VT LEND Awarded Green Mountain Self-Advocates Ally of the Year Award

June 29, 2018

  http://www.gmsavt.org/2018-voices-and-choices-conference/

Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA), Vermont's state wide self-advocacy organization, awarded the 2018 Ally of the Year Award to the Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (VT LEND) for their outstanding support of Vermont self-advocates, the mission of self-advocacy, and Green Mountain Self-Advocates. The award was presented at the 20th Annual Voices and Choices Conference on May 15, 2018 with the following statement: "VT LEND is dedicated to inclusion and making sure people from diverse language and cultural backgrounds, including people with disabilities, are part of the VT LEND training program.

This year they had their first self-advocate trainee in the program and partnered with GMSA to make their classes and trainings accessible for all people. They have worked for years to ensure self-advocates are included as teachers and leaders, including hiring self-advocates to teach others how to educate policy makers in Washington, D.C. Above all else, they listen to self-advocates and strongly believe people with disabilities are the real experts in their lives. We thank the VT LEND for being such amazing allies to the self-advocacy movement and for always fighting for inclusion and respect on behalf of all people."