[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 107 (Tuesday, July 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1373-E1374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE STATLER CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2010

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the Statler 
Center, a program of the Olmsted Center for Sight, on its tenth 
anniversary of service and commitment to blind, visually impaired and 
disabled individuals across the nation to achieve their highest level 
of independence.
  The Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, M.D. Center for the Visually Impaired 
was founded in 1907 to serve the needs of blind and visually impaired 
individuals of all ages who reside in the eight counties of Western New 
York. It remains the only agency within its region specifically 
mandated to provide comprehensive blind rehabilitation, health-related 
and human services to this highly specialized population.
  Consistent with the agency's mission to assist blind and otherwise 
disabled individuals achieve their highest levels of independence in 
their homes, communities and places of work, the Olmsted Center founded 
the Statler Center program in response to a critical need to create 
meaningful career opportunities for blind and physically challenged 
working age adults who are capable and motivated to live productive 
self-sufficient lives.
  Now in its tenth year of operation, the Statler Center remains the 
first and only program of its kind in the nation, annually drawing 
students from throughout the United States and world. It offers an 
intensive ten-week curriculum that includes classroom instruction, 
technology training, job readiness skills and comprehensive and 
continuous placement and career advancement services upon completion of 
the program.
  While the national unemployment rate for people without disabilities 
is upwards of 9%, physically or visually impaired individuals suffer at 
a strikingly higher rate of 70%. The Statler Center is instrumental in 
combating this disparity as their job placement rate is currently 82% 
with a starting salary that is well above minimum wage. In addition, 
the staff works intensively with Statler students and graduates 
throughout the entire application,

[[Page E1374]]

job search and employment orientation process. Its active and extensive 
network of corporate partners in both the public and private sectors 
has resulted in this unprecedented job placement rate in a variety of 
positions in hospitality and customer service.
  A cost-benefit analysis conducted by the State University of New York 
at Buffalo concluded that the ``benefits of training blind and 
physically disabled persons for employment in the hospitality industry 
far outweigh the costs.'' The analysis found that ``Statler Center 
graduates have employment rates significantly higher than national 
averages for persons with disabilities'' with a return on investment 
for training the disabled found to be as high as $51 for every $1 
invested.
  A member institution of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, The 
National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service is located 
within this exciting 1200 acre world-class location in downtown 
Buffalo, New York where the focus is on clinical care, research, 
education and entrepreneurship.
  On Thursday, July 29, 2010, the generous support of the center's 
contributing national and local foundation, community partners, staff, 
faculty, and most of all our dedicated students will be deservedly 
recognized as the 10th Anniversary of the Statler Center is celebrated. 
The festivities will begin with the graduation of the 34th Statler 
Class. These graduates will then join the more than 340 alumnae who are 
working in an array of jobs including: front desk clerks and managers 
in New York, night auditors in Michigan, PBX operators in California, 
customer service agents in Florida and a proprietor of a new hotel in 
Costa Rica opened by a truly entrepreneurial graduate.
  The Statler Center's job-readiness training and follow-up advisement 
helps students become, and remain productive, valued employees and it 
is my honor to pay tribute to this outstanding program for ten years of 
exemplary service to individuals and their families. The efforts of 
this organization continue to make a difference in people's lives and 
are deserving of the highest recognition.

                          ____________________