Employees attend Americans with Disabilities Act celebration at White House

Stacy Pommer, National Affiliations officer for the Office of Academic Affiliations, could hardly contain her excitement when she arrived at the White House to celebrate an event of personal significance to her-Disability Pride and the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

It was her first White House event and she was invited by a VA senior leader from whom there were only limited invitations. Pommer was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic eye disease that leads to central vision loss, so the event at the White House became a cherished memory for her.

There, she heard the mayor of North Wales, Pennsylvania-Neil DeVitt, the first deaf mayor elected in the U.S.-make opening remarks through sign language, formally introducing President Biden, who went on to speak about many of the rights that have become law since the ADA was signed in July 1990. Biden noted that the ADA was the first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities.

"These laws are a source of opportunity, respect, pride and dignity."

"Right here on this lawn, 34 years ago, President George H. W. Bush signed it into law to ensure the American dream is available to all of us, not just some of us. For more than 61 million Americans living with disabilities, these laws are a source of opportunity, respect, pride and dignity," the President said.

"I was so grateful to be a part of this experience. It was empowering to be surrounded by strong leaders advocating for individuals with disabilities, many of whom personally have their own journey to share," Pommer shared.

Having navigated her own path through VA employment with a disability, Pommer recently joined a VA interdisciplinary team that is working to improve the reasonable accommodations process at VA facilities for health professions trainees with disabilities to ensure their needs are met.

The team is currently finalizing the environmental scan phase and looking to identify opportunities for VA to improve the reasonable accommodation process by enhancing policies, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and improving communication and training platforms enterprise wide.

Reducing barriers for trainees with disabilities

Pommer appreciated the opportunity to work with the VA team that reduces barriers for trainees with disabilities so that all trainees can be successful in their clinical learning environment.

"I am truly grateful to collaborate with leaders who are passionate about making a national impact in the disability space in VA. Supporting health professions trainees with disabilities is both personal and important," she added.

The mission of training future health professionals for VA and the nation, established more than 78 years ago, is one of VA's four statutory missions and is overseen by the Office of Academic Affiliations.

More than 120,000 health professions trainees in over 60 clinical disciplines train at VA each year, making VA the largest provider of health care education in the United States. For more information on VA's education mission, visit OAA's website.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.