Lake Orion Resident Receives 2017 OCHN Achievement Award

Lake Orion resident, Alex Kimmel is one of five Oakland County citizens presented with a 2017 Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) Achievement Award. Kimmel was recognized during the agency’s recent “Your Voice, Your Value” conference.

The awards honor the successes and accomplishments of individuals who have disabilities, including people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. Kimmel received one of this year’s Dan Moran, Rights and Advocacy Awards.

Individuals recognized with the Dan Moran, Rights and Advocacy Award promote the rights of individuals, encourage self-advocacy, raise awareness about developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorder; break down boundaries, and serve as role models to others. Dan Moran was a passionate advocate for persons with disabilities. As an OCHN Recipients Rights trainer, he instilled hope and demonstrated that dreams are possible for all people.

Kimmel has committed his life to breaking stigma, promoting self-advocacy, and spreading awareness. He runs his own business, “The Self-Determinator”, through which he has presented at local, state and national levels on such key issues as Inclusion, Disability Acceptance, Culture of Gentleness and Self-Determination.

Kimmel has also been a guest speaker at many local high schools and many colleges/universities, including Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University, and Wayne State University. He has educated and inspired students, teachers, professionals, congregations and the community at large since 2006.

About OCHN

Oakland Community Health Network is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,000 Oakland County residents, including individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, adults with mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals have Medicaid.

OCHN’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easterseals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCHN’s website. For more information about OCHN call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.oaklandchn.org.