Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

March/April, 1999

National Disability Professionals Week June 13-19, 1999
by Debi Chowdhury, NDPW Chair

IT IS AN HONOR TO be reappointed to be the National Disability Professionals Week Chairperson by President Jeff Price. The week of June 13-19, 1999 has been designated as the celebratory week.

Last year National Disability Professionals Week was a tremendous success due to the efforts of disability professionals across the states. Some chapters celebrated with a one day event and others stretched it into week-long event. We Disability Professionals celebrated in style with food, great company and, most of all, with pride. We munched our way through bagels, donuts, breakfast to potluck, formal lunches, and parties. We watched the NADE video. We participated in games and shows created by our fellow workers, guessed baby pictures, and went to ice cream socials. We went to public events as a group and created our own mini olympics.

Some chapters celebrated with a small get-together, and some went further to host formal training sessions to conferences. Some chapters obtained a formal proclamation of recognition from their Governor’s office or public officers. Formal proclamations are truly worthwhile to pursue since they makes public officials aware of the organization and help to keep an open line of communications between the state public officials and NADE representatives of the local chapter.

All chapters were written and encouraged to celebrate National Disability Professionals Week last June. Many chapters submitted an entry for the National Disability Professionals Week contest, each describing how their festivity was unique or elaborate. Winners were announced at the National Conference in South Dakota. There was a tie for first place between the Tennessee Chapter and ESADE. (see article in Advocate July/August 98 issue). Second place was won by ARKADE, who held daily events that included coffee and donuts on Monday, hot dogs and lemonade on Tuesday, potluck luncheon on Wednesday, banana splits on Thursday and announcement of baby picture contest winners on Friday. Door prizes were given out daily. By Friday everyone in the agency had received a door prize. OKADE celebrated by a silent auction, several fundraisers and a pie in the face event. Baton Rouge (BRADE) hostcd two book sales. TADE celebrated with an awards ceremony, door prizes and a book sale. AADE and GADE held a NDPW reception. KADE and MADE had breakfast for the entire agency. WYNADE had their annual Jeopardy game. JADE had a lunch and learn series. PRADE sponsored their own mini conference. CADE had fun activities the entire week. MCADE had daily luncheon sessions, morning coffee, raffled goodies and a membership for an entire year.

The newly organized Tennessee chapter had a tremendous display at the South Dakota conference. They had planned an event for every day of the week and tied for first place for NDPW. The newly reactivated ESADE chapter celebrated by hosting their first ever Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Bi-Regional Conference. Also for the first time a NADE conference offered CME credits. They had over 140 people attend and were successful in getting a corporate member.

It was a tremendous year for NADE as a whole and all chapters did something to Celebrate National Disability Professionals Week. NADE stands with pride proclaiming June 13-19 as National Disability Professionals Week. This is the only time of the year that Disability Professionals are recognized. Observe NDPW on June 13-19, 1999. If you have a conflict, celebrate the week before or after, but celebrate, and in the process get a new member, and make a new friend. Activities can be any events from “lunch-and-learn” sessions, informal gatherings, or special ceremonies to recognize achievements and professional service of chapter members. Don’t forget to show the NADE video! It’s a great way to inform staff of what NADE stands for and accomplishes, as well as encouraging new members. Please call if you need ideas or help with contacting your local governmental agencies.

REMEMBER THE TOP TEN WAYS TO PROMOTE “NATIONAL DISABILITY PROFESSIONALS WEEK:”

1) Food, and they will come

2) Raffles/door prizes

3) Donuts (food)

4) Member certification/awards

5) Get togethers/contests

6) Bagels (food)

7) Movie night/sport event/boat cruise

8) Picnics (food)

9) Invite a local city/state official to speak to chapter members

10) Baby picture contests

We are a diverse and proud breed of Disability Professionals that expect more of ourselves. What better way to keep the momentum going by recognizing each others’ efforts. So get all your ideas together and start planning now. The best celebratory efforts will be recognized at the National Conference in Denver in October, 1999. There is a $50 first prize and a $25 second prize. Please submit a written description of your chapter’s NDPW celebration by August 1, 1999 including pictures if available. Contact people for the regions are:

NORTHEAST Debi Chowdhury, Chair (518) 473-9038

GREAT LAKES Al Kamnick (217) 782-3291

GREAT PLAINS Donna Jo Hausman (303) 752-5746

MID ATLANTIC Wilma Petti (410) 308-4372

PACIFIC Debbie St. John (503) 945-6279

SOUTHEAST Anne Mahoney (502) 592-4404 ext. 265

SOUTHWEST Sandy Moore (501) 682-6125

If your chapter has not selected someone to organize NDPW, please do so as soon as possible. Take pride in what we do. Our diversity is what keeps us going. In our ongoing effort to remain stable in an ever changing work environment, we need a creative outlet. And what better way than to celebrate?

Show Your Professional Pride.

National Disability Professionals Week

June 13-19, 1999.