Eighth Annual
SILC CONGRESS 2005

Coming of Age

January 4-6, 2005
Paradise Valley Embassy Suites
Phoenix, Arizona

About John Kemp, Keynote Speaker, Attorney and Advocate

ILRU was asked by the SILC Congress leadershiop to post the draft Standards & Indicators so that all concerned would have the opportunity to examine and disseminate them.

[ DRAFT Standards and Indicators for SILCs developed at SILC Congress 2004 ]
[ DRAFT Standards and Indicators for SILCs developed at SILC Congress 2004 Word Version ]
[ DRAFT Standards and Indicators for SILCs developed at SILC Congress 2004 RTF Version ]

John D. Kemp
Keynote Speaker, Attorney and Advocate
John D. Kemp is widely respected for his many achievements, both in the corporate and non-profit world. As a person born without arms and legs, John inspires others to achieve the impossible through knowledge, experience, vision, personality, and persistence. Through his speeches John reveals that his disability has given him an "edge" in achieving his goals; at a very young age he learned the way to be accepted was to make people see beyond his disability, and just see the boy. As a National Easter Seal Child, John traveled coast to coast and abroad meeting leaders and expressing hope for all children. John's inherent gifts as a child were the beginning of an extraordinary journey which has taken him to every state of the union and around the world. His victories, insights and first hand experiences as a CEO and Attorney equip leaders at all levels with the knowledge and the practical tools to inspire and re-energize their organizations.

John's speeches are powerfully tailored to be practical and inspirational. As the CEO of three national non-profits, he assists others to streamline, energize and/or turn around their organizations, implementing business best practices and innovative people strategies. He motivates leaders to create a culture where diversity is positive to the bottom line and can help to define their mission. As an advocate, he inspires organizations to be fearless and passionate about their work. And, as an attorney, John represents a wide array of national associations, corporations and groups in navigating Capitol Hill and the federal agencies to produce greater opportunities for people with disabilities and their families as well as achieving intended business strategies for his clients.

John is a principal in the Washington, DC law firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, P.C., a firm specializing in health care, rehabilitation, disability, higher education and tax-exempt organizations. He concurrently serves as President & CEO of HalfthePlanet Foundation. Prior to joining the law firm, John served as President & CEO of VSA Arts and as Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy Associations.

Having accrued a wealth of knowledge on civil rights, employment and education laws and policies as they relate to people with disabilities and organizations and governments who serve them, John was appointed by former President Clinton to the National Council on Disability where he served for 7 years. Today, he serves on a number of nonprofit boards including the American Association of People with Disabilities, which he co-founded in 1995 is presently its Chairman; The Abilities Fund that promotes entrepreneurship for people with disabilities (presently Chairman); and the National Rehabilitation Hospital (presently Secretary). He has served on the Boards of Directors of CARF (Chairman); Independent Sector (Vice Chairman); the American Occupational Therapy Association; and an independent living center, Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago (Chairman).

A lawyer, disability rights leader and recognized expert on disability issues and services, John annually delivers 20-30 Keynote Addresses at national and state conferences, conventions, annual meetings and committee meetings of corporations, national and local organizations and government agencies. Using a heavy dose of humor to educate and entertain, his topics include Disability, Diversity and Your Corporate Culture; Disability Awareness & Etiquette (“My Brother Lost His Arm In A Corn Picker And Has An Artificial Arm Just Like You!”); Promoting Personal Responsibility, Empowerment and Self-Determination; Employment, Civil Rights and Corporate America; Serving People with Disabilities – Customer Service for Corporations, Agencies and Governments; and other areas of interest to each audience.

In March 2004, Mr. Kemp’s co-authored and co-edited book, Reflections From A Different Journey, was published by McGraw-Hill and is available in bookstores nationwide and online at www.disabilitiesbooks.com, www.Amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. With the Foreword by Marlee Matlin and essays from writers who were raised from birth or early childhood with their disabilities, Reflections is advice people with disabilities want all parents to have about parenting.

RECENT KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

2003
*Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) (DC) (March)
*Association of Developmental Disabilities Programs (MA) (April)
*Surgeons General Dialogue: Overcoming Disparities in Health Care (DC) (June)
*American Association of Homecare (FL)
*Commencement Speaker, Washburn University School of Law (KS) (May)
*Goodwill Industries of Columbus, OH (May)
*Illinois Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities (May)
*Commencement Speaker, Washburn University School of Law, and Honorary Doctorate of Law recipient, Topeka, KS (May)
*MEDGroup Spring Conference (June)
*International Experts Conference: Achieving Employment Outcomes for Persons with Disabilities in Developed Countries, Bremen, Germany (July)
*Challenge Japan Forum and Developing an ADA in Japan; Chiba and Kobe, Japan (August)
*National Rehabilitation Association, Nashville, TN (October)
*Arkansas Arts Council, Little Rock, AR (October)
*Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities Annual Awards Program (PA) (October)
*US Department of Defense’s Celebration of National Disability Mentoring Day (VA) (October)
*Maryland Rehabilitation Association Annual Conference (MD) (November)
*Granite State Independent Living Center’s 25th Anniversary Celebration (NH) (November)
*Build Boston Conference (MA) (November)
*Washington State VR Annual Conference (WA) (December)
*Perspectives Conference – Federal Disability Employment Directors Annual Conference (MD) (December)

2002
*National Leadership Summit on Disability & Entrepreneurship, sponsored by The Abilities Fund and US Department of Labor’s Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities
*The Journey Conference, US Department of Labor – 1,500 attendees
*U.S. Chamber of Commerce
*National Association of Workforce Boards – 3,000 attendees
*North Bay (CA) Regional Workforce Investment Summit
*Monterey County (CA) Workforce Investment Board and Monterey County One-Stop Career Center
*MedGroup Spring Conference
*National Dialogue Meeting on Accessible Transportation, Easter Seals Project Action
*National Community Bank Development Corporation
*US Department of Agriculture, National Disability Employment Directors’ Annual Conference
*21st Century Disability Think Tank, HalfthePlanet Foundation
*J & J/Independence Technologies, Annual Corporate Planning Meeting
*Michigan Works! Annual Workforce Investment Boards Conference – 700 attendees
*North Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council Annual Meeting
*California Governor’s Committee on Employment of Disabled People’s Annual Conference – 1,000+ attendees
*United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago Women’s Board – Honoree
*Cerebral Palsy Association of New York State Annual Conference – 1,000+ attendees
*National Rehabilitation Association Annual Conference – 1,500 attendees
*US Chamber of Commerce, Business Leadership Council
*American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
*Goodwill Industries of Maine Annual Conference
*Section 508/IT Federal Coordinators Quarterly Meeting
*American University

2001
American Camping Association, Tri-State Camping Conference
Disability North, United Kingdom
Epilepsy Foundation National Business Advisory Council
Montgomery County (Maryland), Department Heads ADA Luncheon
Montgomery County Workforce Development Corporation Conference
University of Michigan, Center for Ergonomics
VSA Arts Wisconsin, Annual VSA Early Childhood Conference
American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
State of New Hampshire, Genetics and Bioethics: Concerns of the
Disability Community Conference
Cerebral Palsy Association of New York State
Illinois Department of Human Services
American University

2000
US Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground Committee for the Disabled, Disability
Awareness Month Event
Alliance for Disabled in Action Annual Meeting
American University, Special Education Degree Candidates
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, National
Conference on Independent Living
International Center for the Disabled
Maryland Youth Leadership Forum
Missouri Department of Health
National Accessibility Guidelines Conference
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies Annual Meeting
National Multiple Sclerosis, Upstate NY Chapter
Naval Submarine Base Disability Fair, New London, Connecticut
UCP of New York City
UCP of New York State Annual Conference
UCP of San Diego and the Beach and Country Guild, Dia del Sol Event
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Disability Awareness Event
U.S. Department of Transportation, Disability Awareness Month Event
University of Michigan, Center for Ergonomics

To engage John D. Kemp as your Keynote Speaker, please contact Nicole Yost at Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, P.C.
Nicole.Yost@ppsv.com
or by calling
202-466-6550

Thank you for your interest!

The mission of the IL NET is to provide training and technical assistance on a variety of issues central to independent living today--understanding the Rehab Act, what the statewide independent living council is and how it can operate most effectively, management issues for centers for independent living, systems advocacy, computer networking, and others. Training activities are conducted conference-style, via long-distance communication, webcasts, through widely disseminated print and audio materials, and through the promotion of a strong national network of centers and individuals in the independent living field.

Substantial support for development of this publication was provided by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education. The content is the responsibility of ILRU and no official endorsement of the Department of Education should be inferred.

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