Brooklyn's Progress
December 2005/January 2006

BY KHADIJA BATUTA

Several Brooklyn Chamber Members were recognized at a ceremony presented by Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Borough President’s Committee on Disability Issues at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Oct. 21.  The event, which also celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, honored individuals, businesses and organizations committed to providing opportunities and helping the disabled community succeed in the workplace.

Among the individuals honored for their advocacy work were Carmen Aquilone, board president of Mercy Home and Calvin Fischetti, president of the Guild for Exceptional Children.

Businesses that were honored include Arimed Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, Active Transport and New York Methodist Hospital.

“It’s a great honor to receive the Business Advocacy Award in recognition of the 15th Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Mr. Mirones said. “I humbly accept this award on behalf of my colleagues at Arimed and those brave and courageous patients we work with everyday that have to live life on its own terms.”

Arimed donated C-Legs, which are computerized prosthetics, to Paul Esposito, who lost his legs in the Oct. 15, 2003, Staten Island Ferry crash; donated prosthetic legs to Edgar Rivera, whose legs were severed after being shoved in front of an uptown No. 6 train in 1999; donated artificial limbs to victims mutilated in the civil war in Sierra Leone, Africa; and provided both prosthetic and orthotics services to destitute children in Ahmedebad, India. In addition, Arimed employs disabled individuals.  During the 2004 Athens Olympics Mr. Mirones headed up a medical team to treat athletes suffering from foot and ankle pain by providing them with hands-on technical care including foot orthotics and orthopedic devices to help them prevent and recover from injuries.

Peter Petino of Active Transport Messenger Service, Inc. works closely with the Chamber’s free staffing service Good Help, and has been very receptive to hiring and training persons with disabilities referred by the program.

“The award makes me feel that I am truly making a difference in my efforts to help the disabled learn self-reliance, increase self-esteem and self-determination,” said Mr. Petino.

Earlier this year, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce was selected as a “Sustainability Champion” by the National Alliance for Ticket To Work, which seeks to increase employment opportunities for disabled persons.  For more information contact Good Help Director Mike Rosenthal at 718-246-5219 ext. 2024.