TransCen, Inc. honored a group of individuals who have made specific contributions toward the advancement of employment of youth and adults with disabilities in Montgomery County during a special annual awards dinner, which took place on October 25, 2007. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
The awards honor prominent Montgomery County citizens who have been instrumental in promoting disability employment. The Margit Meissner Excellence in Transition Award is presented to an individual whose work has exhibited a high degree of collaboration to ensure the successful transition of Montgomery County Public School students with disabilities from school to work. The Cory Moore Advocacy Award is presented to a parent or family member who has displayed extraordinary commitment to inclusive vocational preparation and employment of people with disabilities.
This year's recipients of the Margit Meissner Excellence in Transition Award are Mary Jo Bastacky, Frank Schneider, Joy Williams-Camp. They were cited for their work as teachers in Montgomery County Public School's Transition Training for Independence Program where students with intellectual disabilities are supported to participate in campus life at Montgomery College and obtain jobs.
Karen Leggett received the 2007 Cory Moore Award. Ms. Leggett is the Chairperson of the Transition Workgroup affiliated with Montgomery County Public Schools. In presenting the award, TransCen president, Richard Luecking, quoted from the award nomination that Ms. Leggett "has worked tirelessly and creatively for the whole range of students and young people who need appropriate education and opportunities for jobs."
An additional award is made each year to a person with a disability who has a special work related financial need. The Virginia C. Andary Fund Award, was presented to Richard Gambaro. Mr. Gambaro is a Disabled Veteran s Outreach and Placement Specialists at the Montgomery Works career center who will use the award to purchase a specially designed hearing aid.
The Margit Meissner and Cory Moore awards are jointly sponsored by TransCen, Inc., Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. TransCen is a non-profit organization based in Rockville that promotes disability employment.
Congratulations to all of this year's awardees!