Nominations for the John Romer Advocacy Award are now open! Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services created this award to honor John’s legacy and the impact he had on so many lives.
The award recognizes someone whose exceptional advocacy work on behalf of themselves and others has made a significant difference in their community. All nominations are due June 19.
We have two categories: one for people with disabilities and one for professionals who work directly or indirectly with people with disabilities. We’re also honoring those who passed away in the past calendar year with the Legacy Award to celebrate their life and advocacy achievements.
Nominees must be at least 16 years old and live or work in Hamilton County. Each nomination should answer three questions about the person’s advocacy work and its impact.
Click here to submit a nomination or on the button below.
Need some inspiration? Check out this page to see examples of award-winning nominations and watch a video about what makes a good nomination.
Previous award winners and HCDDS employees are not eligible to win. Winners will be notified later this summer. They’ll be recognized at the annual Advocacy Summit this fall.
Need an alternate version of the nomination form? Have other questions about the John Romer Advocacy Award? Contact Community Relations Coordinator Lisa Danford at (513) 559-4425 or via email.
2025 John Romer Advocacy Award recipients Michelle Schreffler, left, Joy Lawrence, Elizabeth Whelpdale, and Neil Kelly. Joy accepted the legacy award on her daughter’s behalf. Dr. Lauren Wang, not pictured, of UC Health’s Freeman Center, also received an award in the professionals category.
John Romer was the HCDDS advocacy director from 2005 until his retirement in 2021. During his life and career, he lifted the voices of people with disabilities, encouraging everyone to speak up for themselves and advocate for change.
Learn more about John and his career in this story, published when he retired in June 2021. You can also read about his impact on the lives of people with disabilities in this My Life magazine story from 2023. He’s pictured above with HCDDS colleagues, advocates, and friends.
