Office Of The Governor’s Committee On People With Disabilities Announces 2015 Lex Frieden Employment
The Office of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities today announced the winners of the 2015 Lex Frieden Employment Awards, honoring employers who go above and beyond legal requirements to ensure full inclusion for employees with disabilities. The awards additionally recognize individuals and organizations that have implemented innovative projects with the goal of providing full inclusion in the community.
“Named for Texas disability rights champion Lex Frieden, these awards honor those who go above and beyond what is required to ensure that all Texans have a chance to put their skills and talents to use in the workplace,” Governor Abbott said in a video message to award winners. “The First Lady joins me in congratulating all of this year’s award winners – your work reminds us that our lives aren’t measured by how we are challenged. Instead we are measured by how we respond to those challenges.”
Watch Governor Abbott's full video message to award winners.
The winners of the 2015 Lex Frieden Employment Awards will be honored at a ceremony luncheon hosted by the Fort Worth Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities on Wednesday, October 21st, 11:00 a.m., at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Lex Frieden, for whom the Awards are named, will be in attendance to offer the keynote address. Frieden is a noted disability rights champion and independent living movement leader and one of the architects of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. He is the UT Chancellor's Health Fellow on Disability, a professor of biomedical informatics and rehabilitation at UT Health and director of the Independent Living Research Utilization Program (ILRU) at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital.
For more information on the awards, click here.
2015 Lex Frieden Employment Award Winners:
The Governor’s Trophy – Brian East, Senior Attorney, Disability Rights Texas (Austin)
Entrepreneurship Award – Thomas R. Schenck, Licensed Professional Counselor (Fort Worth)
Large Employer Award – Bank of America (Statewide offices)
Medium Employer Award – Home Depot #6548 (Keller)
Small Employer Award – Sign Shares, Inc. International (Houston)
Non-Profit Employer – Texas State Independent Living Council (Austin)
Martha Arbuckle Award for a Local Committee Project – Greater Houston Business Leadership Network: Business Symposium and Job Fair (Houston)