PCPID Quarterly Meeting: June 16–17, 2011
President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
- Audience:
- The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID)
- Topics:
- Announcements, Meeting Announcements, Publication (Documents and Resources), Meeting Minutes
- Types:
- Meeting Minutes, Meeting Announcement
Minutes: Summary of Proceedings
(Meeting Agenda attached)
Day One: Thursday, June 16, 2011
Greetings, Call to Order, and Introduction of Staff
Sharon Lewis, Commissioner and Designated Federal Official
The June 16–17, 2011 meeting of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) was called to order by Sharon Lewis, Designated Federal Official, and Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), who welcomed meeting participants. Commissioner Lewis gave a description of the purpose and history of the Committee from its inception as President Kennedy’s Panel on Mental Retardation in 1961. She detailed, some of the major themes considered by the Committee in the past, including criminal justice, education, and employment. Commissioner Lewis then turned the meeting over to Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, David Hansell.
Welcome
David Hansell, Acting Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families
Acting Assistant Secretary Hansell welcomed the meeting participants, on behalf of Secretary Sebellius, and congratulated new appointees to the Committee. Mr. Hansell expressed appreciation to Commissioner Lewis, Ms. Laverdia Roach, and the members of the PCPID staff for their support of the Committee. He gave a brief presentation citing the Committee’s achievements over the past 50 years and pledged the full support the Committee’s actions in the pursuit of a future where people with intellectual disabilities have full access to the privileges, rights, and advantages of American citizens. Mr. Hansell expressed delight that one of his last actions as Acting Assistant Secretary would be to join the Committee at this meeting. He then presented Mr. Kareem Dale, Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and Special Assistant to the President for disability policy, to lead the swearing-in ceremony.
Swearing-In Ceremony
Kareem Dale, Associate Director and Special Assistant to the President
Mr. Dale expressed the commitment of President Barack Obama and his Administration to people with disabilities, and described several recent achievements that seek to benefit people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). He noted the importance of the Committee’s work to the President’s continuing efforts to support people with intellectual disabilities and his desire to see more self-advocates as future appointments to this current Committee. Mr. Dale expressed appreciation for the Committee’s past, present, and future service to people with intellectual disabilities, after which he prepared to lead the new appointees in repeating the Oath of Office. Just as the new appointees prepared to swear the oath, Representative Rush Holt (NJ-12) entered the meeting room and was acknowledged by Mr. Dale, who then proceeded to lead the new appointees in repeating the oath. (Brief recess).
Self-Introductions
Mr. Jim Brett, Committee Chair, greeted members and introduced himself. He asked each member of the Committee as well as Commissioner Sharon Lewis, Ms. Laverdia Roach, and “MJ” Karimi to give self-introductions that included their background in the field and the work done by their organizations or agencies.
Following the self-introductions, Dr. Deborah Spitalnik suggested inviting a representative from the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee. She noted that the EPA does work in the field of health and the impact of toxins and other environmental issues, which may have a relationship to intellectual disabilities. Chairman Brett responded that this was a good suggestion, which could be explored further at a later time.
Mr. Brett concluded this section of the meeting by giving details about a small reception for new members and their families and guests in the Rosa Parks Room of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building.
(Mid-Morning Recess)