On August 5, 2026, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Vocational and Rehabilitation (TVR) Program celebrated its 25th annual disABILITY Awareness Day, an event dedicated to celebrating the abilities of individuals, providing education, promoting inclusivity, and sharing employment opportunities for all community members.
The event was well attended by over 175 attendees and featured informational booths staffed by local and regional organizations offering services to the community. Attendees had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with program representatives and learn more about shared services, resources, and support programs available to community members.
The TVR program unveiled a new wheelchair-accessible van to provide transportation to appointments, job interviews, training opportunities, and other employment-related activities for wheelchair users. The vehicle was purchased with funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (AIVRS) grant program.
The addition of a wheelchair-accessible van will expand transportation services for community members who previously received limited services. In the North Country, transportation is a major barrier because public transportation options with wheelchair accessibility are limited, with few stops and limited ride times. The van will expand access to services for individuals by reducing barriers to travel for wheelchair users.
The TVR Program would like to thank the following partnering businesses and organization for their generous donations: North Country Small Business Development Center, SRMT A/CDP Prevention Program, Native North American Travelling College, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Department of Indigenous Health, SRMT Child Support Enforcement Unit, Fourth Coast Café, Healthy Way, Violi Agency, Violi Pilates, Disability Rights New York, Butterbee Clothing, Harvest Moon Café, Adirondack Auto Parts, Sweetgrass Café, CAA Management, Hummingbird Giftshop, and Tarbell Management Group.
TVR extends sincere appreciation to all participating agencies, community partners, businesses, volunteers, and attendees who helped make the 25th Annual disABILITY Awareness Day a success.