'See Me for Me!' Celebrates National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month With Inclusivity
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and NYSID joins The Arc United States in celebrating this year's theme -- "See Me for Me!" -- encouraging society to look beyond someone's disability and see them as a person, not just a person with a disability.
One NYSID member agency that wholeheartedly embraces this concept is Spectrum Designs Foundation, an integrated workforce of more than 30 individuals living on the autism spectrum who work in the screen printing and embroidery departments, creating shirts, sweatshirts, safety apparel, hats, and much more.
Spectrum Designs provides apparel to state and local government agency customers, including 24 school districts, numerous municipalities, several residential and psychiatric centers, public works entities, and other Preferred Source purchasers. Its expanding NYSID business also has increased employment opportunities for its team of dedicated workers.
NYSID's 2017 Member Agency of the Year Award co-recipient, Spectrum Designs also supports its fellow NYSID member agencies by printing shirts for walks and other fundraising events, and has printed shirts for two NYSID WORKS! community improvement events. On a wider scale, Spectrum provides custom apparel to countless not-for-profit organizations and events, including the national Autism Speaks walk and New York City's Annual Disability Pride Parade.
In 2017, NYSID Preferred Source contracts accounted for 6,879 jobs, 4,293,221 employment hours and $65.4 million in wages across New York State.
This includes 3,584 jobs created in New York City and Long Island on Preferred Source contracts with these local-based member agencies and corporate partners:
Bronx County -- The Osborne Association; Action Window Cleaning, Inc. (in partnership with The Osborne Association)
Dutchess County -- Abilities First, Inc.; Dutchess ARC
Nassau County -- Abilities, Inc. (in partnership with Seery Systems Group, Inc.); Adults & Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc.; AHRC Nassau; American Maintenance (in partnership with The Corporate Source); eWorks Electronics Services, Inc.; FDR Services Corp. (in partnership with AHRC Nassau); Landtek Group, Inc. (in partnership with AHRC Nassau); OceanSide Institutional Industries, Inc. (in partnership with AHRC Nassau); Nicholas Center for Autism/Spectrum Designs Foundation; The Corporate Source; and The Rehabilitation Institute (in partnership with American Maintenance and Mayco Building Services, Inc.)
New York County -- AHRC New York City; American Security Shredding (in partnership with AHRC New York City); CASO, Inc. (in partnership with Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc.); Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc.; International Center for the Disabled (in partnership with Focused Technologies); Lifespire, Inc.; R & W Inventory, LLC (in partnership with AHRC New York City); Scarab Consulting (in partnership with AHRC New York City); The Doe Fund, Inc.; Wildcat Service Corporation
Orange County -- Access: Supports for Living; American Maintenance (in partnership with Access: Supports for Living)
Queens County -- American Maintenance and Terranova Landscapes, Inc. (in partnership with PSCH, Inc.); Goodwill Industries of Greater NY & Northern NJ; Lioncage NYC, Inc. (in partnership with AHRC New York City); and PSCH, Inc.
Rockland County -- eBizDocs (in partnership with Jawonio, Inc.); Jawonio, Inc.; and The Arc of Rockland
Suffolk County -- Alternative Earthcare (in partnership with Skills Unlimited); American Maintenance (in partnership with Skills Unlimited); Concern for Independent Living (in partnership with Carlstrom & Ritter, Inc. and Stang Landscaping Corp.); Imaging and Microfilm Access (in partnership with Skills Unlimited); Maryhaven Center of Hope; and Skills Unlimited
Sullivan County -- Sullivan ARC/Sullivan Industries
Westchester County -- A & P Coat, Apron & Linen Supply (in partnership with Jawonio, Inc.); American Maintenance (in partnership with AHRC New York City); Westchester County ARC; and Digiscribe (in partnership with Westchester County ARC)
NYSID honors all Preferred Source workers from these member agencies and corporate partners who push past significant challenges to reach their potential in the workplace and community. #DDawareness18