Shelley Madore is a 2017 Bush Fellow who wants people with disabilities to live a self-determined life.
As the mother of two children with special needs and a former state legislator, she has developed programs and advocated for policies that expand opportunities for students with disabilities as they transition into adulthood.
With her Bush Fellowship, Madore will build her credentials for leading systemic change by completing a degree in disabilities studies at City of New York School of Professional Studies and by expanding her network of peers in disability advocacy.
Madore served as a Minnesota State Representative to District 37A, Apple Valley-Burnsville, from 2007–2009.
During her tenure, she was recognized for her work to advance policies that affect people with disabilities and their families, including education, health care, and public transit policy.
Shelley Madore ran for the United States Congress in Minnesota's Second Congressional District in 2010.