Biography of Wayne Dawson

Wayne Dawson has been an advocate for people with disabilities for more than 17 years. His initiation to independent living and disability rights came in a 1979 training on the regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Since that time, he has participated in training on the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988 conducted by US Department of Housing and Urban Development and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 funded by the US Department of Justice. By invitation of the White House, he was honored to attend the signing of the ADA.

In his professional life, Wayne has worked as an independent living coordinator, assistant director and executive director of centers for independent living. Fiercely committed to the community, Wayne has served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Memorial Medical Center Community Advisory Council and Vice-President of the Savannah-Chatham Fair Housing Council. He currently chairs the Savannah-Chatham County Council on Disability Issues, and serves on the Chatham Area Transit Board of Directors.

Wayne has recently joined with In his respective states, he has served on the North Carolina Arc Lifeguardianship Council and Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia. Nationally, he has served as the Treasurer and President of the National Association for Independent Living.

Wayne has given presentations to chambers of commerce, attorneys, teachers, parent and consumer organizations on independent living, disability rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Wayne is currently employed as the acting Executive Director with the Savannah-Chatham County Fair Housing Council, and as a professional consultant with Access Consulting of Hilton Head Island. He lives in Savannah, Georgia.

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