ADA30: Trip Down Memory Lane Part II Congressional Insiders View

When: July 6th 11:00am - 12:30pm EST Where: Via Zoom Presented by: Bobby Silverstein and Thomas Kelley REGISTER HERE Please contact Elizabeth Kumar at [email protected] three days in advance for accommodation requests. Description: Bobby Silverstein, the former staff director and chief counsel for the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy and chief aide to Senator Tom Harkin the primary sponsor of the ADA and Thomas Kelley who served as a disability advisor on the staff of the Education and Labor Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives will share personal stories about the drafting, debate,and final passage of the ADA on the Senate side.

Presenters

Bobby Silverstein Bobby Silverstein is a nationally recognized attorney with more than 45 years of public policy and advocacy experience. For more than a decade, he served as staff director and chief counsel for the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy, chaired by Senator Tom Harkin. Bobby was a behind-the-scenes architect of more than 20 disability-related bills enacted into law, including the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended. Currently, Bobby is a principal in the law firm of Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC, where his areas of practice include federal regulation and legislation in disability and civil rights. Bobby earned a B.S. in economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in 1971. And a J.D. in 1974 from Georgetown University Law Center.  He has received more than 15 national awards, including the Distinguished Services Award of the President of the United States for his work on the ADA. Bobby has also been inducted into the Public Interest Hall of Fame.

Thomas Kelley Thomas Kelley served in different positions of the U.S. Government for more than 30 years. In 1984 he accepted a position on the Education and Labor Committee in the U.S. Department of Education. While there he worked on Elementary and Secondary Education, including three reauthorizations of the Act as well as negotiating and drafting legislation for the landmark Americans With Disabilities Act.  Mr. Kelley moved to the U.S. Department of Education in 1995 to serve as Director of Legislation in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs. He was responsible for several staff, overseeing all aspects of legislation and regulations for education programs from pre-k to post-secondary education. He advised the Secretary of Education on all education related matters and coordinated strategy with the White House.  During the change in Administrations, Mr. Kelley moved to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, advising on disability initiatives and serving as Director of the Independent Living Program. Mr. Kelley moved back to his position as Director of Legislation during the Obama administration. He retired in 2014. Since that time, he has worked as a volunteer and mentor in local Arlington schools and the government of Arlington.

Endependence Center of Northern Va | [www.ecnv.org]

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