Nicole LeBlanc

2016 Paul Marchand Disability Public Policy Intern

Nicole LeBlanc was chosen by the Arc to be the 2016 Paul Marchand Disability Public Policy intern, a 13 week experience hosted this year by AUCD. During her internship, Nicole will be involved in a number of activities including researching existing laws and monitoring pending legislation, attending hearings, briefings and coalition meetings, and writing policy newsletters.

Nicole is the former Advocacy Director for Green Mountain Self-Advocates and brings with her over 8 years experience advocating for people with developmental disabilities at the state level as part of the Self Advocacy movement in Vermont. Nicole states that the former Chair of the Vermont Senate Appropriations Committee often called her the "Budget Watchdog" and the "Guardian of Inclusion," titles she wears proudly, for her work in educating and mobilizing other Vermont self-advocates around policy and budget issues.

It has always been a dream of Nicole's to work on disability policy at the federal level in the areas of Social Security, Medicaid, Employment, ABLE Act, Voting, and HCBS rule implementation. She is very excited about her new role and AUCD is as equally enthusiastic.