Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

July/August, 1998

SWADE/Great Plains Bi-Regional Conference
by Alison Beddingfield, TADE

THE SWADE/GREAT PLAINS REGIONAL CONFERENCE was held in New Orleans, Louisiana in April, 1998 and was truly unforgettable. The town itself is a fabulous combination of old European charm and Third World ambiance, a shabby, yet seductive cradle of American civilization where mansions sit a block away from shacks and where you can sometimes see a pirogue being paddled down a city street after a flood. To paraphrase an old New Orleans saying, “If New Orleans don’t have it, it ain’t.” The food is renown and fabulous and can be costly or cheap, but always good!! The music ranges from traditional Dixieland to Ska, with everything in between. New Orleans boasts one of the oldest cultures in America, with museums and battlefields, the French Quarter with cafe au lait (eat your heart out Starbucks) and beignets. They even have The Rock’n’Bowl, a bowling alley featuring two live bands a night!! The surrounding countryside boasts swamps, bayous, innumerable festivals and gracious plantation homes. It is truly a phenomenal experience to “be” in New Orleans. The conference was hosted by the New Orleans Chapter, a small but determined bunch of folks who managed to provide those who attended with interesting and informative training sessions in the midst of chaos. I often marvel at conferences where everything is perfect. Perfect hotel, perfect entertainment, no bloopers during the sessions, everything going off just as planned. I know that when that happens, a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes. But the conference in New Orleans I think was a greater triumph than the “perfect” ones, because almost everything that could go wrong did and in the end it was still great!

The first ripple in calm waters was a few days before the conference, when Susan Daniel’s, Ph.D., now Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Policy (congratulations!!), had to cancel her appearance due to pressing business elsewhere. For awhile we weren’t sure if anyone form SSA would be able to make it. We were expecting Ken Nibali, but he also could not attend. However, in the end we were very fortunate to have four representative from SSA speak before us regarding various issues! . The next disaster was the problems with the hotel rooms!! New Orleans is a highly sought after conference and convention site and is generally booked up everywhere. The Radisson, in Kenner, had our reservations blocked out, BUT, they also had the Small-fry basketball tournament!! This was a contingency of pee wees (about 8 to 12 years old or so) who were in town to compete in a tournament featuring children from all over the country. The group at the Radisson apparently lacked confidence, because they only booked through Monday night and then a miracle happened—They Advanced! Well, naturally the two or three hundred kids (perhaps a slight exaggeration) could not give up their rooms to those of arriving Tuesday night for the conference. Not to worry, negotiations were carried out and some of the early arrivals were placed in another property a couple of miles down the road, with free shuttle service back and forth. But there were only two shuttles for the entire hotel, so getting back and forth was an adventure of sorts. The lucky folks who got rooms at the Radisson, also got a jackhammer digging up the front parking lot until nine P.M. at night. They also were treated to hundreds of small fry running up and down the corridors, bouncing basketballs off of the doors to the rooms, using the two elevators for races and constantly trying to invade the hospitality suite-all night long!! We were assured that the kids were departing the next morning and all would be accommodated by Wednesday noon, because of the definite departure of the tournament Wednesday morning. Alas, another miscalculation. Those of us arriving on Wednesday found no hotel rooms and beaucoup children!! But eventually we all were settled into rooms for another night of midnight basketball reveling.

After this welcome, the glitches in the equipment (slide projector missing, bulbs burning out, no screen for the projector, etc.) though irritating, were mere bagatelle. And the fact that the hotel insisted I was there only one night and charged me for two (only at my insistence), informed all those who called for me that I was not registered there at all and then a week after the event charged me for three nights, well hey—this was New Orleans! The most important part of this whole event was that the camaraderie that various misfortunes caused was tremendous and the content of the conference was excellent and the New Orleanians are really to be congratulated on rising above adversity to give us an informative and valuable conference and incredible memories as well!

We were treated to a presentation by Sue Roeker on the current status of various Redesign projects and projected dates for implementation, including the Single Decision Maker, AO, PDI, Full Process Model and recon elimination. She covered the historical reasons for the inception of Redesign and the many changes it has undergone. Jim Everett, stepping into the shoes of Mr. Horace Dickerson, Jr., Dallas Regional Commissioner, who was unable to attend, gave an excellent presentation regarding SSA priorities, in particular planning to assure future program solvency in the face of the current statistics which show the programs revenues will be depleted by 2029. Bill Anderson, Director of Office of Disability, Division of Medical and Vocational Policy, spoke at length, regarding needed changes for assuring that the program integrity was maintained through real world solutions and strengthened the idea that DDS input into policy and program changes was valued and necessary for meaningful change.

Dr. Crisann Schiro-Geist spoke regarding DATS, a revolutionary, sweeping training program, which if funded and implemented would go a long way towards conforming disability decisions at all levels, a la Process Unification, as well as providing program wide standards for all program professionals. This proposed program is one of the most exciting ideas yet to come out of Redesign.

In addition to the extremely interesting information imparted by the representatives of SSA, we were also treated to an excellent presentation by Mr. Doug Willman, Nebraska DDS Administrator and President of NCDDD. He was up to his usual standard, providing a slightly different viewpoint on many of the previously mentioned topics in his forthright, informative and entertaining manner. Mr. Willman has the advantage of seeing the challenges of the Program from the DDS perspective, as well as being exceptional astute and well informed regarding the many changes being proposed at SSA. This combined with his engaging wit and style makes him a highlight of any conference. Hopefully, he will continue to speak at NADE conferences long after his term as NCDDD President ends.

Medical training was not neglected at the conference either. Dr. John Neitsche, a expert in Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, Allergies and Immunology, presented instruction on disease processes with musculoskeletal consequences. He discussed at length the signs, symptoms and findings, as well as presenting slides which illustrated the full range of abnormalities and demonstrated objective findings and loss of function.

Robert MacFarland, Ph.D., presented information regarding violence in the workplace. Giving an overview of the types of violence which can be expected and effective long-term and immediate useful solutions to this growing problem This was particularly interesting as we routinely engage people who can be frustrated, angry and potentially violent. Both of these gentlemen are CE providers in the New Orleans area and it was a pleasure to note that their expertise extends not only to their specialties, but also to Program requirements and policies. Their presentations were not only instructive with regards to medicine, but also as to how to evaluate the objective evidence to reach a solid disability decision with Program regulation and policy.

We were also lucky to have a presentation by Paul Tassin, D.C., a chiropractor, who after a shy beginning had the entire audience groaning and laughing and rotating our necks and dropping our shoulders. His presentation was not only fun, but full of greatly needed tips and resources for stress reduction!

This conference had everything that could be desired and a few things more besides. We had the opportunity to learn and inform. The chance to interact, as well as exercise patience and negotiation skills. We were provided with a venue that had history and culture as well as bacchanalian delights. This was most definitely “Nawlins”!

Kudos to Lyndell Layerele, President of the New Orleans chapter, and her minions, y’all did GOOD!!