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ODEP News Release: [10/26/2005]
Contact Name: Kristin Wilson or Peggy Abrahamson
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x7909
Release Number: 05-2078-NAT

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

WASHINGTON—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:

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