Disability Outreach Initiative
NYAPRS Note: The following piece comes courtesy of Jonathan Young
of the American Association of People with Disabilities:
The following press release from the Democratic National Committee (DNC)
announces the appointment of Becky Ogle to lead the DNC's new Disability
Outreach Initiative. This is a great step toward ensuring that people with
disabilities and disability issues are taken seriously in upcoming elections. It
is unclear at this point whether the Republican National Committee (RNC) plans
to hire a person for disability outreach at the RNC.... Many of you know Becky
from her background as a lobbying leader during the ADA campaign, co-founder and
Moderator of Justice For All, and Executive Director of the Presidential Task
Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities.
Jonathan Young JFA Editor, AAPD
DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe Welcomes Becky Ogle as Director of New
Disability Outreach Initiative
Washington, D.C.--Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Terry McAuliffe
today welcomed veteran disabilities advocate, Becky Ogle, to lead the DNC's new
Disability Outreach Initiative.
"Individuals with disabilities are a valued and important part of the Democratic
family," said DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe. "This Party has a long history of
working with the disability community on important issues such as the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), the
Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act (MiCASSA), the Technology
Assistance Act, Olmstead implementation, and voting access. I look forward to
working with Becky to expand our work with the community in this very important
election year."
The DNC's Disability Outreach Initiative reflects a renewed commitment to work
closely with the disability community to preserve and build strong, enforceable,
disability civil rights legislation, to ensure that people with disabilities can
participate in all activities and levels of the Party, to build a communications
infrastructure that allows the DNC to talk to millions of Americans with
disabilities about the issues that they care about, and to ensure that the voter
turnout of individuals with disabilities across the country in upcoming
elections is at its highest level ever.
"Under the Democratic leadership of President Clinton and Vice President Gore,
Becky and so many of her colleagues in the disability community were able to
bring about significant changes throughout government in employment, education,
health care, housing, transportation, and small business administration policies
and programs. Becky has proven herself to be a sophisticated winner in every
battle for disability rights for the last fifteen years. The DNC has chosen a
strong leader and a proven advocate in Becky Ogle," stated Justin Dart, Jr.
longtime disability rights activist.
"I am honored to be working with Chairman McAuliffe to lead this important
charge. We know that people with disabilities can make the difference in a close
election," said Becky Ogle. "Individuals with disabilities helped give President
Clinton large margins of victory in 1992 and 1996 and helped Al Gore win the
popular vote in 2000. While George Bush promises rhetorical 'New Freedoms' for
people with disabilities, the Democratic Party continues to support and promote
'Real Freedom' initiatives that improve the independence, economic
self-sufficiency and full societal participation of all people with
disabilities."
There's strength in numbers! Be a part of a national coalition of people with
disabilities and join AAPD today.
www.aapd-dc.org
This "Mental Health E-News" posting is a service of the New York
Ass'n of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, a statewide coalition of people
who use and/or provide community mental health services dedicated to improving
services and social conditions for people with psychiatric disabilities by
promoting their recovery, rehabilitation and rights. To join our list, e-mail us
your request and, where appropriate, the name of your organization to
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