WesternU Advisor Named to Chair Federal Agency Charged with Improving Accessibility for the Disabled
President Clinton has announced his intent to reappoint June I. Kailes as
chair of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.
In addition to chairing the Access Board, Ms. Kailes, of Playa del Rey,
California, operates a full-time disability policy consulting business
focusing on health, wellness and aging with a disability. She also
specializes in technology, telecommunications, and disaster preparedness
and relief issues for people with disabilities, as well as planning
barrier-free events. Ms. Kailes works with many local, state, national,
and international organizations including Western University of Health
Sciences (WesternU) Center for Disability Issues and the Health
Professions (CDIHP) in Pomona. Ms. Kailes serves on the Center’s Policy
Advisory Committee.
The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board is an
independent federal agency with a governing board of 25 members. The
Access Board establishes minimum guidelines for accessibility under the
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, the Americans with Disabilities Act,
and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Board also provides technical
assistance on architectural, transportation, and communications access.
“”WesternU is taking a national leadership role in issues regarding access
to health care for people with disabilities, as well as recruiting more
people with disabilities into the health professions,”” said Kailes. “”These
are critical areas that will affect the quality of life for hundreds of
thousands of people in the coming years. I’m proud to have a voice in
shaping their efforts.””
CDIHP was established in 1998 to enhance health professions education and
improve access for people with disabilities to health, health education
and health care services. The initial goals of the Center are to develop
disability awareness curriculum at pre- and post-graduate levels; to
increase the number of qualified health professionals with disabilities;
and to train people with disabilities to become active participants in
their health care. CDIHP also aims to develop and distribute research on
community-based health care education, prevention and services for persons
with disabilities.
“”I am privileged to have years of working experience with June,”” said
CDIHP Founding Director Brenda Premo, who is the former director of the
California Department of Rehabilitation. “”June is an excellent advocate to
have speaking on our behalf in Washington, and I am sure that she will
continue to effectively advance many of our program’s goals among the
nation’s decision makers.””