NEW: Langevin Receives International Disabilities Award

NEW: Langevin Receives International Disabilities Award

Jim Langevin became the first person with quadriplegia to serve in Congress when he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000 and in the time since that appointment, the Rhode Island Congressional delegate has been a leading advocate for people with disabilities.

Today, he was honored for that work.

As one of the first recipients of the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award, created by the Viscardi Center, Langevin was honored today as a person living with disabilities for his “work and influence on the global disability community of more than one billion people.”

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Langevin founded and continues to co-chair the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus and has led the fight for stem cell research funding and strengthening amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In recent months, the former Warwick resident has been an outspoken advocate for stronger gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut, going so far as to call on his fellow members of Congress to invite those affected by gun violence to be their guests at the annual State of the Union address.

Langevin said he was “humbled” to receive the award named for Dr. Viscardi, who he said “epitomized the tremendous contributions people with disabilities can make to better our society when given the opportunity.”

“After the accident that left me paralyzed, I was so fortunate to receive an outpouring of support from a loving family and caring community that inspired me to pursue my role in public service,” Langevin said. “I hope that the founding of these Awards will help raise awareness of the improvements that can be made in America and around the world so all people with a disability will have the same chance as I did to realize their potential.”