Winooski resident Hasan Ko honored with national award for self-advocacy work
PRESS RELEASE - July 22, 2022
Vermont self-advocate Hasan Ko of Winooski has been named the 2022 recipient of the April Dunn Start Your Journey Award by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. Ko received his award at a Washington DC conference last week.
The Award recognizes an up-and-coming advocate who has been making their mark in their state and is now engaging more on the national scene. Ko was nominated for this honor by the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council. Ko is a self-advocacy specialist working at Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA). GMSA is Vermont’s statewide self-advocacy organization run by and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Ko and his family are Burmese refugees who resettled in Vermont in 2008. He is a graduate of Winooski High School. Along with his role at GMSA, Ko serves on the Board of Directors for Champlain Community Services (CCS) and leads his local self-advocacy group, Champlain Voices.
Winooski resident and self-advocacy specialist Hasan Ko received a national award for his work in Vermont for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Photo courtesy of Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council.
“I've had the pleasure of working alongside Hasan for several years, and I'm always learning from him,” said CCS Executive Director Beth Sightler. “Whether it's his work on the CCS Board of Directors or as president of Champlain Voices, his wisdom, curiosity, and drive for inclusion are an inspiration. Plus,” she added, “Hasan is a whole lot of fun."
Ko also mentors youth with disabilities preparing for their first job.
His message to his mentees is, “I am telling you this because I want to share about a life of never giving up.”
He represents GMSA on several national projects including Vermont’s planning team for promoting supported decision-making, an alternative to court-ordered guardianship.