Nicole LeBlanc, Policy Apprentice

Nicole LeBlanc Oct 2, 2016 Bio – Apprentice – Past Apprentices 0 comments

National Leadership Program, Spring 2017

Nicole LeBlanc

Nicole LeBlanc was a Policy Apprentice with RespectAbility. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.

While LeBlanc was at RespectAbility, she represented our organization at multiple DC-area events, conferences and meetings. She also conducted data entry for a variety of outreach projects and contributed to the selection process of the class of summer 2017 apprentices.

Before joining RespectAbility, LeBlanc worked for more than eight years at Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA) as Advocacy Director supporting her peers with disabilities to feel comfortable talking to their elected officials about what they need. While at GMSA, she served as the Project Assistant for the Inclusive Healthcare Partnership project. For this initiative, she researched tools that would assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in getting their healthcare needs met.

In August 2016, LeBlanc moved to Washington, D.C., area to begin the Paul Marchand Public Policy internship at AUCD, which she completed prior to her apprenticeship at RespectAbility.

Since 2011, she has consulted for Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network developing self-advocacy tools and curriculums, presenting webinars and video blogs on the topics of healthcare, what is Autism, presuming competence, self-managed services, voter access and employment of people with disabilities. She has presented keynotes on the dignity of risk at statewide self-advocacy conferences in Alabama, Missouri and Rhode Island.

In December 2020, LeBlanc started as the Self Advocate Advisor with TASH on the AOD Disability Employment TA Center, where she researches material on employment and self advocacy, recruits focus group members and provides TA to AODI grantees.

LeBlanc has a certificate of professional studies from the University of Vermont.

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RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and with people with disabilities. Learn more about the National Leadership Program and apply for the next cohort! Contact [email protected] for more information.