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.””