Shelley Dumas named the National Association of Social Workers Texas Public Citizen of the Year (TX UCEDD)

January 7, 2016

Dr. Shelley Dumas, Director of Community Education at the Texas Center for Disability Studies, was named the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Texas 2015 Public Citizen of the Year. The Public Citizen of the Year Award honors an outstanding member of the community whose accomplishments exemplify the values and mission of the profession of social work and who has acted with courage to make significant contribution to an area or population of concern to the social work profession such as: at-risk or vulnerable populations, quality of life in communities, or social issues. Shelley was honored for her work providing training and conducting research in the areas of self-determination and self-advocacy, person-centered practices, and family support.

For the past 28 years, Shelley has has worked with individuals and families, as well as national, state and local agencies and organizations in program development and evaluation. In the same arenas, she has delivered training and technical assistance, in person-centered practices, family support, self-determination, and inclusive community and education practices for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. More importantly, she is the parent of Katherine Dumas, who lives at home in the Austin community and receives community services from a local provider through the Home and Community Based Services waiver. Shelley's personal experience of being a parent of adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities has provided her with the strength and drive to assure her daughter and others are able to become valued members of their communities.