[Missouri-l] [leadership] FW: [SPAM] [acb-l] FW: HHS Release: HHS Names Henry Claypool As Director of Office on Disability

[peter altschul]

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael McCarty [mailto:mmccarty at aph.org]
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 1:23 PM
To: acb-l at acb.org
Subject: [SPAM] [acb-l] FW: HHS Release: HHS Names Henry Claypool 
As
Director of Office on Disability


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  HHS Press Office
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
(202) 690-6343

HHS Names Henry Claypool As Director of Office on Disability The 
Department
of Health and Human Services today announced the selection of 
Henry Claypool
as director of the HHS Office on Disability.  Mr.  Claypool has 
25 years of
experience developing and implementing disability policy at the 
federal,
state, and local levels, and he has personal experience with the 
nation's
health care system from the perspective of an individual with a 
disability.

           "President Obama is committed to ensuring that the 54 
million
Americans with disabilities have an equal opportunity to achieve 
the
American dream," said HHS Chief of Staff Laura Petrou.  "Henry 
Claypool is
uniquely prepared to expand and improve services that will 
empower more
Americans with disabilities."

           "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve 
President Obama
and the American people as we work together to make certain that 
Americans
with disabilities have access to the services and supports they 
need to lead
fulfilling lives as valued members of their communities," said 
Mr.  Claypool.
"My commitment to working on behalf of Americans with 
disabilities is a
deeply personal one."

          Mr.  Claypool sustained a spinal injury more than 25 
years ago.  In
the years following his injury, he relied on Medicare, Medicaid, 
Social
Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, 
which
enabled him to complete his bachelor's degree at the University 
of Colorado.
After completing his degree, he spent five years working for a 
Center for
Independent Living, after which he became the Director of the 
Disability
Services office at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

         Mr.  Claypool currently serves as the Policy Director at
Independence Care System, a managed long-term care provider in 
New York
City.  Mr.  Claypool has advised the federal government on 
disability policy
for several years.  From 1998-2002, he held various advisory 
positions at
HHS, including Senior Advisor for Disability Policy to the 
Administrator of
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the Clinton
administration.  From 2005-2006, he served as a Senior Advisor in 
the Social
Security Administration's Office of Disability and Income Support 
Programs.
Mr.  Claypool was also appointed by Governor Tim Kaine of 
Virginia to serve
on the Commonwealth's Health Reform Commission in 2007.

         As Director of the Office on Disability, Mr.  Claypool 
will serve as
the primary advisor to the HHS Secretary on disability policy and 
will
oversee the implementation of all HHS programs and initiatives 
pertaining to
Americans with disabilities.


###



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