October 8, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Westbury, N.Y…. Cerebral Palsy has not stopped Jennifer Albergo from pursuing a career as a paralegal. It is her success story and others that will be celebrated today between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. when The Rehabilitation Institute (TRI), a not-for-profit vocational training facility, marks 45 years of employment training services for men and women with disabilities with work skill demonstrations for Long Island businesses at their headquarters at 123 Frost Street, Suite B, Westbury.

Albergo, 27, of Bethpage, is one of 10,000 workers with disabilities placed by TRI Business & Career Training Center. In April 2003 she was placed with Rosicki, Rosicki and Associates, a Plainview law firm as a clerk. The firm has hired 50 graduates of the program.

“If it wasn’t for TRI Business & Career Training Center that gave me confidence and reassurance to go to work and to drive and motivate me for success, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said.

Each year over 200 men and women with disabilities graduate from the program and about half are placed in jobs and/or internships with many Long Island companies including: Rosicki, Rosicki and Associates, Mercy Medical Center, Smallappliance.com, Sunrise Senior Living, Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and others. Currently there are 60 students in the program.

“The graduates of TRI are the most loyal, hardworking people any employer could hope for,” said Tom Rosicki, Esq. “They have transformed our organization, our atmosphere, and our lives.”

TRI is also celebrating October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) to increase the public's awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities.

About TRI

For 45 years, TRI Business & Career Training Center has evaluated, trained and placed individuals with disabilities in employment.  TRI is a not-for-profit organization, funded through Nassau County and New York State, that trains in a variety of vocational areas including Office Technology, Office Assistance, Record Keeping/Bookkeeping, Data Entry, Building Maintenance, Retail, Stock and Inventory, as well as Food Services and Computer Graphics. TRI also works cooperatively with school districts in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. The students, ranging in age from 15 to 21 years of age, participate in the Transition to Work program and prepare for job training in classes as well as at on-site supervised community internships. Other programs such as Day Habilitation and Pre Vocational services, as well as a Work Center, have been on-site at the facility to enable individuals to attain their highest level of potential. The agency focuses on strengths of individuals and how to enhance their independent functioning. For more information, please call 516-741-2010.