Jo Ann Simons:  

While I live in Swampscott, work, volunteer activities and vacations provide opportunties much broader than our little town. I have been the Executive Director of the Arc of East Middelesex, which supports individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families, for 15 years and before that I held various positions in state government and in the not-for-profit world. I serve or have served on the boards of Special Olympics, Inc, National Down Syndrome Society and National Down Syndrome Congress. I didn't choose these important causes, they chose me almost 29 years ago when my son was born with Down syndrome and several heart defects. While he is presently depressed over the Pats loss to the Giants, he generally has much to celebrate:he graduated from Swampscott High, where he was on the golf team and managed the basketball and lacrosse teams, finished a program at Cape Cod Community College, finished 3rd in the world in Special Olympics golf, and lives by himself in his own house on Cape Cod. He works on a golf course and gets a nice paycheck, free golf and free lunch. He is so committed to his work that he turned down World Ser...Expand for more