Many of those who have been with your Councils for a long time will remember our past executive director Suellen Jackson-Boner who retired 5 years ago and passed away from Kidney
cancer this weekend. She was positive and optimistic to the end. I worked with and for her for over 40 years she was a mentor and a friend. Below is some information and a link to the Council’s Facebook page where you are encouraged to leave a memory or picture
https://www.facebook.com/GCPDIndiana/
- Christine
The Council lost one of its own last weekend.
Suellen Jackson-Boner wore many hats—both figurative and literal—during her thirty years as executive director, and she was instrumental in the development of the Council from an
Advisory Board into a fully-fledged independent state agency, one of the first national Developmental Disabilities Councils to do so. She championed livable communities and the idea that people with disabilities should be fully included in communities and
neighborhoods; the independent living movement and the establishment of the state’s first cross disability independent living center; voting rights and access for people with disabilities; supported employment, and the creation of Self Advocates of Indiana.
Under her direction, the Council helped organize Indiana advocates to support the cause of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990; began to celebrate and promote March
Disability Awareness Month; wrote the first DD Home and Community Medicaid Waiver; created the Indiana Conference on Disability; and provided advocacy training to over 600 people with disabilities and families through Partners in Policymaking; and so much
more.
Suellen was a progressive force who understood that big changes are the result of well planned, small, incremental steps over time. Her generosity, determination, and passion touched
many lives, and she will be missed.
Hats off to you, Suellen
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Christine Dahlberg Executive Director Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities Indiana Government Center South, Room E145 402 West Washington Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Phone: (317)232-7770 Fax: (317)232-0257 |
