Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

March/April 2000

National Disability Professionals Week June 19-23, 2000
by Melissa Robertz, NDPW Chair

IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO be appointed National Disability Professionals Week chair by President Terri Spurgeon. This year the week of June 19-23, 2000. has been designated as National Disability Professionals Week. Last year almost every chapter celebrated NDPW, some on just one day, others every day of the week. The most common way people celebrated was with food! We ate everything from bagels and donuts to hotdogs, pizza, and Hawaiian chicken. Most chapters involved their members through games. Texas played their version of Jeopardy; West Virginia matched school pictures with the year that person graduated; Oklahoma played Name That Tune; and New York played “Buffalo Squares” to just name a few. Many chapters submitted an entry for the National Disability Professionals Week contest, each explaining how they celebrated the event, with winners being announced at the National Conference in Denver, Colorado. First place went to the Arkansas Chapter (ARKADE), which held daily events that included: free donuts, coffee, and juice; Happy Hour at the Little Rock Hilton; free hot dogs and chips; a banana split and sundae sale; and ended the week with a luncheon, not to mention daily door prizes. National Disability Professionals Week is the only time that disability professionals are recognized, so lets observe NDPW June 19-23, 2000. There is a $50 first prize and a $25 second prize. To be considered, submit a written description of your chapter’s NDPW celebration by August 1, 2000 and include any available pictures. As disability professionals, we work hard and it is easy to get “burned-out,” so what better way to rejuvenate than by celebrating ourselves and the work we do. For more information or to submit an entry contact any of the following:

Melissa Robertz, Chairperson 1560 Fircrest Ct, SE Salem OR 97306 ph 503.566.6678

Al Kamnick RR 1 Box 379B Chatham IL 62629 ph217.782.3291

Cherie Walker P O Box 82530 Lincoln NE 68501-2530 ph 402.472.3007

Deborah Bradl 29 H Highland Blvd New Castle DE 19720 ph 302.761.8325

Liz Jameson RR 1 Box 3040 Windsor ME 04363

Carol Stewart P O Box 243 Raleigh NC 27602 ph 919.779.0777

Sandy Moore 701 Pulaski Little Rock AR 72201 ph 501.682.6125