It’s not every day you get invited to the White House.
Yet, one day recently my colleague Denise Rozell from AUCD invited me to join her, and teams from Syracuse University and University of Maryland to attend an Open House for the 2024 Paralympics and Disability Pride. I am so glad I was able to attend!
I had never been to the White House, and I was super excited. Maybe I’d run into the President! Maybe we’d see the motorcade! My mind was reeling.
Then it really hit me: this visit was monumental in numerous ways. Personally, of course, but also that I know people who know people at the White House. And that the White House was welcoming people with disabilities in honor of Disability Pride. And that we got to meet Dante Allen, Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and Glenna Wright-Gallo, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the Department of Education, and Anna Perng, Senior Advisor to the White House Office of Public Engagement. And, that these government officials are familiar with the work of Think College and the opportunities afforded students with intellectual disability...well, the work we're doing is working: they know about Think College!
It was a very big day!
(Photo from left to right: Hari, Assistant Secretary Glenna Wright-Gallo, Commissioner Dante Allen, Michael, Senior Advisor to White House Office of Public Engagement Anna Perng, Shafreya, Daniel.)
Our party included Denise Rozell from AUCD; Matthew and Hari, students from TerpsEXCEED at University of Maryland, along with Isabelle Jensen and Hari’s mom and brother; and Matthew and Shafreya, students from InclusiveU at Syracuse University, with Karly Grifasi and Jennifer Quinn, and Matthew’s dad.
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We met up outside and waited in line to have our credentials checked and go through several security checkpoints. There was a sign that welcomed everyone and plenty of staff and volunteers to help take group photos and answer questions. There were two separate orchestral ensembles playing beautiful tunes that echoed throughout the halls of the White House. Other than that, there was no fanfare, no greetings from President Biden or the First Lady, just lots of excited people taking it all in. Regardless of missing out on getting a selfie with our Commander-in-Chief, the staff managed to make us feel like VIPs. As Karly said, “it was an amazing opportunity to connect the day-to-day of our students’ experiences at Syracuse University to the overarching impact that policy has on that experience. We got to meet decision- makers-- Commissioner Allen and Assistant Secretary Wright-Gallo--who drive some of the concrete ways that young adults with intellectual disability get to experience full inclusion. It was really an A-HA moment for Shafreya and Matthew.” |
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(Hari standing with the photo of the ADA being signed.)
(Daniel talking with a White House staff member.)
I loved checking out all the photo displays with my colleagues, especially when we stopped at the photo of the signing of the ADA in 1990 and Denise casually mentioned she was on the White House lawn for it. “I have been on White House tours before, I have been to White House events before, I was at the signing of the ADA in 1990, but to see these students know that they are part of the bigger whole of people with disabilities who can dream big dreams and make them happen was so exciting and affirming for me. They made a difference that day,” Denise said after our tour.
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Our visit didn’t last too long, maybe just an hour or so, but it was impactful. It was striking to see the students taking selfies with Commissioner Allen, Assistant Secretary Gallo, and Ms. Perng. Students heard about the history and importance of each room that we toured. Daniel, a student at University of Maryland, is very interested in history so he asked many detailed questions of the staff on duty. Hari took a lot of photos with his family throughout the tour to commemorate the day, and Shafreya had an extra special exchange with Ms. Perng! (We'll keep you posted on that...) Karly even got a little one-on-one time with the Commissioner and the Assistant Secretary: “With my work organizing the national State of the Art Conference, I was thrilled to be able to connect with Commissioner Allen and Assistant Secretary Wright-Gallo at the Disability Pride event at the White House. Being able to introduce them to Matthew and Shafreya–two amazing self-advocates–really reinforced that what we are doing is valued, and important. As we left, Ms. Perng told us how happy she was that we were there and how important it is for students with intellectual disability to attend college. She said she’d love to have another group of students back sometime. We would love that! |
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(Photo from left to right: Commissioner Dante Allen and Safreya.)
Denise wrapped it up best: “it is students sharing their stories, dreams, and aspirations that make the biggest difference with policymakers. To see them meet, speak to, and tell their stories to some of the most influential people in Washington on inclusive higher education–people like Assistant Secretary Glenna Gallo, RSA Commissioner Dante Allen, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, Taryn Williams, Hill staffers, and more–as we toured the White House, was amazing and energizing. These folks are changing the expectations for students with intellectual disability and they showed it!”
About the post author: Rebecca (Becky) Lazo is Knowledge Translation Manager for Think College. She gets the privilege of creating and sharing information about the good work being done by her co-workers on the Think College team via the website, social media, publications and resources, and more. She also gets super excited when she gets to see colleagues in person and has a chance to meet high-profile influencers!