Grandaisy Bakery Wins NDEAM Recognition

NEW YORK, NY - New York’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education ServicesVocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) observes National Disability and Employment Month (NDEAM) each October. This year marks the thirty fourth annual celebration of employers who appreciate that individuals with disabilities are as absolutely essential to the workforce as those without.

This year, the US Department of Labor determined that the NDEAM theme is “the right talent, right now.” Businesses were recognized this year for showing a commitment to the principle that people with disabilities have the ability, motivation and right to be employed today. Providing the necessary support for differently abled persons to perform to the best of their abilities is not a hardship for businesses, but an opportunity to add even more talent to the workforce.

Grandaisy Bakery is a business that fully embraces such ideals. Founded in 2006, the bakery’s mission has always been to create a diverse, supportive community. This year, Grandaisy was recognized as a statewide winner by NDEAM for its employment of individuals with disabilities. The bakery has long been a supporter of those who are deaf, having been working in close partnership with the Lexington School for the Deaf for over five years.

The bakery currently employs seven individuals who are hearing impaired, including their first hire, Maria, who joined in 2013. A combination of Maria’s mentoring for newer hires and utilizing the staff at Lexington has made the transition into jobs at Grandaisy Bakery easy.

Grandaisy Bakery employs a staff of over 80, and there have always been many languages spoken throughout the production floor. Hearing-abled staff members have taken American Sign Language classes, but in a workplace where language barriers are common it has been easy for nonverbal communication to develop. Employees who are deaf are never isolated or othered due to their ability. In fact, many of these employees have moved from porter positions into working on food or bread preparation by being able to show consistently that they are hard workers and team players.

Monica Von Thun Calderón, the owner and founder of Grandaisy, is thrilled to have received such a recognition, and intends to continue working to be an award-worthy employer for persons of all abilities.