>
>Dear friends and colleagues:
>
>For the past eight months, I have had the privilege of assisting the White
House
>Domestic Policy Council, helping to lay the groundwork for the successful
>implementation of the President's New Freedom Initiative, as a detailee
from the
>Department of Labor. I have completed my detail and will be returning to the
>Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities
April 3rd.
>
>It has been an honor to work with the many dedicated people in the White
House
>and across the Administration who are responsible for ensuring that the
>President's New Freedom Initiative goals are realized. We have worked with
you
>and Congress to secure funding for many of the President's New Freedom
>Initiative commitments announced February 1st, 2001.  Almost all of the
>President's early promises have been fulfilled.
>
>Following September 11, the Administration worked to help people with
>disabilities affected by the terrorist attacks and helped to ensure that
people
>with disabilities would be considered and involved in emergency preparedness.
>Because of September 11, some of the Administration's important work, such as
>the delivery of the agency reports responding to the President's Olmstead
>Executive Order, was delayed.  However, 10 agencies collaborated, in a
landmark
>partnership, to deliver hundreds of solutions that will make it possible for
>people with disabilities to live among friends and family in the community.
>
>The President's FY 2003 budget was announced this past February.  Even in
an era
>of budgetary constraint, the President's budget contains many increases in
>disability programs that promote community living, housing, transportation,
>education and employment.
>
>Over the past year, we have worked with dozens of organizations to identify
>policy priorities and 20 federal agencies to develop policy that advances the
>New Freedom Initiative objectives.  The New Freedom Initiative is not
simply a
>list of one-time, very important commitments.  It is a partnership with
you and
>an ongoing administration-wide campaign to bring equality to people with
>disabilities.
>
>Please feel free to contact my talented colleague Katy Hayes, at
>[log in to unmask], who will ably represent the disability
community
>and keep you informed of the many Administration activities that are
important
>to you.
>
>I will continue to work with the Administration on the New Freedom Initiative
>and can be reached at the following address:
>
>Jennifer Sheehy
>Senior Policy Adviser
>Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities
>1331 F St., NW
>Suite 300
>Washington, D.C. 20004
>202-376-6200
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>