Dozens of disabled employees who have excelled in their jobs and the businesses that hired them were recognized at the 24th Annual Achievement Awards Breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 14.
This year’s event involved 52 employees and 43 employers. Stop & Shop of Port Chester also received a regional award from VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals With Disabilities) for its accomplishments in the hiring of the disabled.
County Executive Robert P. Astorino, who addressed the meeting, said: "I am so impressed with the dedication and motivation of the people in this room. You have all gone that extra mile and shown that if you work hard and do the right thing, you will be rewarded. We have 52 employees and 43 employers here today who stand out from the pack. And with all the challenges of employment today in this economy, that means a lot."
The breakfast at Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, is Westchester’s official celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This year’s event was co-sponsored by the Westchester County Office for the Disabled, the Westchester Employment Network, Doral Arrowwood and Diana Gould Ltd.
The keynote speaker was Matthew Castelluccio, a patient mentor and adaptive sports coordinator at Helen Hayes Hospital in Haverstraw. Left a quadriplegic from a motorcycle accident, Castelluccio has made many difficult choices in shaping his future and helped many others meet the challenges they face every day.
Mark Ridgeway and Gwenn Canfield of the White Plains VESID office joined 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. Award recipients are presented with certificates of achievement from the County Executive and employers are recognized for promoting diversity in the workplace.