Press Release

Urbana: John Hannah, consumer advocate for Champaign Residential Services, Inc. (CRSI) has been elected President of The Arc of Ohio, according to Gary Tonks, Arc executive director. He is the first person with developmental disabilities to serve as president.

 

The Arc of Ohio is a statewide membership association made up of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, friends, interested citizens and professionals in the disability field.

 

 “John was nominated and elected because of his leadership skills and experience,” says Tonks. “The Arc's membership of families, self advocates and concerned citizens strongly believe that President Hannah is the man to lead our organization in the coming years.”
 
According to the Arc of Oho website, the mission of The Arc of Ohio is to advocate for human rights, personal dignity and community participation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, though legislative and social action, information and education, local chapter support and family involvement. (See the Arc’s website at www.crsi-oh.com/crsilinks.html.)

 

The CRSI Consumer Advocacy program is a unique program in the industry and serves as a model for other provider agencies throughout the United States. Hannah is a consumer living with disabilities working full-time as a consumer advocate to help others with disabilities make their own choices and find solutions. He has been employed by CRSI since 1995.

 

Hannah’s distinguished community accomplishments include being a participant in the first Special Olympics held in Chicago in 1968 and in the International Special Olympic Games in 1983 as an avid basketball player

Hannah is scheduled to be sworn in during The Arc board meeting on October 1.