May 8, 2008
Steven C. Rhatigan from The Woodlands, Texas was named as Chair for the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID).
Thirteen new members of PCPID, appointed by President George W. Bush, were sworn in by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Deputy Secretary Tevi D. Troy, Ph.D. The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities provides advice to the President and to the Secretary of HHS pertaining to matters relating to programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities.
“Persons with disabilities are a unique group and they deserve the same quality of life as all other individuals,” said Daniel C. Schneider, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. “The new members will assist in upholding the rights of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and guarantee their capacity to participate in all aspects of community life.”
“This is a diverse and remarkable group of leaders at the local, state and national level, coming together to finish out the president’s New Freedom Initiative, which is to remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities,” said Steve Rhatigan, new chairman for PCPID, appointed by President George W. Bush.
Since its inception in 1965, the President’s Committee has led the charge to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, most recently adopting the goals outlined in President George W. Bush’s New Freedom Initiative to recognize and uphold the right of all people with intellectual disabilities to enjoy a quality of life that promotes independence, self-determination, and full participation as productive members of society. These goals include the assurance of full citizenship rights, the reduction of the occurrence and severity of intellectual disabilities and the promotion of forward thinking programs and services and cutting edge assistive technologies to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
