Contact: Betsy Tolbert Luecking, 240-777-1256 V/TTY
For Immediate Release: October 30, 2001
County Honors Businesses and Individuals
At 15th Annual Pyramid Awards Ceremony
Fourteen businesses and individuals were honored today for their efforts to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at Montgomery County’s 15th Annual Pyramid Awards Ceremony.
The ceremony, held at the Bethesda Marriott, included remarks by Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, County Council President Blair Ewing, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jerry Weast, and TransCen Boardmember Dr. Judy Shanley. Charles Short, Director of the Department of Health and Human Services was the master of ceremonies. More than 170 persons attended the event, which featured award presentations and a keynote address by Judy Rasmussen, Executive Director of Services for the Visually Impaired.
In his remarks, County Executive Duncan noted that a number of concerns had been expressed to government officials by people with disabilities since the September 11 terrorist attacks, and he promised to address them as part of the emergency preparedness planning.
"I am directing public health and safety management staff to increase our efforts to ensure that our government facilities and our business sector partners have a well thought out plan for emergency responsiveness that includes the needs of people with disabilities," said Duncan.
The Commission on People with Disabilities presented County Executive Douglas M. Duncan with a special award for Outstanding Public Leadership in Serving the Disability Community. The Commission recognized him as an outstanding leader in the state on disability issues, as evidenced by his deep commitment and actions over the years to promote accessibility and programs serving people with disabilities. The award was presented to Duncan by Cindy Buddington, Chair of the ADA/Disability Rights Committee, and Eileen Dillon, Chair of the Commission.
Buddington noted that she is "especially pleased with Mr. Duncan's creation of the ADA Initiative Task Force in February of this year." The task force was created to develop recommendations that will build upon the County's efforts to provide equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for County residents. The group is charged with ensuring that the County becomes a model community in terms of accessibility and going beyond the letter to the spirit of the ADA. The task force recommendations, to be published within the next month, include input from the Commission on People with Disabilities.
Eight special awards -- The Customer Service Award, Best Practices in Employment Award, Betty Ann Krahnke Award, Virginia C. Andary Award Fund, Margit Meissner Excellence in Transition Award, Cory Moore Advocacy Award, Outstanding Professional Serving the Disability Community Award, and the Kermit Mohn Barrier-Free Design Award -- were also presented at the ceremony.
The Customer Service Award is given to an individual or business that has demonstrated an outstanding record of providing customer service to people with disabilities during the past year.
The Best Practices in Employment Award is presented to an employer that has demonstrated an outstanding record of employing or training individuals with disabilities who work or reside in the County.
The Betty Ann Krahnke Assistive Technology Awards recognize a person with a disability who is a MCPS student, college student and an employee who demonstrates exemplary use of assistive technology to access communication and curriculum.
The Virginia C. Andary Award provides financial assistance for people with disabilities to join or continue employment.
The Margit Meissner Excellence in Transition Award recognizes a professional or volunteer who contributes to the successful transition from school to work for one or more Montgomery County Public school students with disabilities.
The Cory Moore Advocacy Award is given to a parent who has displayed extraordinary commitment to the preparation and employment of people with disabilities.
The Outstanding Professional Serving the Disability Community Award is given to an outstanding professional who has consistently, creatively and effectively contributed toward creating opportunities for people with disabilities in the community.
The Kermit Mohn Barrier-Free Design Award is awarded to a public or private facility located in Montgomery County that has adapted its facility to meet the access needs of people with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Honorees for this year’s awards included the following:
Customer Service Award
Best Practices In Employment Award
Best Practices In Employment Award
Betty Ann Krahnke Assistive Technology Award to Montgomery County Public School Student
Betty Ann Krahnke Assistive Technology Award to College Student
Betty Ann Krahnke Assistive Technology Award to an Employee
Virginia C. Andary Award Fund
Virginia C. Andary Award Fund
Margit Meissner Excellence in Transition Award
Cory Moore Advocacy Award
Outstanding Professional Serving the Disability Community Award
Kermit Mohn Barrier-Free Design Award - Private School
Kermit Mohn Barrier-Free Design Award - Rehabilitation Hospital
Outstanding Public Leadership in Serving the Disability Community
The Pyramid Awards are sponsored by the Montgomery County Executive along with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Human Resources, and the Commission on People with Disabilities.
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