Governor's Office of Disability Affairs Newsletter
December 2021
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2021 Governor's Outstanding Leadership in Disabilities (GOLD) Awards &
Inclusive Art Contest
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The Governor's Office of Disability Affairs is proud to continue its rich tradition of hosting both the Governor's Outstanding Leadership in Disabilities (GOLD) Awards and the Inclusive Art Contest. The 2021 GOLD Awards is scheduled to take place on December 8, 2021 at the Old State Capitol at 2:00 p.m. In-person attendance is limited to nominators and recipients; however, the ceremony will be live streamed. A link to watch the 2021 GOLD Awards will be emailed in a special announcement before the day of the ceremony.
The GOLD Awards recognizes extraordinary individuals and organizations who have contributed their time and talents to benefit the lives of persons with disabilities in Louisiana.
The Inclusive Art Contest enables participants to increase awareness of the importance of inclusion in today's society through artistic expression. This year's contest theme: "Accessibility of the Future"
2021 GOLD Award Recipients
Distinguished Merit Award
Opportunities Academy
Patsy Barrett Memorial Award
Karen Roy
Ken Vince Memorial Award
Cody Reitz
Educator of the Year Award
Rebecca Reeves
Youth of the Year Award
Owen Delatte
Family of the Year Award
Barthe Family
Volunteer of the Year Award
Patricia Ehrle
Direct Support Person of Year Award
Shannon Edmond
Service Animal of the Year Award
Phoebe Trunnell
Elected Official of the Year Award
Representative Larry Bagley
Public Servant of the Year Award
Amy Dawson
Service Provider of the Year Award
Marliu Major
2021 Inclusive Art Contest Award Recipients
Lynette Fontenot Excellence in Inclusion Award
Trinity Williams
Adult Division
First Place- Bonnie Dempster
Second Place- Robert Biggs
High School Division
First Place-Trinity Williams
Second Place- Anna He
Middle School Division
First Place- Paisley Dempster
Second Place- Brooke Hardesly
Third Place- Zoe Mitchell
Honorable Mention- Tiffany Maddox
Honorable Mention- Andrew Thibodeaux
K-5th Grade Division
First Place- Randi Keys
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Welcoming Alishia Vallien: New Executive Director of the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) for EarlySteps |
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The Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs welcomes Alishia Richard Vallien to their team. She will serve as Executive Director of the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) for EarlySteps in the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs.
Alishia Richard Vallien, M.Ed. is a former high school assistant principal. She has worked in the education field for over two decades primarily working in elementary education. Ms. Vallien is very involved in the community. She is Vice President of the local branch of National Association of University Women. Vallien has served on the Louisiana Association of Educators Board of Directors and President of the parish chapter. She serves on the Board of the Southwest Louisiana Sickle Cell Association. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Women United. Richard Vallien has served as a reader, alter server and Catechism teacher at Holy Family Church. Richard-Vallien is also the proud mother of Antonio Vallien.
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Governor's Advisory Council
on Disability Affairs
Quarterly Meetings
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Monday, December 13, 2021
Education Committee 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Legislative Committee 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Housing Committee 12:00 PM - 1:20 PM
Transportation Committee 1:30 PM - 2:50 PM
Accessibility Committee 3:00 PM - 4:20 PM
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Press Room, 4th Floor, Louisiana State Capitol (also accessible via Zoom)
Full Council Meeting 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Agendas, past minutes, and other Council information can be found at this link.
GACDA will consider legislative proposals to support during the 2022 legislative session. If you wish to present a legislative proposal to GACDA for consideration of support, please email bambi.polotzola@la.gov.
If you need additional information or special accommodations, please notify lillian.dejean@la.gov or call (225) 219-7553. Public comment will be allowed on each agenda item prior to a vote of the Council or Committee.
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Community Forum:
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Services
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Volunteers of America is a leader in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live independent, meaningful lives. Learn more about the critical issues facing the disability services system with a panel of experts:
- Rep. Rhonda Butler, Louisiana State House of Representatives, District 38
- Kathy Dwyer, Louisiana Dental Task Force for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, Chairperson
- Omegia Fulgham-Lee, Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana, Director of Community Living Services
- Heather Matthews, Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana, Director of Supported Living Services
- Caroline Meehan, Community Provider Association, Executive Director
This webinar will take place on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 11am to 12pm. Register for the event here.
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Louisiana Association of the Deaf, Inc. and Deaf Focus announce a bold, exciting unified endeavor |
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Louisiana Association of the Deaf (LAD) announced today in their Board meeting that LAD will take ownership of Deaf Focus from its parent organization, I-LEEAD, effective December 1, 2021.
Founded in 2009 by Paula Rodriguez, Deaf Focus has grown from an initial focus on counseling deaf individuals into several programs including interpreting services before being subsumed into the non-profit I-LEEAD in 2015.
In the last several years, Deaf Focus and LAD have actively collaborated in the
pursuit of progressive policies and legislation that positively impact the Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing (DDBHH) community such as influencing changes in leadership at the Special School District and the five-cent Telecommunication Fund for the Deaf monthly tax on cell phones which funds the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf.
Through this partnership, the Board of Directors of both organizations agreed to transfer the ownership of Deaf Focus with the objective of seamlessly continuing the business operations of Deaf Focus; primarily interpreting services and expanding Community and Legislative Advocacy, individualized Support Services, Law Enforcement Training, Professional Development, ASL Classes, Education Conferences and Deaf Focus’ signature summer program for Deaf and CODA (children of Deaf adults) Youth, Kidz Kamp.
The LAD Board thanks both the outgoing Director, Paula Rodriguez, and Assistant Director, Melodie Sparks, for their unmatched devotion to the betterment of our community. They both will continue to play a role in carrying out LAD’s mission, vision, and values. Jason “Jay” Isch, Deaf Focus’ current
Outreach Manager, will be assuming the position of Director of its business operations, and its physical office will be moving into LAD's existing office off College Drive in Baton Rouge, LA.
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Join December 9, 2021, LaCAN Region 9 Leader Karen Artus & the Northshore Families Helping Families to learn about the legislative process and how you can join LaCAN.
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Creating a Special Needs Legal and Life Care Plan: Webinar |
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Creating a future that provides for both your own financial needs and those of a dependent with special needs can feel overwhelming.
Families Helping Families of Acadiana is hosting a workshop that will discuss four focus areas that should be considered with integrated planning, and a recommended timeline to avoid any disruption in the care of a loved one with special needs.
Register in advance for this meeting at this link.
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Disability Rights Louisiana
Lunch and Learn Series
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Words and actions matter! How you talk to and act around people with disabilities can show how much you respect them. We invite you to join us for our next virtual DRLA Lunch & Learn Webinar, Disability Consciousness: Words & Actions Matter. DRLA’s Policy Analyst, Dr. Ashley Volion, and Director of Community Advocacy, Debra Weinberg, Esq., will discuss how and why they use their word choices and actions to show respect to people and will give tips for you to do the same.
This Lunch & Learn Webinar will take place on Thursday, December 2nd at 11:00am and is set for a half an hour. You can join at this link: https://bit.ly/3CFE8Ak
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Media of the Month:
"Rolling Warrior"
by Judith Heumann
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“If I didn’t fight, who would?”
Judy Heumann was only five years old when she was first denied her right to attend school. Paralyzed from polio and raised by her Holocaust-surviving parents in New York City, Judy had a drive for equality that was instilled early in life.
In this young listeners’ edition of her acclaimed memoir, Being Heumann, Judy shares her journey of battling for equal access in an unequal world - from fighting to attend grade school after being described as a “fire hazard” because of her wheelchair, to suing the New York City school system for denying her a teacher’s license because of her disability. Judy went on to lead 150 disabled people in the longest sit-in protest in US history at the San Francisco Federal Building. Cut off from the outside world, the group slept on office floors, faced down bomb threats, and risked their lives to win the world’s attention and the first civil rights legislation for disabled people.
Judy’s bravery, persistence, and signature rebellious streak will speak to every person fighting to belong and fighting for social justice.
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Remembering
Lisa
Chase
Potter
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Melisa (Lisa) Marie Chase Potter, a long-time Deaf advocate in Louisiana, unfortunately passed away on November 15, 2021. She was 61 years old. Lisa was born November 24, 1959 in Ferriday, Louisiana to Dan and Lilly Chase. She was married to Gary Potter and lived in Denham Springs, Louisiana with her beloved seven (7) teacup yorkies and stray kitten. Lisa had two sons, one granddaughter and two great grandchildren. Lisa’s favorite quote was “Live, Laugh, & Love.” She enjoyed spending her time traveling to new places and learning the craft of embroidery.
Lisa attended the Louisiana State School for the Deaf in her elementary and high school years. She obtained an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education as an inductee of the Zeta Kappa Epsilon Honor Society at Delgado Community College and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education as an inductee of the Kappa Delta Epsilon and Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Societies at LSU. She went on to achieve her Master of Science at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.
After graduating, she taught American Sign Language to hearing students at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, VA for one year prior to moving back home to Louisiana to teach at Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD) for ten (10) years from 2005-2015.
After leaving LSD, Lisa and Gary worked for 12 years in their own property management business. In 2018, Lisa joined the Bianca Law Firm as a legal assistant and Deaf Liaison. Lisa was a passionate advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. She previously served on the board of the Louisiana Association of the Deaf. She was appointed to the Louisiana Hearing Impaired Infants Advisory Council by Governor Foster in 2001 as well as the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf by Governor Bel Edwards in 2017. Lisa also served as current president of the non-profit organization, Capital Area Deaf Education and Advocacy Force (Capital Area DEAF).
Lisa was a tremendous asset to the Deaf community of Louisiana and will definitely be missed.
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Your story has the ability to heal, unify, and empower others. If you'd like to share your story for inclusion in our monthly newsletter please email disability.affairs@la.gov
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