Blue Tower Solutions Inc. began as the dream of Shirley Paceley to provide training and resources to professionals and organizations that support people with disabilities. The first incarnation of the dream, Blue Tower Training, began as a division of Macon Resources Inc. located in Decatur, Illinois.
Shirley Paceley was the founder and former director of Blue Tower Training, which has resources in 48 states and 15 countries. She has worked with people with disabilities for over 40 years and is a published author, international trainer, counselor, consultant, advocate and visionary. Shirley has served on several projects funded by the Office on Violence Against Women to address sexual and domestic violence in the lives of people with disabilities. Shirley led a team that developed model protocols for law enforcement and prosecutors to work effectively with victims with disabilities in Illinois. Shirley participated in the national roundtable to develop a strategic plan to end sexual violence against children with disabilities. Shirley served on the Board of Directors of End Violence Against Women International, the Editorial Board of Sexual Assault Report, and is a Project Advisor to the National Center for Criminal Justice and Disabilities. Shirley works tirelessly at the intersection of violence and disabilities.
Upon her retirement from Macon Resources, and wanting to continue her work begun over 40 years ago, Shirley approached three longtime colleagues ~ Krescene Beck, Leanne Mull, Linda Sandman ~ and Blue Tower Solutions Inc. was born.
Blue Tower Solutions is proud to have a Board of Directors that is passionate about the mission, vision, and values. Board members are:
Jennifer Knapp Barb Pritchard Laura Hart Missy Kichline Scott Nance Justin Cooper Anne Thurston
Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. is proud to have worked globally to create cultures of respect, inclusion, dignity and equality for people with disabilities.
Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, language, sexual orientation or gender identity, in the delivery of services. This includes asking for accommodations and providing interpreters, including American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and interpreters for people who identify as linguistically diverse, for any events or activities sponsored by Blue Solutions, Inc. If an individual or program receiving services from Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. believes that they have been discriminated against or that their civil rights have been violated, they may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
July 2022
Happy 6 Year Anniversary to Blue Tower Solutions, Inc.!
In June 2016, Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. was started by co-directors Shirley Paceley, Krescene Beck, Leanne Mull, and Linda Sandman to continue the work Shirley had begun earlier with Blue Tower Training. Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. has continued the dream by engaging individuals, organizations and systems to create cultures of respect, inclusion, dignity and equality for people with disabilities. Shirley retired from Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. in 2018 yet the dream lives on! In 2022, Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. welcomed Jesus Chuy Campuzano and Kimberly Johnson as content expert consultants.
To help celebrate Blue Tower Solutions, Inc.'s 6 year anniversary, Richie Wheelock, the designer of the original logo, updated the logo with the "Progress" Pride Flag colors. Every community includes people with disabilities, and our updated logo honors the intersections and beauty that exists within each community. You can read the story behind the "Progress" Pride Flag colors at https://progress.gay/.
