7/18/2006
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller, [317] 327-3690 |
 |
Mayor presents access and inclusion awards
INDIANAPOLIS – In celebration of the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, today Mayor Bart Peterson, the Mayor’s Office of Disability Affairs and the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Disability presented the 2006 Access and Inclusion Awards. The awards are given each July to businesses, organizations and individuals making a difference in the lives of persons with disabilities through a commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
“This past winter, for the second year in a row, Indianapolis was recognized as one of America's most disability-friendly communities,” Mayor Peterson said. “Today we celebrate the contributions of these award recipients and thank them for their leadership. Each has provided our community with models of diversity and inclusion for us all to emulate.”
The following received awards:
The Late David Scott, James Pauley Lifetime Service Award
David Scott worked for 18 years at the Indianapolis Resource Center for Independent Living as an information and referral specialist. David was a member of the IndyGo Board of Directors, the Back Home in Indiana steering committee, the Medicaid Select Advisory Committee, the Spinal Cord Injury Support Group, and the CHOICE Task Force. As a person with quadriplegia, David worked tirelessly for equal access for the disenfranchised. David was one of the first wheelchair-users in the city to board the first accessible buses in the IndyGo fleet. He worked tirelessly with IndyGo to further enhance its system through the years and always did so without fanfare or publicity.
The James Pauley Lifetime Service Award was established in memory of James K. Pauley, who was one of the founders of the Indianapolis Mayor's Advisory Council on Disability and its chairperson from 1978 to 1980.
Employer Awards
The Employer Award was designed to recognize individuals, businesses and organizations that have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing training and career opportunities to persons with disabilities. This year, two recipients were recognized.
Dr. Michael A. Evans, AIT Laboratories, Inc., Employer Award Co-Recipient
Dr. Michael A. Evans and AIT Laboratories understand that persons with disabilities are an integral part of the workforce. For sixteen years, AIT has offered state-of-the-art laboratory analyses for more than six hundred healthcare, forensic, and pharmaceutical clients nationwide. Dr. Evans, a person who has experienced disability first-hand, founded AIT in 1990 and has been recruiting persons with
disabilities throughout his career. AIT has a strong relationship with such organizations as Bosma Industries for the Blind, and as a result of this relationship, recruited a Bosma client to manage AIT’s Information Technology Department. Moreover, AIT provides summer internship opportunities for students from the Indiana School for the Blind and participates in National Disability Mentoring Day.
Atlanta Bread Company, Employer Award Co-Recipient
As stated by Rita Davis of Noble of Indiana, “Developing a strong, dependable workforce is critical to the successful operation of any business, but it can be especially difficult in the food service industry.” The Atlanta Bread Co. has solved that challenge by working with Noble to provide a Supported Employment Opportunity for a Noble client with developmental disabilities. The decision was such a success that the company has provided sign language instruction to its staff to further assist the employee. Not only has this been a winning decision for Atlanta Bread Company, but also the employee has become more independent and self-confident. Atlanta Bread Company considers the employee as a productive member of the team and is an example of how hiring individuals with disabilities is not only the right thing to do, but also a smart business decision.
Karen Russo, Power Soccer of Indy, Accessibility Award
Power Soccer is a competitive sport for persons who use power wheelchairs. When Karen Russo’s two children returned from camp at the Muscular Dystrophy Association and told her about their experiences playing power soccer, she decided to organize a team in Indianapolis. Karen’s dedication has resulted in the creation of several power soccer teams in Central Indiana. Karen’s tireless efforts have provided athletes with disabilities the opportunity to participate in an organized sport and to show our community that its ability that counts.
The Accessibility Award is designed to recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to ensure persons with disabilities can participate in events, programs and activities offered in Indianapolis. Contributions to any and all aspects of community life such as art, culture, recreation, leisure, commerce, travel, and worship are considered.
Indianapolis Business Leadership Network and the Indianapolis Private Industry Council, Certificate of Recognition
The Indianapolis Business Leadership Network and the Indianapolis Private Industry Council were provided a Certificate of Recognition for their work in creating an employer-led group promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through job fairs and activities such as sponsorship of Disability Mentoring Day.
In addition to the awards ceremony, exhibitors provided information and resources relating to disabilities. Exhibit participants included Indianapolis/Marion County Emergency Management and a demonstration of an accessible voting machine, among others.
-30-
|
