Advocacy Center Honors Three Advocates at Awards Ceremony on January 20, 2012

On Friday, January 20th, Advocacy Center will honor 3 Louisianians who have made significant achievements in the areas of Protection, Empowerment, and Advocacy for people with disabilities and seniors.

Protection Award: Debbie Rickman of Lake Charles, LA

Debbie Rickman's role as an advocate began in the late 1970's when the younger of her two sons was diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss and a learning disability.  She worked with school systems in Mississippi and Louisiana to ensure that her son received appropriate edicational services at a time when very few school were experienced in accommodating special needs.

In 1991, Debbie was hired as an investigator for Child Protective Services, during which time she was recognized by the Lake Charles Police Department for her service to the community.  Debbie is receiving this Protection Award for her work with adults with disabilities as an Adult Protective Services Specialist, which she began in 2001.  Her dedication to the protection of her clients led to her promotion to Supervisor of a team of six APS Specialist across the Western part of Louisiana.

Empowerment Award: Renate Brown of New Orleans, LA

Renate Brown is a special education teacher in the Jefferson Parish School System, working with children who have severe and profound disabilities.  Renate is a shining example of an educator who is truly passionate about empowering these children, and enriching their lives.  She believes that every child is capable of learning, and works patiently, creatively, energetically, and tenaciously to help each of her students realize his or her full potential.

Renate has an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, and a master's degree in special education from the University of New Orleans.  She is married with two children, and has been an educator for 26 years.

Advocacy Award: Paige St. Julien of New Orleans, LA

Paige St. Julien is a retired registered nurse who specialized in obstetric care.  In the 1980's, she was instrumental in the opening of the first rooming-in unit at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, where mothers and their newborns could be together for much of the day, instead of in separate areas of the hospital.  Paige was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and receives in-home care through Medicaid.

In early 2011, Paige's in-home care services were cut, putting her at risk of being institutionalized.  Paige sought help from the Advocacy Center to avoid having to leave her home.  AC helped Paige to direct her own in-home care services, thereby avoiding the use of a provider agency and allowing her to afford enough service hours to remain in her home.  With patience and determination, Paige gathered the information necessary to succesfully direct her in-home services at a time when no more than two other people were doing the same in the entire state.

The awards will be presented on Friday, January 20, 2012 at a ceremony to be held at Audubon Nature Institute's Dominion Learning Center, located at 6500 Magazine Street in New Orleans, from 6:00-8:00pm.  The Awards Ceremony is free, and open to the public.

According to Lois Simpson, Executive Director of the Advocacy Center, "We are pleased to honor these folks who exemplify the best of human nature.  We hear, all too often, about the worst of human behavior.  It is gratifying to tell the stories of people who are inherently decent."