FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UCP Contacts:
Lauren Cozzi, 202-973-7114,  
Alicia Kubert Smith, 202-973 7168,

AAPD Contacts:
Lara Schwartz, 202-521-4309, Frankie Mastrangelo, 202-521-4308, 

United Cerebral Palsy and American Association of People with Disabilities Introduce America’s Supercommittee

Engaged Citizens Work to Preserve Medicaid by Sharing Stories,Encouraging Participation

Washington, D.C. – (September 21, 2011) – United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) introduce America’s Supercommittee, a group of six engaged citizens who are lending their voices to the fight to preserve Medicaid. Over the next two months, the United States Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the “Supercommittee”), composed of six senators and six members of the U.S. House of Representatives, will deliberate and craft proposals concerning the federal budget. They are likely to recommend trillions of dollars of spending cuts, and could recommend major cuts to Medicaid. UCP, AAPD and the disability community, including our families, friends, and supporters, are engaged in a campaign to preserve Medicaid, which provides millions of Americans with disabilities the tools to remain healthy and participate in our communities.

America’s Supercommittee members will share their perspectives on the importance of Medicaid and personal stories, in an effortto educate the public, the media, and Congress about preserving Medicaid.   The public is encouraged to send questions and also share personalperspectives and stories at the America’s Supercommittee website, http://www.ucp.org/public-policy/america-s-super-committee. The site contains information about how to contact members of Congress, and information about the congressional Super committee’s meetings and deliberations.

The members of America’s Supercommittee are:

• Robert Coward, Washington, DC: An Air Force veteran and DC native, Robert Coward has advised federal and local officials on accessibility and health care. “Medicaid offers people with disabilities real freedom and choices. The quality health care Medicaid provides allows us to live in our communities and lead independent lives.”
   
• Richard Donovan, New York, New York: Rich Donovan is Managing Partner and principal owner of IPS, a strategic consultancy that works with business and government to create value in the disability marketplace. Donovan also acts as Chief Investment Officer of WingSail Capital, a new investment management firm that uses a disability lens to find outperformance in global markets. “The world of disability has changed since 1950, and legacy programs like Medicaid must adapt to those changes. Society has an opportunity to use this moment of focus on fiscal sustainability to reshape programs that aren’t delivering on promises to position people with disabilities to deliver the value inherent within them.
   
• ”David Feinman, Washington, DC: David Feinman is Senior Legislative Associate for The Jewish Federations of North America. He is a member of the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition Steering Committee. “Considering the challenges the “Super Committee” and the rest of the Congress face coming to a consensus on most issues, it is critical that they hear from people who want to have a constructive conversation.”
   
• Jessica Norwood, Stow, Ohio:  Jessica Norwood is working toward her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Kent State University. She also works as an office aide at two child development centers. Medicaid provides Jessica with a personal aide who assists her with driving, college work, and tasks at home. She participates in a program that connects parents of people with disabilities and adults who have disabilities. “I want you to understand that including people with disabilities in our communities benefits everyone.  Medicaid helps so many people to live fully in our communities and contribute,” said Norwood.
   
• German Parodi, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  “Without Medicaid, I wouldn’t be able to go to college, work, and be a contributing member of my community. This is about our basic civil rights—the right to be free and to live full lives.”
   
• Amelia Wallrich, Chicago, Illinois:  Amelia Wallrich attends Northwestern University Law School.Previously, she attended the University of Illinois and completed an internship with Senator Richard Durbin. Wallrich explains, “Our country’s financial stability doesn’t have to be at odds with genuine reform and making people’s lives better.”

“Americans with disabilities and their families are relying on Supercommittee legislators to preserve Medicaid’s vital lifeline which allows eight million people to participate in community life, remain healthy and live to their potential–American values of opportunity, fairness and dignity,” said Stephen Bennett, United Cerebral Palsy President & Chief Executive Officer. “The Supercommittee will compromise American values if it cuts Medicaid’s critical health and long-term care initiatives, upon which those now eligible rely, thus forcing people to leave their homes and live in institutions—at greater expense to taxpayers.”

“We have to let our elected leaders know that we are watching and they are accountable to us,” said AAPD President and CEO Mark Perriello. “The real Americans on America’s Supercommittee are sending a clear message:  our leaders must not erode the opportunities that Medicaid provides millions of Americans with disabilities. Members of Congress are going to hear from thousands more people just like them, and they need to listen,” he added.

About United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. Together with nearly 100 affiliates, UCP has a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people disabilities by supporting more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time. UCP works to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities. For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. Together, with parents and caregivers, UCP will continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams, for the next 60 years, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.ucp.org.
 
About The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
“The American Association of People with Disabilities is the nation's largest cross-disability organization. We promote equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. Our members, including people with disabilities and our family, friends, and supporters, represent a powerful force for change.” Visit www.AAPD.com for more information.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Request for Coverage & Attendance  

ABLE PROGRAM & EVENT CONTACT:
Michael Piel: 202-973-7110,

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lauren Cozzi: 202-973-7114 (direct), LCozzi@ucp.org
Alicia Kubert Smith: 202-973-7168 (direct),  

ABLE happy hour on Wednesday supports life without limits for people with disabilities  

Raffle Prizes Include an iPad, Nats Tickets & Restaurant Vouchers  

Washington, DC (September 13, 2011) – ABLE, the young professionals network of United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), a leading service provider and advocate for children and adults with a spectrum of disabilities, will host the ABLE Young Professionals Network Inaugural Happy Hour, Wednesday, September 14, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Madhatter DC, 1319 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.

• WHO:       ABLE, the young professionals network of UCP  

• WHAT:     The ABLE Young Professionals Network Inaugural Happy Hour 
                    will include socializing, drink specials and a raffle with prizes
                    including an iPad, Nats tickets, restaurant vouchers and more!  

• WHEN:     Wednesday, September 14, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.       

• WHERE:   Madhatter DC, 1319 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.

• COST:      $10 donation

ABLE is a group of young professionals committed to supporting UCP. Members advance UCP’s mission to create a life without limits for people with a spectrum disabilities, and they find opportunities to increase education and awareness of disability issues. There are no membership fees; and, members are asked to support UCP in the following ways:

• *volunteering at local affiliates and in the community;
• *attending social events (happy hours, lecture series, etc.); and
• *participating in fundraising opportunities.

ABLE offers young professionals in the Washington, DC area a chance to network with others who sharing the same passion, allowing them to become knowledgeable on the issues and gain valuable experience. Learn more at ucp.org/about/able.

About United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. UCP and its nearly 100 affiliates advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with a spectrum of disabilities by providing services and support to more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time. We work to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities. For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. Together, with parents and caregivers, we continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams for the next 60 years, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.ucp.org.  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

United Cerebral Palsy Contacts:
Lauren Cozzi, 202-973-7114, 
Alicia Kubert Smith, 202-973 7168,

American Association of People with Disabilities Contact:
David Hale: 202-521-4305,

Don’t Sacrifice People with Disabilities in the Budget Deal

The majority of Medicaid funds are used for the eight million Americans with disabilities who benefit from the program

Washington, D.C. – July 22, 2011 – As negotiations around the debt ceiling and budget continue, the American Association of People with Disabilities and United Cerebral Palsy urge lawmakers not to sacrifice people with disabilities in the budget deal.

“There are a lot of choices to be made in any final budget deal, but we want elected officials to explain how they would justify tax breaks for corporate jets if they deny a person with a disability a wheelchair,” said Helena Berger, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of AAPD. “Cuts to Medicaid would slash essential services that make it possible for people with disabilities and their families to be productive and contributing members of their community.  For a person with a disability who wants to work, who wants to get out there and contribute to her community, to be responsible for herself—we can’t say to that person ‘no, this country doesn’t value what you have to offer’.”

“This country makes a commitment to a life of opportunity for every child born today. If that child has a disability, Medicaid is their safety net. By gutting Medicaid, elected officials are betraying their promise not only to those children, but also to American families who rely on that support to be contributing members of society; it becomes an empty promise," said Stephen Bennett, United Cerebral Palsy’s President & Chief Executive Officer.

Individuals and their families who benefit from Medicaid – and who are examples of the millions affected – are available for interview:

• Anna Libenow of Providence, Rhode Island, who relies on personal assistance paid for by Medicaid that lets her work and volunteer in her community;
• The Hetrick family of Columbus, Ohio, who depends on Medicaid for assistance for their son Micah, who has Down syndrome, so his mother Sue can go to work and support their family; and
• Linda and Javi Guzman, who count on Medicaid to provide an aide and life skills training for Javi, while Linda works.

These families are real-life examples of the increased cost of not having Medicaid as a safety net. If Medicaid and other entitlements are slashed, Anna Libenow, Sue Hetrick and Linda Guzman aren’t the only Americans who might have to quit their jobs. Millions of other Americans might have to do the same because of lack of supports.

The majority of Medicaid funds are used for the eight million Americans with disabilities who benefit from the program.

Polling shows that the majority of Americans oppose cuts to Medicaid, e.g.: A Washington Post-ABC News Poll found that 69 percent opposed cuts to Medicaid to reduce deficit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_04172011.html.

Both organizations are encouraged by President Obama’s latest statement during today’s University of Maryland Town Hall, where he said there are a certain set of equities they are not willing to sacrifice, including core commitments to Medicaid:

27:51 – http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/PresidentialTownHallMeeting

 “…Now we’re not going to solve the entire debt deficit in the next ten days. So there’s still going to be more work to do after this. What we’re doing is to try to make sure that any deal that we strike protects our core commitments to Medicare and Medicaid recipients, to senior citizens, to veterans. We want to make sure that student loans remain affordable. We want to make sure that poor kids can still get a check up, that food stamps are still available for folks who are desperately in need. We want to make sure that unemployment insurance continues for those who are out there looking for work, so there are going to be a certain set of equities that we’re not willing to sacrifice…”

Learn more about the real life Faces of Medicaid:

• www.ucp.org/public-policy/faces-of-medicaid
• www.aapd.com/Medicaidfamilies

Hear their recorded stories:

• www.ucp.org/public-policy/faces-of-medicaid/campaign-to-protect-medicaid
• www.aapd.com/medicaidradioads

About United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) educates, advocates and provides support services to ensure a life without limits for people with a spectrum of disabilities. Together with nearly 100 affiliates, UCP has a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people disabilities by supporting more than 176,000 children and adults every day—one person at a time, one family at a time. UCP works to enact real change—to revolutionize care, raise standards of living and create opportunities—impacting the lives of millions living with disabilities. For more than 60 years, UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. Together, with parents and caregivers, UCP will continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams, for the next 60 years, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.ucp.org.

About The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership association, organizes the disability community to be a powerful force for change – politically, economically, and socially.  AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national force for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more, visit the AAPD website: www.AAPD.com.

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