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2006 Jayn Wittenmyer Distinguished Achievement Award

This award recognizes someone who possesses 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. The Council is pleased to present the 2006 Jayn Wittenmyer Distinguished Achievement Award to:

Linda Jorgenson

Throughout her career of more than thirty years, Linda Jorgenson has remained a stalwart advocate and support of full community inclusion for adults with developmental disabilities in Wisconsin. She has helped to bring cutting edge services in supported employment, supportive living and community supports that “is” New Horizons North. She has participated and led innumerable advocacy activities, on the local, statewide and national levels. In recent years, Linda spearheaded a mission to renew a weakening Advocacy Coalition and helped found People First of Chequamegon Bay. She demonstrates her continued commitment by being actively involved in local ARC meetings, coordinating and facilitating People First meetings, and making sure a contingent of advocates from Northern Wisconsin attend each People Can’t Wait rally. Linda so strongly believes in full inclusion for adults with disabilities that this is not work for her, it is how she lives.

Along with her work with adults with developmental disabilities, Linda has also been instrumental in developing cutting-edge mental health services for adults who have serious and persistent mental illness through her work with Community Support Services. She serves on the statewide Blue Ribbon Mental Health Commission.

Linda is a mentor for many people she works with and is a valuable resource to the disability advocacy movement.

Congratulations Linda– you are well-deserving of this award for your leadership and friendship to people with disabilities and advocates.