Theater Breaking Through Barriers to Receive 2014 ADA Sapolin Award

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) is set to receive a 2014 ADA Sapolin Award in recognition of its artistic excellence and commitment to advancing people with disabilities. The award is to be presented byMayor Bill de Blasio and the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), at a reception in honor of the 24th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, on Tuesday, August 19, at the New York Public Library in Manhattan.

The Title II ADA Sapolin Public Service Award will be awarded to Theater Breaking Through Barriers in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the community.

"Theatre Breaking Through Barriers merits this honor for its commitment to advancing actors and writers with disabilities and for helping to change and enhance the perception of people with disabilities from dependence to independence," says Victor Calise, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. "[The company] is successfully developing role models for people with disabilities through artistic excellence," adds Mr. Calise.

Signed in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act has fostered independence, empowerment and inclusion for millions of Americans. Each year, the Mayor and MOPD present four ADA Sapolin Awards recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to increasing accessibility for people with disabilities under the titles of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA Sapolin Awards are named after late MOPD Commissioner Matthew Sapolin, who passed away on November 29, 2011.