Rep. Laura Faver Dias Recognized with 2025 IARF Champion Award

Bloomington, IL — State Representative Laura Faver Dias (D-Grayslake) received the 2025 IARF Champion Award during the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities’ annual Educational Conference & Expo, held August 27–29 in Bloomington-Normal.

The award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate leadership in advancing services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental illnesses.

Josh Evans, IARF President, praised Faver Dias’ leadership in the House Appropriations Human Services Committee. “Rep. Faver Dias led the charge in the Illinois House of Representatives. Her support helped deliver an 80-cent hourly wage increase for Direct Support Professionals, ensuring major wins for DSPs, individuals with I/DD, and disability services across Illinois,” Evans said.

Elected in 2023, Rep. Faver Dias has quickly emerged as a legislative leader on human services and mental health issues. She serves on the Appropriations Human Services Committee and the Mental Health and Addiction Committee, among others. A graduate of Wayne State University, she previously served as a Grayslake Village Trustee and on the community’s Economic Development Commission. She also operates a small business in Grayslake, where she lives with her husband and two children.

“The work that DSPs do is necessary, important, and life-changing,” Faver Dias said. “I am greatly honored to be recognized with the Legislative Champion Award. IARF provides a strong voice for so many who need it. I look forward to continuing to work with IARF and other advocates to ensure that the I/DD community has the tools and resources it needs to provide the care our family members, friends, and neighbors deserve.”

The 2025 IARF conference brought together more than 350 leaders and professionals from community-based service providers across Illinois.