Diane Morin, Knight of the Ordre national du Québec

The entire Special Olympics Québec community would like to congratulate Diane Morin, a member of the Board of Directors, who was made a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec today at the National Assembly. Diane Morin’s long-standing commitment to people with intellectual disabilities is exceptional and incomparable.

This distinction recognizes Diane Morin’s work and sustained efforts to improve and enrich the lives of these individuals and their loved ones.

“Since joining the Special Olympics Québec Board of Directors, Diane Morin has brought us not only her expertise and deep respect for people with atypical development, but she has also become the soul and conscience of our organization,” said Daniel Granger, Chair of the Board of Directors. “We have benefited from her guidance in a multitude of situations, and she has helped us grow and better fulfill our mission. This recognition, presented by the Premier, on behalf of the people of Quebec, sends a clear message about the importance of social inclusion.” Sincere congratulations and thanks to Diane Morin for her continued commitment and immense contribution.”

Diane Morin worked for nearly 20 years as a clinical psychologist before becoming a professor in the Department of Psychology at UQAM. In 2006, she co-chaired the International Summit for an Alliance for Social Inclusion, and in 2008, she founded and became the Chair of Intellectual Disability and Behavioral Disorders at UQAM.

Over the course of her career, Diane Morin co-authored a reference work on intellectual disability and created an instrument for measuring attitudes toward intellectual disability, which has now been translated into ten languages ​​and is used in more than 30 countries.

In 2011, she joined the board of directors of Special Olympics Quebec. In 2014, she was awarded the Order of Canada for her contributions to the field of psychology and her support for those affected by intellectual disabilities and behavioral disorders. From 2018 to 2024, Ms. Morin served as Scientific Director of the University Institute for Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders. In 2023, she received the Dybwad Humanitarian Award from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for her contributions to promoting human well-being.

Today, Diane Morin becomes a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec, a well-deserved distinction. Congratulations.