A New Era: Embracing Opportunities
 in the face of grave challenges

April 27-29, 2009

The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

Monday, April 27, 2009

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

DOWNLOAD FULL PROGRAM AT A GLANCE (updated April 24)


DOWNLOAD THE SEMINAR BROCHURE

A New Era:  Embracing Opportunities In The Face Of Grave Challenges, the 2009 Disability Policy Seminar theme, will explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing the new 111^th Congress and Obama Administration brought about by the 2008 election results and the economic crisis.

The 2008 election results are bringing significant changes to the Executive Branch and the Congress.  Republicans lost the White House and had their minority status further eroded in the House and Senate.  Moderates and incumbents were other high casualty groups, losing a number of important seats. 

The U.S. economy is in recession and most states are facing severe shortfalls in their budgets.  As budgets shrink, many vital services and support for people with disabilities are being cut.  With change as a central theme of both the elections and plans for economic recovery, we will explore effective strategies to obtain support from both sides of the aisle for disability issues.

At the 2009 Seminar, hundreds of disability advocates from around the country will gather to discuss a wide range of public policy issues affecting people with disabilities and their families.  We expect the following public policy issues will take center stage:

Ø       Budget and Appropriations

Ø       Entitlements (Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security)

Ø       Health Care and Long Term Services Reform

Ø       Developmental Disabilities Act

Ø       Employment

Once again, the Disability Policy Seminar will provide you with all the tools and information to advocate with the U.S. Congress so we can work toward these goals together.  You will get to:

Ø       Hear from leading public policy experts, disability advocates, and Congressional staff  about key policies important to our constituencies;

Ø       Put the Seminar sessions into practice by visiting Capitol Hill to meet your Congressional delegation; and

Ø       Deliver a unified message to Congress and the Administration that disability benefits and services are our top priorities.

Together, The Arc of the United States, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), and Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) will look to our extensive grassroots networks to advocate in a bipartisan manner for national public policies promoting the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Send as many representatives to the Seminar from your organization as possible, including
- Volunteers, Board Members and Parents
- Staff and Trainees
- Constituents
- State and Local Public Policy Committee Members
- Policy Staff
- Self-advocates

Your paid registration entitles you to:
- All Seminar sessions
- Tuesday’s Luncheon
- A comprehensive package of issue fact sheets and other materials.