Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities honors contributions to Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities

INDIANAPOLIS (December 6, 2012)– The Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (INARF) honored Secretary of State Connie Lawson with their 2012 Career Recognition Award today. The organization recognized Secretary Lawson for her lifetime of work to raise awareness and positively impact the lives of Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“I am truly honored to be recognized by such a great organization and by so many individuals dedicated to improving the lives of Hoosiers in need” said Secretary Lawson.

As a state senator, member of senate majority leadership, and chair of the Indiana Commission on Developmental Disabilities, Secretary Lawson was an ardent supporter of Hoosiers with disabilities and disability service providers.  As chair of the Indiana Commission on Developmental Disabilities, Secretary Lawson played a key role in championing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, creating a system to keep families together, and exploring ways to better address the needs of high cost/high need individuals. 

Her legislative achievements include authoring Senate Concurrent Resolution 53, encouraging development of employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities and maximizing participation in the State Use Program. She also authored legislation to ensure continuity in services for young children whose parents were unable to pay for early intervention therapies.

Secretary Lawson said “With invaluable assistance from INARF, we were able to accomplish so much to help better the lives of so many Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I truly enjoyed working with INARF during my time in the Senate and I’m proud of the great strides we made in support of these individuals and their families.”

INARF represents agencies providing services to individuals with disabilities. INARF’s 80 member agencies provide vocational, residential, and early intervention services to over 13,000 individuals with disabilities across Indiana’s 92 counties. For more information, please visit www.inarf.org.