Ms. Daniels passed away October 21, 2011 at the age of 62. Over her long career in the service of people with disabilities she was acknowledged with numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Citation by Rehabilitation International, The Henry Betts Award by the American Association of People with Disabilities, Honorary Doctor of Public Administration by the University of Illinois, and the President's Award by the Association for Higher Education and Disability.
Ms. Daniels served as the Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs at the Social Security Administration in 1994-2000, where she spearheaded the disability and employment reform activities resulting in the passage of the Ticket To Work And Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999.
She also served as Associate Commissioner in the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Education, Associate Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in the US Department of Health & Human Services, and Department Head and Full Professor at the School of Allied Health Professions at the Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans.
In addition, Ms. Daniels served as director, trustee or member of numerous charitable and community service organizations, national committees and state-level boards and committees, including the Disability Funders' Network, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, The Ability Fund, United States International Council on Disability, and Rehabilitation International.
Ms. Daniels addressed the meaning of disability in a 1990 article published in the AT Quarterly in which she wrote: "Disability" in America is an evolving concept. We will have to think hard and change fast to keep up. Rollerblades, anyone?
Click here to visit a website dedicated to Ms. Daniels
and for information on a Mentorship Fund
established to honor her legacy.
Click here to make a donation to AAIDD.