Arkansas Support Network honors educator

Arkansas Support Network awarded its first Social Justice and Leadership Award to Karan Burnette at an April 9 luncheon at the Fayetteville Town Center.

The Social Justice and Leadership Award honors those who exemplify vision and persistent service in pursuit of social justice and equality, said Keith Vire, chief executive officer of Arkansas Support Network.

The award was created in honor of Lynn Donald Carver, he said.

Carver was one of the founders of the Arkansas Support Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the highest quality services and supports possible for individuals with disabilities, according to its website.

Burnette has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Arkansas, along with 32 years of experience in developmental disabilities services, according to the event program. She works at Partners for Inclusive Communities, a program of the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. She is associate director of the center and director of the Arkansas Autism Partnership, a Medicaid waiver program for young children with autism.

Burnette said she believes the quality of life is measured by the richness of relationships developed over the years.

“It’s the people in your life who step up to provide the support you need that give you your safety and security,” she said.

Burnette added it is her hope that there will be a day when “every single person with a disability has the same opportunity to develop those same sorts of rich relationships that allow them to give to the community and to receive in a way that feeds their soul.”

Tom Smith, dean of the College of Education and Heath Professions at the University of Arkansas, was the keynote speaker at the event.

“The fact that we’re honoring Karan with an award honoring Lynn is incredibly appropriate because both of these individuals have done a tremendous amount of work for the people with disabilities in the state,” he said.

He added that there are still many people inappropriately placed in institutions and something needs to be done about it, noting that “we need to provide more social justice for all of our citizens.”

“... until we as a society begin to accept all individuals as equal, disabled or not disabled, we cannot rest,” Smith said.

Vire said he would like this to become an annual award.

AT A GLANCE

Social Justice Luncheon Who: Arkansas Support Network When: April 9 Where: Fayetteville Town Center Award recipient: Karan Burnette Information: supports.org

Northwest Profile, Pages 44 on 04/14/2013

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