LSA Disability Network

Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) together with the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) are proud to announce the introduction of the Disability Community Act (H.R. 5902) in the United States Congress. On July 14, 2016, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) led the introduction of this bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives with Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH). The bill is also supported by the leaders of the Congressional Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI).

Lutheran Services in America, Incorporated (LSA), is proud to collaborate with The Arc of the United States’ Center for Future Planning on an initiative to connect older caregivers who support a family member with intellectual and developmental disability to future planning resources. The Arc has engaged a number of national and state partners to participate in this project including The Arc of North Carolina, The Arc of Tennessee, The National Council on Aging, the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, the University of Illinois in Chicago’s (UIC) Department of Disability and Human Development, and LSA. This one-year project is made possible through a grant to The Arc from The Retirement Research Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s elders.

On Monday and Tuesday, June 13-14, 10 members of LSA-DN's Policy & Advocacy Team (PAT) held several meetings on Capitol Hill with key Congressional offices. PAT strategized with Karen Summar in Sen. Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) office on furthering the Transition to Independence Act to increase integrated employment for people with disabilities. We then met with David Hoppe, Chief of Staff for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Ted McCann, Policy Advisor to the Speaker, on the recently released GOP Poverty Plan, its possible impact on people with disabilities, and future partnership opportunities with the network and the Speaker.

Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) is pleased to welcome Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics, to speak at the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC) fall meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 26.

On October 7, Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) presented Senator Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA) with a plaque in recognition of his work on behalf of the disability community and his efforts to pass the historic ABLE legislation, an important step to providing more financial independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Forty representatives from 20+ LSA-DN member organizations gathered in Chicago at the ELCA headquarters for the Summer 2015 meeting on August 6 & 7. Network members learned from each other and several expert speakers about emerging trends in supports for people with disabilities. The network also celebrated the upcoming retirements of both Cindy Schroeder from Mosaic and Bill Nolan from KenCrest. Bill and Cindy have been the backbone of LSA-DN for many years and will be truly missed!

The LSA Disability Network (LSA-DN) will host its second advocacy training event, "Speak Up! Self-Advocate Training" in October at the LSA office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Effecting policy change through targeted advocacy is a complex process. From launching and implementing a policy initiative to sustaining its success, there are distinct challenges and opportunities at each stage of an effective advocacy campaign.

The Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN) held its 2014 Summer Meeting in Columbus, OH from August 5-8. They gathered the LSA-DN Policy Advisory Team (PAT) and Housing Forum.

Coming from a long career with Lutheran social ministry organizations, Julie Swanson, President and CEO of Lutheran Family Services of Virginia (LFSVA), has been involved in the Lutheran system since before the founding of LSA. For Julie, getting involved in the LSA network was an easy decision. "It's the other LSA member agencies, and the staff that work for them, that are your best allies and sources of information," she said in an interview with LSA this fall.