Three Locals Honored for Contributions to Equal Access for All in SLO County

The Paul Wolff Accessibility Advocacy Awards Ceremony

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA― Three winners were announced at the Paul Wolff Accessibility Advocacy Awards (PWAAA) Ceremony presented by the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation and Access for All, held on August 28, 2010. Now in its 9^th year, this gala evening honored an individual, a business, and a community organization for their outstanding efforts to create a more accessible San Luis Obispo County.

Recognized for their efforts this year, were:

• Individual: Jill Heuer – Heuer is currently the Director of the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) for San Luis Obispo County. She was instrumental in bringing NPR’s StoryCorps Project to San Luis Obispo County in order to record for posterity the stories of nearly 150 people with disabilities. Heueris highly respected within the special education community in San Luis Obispo County for her commitment to meet the accessibility needs of students with disabilities.
• Business: Trader Joe’s – Since 2006, Trader Joe’s has demonstrated initiative through employment of people with developmental disabilities. In both their Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo stores, employees with disabilities benefit from the interaction with their colleagues and from the opportunity to demonstrate their skills
  

  From L to R: Sharlene Agrusa-Executive Director Of Parents Helping Parents, Victoria Carroll-wife of Rev. Doug Carroll, Jill Heuer, Mark Edwards-Store Manager at Trader Joe's.

  while being employed in a paying position.

• Organization: Parents Helping Parents –This organization has hosted several workshops on dealing with the challenges of raising a child with a disability and in 2009 hosted, “Creative Housing Options Workshop.” Parents of children with disabilities greatly benefit from connecting with other parents with similar questions and gain valuable information from Parents Helping Parents workshops.

Also a distinguished advocate, Reverend Doug Carroll was given a special certificate of recognition for his advocacy in educating the community about multiple sclerosis.

Winners were announced at the event which featured entertainer Josh Blue, 2006 winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Blue, who started his stand-up comedy career in college, celebrates the fact that he has cerebral palsy, breaking down stereotypes about disability with every joke he makes.

Access for All is dedicated to breaking down physical, attitudinal, or informational barriers to equality for people with disabilities. Visit www.sloaccessforall.org to find out more. Established at the Community Foundation in 2000 by Bryan and Beverly Gingg, PWAAA honors local architect Paul Wolff for his contributions toward accessibility for all. For more information about the Foundation, call (805) 543-2323 or log onto www.sloccf.org.