NYSID Honored by the Arc New York for “Outstanding Support” creating jobs for people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities
Honor comes as state nears one-year anniversary of Gov. Hochul’s landmark Executive Order 40
New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) is being honored Wednesday by the Arc New York for its “outstanding support in providing services and job opportunities for individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities.”
Specifically, NYSID is receiving the Arc New York Employer Recognition Award to laud its efforts to hire individuals with autism or other developmental disabilities as interns and full-time employees. NYSID was nominated by the Arc Lexington, whose “Transitions” program partners with NYSID on job placements.
“Employment is the reason we were created in 1975 when inclusion of individuals with disabilities became a movement. The Arc New York has been among our partners in every way,” NYSID President and CEO Maureen O’Brien said. “We are grateful to the chapters who were among our founders, and to all the chapters who provide rewarding employment on NYSID contracts for approximately 1,500 individuals annually.”
Ms. O’Brien said the award was particularly meaningful as it comes near the one-year anniversary of Governor Hochul’s Executive Order 40, which made it official state policy to prioritize jobs for individuals with disabilities.
“Employment empowers and it was incredible to witness firsthand professional pride, personal growth and the significant value brought to NYSID by our team members who joined us from the Arc Lexington Transitions program. Governor Hochul is 100 percent right to prioritize employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. It’s both smart social policy and smart economics,” Ms. O’Brien said.
“All of us who work with the disabilities community were elated when Governor Hochul signed EO40 because it means the entirety of New York State’s Executive Branch and its agencies would prioritize jobs for people with disabilities and recognize the value those jobs bring to the state,” Ms. O’Brien said.
Arc Lexington, which supports children and adults with developmental disabilities in Fulton, Albany and Schoharie counties, nominated NYSID because of NYSID’s work with its Transitions program. Transitions is a post-secondary program that supports teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorders and other learning differences with college, career and independent life.
“NYSID is more than just an employer; they are a catalyst for change,” said Arc Lexington Parent and Board President Rinaldo Esposito. “Their dedication to expanding employment opportunities has opened doors that would otherwise remain closed for many people with disabilities. These jobs are not just paychecks – they are a source of pride, belonging, and independence.”
“When a young adult with disabilities joins Transitions, families gain hope – and the student gains skills, confidence, and a plan. But none of it means as much without that next step: a real job. That’s where employers like NYSID come in. They don’t just open doors – they walk beside our students, offering the training, respect, and opportunity that turns potential into real success. NYSID’s team should be deeply proud of the lives they’ve helped shape and the futures they’ve made possible. Together, we’re building a world where everyone belongs, contributes, and thrives,” said Shaloni Winston, CEO of The Arc Lexington.
Governor Hochul’s EO 40, issued in September 2024, marks a giant step on the path toward treating this important community of New Yorkers with dignity and respect, while also bolstering the state’s economy.
“New York State has a vested interest in eliminating barriers to employment and recognizes that economic stability, including gainful employment, is a social determinant of health,” EO 40 says (emphasis added).
The Rockefeller Institute of Government’s most recent study estimates that jobs created through NYSID not only create significant taxpayer savings in safety net programs but also generate $108 in new economic impact for every hour an individual with a disability is working.
Rockefeller also found that New York’s nonprofit disability service providers generated $14.3 billion in economic output, supported nearly 200,000 full-time jobs and contributed $2.2 billion in federal and state tax revenue. NYSID alone generated $407.3 million in economic impact.
NYSID will be one of four organizations to be honored by Arc New York.
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About The Arc New York
The Arc New York is the largest provider of supports and services for people intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York state. The 35 local Chapters of The Arc New York collectively support more than 60,000 people with disabilities and their families in every county of the state and employ more than 30,000 people in the shared mission to provide people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities the ordinary and extraordinary opportunities of life. For more information, visit www.thearcny.org.
About New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. (NYSID)
NYSID is a 501(c)(3) with the mission of “advancing employment and other opportunities for individuals with disabilities and qualified veterans.” Established in 1975, NYSID facilitates employment opportunities for more than 5,000 New Yorkers with disabilities annually through New York’s Preferred Source Program and in the private sector. NYSID’s community rehabilitation member agencies and corporate partners are located throughout the state, providing jobs in the community and in production facilities. For more information, visit www.nysid.org.
