Monday, April 03, 2006

"Steve Rhatigan goes to Washington"

The White House

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press SecretaryMarch 27, 2006

Personnel Announcement

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate Steven C. Rhatigan of Texas to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID), formerly The President's Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR). PCPID is a federal advisory committee, established by presidential executive order to advise the President of the United States and the Secretary of The Department of Health and Human Services on issues concerning citizens with intellectual disabilities, coordinate activities between different federal agencies and assess the impact of their policies upon the lives of citizens with intellectual disabilities and their families.

It is estimated that between 7 and 8 million Americans of all ages, or three percent of the general population, experience intellectual disabilities. Nearly 30 million, or one in ten families in the United States, are directly affected by a person with intellectual disabilities at some point in their lifetime. Intellectual disabilities present a major challenge to the social, educational, health, and economic systems within the United States.

The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities was first established in 1966 by Executive Order to focus on this critical subject of national concern. Since 1966, the Committee has fostered State planning, stimulated development of strategies, policies and programs and advanced the concept of community participation in the field of intellectual disabilities. To continue to best fulfill its purpose, the President has adopted several national goals in order to better recognize and uphold the right of all people with intellectual disabilities to enjoy a quality of life that promotes independence, self-determination, and participation as productive members of society. These goals include the assurance of full citizenship rights of people with intellectual disabilities, the provision of all necessary supports to individuals and families, the reduction of the occurrence and severity of intellectual disabilities and the promotion of the widest dissemination of information of models, programs, and services within the field of intellectual disabilities.

Steven C. Rhatigan of The Woodlands, Texas brings a unique perspective to PCPID based on 25 years of planning and advocacy experience across the spectrum of disabling conditions. In addition to his life planning practice, he is a frequent speaker on the issues facing this unique and diverse population. He has served on numerous boards and committees including the advisory board for The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; President of The Mental Health Association of Greater Houston and President of the Houston Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He currently maintains active membership in over 20 disability support groups.

Mr. Rhatigan has been married for 30 years to his wife Sharon and they have two grown children.

For additional information, contact:
The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
The Aerospace Center, Room 701
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W. Washington, DC 20447
Telephone (202) 619-0634