
Buffalo Wild Wings |
|
|
Campus Auxiliary Services, Inc. |
|
|
Cherry Ridge |
|
|
Christie's Restaurant |
|
|
Crickler Vending Services |
|
|
Expressive Beginnings |
|
|
Hyatt Regency |
|
|
Instant Monogramming |
|
|
IQOR |
|
|
Jack's Barcelona Drive-In |
|
|
Lifetime Service Center |
|
|
Sowfit |
|
|
St. Ann's Community |
|
|
The Strong National Museum of Play |
|
|
Walmart (Depew) |
|
|
Walmart (Fredonia) |
ACCES-VR
Through the Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) program, the Department assists individuals with disabilities in securing and maintaining employment so they can live independently. ACCES-VR offers individuals with disabilities a wide range of supports—from counseling and guidance, assessment, job placement, and job coaching to tuition assistance and equipment and inventory for those who are self-employed—to help them make a career and earn a living. These individuals work with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors who connect them with the right programs and people so they can reach their employment goal. In 2018, more than 27,000 individuals became eligible for ACCES-VR services and more than 13,000 secured employment. There are 15 ACCES-VR offices statewide.
ACCES-VR works closely with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) and the New York State Commission for the Blind in helping individuals with disabilities find jobs and identifying employers that hire these individuals. The Commission for the Blind provides vocational rehabilitation for people who are blind and nominates businesses to be recognized this month. Additionally, DOL vets all businesses nominated as part of NDEAM.
To find out more about ACCES-VR services, please visit our ACCES-VR website or call 1-800-222-JOBS (5627).
Media Contact
Reporters and education writers may contact the Office of Communications by email or phone at:
Press@nysed.gov
(518) 474-1201