WORDS HONORED FOR DISABILITY WORK

This press release out this week:

New Jersey Independent Bookstore Honored as Role Model for Disability Employment and Training

[words] Bookstore of Maplewood Selected as a Winner of the 2011 Disability Matters Awar 

By [words] Bookstore

Published: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 - 5:29 am

MAPLEWOOD, N.J., Dec. 14, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, N.J., was recently recognized as a role model for Corporate America because of its initiative to help the disabled community, the largest and fastest growing minority segment today.  [words] received Springboard Consulting's "Disability Matters" Small Business Award at Springboard's 5th annual banquet & conference held at Cisco Systems, Inc. in San Jose, California. Annual awards are presented to businesses that serve as role models for their initiatives to recruit, provide support and market to the disability community.

"We are honored to be the only business in New Jersey to receive this recognition," said Jonah Zimiles, a co-owner of [words] with his wife, Ellen Zimiles. "[words] is dedicated to serving the diverse spectrum of families in our community, particularly those with children or adults with a developmental disability. We strive to help Maplewood become a model community of inclusion through our respect for and engagement with customers and employees, especially those with autism."

Other Award honorees included Cisco Systems, KPMG, CSX Corporation and Best Buy.  Nadine Vogel, founder and president of Springboard Consulting and the Disability Matters conference said: "As the mother of two children with special needs it is so personally gratifying to see the incredible commitment of our honorees to the full inclusion of people with disabilities and their families in so many aspects of their organizations. Their passion and dedication to high standards for this most important work, inspires employees and customers alike."

In support of its disability mission, [words] has just launched [words] BOOKPACKS.  These book selections are custom-picked every other month by staff then packed and shipped by the [words] Book Brigade (participants in its vocational training program for young people with autism).  Learn more at www.wordsbookstore.com/bookpacks.