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2008 Victor J. Contrucci  Outstanding Service Award Winner

From the start, Vic was a passionate advocate for fair, equitable, and effective services for children and their families. It is in this tradition that the Wisconsin Developmental Disabilities Board is proud to present the Victor J. Contrucci Outstanding Service Award to:

Beth Swedeen

In her 10 years as a parent facilitator with the Department of Health and Family Services and Waisman Center sponsored Parents As Leaders (PALs) Program, Beth has trained nearly 200 parents in the basics of Wisconsin’s support system.  Parent training programs of this kind can be merely educational, but countless parents will tell you that Beth has made their experience inspirational as well.

Many parents credit Beth’s expertise and encouragement for their achievements including:  testifying before state legislators; running for public office; asking for additional state funding for programs; advocating for their child in an IEP meeting; and, perhaps most importantly, for the first time, having a vision for their child’s future.

Beth has always gone above and beyond the paid role of her position by: writing letters to the editor in numerous publications, submitting best practice articles to national journals, testifying on behalf of all children at state and local hearings, presenting at national and local conferences and participating as a member on a variety of committees.

Beth’s goal is to share her vast knowledge about best practices arnd research as it relates to quality supports for ALL children - but particularly those with special needs.  She strives to help not only parents, but the entire community to have high expectations for people with disabilities and to look for their gifts, not see their challenges.

As a parent of a child with special health care needs, Beth has thoughtfully guided her own family through the  maze of resources and continuously created opportunities for improving those services while reaching out to other families along the way.

Beth is just as comfortable encouraging young adults to follow their unique goals and dreams as she is coordinating a statewide training for 100 people.  She is organized, articulate, creative and capable - all qualities that have helped her to be a well respected and appreciated colleague and leader in Wisconsin’s work with children with disabilities and their families.

Congratulations Beth on an honor well-deserved.  You are an inspiration to families of Wisconsin’s children with disabilities!