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	[an error occurred while processing this directive] Governmental Affairs: Advocacy in action. Read current and previous Legislative Network Alerts. View a listing of the Legislative Network Members. Frequently asked questions about the Legislative Network.   Legislative Network Alerts Alert Number 161       March 30, 2006       For Your Information NRA's Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Legislative Summits To: Members of the Legislative Network From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs For those who read on the run, this Washington Wire deals solely with NRA's 2006 Legislative Summit, conducted on March 12-14, 2006 here in Washington, which marked the 25th Anniversary of NRA's Legislative Summits. The National Rehabilitation Association was pleased to conduct its 25th Annual Governmental Affairs Summit which began on Sunday, March 12, and culminated in “NRA’s Day on the Hill,” on March 14, 2006. We want to thank all NRA Members and others who participated in our Legislative Summit, the theme of which was “The Power of Productive Partnerships.” We would like to take this occasion to thank all of you who attended the Summit for your active and enthusiastic advocacy on behalf of policies and programs that promote the economic and personal independence of all individuals with disabilities. The Summit began with NRA’s Annual Leadership Breakfast, hosted by NRA’s 2006 President, Susan Sherman of the Georgia VR Agency and NRA’s Executive Director, Linda Winslow, formerly of the North Carolina VR Agency. This was a particularly interactive session of NRA Members who wanted to learn more about the organizational structure of NRA, the role and responsibilities as the leader of an NRA Chapter, Division or Region, those who wanted to lean more about building on collaborative partnerships and relationships with other NRA volunteers leaders, gaining a better appreciation of NRA’s national advocacy efforts, and enhancing opportunities for networking and the sharing of information among our many members. Welcoming remarks by NRA’s Executive Director, Linda Winslow and NRA’s 2006 President, Susan Sherman, and the introduction of NRA’s Legislative Co-Chairs, Tom Wilson of our Georgia Chapter and Nora Owens of our Ohio Chapter, set the stage for the exciting opening of NRA’s 25th Annual Legislative Summit. On behalf of all in the National Rehabilitation Association we want to thank both the Legislative Co-Chairs and all members of NRA’s Governmental Affairs Committee for their outstanding work on NRA’s Issues Statements and for their continued commitment to programs and policies that work well and with individuals with disabilities. Next came the Pre-Session for First-Time Attendees with Tom Wilson, Nora Owens and Patricia Leahy presenting on Legislative Advocacy 101: “ The People’s House and Senate” which embraces the adage that “All Politics is Local” and that one person really can and has made a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities. We were fortunate this year to have two, terrific Keynote Luncheon Speakers. The first of these distinguished speakers, Dr. Allen Harris, who honorably serves as President of the National Council of State Administrators for the Blind (NCSAB), discussed in very serious terms the importance of maintaining categorical programs which serve individuals with significant disabilities, including the Randolph-Sheppard program. Dr. Harris, true to his forthrightness and foresight, didn’t mince words. Dr. Harris discussed the importance -- indeed the urgency -- of coalescing around and maintaining the integrity of programs that serve individuals with the most significant disabilities. These programs, Dr. Harris opined, are the very programs that could fall victim to a consolidation culture consuming Capitol Hill. As Dr. Harris observed, this is no time to retreat but to forge on in our fight to safeguard programs and policies that serve the best interests of all -- and all means all -- individuals with disabilities. Complementing Dr. Harris’ presentation, was the second of our Keynote Luncheon Speakers, Dr. Fredric Schroeder, formerly Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the U.S. Department of Education, and currently the Institute Coordinator for the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute at San Diego State University. Dr. Schroeder spoke to the importance of maintaining the integrity of programs that serve individuals with disabilities well -- especially those with significant disabilities -- and focused on the importance of the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD). Dr. Schroeder described CSPD as the hallmark of the Rehabilitation Act -- a hallmark that has served individuals with disabilities well over the decades by providing qualified rehabilitation counselors and qualified rehabilitation personnel to eligible individuals with disabilities who seek both economic and personal independence. CSPD -- as Dr. Schroeder described it -- is one of the most important distinctions -- if not the most important distinction -- between the pubic/private VR partnership and the generic job training programs. The National Rehabilitation Association has taken -- and will continue to take -- a very strong stand on maintaining the integrity of CSPD. The National Rehabilitation Association is strongly opposed to any diminution or elimination of qualifications for VR counselors and VR personnel. The National Rehabilitation Association considers CSPD to be the “Rosetta Stone of Rehab,” and will do whatever it takes to safeguard the integrity of qualifications for VR counselors and associated VR personnel. Dr. Schroeder then addressed the issue of the closing of RSA’s Regional Offices, which provided for decades almost all of the technical assistance and monitoring to individuals with disabilities, State VR Agencies, and RSA’s Central Office here in Washington. The closing of RSA’s Regional Offices, Dr. Schroeder remarked, was a great loss of seasoned, qualified person power in RSA and an enormous loss to individuals with disabilities seeking the dignity of a career and personal independence. As Dr. Schroeder observed -- in which NRA completely concurs -- the responsibility for monitoring (monitoring of monitoring, if you will), technical assistance and advocacy for the VR program will naturally now be the principal responsibility of the advocacy community, including the State Rehabilitation Councils (SRCs), the Clients Assistance Program (P&As), Independent Living, and others in our community. RSA has stated that all monitoring will be conducted by Central Office RSA staff only, a few of whom came from the Regional Offices, but most of whom did not. This is very important because many of the new staff in RSA responsible for monitoring may have to be trained in monitoring and the provision of technical assistance. One of the most important aspects of monitoring, as you know, is being accountable. If you do not have a strong monitoring system in place, then you do not have data. If you do not have data, then you are not accountable. If you are not accountable, the Congress will over time either consolidate your program, block grant your program, or eliminate your program, altogether. The remainder of the day was devoted to the presentation of NRA’s Issues Statements by the 2006 Legislative Co-Chairs, Tom Wilson and Nora Owens, NRA’s Governmental Affairs Committee, and Patricia Leahy. NRA’s Issues Statements are posted on NRA’s website: www.nationalrehab.org. If for some reason, you cannot access our website, just “Google” The National Rehabilitation Association and you will be connected to our website. On Monday, March 13, 2006, we were very fortunate to have with us once again the multi-talented Kathy West-Evans for a presentation on the VR Business Network. You will recall, Ms. West-Evans formerly of RSA’s Region X office and now with CSAVR, has presented at the last four NRA Legislative Summits and has simply been superb on the history of the public/private VR Program’s association with business. During Ms. West-Evans years with RSA’s Region X office, she, together with Peggy Anderson of the Alabama State VR Agency, Dr. Ralph Pacinelli, then Regional Commissioner of Regions III and IV, Steve Shivers, State Director of the Alabama VR Agency, Steve Wooderson, State Director of the Iowa VR Agency, and Roseann Ashby, formerly of RSA, enhanced the VR Business model based on the Regional IV Employment Conferences. Indeed, these individuals ran RSA’s very successful Employment Conferences, the first one of which was inaugurated during the tenure of Commissioner Fred Schroeder. Kathy West-Evans, as in past NRA Summits, discussed the importance of the return on investment of the VR program, which she has been advancing since her years in RSA. Perhaps one of the most important issues that NRA took to the Hill on March 13, 2006, was the two-page paper on VR’s return on investment, which Ms. West-Evans prepared while in RSA. This return on investment information can be found on NRA’s website at www.nationalrehab.org; Ms. West-Evans presented a PowerPoint, promoting VR’s dual customer base, the power of productive business partnerships and VR. This important PowerPoint will soon be posted on NRA’s website at www.nationalrehab.org. Ms. West-Evans presentation is a staple at NRA’s Summit and she has been invited to present at NRA’s 2007 Legislative Summit, which begins on Sunday, March 11 and ends on Tuesday, March 13, 2007. Ms. West-Evans’ 2007 presentation is expected to focus once again on outlining and implementing the strategic plan for development of the customer-driven National VR Business Network. The National Rehabilitation Association was very pleased to have as its Monday Keynote Speaker, Mr. Andy Imparato who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD). AAPD is a national non-profit, non-partisan membership organization devoted to the political and economic empowerment of all people with disabilities. AAPD is the largest cross-disability membership organization in the United States. Because of the breadth of his experience and advocacy with and behalf of all individuals with disabilities, Mr. Imparato is one of the most sought-after speakers in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Prior to joining AAPD, Mr. Imparato was General Counsel and Director of Policy for the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent Federal agency advising the President and the Congress on public policy issues affecting people with disabilities. Mr. Imparato has been featured on CNN, CBS News, CourtTV, National Public Radio, The O’Reilly Factor and other broadcast and print media. His OpEds have appeared in the Washington Post, San Diego Union Tribune and other notable newspapers. Mr. Imparato is also the co-author, with civil rights attorney Claudia Center, of an article in the 2003 issue of the Stanford Law and Policy Review entitled “Redefining ‘Disability’ Discrimination: A Proposal for Restoring Civil Rights for all Workers.” Mr. Imparato spoke to several issues including the importance of promoting the political and economic advancement of all people with disabilities through public policy advocacy, programs fostering leadership development, mentoring and career exploration, and the importance of voting and civic participation. Mr. Imparato has been invited and, we are pleased to advise you has agreed, to Keynote a presentation at NRA’s 2007 Legislative Summit on several issues of importance to all individuals with disabilities, including those related to voting and civic participation, with a focus on the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The National Rehabilitation Association then heard from some of the most distinguished advocates with whom NRA partners on issues of mutual importance to us. This Partners’ Panel, comprised of Mr. John Lancaster, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), Ms. Rita Martin, Assistant Executive Director of the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), Ms. Jamie Ray of the Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program (CAP) and Ms. Celane McWhorter, President of the Association of Persons in Supported Employment (APSE), focused on the challenges and opportunities for person’s with disabilities in a consolidation culture. Mr. Lancaster, formerly the President of the President’s Committee for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities, spoke to the importance of advancing the fifth core service which would expedite the transitioning of persons with disabilities from institutional settings into community-based settings. Ms. Martin, formerly the State VR Director in Indiana, spoke to the issue of increased appropriations for Title I of the Rehabilitation Act as well as several issues of concern to CSAVR regarding the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Ms. Ray, an active and energetic NRA member, spoke, among other issues, to the importance of ensuring the accessibility of the one-stops to all individuals with disabilities. Last, but never least, Ms. McWhorter discussed an issue which the National Rehabilitation Association has addressed in its 2006 Issues Statements: The importance of maintaining discrete funding in Title VI of the Rehab Act for Supported Employment. Ms. McWhorter is a passionate and progressive advocate for people with disabilities, especially those with significant disabilities. You may recall, the 2007 President’s Budget eliminates all funding for Supported Employment, Projects with Industry, Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers, and Recreation. The National Rehabilitation Association feels strongly and has advocated and will continue to advocate that the integrity of these programs, none of which is duplicative, but complementary to Title I of the Rehab Act, must be maintained and appropriations increased for these vital programs Like Title I and III of the Rehab Act on which NRA has testified several times in recent years before Congress and provided written testimony for increased appropriations, we believe the four programs’ funding, (Supported Employment, PWIs, Migrants and Seasonal Farm Workers and Recreation) which the Presidents 2007 budget has eliminated, must be maintained and increased. NRA’s Issues Statements are posted on NRA’s website : www.nationalrehab.org. This issue has been and will continue to be addressed in forthcoming Washington Wires. On Tuesday, March 14, 2006, members of the National Rehabilitation Association headed to Capitol Hill, with NRA Issue Statements in hand, to speak with their respective Members of Congress about issues of importance to the disability community generally and specifically to the National Rehabilitation Association. One of the highlights of NRA’s “Day on the Hill” was the “Lead On” Awards Luncheon which recognized three individuals of incomparable integrity and importance to our community. The National Rehabilitation Association wants to take this occasion to thank NRA’s Board of Directors for approving the name change of our awards from the Legislative Service Awards to the “Lead On” Awards, with a special thanks to Linda Winslow and George Ackerman for their leadership role in suggesting this change. The first recipient of NRA’s newly-named “Lead On” award is an individual of enormous personal and professional integrity and a 47-year Member of the National Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Ralph N. Pacinelli, formerly RSA Regional Commissioner for Regions III and IV, is a man of enormous character, commitment and conscience. Dr. Pacinelli, himself, one of the great leaders in our community, worked with some of the principal architects and pioneers in the disability community, including Mary Switzer and Justin Dart. The room was packed. The number of people who asked to be invited to the ceremony honoring Dr. Pacinelli included 14 staff members of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, with whom he has worked so closely over three decades, State VR Directors, including Mr. Bob Burns, the State VR Director in Maryland, who spoke eloquently of Dr. Pacinelli’s commitment to individuals with disabilities, the incoming President of CSAVR, Mr. Butch McMillan, State Director of the Mississippi VR Agency and Ms. Kathy West-Evans, who spoke passionately about a man who has devoted his life to others. Bob Burns’ remarks on Dr. Pacinelli’s commitment to individuals over the years and Dr. Pacinelli’s remarks on receiving NRA’s “Lead On” Award are printed in their entirety in the forthcoming issue of Contemporary Rehab. The National Rehabilitation Association recognized two, tremendously-supportive Members of Congress to receive the prestigious “Lead On” Award: The Co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Disability Caucus: The Honorable Jim Langevin of Rhode Island and the Honorable Jim Ramstad of Minnesota. The work that Congressmen Ramstad and Langevin have done -- and continue to do -- on behalf of individuals with disabilities both in the Congress and, in particular, as founders of the House Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, is impressive and the National Rehabilitation Association is proud that Congressman Langevin and Ramstad are among the first recipients of our “Lead On” Award. NRA’s 2006 Legislative Summit concluded with its customary “Wrap-Up” session wherein our members shared their experiences and impressions of meeting with their respective Members of Congress and staff. The Wrap-Up Session is always an interactive one and this year’s Summit was no exception. The general consensus among the group was that Members of Congress were very much engaged in what their constituents had to say this year about a number of issues affecting individuals with disabilities. Part of that engagement may be due to the midterm elections and perhaps in large part that engagement is due to the advocacy and outreach that NRA members provide their Members throughout the year. On behalf of all in NRA, thank you for your commitment to advancing policies that promote the economic and personal independence of all individuals with disabilities. NRA’s 2007 Legislative Summit will be held on Sunday, March 11 through Tuesday, March 13 2007, at the King Street Alexandria Hilton in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Next year may very well be the year that WIA is finally reauthorized and if that is the case we will devote several sessions to the reauthorization of WIA and the new bills that will accompany a new Congress, with a focus on the reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Finally, we would like to thank NRA’s National Office staff, in particular, Jon D’Angelo, Gloria Walker, Veronica Hamilton, Leon Russ, Sandra Mulliner and Paulo Luizaga for their indispensable assistance in making the 25th Anniversary of NRA’s Legislative Summit such a great success.
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