2004 Ability Counts Winners
Nov. 3, 2004
Here is more information about the 2004 Ability Counts Winners:
Kelly Dee Ramos-Hazelwood, Maricopa Skill Center, Employee of the Year
Award
Working full time, raising a niece and nephew alone and working on a Business
Administration degree all at once while battling multiple sclerosis would
seem impossible to some, but Ramos-Hazelwood has done just that. Instead of
letting her condition get in the way of her goals she has continued to strive
and is a model of success for everyone.
Ramos-Hazelwood came to the Maricopa Skill Center in 1993 and spent seven
years as the Nursing Program's administrative assistant. She then was promoted
to the assistant director for instruction and because of her great work ethic
and hard work, she recently was promoted to supervisor for Instruction Administration.
Besides succeeding at work, Ramos-Hazelwood was elected secretary for the
MSC Employee's Association and is always willing to help another employee.
City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Clear Path Job Training
Program - Employer of the Year
Only 35 percent of people with disabilities are employed as compared to 78
percent of those who do not have disabilities. However, the city's Clear Path
Job Training Program wants to change that. Clear Path enhances employment
and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities who live in Phoenix
by providing employment and paid internship opportunities in the community
and the city of Phoenix for up to 90 people with severe disabilities each
year.
All interns are hired by the city for the duration of their 12-week internship
as part-time employees. Interns then are mentored by city employees and employees
of other companies who donate their time to bring interns up to qualification
levels. Clear Path interns receive 12 weeks of education through Clear Path's
Employee Excellence classes that teach interns what employers expect on the
job, help develop their résumé, provide mock interview skills and other important
job skills. More than 20 percent of Clear Path's interns have been hired by
the city of Phoenix.
Phoenix Aviation Department, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Architectural Accessibility Award
A couple, traveling with their adult disabled son, expressed the difficulties
in changing their son. That comment was all that it took for the city of Phoenix
Aviation Department to create an adult changing station in the Terminal 2
family restroom.
The adult changing system is believed to be one of the first of its type
in an airport in the United States. The adult changing station is attached
to the wall and is located in the corner of the restroom. It consists of a
30-by-60 inch padded platform with grab bars, a removable padded vinyl cover
and recessed toe clearance for easy accessibility. The station is designed
to provide people with disabilities, and their caretakers if necessary, a
comfortable and private location to change clothing or disposable undergarments.
Mary Jane Trunzo, Arizona Institute for Communication and Cognitive Disorders,
Don Aldrich Advocacy Award
Although Trunzo is a full-time practitioner with her own office and staff,
she still has managed to give hundreds of hours in volunteering to the Head
Injury Foundation as well as running free support groups for survivors of
brain injury. Currently, she is the clinical director for the Arizona Institute
for Communication and Cognitive Disorders and Affiliated Speech Pathology.
She has worked extensively with children and adults with acquired and traumatic
brain injuries for more than 20 years and has specialized in community-based
rehabilitation.
In addition, Trunzo has developed specialized courseware for the families
of brain- injured survivors, their teachers and care givers. She offers numerous
seminars and classes for the disabled and their families, and has shined a
light on what can be accomplished by even the most severely disabled.
Cindy Brown - Phoenix Mayor's Award
Cindy Brown has always loved acting. She has done films, commercials, and
regional and repertory theater. However, since 1996 she has walked with a
crutch because of a genetic disorder and has had to adjust her acting career.
She landed a role in a community theater company, but could not cope physically
with the demands of the role. Instead of giving up, Brown continued to push
and she became a director and an advocate for the disabled.
Today, Brown has trained more than 6,000 direct service staff to provide
better customer service for people with disabilities. She also provides training
and technical assistance on other ADA issues, including architectural accessibility,
employment issues and emergency planning.
Brown also has directed a public service announcement for Arizona Bridge
to Independent Living about disability awareness and a Phoenix Fire Department
public service announcement about emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
Grades 1 through 6 - Sophia Stone, Phoenix Day School for the Deaf
If there was ever a word Sophia would want to hear, it certainly would not
be the word "no." Despite being hearing impaired, she has a positive outlook
on life and will turn any negative situation into a positive one. She works
for whatever she wants and will not accept "no" as an answer. Sophia has lots
of enthusiasm and is a good leader with her Girl Scout Troop at Phoenix Day
School for the Deaf. Sophia is also an honor roll student and has excelled
outside of the classroom by winning first place at the Phoenix Deaf Community
Center Signing Idol in 2003. She has been involved in the elementary academic
bowl, and the volleyball, softball and basketball teams.
Grades 7 through 9 - Tevis Drew-Johnson, Academy of Arizona
For most students, joining a new school and making new friends in the middle
of the year would be a difficult experience. Tevis, using her positive attitude
and friendly personality, would beg to differ. Even though she is in a wheelchair,
she always has a smile on her face and is always in the middle of a group
of friends, whether at lunch, on field trips or at school dances. She participates
in physical education without even asking for special considerations. She
"runs" laps with her class and does as much as she can to be like the other
students. She is an excellent student who maintains an A average in both mathematics
and language arts. In addition, Tevis works regularly with her cousin who
has cerebral palsy with learning, communication and sign language. She helps
very young children, both normal and disabled, with learning letters, colors
and language.
Grades 10 through 12 - Sydney Freedman, Horizon High School
Sydney is a triplet who unlike her other two siblings was born blind, yet
she has been able to do everything her siblings have done and not let her
blindness be a limitation. Sydney has been in public school since kindergarten
and has been in honors or advanced placement courses throughout her education.
She also taught herself Latin and Braille music and has tutored other students
in Spanish.
In addition to her coursework, Sydney is the secretary for the society of
Women Scholars, a member of the National Honor Society and has been a regional
choir member for two years. She sings in the Phoenix Girl's Chorus and in
both the adult and children choir at her church, La Casa de Cristo.
College
Carla Flood, ASU West - If Carla Flood had listened to her seventh grade
vision resource teacher, she would not be going to school and working on her
master's degree. Her teacher claimed that, because of her cerebral palsy and
vision impairment, she did not have the ability to make it to college. Not
only did Carla receive her bachelor's degree in Psychology at ASU West, but
she also graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.6 GPA and was a member of the
Psychology Honor Society. Now, Carla is studying for a master's in Social
Work at ASU West. When she isn't proving her seventh grade teacher wrong,
she is busy helping others. Carla volunteers her time at the St. Vincent De
Paul's Society, is an instructor for the Order of Christian Initiation for
the children's group and is a Eucharistic Minister for St. Bernadette's Catholic
Community. She is working with two community colleges to assess their technology;
update their software, and provide training and education; and network with
different disability agencies to obtain the latest in equipment and technology
to assist the blind.
Matthew Jeremy Udenberg, Phoenix College - At age 7, in a psychiatric report,
the doctor stated that, in a one-hour session, Matthew only said 10 understandable
words. He was diagnosed with autistic features such as self-abuse, obsessive-compulsiveness,
non-verbal gestures and hyperactivity. In addition to his autism, he tested
as being moderately retarded on an IQ test. As a sixth grader, most skills
were on a first or second grade level. However, Matthew continued to work
hard, and at 14, he was able to cease speech therapy. At the age of 18, after
participating in occupational therapy and outside sports activities including
karate, he was able to stop taking medication from a psychiatrist. Now Matthew
has matured socially and academically and is attending Phoenix College. He
is learning more about his diagnosis and is exploring alternative health measures,
such as acupuncture and nutrition to help him mentally and physically. In
addition, he even has assisted others with disabilities.
For more information on these awards and the Mayor's Commission on Disability
Issues, call 602-262-7486/voice or 602-534-1557/TTY.
Main news release.
Media Contact:
| Marcie Colpas | 602-262-6164 |
