Program Leadership

At Wyoming Institute for Disabilities, Wyoming’s UCEDD, Dawn managed a cross-functional team delivering strategic analysis aligned with federal HCBS regulations to inform state Medicaid policy and program design. In a separate project, Dawn met contract deliverables through a time of short-staffing while also developing new project procedures, staff training, and community training. She documented true costs of deliverables, enabling WIND to double their per-deliverable pricing.

“Thank you for bringing fidelity and consistency to the project.” – Wyoming State DD Agency Representative

Grantwriting

“Dawn brings a rare blend of strategic insight, technical writing skill, and deep commitment to social equity — qualities that have directly contributed to the growth and sustainability of Quality Trust’s mission. Her writing reflects a deep understanding of both funder priorities and the nuanced, person-centered work we do in advocacy and systems change.” – Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, Washington, DC

“Dawn’s experience in knowing what the Fed gov is looking for in an application and when/how information can be gathered was essential to the quality of the application submitted.“ – Disability Rights California

Strategic Planning

At Independence Now, Inc., the Center for Independent Living serving Montgomery and Prince George’s County, Maryland, Dawn facilitated the three-year strategic planning process with Board members, all staff, and key community stakeholders.

“Dawn related well to our staff and Board members. Strong facilitation skills and adherence to deliverable deadlines.” – Independence Now, Inc.

Technical Assistance

“Working with Dawn over the years really frees me up. In a disability advocacy world of highfalutin multi-faceted steps and organizations, talking with Dawn finally feels like talking to a person again, not a marketer or administrator with their game face on. We recently worked on a grant application together. She knows all the steps and grant funding opportunities and advocacy pieces…the hierarchies and protocols. But I don’t feel weighted down by that when sharing space with her. She’s expansive enough to bring in all the ideas, and also apply guardrails provided by the funder.” – Brian Be, Self-Advocacy Coordinator @ JFK Partners, LEND Fellow Alumni, Artist, Co-Presenter

“I have worked with Dawn Rudolph for many years on disability policy and systems improvement in the interest of quality of life for people with disabilities and families. I have worked with Dawn to expand the influence and effectiveness of University Centers on Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs).

Dawn brings a unique combination of talents and skills to disability policy and service delivery. She has worked effectively with state agencies, federal departments and non-profit service organizations as well as most of the UCEDDs across the country.

She is skilled at fundraising and grant writing and in execution of numerous grant projects. During her years with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) she supported UCEDDs, providing technical assistance and developing service and research implementation materials.

Dawn brings a creative and supportive style to her work in implementing disability policy at local, state and national levels. She is always grounded in the important values of inclusion for all.”

– David Michael Mank, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Indiana University, and Past President, AUCD