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San Diego, CALIF – In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, The Arc of San Diego recognized the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) for its steadfast commitment to employing people with disabilities. As part of the event, MTS honored individuals with disabilities and their job coaches who are part of bus detailing crews in Downtown and Kearny Mesa. For 15 years, MTS has partnered with The Arc of San Diego to provide jobs for individuals with disabilities for bus detailing services.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, 12 clients and four job coaches from The Arc of San Diego have been working to ensure hundreds of MTS buses are sanitized and safe for passengers and operators. The Arc employees are responsible for ensuring the cleanliness of the interior of all MTS buses by detailing all surfaces, from the ceiling to the floor.

“I enjoy detailing the MTS buses,” said Christina Sierra, a client of The Arc of San Diego. “I like the structure of the job and the checklist we go through to make sure everything is done.”

“MTS is committed to providing a safe and sanitary environment for our passengers and bus operators. The Arc employees are a critical component to this commitment,” said Nathan Fletcher, MTS Board Chair and San Diego County Supervisor. “Our partnership with The Arc of San Diego is also a reflection of how our transit system is designed – to help individuals with disabilities gain access to better lives.”

Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. The theme for 2020 is “Increasing Access and Opportunity.”

“The transit service we put out every day helps thousands of people with disabilities get to their places of employment, healthcare appointments, pharmacy pick-ups and much more,” said Sharon Cooney, MTS Chief Executive Officer. “The Arc of San Diego employees we are honoring today play a very important role to provide this accessibility for our passengers. I’d like to thank The Arc of San Diego for a great partnership and we look forward to many more years of continued success.”

In 2019, The Arc of San Diego provided training and support to more than 450 individuals with disabilities and placed 88 people in jobs of their choice throughout San Diego County. These efforts are strengthened by partnerships with over 100 local businesses, municipalities and government agencies that employ individuals with disabilities and support their desire to achieve full inclusion and independence not just in the workplace but in all aspects of their community.

“National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to celebrate not only the valuable contributions made by individuals with disabilities in the workplace, but the employers who create inclusive environments to make it possible,” said Matt Mouer, Chief Operations Officer of The Arc of San Diego. “MTS is a remarkable community partner who supports our mission of empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve their life goals, including their career goals.”

For more information on National Disability Employment Awareness Month and The Arc of San Diego’s Employment Services, visit www.arc-sd.com/ndeam.