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Legal Advocacy Awards: Fall 2018

At The Arc’s annual Convention in Nashville earlier this month, we recognized two attorney advocates who have worked to advance the rights of people with IDD nationwide.

Jack Robinson accepts his Catalyst Award on stage, posing with presenter Fred Misilo.

Jack Robinson received The Arc’s Catalyst Award for Legal Advocate of the Year for his work as a special education attorney who represented Drew, a student with autism, before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. This case resulted in a landmark unanimous decision establishing a markedly more demanding standard for determining educational benefit under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), noting that the “IDEA demands more” and that all students should have the opportunity to meet “challenging objectives” and receive “appropriately ambitious” individualized education programs (IEPs).

 

Rud Turnbull received The Arc’s President’s Award for his four decades of service to The Arc, including serving on its Policy and Positions Committee and Legal Advocacy Subcommittee and his lifetime of accomplishments advancing the cause of inclusive education for students with IDD through research and advocacy.