Awareness Committee for Citizens with Disabilities
(2011 Awareness Committee for Citizens with Disabilities (pictured L-R): Mark Guillory, Donielle Watkins, Zelie Guidry, Lynette Fontenot, Rose Shuff, and Randy Broussard. Not pictured: Donna Andrus.)
The duties of the committee, as defined by the resolution that formed it, are: to develop and channel information regarding disabled persons to the citizens of the community through the introduction of special activities; to work with all aspects of community life so that persons with disabilities will realize the rights and responsibilities afforded to all citizens; to receive recommendations, requests, and citizen complaints regarding problems affecting the disabled; to make advisory recommendations to the Lafayette City/Parish President and the Lafayette City/Parish Council regarding problems faced by the disabled which might be addressed by the Lafayette City/Parish Consolidated Government; to serve as an advisory panel to the Lafayette City/Parish President and the Lafayette City/Parish Council on new activities, legislation and procedures affecting the disabled; and to help increase opportunities for employment for persons with disabilities. Donielle Watkins, Chair Donielle Watkins is a local Certified Public Accountant and the director of the DREAMS Foundation of Acadiana, which provides activities and sports to children with special needs in the Lafayette area. She has been married to Brian Watkins for 16 years. She has two sons, Logan and Lucas, and a sister Monique who has lived with her since she was five. Her son Logan has spina bifida and has been a great impact on her being an advocate for individuals with special needs. Donna Andrus Donna Andrus has been involved with Autism Society of Acadiana for the past 10 years and has served on their board of directors for the past 4 years, first holding the position of treasurer and now chapter president. Last year she was awarded the LCG's Awareness Committee’s Volunteer of the Year Award. She is married and has 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Donna was raised in Scott, graduated from Acadiana High, UL (USL at that time) and LSU. Donna works part-time as a consulting reservoir engineer for PetroQuest Energy in Lafayette. She and her husband facilitate a weekly Divorce Care class at their church. Any free time is filled with family, church, gardening, and traveling. Randy Broussard Randy Broussard is employed with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) as a Rehabilitation Employment Development Specialist. He begin in December 2008. Before he joined LRS, Randy was employed with the Job Training Partnership Act which later became the Workforce Investment Board in Opelousas, Louisiana for 18 years. Randy earned a BA in Communications from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1980. Lynette Fontenot Lynette Fontenot lives in Lafayette with her husband Matthew Fontenot. Having cerebral palsy since birth she has overcome many challenges and is now an artist, motivational speaker and advocate for people with disabilities. Lynette graduated from Basile High School and LSU-Eunice. As part of her advocacy work she serves on several committees, such as the Lafayette's Awareness Committee for Citizens with Disabilities, La Can, LSU Human Development Constituency Advisory Council, and The Louisiana State Improvement Grant Advisory Team. During her eight year term on the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, she served two years as Secretary and four years as Chairperson. She speaks to all types of audiences in an effort to help parents, professionals and others understand that anything is possible. She also meets with legislators on both a state and federal level, advocating for the needs of individuals with disabilities. Inclusion has been the key to her success and her goal is for all individuals with disabilities to have the opportunity to live a quality life. Zelie Guidry Zelie Bourg Guidry is the wife of David Guidry and mother to Dylan (7) and Sadie Guidry (5). She is a graduate of St. Thomas More High School, University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies (Concentration in Behavioral Science) and a Certification in Employment Services from the University of North Texas. She is a Kappa Delta Alumni, member of the Krewe of Olympus, and the Special Olympic Volunteer Coordinator. Nine years social services experience and the passion of helping others lead her into starting the supported employment company Employment Solutions. Employment Solutions’ mission is “To find successful solutions to your employment needs.” Employment Solutions is a supported employment company which provides employment services to individuals with disabilities. The following parishes Lafayette, Acadia, Vermillion, St. Landry, St. Martin, Evangeline and Iberia are currently in the service region. Mark Guillory Mark Guillory is from Oakdale, Louisiana. He is a graduate of McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies. Mark is the Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program Specialist for the Louisiana Workforce Commission at the Lafayette Business & Career Solution Center and was recently appointed to serve on the City-Parish President's Awareness Committee for Citizens with Disabilities as a nominee from the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Mark is an avid photographer whose photographs have been published in a number of local and regional magazines. He has lived and worked in the Lafayette area for the past 11 years. He is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Hiking Society, and the International Freelance Photographers Organization. Rose Shuff Rose Shuff was appointed to serve on the committee by Dr. Savoie, President of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is President of the Aphasia Center of Acadiana, Inc. The Aphasia Center works in collaboration with the UL Communicative Disorders Department to provide speech therapy to individuals with aphasia after their insurance for clinical services in exhausted. Rose is a UL Post Baccalaureate student and has a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness from ULM. She has been an active member of the Beacon Club, a UL club which promotes disability awareness on the campus (President, 2009-10 Academic Year) upon entering as part-time student. She worked for years as District Conservationist for the USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service serving Lafayette and St. Martin parishes until her stroke in 1996.
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