Page 22 - MC Top Work 2021

Transitional
Services
Program
Manager
Laurie
Newman-
Mankos,left,
and career
coachTheresa
McCormack
work together
at Lehigh
Valley
CenterFor
Independent
Living in
Allentown.
LVCILis aTop
Workplace.
APRILGAMIZ/
THE MORNING
CALL

SMALL EMPLOYERS
At Lehigh Valley Center for

Independent Living, employees matter

By Margie Peterson | Special To The Morning Call
henHawkMountainSanctuary into, I can give them ideas on what they can do,” Lehigh Valley
wanted to improve its accessi- Amelio said. “Our company philosophy is we try to Center for
bility for people with disabili-
give them the most cost-effective way to get people
The Morning Call WIndependent Living to design a withdisabilitiesintotheirestablishment.” Independent
ties,itworkedwithBobAmelio
Helping people with disabilities live their best life
of the Lehigh Valley Center for
Living
is the mission of the Allentown nonprofit and one of
the key draws for its roughly 45 employees. This is
trailtoitsSouthLookoutthataccommodatespeople
No.4 small employer
the fifth year — and second consecutive year — that
inwheelchairsandthosewhousewalkersorcanes.
Amelio, an accessibility support coordinator,
No.4amongemployerswithfewerthan125workers.
| consultedonaswitchback-typetrailthatislesssteep LVCIL has been chosen as a Top Workplace, placing Founded:1990
Ownership:Nonprofit
The organization was founded by disability rights
thanthemaintrailandhasbenchesalongthewayso
Thursday, June 24, 2021 toAmelio,whohasusedawheelchairsince1987and the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act Employees: 45
Sector:Human and social
hikers can take breaks. Such projects are gratifying
activistCarlOdhnerandOperationOvercomein1990,
services
was one of the founders of the LVCIL Freewheelers
waspassed.
LVCIL offers a variety of services, including peer
basketballandtennisclubs.Hestartedworkingpart-
Website:www.lvcil.org
time at LVCIL in 2001 and now does site studies for
support for people with disabilities, information
businessesandorganizationslookingtobecomemore
and referral, employment services and job coaching,
accessible.
22 “Say they don’t have an entrance that you can roll Turn to LVCIL, Page 26