The Vermont Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) announced the employer award recipients for the “Spirit of the ADA” Awards. Awards are given to employers who reflect the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act in their employment practices and successfully meet the following criteria:
- 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 a disability as an overall employment strategy.
The EDGE Sports and Fitness-Williston
On October 18, 2018, The EDGE Sports and Fitness was awarded the “Spirit of the ADA” award from the Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. Recognized for their outstanding support of employees with disabilities, The EDGE Sports and Fitness was recognized by Eileen Casey, Vice Chair of the Governor’s Committee of People with Disabilities. Receiving the award on behalf of The EDGE Sports and Fitness were Mike Feitelberg and Kimberely Kilbon.
“We were thrilled as an organization to receive such an honor! Employing folks with disabilities has enriched our community and changed our culture!” according to Kim Kilbon, Human Resources at The Edge Sports & Fitness.
Project Search also received the “Spirit of ADA” award. Project Search is a workplace immersion program for students with intellectual disabilities in their final year of high school. It is a collaborative program between Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Services, and a local business like The Edge Sports & Fitness. This one-year program offers career exploration, job skill training and job coaching through business-based internships. The goal is to have students learn transferrable skills via internships that lead to complex competitive employment. Molly Wiggins accepted the award on behalf of Project Search.