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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 1, 2019
For More Information Contact:

JP O'Hare

(518) 474-1201

Press@nysed.gov

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State Education Department Recognizes 74 Employers of Individuals with Disabilities

The 鶹 honored 74 businesses from across the state that do an outstanding job of employing individuals with disabilities as part of its celebration of (NDEAM), Interim Commissioner Beth Berlin announced today.

The Department’s (ACCES), in collaboration of several partner organizations, honored the 74 businesses at award ceremonies throughout the state during the month of October. In addition to the award ceremonies, Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) events, panel discussions, and career fairs were held. This year’s NDEAM theme was “The Right Talent, Right Now.”

“In New York, we value diversity, including differences in ability, and are proud to honor businesses that share these values,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa. “The businesses that we honored this month prioritize diversity in their hiring practices. With the help of these businesses, we are working to eliminate employment gaps for people with disabilities.”

“The Board of Regents and the State Education Department are thankful for the important work being done by our ACCES-VR team and our partners to support people with disabilities in finding employment opportunities,” said Interim Commissioner Beth Berlin. “This year, the NDEAM theme was ‘The Right Talent, Right Now,’ and the businesses honored this month reflect this theme by hiring qualified individuals, regardless of ability.”

“The New York State ACCES-VR office was pleased to honor the 74 New York business awardees this National Disability Employment Awareness Month,” ACCES Deputy Commissioner Kevin Smith said. “When a business is committed to hiring a diverse workforce, inclusive of the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities, it benefits the entire community. We are proud to work in partnership with businesses that share our commitment to diversity.”

Statewide Winner (499-100 Employees) – Neal Cappadona, A+ Linen & Towel Supply (Farmingdale, NY):

“I would tell other employers or business partners looking to hire individuals with disabilities that ACCES-VR supports you from start to finish. It has really worked out well. We are so happy with the program that we would be open to trying satellite programs.”

Statewide Winner (99-25 Employees) – Anthony Haydu, General Manager, Grandaisy Bakery (New York, NY):

“I was most fortunate to answer a call from the Supervisor of Job Development at Lexington Vocational Services back in April 2013. All of the vocational services and support would not have been able to be authorized without ACCES-VR. ACCES-VR’s support of Lexington Vocational Services has helped us to identify and train our great talent pool.”

Statewide Winner (Entrepreneur) – Jeff Schnabel, Buffalo Grave Tenders (Getzville, NY):

“I was talking with my lawyer trying I was trying to figure out what type of job I could do with a bad back and had a grave tending idea. I called ACCES-VR and filled out all the paperwork. I was approved for help. They helped me with a business plan and were very supportive! Everyone I worked with thought that my idea was so unique that it would give me a niche. They purchased tools that I needed and gave me the support I needed to start this venture to feel needed again and to provide a very special service.”

2019 NDEAM Winners

The Department recognized five statewide winners: Sam’s Club, A+ Towel & Linen Supply, Grandaisy Bakery, Lone Maple Farm, and entrepreneur Buffalo Grave Tenders. 鶹 also honored 69 regional winners (see list below).

The NDEAM 2019 statewide and regional winners are listed below.

Statewide Winners
Business Size Name/Address

500 or More Employees

Sam's Club
56 Merritt Blvd.
Fishkill, NY 12524

499-100 Employees

A+ Towel & Linen Supply
149 Verdi Street
Farmingdale, NY 11735

99-25 Employees

Grandaisy Bakery
250 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013

24 or Fewer Employees

Lone Maple Farm
2001 Hawleyton Road
Binghamton, NY 13903

Entrepreneur

Buffalo Grave Tenders
120 Haussauer Road
Getzville, NY 14068

Regional Winners
Business Size Name/Address

Capital District/Hudson Valley

Blaze Pizza
400 Balltown Road
Schenectady, NY 12304

Market Bistro
873 New Loudon Road
Latham, NY 12110

Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill
4097 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

Orange & Rockland Utility
71 Dolson Avenue
Middletown, NY 10940

Shop Rite of Wallkill
20 Lloyds Lane
Middletown, NY 10940

Sunoco
121 Greenwich Avenue
Goshen, NY 10924

Central New York

Advanced Auto Parts
323 Oriskany Blvd
Yorkville, NY 13495

Big Time Transportation
71 Burwell Street
Little Falls, NY 13365

Cugini's Pizzeria
8182 State Route 12
Barneveld, NY 13304

Leatherstocking Council, BSA
6134 State Highway 23
Oneonta, NY 13820

Little Peeps Play Care
301 Demarest Pkwy
Elmira, NY 14905

McDonalds
30 E. Clark Street
Ilion, NY 13357

RFS Construction Solutions
512 High Street
Lisle, NY 13797

The Garage Taco Bar
1211 Washington Street
Binghamton, NY 13901

Toonie Moonie Organics
144 Roundhouse Road, Suite 2A
Oneonta, NY 13820

Long Island

Amazon
201 Grumman Road W.
Bethpage, NY 11714

Atria on Roslyn Harbor
100 Landing Road
Roslyn, NY 11576

Big Lots
260 Voice Road
Carle Place, NY 11514

Camp Bow Wow
174 Miller Place
Hicksville, NY 11801

Cannon
125 Park Ave., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Canon U.S.A. Inc.
One Cannon Park
Melville, NY 11747

CardWorks
101 Crossways Park Drive
West Woodbury, NY 11797

Evero Corporation
48 S. Service Road, Suite 200
Melville, NY 11747

Gallagher Family Markets - Shoprite
71 College Road
Selden, NY 11784

Henry Schein, Inc.
135 Duryea Road, West Bldg.
Melville, NY 11747

Home Depot
301 South Research Place
Central Islip, NY 11722

LA Fitness
110 New Moriches Road
Lake Grove, NY 11755

Levy Restaurants
1255 Hempstead Turnpike
Uniondale, NY 11553

Parker Jewish Institute for Health and Rehabilitation
271-11 76th Avenue
Queens, NY 11040

St. John's Episcopal Hospital
327 Beach 9th Street
Far Rockaway, NY 11691

Sunrise Credit Services
260 Airport Plaza Blvd.
Farmingdale, NY 11735

New York City

Bill Kolb
252 NY 303
Orangeburg, NY 10962

Cambridge Security Seals
One Cambridge Plaza
Pomona, NY 10970

Chili's
4434 Palisades Center Drive
West Nyack, NY 10994

Double Tree Hilton
425 East Rte 59
Nanuet, NY 10954

Dunkin Donuts
26 West Orangeburg Road
Orangeburg, NY 10962

Marshalls
241 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Marshalls
2485 Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10314

Montifiore New Rochelle Hospital
16 Guion Place
New Rochelle, NY 10801

Montifiore Nyack Hospital
190 N. Midland Ave.
Nyack, NY 10960

New City Library
220 Main Street
New City, NY 10956

Nolan Painting
21 Green Ave.
Amityville, NY 11701

Northern Riverview
87 Rte 9W
Haverstraw, NY 10927

NYS Vets Home
2090 Albany Post Road
Montrose, NY 10548

Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center
21 1st Ave.
Orangeburg, NY 10962

Rockland County Facilities Management
50 Sanatorium Road, Building A
Pomona, NY 10970

Shop Rite
250 Route 59
Tallman, NY 10901

Welllife Clean Corp.
40 Elmont Road
Elmont, NY 11003

Werok
18 Ford Products Road
Valley Cottage, NY 10989

Westchester Co. Office for People with Disabilities
148 Martine Ave.
White Plains, NY 10601

Wheelabrator Westchester
1 Charles Point Avenue
Peekskill, NY 10566

Western New York

Biel's Document Management
1201 Indian Church Road
Buffalo, NY 14224

Big Lots
6515 Brockport Spencerport Road
Brockport, NY 14420

Buffalo Wild Wings
1500 West Ridge Road
Rochester, NY 14615

Campus Auxiliary Services, Inc.
1 College Circle
Geneseo, NY 14454

Cherry Ridge
920 Cherry Ridge Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14580

Christie's Restaurant
1056 Union Road
West Seneca, NY 14224

Crickler Vending Services
900 Jefferson Road #5
Rochester, NY 14623

Expressive Beginnings
12 May Street
Webster, NY 14580

Hyatt Regency
125 East Main Street
Rochester, NY 14504

Instant Monogramming
1150 University Ave. #9
Rochester, NY 14607

IQOR
540 Dick Road
Depew, NY 14043

Jack's Barcelona Drive-In
8249-1st Street
Westfield, NY 14787

Lifetime Service Center
1955 Wehrle Drive
Williamsville, NY 14221

Sowfit
1292 Sheridan Drive
Buffalo, NY 14217

St. Ann's Community
1500 Portland Ave.
Rochester, NY 14621

The Strong National Museum of Play
1 Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607

Walmart (Depew)
4975 Transit Road
Lancaster, NY 14043

Walmart (Fredonia)
10401 Bennett Road
Fredonia, NY 14063

ACCES-VR

Through the Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) program, the Department assists individuals with disabilities in securing and maintaining employment so they can live independently. ACCES-VR offers individuals with disabilities a wide range of supports—from counseling and guidance, assessment, job placement, and job coaching to tuition assistance and equipment and inventory for those who are self-employed—to help them make a career and earn a living. These individuals work with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors who connect them with the right programs and people so they can reach their employment goal. In 2018, more than 27,000 individuals became eligible for ACCES-VR services and more than 13,000 secured employment. There are 15 statewide.

ACCES-VR works closely with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) and the New York State Commission for the Blind in helping individuals with disabilities find jobs and identifying employers that hire these individuals. The Commission for the Blind provides vocational rehabilitation for people who are blind and nominates businesses to be recognized this month. Additionally, DOL vets all businesses nominated as part of NDEAM.

To find out more about ACCES-VR services, please or call 1-800-222-JOBS (5627).