NYSID Annual Meeting

Defining a NYSID Champion is easy when the individual or organization is passionately committed to influencing NYSID’s impact on a more inclusive New York for individuals of all abilities. Kevin Crosley, President & CEO at Arc Herkimer, is that visionary colleague.

Kevin has served on the Board of Directors for 15 years in the capacity of Member, Vice President, President and Past President. Most importantly, Kevin led a change charge to advance NYSID’s core business and create employment opportunities.

It is fitting that Kevin was named the 2023 NYSID Champion at the Annual Meeting on October 18, where he was feted with an award video and proclamation recognizing his outstanding and resolute service to NYSID and New Yorkers with disabilities. 

Recognizing that community creates growth, Kevin thanked the entire audience for its diverse contributions to employment for those we serve. “You are the reason this program exists,” he said. “Whatever your role, wha

NYSID’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation illustrated how employment positively impacts the lives of individuals with disabilities.

More than 4,700 individuals worked on NYSID contracts throughout Fiscal Year ’23, including 350 new job opportunities.

NYSID also hired Dylan, pictured with NYSID President & CEO Maureen O’Brien, who first came on board through an internship with the Arc Lexington’s Transitions program. Dylan is among the many individuals whose lives have been improved by competitive integrated employment.

We are grateful to our Member Agencies, Corporate Partners, customers, supporters, and strategic partners for showcasing what is possible when "Transforming For Tomorrow” and beyond.
 
 Click to enjoy videos highlighting the

Congratulations to the 50 nominees from Member Agencies and Corporate Partners for 2023.

From this talented pool of NYSID workers, two individuals were selected to be honored at our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 18:

• Logan Nye, a production employee at The Arc Allegany-Steuben, pictured above. Click to watch Logan's video.
• Elisabeth Yong, an

In the 20th year of celebrating outstanding performance on NYSID contracts, sincere congratulations are extended to the 50 nominees from Member Agencies and Corporate Partners. 

2023 Nominees.pdf

We are proud to have reached the milestone of more than 1,000 individuals recognized since 2004.

Two individuals from the Class of 2023 have been selected to be honored at NYSID's Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation on Wednesday, October 18 in Schenectady:

• Logan Nye, a production employee at the Arc Allegany-Steuben's Stitched Ink apparel business
• Elisabeth Yong, an office temporary who has recently achieved a permanent community job thanks to training and employment through Goodtemps, a division of Goodwill Industries of Greater NY/Northern NJ

Recognition certificates and financial awards will be mailed in time for the upcoming National Disability

A NYSID Champion advocates for individuals with disabilities to live their most inclusive life. 

There’s no better example of inclusion than Special Olympics New York (SONY), through which 31,000 individuals from across the state are team players. Many of these individuals work at NYSID Member Agencies. 

Together, SONY and NYSID support corporate social responsibility in carrying out their respective missions. 

Since 2014, SONY has purchased more than $475,000 in branded products from NYSID, which equates to 392 weeks of paid employment to workers with disabilities.

NYSID gives back by volunteering at SONY events across the state.

Both organizations look forward to ongoing collaborations that make more connections to inclusive lives for individuals with disabilities.

Please enjoy the award video for NYSID’s 2022 Champion, Special Olympics New York.

NYSID’s Corporate Partners are private sector businesses approved by the NYS Education Department which commit to the majority of their employees being individuals with disabilities while servicing NYSID contracts.

The 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year is Sheen & Shine, Inc., a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business which has provided expert custodial services for 40 years. The company partners with various NYSID Member Agencies throughout Rochester to provide meaningful employment to workers with disabilities, including more than 35 individuals this past year.  

At Shine & Shine, an individual with a disability is an equal member of the team, making a living wage and giving back to their community. Roger Youngs, Sheen & Shine’s NYSID Employee of the Year, exemplifies this inclusion. 

Click to watch the award video shown at NYSID’s Annual Meeti

The Member Agency of the Year is selected for dedication to job creation for individuals with disabilities through the Preferred Source Program. This award also reflects an organization going above and beyond when the unexpected arises.  

Arc of Onondaga accomplished both throughout the past year, building on its 30-year NYSID employment collaboration. Its robust custodial business allows each individual to realize their potential, whether it be a team opportunity or the sole responsibility for cleaning a customer site.  

In 2022, the Arc’s NYSID contracts provided 41 jobs for individuals with disabilities who earned more than $450,000 in competitive wages. Most recently, these workers cleaned the NYS Department of Health COVID-19 testing and vaccination site at the NYS Fairgrounds.

The NYSID Employee of the Year, Akeem Allen, has grown from working on a custodial team to promoting to his own site. No m

Throughout the 2022 legislative session, Senator John W. Mannion and Assemblymember Chris Burdick led a movement to advance greater employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through an updated Preferred Source Law. Both legislators chair disability committees in the NYS Legislature.

Senator Mannion and Assemblymember Burdick were named NYSID's 2022 Legislative Champions for sponsoring the unanimous bills that led to Governor Hochul's signing of the modernized legislation.

Senator Mannion received the award in his District Office.

Assemblymember Burdick received his award at the October 19th Annual Meeting, where the following video was played before an enthusiastic crowd. 

Click

In addition to the newly announced New York State Disability Rights and Employment Awareness Month, October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which emphasizes the contributions of people with disabilities throughout America's diverse workforce. 

It’s fitting then that NYSID’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation was held on Wednesday, October 19, showcasing how employment positively impacts the lives of individuals with disabilities.

We are grateful to these individuals, and our Member Agencies, Corporate Partners, customers, supporters, and strategic partners, for the impact of their Unity, Purpose and Change toward a more inclusive New York than ever before.

“I’m proud of the 6,185 jobs created on 3,211 NYSID contracts: 4,642 (or 71%) were competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities,” said President & CEO Maureen O’Brien.

Please enjoy these videos highlighting our 2022 honore

While the Preferred Source Program has worked to offer individuals with disabilities as many employment opportunities as possible, its governing law needed to be updated after 50 years. 

NYSID is proud to share that on October 4 Governor Hochul signed Preferred Source legislation updating disability employment ratios and contracting thresholds. Thanks to these modernization efforts, we look forward to expanding meaningful jobs for individuals with disabilities who look to the program for success.

On behalf of those individuals and all of NYSID’s partners in the campaign to improve the Preferred Source Law for a new era, thank you Governor Hochul for signing this important legislation into law. With the support of Governor Hochul, our legislative champions, and the state’s first Chief Disability Officer Kim Hill, NYSID will better be able to put more New Yorkers with disabilities to work in various employment environments.

#NDEAM

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