From left, Gifford President and CEO Dan Bennett, Human Resources Recruiter Angela Allard, Chef William “Bill” Koucky, Environmental Services Manager Ruthie Adams, and Nat Piper of Creative Workforce Solutions.
The Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) presented Gifford Health Care with a 2018 Spirit of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Award during a ceremony Thursday afternoon, Oct. 11, at Gifford Medical Center.
Accepting the award on behalf of Gifford were Human Resources Recruiter Angela Allard, Environmental Services Manager Ruthie Adams and Chef William “Bill” Koucky. The three Gifford employees were recognized for their outstanding support of individuals with disabilities.
“Gifford Health Care is a true supporter and great partner assisting Vermonters of all abilities to become employed,” said Nat Piper of Creative Workforce Solutions, an initiative of the State of Vermont Agency of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, during the award ceremony.
“Thank you, Angela, Ruthie and Bill, for the fine example you set for all of us,” said Gifford President and CEO Dan Bennett. “Your commitment to creating and sustaining employment opportunities for people with disabilities—in your respective roles in human resources, environmental services, and nutrition and food services—inspires us. It is my honor to work with you on Team Gifford, and I thank you for all you do to make our community stronger with meaningful opportunities for all.”
Jennifer Barrett of the Vermont Association of Business Industry and Rehabilitation (VABIR) nominated Gifford, which partners with VABIR to increase the employment of people with disabilities. The Spirit of the ADA Award was subsequently given based on meeting the following criteria: recruitment outreach and equal accessibility in the application, interviewing, and hiring procedures for people with disabilities; use of on-the-job accommodations, modifications, progressive employment methods, and/or creative solutions for successful training and employment of people with disabilities; accessible physical structures, buildings, work stations and equipment, and services; and support for the employment of a person(s) with a disability as an overall employment strategy.
For more information about the Spirit of the ADA Awards and the Governor’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities, visit hireusvt.org. For more information about Gifford, including employment opportunities, visit giffordhealthcare.org.
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