New York State Independent Living Council to Present 2023 Disability Rights Hall Of Fame Event

Albany, New York May 19, 2023 (Issuewire.com) – The New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) will present the 2023 New York State Disability Rights Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, a virtual event, on Thursday, June 1, at 6 pm EDT. This year’s inductees are Debra (Debbie) Bonomo and Kathy Lynch.

NYSILC created the NYS Disability Rights Hall of Fame in 2018 to recognize individuals who have made lifelong achievements that positively impact people with disabilities in society.

Areas of lifelong achievement include improving public policy and programs/services, advancing new knowledge and/or concepts, eliminating barriers, and promoting a positive image for people with disabilities.

Ms. Bonomo’s accomplishments include successfully leading the fight for accessible buses in the Rochester area and advocating for improved personal assistance services for individuals on Medicaid, which led to statewide mandates for accessible buses and Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services. More information about her is available here.

Ms. Lynch has dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. In doing so, she has also changed the public’s perception of mental illness and those living with it. Her efforts helped establish the peer support movement for two people with mental illness and steer state funds toward assisting this population to remain in the community and out of institutions. More information about her is available here.

Tickets for the virtual Hall of Fame induction ceremony are $15 per person and include a basket raffle ticket. Tickets can be purchased online here.