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June 2008 marked the conclusion of Nancy Seyden's 36-year career at the University of California, Davis. Throughout her long career, Nancy worked with and touched the lives of many people. Representatives from all stages of her life honored her at a retirement party. Evidence of her lasting impression on those she was associated with was demonstrated by those bringing their memories to the party. They ranged from now-retired employees of the Student Health Center across her career to those from the Center for the Study of Neuromuscular Diseases and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department and to friends from the disability community with whom Nancy has worked during her long years of advocating for and advancing the rights of those with disabilities
As a teenager, Nancy suffered a debilitating illness that left her severely disabled with a very poor prognosis. Nancy beat all the odds and went on to have a very productive career. Her 40-year association with UC Davis began when she came as a freshman to study English. This was the start of her paving the way for the disabled. During her student years she lived at the Health Center in order to receive the everyday care she needed. This broke the ground for future students, demonstrating that even the severely disabled can have a place as students in the University. She received her A.B. degree in 1972 and went on to receive her M.S. in child/human development in 1976. This was followed by courses in rehabilitation counseling at Sacramento State University .
On receiving her degree she demonstrated her leadership by being on the forefront of the independent living movement. She was instrumental in the formation of the Resources for Independent Living organization and served on its board of directors. This group provides services to the disabled in Yolo and Sacramento Counties .
Nancy then continued her leadership in the disability community, launching her career with several internships. First, she served at UC Davis with the Assistant Dean of Students to develop presentations that would promote attitude change toward the disabled and worked to develop the Services to Handicapped Students program. She followed this at California State University , Sacramento working with the Career Planning and Placement Office to assist disable students in evaluation of their job experiences and the accommodations that may be necessary for them to fulfill their goals. She also worked with the chair of psychiatry at the Vacaville Medical Facility to facilitate counseling for the inmates.
She moved on to become a counselor and outreach and resource representative at the Disability Resource Center at UC Davis where she worked with students to ensure they had equal access to all university programs and assisted them in understanding their needs for everyday living, providing them with the information that would allow them to live independently.
In 1993 Nancy moved over to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation where she directed several projects for the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research Center for the Study of Neuromuscular Diseases until her retirement. In this position Nancy lead projects studying the quality of life and community integration of those with disabilities; taught a class to medical students to make them aware of the abilities of the disabled and the barriers that the disabled face in everyday living; and worked with the California Department of Rehabilitation to increase their awareness of the potential and problems of those with neuromuscular diseases. The web-based Resource Guide on Disability on the RRTC web site is among Nancy's accomplishments.
During her entire career Nancy wasn't satisfied to serve the disability community only through her employment, but by reaching out to serve in other capacities as well. She is a leader in the California In-Home-Support Services Consumer Alliance, serving as statewide vice president, and serves as chair of the Yolo County In-Home-Supportive Services and Public Authority advisory committee. She serves as a member of the UC Davis Forum on Disability Issues. This group facilitates programs for UC staff to help them understand the concerns of disabled employees. Locally, Nancy has served on the Davis Human Relations Commission and on the Committee for Barrier Removal and ADA Compliance.
Although Nancy has retired from her employment at UC Davis, she will surely continue her career of advocating for the disabled and providing leadership the in the efforts to enable all with disabilities to live independently. Retirement will allow her time to pursue her hobbies – bird-watching, attending festivals and caring for her garden and home. Nancy has certainly left her mark and will be remembered as a leader in the disabled community.
