A Life Committed to Advocacy: Remembering Shelly Simmons

In September, the disability rights community mourned the loss of Shelly Simmons. Simmons was a pioneer for Georgia’s disability movement and served as the Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia. She passed away on August 29. 

Simmons grew up in Englewood, California, and was diagnosed at 13 years old with Muscular Dystrophy. She was passionate about sports and earned a degree in Sports Communication from California State University. Her goal was to become a sports broadcaster.

As her Muscular Dystrophy progressed, Simmons shifted her focus away from a career in sports to a career in advocacy.  She left her job in television production and went to work at the Disability Resource Center in Long Beach, California. In this role, she learned about important disability resources and services. This information helped her in her job and her own life. She excelled in making an impact and helping the lives of others through her advocacy. 

One of her first experiences with advocacy happened in her 20s. She advocated to get a power wheelchair instead of the manual one given to her for accessibility. In an interview, she shared that her transition from being able-bodied to having a disability was challenging, but her wheelchair gave her freedom and independence. 

She had big aspirations and was looking for a change in her life, so she decided to move to Georgia and began working at Disability Link. She realized Georgia lacked the resources and accessibility that she had in California. Her focus became building and improving Georgia’s policies to benefit the lives of Georgians with disabilities.

“I knew Shelly beyond SILC,” said Ester DuRante, Advocate/Outreach Coordinator with Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) of Georgia. “She was vital to SILC and Centers for Independent Living (CILS), and she saw something she brought from California and used her experience and circumstances to navigate and improve what was going on in Georgia.”

DuRante worked with Shelly at SILC and had a close friendship with her. Shelly encouraged her team on a professional level to reflect on their own experiences and then consider what a person with a disability might experience. She challenged them to identify what changes SILC could make to better help people with disabilities.

“Shelly was more than her work with SILC. She was a human with a disability fighting to be seen, heard, and valued with her own light,” DuRante said. “She was a beautiful person who did not limit herself.”

Countless members of California’s and Georgia’s disability communities were impacted by her dedication to helping people with disabilities live independently. Her leadership transformed Georgia's independent living services. Her unwavering commitment to the independent living movement created lasting change that will benefit Georgians with disabilities for years to come. 

Shelly will be remembered for her hard work and commitment to the disability movement in Georgia. The following comments were made by people in Georgia’s disability community whose lives Shelly Simmons impacted.

“Shelly was a tremendous advocate and a fundamentally good human being. She was deeply thoughtful and caring, always intentional with her words and contributions. At the same time, Shelly was a fierce advocate who never stopped working for what she believed in. I think kindness and committed advocacy are the best ways we can carry on her legacy.” - D’Arcy Robb Executive Director for GCDD 

“Although Shelly often spoke with a soft voice, her passion for advocacy was undeniable. She loved to share this passion with emerging leaders with disabilities and their nondisabled allies, bestowing her wisdom and fueling their drive for change. For many cohorts of the Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (GaLEND) trainees and fellows, Shelly’s voice was among the first they heard—grounding them in both the history of disability advocacy and the work still ahead to create a more inclusive world. The Center for Leadership in Disability joins our colleagues in Georgia and across the nation in carrying on Shelly's passion for uplifting young leaders of the future and for helping our movement flourish.” - Mark Crenshaw, The Center for Leadership and Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU)

“Shelly Simmons was a kind, respected, and passionate leader who, among other contributions, supported ensuring Centers for Independent Living (CIL) coverage with Information and Referral (I&R) services across Georgia. While sometimes perceived as passive, those who knew her recognized her quiet strength and unwavering dedication to advancing independent living. She encouraged others to step into leadership and was always open to ideas and collaboration. Her commitment and vision made a lasting impact on the disability community.” - Kim Gibson, DSW, LMSW, Executive Director, disABILITY LINK

“Shelly did so much to build the independent living network and expand services in Georgia for people with disabilities.  She was a person who put effort in building relationships and collaborations through kindness, curiosity, and conversation.  She carried forth the vision when she assumed the Executive Director role of the SILC and was able to support the centers in assuring that we at least had statewide information and referral coverage.  She was an advocate, ally, and friend to our centers.” - Tiffany Clifford, Executive Director for Walton Options