Judith Heumann & Pam Holmes In the News

Judith Heumann Joins US Department of State

Judith Heumann, an international leader in the disability rights movement and a governmental representative to the USICD Board of Directors, joined the U.S. Department of State as their Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. This position was announced last summer, when President Obama and Secretary Clinton declared that the United States would sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Heumann resigned her position as Director of the Department on Disability Services for the District of Columbia, and and assumed her new position at the Department of State on June 7, 2010.

For more information about Ms. Heumann and her appointment, visit:
http://www.wid.org/judith-heumann-to-join-u-s-state-department-in-fulfillment-of-obama-clinton-pledge


Pam Holmes Nominated


From the White House

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

Press Release June 25, 2010

Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:

· Robert P. Jackson, Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon, Department of State
· James F. Jeffrey, Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, Department of State
· Alejandro D. Wolff, Ambassador to the Republic of Chile, Department of State
· Pamela Young-Holmes, Member, National Council on Disability
· Ramona Emilia Romero, General Counsel, Department of Agriculture

President Obama also announced his intent to appoint several individuals to various administration posts. Their bios are below.

President Obama said, “I am grateful that these experienced men and women have agreed to serve in my administration as we work to meet our nation’s most pressing challenges. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration posts:


Pamela Young-Holmes, Nominee for Member, National Council on Disability
Pamela Young-Holmes is Director of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and Director of CapTel Customer Service for Ultratec, Inc, a communications technology company that designs equipment to make telephone access more convenient and reliable for people with hearing loss. Working at Ultratec since 1987, she has worked extensively on issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and has become a recognized expert on communication access related matters pertaining to this Act. Ms. Holmes previously worked at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf and also served as a consultant for public-school mainstream programs for deaf and hard of hearing students for four Wisconsin public school systems. She was also a teacher for the deaf & hard of hearing students in mainstream programs in Madison, WI. Ms. Holmes was twice appointed to the U.S. Access Board (1994 & 1997), and was elected Chair of the Board in 2001. During her tenure on the Board, Ms. Holmes played a lead role in the Board’s development of accessibility guidelines for telecommunications equipment and Federal Electronic and Information Technology. She currently serves as a member of the WI Public Service Commission Universal Service Fund Council. She previously served as Chair of the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees and as a Director on the Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. Board of Directors. Ms. Holmes has a MS in Deaf Education from the University of Tennessee and a BA in English from Gallaudet University.

The National Council on Disability, NCD, is an independent federal agency and is composed of 15 members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. It provides advice to the President, Congress, and executive branch agencies to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
202-272-2004 General Information
202-272-2074 TTY
202-272-2022 Facsimile

Note: Please direct correspondence for NCD members to the National Council on Disability address listed above.

NCD is composed of 15 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

In compliance with NCD's authorizing statute, Title IV of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the President selects members of NCD after soliciting recommendations from representatives of organizations representing a broad range of individuals with disabilities; and organizations interested in individuals with disabilities.

NCD members are people with disabilities, parents or guardians of people with disabilities, or other people who have substantial knowledge or experience relating to disability policy or programs. NCD members are appointed to represent people with disabilities, national organizations concerned with people with disabilities, providers and administrators of services to people with disabilities, people engaged in conducting medical or scientific research relating to people with disabilities, business concerns, and labor organizations. A majority of NCD members are people with disabilities. NCD members are broadly representative of minority and other individuals and groups.

Members

Jonathan M.Young, Ph.D, Chairman
Dr. Fernando M. Torres-Gil, Ph.D.
Linda Wetters, Vice Chair
Gary Blumenthal
Victoria Ray Carlson
Robert R. Davila, Ph.D.
Chester A. Finn
Sara Gelser
Marylyn Howe
Heather Whitestone McCallum
Lonnie Moore
Ari Ne'eman
Dongwoo Joseph "Joe" Pak, MBA
Carol Jean Reynolds


Staff

Joan M. Durocher, Executive Director (Interim)
Martin Gould, Ed.D., Director of Research and Technology
Mark S. Quigley, Director of Communications
Stacey S. Brown, Staff Assistant
Julie Carroll, Senior Attorney Advisor
Lisa Grubb, Coordinator of Administration
Geraldine-Drake Hawkins, Ph.D., Senior Program Analyst
Carla Nelson, Administrative Specialist
Anne C. Sommers, Legislative Affairs Specialist


For more information about NCD, visit their website
http://www.ncd.gov