Albany - Building on the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities’ (OPWDD) mission to help people live richer lives in the community, five businesses and one school district were honored today at the New York State Museum’s Huxley Theater in Albany as recipients of OPWDD’s annual Works for Me awards.

Works for Me awards are given to businesses across the state that are committed to workforce diversity and to hiring individuals with developmental disabilities. These businesses recognize the significant contributions that individuals can make in the workplace and that hiring workers with disabilities makes good business sense.

By valuing the skills and talents people with disabilities have to offer, and by fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces, these businesses are making our communities stronger and helping people to reach their potential.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed an executive order last year establishing the Employment First Commission, which was tasked with creating an Employment First policy for New York, and making competitive, integrated employment the first option when considering supports and services for people with disabilities. The Employment First Commission delivered their recommendations in March based on feedback from more than 30 advocacy, trade, and provider organizations, as well as individuals with disabilities.

In addition, New York offers the Workers with Disabilities Employment Tax Credit which provides a tax credit to businesses that hire individuals with a disability. There is no limit the number of hires one company can make, and the employer ultimately decides who to hire.

OPWDD Acting Commissioner Kerry Delaney said, “A diversified workforce works for everyone, and OPWDD is committed to ensuring that individuals with developmental disabilities are a growing part of New York State’s workforce. By valuing the skills and talents people with disabilities have to offer, and by fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces, businesses are making our communities stronger and helping people to reach their potential.”

More than 7,300 individuals with developmental disabilities are currently engaged in competitive employment in New York State, making at least minimum wage. OPWDD has implemented strategies to increase that number.

The 2015 Work For Me Honorees are:

Small Business of the Year: Northland Veterinary Hospital, Gouverneur, NY

For three decades, Northland Veterinary Hospital has been providing quality veterinary medical and surgical care to the Gouverneur area under the direction of Dr. Tim Monroe. Northland has been involved with Supported Employment for 27 years and Wilma Carpenter has been employed there for 23 of those years, working to keep the hospital clean and caring for the animals.

Medium Business of the Year: General Control Systems, Green Island, NY

For nearly 20 years, General Control Systems has been one of the largest control systems integrators in the Northeast, designing and implementing sophisticated control systems for manufacturing, process and other industrial facilities. The company prides itself on making a difference for customers, employees and the community. Malcolm Brooks is a custodian at the company’s Green Island facility.

Large Business of the Year: Oneida Savings Bank, Oneida, NY

Oneida Savings Bank has been serving the residents of Madison and Oneida Counties for nearly 150 years. It has grown to 11 locations and more than 200 employees, one of which is Michelle Wolfe. Michelle is responsible for cleaning in three buildings at the bank’s main branch in Oneida. Her duties have grown as she has grown and developed in the position.

Government/Nonprofit of the Year: The New School, New York, NY

The New School offers a unique educational experience for students. It is comprised of a number of different colleges geared toward a wide variety of interests and age groups. The New School has academic centers in New York City, Paris, Shanghai, and Mumbai, and offers some 10,000 students more than 135 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The school’s workforce is as diverse as its curriculum. Alexandra Bonomo has taken on a number of job duties in her two years in the facilities architecture department including helping to map out the school grounds and tracking energy usage.

Corporate Partner of the Year: Walmart, Springville, NY

Walmart has a history of employing people with disabilities and the Springville Walmart is no exception, employing 6 people with disabilities. One of its longest tenured employees with a disability, David Gray, started out pushing carts 14 years ago and now is one of the store’s top cashiers.

About the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities

The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities is responsible for coordinating services for 130,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities. It provides services directly and through a network of approximately 750 nonprofit service providing agencies, with about 80 percent of services provided by the private nonprofits and 20 percent provided by state-run services. Nearly 40,000 individuals with developmental disabilities are currently receiving residential supports from the OPWDD and its network of providers.