Melwood Announces 2023 Melwood Ability Awards Honoring Change-Makers in the Disability Space

October 5, 2023

Melwood’s annual awards ceremony will honor the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Emmy-nominated Keivonn Woodard, Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Craig and Alex Leen for their efforts to increase inclusion and representation of people with disabilities

Upper Marlboro, Md. – On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Melwood will host the 2023 Melwood Ability Awards to honor the change-makers who are impacting the representation and inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce, community, and culture. The awards program will convene honorees, employers, leaders in the disability inclusion space, Members of Congress, and more.

The 2023 Melwood Ability Awards honorees include:

• Impact Award: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its leadership in directly improving accessibility and opening new spaces for people with disabilities in the federal workforce and beyond.
• Pioneer Award: Keivonn Woodard, Emmy-nominated actor, for his work to increase the visibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in popular culture and everyday life.
• Advocacy Award: Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)  for their legacy of consistent leadership on advancing inclusion of people with disabilities through legislative change.
• Teamwork Award: Craig and Alex Leen for consistently and boldly sharing their story to champion greater representation for people with disabilities of all ages.

“The Melwood Ability Awards are an exciting opportunity to showcase the efforts of those who are making crucial, empowering changes in this space,” said Larysa Kautz, President and CEO of Melwood. “We have an exceptional lineup of honorees this year, and we look forward to the opportunity to recognize the work they have done on behalf of the disability community. Our honorees are transforming the way society views and interacts with people with disabilities, and their hard work shows that total inclusion is on the horizon.”

The Melwood Ability Awards will take place at 8:00 am on Oct. 18, 2023 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Programming will include the awards ceremony and a continental breakfast. Attendance at this event is invite-only. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sarah Boynton at [email protected].