Norb Ryan of Versailles recently received the Leadership in Advocacy Award for 2004. The award was presented to Ryan at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) conference in Bethesda, Md. on November 10, 2004. AUCD is a nationally recognized non-profit organization that promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities. Ryan is the outgoing co-chair of AUCD's Council on Consumer Affairs.

Upon Ryan’s receiving the award, Dr. George Jesien, executive director of AUCD stated, “This award recognizes an outstanding individual with a disability or family member who has exhibited exceptional leadership and advocacy skills in the area of developmental disabilities. 
Norb has been an outstanding leader for the Council on Consumer Affairs (COCA) and never missed an opportunity to bring COCA to the forefront of AUCD's priorities, including the current initiative to clarify and revitalize COCA for the years to come. On behalf of AUCD, we wish to thank him for all that he has done, and all he will continue to do in the future.”

“It is an honor to receive this award. It signifies that the state of Kentucky is leading the country in making progress toward accessibility of the state’s One-Stop Career Centers. We are also leading the country in the accessibility of our public universities’ Web sites. Most of our universities now have policies in place, and are working toward accessibility for all to use, ” Ryan stated.
Ryan, the state’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator, has 40 years of experience in the disabilities field, including nine years as a disability program administrator at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute.

As state ADA coordinator, Ryan advises state government agencies about the act’s requirements, assists them in implementing ADA provisions and provides ADA training.  In addition, Ryan offers ADA information to individuals with disabilities and to private businesses.  The ADA coordinator also conducts disability awareness training upon request.

The Kentucky Education Cabinet coordinates learning programs from P-16, and manages and supports training and employment functions in the Department for Workforce Investment. The state ADA coordinator’s office is in the Department for Workforce Investment, Kentucky Education Cabinet. For more information about the state ADA coordinator’s office, call 877-423-2933, go to <http://ada.ky.gov>, or e-mail Ryan at NorbJ.Ryan@ky.gov .

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (formerly the American Association of University Affiliated Programs for Persons with Developmental Disabilities) is a 501(c) non-profit organization that promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC). For more information about AUCD, go to <http://www.aucd.org>.