PRINCETON, N.J.WithumSmith+Brown PC (Withum), a top-30 audit, tax and advisory firm, has named Jason DaSilva, founder of AXS Lab and developer of AXS Map, its inaugural Strength Stories campaign honoree. As the Innovative Strength Award recipient, DaSilva is being recognized for creatively using media and technology to bring awareness and advocacy to disabled individuals on a global level.

Launched this year, Withum’s Strength Stories campaign was created as a recognition program directed to the general business community to spotlight employees who go above and beyond the normal call of duty. DaSilva and all future winners will have the opportunity to appear in a radio commercial aired on Bloomberg Radio to share their strength story.

Diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis at age 25, DaSilva is a director, producer, writer and disability rights activist best known for the Emmy Award-winning documentary, When I Walk. The film follows his diagnosis of progressive multiple sclerosis for seven years as he transitions from a cane and walker to wheelchair. 

In addition, he is the founder of AXS Lab and AXS Map, a crowd-sourced Google map-based platform rating the accessibility of businesses. AXS Lab, Inc., serves those with disabilities through the arts, media and technology. 

To qualify for the Innovative Strength Award, nominees were required to demonstrate their commitment to developing/improving methods, processes and procedures. Lew Weiss, host of Manufacturing Talk Radio, and Catherine Palmer, DIRTT Champion at Office Furniture Partnership, received honorable mention in the category.

Withum is now accepting nominations for the Administrative Strength honor, recognizing internal or external customer/client/colleague service, professionalism, performance and commitment beyond the normal responsibility scope. In addition, nominations will be accepted over the next several months for Client Service Strength, Entrepreneurial Strength, Culture Strength and Community Strength.

Established in 1974, Withum is committed to providing quality services and innovative solutions to businesses, non-profits, individuals and communities. As one of the nation’s 30 largest accounting and consulting firms, the firm also is a member of HLB International, a worldwide network of independent professional accounting firms and business advisors committed to assisting clients build and expand globally.

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