MEDCoE hosts ribbon cutting for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Photo By Jose Rodriguez | Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster and Command Sgt. Maj. Clark Charpentier pose for a ribbon cutting photo in by the new ADA compliant ramp in front of Willis Hall.  

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES

10.16.2020

Story by Tish Williamson 

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or NDEAM, the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE Command Team, MG Dennis LeMaster and CSM Clark Charpentier hosted a small ribbon cutting setting for the organization’s newly installed ADA compliant ramp that ensures better accessibility to and from the Command Headquarters Building and Willis Hall on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

The American Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. This year marks not only the 75th observance of NDEAM, but also the 30th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush signing the ADA into law.

MEDCoE will host a formal observance for NDEAM on October 27, on JBSA. This year’s National Theme is “Increasing Access and Opportunity.”

There is limited seating for the in-person event and masks are required for all attendees as a COVID-19 mitigation measure.

Sgt. 1st Class Melody Williams, an Equal Opportunity Advisor assigned MEDCoE said that accessibility to events has actually improved with more programs being live streamed in light of COVID concerns.

“If people cannot physically join us, we plan to live stream the event to ensure no one misses out,” said Williams. She feels that each of the unit monthly observances are important to allow people to hear different perspectives than their own. “I hope people will take the opportunity this month, to find out more about the ADA, what reasonable accommodation is and why is it so important to so many of our co-workers,” she concluded.

Increasing access and opportunity is another way the MEDCoE is building a more cohesive team.

Read more about NDEAM Month 2020 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam. For more information about the MEDCoE NDEAM Observance Ceremony, visit https://www.facebook.com/MedicalCoE.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2020
• Date Posted: 10.16.2020 16:22
• Story ID: 381132
• Location: FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, US