White House Adds New Disability Adviser

[Jefferson23]

By Michelle Diament

July 15, 2014

A fresh face is on board at the White House tasked with focusing on disability issues.

Starting this week, Taryn Mackenzie Williams will serve as a liaison between the disability community and the president as an associate director in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement.

She fills a role that has been vacant since Claudia Gordon left in the spring to return to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs after less than a year in the post.

In much the same fashion, Williams’ appointment is expected to be short-term. Williams will essentially be “on loan” from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy where she works as a senior policy adviser, according to Lawrence Carter-Long at the National Council on Disability, a federal agency that advises the president on disability policy.

in full: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/07/15/white-house-disability-adviser/19515/

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. I recommend that they hire someone who understands what "Cerebral Palsy" and "Down Syndrome" mean.

Just a suggestion.

This one seems to be a temp.

I recommend a "perm".

"Disability Advisor". They should understand the implications of "disabilities".

No?

Not asking for much....I *hope*.

[Jefferson23]

2. Ya know, I put this up and I don't know much yet about this person. I am hopeful all our

more than deserving population of special needs/disabled will be better served now.

Fingers crossed here.

I will post updates if/when I find out more.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Some good comments on that site.

I like this guy's especially:


>>Thomas Delia says:
July 16, 2014 at 9:01 am
Will Taryn M. Williams start pushing an educational agenda in which children with disabilities are given more classes in school that focus on community-based instruction so they are prepared for jobs? Giving a special needs student another social studies class, Algebra, Geometry, civics and Spanish will not get them a job. They need classes that place them in the community.>>>

Won't make the Common Core CORP$ happy, though.

[Jefferson23]

4. Yes, I agree and we don't want Common Core Corp to be happy..so that was a good one for sure. n/t