Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino recognized dozens of disabled employees who have excelled in their jobs and the businesses that hired them at the 26th Annual Achievement Awards Breakfast on Thursday.
This year's event focused on 48 employees and 41 employer's. The Double Tree Hotel in Tarrytown and Stop and Shop in Tarrytown will also receive a regional award from ACCES-VR (Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services) of the New York State Education Department for its accomplishments in the hiring of the disabled.
Read the awards program for the full list of honorees.
The breakfast was Westchester's official celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This year's event is co-sponsored by the Westchester County Office for the Disabled, the Westchester Employment Network, Doral Arrowwood and Diana Gould Ltd.
"It is always a pleasure to be part of this breakfast and give recognition to those businesses who have done so much to help disabled employees," said Astorino. "It is also a tribute to those individuals who have overcome obstacles and succeeded at their jobs Congratulates to all involved."
The keynote speaker was Jesse Saperstein, a writer and motivational speaker. Mark Ridgeway and Gwenn Canfield of the White Plains ACCES-VR office will join Evan Latainer, director of the county's Office for the Disabled, in presenting the awards.
Each year the Westchester Employment Network, a group of vocational placement counselors and rehabilitation professionals, asks local employers for nominations of disabled workers who have performed exceptionally well. Every worker nominated is invited to the breakfast and presented with a Certificate of Achievement from the County Executive. Their employers also received certificates to thank them for promoting diversity in the workplace.