This year’s recipients are as follows:

2008 Central Region Recipient

Bethany Village is located at 3005 Watkins Road in Horseheads, New York. Bethany Village employs twelve persons who have developmental and other intellectual disabilities, which comprises 4% of their total workforce. They were nominated by the Chemung County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc.

2008 Northeast Region Recipient

IFC is located at 1089 Route 9, Champlain, New York and employs seven plus persons who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities, comprising 17-18% of their total workforce. ICF is a distribution and repair warehouse and was nominated by the Clinton County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc.

2008 Western Region Recipient

McDonald’s CP National Enterprises is located at 8700 Vallance Road, Mile Marker 376 West, Leroy, New York and employs four persons who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities, comprising 11% of their total workforce. They were nominated by the Livingston-Wyoming Counties Chapter of NYSARC, Inc.

2008 Southeast Region Recipient

Sam’s Club, located on Route 9W in Kingston, New York, is a retail business and was nominated by the Ulster-Greene Counties Chapter of NYSARC, Inc. Sam’s Club employs five persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities which comprises 3% of their total workforce at that location.

The NYSARC, Inc. 2007 Employer of the Year is Littman Krooks, LLP located at 339 Knollwood Road, White Plains, New York.  Littman Krooks employs one (1) person with intellectual or other developmental disabilities, which comprises .03% of the total workforce.

Nominated by our Westchester County Chapter, Littman Krooks, LLP is an extremely caring and compassionate law firm committed to assisting clients and families on various topics related to special needs.  They are not only a resource for the community, but for advocates, and host seminars on topics related to services for individuals with disabilities.

Littman Krooks, LLP has been extremely supportive of their employee.  They have fully integrated her into their "family" and truly value her as an important member of their team.  She has been given additional responsibilities after showing her capability to take on greater challenges.

The NYSARC, Inc. 2006 Employer of the Year is Stop & Shop located at 111 Vredenburg Avenue, Yonkers, New York.  Stop & Shop employs fourteen (14) people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, comprising 5% of their total work force.  Stop & Shop has been a strong supporter of The Arc's Supported Employment Program for over four (4) years.

Stop & Shop is a supermarkert with various locations throughout Westchester County.

Stop & Shop has provided ample opportunities over the years for people associated with the Westchester County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc.  They have created positions for individuals with developmental disabilities even when the store had budget restraints.  Once employed management works with the individuals to create career paths within the company.

Stop & Shop has been very supportive, patient and flexible with regards to employees who have developmental disabilities.

The 2005 NYSARC, Inc. Employer of the Year Award goes to Trader Joe's, located at 215 N. Central Avenue, Hartsdale, New York.  They currently employ three (3) people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities, comprising 15% of the total workforce of Trader Joe's.

Nominated by our Westchester County Chapter, Trader Joe's is a community minded employer who has hired individuals with developmental disabilities in the past and has now expanded in Westchester County where they have three locations.

The manager of Trader Joe's once held a position open for one of our consumers for nearly seven weeks until authorization was received from VESID to work with the individual.

Trader Joe's uses the words "a fun career" to describe employment opportunities within their organization.  Employees are called "Crew Members", they wear bright Hawaiian shirts and have such titles as Novitiate, Captain and Specialist.

Trader Joe's believes in treating others equally, and emphasizes the fact that they promote a positive environment and team atmosphere.  Our consumers are full members of the team and do a variety of tasks.  The supervisor is very positive about the work performance of our consumers and has recommended to other new Trader Joe's stores in the County that they hire people from Westchester Arc.

Otto Davila, Manager, accepts the 2005 Employer of the Year Award on behalf of Trader Joe's.

The 2004 NYSARC, Inc. Employer of the Year Award is Rochester Public Library

The Rochester Public Library currently employs nine (9) people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities, comprising 2% of the total workforce of the Rochester Public Library.

Nominated by our Monroe County Chapter, the Rochester Public Library has done a fantastic job hiring many consumers through the Arc in the last two years; however, the tradition of hiring people with developmental disabilities extends over the past twenty years.

One example is an employee who has a gift for keeping things in order.  This employee works as a Library Page in the Business and Government Division, one of the busiest places in the library.  The employee recently celebrated his second anniversary as a Library Page, and was presented with an "Excellence in Service Award."

The Rochester Public Library continues to make a conscientious effort to review their work force, actively recruit employees with disabilities, make reasonable accommodations, and work closely with Job Coaches to become educated and sensitive in helping persons with disabilities have long term success in employment.

Congratulations Rochester Public Library!