Austin News

The Office of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) has announced the winners of the 2023 Lex Frieden Employment Awards (LFEA) and Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) Poster Art Competition. These awards and competitions are held annually to coincide with Disability Employment Awareness Month, recognized each October in Texas.

Governor Greg Abbott expressed his support for Texans with disabilities and emphasized the importance of inclusion and opportunity. He stated, "Our lives are not defined by how we are challenged, but rather, how we respond to that challenge," and added, "In Texas, there is freedom and opportunity for everyone—including the 2 million Texans with a disability."

The winners of the 2023 Lex Frieden Employment Awards were announced in various categories:

- Large Employer: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

- Medium Employer: TrueHarvest Farms, LLC (Belton)

- Small Employer: Nacho’s Restaurant Cantina & Grill (San Angelo)

- Nonprofit Employer: Upshur County Public Library (Gilmer)

- Entrepreneur of the Year: Christian’s Cookie House (Pharr)

- Martha Arbuckle Award: Valley Association for Independent Living (McAllen)

- Governor’s Trophy: Dr. Lidia Fonseca (McAllen)

The Lex Frieden Employment Awards, named after disability rights champion Lex Frieden, recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding efforts to empower employees and fellow Texans with disabilities.

In addition to the employment awards, the winners of the DEAM Poster Art Competition were also announced. As part of the Texas HireAbility Campaign, the GCPD and the Texas Workforce Commission partner to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and highlight their contributions in the workforce. The 2023 DEAM Poster Art Competition Winner is "A Unique Vision" by Victor Vera from Plano.

The LFEA and DEAM Poster Art Competition winners will be honored during the Texas HireAbility Employer Forum and the Lex Frieden Employment Awards ceremony, which will take place on October 26, 2023, in Edinburg, Texas.

These awards and competitions are part of Texas' celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month and the Texas HireAbility Campaign, which aims to promote the full employment of Texans with disabilities.

To learn more about the Texas HireAbility Campaign and its initiatives, visit their website.

To learn more, click on this link: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governors-committee-on-people-with-disabilities-announces-2023-lex-frieden-employment-award-poster-competition-winners