Call for Nominations for the 2008 Michael Lechner Award

The Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC) is calling for nominations for the 2008 Michael Lechner Award. This award is given to a Kansan with a disability who has effectively advocated for changes in his or her community to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Examples of such changes include improved physical or program access, expansion or enhancement of employment opportunities for people with disabilities, fuller inclusion into the community, accessible parking, improved provision of alternative forms of communication, increased access to adequate health care services, and especially powerful legislative advocacy.

Michael Lechner was the Executive Director of KCDC from 1982 until his death in October, 1990. His advocacy activities had far-reaching results in improving independent living opportunities for Kansans with disabilities. One of Mike's most notable successes was in working with the Kansas Legislature and the disability community to change the Nurse Practice Act to allow personal care attendants to provide certain home care services. He used this opportunity to teach people with disabilities how to advocate for changes in the legislature, partner with other disability organizations and see the benefits of advocating for changes that help all people with disabilities. This effort opened the way for the self-directed Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver. Because of his leadership and the support of advocacy groups and people with disabilities around the state, Kansas' HCBS program is one of the most progressive in the nation empowering people with disabilities to direct their own care services and stay in their own homes and communities.

Nominations MUST include:

A completed award form
Any supporting documentation of the nominee's accomplishments such as newspaper or newsletter articles and letters of thanks or commendation.
Two letters of support from colleagues or organizations.
Nominee's vita (listing of personal information vital or pertinent to the advocacy activities), including the person's name, address, telephone number, education (if relevant), employment (if relevant), advocacy activities, affiliation with disability and/or pertinent community organizations.

ADVOCACY MUST HAVE OCCURRED IN KANSAS AND IMPROVED INDEPENDENT LIVING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STATE OF KANSAS OR WITHIN A KANSAS COMMUNITY.

Deadline for submission is August 22, 2008

Please send nominations to KCDC, 1000 SW Jackson St., Suite 100, Topeka KS 66612.

Questions may be directed to Martha Gabehart at 1-800-295-5232 (voice/relay) or 785-296-6809 FAX.