Toby Olson

The Executive Secretary to the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment for the State of Washington, Mr. Olson has written, co-authored, and secured passage and enactment of more than 40 state laws expanding the rights and opportunities for people with disabilities in such areas as employment, civil rights, education, housing, transportation and healthcare. He has been instrumental in crafting hundreds of policy proposals and initiatives and obtained critical grant funding for programs to increase individuals’ knowledge of rights and to foster advocacy skills. Mr. Olson has also chaired and sat on numerous national Councils and Committees. He continues to encourage public dialogue that actively challenges the preconceptions and stereotypes about people with disabilities in an effort to evoke change.