NOW Foundation Women with Disabilities & Allies Forum: Agenda

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Women with Disabilities and Allies Forum
Linking Arms for Equality and Justice for All
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Agenda

Friday evening, October 17 | Saturday, October 18 | Sunday, October 19

Friday evening, October 17

6 - 8 p.m. Registration — Crystal Ballroom Foyer

7 - 9 p.m. Evening reception and welcome — Crystal Ballroom
Sponsored by Oracle Corp.

Saturday, October 18

8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Registration — Crystal Ballroom Foyer

7:30 - 8:15 a.m. Yoga for Feminists — Cabinet Suite
It's Not about Buns of Steel; It's about Heart of Gold and Will of Iron

8:30 - 10 a.m. Plenary One — Crystal Ballroom
Host - Stephanie Ortoleva, Co-Chair, NOW Disability Rights Committee, Washington, D.C.

Diane Coleman singing disability rights folksongs, accompanied by Frank Della-Penna on guitar

Opening Ceremony - TBD

Opening Remarks

Kim Gandy, President, NOW Foundation
Andy Imparato, CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities

Keynote

Marca Bristo, President & CEO, Access Living, Chicago
Political Action and the Future of Civil Rights

James Dickson, VP Governmental Affairs, AAPD
Voting Issues

Olga Vives, Education Vice President, NOW Foundation
Judicial Nominations

10:10 - 10:15 a.m. Break

10:15 - 11:45 a.m. Workshop Session One

"Voting for our Lives — Cabinet Suite
Linda Berg, Political Director, NOW
James Dickson, VP Governmental Affairs, AAPD
Lorre Leon Mendelson, CEO, en-LIGHTNING Consulting, Nashville, Tenn.

"Building Coalitions for Women with Disabilities— Crystal Ballroom
Barbara Anello, DAWN, Ontario
Rosaline Crawford, National Association of the Deaf Law & Advocacy Center, Silver Spring, Md.
Melissa Felder, National Association of the Deaf Law & Advocacy Center, Silver Spring, Md.

"Equality in the Workplace: Exploring Issues Facing All Women — Judiciary Suite
Renee Champagne, Independent Health Care Consultant, Chicopee, Mass.
Peggy Mastroianni, Associate Legal Counsel, EEOC, Washington, D.C.

"The Challenges of and Public Policy about Women with Disabilities in Mid-Life and Later Life — Old Georgetown
Teddie-Joy Remhild, Community Liaison Coordinator, Personal Assistance Services Council, Los Angeles County Public Authority for In-Home Supportive Services, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Mary Jo Gibson, Senior Policy Advisor, AARP Public Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.
Linda Misek-Falkoff, Speaker of the National Disability Party, Civil Society/Non-Governmental Representative to the United Nations Disability Convention, and member AARP and AAPD, Pleasantville, N.Y.

12 - 2 p.m. Lunch and Plenary Two — Crystal Ballroom
Entertainment - Imagination Stage, MD
Host: Helena Berger

"Women, Sports, Title IX and the ADA," Ann Cody, Vice President, B&D Sagamore

Emerging Leaders Panel
Panel facilitator and Host: Harilyn Rousso, Executive Director, Disabilities Unlimited Consulting Services

Young Feminists Panel Members:
Kelly Anthony, Director of the Missouri Disability Vote Project
Susanne Beechey, doctoral candidate, George Washington University
Claudia Gordon, Esq., Vice President, National Black Deaf Advocates
Marissa Johnson, Chair, National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN); Education Policy Coordinator, Access Living
Latifa Lyles, NOW Foundation Board Member, member of Washington, D.C. NOW
Elizabeth Macias, Vice Chair, Young Democrats of America; Chair, Women's Caucus, Texas Young Democrats
Sarah Triano, Youth/Education Team Leader at Access Living in Chicago and Co-Founder of the National Disabled Students Union
Jaya Vasandani, Policy Associate, the Center for Women Policy Studies, Washington, D.C.
Joy Levin Welan, Student, George Washington University

2 - 2:15 p.m. Break

2:15 - 3:30 p.m. Workshop Session Two

"Women with (Dis)Abilities: Facts and Fictions of Identity and Ally Building" — Judiciary Suite
Annie Torres, Roohi Abdulia, and Erin Stevens, with Kathy McMahon-Klosterman and Jean Lynch as moderators, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio

"Violence Against Women in the Mental Health System" — Cabinet Suite
Laurie Ahern, Associate Director, Mental Disability Rights International
Leah I. Harris, Board Member, National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy
Kevin Ann Huckshorn, RN, MSN, CAP, Director of Office of Technical Assistance, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
Tina Minkowitz, JD, Board Member, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry

"Dykes, Disabilities and Discrimination" — Old Georgetown
Tobi Hale, President, Colorado NOW and former NOW Foundation Board Member
Greta Edwards, freelance writer and NOW Foundation Board Member
Laura Hershey (tentative), writer and activist
Susan M. Bader, NOW Foundation Board Member and President of Ohio Women, Inc.
Josie Byzek, Associate Editor, New Mobility Magazine

"Where the Sidewalk Ends: Women, Long Term Disabilities, the Workplace and Work-Based Benefits in North America" — Crystal Ballroom
Tequila Brooks, Labor Law Advisor, Commission for Labor Cooperation Secretariat, Washington, D.C.
Barbara Grimster, Lupus Canada, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Margarita Andrade Zavala (invited), Mexican Foundation for the Struggle Against AIDS, Mexico City, Mexico
Patricia Smith, attorney, Alexandria, Va.

3:30 - 3:45 p.m. Break

3:45 - 5 p.m. Workshop Session Three

"Social Security and Disabilities: Policy Issues for Women with Disabilities and for Women Who Care for Family Members with Disabilities" — Crystal Ballroom
Diana Zuckerman, President, National Center for Policy Research for Women and Families, Washington, D.C.

"Care Giving Issues" — Cabinet Suite
Laura Hershey (tentative), writer and activist
Lora Brugnaro, Institute for Community Inclusion/U.Mass-Boston

"End-of-Life Choices, Physician Assisted Suicide and "Mercy" Killing: Feminism and Disability Rights — Point and Counterpoint" — Old Georgetown
Nancy Buermeyer, End-of-Life Choices, Washington, D.C.
Diane Coleman, President, Not Dead Yet, Forest Park, Ill.
Marilyn Golden, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
Paul Spiers, End-of-Life Choices, Boston, Mass.
Moderated by Greta Edwards, NOW Foundation board member, Northeast region.

"Ending the Silence: Ensuring Access to Survivors of Caregiver Violence" — Judiciary Suite
Michelle Schwartz and Rand Metcalfe, Disability Services ASAP (A Safety Awareness Program) of SafePlace, Austin, Texas

5 - 5:15 p.m. Break

5:15 - 6:30 p.m. Networking Groups

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. Dinner on your own

7:45 - 9:15 p.m. Evening Session I
"Stop the Violence, Break the Silence: Collaborating to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities" — Judiciary Suite
Michele Schwartz, Disability Services ASAP (A Safety Awareness Program) of SafePlace, Austin, Texas
Linda Miller, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Ginger Lane, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

"Global Sisterhood is Powerful! International Opportunities for ALL Women And Girls" — Cabinet Suite
Lynne Rutledge, Mobility International USA, Eugene, Ore.

"Barriers to Ending Abuse: Tackling Issues of Abuse by Caregivers" — Old Georgetown
Leslie Myers, Independence First, Milwaukee, Wis.

"Women and Philanthropy: Fundraising for Women's and Disability Issues" — Diplomat & Ambassador Rooms
Jeanne Argoff, Executive Director, Disability Funders Network (DFN)
Kim Otis, Executive Director, Women & Philanthropy

9:30 - 11 p.m. Evening Session II

"Singing the Body Electric!!": Unlocking the Power of Comedy Improvisation
Jamie Ray, Too Many Lawyers Comedy Improv Troupe, Philadelphia, Pa.

Mothertongue: Including All Feminists in the Arts
Kelly Mack & Rachel Brill, mothertongue, Washington, D.C.

Befriending Our Bodies, Soothing Our Souls: Stress-Reduction and Self-Care for Empowering Ourselves and Changing the World
Wendy Hilsen-Bernard, Still River Resources, Brookfield, Conn.

Sunday, October 19

8 a.m. - 12 noon Registration — Crystal Ballroom Foyer

8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Plenary Three — Crystal Ballroom
Economic Impact
Host: Joanna Busch

Speakers:
Kathy Martinez, World Institute on Disability
"Let's Get Off Our Assets"

Michele Tingling-Clemmons, National Welfare Rights Union
Economic Justice for Low-Income Women

Karen Thompson, President of the Home Care Chapter (Local 99) of SEIU Local 503, Oregon
Labor, Disability, and the Economics of Health Care Work

10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Break

10:45 a.m. - 12 noon Workshop Session Four

"Women in Business: Economic Independence through Self-Employment" — Judiciary Suite
Patti Lind, The Abilities Fund, Centerville, Iowa
Elizabeth Lind, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Washington, D.C.

"Women and Hidden Disabilities in the Workplace" — Cabinet Suite
Robin R. Runge, Commission on Domestic Violence, American Bar Association, Washington, D.C.
Claudia Center, Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, San Francisco
Elizabeth Kristen, Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, San Francisco
Patricia A. Shiu, Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center, San Francisco

"Health Care Access" — Crystal Ballroom
Anne Marie Pecht, M.P.P., J.D., U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section, Washington, D.C.
Amanda Maisels, J.D., U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section, Washington, D.C.
Pamela D. Dodge, MSN, RN, McGee Women's Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Kate McCarthy-Barnett, Ed.D., Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition, ACCESS for Women with Disabilities Program, Warwick, R.I.
Cristine T. Fortunato, Connecticut, Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
Margaret McDonald, President of the Connecticut Women and Disability Network, Inc., Hartford, Conn.
Moderated by Irene Bowen, J.D., U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section, Washington, D.C.

"Reproductive Freedom and the Right to Maternity and Custody for Women with Disabilities" — Old Georgetown
Carrie Ann Lucas, Colorado Cross Diability Coalition
Trish Day, Parents with Disabilities Online
Nancy Groth Blasdel, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

12:15 - 1:45 p.m. Lunch and Plenary Four

Entertainment: Imagination Stage

Health Care
Host: Joanna Busch
Speakers:
Aging and Disability, Laura Young, Ph.D., Executive Director of Older Women's League
Breast Implants, Jan Erickson, Director of Public Policy, NOW Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Women's Health Issues, Claudia Center, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center, San Francisco

1:45 - 2 p.m. Break

2 - 4:45 p.m. Plenary Five
Violence Against Women

Host: Joanne Tosti-Vasey, Co-Chair, NOW Disability Rights Committee, Bellefonte, Pa.
"Women in War," Purna Shova Chitrakar, Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal
"Domestic Violence: Incidence, Prevalence, and Proposed Actions," Pat Reuss, NOW Foundation, Washington D.C.
"Accessibility: Through the Door but Stuck in the Hallway," Beverly Frantz, End the Silence Project Coordinator, Institute on Disabilities, Temple University, Philadelphia

4 – 4:45 p.m.
Concluding Remarks

Andy Imparato, CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities
Kim Gandy, President, NOW Foundation

Closing Ceremony
Chants Encounters™ by Wendy Hilsen-Bernard, Brookfield, Conn.

Depart and/or Dinner on your own

Invited Keynote Speakers

Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun - U.S. Presidential Candidate
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.)

In consideration of those with allergies and respiratory problems, the Women with Disabilities & Allies Forum is a scent free" event. Participants are asked to use unscented products in lieu of scented toiletries and detergents, and to refrain from wearing perfumes and colognes.