Diana Braun

As an 8 year old child, Diana Braun found herself living in a state run nursing home in Freeport, Illinois. Taken away from an abusive family, Diana and her brothers and sisters were scattered. At 12 she was sent to the Dixon Developmental Center. She vowed to one day close those institutions and has devoted her life to doing just that. She has also taken the ambitious job of personal assistant or PA to her friend and housemate, Kathy Conour.

At 19, Diana left Dixon, a state run institution. Since that time her activist commitments have led her to be president of People First, a self-advocates group, and a member of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. Currently she serves on the board of the Illinois Arc, an organization involved in advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. Illinois is one of the states that still has a large number of people living in institutions, so Diana has her hands full with her advocacy work and her personal assistant tasks.

Almost yearly, Diana travels with Kathy to present at conferences and visit elected representatives. In February of 2005 they went to Washington and met with the offices of Senators Obama and Dirksen.

Diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Diana drives, cooks, maintains her home and attends to the needs of her friend of 37 years, Kathy Conour. Diana participates in Blessed Sacrament Church and attends an annual retreat for people with disabilities. At home her cat, Trouble, keeps her out of trouble.