Home > About Us > Meet the Board > Donald Ralph Elswick
Donald Elswick has been a consumer of services at Mountain State Centers for Independent Living and is currently serving as a board member for Mountain State Centers.
Donald's life is a symbol and example of why people with disabilities can and do live full and independent lives in the community.
Donald, who is 71 years old, was diagnosed with polio before the age of three and has lived his life as a person with a disability. Donald has lived independently in the community for his entire life, held four jobs during his 34 years in the work force, is married and has one son.
Through the years, Donald has received supports from Mountain State Centers which have enabled him to continue to live independently. These supports have included hearing aids, a bath chair so that he can bathe without assistance, a lift chair to enable him to use the stairs in his home and a lift for his car so that he can transport himself within the community. Without these supports Donald would be living in a nursing home today.
In return, Donald continues to give back to the community in many ways. Donald is a volunteer for the Laubach Literacy Action, an organization that teaches reading and functional writing skills to adults with learning disabilities.
As an advocate, Donald advocated to get an automatic door opener installed at 1426 6th Avenue, a commercial building that serves people with disabilities. Donald was also part of the effort to have a curb cut installed on the corner of the block which the Huntington Mountain State Centers office is located on 4th Avenue.
