Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

July/August, 2000

NADE Responds to JFK - SSA Commissioner Expected to Address NADE’s National Conference
by Jeff Price, NADE President, 1998-99

National Training Conference To Draw Top SSA Officials

As he was sworn into office on January 21, 1961, President John F. Kennedy called upon the people of this nation to, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country!” President Kennedy declared that we were entering a “New Frontier” and his Administration laid important groundwork for an era of service to humanity.

Nearly forty years later, the National Association of Disability Examiners continues to answer the call issued by President Kennedy. NADE’s record of service to humanity is unparalleled as NADE chapters reach out to their respective communities to help those in need. NADE’s involvement in community service will be among those areas showcased at this year’s national conference. The conference will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the dates are September 16-23. NADE will proudly display how it answered the call to, “Ask what you can do for your country.”

This year’s conference theme, “A New Frontier In Service: Challenges of the Millennium,” also reflects the commitment made by President Kennedy forty years ago. It will challenge attendees to respond to the many challenges of a New Frontier, to set our goals to explore the unknown and to create a new environment that fosters the spirit of service. NADE is all about service - service to our members who want a professional association that can advocate for their professional interests, service to the disabled clients who want a more efficient disability program, and service to the taxpayers who want a more cost effective program.

SSA launched the dream of a new disability claims process last October and recently announced plans for a national rollout of this new design. The states involved in the prototype of this new process will also be showcased at this year’s NADE conference and conference attendees will have the opportunity to learn from experience and ask questions about what went right and what went wrong. What can the rest of us anticipate when prototype reaches us? How can we begin now to prepare for this new design?

A glance at the conference agenda is sufficient to reveal SSA’s commitment to the new disability claims process and the Commissioner’s desire to be responsive to the concerns of the DDSs. The Honorable Ken Apfel, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, is expected to attend and provide the keynote address. Mr. Ken Nibali, Associate Commissioner for the Office of Disability, will address the conference and offer specifics regarding redesign, the new listings, and other new developments coming from the Office of Disability. Ms. Sue Roecker, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner and the former Assistant Director of SSA’s Disability Redesign Team, will share in the discussion about the future of redesign. Ms. Sue Davis, currently the Director of SSA’s 2010 Vision Team, and the former Director of the Disability Process Redesign Team, will speak about the future plans and goals of SSA. Mr. Phil Gambino, the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications, will talk about effective public speaking. Mr. Edward Ryan from the Office of Inspector General will discuss SSA’s fraud initiatives and Ms. Dena Crank will oversee a discussion about medical/professional relations and the DDS role in the medical community.

Other conference speakers will draw attention to a variety of medical topics and program issues. An Administrators' panel, featuring DDS Administrators from some of the prototype states, will discuss their experiences with the new disability claims process and there will also be a breakout session tailored for the special interests and concerns of disability hearing officers.

NADE’s first ever national training conference outside the continental United States will begin on Saturday, September 16 with the meeting of the Association’s Board of Directors. This meeting is open to all members and attendance is encouraged. The national Board will be considering many new proposals while also taking action on many other items.

Sight-seeing tours have been arranged for Sunday and Monday that will carry conference attendees to the City of Ponce and a tour of the only rainforest in the United States. Ponce is known as the “Pearl of the South,” and is the second largest city in Puerto Rico. The beauty of the Spanish plaza and the architecture will capture the imagination of everyone. But if it doesn’t, the Castle and the 1882 firehouse should. Breathtaking waterfalls, giant ferns, beautiful wild flowers and, of course, the Coqui await those who take advantage of the rainforest tour.

A special event is planned for Wednesday night that will feature an evening full of Puerto Rican traditions including music, cuisine, and arts and crafts. This event will be held at an old convent in Old San Juan.

The Delegate Assembly will be held late Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and the members will hear a variety of reports and take action on many issues put to them. The Association will honor its award recipients with a special luncheon on Thursday.

Above all, this year’s national conference will highlight NADE’s commitment to staff training, and assisting DDS Administrators in their efforts to attract well-qualified employees and retain a well-trained adjudicative staff. Training is our future and with SSA intent on a national rollout of the new disability claims process, the need for ongoing training will be of paramount importance for any disability professional who wishes to avoid becoming a dinosaur in their own field.

More information, including conference registration material, about NADE’s 2000 National Training Conference can be found online at www.nade.org or in the May/June issue of the NADE Advocate. You may also contact Ada Lugo at (787) 754-8925. E-mail inquiries should be directed to Ada at Ada.Lugo@ssa.gov.