News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003 |
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343 |
HHS to Award Individuals During Celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on Thursday will present awards of distinction to six individuals and one organization to recognize October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month, reaffirming the administration's commitment to persons with disabilities to achieve full inclusion in the workforce.
"For the 54 million Americans living with disabilities, employment is vital to independence, empowerment and quality of life," Secretary Thompson said. "Every citizen deserves to live and work with dignity and freedom. Through our continued commitment to the disability community, HHS and the Bush administration are creating opportunities for people with disabilities to use their gifts and talents in the workplace, and celebrate their achievements."
During the ceremony, Secretary Thompson will highlight the contributions of consumer advocates, youth, elected officials, business and industry, media and entertainment, in advancing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act and President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, a comprehensive plan to help Americans with disabilities learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives and participate fully in their communities.
To carry out goals of the New Freedom Initiative, Secretary Thompson last year created the HHS Office on Disability to develop a single, overarching focus for the department's many programs, policies, activities and services throughout the HHS agencies that impact people with disabilities.
"We have made real strides in helping states design and implement innovative programs that support equality of opportunity, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities," said Margaret Giannini, M.D., director of the HHS Office on Disability. Altogether, the President's New Freedom budget proposes $2.1 billion in new spending over five years, including $417 million in new spending for fiscal year 2004. Funding includes programs that promote the goals of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, a law passed by Congress to encourage people with disabilities to work without fear of losing their Medicare, Medicaid or similar health benefits.
The honorees for National Disability Employment Awareness Month are:
Senator Robert Dole, former Senate Majority Leader. Senator Dole has a long-standing history of commitment and leadership in improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. In 1945, Senator Dole was hit by Nazi fire in the upper right back and arm. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star Medal. Senator Dole was instrumental in developing the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act.
John D. Kemp, CEO, Disability Services Providers of America. John Kemp was born without appendages. He was four years old when he obtained prostheses for his arms and legs. Mr. Kemp's consulting company publishes Disability and Employment Report, a monthly legal and legislative newsletter for employers.
Benny Mardones, Composer and Singer. Benny Mardones is a Vietnam veteran, composer and singer. For more than 15 years, he has raised money for children with severe disabilities and medical illnesses. Since 2002, when Mr. Mardones was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he has advocated to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson's research.
Microsoft Corporation, Mylene B. Padolina, Senior Diversity Consultant, Human Resources, Microsoft Corporation. Ms. Padolina manages disability integration programs and youth outreach programs. Microsoft Corporation has been a national leader in employing persons with disabilities, and in the development and promotion of software that meets the assistive technology needs of persons with disabilities.
Alan Anderson Reich, President, National Organization on Disability and Chairman of the World Committee on Disability (N.O.D.). N.O.D. is a private, non-profit organization furthering the acceptance and full participation of Americans with disabilities in national and community life. In 1962, Mr. Reich sustained a spinal cord injury in a diving accident at a family picnic. Mr. Reich is the first person in a wheelchair to address the United Nations on disabilities.
David Smith, President and CEO, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Under Mr. Smith's leadership, Sinclair Broadcast Group takes a proactive approach to hiring persons with disabilities, sponsoring events that raise funds for disability organizations, producing disability public service announcements, and to sponsoring campaigns to raise awareness and funding for different disabilities.
Mattie Stepanek, Youth Advocate. Mr. Stepanek is a poet and frequent motivational speaker on issues relating to disability and world peace. Mr. Stepanek is the National Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and was an honorary co-chair of an expert panel on intergenerational caregiving, sponsored by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development.
For more information on HHS disability efforts and the New Freedom Initiative, go to http://www.hhs.gov/newfreedom.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
Last Revised: October 30, 2003
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