The Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities (MCPD) has selected Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program wins Access Achievement Award in their nonprofit organizations category! The Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilties annually presents an Access Achievement Awards to area businesses, non-profits organizations, and individuals who have made outstanding efforts to improve access for people with disabilities throughout the Delaware Valley. Business, organizations, and individuals are nominated by the public and selected by the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities.

The Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities presents Annual Access Achievement Awards in the following categories:

• Large Private Businesses (i.e., theater, bank, department store, corporations)
• Small Private Businesses (i.e., small deli, restaurant, fewer than 30 employees)
• Local Government/Public Entity (i.e., city operated agency or department, transportation services)
• Nonprofit Organizations (i.e., place of worship, community center, social service agency)
• Media (radio; newspaper; television; journalist)
• Individual (noted for their contribution toward making Philadelphia more accessible. 

In addition to the Access Achievement Awards, the commission also awards scholarships to students with disabilities who show potential as future leaders in the Philadelphia disability community. Awards will be presented at the MCPD Seventeenth Annual Access Achievement Awards Breakfast on October 25, 2013.

Our plaque says, “For outstanding commitment to increase access for people with disabilities through the removal of physical and attitudinal barriers”. We want to thank the Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia family for being our success. Without you, this award would not have been possible. We are proud of the barriers we have overcome, but know there are many more individuals with disabilities we can be reaching. We look forward to continue expanding and increasing opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.