Holiday Celebrations with Search
Explore Search's holiday celebrations, sharing joy, inclusive traditions, and community engagement across festive events for all abilities.
Learn MoreIntroducing Trailblazers 2025 Honorees
Meet the Trailblazers 2025 honorees who amplified voices of people with I/DD through meaningful storytelling, celebrated at Search Inc’s annual event.
Posted April 23, 2025 at 10:44 am
Trailblazers 2025: The Stories That Connect Us will be held on Thursday, June 5th, at the Carter Chicago, honoring our 56-year history as we look to the future of our work.
Our 2025 Trailblazer Award honorees have amplified the voices of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) through meaningful storytelling. Their work with Search has been innovative in empowering people with I/DD to have confidence in sharing their own stories. By creating impactful, person-driven media, our honorees help break down barriers and misconceptions, fostering greater inclusivity in our communities.
Our 2025 honorees have both advanced our mission significantly through their unique, person-centered approaches. These approaches have set them apart in our field.
Learn more about our 2025 honorees below!
Shawn Durr, Communications Director, Keystone Alliance
Our 2025 John Lipscomb Trailblazer Award honoree is Shawn Durr, Communications Director at the Keystone Alliance.
Shawn Durr started his career at Search in 1991 as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). When Shawn began at Search, Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) were becoming viable through new Medicaid waiver laws. After seeing the impact of moving people from traditional institutional settings into beautiful community homes, Shawn decided to continue his career at Search in the residential program, now known as our Supported Living Program.
After many years in our SLP, Shawn became the Communications Manager at Search and began honing his craft. He then moved into the role of Communications Director at our parent company, Keystone Alliance, continuing to oversee all media for Search, including our social media, website, presentations, news articles, and more. Shawn’s time working in SLP deeply informs his work as a communicator, continuously centering the people we support in our messaging and strengthening their visibility in the community. His behind-the-scenes work has driven our mission for over 35 years by ensuring the voices and stories of those we support are empowered and uplifted.
Shawn’s innovative approach to storytelling has profoundly influenced Search’s external messaging. As we envision the future of our brand, we are honored to recognize Shawn’s extensive work in shaping our mission and vision, making us a true advocate for people with I/DD.
Justin Lynk, Creative Director, Just Storytelling
Justin Lynk became the Creative Director of his own firm, Just Storytelling, in 2022 after working in corporate media. Justin founded Just Storytelling to create organic, story-focused content for clients with meaningful causes.
Search was one of Just Storytelling’s first clients, starting with our 2022 Trailblazers video. Since that time, Justin has grown meaningful and fruitful relationships with the people we support. His unique ability to connect with people, on and off camera, has significantly elevated our brand and messaging. Justin’s talents and time uplift the voices of the people we support. Since 2022, he has worked on many projects at Search, including our Trailblazers videos, Giving Tuesday, recruitment videos, internal resources, self-advocates materials and more.
Justin creates a comfortable, welcoming environment in his work that fosters people telling their stories. These stories make a meaningful impact on our communities. His videography work has shared the stories of people with I/DD with thousands of community members, continuing to grow our mission and impact. We are excited to honor Justin as our 2025 Trailblazer honoree.
Keep up with all of our Events
Robin’s Favorite Memory with Jimmy
Some moments in workforce development stick with you forever — the ones that remind you why this work matters, why creativity counts, and how determination can turn even the smallest challenge into a victory.
Learn More
Search for Adventure Visits Kansas City
See how Search for Adventure visited Kansas City, bringing inclusive outdoor experiences and community connection for participants of all abilities.
Learn More
Dignity Over Data
The proposal of a national autism registry by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sparked widespread concern from disability advocates who know that decisions affecting neurodivergent lives must include neurodivergent voices.
Learn More
A Crash Course on DSPs: The Backbone of Disability Services
Today’s DSPs provide a broad range of support that empowers individuals with I/DD to live rich, independent and dignified lives that go beyond basic needs.
Learn More
How Medicaid Funding Impacts Adults with IDD
Cutting Medicaid would cause irreparable harm to the millions of adults living with I/DD across the country. We have outlined the basics of Medicaid, its importance and the potential impacts.
Learn More