Washington, D.C. (June 27, 2011) – Today, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest cross-disability organization, announced the election of new board officers.
Joyce A. Bender was elected board chair of AAPD by the organization’s board of directors. Bender is a longtime AAPD board member and a lifelong champion of the rights of people with disabilities. Her work to create real jobs for real people with disabilities has earned her a national reputation for advancing workplace access and fairness for Americans with disabilities.
“As a woman living with epilepsy, the opportunity to serve as AAPD’s board chair is an incredible honor. My goal is to take AAPD to the next level and grow the organization exponentially in order to positively impact the lives of Americans with disabilities everywhere,” Bender said.
“Everyday AAPD advances the rights of people with disabilities in their workplace, at their schools, and in their communities. AAPD accomplishes this by building the political power of the disability community, providing real opportunities for young people to enter the workforce, and working to ensure good policy at the federal and state level.”
The board also elected Will Ris, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for AMR Corp. and American Airlines as Vice Chair; Meredith Ryan-Reid, a Vice President and Producer at MARSH USA Inc. as Secretary and Mary Davis, Vice President, IT Infrastructure Solutions for CSC as Treasurer. Former Democratic Whip and co-author of the ADA Tony Coelho is the Immediate Past Chair and will continue to serve on the AAPD board Executive Committee.
Bender is the founder and CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., a firm that recruits and hires people with disabilities in the public and private sectors. Bender is the immediate past chair of the national Epilepsy Foundation board of directors, and is a board member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central Pennsylvania, The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime, and other nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Joyce is on the Board of Advisors for the Homeless Children’s Education Fund and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Carlow University. She is the host of “Disability Matters with Joyce Bender”, a radio show on www.voice.voiceamerica.com.
For more information, visit www.AAPD.com.
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The American Association of People with Disabilities is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities.