Birch at the 2019 Sapolin Accessibility Awards

Birch Family Services staff, board members, and friends joined about 800 others from the New York City disabilities community at Gracie Mansion last night to celebrate the 2019 Sapolin Accessibility Awards.

Every year on or around the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and the Mayor host the Sapolin Accessibility Awards, named in honor of the late MOPD Commissioner Matthew Sapolin. MOPD Commissioner — and 2019 Birch Family Services Voices of Hope Award honoree — Victor Calise presented the awards to four organizations that are actively working toward inclusion and wellness for people with disabilities in the areas of public accommodation, public service, communication and technology, and employment. MOPD also awards one person with the Frieda Zames Advocacy Award for outstanding work within the disability community.

Congratulations to the 2019 awardees: Fountain House (Employment Award), the Whitney Museum of Art (Public Service Award), The New York Mets (Public Accommodations Award), the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library (Communications and Technology Award), and Rick Surpin (Frieda Zames Advocacy Award)! All well deserved.