Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

November/December 2000

Highlights from "Up, Up and Away in Y2K"
by Debi Chowdhury, ESADE

STADE, Southern Tier Association of Disability Examiners hosted this year’s NorthEast - MidAtlantic Bi-Regional conference in Binghamton, New York. This new chapter volunteered to host this bi-regional conference in Albany two years ago. This was an excellent conference with many powerful, motivated speakers. Conference opened up with color guards and the National Anthem sung by Mary Donovan and backed up by the DDD singers with only one week of practice.

Sue Heflin President-elect (Mississippi) delivered the presidential address. This was a year of change. For first time attendees there were "dos and don’ts" information. The five month waiting period was brought up before Congress-and once again the issue was money; though defeated for now, it will be raised again. The SSA Advisory Board has come to NADE for the association's opinion on several issues. NADE is online now; the web page has job opportunities. The CCP handbook is in the process of being stored on disk now, so that ongoing changes can be accomplished quickly. We have over two thousand members now. When considering membership, not only recruit but also retain. Chapters need new enthusiasm as well as the old experienced crew. There is money available through NADE for every chapter to get a $50 grant to help increase membership. Some of the new innovative ideas for the Web Page are:

1) The possibility of putting the mem bership roster on the web to update any changes. 2) Email all chapter presidents with breaking news-goal to get informa- tion out as quickly as possible.

Medical Consultants should have some type of certification. SSA is interested in certification -and is looking to NADE for ideas for the process of certification.

This year there were several legislative visits to the Hill. Bill Anderson from SSA has agreed to have someone from NADE sitting in on any major listing change discussions in the future. States are committed to the DCM pilots through 6/30/01. The DDSs want their analysts back in the DDS offices. The Office of Disability and Office of Training need to coordinate their information together. NADE is making more legislative contacts each year. NADE's storehouse of collective expertise is recognized by SSA and theassociation has risen in the amount of respect it has with SSA.

The second lecturer Fran Battisti was an excellent motivational speaker who had the audience roaring with laughter one moment and analyzing behavior the next. His lecture “If you are not a little crazy, you can’t come into my house” spoke volumes. Our warrior mentality is what helps us ride through situations. Searching is a challenge opportunity. Our search is constant and taking responsibility to learn is an area of responsibility for ourselves, a way of creative control. We never have control – all we know is what we have today. Complaining is different from problem solving. Death is a powerful teacher. Connect with people where they’re living. Don’t save something for tomorrow. Do it now. That opens up all kinds of possibilities, just do it.

The SSA Regional Commissioner’s message was “Service Delivery in the New Millennium.”  There are several SSA initiatives that will cut down total processing time of a claim from start to finish from the DO's end.  DO claims reps are getting more training.  A new PC system will make claim processing faster.  They plan to follow New York's example to pursue electronic folders.  ICM (Immediate Claims Taking), a new unit, will take calls from claimants on an 800 number to speed up the claims process.  The most important message is communication with the DDS.

Mr. Ken Nibali, Associate Commissioner of SSA, gave us an informative update on the status of redesign and the prototype rollout.  He stated that he had given the same update to OHA the week before and talked about their upcoming changes.  Our own Ann Graham, Policy Analyst (OD), spoke on training issues.  PUTT was marathon training; future trainings will not follow that pattern.  In summary, she asked for our input for the steering committee, training Cadre, Disability Hour, Trainers Workshop,DEBT update, training for medical consultants, DE certification, and Disability Career Education.  She can be contacted at Anne. Graham@ssa.gov or (410)-965-9100.

Mr. David Avenius, New York Deputy Commissioner for DDS, was the moderator of a panel discussion on "The Analyst as a knowledge worker, not a production worker-The New York View." A copy of the 1999 strategic plan and directive for the future (Public service through Technology &training) was given to all conference attendees.  NewYork DDS has been recognized by the Governor's Office of Employee Relations as a team for innovative work force management practices that made a difference in the effectiveness of State Government.  NewYork DDS processed approximately 10 percent of the national caseload by the end of the fiscal year 1999.  Some of the processes that helped improve mean processing time were electronic CE ordering, aged case reduction project, and electronic CE report receipt.  Also of note, with Prototype rolled out to two New York regions (Albany and Brooklyn), all Analyst I s received a temporary upgrade.  Financial renumeration, flextime, workplace improvements gaining time have empowered the knowledge worker while decreasing cost per case and increasing accuracy. 

All Medical lectures were videotaped.  Please contact STADE for further information.  There were a lot of afternoon activities planned including a picnic and tethered balloon ride, a tour of QCS, a barbecue, and a tour of Cooperstown, siteof the national baseball hall of fame.  A welcome reception was held at the Endicott Office with Wine Tasting and a buffet.  The hospitality suite was exceptional with food, music, fun and great company every night of the conference.

2000 Regional awards were announced at the awards luncheon:

NORTHEAST
Chapter - Puerto Rico, Buffalo                   
Professional - Paula Christofelli, NH
Administrator - Mark Diefendorf, Glendale NY
Professional Support Staff - Aida Acevedo, PR

MID-ATLANTIC
Maryland Eugene Jerry, MD
Andy Morioni, DE
Annie Lewis, Washington D.C.

At the regional Caucus new officers were elected for 2000-2001:

NORTHEAST
President - Debi Chowdhury, ESADE
Regional Director - not up for re-election
Vice President - Liz Jamison
Secretary - Jane Osgathorp
Treasurer - Jane Osgathorp

MID-ATLANTIC
Georgia Myers, GLADE
Linda Kay Welch
Reginald Stepney
Maysirra Thomas
Jennifer Pecora

STADE provided an excellent Bi-Regional Conference with their UP, UP and Away in Y2K.
They truly rose to the challenge of the Millennium.