Guest: Andrew Imparato, J.D., Executive Director of Disability Rights California (DRC)
Host: Barry Whaley, M.S., Director of the Southeast ADA Center, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University
Recording Date: September 19, 2022
Archive: A Conversation with Andrew Imparato
Contents
- About the 504@50 Podcast Series
- About This Episode
- Learn about Andy Imparato
- Disability Rights Issues Talked About in This Podcast
About the 504@50 Podcast Series
504@50 is a special interview series created in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In the series, we speak with leaders of the disability rights movement who advance the cause of equal rights through their tireless work.
The 504@50 Series is produced by the Southeast ADA Center, the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and in collaboration with the Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. Check out the Section 504@50 website at section504at50.org
About This Episode
In this episode, Barry Whaley, Southeast ADA Center Project Director, sits down with Andy Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California. Mr. Imparato discusses his personal and professional background and how his experiences have led him to his current position. He explains his journey from understanding his own disability and passion for disability rights issues to working for Senator Tom Harkin to becoming a national disability advocate. He also shares the lessons he learned about disability advocacy and disability rights.
Mr. Imparato discusses the disability benefit system and describes the need for reform. Replacing the medical model of disability, so deeply rooted within policies, with the social model of disability will be difficult. However, he believes the best way to improve services for people with disabilities is to focus the work of passionate leaders who understand these issues on fixing the broken welfare system and reforming programs like Medicaid that many disabled people struggle with.
Learn about Andy Imparato
- Andy Imparato Biography
Since 2020, Andy Imparato has served as the Executive Director of Disability Rights California (DRC).
Link: disabilityrightsca.org/about-us/leadership-team - Disability Rights California (DRC)
Link: disabilityrightsca.org/what-we-do/priorities - Advisory Committee for National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC)
Mr. Imparato serves on this advisory committee.
Source: Georgetown University
Link: nccc.georgetown.edu/cop/bios/andy-imparato.php - Biden-Harris COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
Mr. Imparato was a member of this Biden Administration COVID-19 task force in 2021.
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH)
Link: minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=100 - Presidential COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Final Report and Recommendations – October 2021 [PDF]
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH)
Link: minorityhealth.hhs.gov/assets/pdf/HETF_Report_508_102821_9am_508Team%20WIP11-compressed.pdf - Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
Andrew Imparato served seven years as the AUCD executive director. AUCD is a membership organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs. These programs serve every U.S. state and territory and are all part of universities or medical centers. They serve as a bridge between the university and the community, bringing together the resources of both to achieve meaningful change for people with disabilities.
Link: aucd.org - American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
Mr. Imparato spent 11 years as President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a national membership organization working to grow the political and economic power of the disability community.
Link: aapd.com - Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Mr. Imparato served on the executive committee of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights as the only disability rights advocate.
Link: civilrights.org
Disability Rights Issues Talked About in This Podcast
- ADA Live Podcast: Celebration of the ADA Anniversary – A Conversation with Senator Tom Harkin | Resources
Mr. Imparato worked twice for Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, who was Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP Committee). First, he served as the senior counsel, then as the disability policy director.
Source: Southeast ADA Center (July 3, 2019)
Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-70
Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-70-resources - ADA Live Podcast: Supporting Meaningful Change in Research, Education and Service: The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) | Resources
Andrew Imparato served seven years as the AUCD executive director.
Source: Southeast ADA Center (February 1, 2023)
Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-114
Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-114-resources - Embedding Cultural Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence: A Guide for UCEDD Curricula and Training Activities Project
This project will research, develop, and disseminate resources for the national network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) to embed cultural diversity and cultural and linguistic competence (CLC) in their curricula and training activities.
Source: University Center for Excellence and Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Georgetown University
Link: uceddclctraining.org - Medical and Social Models of Disability
Source: University of California, San Francisco
Link: odpc.ucsf.edu/clinical/patient-centered-care/medical-and-social-models-of-disability - NEURO*DIVERSITY – Medical & Social Models of Disability
Source: NeuroDiverCity
Link: neurodivercitysg.com/medical-model-vs-social-model.html
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Visit the Section 504@50 website at: section504at50.org
The 504@50 Series is produced by the Southeast ADA Center, the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, and in collaboration with the Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.