Transcripts For CSPAN2 Forum Focuses On Opportunities For People With Disabilities 20170822

We are literally the largest Minority Group in america and one in every five people in our nation have a disability. The majority of people have a loved one with a disability is 12 and we are the only Minority Group that anyone can join at any time due to accident, illness or aging. Respectfully is very proud to be a member of the ccd, a group of more than 110 National Disability organizations who want a Better Future for people with disabilities. As we have seen recently, overall the Disability Community is quite good at protecting key lifesaving benefits and advancing civil rights. So many great organizations already out there and so many fantastic leaders already in the Disability Movement already, why was there a need to get another disability organization. And what specifically is respectability trying to achieve . Respectability fundamentally is about the opportunity agenda. We know that people with disabilities and the people who love them wants opportunities for education, skills, jobs, independence and a Better Future just like anyone else. We want to win win Bipartisan Solutions for people with disabilities and their loved ones, employers and taxpayers alike. Respectability is a nothing about us without our organization and we serve people with every kind of disability. I myself am dyslexic and i also know what it means to raise a talented and wonderful child with multiple disabilities. Members of our team had a wide variety of disabilities and or disability experience. Respectability has High Expectations and knows that every person, every person with a disability whether their disability is physical, developmental, mental health, social, sensory or otherwise, all have something great inside that they can contribute to this world. People with disabilities come from every race, age, ideology, sexual orientation, gender identity, region of the country and more. We all are better off and we work to reach our shared goals and dreams of a more welcoming, respectable and inclusive world. Over these years the ada and other key policies have key physical architecture and educational opportunities. However, unfortunately, Deployment Opportunities for people with disabilities also known as pwbs are short. I have not significantly improved in decades. And the negative attitudes about people with disabilities remains. We stand and in some cases role at an important moment in history. And in some states, only one in for working age people with a disability has a job. Any job. Indeed, in the cases, there may be a parttime job and moreover, in some cities it is still legal to pay people with disabilities some minimum wage. The good news is however that in other states, the outcome is twice as good. Showing that when there are High Expectations and best practices are used, wow. Its possible. Studies show that most working age people with disabilities what job. In order for this to happen we need to close the skills gap, fight stigmas and help employers understand the Business Case, not a charity case. The Business Case for inclusion. Today, only 65 percent of students with disabilities graduate high school. And only seven percent of students who are born with disabilities graduate college. Schools need to do a lot better by children with disabilities but a lot is also up to families and the natural support for children. This can mean faithbased organizations such as purchase and synagogues and mosques. It can be nonprofit, mentors and more but to me there is no greater joy than being a parent but lets face it, being a parent of a typically developing child is already challenging. Doing the right thing for a child with disabilities which in my case is the greatest pleasure in the world can also be challenging as well. This is especially true for single parents, new immigrants and people who are otherwise marginalized. We know that children with disabilities are especially at risk for the schools of prison pipeline when educational opportunities, early intervention, then doors and High Expectations are not in place. Indeed, more than 750,000 people with disabilities are behind bars in our nation today and half , half of all women who are incarcerated today in america have disabilities. This has a tremendous financial cost to our nation. We need to prepare young people with disabilities to excel in science, technology, junior, mathematics and other careers as well as in guarding their own money. Today we will get to hear from several amazing people who are twice exceptional. Remember that word, twice exceptional. They have a disability and they have exceptional talents. Each of them makes me think about malcolm gladwell, both david and goliath which extols the strength of people with disabilities. Because traditional ways of doing things dont always work for people with disabilities, gladwell demonstrates that people with diverse talents can find incredible ways to benefit and to succeed. In fact, some of the greatest companies on earth were started and are led by people with disabilities. Innovators Richard Branson and Charles Schwab like myself, governor looper and brian are dyslexic. Of ernst and young was both deaf and fully impaired. Likewise steve wynn was blind. Billionaire sheldon abelson, scientist even hawking, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard bernstein, punishment jim landrigan, claudia gordon. Senator any duckworth, judy human, john mccain and ada champion abdul and connie the one armed golfer who will meet shortly. All have physical disabilities and exceptional abilities. Additionally, some of the most creative people including whoopi goldberg, michael j fox, marlena, mark numbers who you will also meet today and others have disabilities. Still, starting your own company in hollywood art for everyone. We need a wide range of choices. People with disabilities bring unique characteristics to the workplaces that benefit employers and organizations. Amazon, atv, bank of america, tarbox, walgreens, walmart and others all have shown that employers with disabilities are loyal and help them make more money. Students with Developmental Disabilities who are not rebound but who can legally stay in school until they are21 years old , we should enable them to have freedom of choice and to let them choose whether they want to spendtheir last year of school in the classroom or in a realworld apprenticeship. In programs such as project search. Project search is already serving was to 3000 young people with disabilities each year and they are getting close to a 70 percent job success rate and competitive integrated employment for youth whose disabilities are significant. Project search is thriving under republican Governor Scott walker and john kasich and democratic governors tom wolfe and jay ensley alike. This is a bipartisan issue. These apprenticeships enable Young Workers to have the dignity and income of the job while they are doing a great deal for the bottom line of Customer Service driven employers in hospitals, hotels and elder care. Again, people with disabilities want to be independent. Still, the same time, some still need to have port. And you need to have a system that enables there to be vital support such as medicaid and personal care assistance, even for individuals who have jobs who do not need a government stipend to live independently. But they should be able to live independently and work at American Public policy should recognize that in our healthcare and sports system that the dignity and income in the job is so important. But all too often schools and employers deny young people with disabilities the opportunities they want because they cant imagine that they can be successful. They cant even imagine that people with disabilities can be successful. Why is that . Because there is a fundamental link between fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities. Indeed, i just did a lot of name dropping of successful peoples and companies with disabilities because Research Shows that people can imagine that people with disabilities can be successful unless they see it with their own eyes. We dont want people to think that my speech is fake news. Feel free to google all the names and companies and organizations that i mentioned. Its the real deal. Time for people with disabilities to be seen on the large and small screen and Society Overall for what they can do and not for what they cannot as actress gina davis says, if we see it, you can be. If you see it, you can be it in the past the portrayal of people with disabilities use the pity principle. It started with the framing of the jerry lewis telethon. Five decades of the hand up, needing a hand out instead of a hand up. Additionally a big part of the challenge today as we will learn more about later today is that we rarely see characters, let alone positive or diverse characters with actual disabilities on either the small or large screen. But this weekend i watched duty and the beast with our fabulous children. It has hundreds of characters on screen. There was almost every kind of diversity in this new beauty and the beast. Accept disability. Sadly, this is typical. According to glad only two percent of scripted characters on tv are people with disabilities, even though 10 times as many people percentagewise exist with disabilities in our country. Moreover when there are characters with disabilities, all too often they are portrayed by actors without disabilities who are devoid of authenticity or honest representation of the character they are playing. What are the results of continuing the images and eraser . The results are negative attitudes, stereotypes and stigmas that impact millions of children with disabilities and the approximately 300,000 young people with disabilities who age into what should be the workforce each year and let me just remind you that in our nation today only one out of every three working age people with a disability as a job, only one out of three. With disabilities are the poorest of the poor in america despite the fact that we have talents and we have energy to bring to the strength of this nation. But in order for more people to be in the workforce, we need more talented people with disabilities working in front of and behind the camera. We need to change the narrative of how people see people with disabilities so employers and everyone else can see the abilities that people have and how it makes for a better bottom line. X its amazing that such a small change and have such a big impact. Weve seen this in the popular reaction to the medic and the winning tv show born this way. Never before has the Reality Program genuinely showed the lives and love of talented, diverse and passionate young people with Developmental Disabilities like this. Its fantastic and we are so proud that this emmywinning show was created by our board member, jonathan murray. Its starting to change the direction in hollywood. We are also thrilled with the success of abctvs speechless which stars michael fowler. Who actually have a disability and has an accurate portrayal of what it takes to successfully raise a child with disability. We often look forward to several no new shows artemis fall. We want to see stories in hollywood about what people with disabilities and do. Think about it. Beautiful music from a deaf man. It happened. Ludvig von beethoven. Freedom from somebody with a seizure disorder . It happened. Harriet come in. Music and civilrights leadership from someone with learning disabilities, its happening. Harry belafonte. Recognize the disability, imagine the possibility, respect the ability. Respectability is currently celebrating our fourth birthday. We just expanded our board, elected great new leaders and what people like you whether you are here today in person or you are watching on cspan2 to join our efforts. I invite you to check us out online respectability got bored and join us on facebook and twitter. Are currently looking for more Young Leaders to join our National Leadership program for talented and diverse leaders who want to spite stigmas and advanced opportunities or people with disabilities. Theres so many ways that you can get involved in our work. In fact, along with local leaders were creating a demonstration project in long beach california. Ill be out there soon along with much of our team will be there the week of august 14th. We need your support, your involvement and your voice. We also want to thank the office of congressman brad sherman and him personally for making this event possible and lauren albom and the full team at respectability or putting this program together but i really especially also want to thank mark summers, dana butler, tommy dorsey along with our board member even king zyngas who traveled from out of town to join us today. We cant wait to hear from you and everyone else. Before we kick off with our first vip teacher, speaker, only cantos, i invite our Board Members and our staff to please rise if you can raise your hand if you cant rise to that people can see who you are. Donna and ronald, and vivian from our board of directors and other leaders from our team and our fellows, i hope that they they will meet members of our team and our board. I really say thank you for your service and really, thank you for what you are doing and especially to these amazing Board Members to give so muchof their heart and their time. This is a team thing. Respectability is a movement and we are newand we want new people to join us. Those of you are here in person or watching on cspan2, i want to before i introduce our first year just leave us with two words from the founder of the disability rights movement, justin dark and that is, lead on. Thank you. [applause] now i want to invite campos to come to the front. Orley campos as he coming to the front im going to talk introducing him. He is a superstar. He is a personal friend and mentor to me. Blind since birth and active on civil rights issues for more than 27 years. Only cantos and im over here. Wesley serves. Thank you. Only cantos presently serves as special assistant to the acting secretary for civil rights at the Us Department of education. Former positions include staff attorney and director of outreach and education at the Disability Rights Legal Center in los angeles. General counsel and Director Program at the American Association of people with disabilities, special assistant and Later Special counsel at the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Us Department of justice. Vice chairman of the President Committee for people with intellectual disabilities and associate director for domestic policy under president george w bush. I will also say that in addition to his phenomenal professional accomplishments, that makes half of our National Leadership fellows want to grow up to be ali when they grow up, ali is off so also an adopted dad. Blind triplet boys, wheel, and stephen. Each of whom just graduated high school. And each of whom was just elevated this past week to the rank of eagle scout, the highest Level Achievement within the boy scouts of america. Only campos, we are delighted to have you here today. Good morning everyone. I am so pleased to be with all of you here today. And considering that this is the first time for me to addressyou from a podium setting, in a number of years ive got , i have really missed you. And it is really good to be back and it is a privilege to be here before you today. And my personal thanks to jennifer for her leadership and her ongoing vision in building respectability as a cuttingedge organization that is dedicated to promoting equality of opportunity for persons with all types of disabilities. I stand before you today as special assistant to the acting assistant attorney general, asked acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Us Department of education. And over the past several years, over the past 20, 70 years of work in serving the Disability Community, i cannot help but think back about all the many ways that life has improved for us since the signing of the landmark americans with disabilities act 27 years ago. When we think back on our lives then, as members of the Disability Community, we remember when things were different then. And in looking at all that has taken place sense, we also see in many ways how far we have come. That are more Employment Opportunities, more persons with disabilities today. State and local Government Programs and services are more accessible. Laces of public accommodation are more available and accessible to us and transportation and telecommunications have been areas that have also witnessed significant improvements. And yet, here we are. Looking at the number of barriers that still remain to our full participation as persons with disabilities. There still remains prevailing myths and misconceptions about persons with physical, psychiatric , intellectual and learning disabilities. And for all of us who have disabilities, we work day to eliminate old stigmas, still prevail. There are individuals who wonder about the extent to which we may be successful in the classroom, in the workplace, has Business Owners. Etc. There are those who wonder even to this day about the extent to which we can be involved in our schools, places of worship and community in general. But why . The big question that we must all ask ourselves is why . Why after all these years do barriers still remain as they do . And the answer is because as much as we each would want change to come immediately, as much as we see change in our daily lives and through our actions, as much as we strive hard, to transform attitude about us, there are still other forces in the community that still have yet to learn about what we are truly capable of accomplishing. But you and i know as members of the Disability Community and along with our allies that our lives are limitless in terms of the potential we may reach when we infuse our community on an ongoing basis with expanded mentorship opportunities in every setting including within an educational setting as well as with internships and Employment Opportunities and service in the Nonprofit Sector and serving in a leadership capacity. Within the private sector and working at every job ranging from cleaning the office to running, therein lies our goal. And when we look at this, we think also with an educational context. We think about how to this day there are still students in communities of every size who are crying out for help. There are parents who wonder about the support available to them and how their claims of discrimination may be redressed. There are families who are hurting not because the disability itself is the issue because of what people think about members of the Disability Community. And thats why when i look at what we have yet to do, i reflect on various victories that we have had within the office of civil rights at the Us Department of education within the past severalmonths. Case in point, there was a six situation in which students who are blind or visually impaired were to take the psat along with their peers. The School Districts have offered the psat for free for everybody within the district and yet, in practice what ended up happening was that these students who were blind or visually impaired either did not have their accommodations met or were accommodated in a way that accommodations themselves were not submitted to the College Board which would mean that the psat scores that were earned would ultimately be invalidated. But because of the office for civil rights and our vigilance, that whole situation has been addressed. The School District agreed to pay for remedial measures to ensure that they may prepare for future tests. The School District also agreed to make modifications to policies and practices so as to ensure accommodation for persons with disabilities. There are other instances of victory as well within the past few months. As an additional example, there was a student who was denied the opportunity to live on campus, choosing her Service Animal and to have her Service Animal with her. That situation was the state of affairs for two years but because of our offices in alden, that situation is now being remedied. And now that student is able further to live with her Service Animal on campus. There are so many other situations but that i may describe here, literally ranging from physical accessibility of schools and libraries and parking lots and bathrooms to when accessibility to ensure that persons with all types of disabilities may gain access to the same information in the same timeas everybody else. There is so much yet to do. Within the area of restraint and seclusion, there was an instance with one School District in which there were hundreds of incidents of use of restraint and seclusion involving dozens of students in which there were various injuries reported. Again, as a result of involvement of the office for civil rights, those issues have been and are being addressed. Directly. And because of that, the district is changing its practice. Its working to make sure to break from those practices of the past and to train people on appropriate measures and also, is working to make sure that those past incidents dont happen again. Cool districts is also doing more but there are yet other instances that are important for us to layout here. Bullying continues to be an issue surrounding persons with different types of disabilities. And in one particular instance, a student who had been bullied and harassed by her peers was not receiving the services and support from the school in response to that bullying. Again, because of ocr involvement. That has changed. Policies are being reformed so that bullying is further addressed in a more proactive way. A student now has or is getting access to a specific person to go whenever there are further incidences of bullying. There is a Climate Survey that is being issued and upon which the School District will so as to further work to eliminate issues surrounding an Unsafe School environment. There are still other issues relating to discipline and various instances in which students are not treated appropriately and when there are situations where students without appropriate safeguards are being disciplined in a manner that is not exactly fair. So when we look at these various incidences along with others, these illustrations only serve to show that we each have a role in making things better. What if those individuals did not come forward to complain and to tell us about these instances of discrimination . Those individuals may still who are students may still be in dire straits today within the situations i have described along with a number of others. That is why it is important for us to continue our work and what the role of each of you . We must each continue to be vigilant in learning about rights and responsibilities of persons with disabilities. We must share the Information Available for government sources far and wide so that persons with disabilities will know to where they may turn whenever facing instances of discrimination where they are asking for help. Advocacy organizations consisting of and driven by people with disabilities must also stay vigilant in working hard for policies and practices and procedures in every aspect of societal life representing changes that will improve the lives of their respective constituents. Who has a disability different from our own. Faces instances of discrimination or injustice. We must all be equally vigilant in standing up for the rights and responsibilities as where vigilant in standing up for our own. [applause] so i conclude today and opening up time for questions afterwards, i conclude today as a colleague of yours, respectfully to call upon all of us to act, never to rest on past victories, and always and forever to strive and to stand up for equality and firstclass citizenship which includes knowing rights and responsibilities of that citizenship. I also call upon all of you to join with me and everyone else speaking here today to redouble our efforts and to expand our commitment to doing whatever we can to move forward in specific ways by harnessing our own talents and abilities for the greater good to build the momentum further of promoting this philosophy of equality. Because as we do, we will be able to look back at some point in the future and say with pride how much further we went because of our own efforts to make things better. Thank you so much, everybody, but the opportunity to be here. [applause] so this was so five minutes. Unfortunately dont have questions quite now but olegario will be up for a little while longer or all day so you can ask questions personally. Im going to invite Stanley Greenberg to come up. Professor Stanley Greenberg is the Founding Partner of greenberg research. Is a New York Times bestselling author and pulling advisor to president s, Prime Ministers and ceos globally. Now he is currently conducting deep research and more than a dozen countries turkey with senior pollster for president bill clinton and Vice President al gore, british Prime Minister tony blair and president nelson mandela, and his corporate clients are huge but also want to say that i fed the personal privilege of being able to work with Stanley Greenberg for three decades in different capacities, in Different Countries around the world. And the work that he did in south africa to enable a better life and equality for people of color in south africa and also to make safe space for other people in south africa was really extraordinary work. He is now bringing some of his immense talent to looking at the question of disability and so the Disability Movement is really quite fortunate to have his mind about some of our issues. Also we look forward to hearing from you, stan greenberg. [applause] thank you very much. And above all, pollster to respectability. Nelson mandela, tony blair, bill clinton. That was all building up to what you need, the skills you needed to be in the front lines, that im always admiring jennifer, unbelievable energy, focus and intensity. So when she sets herself up to achieve a goal, no doubt will make progress and i just want to be on board. Some happy to participate. We had the good fortune to begin to pull together with a republican partner, you know, over the last few years. Initially for National Public radio but then for respectability, to look at the Disability Community, both those with disabilities, those connected and they were part of that community and begin to normalize, relate to them in the context of the medical world in which issues were being joined, and part of the reason where we are here in the rayburn building and on capitol hill is because we know that there are decisions made in institutions across the country that will shape peoples opportunities. And what comes through in the purpose central to jenna first address and to this mission of this organization and to the other segment in this organization is this belief that if you recognize People Special talents, provide the opportunity, that there is no limit to what people can reach. We began in a political context to bring the Disability Community into the normal discussion, the normal sets of issues that are being addressed. And what you will see in the data is that the Disability Community, first of all, is large. Pay attention. The numbers of people to report their own disabilities, and if we actually go to, i cant see what the charts, i have to turn this way, this describes the survey that we did, key findings. And the basic points, starting points that just dont underestimate the size of this community and how much that issues matter. I think youll see that these are changed voters. And my guess is they are even more so now. Their policy agenda matters for both democrats and republicans and independents. This cuts across the board. There is strong support for data with abuse and discrimination, but in some ways Even Stronger support for people having the education and Job Opportunities that is key to really achieving a successful outcome. There is a strong embrace of a narrative in the public that is what i think central to your work which says that if people, people with a lifetime of work, people were card ought to be able to succeed. And that applies to this community as well you can Pay Attention, because these voters will make their voices heard. And finally i thought i would bring into, because of its current polling, dated that we have on medicaid and on healthcare because that is so, as weve seen in the protests, that has emerged in the debate over health care reform, that support for medicaid has risen as well as support for broadbased access to health care. And i think if we were looking further we also say education and the kinds of things that also critical to people who were court in one and what opportunities. First just look at the size of, i know we have jenna first dated but this is selfreported data and you see a third of people, people report that they have disabilities. We dealing with essentially half the population that has a disability in a connection. And about half that do not. We are dealing with a very large portion of the country. Go to the next slide. We asked people how interested they are in politics. What you will see is people with disabilities that are in the middle, 70 are given the high score, 10 score on the level of interest, interested in voting in the election. This was a poll that was done right before the election in 2016. They are as interested as people have no disability connection. If you look at the next slide you will see these are changed voters. We know 16 was a change election and even look at the wrong track number for people with disabilities but if you went across the people have a disability connection, thats where you get the highest percentage saying wrong track. The highest percentage of people saying they want change. This was done before the election, in the election we know was a disruptive election where people voted for change, but Disability Community was part of that. They were expressing it. In this survey we saw where people were hearing the different candidates were saying about disability, but here i am simply trying to underscore that in a change election the Disability Community is the community, and we did with half the country, that is most insistent on change. Go to the next slide. We tested the range of policies and this is just those that are at the top and i will skim through the others. Whats interesting is, use the top of that bending assaults on children with disabilities, and would be surprised to be the thing that people were most likely to vote for a candidate if their candidate were expressing it. But Pay Attention to the next you because youll see how important these two are for the Disability Community itself and people with disabilities themselves. The inch get the education and training any decisions. 60 much more likely to support a candidate expanding Career Opportunities with people with disabilities so they can succeed just like everyone else. Again almost 60 say they are much more likely to vote for a candidate who raised those. Go to the next slide. You can see that the also interest and willingness to vote on other issues, bigotry and hollywood, criminal Justice System promoting positive media portrayals. But the things that are at the top are addressing abuse but also creating both education and Job Opportunities. It you look bent at people who are democrats or independents leaning democratic, its expanding, it is ensuring that children with disabilities give the education and job training they need that goes to the top. You will see significantly above anything else. So when you get to democrats, and independents who lean democratic, there you shift to the focus on education and training. Republicans are more likely to focus on ensuring rape and assault of children next slide. Go to the next slide. Again thats my disciple lets go to the slide after that. This is looking at the results on rape with people with disabilities. You can see that the people with no disability connection make that highest but if you go to the next slide, thats where you see the highest levels of support. If you go into the middle with people with disabilities, 70 strongly focus on ensuring children with disabilities get the education and training they need to succeed. Its important we focus on that because this is the people with disabilities themselves. Obviously, and we heard obviously in the previous discussion, that important presentation, the issues people face both at work and educational institutions. But what does the disability committed itself to what to those with disabilities most focus on . Youll see what their most focus on is getting Education Training and getting Job Opportunities as the thinks posterboard brick you can see that in the next slide as well. So expanding Job Opportunities, gained you can see the highest, 66 , getting the highest intensity to getting education in getting access to jobs, and so if you think about this community and this organization, theres a real connection, a real aspiration for our politics to produce leaders that understand the size of this community can understand its priorities and its needs which are much more aspirational and much less of a victims mindset, which is so central to everything that a think youre trying to inspire. We tested our overall message and overall theme for looking at these issues. And you can see what comes out of top is our nation founded on the principle that anyone who works hard to be able to get ahead in life. People with disabilities deserve the opportunity to earn an income, achieve independence just like anyone else here that is, even look at the whole range of other kinds of frameworks for the issues of this community faces, thats what goes across the top. If youre talking to candidates which is part of what were trying to do at the time we did this in the message with teddy getty candace, what were saying was recognize the size of this committee. These are changed voters. They are involved people what theyre looking above all of policies that expand opportunity and for a kind of politics that is focused on their values, which is hard work being rewarded, the two central to american life. Lets carry on to the medicaid. Maybe a stretch to medicaid that we not born and a central the Disability Community came to the debate over whats happening in the preradical changes that were being proposed on medicaid, both in the health care but also in the ongoing budget and how central it is, medicaid, the disabilities for the healthcare that those in the Disability Community get. This is a measure of your warmth, whether your warm or cold about medicaid. Thats it, no other description, just the word medicaid. The bold number like africanamericans as people feeling very warm, very favorable, very warm about medicaid, or very negative. What us you see is africanamern and Hispanic Community based on but he could look at the different segments of the electorate, unmarried women, millennials in which you see over 50 getting a one response, three times as many getting intense favorable response. White workingclass women are one of the groups that were critical to what happened in this election, to anyone on warm versus negative. Medicaid is viewed very favorably. People understand medicaid and its a link on both for Older Americans and longterm care but they also understand its centrality for disabilities and that was very much part of the pullback from some of the medicaid cuts that obviously this issue is not over as weve seen in the longterm budgets medicaid, still part of the main discussion. We should just know in their gut the country is very favorable of medicaid in fact, support for medicaid has risen over the last six months as people have seen, you discover people become more educated, easy to debate going forward, theyre becoming more educated. I will just finish lets go back. This is not readable. Its merely wallpaper may be a metaphor. This is the question in which we asked, in this case, in prf, whether the governments the gos responsible make sure everyone has health care. You see the tracking of that line over time. What you see is this dramatic rise over the last six months in the numbers of people who say yes. From 60 now say its responsible of government to make sure everyone has health care. Now, whats also happen is a surge in people say to give and has a sponsor and a whole range of variance and ensure that includes Education Opportunities which are also central i think to the policy priorities of the Disability Community and this organization. So we went, we had a change election in which the Disability Community was a significant part of wanting to vote for change. They have a policy agenda that people need to Pay Attention to. We know from that polling. We know from the broad swath look at medicaid and whats happening on healthcare is that people value those institutions, organizations that are providing support in the area of health care and education. And that is likely the context. My guess is the community is even more determined to see change that it was at the time of the election. The issues are enduring obviously because jennifer indicated at the very beginning, this is the one community that can face this issue at any time in life. Its not just therefore its a constant growing community and its critical growing consciousness but also an agenda that gets before the attention of policymakers so the Pay Attention to the very important changes this community wants. Thank you. [applause] unfortunately, we dont have time for questions, but if you have a question you can email it to respectability and will get back to you and also we can forward as well. Thank you, terrific. Im going to bring up our next speaker. I invite Gerard Robinson to join me up front. He is one of our newest Board Members, so welcome to our board of directors, Gerard Robinson is a resident fellow and education policy studies at the American Enterprise institute where he works on education, policy issues including choice in Public School and private school, Regulatory Development and implementation of k12 laws, the roles that forprofit institutions in education, p and i got to know him through his tremendous work on criminal Justice Reform which has been really exciting work on criminal Justice Reform around education and reentry, Rural Education at the role of Community Colleges and historically black colleges and universities, thats the hbcus in adults advancement. Im very proud that we have three graduates at hbcus on our board of directors. We really represent picky is a tremendous experience on these issues and we have come to collaborate with him very closely. So again hes recently join our board. I look forward to hearing from you, gerard, welcome. Thank you very much. [applause] good morning. Its always an honor to be in congress, always an honor to be with people who are interested in elevating cover stations about opportunity. When we look at the americans with disabilities act in fact, way seven years ago, fact 27 years ago i became law. Im still one who likes Public Policy and language. So in preparation for this i decided to take a look at the words of george bush who was then president upon signing the law july 26, 1990. Its interesting to look listen to a few of his word that will set the tone for my presentation. He said today i am signing senate bill 933, the americans with disability act of 1990, in this extraordinary year we have seen our declaration of independence inspired the march to freedom throughout eastern europe. It is altogether fitting that the American People would have once again given a clear expression to our most basic ideas of freedoms and equality. The americans with disabilities act represents the full flowering of our democratic principles and he gives me great pleasure to sign this law today. When you mention that declaration of independence it wasnt solely to make a historic note that 214 years to the date or to the month that he signed the law. We had actually pushed for a declaration of independence. Part of the reason. But also when you Vice President of the United States working under president Ronald Reagan in february of 1986 he received from the National Council on disability of report. You want to know the title of that report . Toward independence, and assessment of federal regulations laws and regulations and programs for effective person with disabilities. And that report played a tremendous role in helping him think about what the Disability Community needed and more importantly what he could do as president to help. I would recommend that everyone in this room and those are watching i cspan just go online and take a look for toward independence 1986. Because theres a lot of interesting information in there, particularly to sail far weve from 1986 to 2017. There were ten points behead, educational educational opportunity, laws, employment, distinctiveness to work under Social Security laws, prevention of disabilities, transportation, housing, communitybased services for independent living, education of children with disabilities, personal assistant and also coordination. They were to a particular interest to me, education would be one but also employment. The term education. 146 times in that report. A few times you found underemployment. Whats interesting in 1986, nearly twothirds of the people who finished high school, onethird finish high school actually graduated and went to college or went to study in advanced level. But twothirds of the students did not. In 2017 the numbers a little better, still still not where we want them but they were in pretty bad shape. According to the 1980 census there were 12. 9 Million People who were working age in the United States. 8. 7 Million People identify with disabilities were not in the workforce nearly 68 . And so 2017, a little better than we would then we saw a lot of challenges but weve got a long way to go. Under education, they had a couple up, they have for recommendations for members of congress and want you to listen to them and see if you hear the same thing today. Number one, congress should amend the education for all Handicapped Children act to encourage estates to make available a free appropriate Public Education or every disabled child in the United States. We know that act was passed in 1975 later with i. D. E. A. Pick a changed its name. But the fact that in 1990 we had to push for free and appropriate education for all students, particularly stooge with disabilities, too many of you in this room that seems like a given but in early part of American History that was not the case. Number two, congress should direct the department of education to promulgate and enforce standards for the application of least restrictive than five is for students. Fastforward to 2014, 2014, approximately 95 of our students with disabilities are in regular classes and theres a definition for that. Approximately 3 find themselves in separate classes either public or in private schools, about 1 themselves in private schools and the rest are in different positions. Back in the 80 and the early 90s, trying to mainstream our children had been a challenge while we are not where we want to be weak made some progress. As a first speaker had mentioned we still have challenges that are present. Third, congress should read the Office Special Education Programs to fund a National Technical assistance center. Right now in d. O. E. Theres a number of grants, assistant programs that support whats taking place in the states while were having a conversation about the federal government we know great deal of the stuff is going to take place at the local level. And last, congress should direct the secretary of education and a chairperson for the National Council for the handicapped to create a commission to create a special report. Now, for a show of hands how many of you think in 2017 those four recommendations are relevant today . So there several hands including our leader. I would raise my hand as well. Again we made some progress but we still have some more to go. Ive got a chance to see this work particularly at the state level having a leadership position in both virginia and florida. It gave me an opportunity to see what it was like to work with students and families who have students with disabilities do we know nationally we have about 6. 6. 6 million students, proximae 13 of the population who are students with disabilities. When you begin to disaggregate the data you see some very interesting figures that the previous speaker mentioned in his point. Although 66 of students with disabilities graduate with a Traditional High School diploma, lets take a look at what students fall under that. 7070 of white students, 71 of asians. 67 of pacific islanders, 64 of students with two or more races. 61 American Indian, and alaska native. 59 hispanic and 57 africanamerican. And we know thats going to be a challenge that we know that approximately 14 of students who graduate received an alternative certificate, not High School Diploma but it prepares you in some states the post secondary opportunities as well as jobs. When we take a look at the demographics, 70 of hispanics and africanamericans actually received an alternative certificate. 16 asians receive it, 13 up to a to a more races, 11 of whites, 9 American Indian and alaska native, and 8 pacific islander. So we see some major gaps in terms of whos taking advantage of his having an opportunity to graduate with a regular diploma. Those who are receiving the certificate. We also cant forget the number of students who drop out. 18 of students who drop out our students with disabilities and we know from jennifer is earlier statement, we know theres only 7 were going to complete college, thats going to be a big challenge for us. When we decide we are going to make this a serious issue we have to realize its bipartisan. When i took a look at the votes in 1990, republicans and democrats voted for it. For the number senators who did not vote for it, it was republicans and the democrats both who said the same thing. This issue is only going to grow with time because the site is helping us as educators and policymakers catch up with understanding what it means to have a child or Family Member with a disability. The Employment Committee is also beginning to educate us more on what its like to have employees with disabilities and what we can do better for policy, what we could do better for programming. We have to realize that we saw from the previous slide that this is a political issue that people feel is very important across the board. I am glad to be a part of the respectability family. Im glad its bipartisan really a multipartisan very Diverse Group of people who decided to come together because we believe opportunity matters and weak particularly bleep it matters of people with disabilities. Some clad to be a part of the conversation and look forward to using my expertise to advance the dialogue. Great, thank you. [applause] we do have time for a question from the audience, so if you want to ask a question raised your hand so so we can make sure you get a microphone. Let me ask you, gerard m you done a lot of work on the criminal Justice System and a lot of work on education. So what is the link between children with disabilities and particularly lower Educational Attainment for people of color and for new immigrants with disabilities . And what do you see a some of the things that need to be done . So we know at least as of last year nearly 1 million cases were heard by juvenile judges at the juvenile justice level. Nearly a million cases. A sizable number of those were students with disabilities. On the one hand, im glad to say that based upon research a look at from department of justice, nearly 85 of the juvenile justice centers, whether thats Correctional Center on whether thats also homebound or whether its a group home, are starting to make sure that the jen people who come in are being assessed for a disability. Some cities have done a much better job of providing services to the students and others and so we got some more work to do that. Number two, we know we have nearly 2. 2 Million People incarcerated in our present both state and federal across the country. We know a number of them have mental and other challenges in place. I recently had senator grassley from iowa at aei and we had a conversation about criminal Justice Reform. Someone from the d. C. Prosecutors office said did you realize that when people leave, lets say jail in d. C. And i took him out that only 10 actually have access to the services they need to do was special Services Committee love and otherwise . The congressman shook his head. Its something we all know. Lets be very clear. This isnt a Knowledge Problem as much as a political will power. What we want to change something, we seem to find the money. When we want to change something we seem to have the political will to do so. There is a correlation where we can debate causation between the number of High School Students who drop out and find itself incarcerated. There seems to be some numbers if it window number of our High School Student who drop out in fact, had a qualified for 504. For 504. When you find the as adults in prison system. While Correctional Education Services that use provides High School Diplomas, a ged certificates in prison, and while there some college to prison programs with its bad university, whether its of the bard program or whether its the work going on in georgia, there some university who are working with those who never complete High School Diploma but are also working with students who have disabilities to bring them up to speed in prison as adults. Frankly not to give them a Second Chance but for many to give them a first chance. A lot of work we have to do and, frankly, we can learn a lot from advocates, families and those at the local level. Judges can play a big role in this peer prosecutors can play a big role in this, and so can probation officers. So got what to do. Glad to be here. Is there someone from the audience was a question . If so please measure and and identify yourself if youre in the audience and have a question. Yes. Say your name and affiliation that would be helpful. Mic is coming your way. Was there a another question from the audience . Will come see no question what ar i also like to do is whn president bush mentioned that july 1776 was a part for the declaration of independence and to celebrate that, lets also remember that in july 1868 Congress Approved the 14th amendment. In the 14th amendment is the equal protection clause and that cost is played a tremendous role in helping to advance the civil rights, human rights and other rights or students with disabilities so its also take a moment to recognize the month of july as well. Those who are graduating graduating, Demographic Data at the federal level also realize that the state level your department of education is responsible for providing information to your legislature and governor. That happens every year. Includes data of students with special needs i would say it is a onestop shop and educate part is there and then to advocate that when you talk to people make sure they share with others. But i think this is a great time to be a part of the movement and of better time to advocate on behalf. I have one more question heidi work with people you dont agree with . Because right now you have people who vote democratic watching msnbc for watching fox if they vote republican but if you want to move legislation like id ea or workforce innovation that is bipartisan in so how do you work with for many of the millenials so i would say go to you to in the 80s and 90s but there was a lot of challenges. Son to sign this here is what i do and 2017. I have heard a republican or democrat say no. Do they have opportunities and access to a greater education . Do you believe students with disabilities are discriminated against in the workplace so how many know someone how many have identified someone in their family so what legislation that is a step in the right direction leading with talking points and if you lead with the ada youre only doing this because the sound bites help you to get elected those are the wrong reasons. And made any idea flooring of democracy . And that will happen. Lets start with those questions to find common ground. [applause] [inaudible conversations] you mentioned about opportunities i and a policy fellow and i recently attended an event called unshackled with women in incarceration senator broker was there dealing with bad incarcerated population that they face 40,000 collateral consequences what has the 80 i looked at for them with those 7,500,000 of disabilities . With that entry in leveled juvenile justice or adults upon coming out to have the reentry of people going back to prison . As a champion of criminal Justice Reform how this could be helpful so to this question so to provide us with information to keep us informed with federal and state policy and research that jennifer and i have worked together with 52 people across the country and advocates and scholars but it is tough to have conversations with no concerned citizens in the room. So that is part of the conversation and a third ati is working on a book with a chapter focused on women who are incarcerated and their children. That is women with disabilities from the university of baltimore and using part of her fellowship to address those issues. But it is important with nearly 400 percent increase and a number of women are there are moms and they are the economic breadwinner. So we know that 5 million children this morning will go up because one parent is incarcerated. And with respectability from fellows like yourself and that will get stronger with time. [applause] if people have more questions email me later. We have the national Young Leadership program than currently running as of fabulous director of the National Fellowship program we invite people from across the country for talented individuals with though a without disabilities with the right to movement and the opportunity movement of the future. One of the of fabulous fellows every single one is amazing and everyone is terrific with 45 vip speakers their sheer working to change the narrative of hollywood with positive media roleplaying for relief from california but only 7 percent that people born with disability are Getting College degrees and a recent graduate earning a b. A. In communication and is a superstar were just so proud to have you. [applause] i just want to start by asking the questions we first walked into a room what you want people to see . Heidi want to be perceived as a result those questions all the time because i am a person who was today as professionally so i have the type of dystrophy that allows my eyes to be very light sensitive so i where specific contact lenses that are darker than most some glasses and wearing glasses outside of the time as well. Also my shake backandforth uncontrollably sometimes they call these the and denies which works well for me because i have made cancer. This makes having to do pirouettes on pointe shoes and drastic positions for long periods of time very difficult but i use my peripheral vision and a look into the lower left corner and they do a lot of balancing with my eyes in that way and i can focus for so much longer and i finally found my balance but it took a few years but it took a lot of time to try to figure that out. Also i am legally blind if we are outside the pc me and waved i just dont see you. Also i am fully covered blind so i see what you see is gray scale so it is all different shades but no determinant color. I have memorized all my clothes to know what colors put together and how to shop. Readytoeat or cb for the first time you will note that i initially impaired canadians for months before it told anybody. Whether i am taking classs or in a new place i tried not to dwell on my vision on those capabilities in every situation. I do this whenever possible. People notice that my eyes shape our squinted i want to see something clearly. I dont like talking about what i can do with my disability but a few years ago i was on dancing with the stars they kept asking me what my challenges i will get my parents and said fidelity said out loud because i can do so much more that they can they dont want to appear weak for exposing that so over time i have had to learn my disability is said to a positive part of who i am there is a shame in that i can achieve what everyone. What ever i want. [applause] i just want to illustrate what we experience on the inside with the daytoday activities should not detract from how we present ourselves and what we want to accomplish. That should. Us forward to give message because we have a story to tell. There are millions of young people with disabilities all over this country the stories to tell just like mine and they are just discouraged and bogged down by peoples expectations the one way we can exceed those just to be vigilant for me that is dancing. There is nothing more than i want them to be on the International Stage in a packed theater in my point shoes expressing myself that is my dream and it will happen. So to pose those questions i want to be seen as a passionate and talented dancer as hardworking and vigilant and capable in every way. And leslie a want to show my genuine personality also to share that accomplishment in the past and what they can accomplish in the future. Now i want to share part of a video and this was a life change experience because it taught me how to become an advocate to raise awareness that people with disabilities can achieve greatness. Enjoy the video. [applause] i never wanted to stop. I feel like i want to move. That is what gives me joy and passion. [inaudible] i am a huge fan of the show. This is amazing. That is perfect. You can do anything anybody else can do. [cheers and applause] we are about to see the rehearsal. [cheers and applause] [applause] [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] let me just say this is one of our 15th summer fellows of your interested in joining the Fellowship Program with a set of mine but the Extraordinary Group of talented people that are with us were currently hiring also to be completing the fellowship of very soon am looking for a job as a professional dancer that is her audition tape and i hope she will be on the stages of the major stages to sing professionally bent like so many of the speakers today is twice exceptional. [applause] now i will bring up another twice exceptional speaker dr. Donald, a founder of the red cross of people with disabilities somebody bring me the book. Donnell walton is the author of a newly released book called shattered dreams broken pieces the eye opening tale of reinvention and tells the story of decades she spent to rebuild her world to discover to confidence with a fresh sense of confidence along the way and a survivor of a circle the cancer wife fretting bone cancer that resulted in the invitation never left leg at 80 the founder and ceo an Award Winning speaker this helps individuals and businesses with their full potential and and 2012 the most exciting thing she launched a divas with disabilities project to help shape the perception of what disability looks like promoting women of color through various media platforms and this is very important because what we see in hollywood that only 2 percent of the characters we see are people with disabilities, they are almost always white as if people of this about people of color dont have disabilities. You are overcoming what you consider triple jeopardy where you are living by the of model what do the lakes have to do with it . She also has joined the board of directors and is a friend to us. Dr. Walton. [applause]. They give for that introduction it is so wonderful to fall over. What a wonderful woman. That inspires me. Thank you very much. Good morning and welcome maya so happy to be standing here today before you. When i was asked to be here a part of this wonderful education than i have a platform to talk and share my story. But we need your participation when i ask a question i would be the answer but it is not a thing you must answer as loudly as you can. What day late and got to do with it . When a female rival told me i was less than a woman because i have one leg. Excuse me . Perhaps i missed something had you fought a battle with cancer that cost you a live . Three discriminated against . Have you lost your job because of a disability . Ive a little perplexed so when you park in a Handicapped Parking space for a splitsecond i was terrified by her insensitivity but to dismantle the thinking to show a the perception was nothing but quite accurate and i wanted to show that it had to be challenged that women with disabilities are much more than the sum of their parts. And transcend their disabilities this encounter was much more. A she claimed were because of criticism was a direct threat to the positive perception of womens with disabilities that we are much more than the sum of our body parts and standing in the affirmative strong and powerful transcending our disabilities. So this encounter was very important because at a time in my life reminded the was in flux. So that took me a lot of years to come back from that was 30 years ago but even today it is rather comical how both men and women view of me and say what did with a disability. Nodded dagos by without someone who asks me what happened to your leg . Says if that will make gore break the relationship i dont even have with them. So i paused and i amassed the question what does say leg have to do with that . Nothing. With like to show you a brief excerpt from my new duties book of shattered dreams and broken pieces it is a memoir talking about the context of my life to reinvent yourself when it happens to you you dont have to be defined by that incident. Oh like to share that a brief excerpt because it is the impact of stereotypes when day occur early in the stages of life. So back in 1981 teaching elementary class a seven yearold student said to me me, and mrs. Walton . You will never get married. Why do you say that . No man would never marry a woman with a disability. No man bled very you. You have one leg. As if his analysis was obvious. The reason why i share that is because as i did not know at that time, i was space teaching in very space at the npt npt. Advancing women with disabilities i had no clue but that students values and the view that he had was shaped very early his kerry and as attitude carries on into adulthood than they become managers and Business Owners and they still hold those police that they are less competent or less skilled or less capable. There was a turning point because it shows the pervasiveness of the stereotypes when embedded early. I want to shift to some research that was shared with me that his call the triple jeopardy syndrome but this has given me the of platform and the impetus for rural women of color. Calling attention to the disparate attention as a triple jeopardy to be victims of rape or gender or disability. So her Research Shows the rat a disadvantage. So because it was very important that information was dormant and i did nothing. I knew if i was beat divide there were other young women of color for Employment Opportunities for people with disabilities had not significantly improved in decades. So that would explain one added three working a adults are employed compared to those without disabilities. Is true that stigma attached is very pervasive in Society Today. So as i began the talks are want to share with you those examples that show me that if you want what you want out of life you have to fight for a so i decided to fight for it. So i could the idea was for disabilities project in place and i created for your with the end of color to be empowered and a platform to change the imagery of women with disabilities. That was important to change that perception. Not all the buzz live in hollywood but they live among us, in our community, family, work force schools, many women with disabilities and they do not always well in hollywood however i wanted to flip the script on women of color the way if somebody turns on a television station we would be present so those divas with the disability project so to the end of mass media would have the imagery of what that looks like. And to take away these stereotypes so december 2012 there river very few women know where that is even existed so to take that opportunity to show starting in san 2012 the membership grew over 1,000 members following the deal was with disabilities project and i want to applaud because they showed up today and i appreciate that. [applause] so could lead the project is devolving into a Major Movement women of color of all major disabilities im amazed at the increasing popularity. Showing up unapologetically we have a vision we want to see more women of color reflected in mass media to shape the perception of a disability looks like by promoting women of color. Perhaps sugar in a position to help us do that. I want to back up a little bit how stereotypes are just so harmful to damage a womans selfesteem. I had a situation what my body looks like prior to my a imputation everything was going well that we lost track and after maya imputation we did it again. So if i would remove my prosthetic limb he would leave my house abruptly. Over tell him that violate got tired and walked off heat was not comfortable with the concept. That was very damaging at the time you wonder abide he could not see pass that so i thought if he can then read about other members of society . It proved that they did not. It is amazing if you are judged on what you see you dont even get a chance to get to know me its all about how you look vital have my cake and then i am not asked any questions. But as soon as it is present and they see me walk away the media the i am verizon with questions. So when something happens to you to ask others what happens to them . I dont think so. Someone to talk about overhauling our perceptions. In order for us to have a Major Overhaul we must think about it in the way we experienced diversity i remind individuals they do have two legs you can only just see one of them. Had been saying women of color is disabilities i reminded of that seven yearold student at said i would never be buried in he takes me because i am not. But this imprint that the stereotypes to stigmatize and that carries on into our livelihood. I want you if your in the position to hire a person with a disability, think about this we are repeatedly during his excellent and it isnt enact it is a habit my call to action and today is to get in the habit of hiring qualified persons whether a starring role in hollywood what a Top Executive at a fortune 500 if you happen to be in a position to interview a qualified person the answer would be not a thing. So for those stevenson the room i have a message it is an excerpt from dr. Martin luther king to talk about establishing a blueprint if you can be a bush you can be a tree and you can be a highwage than betrayal if you cannot be a son be a star if you win or failed me the best at whatever you are. If you can run then walk but whatever you do i will pause because they thank you may have some questions from me. Sova that being said i hope youll enjoy it might talk. [applause] we prepared to a dancer not a thing. [applause] but while they are coming to the front rehab an extraordinary staff we literally only have five people were trying yvette mighty because of these extraordinary talents of people so oh lord has come to us and of no order for a long time she previously worked at nbc news and the political unit with a lot of experience in washington and is a superstar someone to turn that moderating rollover tool loaded with some pretty special guest and i am very excited what we can learn from them. We will sit through this session before derby starter i want to remind everyone who is watching us we also live tweeting with if you want to ask any questions to learn whether will come to treat live. I want to introduce a very special guest tommy but is barred without most of his right arm. But was seen as a golf prodigy at the age of six troubled the world advocating in beginning his global journey on the Ellen Degeneres show at three years old. He has won the hearts of millions a round of world as he competes against the pga tour players closest to the pin contest after to features he is is the platform to help other children get the help they need justice he has. His father is a career veteran focusing on the demographic with a Third Generation trader specializing in a Trading Market and became an advocate in 2010 when he was bored with one arm serving as the chairman of the of limited foundation and others with physical challenges before we have a chance to talk more pleased by attention to the screen for a lovely video. He could get upset because he always wanted to watch golf. Different or not we get people who were different and their parents did not support them. But this is that. Sold to be born with one of our. And getting a blood clot and that was critical development. And while its utero but thankfully there was not. Believe regret that i have. [laughter] is the time that i wasted wondering where he could not do. And also just being different. [inaudible] google. He has already worked it out. Impact is saying what it is. Right away a fan of finding rigo. Because he had a shortlived and. So one day he said i will do this. Well look over and he is anchoring to the golf club. He said i just thought of it i am nemo. Said he is always thinking of a way to adapt and to meet i could not be more proud of that. Were also seeing more and even showed them how he plays golf because those people leave their not capable so he bill show them even though they lost a limb so i say we here to help people. He says okay. Our job as parents is no different. He is at the end successful. [applause] earlier we were talking about playing golf many the opportunity to beat the professional so what you want to share . I do those one our challenge is. I challenge them to the one our contest and i will add a lot. The first one was 30 out of 31. In bin 68 at 48 i did not do so good out of that one. I know that so they came out here specifically to meet you. Those who see your story. Em a little more different they want to do what they want to do. You let them know every day is possible with the right attitude. Soviets could not hear a comment on the was talking about the need to have a good attitude and anybody can succeed. Yes spectacular parents were not involved with this advocacy until you were born but why is it important for our people to advocate for our people with disabilities . We are not involved as Disability Advocates but wed night cages you adapt to your circumstance finding a up your child is born different is the exception period. Sunlight not as . Why cant we make a difference . We are a normal family trying to raise a child. That opportunity for us only occurs because we quite simply put all the love as mom and dad into our child didnt care about the outcome of our trial. Whether an academic european no we will give him the tools necessary otherwise we will be cutting him short in life and that is not acceptable. Anyone who has a variety of disabilities growing up in american in this Society Today . When we look at life what is the numberone thing we want . To be booked upon as an equal regardless of the fact he has five fingers and they have 10. So we want to give them the tools necessary when he was 10 months old he could catch a ball and doctors did not believe that. I was playing soccer and i hit it super far. I hit somebody in the head with a soccer ball. [laughter] he was good at all sports at an early age. So we always thought it wonderful way to build bonds it is wonderful how it transforms how you get your son to like golf . We didnt. Thats why he chose. He stood up on the couch and started to swing the golf club. And we said why not . I broke a couple of golf clubs. [laughter] and a couple of lights and everything in the house. [laughter] get it is our dedication to the passion of our child. I broke a fan. [laughter] he spends a lot of time with my wife john engler playing baseball. Were trying to build a child that is well grounded he happens to be his dad pretty ball. He recently started a foundation to help children with missing limbs. Can you talk more about that . We have been incredibly if fortunate the professional organizations to allow us to make a difference with some wonderful zero opportunities to support others that are facing physical challenges prior to the sheer this year agreed offer analyze that and make a difference in as many families as we possibly qian to do have like teen jean operations white cajun operations that those to have the opportunities. As we saw in the video it is very important to see it in the of media of representation of who you are. With you want to talk about what it was like to see nemo with his missing fit and how did that make you feel . Felt weird al first like any did a bunch of nuts every day. It felt really weird. Solid act like they cut my arm off. [laughter] [laughter] we are not hiding anything. We dont worry or lose sleep so on different occasions the opportunity to have a little fun that might not be politically correct and several folding door and he was glad to tell the people of the hotel he lost his arm in the revolving door. [laughter] cpac is there anyone ended the audience with a question . 8q40 sherry our story what are the ways that you travel to different places has impacted your dirty and work through your journey . Indonesia. That was overnight in scotland and 33 hours. Scott and the seven hours and germany and we had to sleep on the airplane for all preof those. And then when people wanted to take my picture i said no more pictures. We have said in an incredibly blast that people wanted to bring his story within those physical differences and a buyer is an incredible journey that we could never possibly have expected people came from hours away to get his autograph and probably the most troubling thing that we had done and he was explaining he better be prepared to take some pictures that he had the nef one night and wanted to walk away. But without question. Abbas so tired. He was tired. The country of indonesia had the most impact they have done a great job to embrace his story to go to the pga yvette to tee off with a. Is unheard of. He is the first he does well in the game of golf he is considered a scratch golfer he shot his live round of 324 under par,. Park is 36 he placed second in the state of florida for state championships this a clear alpine hearst where he is participating with 1500 children go to put hearst they compete for world best he is a first child to ever qualified for the World Championships with one arm. Two years in a row broke the at he is creating records not breaking them. Sova what happens is as a byproduct of that you have an entire community of people that are affected and every golf tournament. Said everyone has a physical world mental challenge u. S. Changing peoples perspective daily that is a Snowball Effect with his journey the number of people that have feuded history globally is 100 Million People that is pretty impressive for a sexual. Each state creates a new group of people do have a different way of thinking and i could say i could not be more proud. Tommy was telling the earlier you want to share that . [inaudible] Arnold Palmers jack nichols tiger woods. [inaudible] krispy mcfadyen is an impressive roster. But that is so easy said rebecca want to present tommy with something this is a flag of the United States of america broke over the u. S. Capitol on july 24th july 24th, 2017 has been the honorable oh brad sherman number of commoners as the unlimited foundation. [applause] and well give you directions how to take care of this. We want to get a picture of your holding above flag with your dad because this is very exciting for us to be with your. I want to be in the shot because he is a superstar. If any of the burn rubber is what to do job and then very quickly we know that he is a superstar. After this we will hear from our tv network host marc summers. Please stand by. [inaudible conversations] [applause] the search huge debt that certificate because this is washington balata us fake this and allow them to do think that somebody pretended they flew a flag of the United States capitol serving defer being with us today we will now bring up marc summers i delving there is anyone in america that has not seen video of this wonderful tv host for the superstar and to discover people of all ages with the daytime or nighttime Television Many recognize that multifaceted talent for a wideranging contributions beret a career that is successful in front of or behind the camera. Currently hosting the longest running show on the food network called the draft and sabah remember him as the focus of vilest on double dare at nickelodeon bernie the home show where he was a us correspondent and guest host. Also on the food never. The other very proud he publicly discloses to be a part of valor community. Desolate donaldson who had a imputation you can see those disabilities of lot of paper in america have disabilities and you cannot see and thus didnt have budget is that they face and that is challenging with the National Spokesperson for the obsessive compulsion probation and has appeared on a bra, said today to discuss these issues. Here is his book. Everything is in its place. To perform a show based on his life. He and his wife are by coastal between was the angeles and philadelphia. Both the children the Family Business as well. [applause] thanks arab being here today. I have learned a lot to be here and hear the stories. So with this obsessive compulsive disorder and oppression so we thought that i tend to talk way too long that we would get some dialogue so there will do that to start . How did you decide to go into a pod with hal did you become a tv host . I knew exactly what i wanted to do i was fortunate hoodoo the Entertainment Industry is where i wanted to land. I used to watch the ed sullivan show. Thank you for being here. That i will read what the tonight show how do i get on stage or perform . So i learned magic that was the springboard. Sora order to practice to be good you have to do the same thing over and over and little did i know how much obsessive compulsive was a positive aspect of a magician and performer. A majority of the reason is because of my lcd o cd because they did not let go of things as a promise i will never call them hired him sweat on how to talk to him anymore. And wanting something so passionately worked in my favor. So what is ocd . Mine is need to and ordered. I would spend many hours on my hands and knees to st. To infringe on the rub. Said people would ask me why but i did not know until that came. I would sit in my room for 03 hours before it could start working if things were not perfect i could not work well. It is hereditary and predominant from those jewish background from the eastern bloc my grandmother would sweep natalie her driveway but also the streets as well we told the joke i would give up in the middle of the night and the bed was made. But it bader is true. We would have a cleaning lady come to the house and my father had everything perfect in say dont touch anything if she moved to the issues he would go and thats so i started to do this at six or seven i would come home from sunday school and spend six hours cleaning my room to dust the shelves. When you grow up in a home with a regular occurrence they didnt think it was strange that i wasnt outside with the kids. Some are quarters orders but they have a rule book and it changes on a daily basis. So if you tell yourself that unless you do these in a particular way something bad will happen. After my first success i was in boston angeles about 13 years and i started to get a request to do Hollywood Squares of have to fly in to tell myself if i did not reread the label a certain way the plane would crash. They went back up the elevators, check the doors, go back and do it two, three, four, five times. Or all day long. Some people think of the hit a bump in a car they killed somebody so they will drive back and go to that spot for hours. We had a woman was always late for dinner. She finally admitted she was on oprah discussing her ocd and she called me and said you know im always late to dinner and she said i have ocd, the kind of i had a bump on the road i feel i could damage some of his life and have to go back round the block over and over. They say 6 Million People have ocd in the country. Somehow i think its much grander. The people who come up to me and discuss their version of ocd is remarkable. How do you work when you have this. Have you show up and put on a show and have a smile on your face, and how can you succeed in the workplace. We are all about enabling people to be High Achievers and you clearly have been able to do that. What are your tips for people in how to deal with it. I apologize. I know i speak fast when you hate when i do that. How do i do it . I was just possessed and i had a passion for something. I wanted to be on tv more than life itself. I give speeches to colleges in my opening line is nobody got up and said i have to go give mark summers a job today. Its up to me and all of us to be responsible for our own happiness. The difficult question for me to answer because i dont know how i did it. I just did it. I wanted to be on television and i have my eye on the ball. First i did magic and that put me in front of the parties and groups in indianapolis and then i started doing voiceovers and became a dj limit i became a writer on the game show with bob barker and i kept auditioning and pushing myself and motivating myself to keep the eye on the ball. During the process, i got married when i was 22 and my wife was 21. Little did she know every weekend she would have to clean the house with me for hours upon hours. We would do the wash, she would fold the towels and i would refold them. She would fold the shirts and i would refold the shirts. We been married 43 years. The woman deserves a metal. [applause] i just did what i had to do, but in the process i would stay up nights and straighten frames or rearrange towels or straighten things over and over again. You will find there are many people in all lines of work that are extremely successful because of the ocd. The drives them. Howie mandel who is probably better known as an ocd guy more than me, he got a pass. Why cannot having ocd, you could be a drug addict in hollywood or an alcoholic, but ocd was like the craziest thing in the world. All its about is serotonin not getting from point a to point b. I was signed to do Hollywood Squares what was coming back and got fired because i went on National Television hosting a show and i expose myself on national tv. The next thing i know im adding a book and im on oprah and howard stern and the reputation was that i was not difficult to work with and none of this was true. I was signed into promotions for Hollywood Squares and next thing i know i was fired and tom bergeron took my place. Nice guy, still friends to this day, not his fault, but the feeling was i couldnt do this job because of the things i exposed. All of these things existed long before i came out and talked about it. The reason i cannot talk about it was the discovery that all these years ive been doing these things but didnt know it had a name. I had a mega choice. The night before i got the material, do i pretend i dont have it or do i come out and discuss it. I made the choice to do it. It was a major faux pas in many ways that i can get a job for several years. People wer afraid to hire me. When i got back to the business, there was a network called pacs television. It was mostly religious network and i hosted a daytime talk show in the afternoon just get back on television. Then i started producing television and many of the things that happen in my career were by mistake. The audition for double there was a mistake. A guy who was a friend of mine that the original phone call for the audition. He didnt go that i went instead of him and i got the job. With food network, i was trying to promote a tv show and i went in and pitched her show and they said would you like to do a show with us. Ive been there for 17 years hosting the longer show plus producing and doing stuff like that. Every thing that happened in my life has sorta been a mistake and then you have to take those opportunities and run. I was always able to overcome whatever that ocd aspect was to push over to the next level. Listening to this, its so hard to imagine because so many people, when they get rejected they sort of stop and they have a hard time restarting. You were rejected a lot of times and you went and were very open and you got fired because of your disability so how does somebody really handle rejectio rejection. How can so many come back from rejection. In the acting industry, the answer is always no. I dont have that gene that tells me to be depressed about that. I started in 1976 with David Letterman and jay leno, i dont know what happens any of those people. [laughter] i kept moving forward but a lot of people give up because they couldnt take the word no. I went to an office once with a jewish executive who said i would never hire me because i had it you wish knows and he would never hire me. I was friends with ed mcmahon and gary collins, both very good friends. They had noses that made mine look miniature. I said what you think. Should i get it done. They said if you think so, go ahead but i dont it makes any difference. Six weeks later this executive was fired. Whoever is going to reject you at some point will go away and i would just keep trying. Ill keep throwing stuff against the wall until someone says yes. Keep in mind i landed in l. A. In 73. I think it doubled their total 76. There were 13 years of rejection. I was a magician at the magic castle. To pay the rent, i hosted a wet tshirt contest at a place called big jars for 50 bucks every sunday. Thats what you do in the Entertainment Industry to keep yourself going and pay the bills. My daughter who is extremely talented has turned into a Yoga Instructor because she got tired of hearing the word no. I think most people going to school at nyu, syracuse, they will not be in the industry. They will be selling shoes or working in the Restaurant Business because when the audition for the first 100 times and you hear you dont get the job. I think i had a hundred and five auditions before i got my First National commercial. While i keep doing it . I dont know. I dont hear the word know when i keep pursuing it. I guess thats the way im wired. , to turn it over to the audience for questions. If you have a question raise your hand and someone will bring your microphone. Do we have any takers. My name is linda, this is my son eric. He has Autism Spectrum Disorder along with heart problems and speech delay. His passion is to be a bishop, actor, writer, and entertainer. He has made to gospel single cd cds. Hes been on a couple tv shows on Channel Nine News and gospel magazine. I wanted to ask you if you could tell me how i can get him into hollywood because i have also been told no, no, no what comes to trying to get him in the Entertainment Industry. I dont think theres anyone answer. The answer is tenacity. You have talent. I talk to your son before we got started. He has a Big Personality. I wouldve known he had a disability until you told me. Theres more opportunities. Theres a show called americas got talent right now and they are always looking for another side, another story beside someone who just comes up in the singing, dancing, so you have a story to tell. Have you tried americas got talent. Thats the first place i would go. Not with them but some details i spoke to in the Entertainment Industry asked me if your son can read music and i said no so they thought that was not going to be a good thing, as far as him getting into hollywood. Dont listen anybody. Nobody knows. There many wellknown musicians who do not read music. Does he have a natural ability . Does he have a natural talent . You telling me he has a couple of cds on youtube and you can see him and things like that. Its persistence and not letting go. Yes, do you know anybody who knows somebody who knows somebody. Look at this program you hold this out. Here we go. Eric, here we go. This is what you gotta do. So, along those lines, only 2 of the characters that we see on tv are peoples with disability according to glad and the usc in all the studies. Must every time there on their played by an actor who doesnt have a disability so how do we change that conversation beyond the oscars to to be oscar so everybody, can we be in the picture too. I think we have to be at the unions. After they had merged, they had board meetings on a regular basis. I think its getting better. Im doing this one man show called everything in its place which is what the documentary is the least on. Ocd is pretty funny. The repetitive actions are quite silly. I demonstrate that. Now they can also be quite painful. I think, years ago on, years ago, they talked about threats under. Nobody knew what tourettes was. That opened up all sorts of doors. Once again i think its all about awareness. When i came out as a National Spokesperson, i was on every Television Show and radio show you can imagine. Why . Because im a personality and we could get the word out. I think its important for people who have these disabilities to go to agents, managers, riders, producers, managers and just like this meeting is happening here for awareness, maybe you can work with the folks from l. A. Who do these unions and say we need to have a meeting. Years ago when they would have cowboy and indian movies, they never had real native americans buying the roles. I think all that kind of stuff is changing with political correctness. In some ways clinical correctness can be up pain in the you know what. Theres a particular generation out there, the millennials, who have zero sense of humor and years ago, if you watch the ed sullivan is an show there were different types of comedians and you were able to make fun of different types of ethnicities. Now people get very nervous about that. We need to calm down and remember we need a sense of humor to get through life. I think if you got some campaigns together and went to the Steven Spielbergs of the world and people who have influence, this is not a terribly difficult fight to win. When you came out about ocd, who were the people who were particularly embracing and you felt welcome to you and your whole self and who might also get excited about other kinds of disabilities and really expanding this tent. I called matt lauer and seven be on your show. Here are the things i would like to talk about, and matt said to me, ability to something really quick. Im asking the first question. You dont have to answer it. You can answer anything you want from that point on to get your point across. So the today show and matt lauer were very open when it came to having a discussion because up until that point nobody had actually spoken about it. Oprah was the same way. We did a full hour on oprah talking about ocd. I did an hour with howard stern which, when i went on that show, my wife was scared to death. She said if you talk anything about our lives personal were dead. But, howard has admitted to having ocd so we were able to have, and by the way, hes like the best interviewer in the history of broadcaster. Say what you will about him, hes brilliant. He was very good about opening up and getting the word out. You need to get people in the industry who have a voice and who can take everything were to talking about and get the word out to more people. This is a nice turnout. We have people on cspan hopefully watching, but what you do when you leave. How do you keep the message going . Thats always the most difficult part. Throughout washington, in every Office Building theres another meeting going on about some other issue. How do you break through. You mentioned cspan which is so important. Cspan brings so many new voices to america and i think some of the people watching us on cspan found this show very much by accident. The people who were in the room intentionally wanted to be here. They are part of the Disability Community and they wanted to talk about disability issues, but the people who are watching on cspan, again, they are accidentally now part of our family. What kind of messages would you like to do the for people who want to get engaged. What are some of the things they can do more things for them to think about. Its been an awareness campaign. You have to let people know that these things exist. We been talking about hiring people with disabilities. I always like to think, im from the woodstock generation, i was that our group was gonna change everything. Then i thought my son and daughters generation was gonna change everything and things get incrementally better. This young man had such a Big Personality and he didnt have an arm. And the young lady who doesnt have a leg. Who cares. What difference does that make. Look at the whole person. But their mind. Can they do what you need them to do . I was picked up this morning and met these nice german here. He says he has a disability. I had a portion of the incline but thats the only disability i saw, he ha were on capitol hill. Thats a hell of a hill. I saw him trying to do that. Yours want to step back. I said say the word and he said yes if you want help me go ahead. Youve got to be like Gorgeous George and have an arm like a wrestler to go up there. Because he can push himself up a hill, really, hes intelligent as any human being ive ever met. Youve got to get past that no word, no no leg, no arm. Who cares. We just have to pound this message and over and over again and tell people thats the way to do it. Ive talked to about 80 of the people in this room. Some of you, i guess you have disabilities because youre here but i couldnt tell. In less you hold the sign that says im ocd or im artistic. I would make a big deal about it. Theres no reason to bring it up. Were all just people. Thats what it comes down too. Questions from the audience . Anything else . Whats your name sir . My name is darren. My question for you, people with disabilities find different ways to cope with it and it might look strange to the outside. How did you find a way to get other people around you to become comfortable with your disability. You know what, some people are never comfortable to your disability. Some people do make jokes about me fluffing up pillows. The big thing is we would have people over for thanksgiving and what i wanted people to leave and bring out the vacuum cleaner. As soon as i started vacuuming, you know its time to leave. Market had enough. I think a sense of humor is key. I had another friend, we are best friends, he just passed away. His wife loved to throw parties but he would flash the light three times and not meant get the hell out of my house. You have to have a sense of humor. I knew when i was doing these things they werent necessarily normal, whatever normal is. My wife used to say, when my daughter would have friends over that they would color and i would they would get cramps on the rug and i would start scrubbing. My wife would say dont do that. Then i can wait for them to get out of the room like could scrub it. We had moved into a new house in california and my son was four or five years old. We were going to do it birthday party. New wood floors, new walls, new everything i said please, ill take the kids to disneyland, will go to universal, whatever, i dont want all these kids in the house. She said no or buying the house number to use it. I figured out how tall the average 5yearold kid was and i went and bought butcher paper and i lined the entire house with butcher paper so they put the fingerprints on the wall it would get on the paper so word got around the neighborhood that i had done this and literally everyone in the neighborhood came over to borrow some sugar and then they look around saying you really do this stuff. To get a reputation and some way. It was comic relief in the neighborhood. I used it but i knew it was ridiculous but it was the only way i knew how to deal with it. I guess the difficult part is, you make others around you feel uncomfortable. Thats where the dividing line is and you have to train yourself. I initially went on medication and then behavior therapy classes. Thats what turned me around. I also believe this. Ive never done any drugs, ive never smoked a cigarette and i drink for a little alcohol, but i know people who have those kind of problems have to want to get rid of them before they can. I would be in my behavior therapy class and i would have people every week, youd have to say what were the issues that we can they would say the same thing but im on these meds and i cant get past it. I finally stood up and said i want this out of my life that alanis mentioned unless you want to turn your life around either youve got to get outta here or ive got to get out of here. If you really want to get rid of them you can. Now you cant grow another leg or another arm so thats a whole other issue and thats where we have to get the American Public to understand there is no difference. Were fighting many things. Mental things and physical things. Its all about education. Until we educate the rest of the people about what we can do, we are all kind of stock. There are many of us who had ocd who have been very successful. What drives them or motivates them im not sure but awareness, let the world know we are no different than anybody else. Mark you mentioned some very big names in hollywood who could really make a difference. Perhaps you can give us a 101 on hollywood. You mentioned unions. I just have to say, this is washington d. C. Where we know the minutia of everything on how something becomes a law about how it becomes a showing gets greenlighted, we know nothing about that. What does a show run and who are sort of the roles of the people in hollywood that would make decisions fo. Its right place right time, what are they looking for is the big question. When the food network started, bobby flay was the big star. He is like a mainstay. I dont think hes ever had an unsuccessful show on food network. Rachael ray, suddenly people become producers. Because i have a voice on a particular network, they have an open door to go in there. Its a matter of finding who those celebrities are on the network you would like to go too. Certainly, if you can get to oprah, this woman pulls off magic tricks and shes one of the premier exceptions to talent in the world. Whatever oprah wants, oprah gets. Can you get to her and pitch an idea . She owns a network. It would think at least the people who work with her and under her could help in that situation. If you atten attach yourself to someone with power in the industry, if you find yourself with somebody who has some clout, the Musical Chairs when it comes to management, whoevers the head right now might not be the head in the next 3 5 years. Certain people have been there longer than others. Network president s and people in power are what its all about. What does a show runner do . A show runner has different meaning different things. Im responsible for the Overall Program and working with the network. The Budget Program and make sure we stay on budget, i hire and fire everybody in the show runner is a person both beneath me who executes the daytoday. Thats different in reality and talking game than it is in movies and sitcoms. Theres a little differentiation in each. If i was giving advice, i would say go to the president and theres a vote thats happening. But sit down and have a meeting with his people and lets see if we can open up that door about using people with real disabilities, and what are the causes. Do we want to do one on depression and ocd and people who have autism. What are the things we would like to do. It would actually be a good program on a regular basis to discuss a different disability and do a story on somebody who has been successful, dancers, heres a very talented young lady got on dancing with the stars. How do you take it to the next level. I would hope that would help but its all about getting the word out once again, nobody got out and said i have to give mark summers a job. If you gonna sit at home and hope someone will hire you, that will never be the case. You have to get up in the morning and have a mission and check things off and not give up. Its brutal. The answer is no most of the time. You will find that one person in the thousand who open up that door. I was safe i wouldve addition for double there when i first came to l. A. I wouldve gotten it because it wasnt seasoned enough. I was 33 years old. I have 13 years under my belt. I was ready to knock it out of the park. Timing is essential. You only get one opportunity to make a First Impression so you better be ready when the door opens. If you screwed up you not getting back in that door whether you have a disability or not. Any more questions from the audience. Earlier you talked about. [inaudible] as a person with a disability i encountered some obstacles i wasnt expecting to deal with so i had a work with my supervisor to try to figure it out. You said having humor is a big part of making people feel comfortable. What other things you have to address at work when it comes your disability. Good question. Every day is a challenge, for you, for me and maybe everybody in this room. When people say to me were you cured from ocd, i say im 80 cured. I seven issue walking in the Grocery Stores and reading labels. I tried to stay out of those situations. So when my wife wants to go Grocery Shopping i say have a nice day. If you know there are certain things that bother you and you can avoid them, i think that the key issue. There are other times when things that you straighten the face that you werent aware of which i think is what you talking about, and then how to deal with it. I guess, from strength. I guess everybody in this room is a little bit stronger than everybody outside this Office Building. Why . Because you have to be. Your entire life youve had to deal with stuff that people outside these walls havent had to deal with. As far as facing things of the unknown, im not worried about you. You are here in your smart and articulate. Youve got a lot going for you. If you take two steps back, youll figure it out. Youll be fine. Its just amazing to have you here. See how neatly its folded, thats fantastic. I want to put it in the box because i dont want to mess it up. Thank you very much. This is an honor. Im so grateful to have this opportunity to get the word out and speak to all of you folks. I hope you have a grea great day and a wonderful afternoon. Thank you for inviting me. Mark summers is so fabulous. We run a tight ship around the scheduling. I want to tell you how to work. First of all, leah Daniel Butler is here in the room. We are so excited. Steven is also in the room, we have some great speakers right after lunch. She brought her moms were very glad to have her here and somewhere her husband is here. Icl in our list will also be speaking this afternoon the way it will work as we will have a short break. We will have an opportunity for people who want to use the cafeteria downstairs. Our team out front to give you directions for how to get to the rayburn cafeteria, and we will start sharply at 1 00 p. M. Meanwhile, for those on cspan, let me invite you to check us out on respectability. Org, on facebook and on twitter. We have a National Leadership program we are currently hiring for that we have 15 wonderful superstar Young Leaders with us now. That cohort is about and were looking for a new applicant. Mark summers, you were terrific. Every speaker we had was terrific. Lets give them all around of applause. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] a look at our schedule on the cspan network. Starting at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan, a discussion on religion, ethics and current challenges facing journalists and the media. Here on cspan2, it is the tv. The programs from our local content vehicles visits to hyde park new york, North Carolina and charlottesville. On cspan three, American History tv with events looking at womens history. Also tonight, remarks from arizona senator jeff flake on his new book in the current Political Climate in washington. We spoke recently to the local chamber of commerce in gilbert alabama and will show that at 915 eastern on cspan. More from arizona as President Trump holds a rally with supporters in phoenix. That starts live at 10 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. You can also watch online at cspan. Org or listen on the free cspan radio out. Cspan washington journal is live every day with news and policy issues that affect you. Wednesday morning, chief economist and cofounder of moodys economy. Com, mark bandy discusses the debt ceiling crisis and its optimal effect on wall street. Kelly wagner talks about the future of the Childrens Health insurance program. Ian murray with the competitive Enterprise Institute reveals their report. Be sure to watch cspan washington journal live in 77 wednesday morning. Join the discussion. They recently visited capital hill to see what they are reading. Im into books that are faithbased. One of the books i read, a friend of mine wrote, its called from the belly of the spare to the mountain mountaintop. Its a study of the book of the bible. Whats interesting about this author, his son was my pastor years ago, but his son was a b130 pilot and crashed in the whole crew died. This is about how this particular pastor has lived and dealt with the trials of life, including losing a son. Its really a good book. Its an indepth study of that particular book of the bible, but most times and probably throughout the summer, im a real big history buff. There is a book called the sacred fire which is about the history of the founding forefathers. I am reading that but that will take a long time because its a pretty thick book. Send us your Summer Reading list booktv or instagram at book underscore tv or posted to her facebook page. To be on cspan2. Next, congressman Keith Ellison leads a discussion on social movement and political platform. Youll hear about race issues, campaignfinance reform, criminal justice and climate change. This is one hour 30 minutes. That afternoon. My name is hudson. Ill be moderating the largest channel yet. If you have a question thank you everyone for being here