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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2020
For More Information Contact:

JP O'Hare

(518) 474-1201

Press@nysed.gov

www.nysed.gov

 

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Education Department Recognizes Employers of Individuals With Disabilities

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

2020 Marks 75th Observance of NDEAM, 30th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

The New York State Education Department will celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) throughout October with this year’s theme "Increasing Access and Opportunity," Interim Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced. The Department’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES), with several partner organizations, will host virtual events across the state to recognize businesses that do an outstanding job of employing individuals with disabilities. This special year marks the 75th observance of NDEAM, 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 100 years of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

“We are thrilled that, despite the pandemic, we are able to virtually continue this annual campaign to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of workers with disabilities,” Board of Regents Vice Chancellor T. Andrew Brown said. “The businesses that we honor this month prioritize diversity in their hiring practices. With their help, we will continue to work to eliminate employment gaps for people with disabilities.”

“In New York we value diversity, including differences in ability, and are proud to honor businesses that share these values,” Interim Commissioner Rosa said. “Given the opportunity, individuals with disabilities are excellent employees who add value to the workforce. The Board of Regents and the State Education Department are grateful for the important work being done by our ACCES-VR team and our partners to support people with disabilities in finding employment opportunities.” 

“These businesses set the standard for hiring individuals with disabilities and the State ACCES-VR office is pleased to once again support National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” Deputy Commissioner Kevin Smith said. “Through our Vocational Rehabilitation program, we are a proud partner in helping businesses and their employees realize the benefits of diversity.”

2020 NDEAM Celebrations

This year, to safely 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, ACCES-VR will hold virtual events across New York State. These will include virtual job fairs and events to honor employers.

The celebrations will, as in years past, emphasize local businesses that provide employment opportunities that enable workers with disabilities to contribute to their communities, earn a living wage and have meaningful careers.

The Department will recognize seven statewide winners: The Ayfa Foundation of America, Hannaford Supermarkets, BNB Bank, Secure Scan, Honeoye Public Library, Montefiore New25 Rochelle Hospital and entrepreneur Sean Cuddihy. NYSED also honored 25 regional winners. 

The NDEAM 2020 statewide and regional winners are listed below.

Statewide Winners
Business Size Name/Address

Efforts made to accommodate employees during COVID-19

The Afya Foundation of America
140 Saw Mill River Road
Yonkers, NY 10701

Employer with 500 or More Employees

Hannaford Supermarkets
970 U.S. 9
Schodack Landing, NY 12156

Employer with 100-499 Employees

BNB Bank
898 Veterans Memorial Hwy
Hauppauge, NY 11788

Employer with 25-99 Employees

Secure Scan
1060 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204

Employer with 24 or Fewer Employees

Honeoye Public Library
8708 Main Street
Honeoye, NY 14471

Youth Employment Under 24 Years Old

Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital
16 Guion Place
New Rochelle, NY 10801

Entrepreneur with a Disability

Sean Cuddihy
33 Clio Ave.
Freeport, NY 11520

 

Regional Winners

24 Seven Enterprises Wine Shipping Com LLC
118 Akers Drive
Cobleskill, NY 12043

Applebee's Grill & Bar
2656 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14216

Avon Nursing Facility
215 Clinton Street     
Avon, NY 14414

Blaze Pizza
400 Balltown Rd.
Schenectady, NY 12304

Brightview Senior Living
31 Hunt Road
Orangeburg, NY 10962

Cambridge Security Seals
One Cambridge Plaza
Pomona, NY 10970

Costco Wholesale Corporation
625 Broadhollow Rd
Melville, NY   11747

Delaware North
250 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202

Hannaford Supermarkets
96 Wolf Road
Colonie, NY 12205

Home Depot
160 East Sunrise
Freeport, NY 11520

Home Depot
4405 Milestrip Rd.
Buffalo, NY 14219

Home Depot
2361 Buffalo Rd.
Rochester, NY 14624

Jamestown Container
85 Edwards Deming Dr.
Rochester, NY 14606

Louis S. Wolk Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester
1200 Edgewood Ave.
Rochester, NY 14618

Marshalls
2152 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14216

Orange County Chamber of Commerce
40 Matthews St
Goshen, NY 10924

Pine Haven Nursing Home
201 Main Street
Philmont, NY 12565

Price Chopper Vails Gate
115 Temple Hill Rd. 
New Windsor, NY 12553

Rockland County Police and Public Safety Academy
50 Sanatorium Road, Building G
Pomona, NY 10970

S & H Uniform
1 Aqueduct Road
White Plains, NY 10606

Shoprite Supermarkets
2333 Nott Street E.
Schenectady, NY 12309

Town of Irondequoit
1280 Titus Ave.
Rochester, NY 14617

Uncle Giuseppe’s       
2330 Hempstead Turnpike
East Meadow, NY 11554

Village of Chestnut Ridge
277 Old Nyack Turnpike
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
651 Dick Road
Depew, NY 14043

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 services so they can reach their employment goals. In 2019, more than 91,000 New Yorkers received ACCES-VR services. There are 25 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).