South Setauket & Stony Brook Employees with Disabilities Honored

November 26, 2018; South Setauket, NY/Stony Brook, NY – Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities (ACLD) recently held its 33rd annual Employment Recognition Breakfast at The Heritage in Bethpage, NY, 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 leading 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 salutes businesses that are committed to hiring people with disabilities while encouraging other businesses to hire individuals with disabilities. Jeanie Shelton-Clyne, ACLD’s Assistant Director of Vocational Services, commented during the event, “Work is not just a job for the people we support. For most, this is a dream come true.”

ACLD Board of Trustees President Joe Ortego added, “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.”

The Vocational Achievement Award recognizes people with disabilities for their professional accomplishments. This year’s award winners include:

• Meaghan Keating of West Hempstead, a Health and Beauty Associate at Target in Westbury
• Kevin Ironside of Mineola, a Lot Attendant at Stop & Shop in Hicksville
• Maureen Boyle of East Northport, a Fitting Room and Sales Attendant at Old Navy in Commack
• Doug Kornblatt of East Hills, an Usher at United Artist Westbury – Stadium 12 in Westbury

The PACE Award (Partnership for Advancement and Choices in Employment) was presented this year to:

• 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
• Bren-Tronic, Inc. (Commack, NY) – 2018 Advocate of the Year
• Old Navy (Commack, NY) – 2018 Business Leadership Award

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.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

• PHOTO 1: Representing one of several people with disabilities honored at ACLD’s 2018 Employment Recognition Breakfast is Joseph Montelbano of Port Jefferson Station, a Custodian at Stony Brook University. Mr. Montelbano has been working at Stony Brook University since 1988 and was presented with ACLD’s Thomas Choma Longevity Award.
• PHOTO 2: Representing one of the local employers honored at ACLD’s 2018 Employment Recognition Breakfast is Jay Rosenbaum (right) from Rosenbaum Design Group Architecture, who was named ACLD’s Employer of the Year. Mr. Rosenbaum is pictured with Russell Neustadt of Plainview, a Mail Clerk (left) at Rosenbaum Design Group Architecture, who received ACLD's PACE Award (Partnership for Advancement and Choices in Employment).