Chevon Hendzel

Chevon “Vonnie” Hendzel was born in September 1961 to Charles and Rose Marie Hendzel, joining a household of four children that would grow to six with the birth of her younger brother Daniel two years later. Vonnie spent her first ten days on oxygen and was given a poor prognosis by physicians, they recommended to her parents that she be put in an institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They went against this recommendation and decided to keep her home with her family. Vonnie’s mother had bad memories of her brother’s institutionalization and Vonnie was close with her sister Denise. At a time when there were little outside supportive services, Vonnie learned to walk and talk with the help of her family. Prior to a 1972 court decision, public schools in PA did not have to accept students with disabilities, so Vonnie had educational instruction through Easter Seals and the United Cerebral Palsy Association. In 1974 Vonnie became one of the first students to attend Conroy Education Center, Conroy was created to comply with the 1972 court decision. She graduated from Conroy in 1983.

In 1993 Vonnie transitioned into a group home in Brookline. After several group homes Vonnie moved back home and her care was shared by her sisters and their families. Vonnie passed away in 2016 at the age of 54.