It's a Way of Life for Jill Smith, 2015 Community Leader Honoree
We are pleased to congratulate 2015 Imagine Award Community Leader honoree Jill Valocik Smith!
Jill Smith has been a tremendous advocate for individuals with disabilities for over 25 years. Her varied career path has included positions as a behavior specialist, case manager, Family Advocate, and Executive Director of a Down Syndrome chapter. Jill is currently the manager of the “My Life, My Choice” project for The Arc of Indiana. Through this project, she has personally touched the lives of hundreds of individuals with disabilities, giving them the dignity and respect of asking about their lives and listening to their stories.
Jill never shies away from speaking out for people with disabilities and ensuring their voices are heard. Jill lives on the positive side of this world—acknowledging that there are many problems, but also that there is always a way forward if we are creative and committed. Jill does this with a personal drive and sincerity that people immediately grasp.
Jill’s first experiences with disabilities began as a child when she learned that a cousin, who she did not see as having a disability, was viewed as “different” – so began her lifetime of advocacy. Her involvement with disability issues is not a career choice, it’s a way of life.
Join us in honoring Jill at the Imagine Awards on March 7, 2015 at Horseshoe Southern Indiana. Tickets & info available at www.imagineawards.org or 812.981.4411.