‘She is a legend': Disability advocate honored for a lifetime of work
She is an Oklahoman and an advocate for disability rights.
Her work has changed the lives of generations of Oklahomans.
Nancy Ward continues to work on behalf of Oklahomans with disabilities, even after retiring from her full-time career as a voting rights advocate at Disability Law Center.
She regularly volunteers for training workshops on self-advocacy for the Developmental Disabilities Council.
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'It's just the opportunity of a lifetime to get to work with her and call her my friend. She teaches me to remember everyone when we're having conversations,' said Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma's Jennifer Randle.
'She's incredibly kind and generous and she cares about everyone, to make sure that everyone is included. Making sure that people feel included and that the people who support individuals with disabilities understand the importance of making sure that they're included and their voices heard,' said Oklahoma Disability Law Center Attorney, Joy Turner.
Ward retired a few months ago, capping off a 40-year career that included the passage of a state law requiring intellectual disability to be included in state protections, another requiring respectful language in state law and helping close institutions so the intellectually disabled can live in a community of their choice.
Her colleagues describe Ward as a legend.
'She really is,' said Disability Law Center Director, RoseAnn DuPlan. 'If we go anywhere outside of Oklahoma and say we're from Oklahoma, someone always asks, 'Oh, so you must know Nancy Ward.''
DuPlan nominated Nancy Ward for Pay It 4ward because she's still going strong, advocating for everyone's right to be included in their community, despite being in her seventies.
'She's such a beautiful person, and I'm so excited to be a part of letting her pay it forward and really showing her impact on the community,' said First Fidelity Bank's Michelle Fox, 'Thank you for nominating Nancy. On behalf of First Fidelity Bank, I'd like to give you $400 to pay it forward.'
News 4 and First Fidelity Bank surprised Ward during her self-advocacy workshop at DHS headquarters.
'Nancy has been a part of our office for 20 years and my personal friend for 25 years and has spent her life advocating for other people and teaching them how to advocate for themselves,' said DuPlan. 'Nancy, you deserve every bit of this.'
Ward was shocked and speechless about the honor, explaining to News 4's Ali Meyer why being a self-advocate is so important to her.
'I have a disability,' Ward said. 'So I don't want anybody to have to take the five years it took me to learn how to advocate for themselves because I didn't have anybody to teach me how to do it. I've been advocating for myself and others for 40 years.'
Ward plans to use her $400 to continue to work on a new non-profit she has organized focused on inclusion and dignity for all.
It is another facet in her lifelong effort to make sure Oklahomans with disabilities are represented and protected.
Pay it 4Ward is sponsored by First Fidelity Bank.Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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