Local Business & Employee Recognized

Posted on October 26th, 2020 at 8:03 PM
Local Business & Employee Recognized
On Monday, Oct. 19, a locally owned Erie business and a young man in its employ had been presented with awards during an annual conference held by Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability (PAR) celebrating the inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities.
 
John Melody, owner of the U Pick 6 Family of Pubs & Restaurants, accepted the Community Employer of the Year, and Robert Jones, one of its employees and participant in the Supported Employment Program, received the Self-Advocate of the Year Award.
 
To celebrate their achievements - especially during National Disability Employment Awareness Month -  a small, socially distanced ceremony was held at the U Pick 6 Tap House location to honor both John and Robert. Bob Barber, a chief of staff at the Institute, spoke on the organization's behalf, and was joined by directors and staff of the Supported Employment Program to congratulate the award winners.
 
In addition to Robert, U Pick 6 employs four of our individuals across its locations, and we are grateful for the environment they have created to help our adults achieve gainful employment. Since it began in 1986, the Supported Employment Program at the Barber National Institute has placed more than 600 adults with disabilities in jobs in the community.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month has been celebrated since 1945 as a way to raise awareness about disability employment issues and focus on the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

 

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