Mary Nadon Scott, of Northfield, has been named one of eight Community Champions by the National Organization for Rare Disorders, a national nonprofit organization committed to identifying, treating and curing rare diseases.
Scott, who has lived with Friedreich's ataxia — a progressive neurological disorder affecting coordination, balance and speech — since her diagnosis in 2001, is being honored for her advocacy efforts to improve the lives of Vermonters with rare diseases. She is a founding member of the Vermont Rare Disease Advisory Council — a coalition of individuals living with rare diseases, their guardians, healthcare professionals, and researchers — that is tasked with providing guidance and recommendations to public and state agencies regarding the needs of these individuals.
"The 2025 Rare Impact Award winners demonstrate the power we each have to drive change in our community, whether that's as an advocate, policymaker, scientist or physician," said NORD CEO Pamela Gavin. "They inspire us all to persevere in our shared mission to alleviate the physical, emotional, and financial strain that rare diseases place on too many individuals and families."
Scott and the other Community Champions will be celebrated during the annual NORD Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit Oct. 19 to 21 in Washington, D.C.