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| Ginny Ellis, Kathy Connor ('02), Michelle Appleby ('06), James Huben, Aldea LaParr |
When I was participating in Partners in 2006 as a self advocate, I was serving on the Board of Directors for the Northern Regional Center for Independent Living and I was a stay at home mom to my two daughters. When both my children reached preschool/school age I decided it was time to go back to work.
In December 2007 I stepped down off the Board of Directors at Northern Regional Center for Independent Living and took a position as a Systems Advocate.
My role as a Systems Advocate was to work with a grassroots network of 19 other Systems Advocates in New York State to make changes on the local,State and Federal levels of government.
These changes were to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As a result of this position, and in order to make connections and build relationships with policymakers, politicians and various agencies in the community, I was appointed to the Jefferson County Community Services Board and PWDD Subcommittee by the Jefferson County Legislature in April 2008.
I served as PWDD subcommittee Chair in 2010 and I was re-elected as chair for 2011.
In June 2008, I received the Excelsior Award For Excellence from the New York State Assembly for outstanding dedication and committment to my community!
In February 2009, I was appointed by Governor Paterson to the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and to the Systems Change and Community Eduction Subcommittees.
In January 2011, I was appointed by the Watertown City Council to the Watertown, NY Transportion Commission to fill a vacated seat. I was re-appointed in April 2011 to serve in my first 3 year term on theCommission.
Although my position as a Systems Advocate was eliminated due to budget cuts in January 2011, I still remain active in all positions on the city,county and state level.
In February 2011, I accepted a full time position at Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson and Lewis County. In this positon I work as an Intake worker and serve as the contact person for Fair Housing
Discrimination Claims.
As an intake worker I work one on one with low income families to assess what needs they may have in achieving self reliance and refer them to programs and services that might help them achieve that goal.
If it werent for being accepted into Partners in 2006, I don't know how much I would have improved "quality of life" for my children and I.
With the knowledge I obtained thru partners I feel I am able to contribute not only my own personal knowlege and experience of programs and services to the various clients and positions I serve in but also provide a better understanding of how programs and services work to people with disabilities and their families who need this information.
I think Partners definitely empowers people to make a difference whether its personal or professional.
The sky doesn't have to be the limit. There are endless possibilities :)
