P&A Director to Retire
The Board of Directors of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities (P&A) is announcing the retirement of Gloria Prevost as Executive Director. After faithfully serving P&A for more than 20 years Gloria has decided to retire at the end of the year. I know you will all agree that she has been a wonderful asset to the organization. During the past two decades P&A’s federal programs more than doubled. This growth greatly expanded the scope of the organization’s work to protect and advance disability right in South Carolina. Throughout her tenure, Gloria led the effort to strategically reorganize P&A to best handle these expanded services.
Under her leadership selected major milestones include:
P&A’s advocacy resulted in legislative changes:
• Revising the Nurse Practice Act to allow people with disabilities to receive assistance from aides of their choice
• Creating an investigative unit at the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults
• Designating P&A as the Client Assistant Program to focus on employment for people with disabilities
Significant legal advocacy:
• Securing effective communication for deaf in hospital settings, police departments and courts
• Protecting people with serious mental illness in Corrections and Juvenile Justice
• Assuring access to public transportation
Reports addressing need for systemic changes:
• Unequal Justice documented need for abuse, neglect and exploitation to be investigated by law enforcement
• No Place to Call Home reported the continued failure to provide adequate care in Community Residential Care Facilities.
• The Right to Vote in South Carolina focused on unequal access to the electoral process
The Board has named a committee to lead the search for the next leader of P&A. During this transition, we count on your continued support to advocate for the rights of South Carolinians with disabilities. Please join us in thanking Gloria for her dedication to P&A and wishing her an enjoyable and well-earned retirement.
Dana Lang
Chair of the Board