You Were Appointed to Your SILC, So Now What?
Dr. Phillip D. Lewis and June Hermanson
Session Overview:
Being appointed to your Statewide Independent Living Council is a great way to add to the disability community in your state. It can also be overwhelming to figure out how you fit, what your roles and responsibilities are, and how you can make a meaningful impact. Feel free to bring your questions and ideas, there is none too big or too small, to share with the group.
Additional Materials for this Session:
- No materials, please bring your questions and comments to share with the presenters
About Your Presenter:
Dr. Phillip D. Lewis (he/him)
Dr. Phillip D. Lewis is a native of Memphis, TN. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and a candidate for Licensure as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Presently, he serves as an Associate Professor/Graduate Coordinator of the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling and Disabilities Studies at Langston University (LU) -Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition, he works as a License Mental Health Professional Counselor for the State of Oklahoma Healthcare Authority. At LU he serves as the Chapter Faculty Advisor for the Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota: Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International. He earned his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling Education/Law Health Policy and Disability from the University of Iowa. He earned a M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling/Administration from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL. He earned a B.S. degree in Social Work/ Political Science from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. His research interest includes, but not limited to: rehabilitation services for persons with mental and physical disabilities, school to work transition for adolescences with disabilities, correctional rehabilitation counseling, suicide prevention, substance abuse counseling, Bullying, Triple Negative Breast Cancer awareness/prevention, and Agrability. He is the President/board member for the Rhonda K. Hutson Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation (www.rhondokhutsonfoundation.com). As a Rehabilitation Counselor Educator, he has over 17 years of professional experience, and has served as a member/advisor on several local, regional, and national Rehabilitation Counseling and community service organizations (Chi Sigma Iota National Counseling Honor Society, 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Committee, TPS-Emerson Monetary Advisory Board, been appointed by Governor Marry Fallen and Mike Stitche to serve on the board for the State-Wide Independent Living Council, and he is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.). He is Co-Author of a book chapter “Resume Writing for Persons with Disabilities” in Practicum 7 Internship Manual: A Resource For Rehabilitation and Human Services Professionals (2019).
More personally, Phillip turned tragedy into triumph by transforming the results of personal adversity into a career opportunity. As a promising athlete, he was a victim of a car-jacking attempt, and was shot by a 14 year old youth in his home town. He suffered injuries to both of his upper extremities, which caused him to be diagnosed with a disability, suffering from limited use of both of his hands, followed by years of rehabilitation, depression, and suicidal ideation. Despite his disability, he eventually learned to reuse his hands again. He still does not have a normal sense of touch, functioning, and has suffered with partial numbness. Despite his functional limitations, he overcame obstacles achieving great things, as he went from being a client of Vocational Rehabilitation Services unto earning his doctorate degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. In addition, he is a certified Instructor and Trainer for Suicide Prevention, and has a passion for mentoring and counseling at risk youths. Throughout his career in higher education, he has disseminated knowledge by presenting at over 50 State, regional, national, and international conferences. His personal motto is “Know Better: Be Better: Be the Change!”
June Hermanson, BSW, Med
June Hermanson has a BA in Social Work and a MA in Education. Born with a congenital disability, she has spent the last 20 years of her career working with high school students with disabilities June has served on the Montana SILC off and on over the last few decades, serving as Chair, lobbyist for IL, and most recently guiding a bill through the state legislature for the creation of a Unified State Olmstead Plan.