Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award

The 2026 Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award

Are you (or do you know) a person with an intellectual or developmental disability who

Has a passion for self-determination?
Supports community living for themselves and others?
Shows strength and courage in advocating for themselves and others with disabilities?

If you answered YES, nominate yourself or someone else for the Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award!

Who is Janey Vermeulen?

Graphic announcing the “2026 Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award” featuring gold stars and confetti on a light blue background. A black-and-white photo of a smiling woman appears in the lower left corner, and the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MDDI) logo is displayed at the bottom.

Jane "Janey" Vermeulen was an advocate for disability rights. She was a vibrant, positive person who believed all people with disabilities should be respected and supported to live actively in their community. Jane was an ardent supporter of Self-Determination, self-directed services and supports, and community living. She shared her experience and knowledge with others as a Peer Mentor, supporting others to direct their lives.

What is the Jane Vermeulen Award?

Shortly after Jane's death in 2022, the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) at Wayne State University established the Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award in her honor. Jane was an active member of MI-DDI's Community Advisory Council. This award will be presented annually to a Michigan resident with a disability who exhibits leadership in their local and/or disability community. The award recognizes Jane's passion for Self-Determination, self-advocacy, support for person-centered supports and community living for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities - just the way Jane lived her life. The person chosen will receive a scholarship of up to $500 to attend a leadership training event or conference.

Nomination Requirements

Must be a person with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD)
Must reside in the state of Michigan
Must be 18 years of age or older
Completion of the nomination form by June 1, 2026
Submit one (1) to two (2) letters of recommendation from someone who can speak to the nominee’s qualifications for the award
- Recommendation Letter Qualifications
  - How does the nominee show self-determination in their own life?
  - How do they support self-determination in others?
  - How does the nominee show strength and courage in advocating for themselves and others?
  - How does the nominee support community living for themselves and others?
  - Other: Please feel free to share any other information about the nominee that shows their strength as a leader.

The winner will be announced on the MI-DDI website on October 1, 2026. The person selected will receive a scholarship of up to $500 to attend a leadership training event or conference.

Self-Advocates: nominate yourself

All others: nominate a self-advocate

Previous Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award Winners

2024 Jane Vermeulen Award Winner: Allie Hayes

The winner of the 2024 Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award is Alexandra “Allie” Hayes. Allie is an advocate for herself and other individuals with Down syndrome in her hometown of Troy, Michigan. She embodies self-advocacy, leadership, self-determination and a strong work ethic.

Hayes embodies these ideals as evidenced in her longtime legislative advocacy. For six years, she provided testimony to the Michigan House of Representatives to pass the “Justice For Allie” bill, which became law in 2023. It implements protections and autonomy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state. The law aims to protect adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from online predators who seek to take advantage of this group of people. In addition to the law’s protections, it also ensures that these vulnerable adults maintain their autonomy by choosing to consent and make their own decisions.

Allie has shared her own story several times, causing her to relive her past trauma. Despite this, she persevered, determined to share her story to advocate for others.

“I feel like I was really heard, and it felt really good,” Hayes said of her recognition. "I felt empowered.”

Read the full Press Release

Read Allie's article for National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Pictures of Allie receiving her award at the October 2024 MI-DDI CAC meeting:

Alexandra Hayes. She is wearting glasses and gray jacket. Alexandra Hayes poses with her award. Her mother and father are standing behind her. Alexandra Hayes receives her award from Angela Martin. Her mother and father are standing behind her.

2023 Jane Vermeulen Award Winner: Alex Kimmel

A headshot of Alex Kimmel. Alex is smiling, wearing sunglasses, and a blue plaid button-up shirt. He has short brown hair.

The inaugural winner of the Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award is Alex Kimmel. Alex was selected from a group of applicants to receive the award through a blind judging process. The selection committee was made up of members of the MI-DDI Community Advisory Council, on which Jane was a long-time member. Selection criteria include how a person exhibits leadership in different areas of their life and work. These areas include living the ideals of self-determination, self-advocacy, person-centered supports, supporting community living, and other leadership qualities.

Alex, also known as “The Self-Determinator”, is a speaker, trainer, and advocate for himself and others in the disability community. His core philosophies include supporting inclusion, celebrating neurodiversity, self-determination as a basic human right, and having no limits on one’s life regardless of disability. Alex exemplified these ideals when he was featured in one of MI-DDI’s Possibilities videos in 2017. Like Jane Vermeullen, Alex has a positive impact on the lives of those he comes into contact with on a daily basis. In addition to his community involvement and volunteer work, Alex provides training to health and human service professionals on the importance of self-determination and assisting individuals with disabilities to lead full, self-directed lives. Learn more about Alex on his website, https://www.alexkimmel.com/.

Read the full press relaease

If you have any questions about the award nomination process, please contact MI-DDI staff at middi@wayne.edu or call (313) 577-2654.

The Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award has been officially approved by Wayne State University.

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