Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds proclaimed Nov. 24 as “Mia Peterson Day in Iowa” to commemorate the 50th birthday of an under-recognized Iowan who worked throughout her adult life to promote self-advocacy and equal treatment. Peterson served in state and national roles while living in Iowa and Ohio. She returned to Iowa in 2005 and died in 2021. The proclamation includes Peterson’s belief that we should “let people with disabilities speak for themselves and don’t let others speak for them.” Brady Werger, chair for the Iowa Developmental Disability Council, read the proclamation during a ceremony Tuesday at the State Historical Building of Iowa. Peterson was born in Sioux City in 1973, grew up in Webster City, and became the first person with Down syndrome to serve on the Iowa Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities, known today as the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council. She would go on to testify before Congress and serve on the National Developmental Disabilities Council.