‘Roll on Capitol Hill’ Nears


Planning for the 4th Annual Roll on Capitol Hill is well underway. This year’s event is scheduled for June 7-10, 2015, and promises to take on special importance in light of this year’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ADA.

The event will begin with a welcome reception on Sunday evening followed on Monday by a day of educational sessions, speaker presentations, advocacy training and new sponsor exhibits. This year’s event will be held at the new Marriott Marquis, just blocks from the White House and many other Washington, D.C., landmarks. On Tuesday attendees will storm Capitol Hill to meet with their representatives and advocate for the SCI/D community and policies that help us and the community. Among this year’s issues are: the need for greater access to individually-configured wheelchairs and assistive technologies, the provision of accessible transportation for all and increasing eligibility for community-based supports and services. As always, Tuesday is capped off with a very well-attended reception on Capitol Hill where we honor our Congressional champions and our own community advocates for all the great work that has been accomplished in the past year.

For more information: unitedspinal.org/events/roll-on-capitol-hill

A New Home Office

After almost 27 years in the neighborhood of East Elmhurst in the NYC borough of Queens, United Spinal Association moved into a new head office in late November. The new space is about eight miles southeast of the old location in Kew Gardens along Queens Boulevard, one of the borough’s central thoroughfares. The office had resided in the Bulova Corporate Center, once the manufacturing site of the Bulova watch company, since 1988. The staff is enjoying the many amenities the new location offers, including numerous restaurants and stores within just a few blocks; its proximity to public transportation — including a wheelchair accessible subway station; and the chance to occasionally see a happy just-married bride and groom leaving the Queens municipal building across the street. “The new offices are delightful,” says Abby Fitzsimmons, United Spinal’s vice president of membership. “Sometimes a change of scenery is just what is needed.”

New Specialist at VetsFirst

United Spinal is proud to welcome Deborah Sinni as a new veterans benefits specialist, working out of the Philadelphia office. She brings almost 40 years of experience working with veterans and benefits and a familiarity with accessibility issues developed while living with her husband, a service-connected disabled veteran. Sinni is a licensed social worker with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Temple University. She has spent the past 10 years providing veterans with counseling, referrals and treatment resources in addition to helping them apply for and secure benefits. Sinni will be working to update VetsFirst knowledge books and answering veterans questions under Ask VetsFirst. Get involved with VetsFirst: www.vetsfirst.org.

In Memoriam

Long time Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association/United Spinal Association CFO, Joseph Stein, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 25. He was 80 years old. Joe was a Harvard graduate and a dedicated, confident professional who served the non-profit sector for many years. His valuable contribution, efforts and friendship will be remembered by many for years to come.


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