I want to share this exciting news with everyone.
Dan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Jennifer McAlpine

Solomon McCown & Co.

617-933-5017

xxxxxx@solomonmccown.com

Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council Welcomes

Lydia Brown as New Chairperson

Brown is Youngest Developmental Disabilities Council Chairperson in Country

Quincy, MA - November 16, 2015 - The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) is pleased to welcome Lydia Brown as the Council's new Chairperson. At age 22, Brown becomes the youngest person in the country to serve as Chair of a statewide Developmental Disabilities Council. In this new role, Brown will work closely with Council leadership and state and federal policymakers to continue the MDDC's efforts to promote self- sufficiency, community inclusion and opportunity for all people with developmental disabilities.

"Lydia's perspective as a young person with a disability will be invaluable to the Council as we work to better support youth with developmental disabilities, said Daniel Shannon, Executive Director of MDDC. "Her considerable advocacy experience will be an asset to people across the state and country as she begins her tenure as Council Chairperson, and we are thrilled to welcome her to this new role."

Brown, currently a law student at Northeastern University, is an autistic and multiple-disabled activist, writer, and speaker whose work has largely focused on violence against people with disabilities. Prior to joining the MDDC, Brown interned at the Disability Law Center of Massachusetts, and worked as a policy analyst for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's national policy team.  Brown is currently co-president of TASH New England and a board member of the Autism Women's Network.

While a student at Georgetown University, Brown co-founded the Washington Metro Disabled Students Collective, led multiple campaigns to reform university policies on disability access, served as the point person on disability affairs in the student government, and was a member of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities' consumer advisory council. Brown is a past Patricia Morrissey Disability Policy Fellow at the Institute for Educational Leadership.

In 2013, the White House honored Brown as a Champion of Change for disability rights. In addition, Brown received the 2014 Washington Peace Center's Empowering the Future Youth Activist Award and in 2015, Brown was named a Top 30 Thinker under 30 by Pacific Standard and honored on Mic's inaugural list of 50 impactful leaders, cultural influencers, and breakthrough innovators.  Brown's work has been published in numerous outlets including The Washington Post.

Daniel M. Shannon, Executive Director
MA Developmental Disabilities Council
100 Hancock St., Suite 201
Quincy, MA 02171
Phone - 617-770-7676 X108
Fax - 617-770-1987
www.mass.gov/mddc<http://www.mass.gov/mddc>

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