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Matille Thebolt: mthebolt@CRCPublicRelations.com
or
Emily Degnan: edegnan@crcpublicrelations.com
703-683-5004
***Media Advisory***
Patient and Disability Rights Advocates Hold Press Conference to
Warn of the Dangers of Assisted Suicide
What: Patient and disability rights advocates will hold a news conference to warn of the dangers of legalized assisted suicide in their state. Assembly Bill A2694 and Senate Bill S3947 are currently in their respective Health Committees.
Who: Kristen Hanson, Patients Rights Action Fund
Meghan Parker, New York Association on Independent Living
Stephanie Woodward, ADAPT and Not Dead Yet
Kathryn Carroll, Center for Disability Rights
Clifton Perez, Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley
(see bios below)
When: Wednesday, May 29th at 2:00pm ET
Where: Legislative Office Building, Room 130, 198 State St, Albany, NY 12210
Bios of Speakers:
Kristen Hanson is the Community Relations Advocate at the Patients Rights Action Fund. She is the widow of JJ Hanson who passed away from glioblastoma multiform. JJ was a staunch opponent to assisted suicide as he battled his illness. Kristen now continues JJ’s work speaking out against the dangers and abuses of assisted suicide.
Meghan Parker is the Director of Advocacy for the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL). NYAIL is a statewide membership organization created by and composed of Independent Living Centers across New York State. Independent Living Centers are unique disability-led, cross-disability, locally administered not-for-profit organizations, providing advocacy and supports to assist people with disabilities of all ages to live independently and fully integrated in their communities. In her role as Director of Advocacy, Parker coordinates the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network, which advocates for the full inclusion and civil rights of people with disabilities in New York State. Prior to her work at NYAIL, Parker was the Deputy Director of Westchester Disabled On the Move, a Yonkers-based Independent Living Center. She began her career working in constituent services for her local Congresswoman, Nita Lowey. Parker is blind and has spent her professional life advocating for the civil rights of people with disabilities.
Stephanie Woodward is the Director of Advocacy at the Center for Disability Rights (CDR). Stephanie attended Syracuse University College of Law where she earned her J.D. with a certificate in Disability Law and Policy and her M.S.Ed. in Disability Studies. Prior to her work at CDR, Stephanie worked as a litigator in Miami, Florida focusing on Disability Rights law. Stephanie is a proud disabled person and member of ADAPT, a national grass-roots community that organizes to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. Stephanie has been arrested multiple times while advocating for Disability Rights. While Stephanie’s work spans across all areas of Disability Rights, she is particularly interested in deinstitutionalization, community living, ending violence against people with disabilities, and improving access in the community.
Kathryn Carroll is a disability rights advocate and is Manager of Government Affairs for the Center for Disability Rights. The Center for Disability Rights is a disability-led not-for-profit organization which advocates for the civil rights, independence, and community integration of disabled people. Kathryn handles policy matters which range from advocating for adequate healthcare services and supports, access to complex rehabilitation technology, increasing accessible affordable housing and transportation and more. She is an attorney and is committed to bringing about inclusion and acceptance of disabled people in the community. She is a member of Capital Region ADAPT.
Clifton (Cliff) Perez of Troy, New York has been working in the field of advocacy to enhance and defend the rights of people with disabilities since 1985. He holds a Master’s Degree in social work from the University of Stony Brook NY, and currently serves as the Systems Advocate for the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley. In 2018, he was nominated and was inducted to the first established NYSILC NYS Disability Rights Hall of Fame. In the same year he was nominated and selected as an HVCC Outstanding Alumni Award winner.
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