Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

July/August, 2000

President's Message

Well, it’s official. We’re in the middle of hurricane season and that only means one thing to me – I’ll soon be in San Juan for the National Training Conference! The agenda is full of opportunities for learning about program issues, various medical impairments, and, of course, Puerto Rico. I know that the Conference Planning Committee has been working extremely hard to pack an agenda that will be educational for all in attendance. Attendees will have the opportunity to “hear it straight from the horse’s mouth” as the roster of speakers includes a host of SSA officials.

Congratulations to all of you that took time to celebrate National Disability Professionals Week. The various chapters were very creative this year in how they expressed appreciation and honored the outstanding. (There are some perks to being NADE President as the Baton Rouge Chapter was honored this year by having the Chair of NDPW, Melissa Robertz, join us for the BRADE awards ceremony and reception as well as the Southwest Regional Director, Chuck Schimmels. And of course, BRADE has been know to do whatever is necessary to win a NADE award!)

Also, let me say thank you to those individuals and groups who worked hard at membership retention and recruitment for this year. With the day-to-day stress of our jobs, people are looking for benefits for belonging to NADE. As I expressed to the Southeast Regional Conference Delegates, in a nutshell, you get out of it what you put into it. NADE offers opportunities – opportunities for personal and professional growth. NADE offers you the opportunity to express your concerns about SSA policy before it goes into effect and to be a part of workgroups that aid in making SSA policy.

Never in my professional life has SSA called me Terri Spurgeon, DDS employee, asking what I think about a certain program issue or a proposed change (and for the life of me I don’t know why!). However, as NADE President, I constantly receive calls asking for NADE’s opinion, NADE’s view, etc. not only from SSA but also from the Social Security Advisory Board and Congress. NADE’s opinion, NADE’s viewpoint, and NADE’s position on an issue is YOUR opinion, YOUR viewpoint, and YOUR position.

NADE is the only professional association representing YOU. YOU can make a difference in the Disability Programs and YOU count.

Your knowledge and experience in the adjudicative process is especially needed now as SSA is finalizing plans for rollout of the new disability process and final decisions will soon be made on the “life or death” of the DCM. I encourage you to be a part of the decision by sharing your knowledge and experience. Help YOUR professional association represent YOU as we continue to improve service to those who depend on us.

- Terri Spurgeon