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Three Prince George's County residents with intellectual disabilities employed by the Upper Marlboro nonprofit Melwood were honored Wednesday at U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters in Washington, D.C., for outstanding job performance.

The ceremony paid tribute to the more than 40,000 individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities employed through the federal government's AbilityOne program. AbilityOne encourages federal agencies to contract with nonprofits like Melwood that provide job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

The Melwood honorees, all of whom have intellectual disabilities, were Michael Henderson, 22, of Clinton, who does landscaping at the Bureau of Engraving in Washington, D.C.; Charles Sherrill, 23, of Fort Washington, who landscapes at the Melwood headquarters; and James Featherson, 23, of Bowie, who landscapes at The Kennedy Center in the District.

They were recognized for their work in April on the USDA People's Garden Project, an initiative to transform the grounds of USDA headquarters and other sites into organic vegetable gardens.

"It felt good" to be recognized, Featherson said.

The ceremony also honored three employees with disabilities employed by ServiceSource, an Alexandria, Va.-based nonprofit that helps disabled persons find work.

Melwood employs 620 workers with disabilities in the greater Washington area through government contracts and partnerships in the private sector, said Melwood spokesman Jay Thomas. Nearly 300 Melwood employees live in Prince George's County.

Being employed "made me feel more independent because I can pay bills," Sherrill said.

Henderson, who hopes to pursue a career in graphic design, said he enjoys meeting new people through his job.

"It's fun because it's me and my coworkers, getting things done," he said.

The economic downturn has made finding work for Melwood employees more difficult, since many government agencies are cutting back on spending or changing the way they issue contracts, said Melwood CEO and President Janice Frey-Angel. In July, the nonprofit was also forced to lay off several dozen employees and cut some programs due to a drop in donations this year.

However, Frey-Angel said the organization has been able to keep nearly all of its workers employed.

"It's all about looking at what people's abilities are, what they can do," she said.

As of October, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the national unemployment rate for persons with disabilities was 16.5 percent, compared to a rate of 9.2 percent for persons with no disabilities. The overall unemployment rate stands at 10.2 percent.

Melwood employee Brenda Sheaffer, a custodian at the New Executive Office Building within the White House complex, delivered the keynote address at the ceremony. She described how she lives independently, despite a learning disability that prevents her from understanding math and that put her at a disadvantage when it came to finding work.

"Yes, I have a learning disability, but Melwood recognized I also had skills and a good attitude," she said. "They accepted who I am."

E-mail Zoe Tillman at ztillman@gazette.net.