Meri Viano is a parent of three amazing and unique young adults. Her children range in talents and uniqueness’s. Meri came to advocate when she first 20 yrs old when she raised , lived and created a family with a woman whom was institutionalized in one of the worst institutions in the state of Massachusetts. As being a young shared living provider when the nursing homes, group homes were being dismantled Meri worked for Seven Hills during the merger with WAARC at the time to create system creations that looked at individual support and community/family involvement.  Ms. Corkum taught her the reasons to advocate, speak up and move policy to help all people. She has worked in the advocacy field for 20years. She has worked with private organizations, school systems, and agencies with multiple disabilities. Her strengths are to find equal treatment and community services for all children prior to being locked up, institutionalized and not being given access to family members. After having children Meri spent over 12 years working with family organizations and is currently working as a Associate Director for the Parent/ Professional Advocacy League. Meri is dedicated to reforming the culture of working with families, youth and young adults. She has trained in the state and nationally on several areas including: Crisis training, Special education rights for children with mental health needs, working with police stations, and peer to peer training. Meri has testified in the state on behalf of families. Her dedication is to make the system work better and allow families to be heard, understood and given the same rights as all other children. Meri has received a Certificate from Boston University in Non for Profit Management in 2017. Her awards received have been 2010 Provider of the year from DDS, Adoptive Family of the year 2012, Unsung Hero award from DYS in 2017.