Chair

Vice-Chair

Yvonne B. Bell
Yvonne B. Bell currently works as a Community Living Ombudsman with Disability Rights Louisiana, which is funded through the Louisiana Attorney General’s office.  Previous disability experience includes serving as the Executive Director of Families Helping Families of Acadiana. Appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Disability Affairs. Appointed by Governor Kathleen Blanco to the Louisiana Rehabilitation Council.   Chaired statewide planning committee for Disability Rights Rally at the State Capitol. Served on numerous stakeholder’s committees with Louisiana Department of Health.     A 25-year member of the Autism Society of Acadiana.   Member of LACAN and a of an individual on the Autism Spectrum.   Life-long resident of Lafayette, graduate of both UL and Tulane University.

Wade Johnson
Wade Johnson is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette majoring in Psychology. His current plans following graduation are to enroll in a School Psychology graduate program and later serve as a School Psychologist. Wade is currently a mentor for the UL LIFE Program, an organization that teaches life skills and provides work experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He is also currently enrolled in the Louisiana Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disorders (LA LEND) as a medium-term trainee and works with the Office of Disability Services at UL Lafayette. As of January 2021, Wade has been the president of the UL Beacon Club, a student organization devoted to supporting and advocating for differently-abled individuals and educating the students of UL Lafayette on disability-related matters. Wade is honored to be a member of the Disability Awareness Council and hopes to serve it and the rest of the community to the best of his abilities.

Keely McGibboney
Keely McGibboney is a policy analyst for the regional economic development organization One Acadiana, where she focuses on policies to improve South Louisiana's infrastructure. Prior to her work at One Acadiana, Keely served Louisiana's Third Congressional District as Legislative Assistant to Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD., handling federal policy matters related to veterans, infrastructure, education, the environment, and more. Keely is a native of Acadiana and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Mr. Lynn August
Mr. Lynn August is a lifelong resident of Lafayette.  He has worked as a professional musician, international recording artist, singer, songwriter, producer, organist, and accordionist for approximately 62 years.  He was once sent to Africa for two months by the US State Department of Cultural Exchange Program, promoting Louisiana music, and has traveled around the world in his music career.  In the mid-1990’s, he formed a company called Touch Tech, with a vision to provide computers having special technology that would make lives better for blind people and people with physical limitations.  Working with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, Lynn built computers, performed assessments of technology needs, and provided instructions on how to properly use the technology.  He has held positions with the  Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind for the State of Louisiana, and was President of the Greater Lafayette Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.  Lynn is presently a member of the American Council of the Blind.

Harlon Cowsar - Disability Awareness Coordinator
Harlon has been an advocate for people with disabilities, and works as Adult Program Coordinator and Information/Referrals Specialist with Families Helping Families of Acadiana. He is currently serving his second term as President of the Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Acadiana Chapter. Harlon is a person with a disability and he is the parent of a child with a disability.  Harlon is committed to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and their families.