October 4, 2021
October 2021: NY Celebrates 75th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month by Recognizing Essential Workers
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) joined forces to celebrate the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) by recognizing the efforts of essential employees with developmental disabilities.
Lieutenant Governor Hochul met with four essential employees who received employment supports from AHRC New York City while they worked at Staten Island University Hospital throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency to thank them for their dedication. She also met with students in the Project Search program, a collaborative between the New York City Board of Education, AHRC New York City, New York State Access-VR, OPWDD and Staten Island University Hospital that places high school seniors who have special needs in internships that combines classroom learning with mentoring and work experience to help students build employment skills.
“While people with developmental disabilities are some of the most vulnerable of New York’s population, many of these essential employees continued their critical work during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “I am privileged to meet four people today who are employed at Staten Island University Hospital and urge other businesses to partner with OPWDD to recognize the importance of employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and to be receptive to hiring these competent, loyal and reliable employees.”