STL Advocate Larry Opinsky

Larry Opinsky is a highly experienced and locally renowned disability advocate who has been supporting families and advocating for the disability community for over two decades. Since 2003, Larry has been a graduate of the Partners in Policymaking program, and was a Board Member of Missouri Protection and Advocacy from 2007-2013 as well as Board Chairperson from 2011-2012. During this time, Larry was heavily involved in the governance and policymaking of programs that provided federal assistance to Missouri residents with disabilities. He was a founding member of a coalition advocating for the closure of state-operated habilitation centers and provided testimony to the Department of Justice on the same issue. Larry has also been involved in the Parkway School District for many years, having been an original member of the Parkway Strategic Planning Committee as well as a member and former President of the Parkway Advisory Council for Children with Disabilities. In addition, he currently serves as Co-Chair of the Inclusion Committee at Congregation B’nai Amoona, is a member of the Board of Directors of TREE House/Therapeutic Horsemanship, and is part of the Fontbonne University OSERS grant review committee.