Governor Kay Ivey on Monday awarded some of the state’s top employers of disabled Alabamians, as well as disabled employees who have led the way.
The Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities gave out 12 awards in all across a variety of categories as part of disability awareness month.
Ivey said disabled Alabamians are some of the hardest workers in the state.
”Over 35 percent of Alabamians with disabilities are realizing that dream of holding a job to provide for themselves and their families,” Ivey said. “In fact, the number of working Alabamians with disabilities has increased more than 21 percent over the last decade.”
Ivey stressed the importance of employers working with disabled employees both for the sake of the individuals and to increase Alabama’s labor force participation, which is one of the lowest in the country.
“The people and businesses being honored today are participants and partners of the department’s largest division, the public vocational rehabilitation program,” said Jane Elizabeth Burdeshaw, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. “We are proud that Alabama’s Vocational Rehabilitation Service consistently ranks among the top programs in the nation for participants entering employment with competitive wages in integrated settings. We also demonstrate higher performance in job retention for participants after they exit our program, and the success of participants who no longer require the aid of public assistance upon exiting our program.”
The 2025 award winners are:
- Erica Endress—2025 Large Business Employee of the Year
- Tonya Dalton—2025 Large Business Employee of the Year
- New Flyer of America—2025 Large Business Employer of the Year
- Phifer, Inc.—2025 Large Business Employer of the Year
- Isaac Jackson—2025 Small Business Employee of the Year
- University of North Alabama’s Dining by Chartwell’s—2025 Small Business Employer of the Year
- Alabama Department of Corrections—2025 Partner of the Year Award
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Inc.—2025 Partner of the Year Award
- Chase Lovell—2025 Student of the Year Award
- Aidan Anderson—2025 Student of the Year Award
- State Rep. Paul Lee—2025 Exceptional Public Service Award
- US Sen. Katie Britt—2025 Exceptional Public Service Award
