Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Thursday, November 21, 2001 Governor Scott McCallum Secretary Jennifer Alexander

News Media Contact Teresa Weidemann-Smith 608/266-3999 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Department Nominee Receives 
President’s New Freedom Initiative Award
Department of Labor honors people with disabilities advocate Bruce Borden

MADISON – On behalf of President George Bush, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today recognized Bruce Borden at a Washington D.C. awards luncheon as one of the first recipients of the President’s New Freedom Initiative Award. Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Jennifer Alexander nominated Borden for his collaborative efforts in developing programs and services and advocating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The award recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations that demonstrate exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment objectives of the President’s New Freedom Initiative.

"For the past twenty years Bruce has devoted much of his time and efforts to providing more opportunities to people with disabilities," said DWD Secretary Jennifer Alexander. "Bruce has provided insight, personal experience and invaluable expertise to the department in order to further shape policy, programs and services to benefit people with disabilities across the state of Wisconsin."

Since a diving accident left him a quadriplegic in 1981, Bruce Borden has devoted his time and energy to organization, advocacy and coalition building efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities. The New Freedom Initiative Award recognizes Bruce’s efforts in:

• Founder of EBTIDE (Economic Benefit through Individualized Disabled Employment), a grassroots, consumer non-profit organization to remove employment barriers and promote advancement for people with disabilities
• Creator of legislation for various homeownership initiatives focusing on affordable housing. Bruce’s leadership and ideas helped design the legislation which became Section 302 of the "American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act" signed into law in December 2000.

• Creation of the Wheel Chair Recycling Program, which enables low-income families with a member who is disabled to receive equipment that assists in integrating them into the community more quickly.

• Development of Pathways to Independence (a DVR program), a program that offers comprehensive services designed to remove or reduce barriers to employment for people with severe disabilities. Bruce provided several key concepts including simplified access to comprehensive help.
• Architectural lead of DWD’s "Making it Work" project, designed to eliminate financial disincentives due to loss of irreplaceable benefits. Bruce analyzed policies and helped raise awareness that disincentives prevent people with disabilities from participating in employment opportunities.
• Forging a partnership between EBTIDE and DWD’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for a pilot project called "Work Without Walls. This initial program utilizes broadband technologies and video conferencing capabilities to reduce isolation factors for those with disabilities working from their homes.

Borden received this prestigious award today in Washington D.C. with DWD Secretary Jennifer Alexander and DVR Administrator Charlene Dwyer in attendance.

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