Kevin Szydel, and I have been a coach with Special Olympics for over 40 years. I am the co-agency manager for North Suburban Special Olympics. North Suburban Special Olympics has won agency of the year three times. I have over 100 athletes in twelve sports. I have coached at the local, state, national, and world games. Some of the places I have coached at are Ireland, Washington, Florida, Iowa, and North Carolina. Coaching and volunteering for Special Olympics is extremely rewarding and a lot of fun. It is rewarding when my athletes achieve their goals, and they learn how to work together as a team.
Cynthia “Cindy” Bentley is the executive director of People First Wisconsin and a fearless advocate for people with disabilities. She is a survivor who endured institutionalization at Southern Wisconsin Center to go on to become a leader in Wisconsin. Cindy leads other self-advocates across the state of Wisconsin in making our communities more accessible. She is passionate about voting rights, long-term care, housing, community inclusion, mental health, employment, sexual violence prevention, and accessible transportation.
Cindy serves on several boards and works closely with other agencies/organizations that work for equal opportunities for people with disabilities. These include: The Governor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Member and co-chair of its Opportunities and access Sub-Committee, Milwaukee County’s Combined Community Services Board (CCSB) Board Member, Life Navigators Board Member, Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD)-partner agent, The Survival Coalition of Disability Organizations, The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition Partner, Shirley Ryan Abilities Lab-Home and Community Participant Council Member and on the IDD-MH System Improvement Initiative: Community of Practice Steering Committee. Cindy is a decorated Special Olympics athlete who has served on the Wisconsin Special Olympics Board and traveled the world as a Global Messenger.
Cindy has spoken at the local, state, and national levels on the following topics: sexual violence prevention, self-direction, plain language, employment, and Home and Community-Based Services. She has also worked to stop seclusion and restraint and to close institutions. She has testified to Congress on guardianship and supported decision-making.
June 1, 2024 marked 40 years of Cindy living in the community. Cindy shares her story in the video,“Choose the Pond.” In recognition of this important milestone, Governor Tony Evers sent a letter and a video message, State Reprsentative Darrin Madison presented a proclamation in her honor by the Wisconsin State Assembly at her anniversary celebration, and the City of Milwaukee also honored her with a Cindy Bentley Day proclamation. More information and links can be found on the People First Wisconsin website: here.
Learn more about Cindy by following these links:
