Congressman Glenn Ivey Joins Melwood to Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October 8, 2024

Beltsville, Md — Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) joined Melwood leaders and employees on Monday, October 7, at the George Washington Carver Center to commemorate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM recognizes and celebrates the contributions of people with disabilities to our workplaces. Melwood, a leading employer, advocate, and service provider for people with disabilities, hosted the Congressman to highlight the contributions of Melwood employees who work supporting mission critical services on federal contracts across the Washington D.C. region.  

Congressman Ivey met with Melwood employees who work at the George Washington Carver Center through Melwood’s contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the U.S. AbilityOne Program. Melwood employees help support the mission of the USDA by providing total facilities management services, including operations and maintenance, groundskeeping, and custodial services. 

“It was good to join Melwood CEO Larysa Kautz in touring the Carver Center at ARS Beltsville. Seeing firsthand Melwood’s impact on people with disabilities to have meaningful employment helping the federal government run smoothly and operate in a clean, safe, and productive manner was instructive. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, reaffirming government’s role in providing opportunities for all is inspiring. I congratulate the team at the Carver Center for their integrated approach to give our neighbors with disabilities the chance to work in an accepting and productive environment,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey, (MD-04). 

Larysa Kautz, President & CEO of Melwood, expressed gratitude for Congressman Ivey’s visit, saying, “We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Ivey for taking the time to visit our team and recognize the valuable contributions of our employees during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. His support means so much to Melwood, our employees, and our community. Together, we can continue to break down barriers and demonstrate the power and potential of an inclusive workforce, where everyone has the ability to succeed and contribute meaningfully.”

People with disabilities face higher rates of unemployment and underemployment than their non-disabled peers. Melwood is proving that workers with disabilities are part of an untapped talent pool that research shows can make significant, positive impacts on workplace culture, safety, innovation, and profits.  

At the George Washington Carver Center, over thirty employees support the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture by providing Total Facilities Management, including operations and maintenance, custodial, and groundskeeping services. Melwood employs over 1,600 individuals annually, over 900 of whom have significant disabilities.