This week, the Governor’s Council on Disability (GCD) announced that it is currently accepting nominations for its 2018 annual awards, including the Inclusion Award, the Youth Leadership Award and the Website/IT Award. The deadline for submitting nominations is Jan. 31, 2019.
The GCD is a state agency, which strives to promote participation and inclusion of the nearly 1 million Missourians with disabilities in all aspects of community life. By educating citizens, businesses, schools, universities and others of the rights and responsibilities provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the agency aims to assist and enable all Missourians living with disabilities.
This is the 27th year for the Inclusion Award. This award is presented annually, and it recognizes and honors a Missouri resident, organization, business or state/local government division that illustrates excellence in leadership for the “best of the best inclusion practices.” Innovative universal design and assistive technology concepts that incorporate people with disabilities may also be submitted. The nomination form and criteria are available here.
For the sixth year in a row the Youth Leadership Award will recognize an outstanding young Missourian (age 16-26) with a disability who has demonstrated exemplary leadership by making a difference in their community. Youth with disabilities can be nominated here.
The Website/IT Award recognizes and honors a Missouri non-profit organization, business or local government for providing the best and most accessible website. For more information regarding this award, please visit the GCD’s website.
Nominations may be submitted online, or by fax (573-526-4109), by email (gcd@oa.mo.gov) or by mail (Governor’s Council on Disability, PO Box 1668, Jefferson City, MO 65102). Winners if the awards will be announced during the Power Up conference held in April of 2019 in Columbia.
For more information or questions regarding the awards, please contact the GCD at (573) 751-2600.
As always, I encourage my constituents to contact me throughout the year with comments, questions or suggestions by calling my office at (573) 751-5713. Thank you for reading this and for your participation in state government.