Recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month at Newsmakers Event

MOPD Commissioner Victor Calise Keynotes
Victor Calise, Commissioner, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities addressed the Brooklyn business community at the latest edition of the popular Brooklyn Newsmakers speaker series. Commissioner Calise is responsible for ensuring that New York City is the most accessible city in the world and advises the Mayor and agency partners on accessibility issues. He also chairs the Accessibility Committee of the City’s Building Code.

In his address, Calise outlined key agency programs that directly impact businesses – including available resources for small business owners to make their locations accessible. Under Calise’s leadership, NYC: ATWORK was created – an employment initiative that directly connects jobseekers with disabilities and businesses.

“Employers are always looking to hire the best candidates when filling a position for a job. Unfortunately, people with disabilities are often mistakenly overlooked during this process.” said Victor Calise Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “Due to physical and social barriers, people with disabilities have often needed to work harder and go the extra mile to reach the same level of satisfactory accomplishment as their counterparts without disabilities. The result of this is that people with disabilities in the workplace will be hard working and expedient at the tasks they are given. We thank the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce for helping us in spreading this message through their celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”

“Commissioner Calise has made great strides in connecting the business community to people with disabilities. He is a true educator and there is always something new to learn from him about what we, as employers, can do to make our facilities more accessible and the resources we can offer potential employers and employees,” said Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Acting President Rick Russo.

“We are honored to sponsor the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Newsmaker Series in 2018, which brings together key business owners and executives. The program consistently features compelling presentations by exceptional leaders who serve Brooklyn, its businesses and communities. Our team looks forward to meeting new leaders and connecting with our clients and good friends at future Newsmakers events,” Investors Bank New York Market Executive Ana Oliveira.

“Brooklyn Law School is proud to partner with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to host this important community event to mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Law School is strongly committed to supporting and advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities, especially through our Disability and Civil Rights Clinic, which provides legal representation to low-income New Yorkers and their families in matters that impact adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, said Maryellen Fullerton, Interim Dean, Brooklyn Law School.

“The NYU Tandon School of Engineering is proud to partner with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to help bring awareness to new resources in accessibility,” said Sayar Lonial, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. “We are very pleased that the Chamber has invited Commissioner Calise to speak at Brooklyn Newsmakers and thank him for his leadership and support any initiative that helps all people participate in the borough’s economy, just as the NYU ability project – which sits at intersection between disability and technology, and supports research in client-centered, assistive technology and adaptive design for people with disabilities – helps to create a city that that works for everyone.”

“MOPD Commissioner Victor Calise has long been the voice for people with disabilities in NYC, and his efforts have transformed the city into one of the most accessible in the nation. We are honored to have him bring his expertise as a tireless advocate to the Newsmaker series,” said Downtown Brooklyn Partnership President Regina Myer.

Past editions of Brooklyn Newsmakers have included President and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation James Patchett, NYC Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, among others.

About the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is the largest and fastest-growing Chamber of Commerce in New York. It was named 2017 Chamber of the Year by The Business Council of New York State. The Chamber promotes economic development across the borough and serves as an advocate for its member businesses. Its mission is to promote a healthy and robust business environment throughout Brooklyn. This year marks the Brooklyn Chamber’s Centennial.