ODDC Banner

News Release

Contact: David Zwyer, DD Council Director
(800) 766-7426
(614) 644-5537
david.zwyer@dmr.state.oh.us

For Immediate Release

Oct. 9, 2003

Central Ohioan Ken Campbell receives 2003 Elsie D. Helsel Advocacy Award from the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

Westerville resident Ken Campbell received the 2003 Elsie D. Helsel Advocacy Award from the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) at its annual conference Oct. 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. This year’s conference was titled "America Works Best When All Americans Work."

Campbell has dedicated more than 30 years of professional and volunteer efforts on behalf of advocacy, community employment and rights for people with all types of disabilities, and is a past director of ODDC. He has worked as a job developer for the Franklin County Board of MRDD, as chairman of the Columbus Mayor’s Office on Disability, and director of Disability Policy Studies at OSU’s Nisonger Center.

Currently, Campbell continues his advocacy efforts while serving as director for Project Mainstream, the paratransit system of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA). He also is the ADA Coordinator for the City of Columbus.

Campbell’s focus on systems change helped to create projects and programs to assist Ohioans with disabilities. As the president of the National Association of Developmental Disability Councils, Campbell helped solidify relationships with Ohio Congressional delegates and provided testimony to the U.S. Congress on key issues, including progressive changes in the Federal Developmental Disabilities Act.

"Everything that’s gotten done as a result of my efforts has been in conjunction with numerous other people’s efforts," Campbell said. "But it’s been because Elsie Helsel taught me how to advocate."

"This is not a business that you get into and you get out of," Campbell said. "You’re in it, and you’re in it and you’re in it. I don’t want to do anything else. It’s a lifetime situation. I appreciate this recognition."

Throughout the years, Campbell assisted with the creation of many advocacy organizations and activities, including the successful Solidarity conferences for people with disabilities, and the Wheelchair Games Division of the Columbus Marathon.

The Elsie D. Helsel Advocacy Award, which includes a $500 honorarium, is named for the pioneer advocate from Athens, Ohio who introduced legislation that led to the creation of the DD Council system. Helsel was the first chairman of ODDC, and led the organization for many years.