Byron Stith

Byron Stith**

BYRON STITH, Disability Advocacy Specialist with the National Disability Rights network (NDRN), is responsible for providing training and technical assistance on outreach, intake, the PAIMI Advisory Councils, and P&A activity to support the development of advocacy skills by individuals with disabilities. He has extensive experience advocating on behalf of people with disabilities including participation in Virginia's Supreme Court Commission on Mental Health Law Reform, PAIMI Council, Commission for the Community Integration of People with Disabilities, Mental Health Planning Council, and the Coalition for Virginians with Mental Disabilities. Prior to coming to NDRN, Byron worked as a peer clinician for Virginia Supportive Housing. In this capacity, he assisted chronically homeless individuals diagnosed with mental illness and co-occurring disorders by implementing the housing first model of recovery oriented services. Also, Byron worked as the outreach and advocacy coordinator of the Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership (VOCAL, Inc.). Byron holds a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia and a certificate in human services from Piedmont Virginia Community College.