Celia Feinstein, Associate Director of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University (PA UCEDD) Receives Lifelong Achievement Award

October 15, 2010

Celia Feinstein

Celia Feinstein, MA, Associate Director of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University in the College of Education (PA UCEDD), has been awarded the prestigious Lifelong Achievement Award from the National Conference of Executives of The Arc of the United States (NCE) in recognition of her "accomplishments and to honor her continued work on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and their families."

According to the NCE, this award is given to an individual whose lifelong work has significantly contributed to the mission, core values and positions of The Arc. It recognizes extraordinary service and outstanding dedication to individuals represented by The Arc.

Because of her work at the Institute on Disabilities, Ms. Feinstein is a nationally recognized and respected professional in the areas of program evaluation, quality assurance and monitoring of programs for people with intellectual and other disabilities, consumer surveys, evaluation of family support services, leadership development for people with disabilities and families, and waiting lists for people with intellectual disabilities. She has authored dozens of articles on these topics and is a sought after speaker at conferences throughout the country.

Dr. C. Kent McGuire, Dean of the College of Education at Temple University, is in complete agreement with the NCE in bestowing this award on Ms. Feinstein. "Celia's lifelong work with, and for, people with disabilities, is an inspiration to her colleagues throughout the university and beyond," Dean McGuire says. "As both an alumnus and an employee of Temple University for her entire professional career, Celia has served as a stellar example of compassion, persistence and dedication to guaranteeing quality education for every member of the community."

Dedicated to the respectful inclusion of people with disabilities in America's communities, Ms. Feinstein has developed many programs to help achieve that goal including The Pennsylvania Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families, better known as "The Partnership." The largest state-wide program of its kind and based at the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, The Partnership offers information, technical assistance and training on the mental retardation system from people with intellectual disabilities for people with intellectual disabilities.

In their recommendation letter to the NCE, co-executive directors of Vision for Equality, Audrey Coccia and Maureen Devaney, praised Ms. Feinstein's scope of work with the community. "Celia has been in the forefront of systems change her entire career.  She works tirelessly with other organizations to establish harmony while pushing the envelope in improving the service delivery system, keeping in mind the value of the family unit.  Most important, she listens and embraces self advocates and their families and their lives and understands the challenges they experience."

As a graduate student at Temple University, Ms. Feinstein worked on the groundbreaking project to close the Pennhurst State School and Hospital and continued her career at the Institute on Disabilities where she currently manages a multitude of statewide programs and projects.

Stephen H. Suroviec, Executive Director, The Arc of Pennsylvania, long time associate and colleague of Ms. Feinstein, applauds her selection for this award. "Celia's lifetime of professional accomplishments makes her the perfect choice for this prestigious award. Her work has significantly advanced the civil rights and societal inclusion of people with disabilities, which exemplifies the mission and goals of The Arc."

The NCE is a peer membership organization of over 300 professional leaders of local, state and national organizations serving individuals with cognitive or other developmental issues, to improve their individual abilities to better serve their organizations and their constituents.

Ms. Feinstein will be honored at NCE's annual conference on November 3, 2010 in Walt Disney World, Florida.