Families as Allies was humbled and honored to receive a Torchbearer’s award for supporting families and advocating for progress in the mental health system at the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities’ annual Torchbearer Celebration on November 10. We are grateful for the work of the Coalition and to be an organizational member of it.
According to its website, “The Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities (MSCCD) is a private, not-for-profit state-wide cross-disability organization formed in Mississippi in 1989 made up of Mississippians with disabilities (children, youth, and adults) and their families regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, economic status or religion, organizations that represent or advocate for people with disabilities, professionals who work in disability-related fields, and other interested citizens.”
We are thankful for the many ways the Coalition and its board support Families as Allies and other disability-related organizations: legislative advocacy, the annual Special Education Law Conference and Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol, to name just a few. We offer a very special shout-out to Pam Dollar, executive director of the Coalition. Pam’s unwavering kindness, encouragement and steadfastness have brought us hope and comfort through many twists and turns.
It touched us to be among a group of other torchbearer honorees whose work and advocacy are an inspiration and example to us:
- Mickey Alford, Clinton
- Rims & Judy Barber, Jackson
- Kirby Carter, Horn Lake (ask her whether one mama can change a community for her child and many more)
- Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society, Ridgeland
- The Children’s Center for Communication & Development, Hattiesburg
Thank you again to the Coalition and all of you who work with us daily to improve things for our children. What better reason to join together?
