Class of 2020

Karen Willis

Karen Willis

Advocate and Activist for Disability rights and LGBTQ rights

“Mentoring to me is very important because we need not only to keep fighting for the rights of people with disabilities in the self advocacy movement but also prepare the next generation of advocates and activists “

We are proud to induct Karen Willis into the Susan Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame.

Karen served as State President of People First of Alabama and is the author of “My Life Journey With Autism”. Karen is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and disability rights, she has been a speaker at several events fighting for LGBTQ+ equality and has attended rallies for both disability rights and autism awareness. Karen’s interests and abilities also include organizing, public speaking, self-advocacy teamwork, and advocating for eliminating the marriage penalty. Karen has recently moved to the mountains of North Carolina and proudly identifies as LGBTQ, autistic and uses he/him and she/her pronouns.