Well Traveled Portlander Encourages Conference Attendees to Broaden Their Horizons

Thank you [the Blanche Fischer Foundation] for providing me with the opportunity to attend the recent AAPD-NOW sponsored forum [October 2003, Bethesda, Md.]. It was an honor and a pleasure to be part of the Oregon delegation. When John Dziennik (executive director of BFF) and Andy Imparato (president and CEO of AAPD initially mentioned this groundbreaking forum, I was excited about participating. It brought together two activist sides of my life and provided an opportunity for me to explore a range of issues, share ideas and consider ways to bring new energy back to Oregon.

Having the support of the Blanche Fischer Foundation enabled me to attend and to offer a workshop on international exchange opportunities for women and girls. In partnership with Eugene-based Mobility International USA, a workshop I proposed was selected through a competitive process and offered Saturday evening. The session was titled, “Global Sisterhood is Powerful! International Opportunities for All Women and Girls.” Its focus was to explore the employment, volunteering and study opportunities open to women and girls through international exchange and disability rights program participation. Participants learned about the changes women with disabilities are making as leaders globally in international development and exchange. The intended outcome was to identify the options and resources available as participants explore their potential. I showed and distributed copies a Mobility International USA (MIUSA) video and other resource materials, all in accessible formats.

In follow-up from the forum, I plan to:

• Share information with MIUSA staff on the potential for contacting members of the Youth Panel to serve as outreach advocates for future MIUSA activities. Specifically, I will recommend contacts with Kelly Anthony from Missouri and Marissa Johnson and Sarah Triano from Access Living in Chicago, Ill.
• Connect Jim Dickson with contacts in the Secretary of State’s office responsible for outreach and education on Oregon’s implementation of the Help America Vote Act. Jim has offered to provide technical assistance to our efforts.
• Maintain contact with Patti Lind from The Abilities Fund. She and her staff will be coming to Oregon in January 2004 to work with the Commission for the Blind and local self-employment service providers. This will create an excellent opportunity for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services to join our partners “at the table” and benefit from Ms. Lind’s training and technical assistance services.
• Contact Peggy Mastroianni with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She has offered to partner with Oregon state government through the Governor’s office to help us showcase best practices and provide, as needed, technical assistance on employment of persons with disabilities.
• Connect with Jeanne Argoff from Disability Funders Network to learn more about potential strategies and funding support being developed for Business Leadership Networks and Youth Leadership Forum programs.
• Contact Barbara Dirk who serves as co-chair of the newly developed Employees with Disabilities Network with Kaiser Permanente in Portland.

Thanks again for making my participation possible. I valued the opportunity to meet new people and explore new ideas.