Donald S. Milloy Award Recipient

The Donald S. Milloy Disability Advocacy Award was presented to Ruling Elder Manley Olson (Westminster PC, Minneapolis). The Disability Concerns Ministry recognized Olson for his groundbreaking advocacy over the past several decades. This award honors the legacy of the late Rev. Don Milloy who, through his courage, commitment, and wisdom, taught many that all people who live with disabilities have valuable gifts to share.

Manley Olson has been a long-serving, outstanding force in promoting disability awareness, demonstrating his concern that all persons find support and be able to participate fully in all ministries of the church. In the late 1980s Manley, an Elder at North Como Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Bebe Baldwin created a task force on disabilities. They worked through the 1990s to make physical adaptations to their own church. Manley was instrumental in helping to inspire and guide churches throughout the Presbytery to follow the (then) new Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. He helped congregations to adapt their buildings to be welcoming and safe for persons with mobility issues. The task force that Manley and Bebe established evolved into the current Disability Concerns Ministry in the Presbytery. In addition to his vast experience with churches, Manley has worked at the General Assembly level to promote and support the full inclusion of people with disabilities.

Manley has demonstrated a deep and long-lasting commitment to people with disabilities, from those very early days of ADA, to the expanded vision and work today to engage and promote the full inclusion of people with both physical and unseen disabilities. Manley has been an unwavering guide and avid supporter. Thank you, Manley!