Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

January/February, 1999

NADE Correspondence

December 18, 1998

Jeffrey Kassel
440 West 34th Street, Apt. 3A
New York, New York 10001

Dear Mr. Kassel:

Donna Hilton, NADE’s Publications Director, has shared with me your letter regarding NADE’s congressional testimony before the
Senate Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy. This testimony was printed in the September/October issue of the NADE
Advocate. You expressed disagreement with this testimony , asserting that NADE was, “...putting on blinders to the reality of child
poverty in this country...” Although this testimony was given by my predecessor, Debi Gardiner, I assisted in the writing of the
testimony and I would like to assure you that, while you may choose to disagree with the position taken by NADE with regard to the
new DC listings, I can assure you that neither Ms. Gardiner or myself, or anyone else in NADE could possibly be blind to the reality of
child poverty in this country. We are all witness to this sad reality on a daily basis.

NADE did choose to endorse the provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 that established a
stricter definition of disability for children than had been defined in the Zebley court decision. By nearly all accounts, the new
definition offers a more accurate interpretation of what constitutes a disabling condition in children. While we can all sympathize with
the plight of impoverished children, it is neither fair to the child’s future or to the integrity of the disability program to label a child as
“disabled” when the child’s impairment is not disabling within the meaning of the law. As we pointed out in our testimony, “Children
are our future. They should not be political pawns.“

Your letter raises other issues that are well beyond the scope of NADE and I would encourage you to contact your representatives in
Congress to address these issues. Should you have any more questions regarding NADE, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey H. Price
NADE President
National Association of Disability Examiners