Disability Policy Seminar- day THREE and Hill visits!

Disability Policy Seminar
April 29, 2009
Day three- hill visits

Today I visited Ohio House of Representatives staff members from Mary Jo Kilroy and Tim Ryan’s offices. We spoke mostly about the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) which (I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t know this) funds the UCCEDD’s. We had such a great combination of perspectives including parents, a clinic coordinator, a physician and me, a trainee!

A photo outside the office of Ohio Representative, Mary Jo Kilroy

I was able to talk to one representative about the benefits of the LEND traineeship from a trainee perspective. I told her how I feel more prepared than my non-LEND trainee classmates to enter the field as a pediatric PT because of my additional clinical experience but more importantly my knowledge of the systems, resources, funding options for families and the other disciplines involved in the child and family’s life. I think she liked what I had to say because I saw her take some notes. And I tried to get in that training programs ultimately save the system money because clinicians are (hopefully) more knowledgeable, efficient and well-prepared. She conveyed that the Representative she works with is in support of the act. Maybe this team will have some tools to convince fellow representatives to support the DD Act