OMRDD to honor employers at 'Works for Me' event October 7

ALBANY, NY (09/15/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) will honor select businesses from across New York State, which have demonstrated that hiring individuals with developmental disabilities is great for business, Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter announced today.

The business honorees will be feted at the “Works For Me” awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, at The Hart Lounge at The Egg, Center for the Performing Arts, Empire State Plaza, Albany.

The event is part of a series of statewide events honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, including the 2008 NDEAM Disability event sponsored by the New York State Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), scheduled for Oct. 21 at the Italian-American Center in Albany.

“The current unemployment rate among individuals with developmental disabilities, by some sources, approaches 85 percent, which is exponentially higher than that of the general population,” said Commissioner Ritter. “This is unacceptable. OMRDD has declared its commitment to an ‘Employment First’ policy that presumes that people with developmental disabilities are part of New York’s workforce and labor strategy and is partnering with the business sector and sister state agencies to promote job creation and sustainable employment.”

OMRDD will demonstrate to the business community and other honored guests that there is a significant economic benefit that workers with disabilities can bring to the workforce.

“The attributes that workers bring to a business – dependability, motivation and enthusiasm – is a vital message that we hope to spread at this event, and in doing so, contribute to the workforce needs of the employers who may attend,” said Commissioner Ritter. “We will show representatives of the economic development sector, local chambers of commerce, Wall Street, and others that this underutilized workforce can be a great addition to their businesses.”

In addition, an Employment Information Fair at the event, featuring businesses from around the state that employ individuals with developmental disabilities, will

highlight the diversity of skills and resilience that people with developmental disabilities have shown through their employment in a wide range of businesses and industries such as Border Patrol, technician, home health aide, assistant preschool teacher and pharmacy technician.

Honorees were chosen in the categories of Small Business (fewer than 25 employees), Medium Business ( 25-99 employees), Large Business (100 + total employees), and Corporate Partners, a special category for those businesses which consistently hire individuals with developmental disabilities, such as government and food service. While these businesses were selected for this year’s awards, there are many more businesses across the state and in New York City that are hiring people with developmental disabilities.

The four businesses to be honored are:

? Small Business: Bach’s Towing, Elma, NY. Despite the fact that Bach’s only employs 12 people, it has found a place for two individuals with developmental disabilities in its car and truck towing and repair and car detailing business.

? Medium Business: Baker, Sanders, Barshay, Grossman, Fass, Muhlstock and Neuwirth, Attorneys at Law, Mineola, N.Y. The company, located on Long Island, specializes in automobile legislation. The company fully integrates individuals with developmental disabilities into its work force culture, as well as including these individuals in extracurricular activities planned by the firm.

? Large Business: CCRx of N.Y. dba MTM Pharmacy, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. MTM Pharmacy provides customized pharmacy services for long-term care facilities. The business has integrated individuals with developmental disabilities in all aspects of its business.

? Corporate Partner: Wendy’s, Horseheads, N.Y. Wendy’s consistently employs individuals with developmental disabilities, providing an atmosphere that is nurturing, encouraging growth through positive reinforcement.

Honorable Mentions include:

? Small Business: Guercio and Sons, family owned grocery store, Buffalo, N.Y.; Gefen Financial Corporation, mortgage loan company, Staten Island, N.Y.;

? Medium Business: Exceptional Family Resources (EFR), non-profit agency, Syracuse, N.Y.; In Room Plus, packager of welcome baskets used nationwide, Buffalo, N.Y..

? Large Business: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, federal government agency, Champlain, N.Y.; YMCA of Norwich, Syracuse, N.Y.

? Corporate Partner : McDonald’s Corporation, Oneonta, N.Y.; Price Chopper, Niskayuna, N.Y.

Criteria for selection examined the benefits both to the employer and employee, such as work performance, length of employment, inclusion efforts by employer and positive changes in the employee’s life due to having this job.

For more information about the Works For Me event or OMRDD’s ‘Employment First’ initiative, contact Nicole Weinstein, Acting Director, Office of Public Information, 518-474-6601.

About OMRDD

The Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) provides high-quality services, supports and advocacy to approximately 140,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. OMRDD works with a network of nearly 800 not-for-profit providers to help people with developmental disabilities lead richer lives that include meaningful relationships, good health, personal growth and productivity and homes in their communities.

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