Ryan Donnelly: Keeping the Advocacy Fires Burning
Every day he worked on behalf of Granite State Independent Living, Jeff Dickinson made an impact. And even after his untimely passing in 2023, he continues to make a difference in the lives of others through those he inspired.
In this case, GSIL Advocacy Coordinator Ryan Donnelly has taken Jeff’s torch and tirelessly worked to ensure continued progress.
“Jeff was a brilliant man. He was sharp, and his political instincts were always on point. I always looked up to him, and his great sense of humor made him fun to be around.”
Jeff and Ryan first met back when Ryan was in high school in Alton, N.H. Jeff was Ryan’s service coordinator, helped him understand the various services available through GSIL, and involved him in peer support groups. At that point, the Advocacy team was only Jeff, but he realized that he would need additional team members to achieve his lofty goals.
Ryan graduated high school and moved on to UNH, where his sharp wit and skill with the pen inspired him to major in English. His mastery of the written and spoken word would soon become part of his daily existence, as would GSIL’s attendant care employees who made it possible for him to live independently on the beautiful campus.
After graduation, Ryan realized that his calling was helping others who were living with disabilities. Ryan and Jeff became a team, working together to advance legislation to help the disability community. With Jeff acting as part mentor, part older brother, the two strategized on areas to make an impact.
Of course, getting legislation passed is not an easy task. It’s more than just deciding something has to happen. It requires sales skills, horse trading, and consensus building — all attributes that are tested in a fractious political environment. But if you have clear goals, an understanding of what’s at stake, and an ability to articulate the impact of legislation, elected officials will listen.
Ryan is proudest of HB 1264, which passed in 2024, providing accessible voting for municipal and school board elections. The passage of this bill required Ryan to work with the New Hampshire Coalition of Blind and Vision Impaired Voters, the New Hampshire Municipal Association, and others. Their goal, that everyone deserved to have a private and secure vote, led to action and consensus.
There are many more hills to climb, and the challenges are complex. The next one is a legislative study committee to understand the impact of the housing crisis on people with disabilities, attempting to quantify its impact on the disability community. “Only 5% of housing stock is accessible, and around 1% is wheelchair-accessible. Change needs to come.”
The challenges are intricate, but Ryan is prepared for them. The legacies of those who have come before him, including Jeff, serve as motivation. Working with Advocacy Director and former State Representative Mo Baxley, the two continue to strive to make positive change.
“GSIL is an organization that works so hard to advance things for people with disabilities, and it’s not just the personal care, education services, and transportation services we provide. It’s incredible how much we are able to give. I love being able to make progress for the disability community.
“That’s how progress is made.”