Celebrating Diana Braun

Dear ICDD Network,

We are proud to share that Governor JB Pritzker has issued an official Proclamation in Honor of Diana Braun, declaring August 28, 2025, as Diana Braun Day in Illinois.

Diana Braun’s life and leadership have left an indelible mark on Illinois and the world. From her early advocacy to end unnecessary institutionalization, to her lifelong work advancing equity, inclusion, and justice for people with disabilities, Diana has been a tireless force for change. Her partnership with the late Kathy Conour, captured in the award-winning PBS film Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy, continues to inspire people everywhere about the power of self-determination and interdependence.

Diana has served with distinction as a member of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, as president of People First of Illinois, and as a board member of The Arc of Illinois. Her voice has carried from the halls of the Illinois Capitol and U.S. Congress to international forums across the globe, always championing dignity, accessibility, and opportunity for people with disabilities.

Below, you will find a proclamation recognizing Diana’s courage, vision, and impact. We celebrate her legacy as she retires from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, knowing her advocacy will continue to shape a more inclusive future.

October is also National Down Syndrome Awareness month.  A great way to acknowledge this community’s contributions would be to join us in honoring Diana and continue her vision of a more just, inclusive, and accessible Illinois for all. 

With gratitude,

Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF DIANA BRAUN

WHEREAS, Diana Braun has dedicated her life to advocacy, equity, and justice for people with disabilities, using her voice and lived experience to dismantle barriers and promote full inclusion; and

WHEREAS, as a child, Diana experienced firsthand pain and injustice, spending her early years in a state-run nursing home and later at the Dixon Developmental Center even though she wanted to live in the community; and

WHEREAS, even as a young girl, Diana resolved to help people with disabilities avoid unnecessary institutionalization, and she has devoted her life to that cause—empowering countless others in the process; and

WHEREAS, Diana’s lifelong friendship and advocacy partnership with Kathy Conour, documented in the award-winning PBS film Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy, exemplified the power of self-determination and interdependence, and has inspired audiences across the world; and

WHEREAS, Diana Braun has been a tireless leader in Illinois and beyond, serving with distinction as a member of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, president of People First of Illinois, and a board member of The Arc of Illinois, consistently challenging systems to see the dignity and potential of every individual; and

WHEREAS, Diana’s voice has been heard in the halls of the Illinois Capitol and the United States Congress, in international forums from Qatar to Uzbekistan, and in embassies around the globe as a representative of the United States Department of State, advocating for disability-inclusive disaster preparedness and global accessibility; and

WHEREAS, Diana has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Illinois Human Rights Commission Award, the Justin Dart Award, and honors from the AAIDD and the Council on Foundations, and continues to be celebrated as a groundbreaking self-advocate and leader; and

WHEREAS, through her service on the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, Diana Braun has provided vital insight, courageous truth, and uncompromising commitment to community living, forcing us all to see what is possible when people with disabilities are given the opportunity to thrive; and

WHEREAS, Diana Braun’s retirement from the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities marks the close of a remarkable chapter—but not the end of her impact or her advocacy;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim August 28, 2025, as DIANA BRAUN DAY

in the State of Illinois, and encourage all residents to join in celebrating the legacy, courage, and unwavering commitment of Diana Braun to a more just, inclusive, and accessible Illinois.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Illinois to be affixed this twenty-eighth day of August, two thousand twenty-five.

JB Pritzker

Governor