Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

July/August, 1996

President's Message


DURING MY RECENT TRAVELS AND meetings outside the NADE community, I’ve come to realize that NADE is considered to be the same or the equivalent to a disability examiner union by some SSA officials and staff, some legislators and their staff, and surprisingly even some DDS administrators and DDS examiners. I would like to dispel that misperception. NADE is a professional organization whose membership includes not only DDS examiners but also DDS managers, support staff, consulting and staff physicians, and others, such as attorneys and private individuals interested in disability evaluation. In the Preamble to the NADE Constitution it states that NADE was established to develop the public trust in the integrity and judgement of disability decisions. While many of our members belong to and are active in -their local, state and federal unions, their NADE activities have a different focus. The basic role of a union is to represent it’s members in issues of salaries and working conditions. NADE’s stated purpose is to develop the art and science of disability evaluation, to enhance public awareness about disability evaluation and to further professional recognition for disability evaluation practioners. The NADE Code of Ethics requires members to be personally committed to continuous professional growth in order to better serve the disabled individual. NADE as an organization is concerned about the welfare of its members but we do not propose to represent or negotiate for our members on issues of wages or working conditions. As professionals we will continue to comment and lobby on all issues that pertain to the integrity of the disability program and the welfare of the disabled individuals it serves. An interesting note: I just finished reading the Commissioner’s Broadcast of 6/25/96. A recent SSA survey found that 79% of those responding rated SSA services as “good” or “very good” and this rating was very similar to the results of the past three years. SSA was very pleased with the results of the survey. Wasn’t one of the basis for implementation of Redesign two years ago the finding that SSA customers were not satisfied with the service? Very interesting.