Client News
Greenfield resident honored for disability advocacy efforts at annual conference
GREENFIELD, Ind. – Amy Borgmann, an advocate for parents of children with disabilities as well as the entire disability community, was honored today at the annual Conference for People with Disabilities in Indianapolis for her efforts. Borgmann received a Community Spirit Award from the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities in recognition of her outstanding leadership in the disability community.
After the birth of her son, who has cerebral palsy, and after meeting other families raising children with special needs, Borgmann recognized the need to share information and offer support. A founding member of Families United for Support and Encouragement (FUSE), Borgmann has been giving her time and talents to the organization since 1996, and she recently resigned her position as board president to take on the role of development director for FUSE. Amy was instrumental in FUSE’s selection for a matching endowment program from the local community foundation.
In 2001, Borgmann graduated from the Council’s Partners in Policymaking program and in 2003, after her brother was killed in an accident, she created a memorial golf tournament to honor her brother’s memory and to help FUSE, which was struggling to secure funding. Borgmann has donated 100 percent of the proceeds from the golf tournament to FUSE — more than $50,000 to date.
Borgmann’s work touches the lives of families in a way that empowers their children to share their individual gifts with others.
The Governor’s Council began recognizing disability advocates for outstanding leadership in 2006 as part of the Community Spirit Awards program, which also recognizes individuals and organizations in a second category—Disability Awareness Month campaigns. Winners are awarded for their efforts to ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunities, supports and access they need to become fully included in society. Each year, recipients are honored at the Governor’s Council’s conference, which provides a unique forum for presenting a wide array of information on both local and national issues that impact the disability community.
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The Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, a federally funded state agency, works to change Indiana public policy so Hoosiers with disabilities can live independently, work productively and be included fully in community life.
As part of its efforts, the Council works in partnership with disability-related organizations and sponsors many initiatives that contribute to attitude and system transformation. These organizations work statewide to enhance the lives of people with disabilities.