Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

July/August 2001

President's Message

THE SPRING IS SUCH A WONDERFUL, rejuvenating time. I have been so fortunate in being able to attend all of the regional training conferences this year. I truly enjoy every opportunity to learn, whether in a formal training session or in networking with my NADE friends. The Idaho chapter did an excellent job of hosting the Pacific/Great Plains Regional Training Conference. There I enjoyed hearing about the experiences of Dr. Read who does very comprehensive mental consultative exams in Idaho; I wanted him to relocate to Mississippi but I had a lot of opposition from the IDEA members. Interestingly enough, when I attended the Great Lakes Regional hosted so well by the Illinois Chapter, I heard from another psychologist, Dr. Froman, who also does mental exams, and who entertained us with amusing tales about how to handle the potential malingerer. Of course, by that time I knew it was hopeless to try to recruit him. The Tennessee Chapter hosted the Southeast/Southwest Bi-regional in Nashville, the first NADE conference held there since 1980, and they did an outstanding job. Mary Lanigan showed us how to navigate on the SSA Information Highway (I need all the help I can get in that area), and I got some unique ideas from the session “Laughter for the Health of It”. The West Virginia Chapter hosted their very first conference, the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Bi-regional, and they did a wonderful job. At that conference, two of the speakers illustrated the current challenges of the disability program today. Dr. “Buck” Albright of the Maryland DDS gave a very informative presentation on getting ready for prototype and later Sue Davis, Chief of Staff to Acting Commissioner Larry Massanari, told us it was time to admit we couldn’t afford the program we are now operating!

I’m very sorry that all of you cannot attend the various NADE conferences but I urge you to make plans to attend the national in Austin or one of next year’s regionals. You will gain so much, not only from the formal presentations, but also from the opportunity to network with your colleagues from other agencies. It is a marvelous experience! I hope you all had a great time celebrating National Disability Professionals Week. Also don’t forget to request your $50.00 membership grant for your chapter from Leola Meyer if you have not already done so and continue to recruit new members. There is strength in numbers and every member is important!