Secretary of Labor Announces Seven Recipients of the Secretary´s New Freedom Initiative Awards

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
Release Number 05-2078-NAT

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristin Wilson or Peggy Abrahamson
Phone: 202-693-4676 or 202-693-7909

Debra Ruh of TecAccess and daughter, Sara, with Fellow New Freedom Initiative Recipients.

Debra Ruh, President of TecAccess, and her daughter, Sara, join Secretary of Labor Chao, Assistant Secretary Grizzard, and fellow award recipients at close of the New Freedom Initiative Award ceremony.

Washington, D.C.-- October 27, 2005-- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today that one individual, three non-profits, and three businesses have been selected to receive the Secretary of Labor´s New Freedom Initiative (NFI) Award for outstanding support of employment for people with disabilities.

"Today´s New Freedom Initiative Awards recipients have demonstrated great commitment to helping Americans with disabilities enter the workforce and build solid career paths," said Chao during a ceremony for the winners at the department. "In facilitating the workplace to be more friendly and accessible to workers with disabilities, these employers are also tapping an underutilized pool of talented workers."

The Secretary´s NFI Award recognizes exemplary and innovative efforts to train, recruit, and hire people with disabilities and to incorporate into workplaces the principles of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative. Introduced in 2001, the NFI is a comprehensive set of proposals designed to give people with disabilities the opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of community life, including employment.

Biographies about the winners are available at www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/nfi05.htm.

A list of winners follows:

Individual:

Jim Westall

Non-Profits:

Breaking New Ground
West Lafayette, IN
Center of Vocational Alternatives
Columbus, OH
InspiriTec, Inc.
Philadelphia, PA

Businesses:

Computer Science Corporation Federal Sector
Falls Church, VA
Merck and Co., Inc.
Whitehouse Station, NJ
TecAccess
Rockville, VA

About U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Labor Department (DOL) press releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape, or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7765 or TTY (202) 693-7755.

About TecAccess

TecAccess is the most awarded risk management and accessibility consultancy in the world. TecAccess turns potential risks into a marketplace advantage through leading accessibility services and products. With a focus on Section 508 compliance, TecAccess makes Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) accessible to the world´s largest and fastest growing demographic - people with disabilities. TecAccess is a certified Woman-Owned and SBA certified 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB).

For further information about TecAccess, please call: (804) 749-8646, e-mail info@tecaccess.net, or visit our website at www.TecAccess.net.

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