Under Seagle’s leadership, Hope House has become internationally known for its innovative, person-centered approach

Lynne Seagle, the former executive director of Hope House Foundation, received the Hingsburger Humanitarian Award from the National Association of Direct Support Professionals (NASDP). The award was presented at the 2023 NADSP Annual Conference in Pittsburgh on September 8.

In Dave Hingsburger’s honor, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals created the Hingsburger Humanitarian Award in 2021. The recipients of this prestigious award are those who are champions and allies with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and have demonstrated excellence in their advocacy with people with disabilities and direct support professionals.

Seagle began her career at Hope House Foundation in 1978 as director of residential services and served as executive director for 44 years before retiring in 2022. Throughout college at Old Dominion University where she received a bachelor’s and master’s degree, she worked as a direct support professional for the Arc of Tidewater, which later merged its services with Hope House Foundation.

“I feel a great deal of humility in accepting this award, not only was Dave Hingsburger a friend but so too a mentor,” said Seagle. “The opportunity to champion the rights and value of people with disabilities and those who support them has been the greatest honor of my life.”

Under Seagle’s leadership, Hope House has become internationally known for its innovative, person-centered approach. One of her proudest accomplishments was guiding the agency’s transition from group homes to supporting people in their own apartments in the early nineties.

In 1986, Lynne was honored as the Virginia Administrator of the Year by the Virginia Community Living Association (CLAMR). She also received an Innovation Award from the same organization. In 1990, Lynne received the Leadership Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). She received the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation’s International Future Leader Award  in 1998. In 2011, she was appointed to The Arc of Virginia’s board of directors. She has served on the President’s Commission on Intellectual Disabilities and served on the advisory board of the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation. In 2021, Seagle was awarded the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award by the Arc. The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Seagle has a long-standing relationship with the NADSP. Since 2011, she has facilitated several strategic planning sessions and led a planning group that repositioned the association to the highly successful NADSP E-Badge Academy. Lastly, she has spoken at nearly every NADSP conference and has always been one of the organization’s fiercest allies and trusted advisor.

Seagle and Hingsburger had a deep bond and shared a passion for social justice and equality for all people, particularly those with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Since 1964, Hope House Foundation has worked on the frontlines of the battle for independence, community inclusion and true citizenship for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization provides supportive living services to adults with intellectual disabilities in their own homes or apartments — no matter how complex their disabilities may be. And it is the only organization in Virginia to do so exclusively. Currently, serving more than 120 people in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, Hope House is known as an innovator and leader in the field. For more information, visit www.hope-house.org.