UPPER MARLBOROUGH, MD – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Melwood leaders and employees on Thursday, July 25th to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
As the lead House sponsor of the ADA, Rep. Hoyer was instrumental in passing the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodations, telecommunications, commercial establishments, and state and local government services.
Senator Hoyer met with Melwood employees who work at the George Washington Carver Center under contract with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Melwood employees support the USDA mission by providing comprehensive facility management services, including operations and maintenance, grounds management, and janitorial services.
“Providing equal treatment and opportunities for people with disabilities benefits not only them, but our communities and our entire country,” said Rep. Hoyer. “That’s why I championed the Americans with Disabilities Act 34 years ago and helped secure $500,000 in federal funding for Melwood’s Neurodiverse Workforce Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget. I’m grateful for the work Melwood does for our community and our federal agencies, providing Marylanders with opportunities for people with disabilities to start and grow in their careers, and I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of American life, including addressing barriers to employment.”
“The Americans with Disabilities Act has helped pave the way for full inclusion for people with disabilities in the workplace, culture, community and centers of economic independence, but this is only the beginning,” said Larissa Kautz, Melwood’s president and CEO. “We must continue to break down barriers and make progress to increase employment opportunities and expand services and resources for people with disabilities.”
Melwood has a long-standing partnership with the federal government through the U.S. AbilityOne program, which leverages federal procurement to provide employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities through federal contracts. The federal government receives essential services, and in return, individuals with disabilities maintain access to a living wage, comprehensive benefits, career development opportunities, and more.
About Melwood:
Melwood is one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in the United States, employing more than 1,600 employees, of which more than 900 are people with disabilities. Melwood provides job placement, job training, life skills for independence and support services to more than 3,000 people each year in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Melwood also has a comprehensive summer camp program for children and provides youth and community recreation services for people with disabilities. For more information, visit www.Melwood.org.