New head of HHS disability office says he’s a ‘freedom fighter’
April 17th, 2009
From the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and New Mobility magazine:
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has selected veteran disability policy advocate Henry Claypool as director of the HHS Office on Disability.
Claypool has worked on disability issues at the federal, state and local level for 25 years. As a person with a spinal injury who uses a wheelchair, he relied on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) himself during his college years.
New Mobility magazine named Claypool as its ‘Person of the Year’ in 2005, citing his advocacy on behalf of thousands of legitimate consumers who were denied power wheelchairs when allegations of fraud and abuse prompted a government crackdown. In an interview then, he told the magazine he is driven by a vision of civil rights for people with disabilities.
“Having civil rights gives me a framework or a context to work within, and I can see myself as kind of a freedom fighter, and that keeps me going. I have a right to speak out and advocate for these things, and I’m really in touch with them because I live them every day. Who better? Who better to march on Selma than the people that had a reason to march?”
Claypool currently serves as policy director at Independence Care System, a managed long-term care provider in New York City. He has served in the federal government in various advisory posts in recent years, including as senior advisor in the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability and Income Support Programs in the Bush administration, and senior advisor for disability policy to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the Clinton administration.
As director of the Office on Disability and primary adviser to the HHS Secretary on disability policy, Claypool will oversee the implementation of all HHS programs and initiatives pertaining to Americans with disabilities.
From the HHS press release:
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve President Obama and the American people as we work together to make certain that Americans with disabilities have access to the services and supports they need to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of their communities,” said Mr. Claypool. “My commitment to working on behalf of Americans with disabilities is a deeply personal one.”
(Photo from New Mobility)
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April 30th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Wow..I am glad that now maybe there will be some concentrated efforts put forth towards helping those of us with disabilities. Too long this population has been largely ignored….now maybe this will be our time to shine !!