THE ARTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH CENTER

Dr. Diane Nelson Bryen
Institute on Disabilities
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue

423 Ritter Annex
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Voice/TTY: 215-204-1356
Fax: 215-204-6336
Email: dianeb@temple.edu

 

For 30 years, Dr. Diane Nelson Bryen has worked toward making the goals of independence, productivity and integration into the community a reality for and with people with disabilities.  As professor of Special Education and Executive Director of Temple's Institute on Disabilities, Pennsylvania’s University Center for Excellence since 1992, Dr. Bryen has been a leader, mentor, advocate, teacher, and friend in the disability community.  Her vision is translated into action through a variety of venues. As a professor, mentor, and advisor at Temple University, she has influenced the lives of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students. As a writer, she has published extensively targeting both the academic and the disability communities. As Director of Pennsylvania’s University Center for Excellence, she has founded several unique programs that directly impact the quality of life of people with disabilities today and in the future (e.g., ACES- -- Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports program, ADD Corps/AmeriCorps, PIAT, Equal Justice for People with Developmental Disabilities).  As an advocate, she has worked with local, state and national systems to secure needed services and supports so that people with disabilities can have the full opportunity to live, go to school, work, and form meaningful relationships. As a researcher, much of her work and that of her students has been consumer-focused, consumer-driven, and policy relevant. Dr. Bryen serves on several statewide, national and international boards. Dr. Bryen’s many contributions to improving the quality of lives of people with disabilities have been widely recognized (i.e., the Christian Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching; the first annual Temple University Great Teacher's Award; the 1996 Humanitarian Award from United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania; the ACES Free Speech Now Award created by former Bob Williams in 1992; two leadership awards from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities; and the Temple University Stauffer Award for distinguished service.

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