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As the years went on, the membership of NADE became mostly examiner and
other line staff and the direction of the organization became mostly
examiner oriented. In fact, the majority of the DDS directors encouraged
this change. However, the changing interests of the NADE membership and
growing divergent membership base found NADE more and more at odds with
its parent organization. The membership eventually concluded that NRA
could no longer effectively serve the organization and in Salt Lake City
in 1978 the Delegate Assembly adopted a resolution amending the NADE
Constitution and By-Laws to delete all references to NRA, thereby
rendering the organization in non-compliance with the NRA Constitution and
By-Laws and effectively establishing NADE as an independent organization.
Despite predictions of NADE’s demise, the organization survived bitter
opposition, maintained a sizeable membership base, and organized its first
separate annual conference in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1979, devoting a
full program of medical and other sessions, as well as conducting its
organizational business. Not only did NADE survive, but it grew beyond all
expectations not only in numbers but more importantly in status and
influence.
Soon NADE became recognized as the effective voice of professionals in the
field of disability adjudication, encompassing examiners, administrators,
physicians, support staff and others involved in the disability program.
Legislative activity took on increasing importance to the point where it
is today, sought by legislative committee to present testimony on a wide
variety of program issues. SSA officials and legislative representatives
meet regularly with the NADE Board and there is ongoing dialogue between
these officials and representatives and NADE leaders.
The road to growth and increasing stature was not easy. NADE had to go
through organizational problems which created some deep divisions, but
overcame them and developed a sound financial structure and administrative
accountability. NADE was able to maintain stability and come together to
pursue its interests. The annual conference regularly featured interchange
between NADE leadership and the DDS Directors working through the National
Council of Disability Determination Directors (NCDDD). Joint legislative
agenda were developed. Communication, both internal and external, was
recognized as a priority. The NADE Advocate, established long before
NADE’s withdrawal from NRA, was and still is the primary tool for passing
on information to all its members. But NADE kept pace with technology,
establishing a web site and making increase use of faxes and E-mail and
other means of quick communication. Information to and from the membership
was and is a top priority of NADE leaders.
NADE’s history is that of growth and continuity, of fighting through
organizational problems to establish stability and credibility, of
assuring the interest of the members were not pushed aside but ably
represented by its leaders, of communicating both to the membership and to
those who affect our lives and the lives of those we serve, and of
awareness of the need to keep up with new and better ways of serving our
constituency. It is an organization proud of its past and looking always
to its future. Our past is our strength and the ground work for our
tomorrow.
by Carroll Moore, Past President, Tennessee
The emblem and masthead
of the Advocate were designed and illustrated by Lucian J. Zadrozny, our
first editor. In the NADE Advocate Volume I, Number 1, February, 1966
Editor Zadrozny wrote: “The medical and related aspects of a person’s physical and/pr mental condition, including age, are signified by the emblem’s caduceus, which is given central importance. Other key area such as occupations, vocational assessment, and education are respectively designated by the gear and burning lamp of knowledge. The scales serve as the balancing medium of judgment and justice imparted in considering all the factors that enter into sound objective determinations of disability and evaluation of potential,”
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