Meet Ellyn
As your State Representative, Ellyn has worked diligently to bridge the gap across the aisle to bring common sense solutions to conversations at the State Capitol. As co-chair of the Disabilities Caucus, she has brought a new perspective to these important conversations.
Ellyn is a widow and has raised three children. Life changed and so did her career path when her youngest son was born with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Learning to navigate the developmental disability service system and advocate for her son is what inspired Ellyn to become a champion for disability rights in Oklahoma.
In her first term, Ellyn delivered real results for families with disabilities. HB3792 opens up opportunities for Students with IDD to attend post-secondary school. Working to build better policy to protect Oklahoma's most vulnerable adults, Ellyn worked with legislative leadership on the budget to secure a raise for caregivers caring for Oklahomans who have a disability.
She has spent the last 20 years as a caregiver and professional dedicated to helping Oklahoma parents devlop a plan for their future and find resources for their children who have a disability and need life long support. Originally a small business owner with her late husband in Oklahoma City, Ellyn shifted careers to become a health coordinator for the Oklahoma Family Network, a nonprofit serving families with disabilities and special health care needs.
Ellyn became more involved at the policy level after graduating from Partners in Policymaking, a leadership training program for people with disabilities and family members the power of advocacy to positively change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work. She served on the Interagency Coordinating Council for Sooner Start as a member and Chair. In 2015, Ellyn helped organize the Roll and Walk from 11th and Walker to the Capitol to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act She was appointed by the Governor, to serve on the Advisory Committee on Services to Persons with Developmental Disabilities.
If re-elected, Ellyn will continue to build relationships across the aisle to deliver real solutions to HD 87 and Oklahoma. She is a proven leader in her community and at the State Capitol!