Local employees recognized at NYSID award ceremony

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) has its annual meeting on Thursday evening and it recognizes employers who hire people with disabilities and their outstanding employees. NEWS10 caught up with the two local winners.

This is NYSID’s 50th year celebrating those in the workplace with disabilities who are performing outstanding work, like Theodore Stefanik-Corah who has a degenerative disc disease.

“A lot of my disability is invisible so there’s a visual cognitive dissonance to it because a lot of people, like when I walk up to them and say I am disabled, a lot of peoples’ first thought isn’t like, ‘of course you are,’ because I’m very young and so it’s very, I think, strange for people to kind of be like I don’t understand how you’re disabled,” said Stefanik-Corah.

He had worked for Peak Performers, the Member Agency of the Year, under a one year contract but was recently hired in a permanent position with the NYS Department of Health as a division on-boarding coordinator.

“Without that contract I literally would not be where I am now. So it was such a vital piece of helping me get into a career because honestly …especially when you kind of bounce around from a lot of retail jobs and hospitality, it’s very difficult to visualize a future and career for yourself,” said Stefanik-Corah.

He is the NYSID Employee of the Year. Paul Hiimes also demonstrated that people with all abilities are employable. Himes works for The Arc Lexington and is recognized with the Outstanding Performance Award.

“Like I struggled horribly with learning when I was in school, but I guess they kind of noticed how much potential my body has so they just wanted to employ me. And needless to say they made the right decision,” said Himes, from Gloversville. 

He brings an attention to detail to his work, unmatched by most others. He was recently hired as a full-time custodian at The Arc Lexington. “I always like to up the ante with my efforts,” said Himes.

They both say they are flattered to be selected by NYSID. and have already chosen their outfits for the evening.

“I am really looking forward to it. I’m going to be wearing a dapper suit in front of a big crowd. I do not have stage fright. it’s gonna be a real honor,” said Himes. “It’s a real big honor to get an award this big, this serious and I couldn’t be more happier getting it. thank you NYSID.”

“I would just like to thank Peak Performers and NYSID for allowing me the opportunity to get where I am now, because it was such a huge step to get into an actual career that I’m really passionate about. The opportunities they give people are really vital,” said Stefanik-Corah.