Andrew J. Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, visited Belleville-based Allsup Inc. recently to review customer service operations and discuss the 730,000-person backlog in the Social Security disability process with Allsup executives. Allsup is the nation's largest non-attorney disability representation company and AAPD, based in Washington D.C., has about 100,000 members nationwide. 
Belleville, Ill. -- June 7, 2007 -- Andrew J. Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, visited Belleville May 17 to meet with executives of Allsup Inc. to discuss Social Security disability backlogs and Allsup's customer service operations.
Based in Washington, D.C., the AAPD has about 100,000 members nationwide. Allsup Inc. is the nation's leading Social Security disability representation company. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Belleville, Allsup has helped more than 85,000 people nationwide secure their disability benefits.
Following his visit to Allsup, Mr. Imparato discussed the goals of the AAPD and how people with disabilities are affected by the current backlogs in the Social Security disability application process.
Allsup Inc.: What is the AAPD's mission?
Mr. Imparato: The mission of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is to organize the disability community to be a powerful force for change--socially, politically and economically.
Allsup Inc.: What are the most critical issues facing the disabled American today?
Mr. Imparato: Equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. Disabled people are still outside the economic mainstream more often than not, and we are often held back artificially by outmoded government policies like the institutional bias in the Medicaid program. We are also concerned about a resurgent de facto eugenics movement facilitated by new prenatal genetic testing.
Allsup Inc.: The Social Security Administration is experiencing an unprecedented level of backlogs in the disability application system. Are you seeing or hearing more about this crisis among your membership? Do you have any solutions?
Mr. Imparato: Yes, I think the disability definition could be changed and medical and functional information could be shared electronically between different systems. Applicants could be encouraged to work with intermediaries and facilitators like Allsup to speed up the process.
Allsup Inc.: We often see the wide-ranging financial and emotional impact on people when they can no longer work because of a disability. We see the need for "validation" among applicants who have always felt that their value is defined by their work. Suddenly they are no longer a cook, a doctor or a teacher. What advice can you give people whose disabilities prevent them from working and who are searching for that validation or self worth?
Mr. Imparato: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Everybody can be great because anybody can serve." I would encourage everyone, regardless of the level of severity of their disability, to find a way to be of service to others. Get involved in advocacy, volunteer for a local, state or national group whose mission you feel passionate about, get involved in a faith community, and find ways to fill up your day with activities that give you increased energy and a sense of fulfillment and well-being.
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