Dawn Olson, BS

North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, Minot State University

Dawn works at Independence, Inc, in Minot, ND, and serves as the Consumer Liaison for the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) located on the campus of Minot State University in Minot, ND. Although not a core function area under the DD Act, consumer services and relations are important aspects of NDCPD's activities. These areas are addressed by Dawn as the Consumer Liaison.

A major responsibility given to the Consumer Liaison is to be the connection between the Consumer Advisory Council and NDCPD. Additional duties include: 1) conveying the center's purpose, mission, vision and message to consumers with disabilities and their families; 2) raising awareness of disability issues to North Dakota's general public; 3) coordinating and/or conducting training on consumer issues; 4) answering questions that are presented to NDCPD regarding disability issues; and 5) assisting in grant and other product development for NDCPD.