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2004 Adult Community Service Award

This award recognizes an individual who possesses the characteristics of unwavering advocacy, enthusiasm, vision, broad knowledge, compassion, and leadership in the field. This person is recognized as someone who will go “above and beyond” expectations. This is a “results” oriented person who is able to form or direct effective networks to better the lives of adults with developmental disabilities.
This year the Council is proud to present the 2004 Adult Community Service Award to:

Joan Honl

Joan Honl’s dedication to promoting complete community integration for the people at Community Industries Corporation (CIC) in Stevens Point has been a driving force behind much of the agency’s accomplishments. She has served adults with disabilities for twenty-eight years. For 22 years Joan served as Program Director for CIC. Under her leadership CIC launched a successful capital campaign that enabled CIC to provide fully accessible offices and the movement of three day service centers into the community. These centers are inviting, comfortable places where neighbors and friends can visit, and from which people go out into the community and pursue their interests.

For many years Joan has been recognized as a leader in the provision of quality services to people with disabilities. She has been focused in her efforts to provide individualized services to all clients no matter what their support needs are. Her approach has been unique and often times without a model to follow. Her efforts have also gone to improving staff training and elsewhere, in fostering new organizations with similar objectives such as Wisconsin APSE (Association for Persons in Supported Employment) and People First Wisconsin. Her personal drive and commitment has earned her the respect of local self-advocates. Her support has meant change in the way her community treats people with disabilities.

Congratulations Joan, on receiving the Council’s 2004 Adult Community Services Award. You are a strong and persistent advocate for community services for people with disabilities and deserving recipient of this honor!