Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities (ACLD) recently held its 33rd annual Employment Recognition Breakfast at The Heritage in Bethpage, where several people with disabilities, as well as employers that support their employment, were honored with different awards.
Nearly 150 people attended the event, representing many of the more than 100 Long Island companies that partner with ACLD’s Vocational Program.
ACLD, a Long Island based not-for-profit agency supporting people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, hosts its Employment Recognition Breakfast each year to honor employees with special needs who have made notable achievements on the job and to salute businesses that are committed to hiring people with disabilities while encouraging other businesses to hire individuals with disabilities.
“Work is not just a job for the people we support. For most, this is a dream come true.” ACLD’s Assistant Director of Vocational Services Jeanie Shelton-Clyne said.
“ACLD is dedicated to helping people with special needs gain meaningful and sustainable employment. We have a dedicated workforce who give their all and have a deep desire to be active participants within the community. The people we serve thrive when given that chance,” ACLD Board of Trustees President Joe Ortego said.
The Vocational Achievement Award recognizes people with disabilities for their professional accomplishments. This year’s award winners included:
The PACE Award (Partnership for Advancement and Choices in Employment):
Russell Neustadt of Plainview, a Mail Clerk at Rosenbaum Design Group Architecture in New Hyde Park
The Thomas Choma Longevity Award recognizes people with disabilities who have maintained their employment for many years. This award was presented to two people:
Rebecca Zager of South Setauket, Bakery Clerk at Wild By Nature in South Setauket
Joseph Montalbano of Port Jefferson Station, Custodian at Stony Brook University
Employer awards were presented to:
Rosenbaum Design Group Architecture (New Hyde Park, NY) – 2018 Employer of the Year
About Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD):
Founded in 1957, ACLD is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit agency whose mission is to provide opportunities to more than 3,000 children and adults with autism, learning and developmental disabilities to pursue enviable lives, promote independence and foster supportive relationships within the community. ACLD employs more than 1,300 people and operates 86 different program sites including community residences and apartment programs across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Services include early childhood services, day habilitation, residential alternatives, vocational training and job placement, recreation programs, respite, family support services, and occupational, speech and physical therapies. For more information: www.acld.org.
