BP MARKOWITZ TO HONOR BROOKLYN EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES

Ceremony to mark 16th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act.

9:00 A.M.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24
BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL COURTROOM
209 JORALEMON STREET
BETWEEN COURT & ADAMS STREETS
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN

On Tuesday, October 24 , Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Borough President’s Advisory Committee on Disability Issues will mark the 16th anniversary of the landmark A mericans with D isabilities A ct and N ational D isability E mployment A wareness M onth by honoring Brooklyn employers who hire workers with disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act enables people with disabilities to participate more fully in their communities, travel more easily, gain more complete access to the goods and services , and co mpete more effectively for jobs .

This September the Borough President’s Advisory Committee on Disability Issues launched an initiative to help businesses employ people with disabilities and provides decals recognizing participating employers who have hired individuals with disabilities. Through the efforts of partners such as Vocational & Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), which provides 100% reimbursement of their applicants salary for up to four weeks, the outlook is bright for Brooklyn jobseekers with disabilities.

Thirteen Brooklyn employers, selected from nominations submitted by individuals throughout the borough, will be honored for their co mmitment to hiring Brooklynites with disabilities. This year ’ s honorees are as varied and diverse as Brooklyn , they are the B ushwick Salvation Army Center, Connors and Sullivan Law Firm, Costco Wholesale, Foodtown, Home Depot, Kingsborough Community College, Kings County Hospital, Lassen & Hennigs Catering, Mercy Home Care & Medical Supplies, New Generation Learning Center, Staples, Stop & Shop, and Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church.

“W e have to support those devoted every day to mainstreaming the millions of Americans with d isabilities, including more than 100,000 here in B rooklyn ,” said Borough President Markowitz . “When companies open up jobs to disabled A mericans and foster diversity within their offices everybody wins! ”

Borough President Markowitz is proud to h onor Brooklyn businesses that have made the commitment to invest in individuals of all abilities so every Brooklynite might know the satisfaction of being a wage earner.