MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND COMMISSIONER SAPOLIN HOST RECEPTION IN HONOR OF 18th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) Commissioner Matthew Sapolin, today hosted a reception at Gracie Mansion to celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Signed in1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act has fostered independence, empowerment and inclusion for millions of Americans. Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Sapolin presented five awards recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to increasing accessibility for people with disabilities. The Mayor and Joining the Mayor and Commissioner Sapolin at the reception were Deputy Mayor of Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Román; Kate Levin, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs; Matthew Daus, Commissioner/Chair of the Taxi & Limousine Commission; George Fertitta, Chief Executive Officer of NYC & Company; Ken Klipsie, Chief Operating Officer of Disaboom.com; Russ Cusick, VP of Human Resources, Swiss Post Solutions; Tom Finkelpearl, Executive Director, Queens Museum of Art; Ken Struve, Executive Director, City Access New York; Louise Mirrer, President/Chief Executive Officer, New-York Historical Society; Edith Prentiss, VP of Legislative Affairs, Disabled In Action; Soula Antoniou, President, VSA Arts; and Anita Edson, Senior Director of Media and Communications, ASPCA.

“It is an honor to celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a tremendous milestone in the history of civil rights,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our administration remains dedicated to ensuring greater accessibility for all New Yorkers. Today, we recognize some of the people and organizations who help people with disabilities fully participate in every aspect of city life and make New York the greatest city in the world for people with disabilities.”

“Today, as we have done in the past, the Mayor and I are granting awards to recipients who share this Administration’s commitment to bettering the lives of people with disabilities,” said Commissioner Sapolin. “The recipients, through their actions, have demonstrated their dedication to the benefits provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act.”