Well I am back from an abbreviated vacation because the “powers that be” decided to pass a stopgap state budget right in the middle of my vacation! Don’t get me wrong, I am pleased that the Administration and members of the General Assembly were finally able to get down to work on the state budget but their work is far from done. They passed a political budget to get them through the elections and we are concerned about how the stopgap budget is going to be funded and if funded how long will it take to get your funding. Certainly more to come on this later next week.
Today I’m in Chicago and honored to be a panelist and keynote speaker at the annual conference of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, Faye Manaster, Director of our Family to Family Health Education Center and I will be presenting, “Care for Individuals with IDD: The Issues & Challenges”. My luncheon keynote to the convention is “Sharing the Care – What The Arc Wants You to Know About Providing Care for Children & Adults with Intellectual Disabilities”. Our friends Tamar Heller, Ph.D., and Brian Chicoine, MD will also be presenting on another panel, “Health Promotion and Its Impact Upon Cognitive Functioning”. The Academy has put together a grand agenda.
The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) was organized in 2002 to provide a forum for healthcare professionals who provide clinical care to people with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities (ND/ID). Their mission is to improve the quality of healthcare for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities.
They are a much needed resource to the medical community and I appreciate their advocacy for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
I will return to the office on Monday.
Tony Paulauski
Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org