Diana Braun and Kathy Conour Named Justin Dart Distinguished Citizens of the Year
The Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois is pleased to welcome Diana Braun and Kathy Conour to the Annual Disability Rights/Independent Living Conference as our 2008 Justin Dart Distinguished Citizen of the Year. This award is the Coalition's most prestigious honor and it is presented annually to an advocate who has done exceptional work in the disability rights movement. Past recipients include Senator Hillary Clinton, Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan and the man himself, Justin Dart, Jr.
Diana and Kathy have become stars in the disability community over the past year with the release of their documentary "Body & Soul." Filmed by Academy Award nominated director Alice Elliott, "Body & Soul" has premiered in both Chicago and Springfield. In addition Kathy and Diana have traveled the country to conferences and meetings where the film has been featured. Perhaps most notably, the pair will travel to Washington DC in March where the film will be screened as part of the Disability Policy Seminar - "Body & Soul" is literally changing minds as well as laws!
"Body & Soul" tells the story of Springfield residents Diana Braun and Kathy Conour. The pair allowed Elliott to spend five years filming them as they traveled to their Senator's offices to advocate change in Medicare rules, Diana sought to rebuild a relationship with her mother and Kathy endured extreme challenges to her health. Most compelling are their daily lives which mange to be completely ordinary and extraordinary at the same time.
Ann Ford of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living was interviewed at the Springfield movie premiere; she perhaps put it best, "The movie demonstrates our day to day life and shows that we are just like everyone else. Paying bills, not having enough money in the checkbook, everybody has experienced that and people with disabilities deal with those same issues."
Diana and Kathy have previously both served on a variety of boards including the Springfield Center for Independent Living, the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities and UCP. In 1997 they received CCDI's Mary Linden Award which honors a Coalition member who has demonstrated conviction, dedication and strong personal growth as an advocate.
CCDI congratulates Diana Braun and Kathy Conour on their receipt of the Justin Dart Distinguished Citizen Award. Conference attendees will get not only a chance to see Diana and Kathy accept their award on Monday, April 28, 2008, but they will also have the opportunity to watch "Body & Soul" later that evening.
