“Above all, what strikes me about Jeff and his advocacy is that he is a bulldog. Simply put: he will not quit. That is why he has succeeded in life, and that is why he has succeeded in his advocacy. He is an example to us all of what we can do if we work hard, and keep working hard.”
James Tucker ADAP - Executive Director “I first met Jeff around 10 years ago as I became involved as an advisor to a new chapter of a People First and also as the parent of a young self advocate. Jeff’s never wavering selfless pursuit for justice and equality for all Alabama citizens has been an example for all of us with the same values. His leadership for the Alabama Respectful Language Law in particular is a lasting tribute.” Susan Ellis State Coordinator - People First of Alabama “Jeff is passionate about self advocacy and human and civil rights for people with disabilities. He is truly like the “Kudzu” plant we so love, persistent, ever growing and challenging all that it is in its way to cover the landscape with his message. This tenaciousness is the spirit of self advocacy.” Vicki Turnage Ability Alliance - Executive Director |
Jeff Ridgeway Advocacy AwardADAP is soliciting nominations for the 2020 Jeff Ridgeway Advocacy Award.
The Jeff Ridgeway Advocacy Award shall be presented annually in accordance with the following qualifications and considerations: 1. The Award shall be open to all persons with disabilities. 2. The recipient shall have reached at least 16 years of age at the time of nomination for the Award. 3. The recipient shall have demonstrated at least three years of experience in self-advocacy at the time of nomination for the Award. 4. The Award shall recognize a person who has a record of having demonstrated leadership in self-advocacy, preferably including cross-disability advocacy. 5. The Award shall recognize a person who has a record of having stated a vision for the future of the self-advocacy movement in Alabama. 6. Nominations for receipt of the 2020 Award shall be made in writing, and shall close on Friday, July 24, 2020. 7. Selection of the Award’s recipient shall be made by a committee of not more than five persons including the ADAP Director, who shall serve as chair. The other members of the selection committee are: a. President, People First, b. President, Wings Across Alabama, c. Amy Hinton (advocate), d. Vicki Turnage (advocate). 8. Selection of the Award’s recipient shall be agreed by consensus. 9. If any of the persons identified to participate on the selection committee cannot serve, then that person’s logical successor shall serve in his/her stead. The first recipient of the Award was Jeff Ridgeway, himself. The 2015 Award winners were Elouise Woods, a long-time member of People First who was described as one of Jeff’s mentors, and Kent Crenshaw, director of the Montgomery Center for Independent Living. The 2016 Award winners were Danny Grant, active in Alabama’s movement for self-advocacy since the 1980’s and Audrey Trippe, a Peer Service Provider. The 2017 Award winners were Matthew Foster and Mark McLellan, both long-active in Alabama’s movement for self-advocacy and active leaders of the state’s People First organization. The 2018 Award winners were Sister Lucindia Claghorn (long-time mental health advocate), Jeffrey Downs (self-advocate), and Mary White (youth advocate). No nominations were received in 2019. Please send nominations to: Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program Attention: James Tucker/ Ridgeway Award Box 870395 Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487 email: jtucker@adap.ua.edu fax: (205)348-3909 All nominations must be received on or before July 24, 2020. |