U.S. Education Department Representative to Visit WesternU Campus
Judith E. Heumann, assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education, will
visit Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) on Tuesday, October
26, to discuss disabilities issues.
Throughout the morning she will meet individually and in small groups with
deans, administrators, faculty members, the University president and a
student representative. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. she will make a larger
group presentation at a campus luncheon. Heumann will address the training
needs of health professionals in regard to persons with disabilities, and
discuss ways to ensure that disabled individuals can be successful in
their health professions education and career.
Heumann’s visit is being sponsored by the Center for Disability Issues and
the Health Professions (CDIHP) at WesternU. The Center’s mission is to
enhance health professions education and improve access for people with
disabilities to health education and health care services.
“”Judith’s input is very valuable to us because she is familiar with all
the latest developments in research and public policy for persons with
disabilities,”” said Brenda Premo, director of the CDIHP. “”She can advise
us on ways to expand our programs and also share with us her experiences
on what health professionals need to know when working with people with
disabilities.””
Heumann, a resident of Washington, DC, was influential in developing
national legislation that became the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act and also helped draft the Americans with Disabilities Act.
She was the co-founder of the American Coalition of Citizens with
Disabilities and served as vice president of the World Institute on
Disability.
“”The Clinton administration is committed to supporting initiatives which
increase access to employment for persons with disabilities,”” Heumann
said. “”By developing and integrating curriculum on disabilities issues
into its programs, WesternU is taking another step in graduating
culturally competent health care professionals. I am pleased to see this
type of proactive commitment, which ensures that WesternU students reflect
the diversity of the communities they will serve.””