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Local Advocate
Honored with National Youth Development Award
Special to The Truth
Eryn Sanders, Rural
Outreach Coordinator for The Ability Center of Greater
Toledo –Ottawa Office, was awarded the APRIL Linda
Gonzalez Award at the National APRIL Conference October
25-28.
The Association of
Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
is a national grass roots, consumer controlled, non-profit
membership organization consisting of Centers for
Independent Living, their satellites and branch offices,
state-wide Independent Living Councils, other organizations
and individuals concerned with the independent living issues
of people with disabilities living in rural America. APRIL
hosts an annual conference in rural parts of the country
each year. Participants and presenters from all over the
United States attend to talk about the impact of rural
issues for people with disabilities living in rural America.
Each year, at the national APRIL conference, the APRIL Board
awards the Linda Gonzales Award to a person who has
made a significant impact in rural youth issues. This year,
our very own Eryn Sanders was honored, receiving the award
for her impact on community partnerships in the six rural
Counties The Ability Center serves.
In 2012, Sanders took on the role of developing community
partnerships with organizations that provide services to
youth in the communities, specifically Wood County 4-H,
Ottawa County 4-H, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Sanders made
it her mission to ensure these organizations include all
youth, with and without disabilities, in their programming.
Throughout the past year, through the relationships she has
developed, she has opened many eyes to the possibilities and
positive outcomes of having inclusive programs.
Working closely with the
4-H in Wood County, Sanders began by creating and
facilitating workshops to teach inclusion to directors,
leaders and staff. She then worked with Camp Palmer’s 4-H
summer camp counselors and staff, in Fayette, Ohio, to make
the camp accessible for anyone who utilizes the Camp Palmer
facilities. As a result of her work, over 60 youth with
disabilities, including 27 new young people, were able to
attend Camp Palmer and be included in all its programs.
Sanders’ efforts and
impact, at Camp Palmer and at the various organizations with
whom she worked, has spread to state level programs and many
more local organizations. Today, she is actively seeking
organizations and programs in the Northwest Ohio area
wanting to learn more about inclusion and about the impact
of including all people. If you are interested in learning
more about inclusion or would like to talk to Sadners about
what she can bring to your organization, program, club,
etc., please contact her at The Ability Center of Greater
Toledo-Ottawa Office (located at the Sutton Center)
419.734.0330.
Additionally, Sanders was
named The Ability Center’s Employee of the Year. She will be
honored at the January meeting of the Board of Trustees. |
