A+ Self-Advocacy Award Nominations Open Until July 25

Zack Gottsagen and Amanda Baker at the 2021 FL SAND Conference. Zack is holding the first A+ Award that he received at the conference. Baker would receive the award two years later at the 2023 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference.

Do you know of a noteworthy self-advocate in the state of Florida? One that has made a big impact on their community? Now is your time to have them shine by nominating them for the Zack Gottsagen Aspire, Advocate, Achieve Award, also known as the A+ Award.

Created by Florida Self-Advocates Network’D, or FL SAND, the Zack Gottsagen A+ Award was presented to its namesake at the 2021 FL SAND Conference - “Mission Inclusion” --in Orlando.

This honor is designed to be unique in several ways. The nominating committee for the award will be made up of self-advocates exclusively, making the A+ Award recognition given and received in the true spirit of inclusion and self-determination. Additionally, while a nomination period will occur every other year to coincide with the state’s self-advocacy conference, FL SAND’s nominating committee reserves the right to only present the award when and if a nominee’s accomplishments rise to the level that the committee feels is deserving. 

Nominees must be someone with a disability living in Florida who has had significant achievements and community impact in the area of disability advocacy. This could be work that has raised substantial awareness about disability issues or the profound abilities of the disability community and/or sustained work that resulted in systems change or quality of life improvements for people with disabilities at the local, state, or national level. 

Gottsagen starred in the 2019 independent film “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” which was nominated for a variety of awards. He was also a presenter at the 2020 Academy Awards Ceremony with co-star Shia LeBeouf, becoming the first Academy Award presenter with Down syndrome. Gottsagen's film performance uplifted others with disabilities and inspired them to pursue their dreams in film and the performing arts. 

Gottsagen is also a long-time member of FL SAND’s local grassroots group in Palm Beach County, SAIL, where he’s known for his determination and overall brotherhood with his fellow group members. 

Amanda Baker received the A+ Award in 2023. The self-advocacy group she started – Elephant Herds in Panama City – was among the first members of the FL SAND network of grassroots self-advocacy groups; she was one of the first FL SAND Fellows and has successfully advocated for various legislative accomplishments, including the establishment of the Working People With Disabilities program in 2019.

Baker has held multiple roles in FL SAND’s leadership over the years and has become a beacon of hope through her work with Disability Rights Florida. Baker has served on multiple boards for local and state agencies, including as a past vice-chair of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, making her a well-known advocate throughout the state. Baker received the award at the 2023 Florida Self-Advocacy Conference in Orlando.  

Gottsagen and Baker are true examples of advocacy in action and the kind of spirit and far-reaching impact that FL SAND strives to recognize with this honor. This year's nomination window is open until July 25th. Should a winner be chosen, they will be presented the award at the Power of Our Voices, the 2025 Florida Self Advocacy Conference August 22-24 at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center in Orlando. 

If you know of a worthy self-advocate (must have a disability) who fits the criteria, please email contactflsand@gmail.com with the following information by July 25, 2025. 

Name, email and phone number of person/group making nomination:

Name of Nominee:

Email Address of Nominee:

Hometown of Nominee:

Place of employment and job title (if applicable) of Nominee:

FL SAND group (if applicable):

Please describe the nominee's significant achievements in disability

advocacy with significant community impact. This could be employment and/or volunteer work that has raised substantial awareness about disability issues or the profound abilities of the disability community and/or sustained work that resulted in systems change or quality of life improvement at the local, regional, state, or national level. Please provide as many details as possible and the names of organizations the nominee has been affiliated with. 

Descriptions should be fairly detailed. You can use bullet points to list achievements.