DRC Honors Advocates, celebrates year of successes at Annual Dinner

By Mike Reynolds

The Disability Rights Center (DRC) held their annual dinner on October 16^th at the Freeport Hilton Garden Inn with nearly two hundred people in attendance. The dinner had Representative Chellie Pingree and her daughter Hannah as keynote speakers for the evening. Representative Pingree touched on her history working with the DRC as a representative in the Maine Legislature and the important work the DRC does for the residents of the state.

Her daughter, Hannah, who serves as Leader of the Maine House stressed the need to defeat the “TABOR 2” Referendum, citing that it would hurt residents of Maine who are economically or otherwise marginalized. The referendum was soundly defeated on election day.

The DRC gives an annual award for contributions in advancing the rights of all Maine citizens with disabilities. This year the award was given to Marcia Cooper, a long time brain injury advocate who has been a powerhouse in advocating for the rights of Mainers with disabilities. She was unable to attend the dinner as she is working with the Dartmorth Medical Center on development of screening tools for returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. The DRC also recognized Cynthia Dill, Esq for her contributions to Mainers with disabilities and in her acceptance speech, she stressed the importance of broadband internet access for rural areas and individuals with disabilities, citing that the internet can provide a number of benefits such as employment and information for people with disabilities.