Every year, the Orlando Sentinel honors a group of heroes who make big differences in local lives: Those whose inspiration and hard work support our community at the time when their efforts are most needed. Over the past weeks we’ve profiled the finalists for this year’s honors, and today we name disability advocates Alison and JJ Holmes as Central Floridians of the Year.
JJ Holmes’ voice is unforgettable – cool and devoid of emotion, prompted by the words he chooses from a selection presented to him by a tablet placed inches from his face. Perhaps he’s learned to adapt what he says to that voice: The 21-year-old Longwood resident presents his arguments with an erudite economy, whether he’s talking about the complexities of state services for people with disabilities, or quoting Margaret Thatcher. But it’s a mistake to focus just on JJ’s voice; always by his side, his mother Alison does an equally compelling job of pressing public officials on their shameful lack of funding for Floridians with disabilities in her melodic Scottish voice.
The mother-son duo has become a force to reckon with, particularly when they have state lawmakers in their sights. For years, they have pressed House and Senate members to provide enough funding to clear the waiting list of more than 20,000 people with disabilities who need care to remain in their homes. Now, they’ve added a new cause: Fighting the prospect of a forced transition to managed care that could put a vulnerable population at the mercy of corporate interests who might stand to profit by denying needed care…