The 2006
Breaking Barrier Awards

Monday, October 4, Country Inn & Suites

Keynote speaker
Peter Altschul

Since 1992, Peter Altschul has been managing complex systems change projects with goals, including improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities, preventing teen pregnancy, and assisting school districts to use assistive technology more productively. In this capacity, he has provided ongoing coaching and consultative services in areas of diversity and conflict management, strategic plan formulation and implementation, and process redesign; created and nurtured partnerships among such "unlikely allies" as unions and management, employers and universities, and pro-life and pro-choice activists; developed, conducted, and evaluated training programs; and made numerous presentations. He also has conducted customer service workshops for ethnically diverse groups of New York City taxi drivers. Mr. Altschul's current roster of clients includes Reuters, where he is managing a "reverse mentoring" program where persons from underrepresented groups mentor senior managers on diversity-related subjects; and the World Bank, where he is supporting efforts to improve Bank effectiveness at recruiting and retaining people with disabilities.

Mr. Altschul has an MS in social work from Columbia University, and an MA in music composition from the New England Conservatory. He lives in Washington, DC, with Gifford, his guide dog.

2004 Award Recipients

Accessibility Award -- Downtown YMCA

Bill Heavrin Employment Award -- Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom

Nancy Durham Advocate Award -- David Allgood

Sharon Fields Government Award -- Rep. Steve Nunn

Media Award -- Dawne Gee, WAVE-TV

Breaking Barriers Spotlight Awards (to honor elementary, middle and high school-aged students who are making exemplary achievements in education.)

• Tony Atkinson, Portland Elementary School
• Kristin Knabel, Barrett Traditional Middle School
• Ana Ayers, Eastern High School
  
  
  

  The Breaking Barriers Merit Award -- The Kentucky School for the Blind

  The Dr. Tina Morris TARC Awards ( presented to those individuals who have provided exemplary transportation services to disabled customers over the past year

  • Fixed Route Coach Operator Award -- Jerry Kenderly
  • Fixed Route Coach Operator Award -- Paula Hann
  • Laidlaw Paratransit Operator Award -- Dewayne Bell
  • WHEELS Paratransit Operator Award -- James Godsey
  • TARC Customer Service Award -- Jackie Bell

  TARC Customer Service Award -- Steve Tharpe

Past Award Recipients