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Contact: Kevin Hensil

    Director of Communications

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kphensil@pasilc.org

PA SILC Hires Jeff Iseman as Public Policy Analyst

HARRISBURG, Pa., September 20, 2007 ­- The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) announced during a quarterly meeting that Jeff Iseman will join the organization as Public Policy Analyst.  He was previously a Public Policy and Systems Advocacy Specialist for Adult Issues with The Arc of Pennsylvania. 

The PA SILC is a federally-mandated, Governor appointed leadership organization.  Its mission is to secure public policies that ensure civil rights and expand options for all people with disabilities in all aspects of life.

“The PA SILC is proud to have Jeff join our team,” said Milton Henderson, Chairman of PA SILC.  “He is one of the most influential and respected disability policy advocates working with legislators and state policymakers in Harrisburg.  His knowledge about disability issues and his passion will make the SILC even stronger and enhance our effort to promote the Independent Living philosophy and movement in Pennsylvania.”

Iseman comes to the PA SILC from The Arc of PA where he was the Public Policy & Systems Advocacy Specialist for Adult Issues. Prior to relocating to Central PA, Jeff worked in Congresswoman Melissa Hart’s District Office for three years. In addition, Iseman has over ten years of field experience in the both the MH/MR systems and political campaigns. Jeff is a graduate of Grove City College.

Iseman’s first day with the PA SILC will be in mid-October.  He will specialize in the issues of Home and Community-Based Services and Housing.

ABOUT PA SILC

The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) is a nonprofit, cross-disability, consumer-controlled organization dedicated to securing public policies that ensure civil rights for people with disabilities by supporting the independent living philosophy. 

The PA SILC was established in 1987 to comply with the federal "Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986" (P.L.99-506), which requires states to create a consumer-controlled advisory committee to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation's Independent Living Program.  In 1992, the federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments gave SILC co-signing authority on the federally-mandated State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). 

In compliance with state and federal law, a majority of the voting PA SILC members are persons with disabilities and are appointed by the Governor.  Additional representatives are from Centers for Independent Living, person with a disability or independent living organizations, and various state agencies.