91st General Assembly
Rep.
Chuck Graham, a Democrat, was elected in 2000 to his third term representing
part of Boone County (District 24) in the Missouri House of
Representatives. Rep. Graham is the
first wheelchair user ever elected to the House of Representatives.
Prior
to being elected to the House, Rep. Graham worked as the Missouri Coordinator
for the ADA Project at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was responsible for providing training
and technical assistance to business, state and local governments and people
with disabilities across the state.
Rep.
Graham is a 1987 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
where he earned his bachelor of science degree in journalism. While at the U.
of I., he received the Harold Scharper Service award and the George Huff award
for proficiency in scholarship and athletics.
He was also a member of Delta Sigma Omicron, the organization for
disabled students, Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and Ma-Wan-Da Honorary Society.
Within
his community, he belongs to the Southern Boone Jaycees, Columbia Elks #594,
Muleskinners, Boone County Democratic Central Committee, and serves on advisory
boards for Habitat for Humanity and the University of Missouri Department of
Environmental Design. Rep. Graham has
served as chair of the Missouri Assistive Technology Council. He currently
serves on the Governor's Personal Independence Commission, the Governor's
Council on Disability as well as the Missouri Supreme Court's Committee on the
Courts and the Disabled. He most recently as appointed to the Board of
Directors for Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services.
In
1990, he was recognized by the U.S. Congressional Task Force on the Rights and
Empowerment of Americans with Disabilities for his leadership in the passing
the ADA. Missouri Easter Seals honored
him in 1995 with their Disability Leadership award and the Missouri Jaycees
named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Missourians in 1996. In 1997, the National Rehabilitation
Association bestowed upon him the E.B. Whitten Silver Medallion and the
Governor's Council on Disability gave him their Breaking the Barriers
award. In both 1997 and 1998, Rep.
Graham was honored as the Elected Official of the Year by Services for
Independent Living. In 1998 he was also honored, along with actor Christopher
Reeve, by Gateway to a Cure for the work he has done to improve opportunities
for people with disabilities. He received the Norma Robb Award-Outstanding
Young Democrat of Boone County in 1999. The University of Missouri presented
their Human Rights & Diversity Award to Rep. Graham in March 2000. He was
named Legislator of the Year by Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence in
December 2000.
Rep.
Graham is a nationally renowned public speaker who travels throughout the state
and nation, motivating people to get involved in their communities.