New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with honorees and co-sponsors at his Disability Awareness Month celebration at City Hall on Tuesday, November 22, 2005. Pictured (back, l to r) are: Rev. Winfield Peacock, Director, John Heuss House, Trinity Church; Eddie Burns, Mailroom Clerk, WINS-AM Radio; Thompson; Anthony Michael Philip Saccente, Coordinator, Deaf Services, Housing Works, Inc.; Philip H. Levy, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer,YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network; Scott L. Barkin, Executive Director, Block Institute; (front, l to r) Hector Garcia, Poet/Songwriter; Mary Quinones, Director, Monsignor Thomas F. Cribbins Center for Children of the Guild for Exceptional Children; and, Charles Terner, Pianist and Participant, Lifespire Program.

 Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored five city leaders at his annual Disability Awareness event on Tuesday, November 22, 2005. The event was co-sponsored with YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities, the Easter Seals of New York and The Block Institute .

Addressing more than 200 people gathered at the Council Chambers at City Hall, Thompson opened the evening by saying: “ People with disabilities have long struggled for rights, recognition, and equal opportunities. The challenges have been many, but one by one, the challenges are being met, and progress has been made in the fight for equality .”

Thompson continued, “ We are here to honor a distinguished group of men and women who are all modern-day leaders in the continuing struggle for equality. They have achieved great heights in their endeavors. They are role models, for the next generation, and for all of us.”

Thompson presented the first award of the evening to Eddie Burns, longtime mailroom clerk at 1010 WINS-AM Radio . “Eddie Burns has worked hard to help others and achieve his dreams,” Thompson praised.

The next award went to Hector Garcia, a talented poet/songwriter who suffers from cerebral palsy. Thompson presented Mr. Garcia with the award explaining that Hector “ generously shares his talent with others and is a great inspiration.”

Mary Quinones , community leader and service provider, received the third award of the evening . Ms. Quinones has served as a Special Education teacher at P.S. 77K in Brooklyn, taught at the College of Staten Island's Department of Special Education, established the Early Intervention Program, the Pediatric Rehabilitation Program, the Recreation Respite Program for adults, and an audiology program at Lutheran Medical Center and became the Guild for Exceptional Children's Director of Early Intervention Services at the Monsignor Thomas F. Cribbin Center for Children .

Thompson said, “ Through her advocacy efforts and her professional work, Ms. Quinones has made a positive difference in the lives of countless individuals.”

Thompson presented the fourth award of the evening to Anthony Saccente, the Coordinator of Deaf Services for Housing Works Inc. since 1997. He is responsible for providing HIV/AIDS and STI prevention education to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community in New York City . Mr. Saccente also leads a weekly support group for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons living with HIV/AIDS, and provides HIV pre-and post-test counseling. Thompson awarded Mr. Saccente for his “ outstanding service to the deaf community and to our city.”

The final honoree of the evening was Charles Terner, who is a pianist, and participant in the Lifespire Program. Mr. Terner is blind and has Retrolental Fibroplasia and developmental disabilities. Despite his challenges, Mr. Terner pursues his life with vigor and commitment by playing and enjoying music.

“Mr. Terner is a performer, a good friend, and an inspiration to all around him,” Thompson said.

The Theatre of Dreams, sponsored by YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network provided the entertainment portion of the evening.

To receive photographs, please contact Marla Maritzer at (212) 669-2597 or at mmaritz@comptroller.nyc.gov .