Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vermont’s Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) announced the employer award recipients for the “Spirit of the ADA” Awards. The Vermont “Spirit of the ADA” Award is given to employers who reflect the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act in their employment practices. Adam Leonard, Director of Human Resources for the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, is to receive the Spirit of the ADA Award on Wednesday, October 12th at 1 pm at the Sheraton.
Successfully meeting any of the following criteria qualifies employers for eligibility to be nominated:
- Recruitment outreach and equal accessibility in the application, interviewing, and hiring procedures for people with disabilities.
- Use of on-the-job accommodations, modifications, progressive employment methods, and/or creative solutions for successful training and employment of people with disabilities.
- Accessible physical structures, buildings, work stations and equipment, and services.
- Support for the employment of a person(s) with disability as an overall employment strategy.
The following employers have been recognized for the promotion of hiring and retaining of people with disabilities:
Nick Caputo, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, Barre
Marin Iwashko, Bennington County, Meals Program
Orly Munzing & Vicki Friedman, Strolling of the Heifers
Adam Leonard, Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center
Robin Ingenthron Good Point Recycling
Tom Fondakowski & Paul Bento, Johnson State College Dining - Sodexo
Fritz & Paula Halbedl, Derbyline Village Inn
David Watts & Karen Lombard, Kendal at Hanover Assisted Living
Christine Priest, Maplefield’s, Enosburg Falls
Paul Tomasi, NEK Waste Management District
Jay Welenc, Environmental Services Department at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Rob Macfarlane, Sodexo Food Service Group at Castleton University
Jeremiah Whitten and Robert Bachand, Vermont Furniture Designs
Every day, people with disabilities can and do add value to America’s workplaces. However, in both good economic times and bad, people with disabilities have far fewer job opportunities than the general population. The goal of the GCEPD is to promote the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities and dispel negative stereotypes about disability and employment. The employers who are recognized for this award have been exemplary in their employment of people with disabilities, and the employees have been successful contributors to their respective organizations.
The GCEPD and VOCREHAB VERMONT will also be participating in radio shows to recognize the National Disability Employment Awareness Month, promoting noteworthy employment practices, resources and employers of distinction that have won the “Spirit of the ADA” Awards on our website – www.hireusvt.org. We will also conduct broad outreach through the electronic distribution of our newsletter, “Abilities” and our Facebook site, https://www.facebook.com/Vermont-Governors-Committee-on-Employment-of-People-with-Disabilities-102349473247419/?fref=ts.
“We are excited about the progress that has been made by Vermont employers in the hiring of people with disabilities. The Spirit of the ADA Awards will recognize some of these employers. We will also continue our education and outreach efforts to increase the employment outcomes for Vermonters of ALL abilities and to help employers gain awareness of this valuable resource pool for employment,” said Christopher J. Loso, Chair of the Vermont GCEPD and Vice President of Loso’s Professional Janitorial Services, Inc. “My company has been employing people with disabilities for the past four years as part of our overall recruitment efforts and they have made a tremendous impact with their quality of work. They should be seriously considered by employers across Vermont looking for skilled and motivated employees. It makes perfect business sense.”
About the Vermont GCEPD
The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) is a permanent statewide committee established in 1963 by the Vermont legislature to promote the employment of people with disabilities. Its 23 members represent a broad cross section of individuals from business, disability groups, government, and service providers. Through education and outreach activities it provides support and resources to employers and job seekers to facilitate the employment and accommodation of people of all abilities.
About National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. The theme for 2016 is "#InclusionWorks“which seeks to inspire social media awareness of workers with disabilities.
NDEAM's roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month." Upon its establishment in 2001, the Office of Disability Employment Policy assumed responsibility for NDEAM and has worked to expand its reach and scope ever since. For more information about NDEAM, including specific ideas for how different types of organizations can participate, visit www.dol.gov/odep/ and select "National Disability Employment Awareness Month" from the drop-down menu.
Source: www.vabir.org 9.27.2016