- Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Media Contact for NDEAM 2024: Championing Inclusion: Honoring Employers, Employees, and Legislative Leaders
Imene Bouziane Saidi, Executive Director
Great Hall of Flags, Massachusetts State House and on Zoom — Join us on Wednesday, October 23rd 2024 from 12:30pm to 2pm for Championing Inclusion: Honoring Employers, Employees, and Legislative Leaders (Main Celebratory Event), hosted by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s Annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month Celebration focuses on disability employment and voting rights, bringing together people with disabilities, policymakers, employers, human services providers, and other stakeholders. The event will honor policymakers, recognize leading businesses and employment support providers, and share strategies for inclusive hiring, retention, and accessible voting. The celebration will also feature a special proclamation from Governor Healey's Office commemorating National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Check out this year's program by clicking the link below to view the full details!
2024 NDEAM Program (pdf)
Main Event Schedule
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Event Schedule
Great Hall of Flags, Massachusetts State House • 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Championing Inclusion
EMCEE: Representative Denise Garlick, Commission Chair
Opening remarks
Representative Denise Garlick, Commission Chair
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll
Keynote
Secretary Lauren Jones, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
2024 Legislative Champions Award Recipients
Craig Hall, Commission Member presenting:
- Senator Michael Barrett, Massachusetts Senate, Senate President Karen Spilka
- Representative John Lawn, Massachusetts House of Representatives, Speaker Ron Mariano
Spotlight: Disability Inclusive Workplaces Employers and Employees Perspectives
2024 National Disability Employment Awareness Month Employer Recipients
Kathy Petkauskos, Commission Disability Employment Chair presenting:
- Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Small to Mid-Size Organization Award Recipient
Remarks from:- Barry Gale, Senior Vice President / Chief Human Resources Officer, OWMI Director
- Adam Coldwell, Vice President, Director of Marketing and Communications
- Eversource Energy, Large Size Organization Award Recipient
Remarks from:- Don Scacco, Vice President of Connecticut Electric Operations, Executive Sponsor of the AdaptAbility Business Resource Groups
- Tim Vernon, Senior Customer Service Representative and co-lead for the AdaptAbility Business Resource Groups
2024 Employment Support Champion Award Recipient
Regina Marshall, Commission Member presenting:
- Employment Supports Award Recipient
Remarks from Amanda Strange, Employment Specialist, CHAI Day and Employment Services, Jewish Family & Children's Service
Spotlight: Inclusive Democracy: Insights on Voting Access and Civic Engagement for People with Disabilities
Remarks from:
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin
- Raquel Quezada, Chair; Cody Rooney, Vice Chair Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
- Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director, The Arc of Massachusetts
Closing remarks
Executive Board Members: Representative Denise Garlick, Oswald Mondejar, Carl Richardson, and Chris White