Section 188 Disability Policy Checklist: A New Tool for One-Stop Compliance

About the Presenter

Robert “Bobby” Silverstein, J.D., is the Director of the Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy (CSADP). Mr. Silverstein has over 25 years experience providing policy analysis and research for and technical assistance to policymakers and negotiating and drafting public policy at the Federal, State, and local levels.

At the Center, Mr. Silverstein gives keynote speeches, conducts advocacy training, assists disability groups, and federal, state and local agencies draft disability policy, and conducts action-oriented policy research. His areas of focus include civil rights, education, work incentives, workforce investment and welfare reform from a disability perspective.

Mr. Silverstein serves as a partner with the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston (The National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult funded by Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) U.S. Department of Labor.

From 1987-97, Mr. Silverstein served as principal advisor to Senator Tom Harkin (D. Iowa), who served as chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy (1987-95), ranking member of the Subcommittee (1995-97), and lead member on disability policy issues on the Committee on Labor and Human Resources (1997). In his capacity, Silverstein played a central role in all important disability policy legislation produced between 1987-1997, including the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, 15 other pieces of legislation, and numerous disability-related amendments to other bills concerning, health, civil rights, education, and job training.

From 1985-1987, Silverstein served as counsel to the Subcommittee on Select Education, Committee on Education and Labor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Subcommittee was chaired by Congressman Pat Williams (D. Montana). Silverstein’s responsibilities were similar to those undertaken during his Senate tenure. Among the bills Silverstein was responsible for was P.L. 99-457, which added early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This program is landmark because of its family-centered focus and its interagency orientation.

Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Mr. Silverstein was co-founder of a law of firm that focused on public policy analyses for Federal, State, and local officials and representation of persons with disabilities and their families. He was also the staff director of a congressionally-mandated study of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act at the National Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Contact Information

Bobby Silverstein email