Former U.S. Senator Robert Dole & the Honorable Luis Gallegos Issue Joint Statement on the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards

    NEW YORK, NY, November 11, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Viscardi Center today announced that former U.S. Senator Robert Dole, and the Honorable Luis Gallegos, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations in Geneva, issued a joint statement on the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards. The respected disability rights leaders serve as Co-Chairs of the 2nd Annual Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards Selection Committee, which will announce the Award recipients on Monday, May 5, 2014.

The Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards were developed to honor the legacy and vision of the New York-based Center's founder, Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., who himself wore prosthetic legs. As one of the world's leading advocates for people with disabilities, he served as a disability advisor to eight presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter.

"The Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards represent an important time during the year when we pay tribute to leaders with disabilities who are making a meaningful impact in the lives of people with disabilities," said Robert Dole, former U.S. Senator from Kansas and Co-Chair of the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Selection Committee. "As a veteran, I would especially like to encourage nominations of individuals who have made a profound impact on the lives of men and women with service connected disabilities as they re-integrate into civilian life."

Individuals of any age, with any type of disability, are eligible.

The Honorable Luis Gallegos, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations in Geneva, stated, "The United Nations has already sent a strong message with its endorsement of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so now it is time for individuals with disabilities to send a strong message that their contributions to society here in the United States, and abroad, are improving the quality of life of people with disabilities."

Also serving on the Selection Committee is Rohini Anand, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Diversity Officer at Sodexo, Rosangela Berman Bieler, Senior Adviser on Children with Disabilities at UNICEF (2013 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award recipient), Cari Dominguez, former Chair of the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Sherwood D. Goldberg, Esq. (Col. Ret), Senior Advisor for Asian Affairs at the Center for Naval Analysis, Hiro Itoh, President & CEO of Abilities of Japan, Axel Leblois, President & CEO of the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTS (G3ict), Patrick Rummerfield, Director-Patient Liaisons at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute (2013 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award recipient), James Sinocchi, Director, Workforce Communications at IBM, and Nina Viscardi, Special Art Educator/Art Therapist and daughter of Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr..

Additional information, as well as nomination submission instructions, may be found online at viscardiawards.org. Nominations will be accepted until February 28, 2014.

The Viscardi Center provides Pre-K through High School education, school-to-work transition services, vocational training, career counseling and placement, assistive technology and workforce diversification assistance to children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and businesses. A global leader, it employs more than 300 professionals, including experts in education, human resources and technology. Learn more at viscardicenter.org.

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