This photo was on the cover of the NAELA News in the December, 2007 issue where I was featured attorney. Click here to read the issue.

Announcement from Special Needs Planners:

"We wanted to acknowledge and congratulate ASNP Advisory Board Member Patti Dudek on the recognition given to her in the upcoming NAELA News issue; she's on the cover with the headline: "Champion for the Disabled!" Patti is on the ASNP Advisory Board and she was a featured speaker at last year's ASNP National Meeting. She has graciously agreed to speak at this year's National Meeting on the topic of "Dealing with Difficult Beneficiaries."

This is going to be a great presentation on an issue all special needs planners deal with in their practice at one time or another. The 2nd annual Meeting of the Academy of Special Needs Planners will be in New Orleans on March 28-29, 2008.

Patti's Response:

Thanks for the kind comments. Let me just point out that this is a great honor, but folks with disabilities prefer to be referred to as "People first" -- they do not like to be defined by their disability. I clearly did not approve the " the disabled" language or the several different spellings of my name, but I will accept the honor, and hope that our organization will be able to raise the bar on such issues that seem small but are not. Happy Holidays to each and everyone of you. Look forward to seeing you this spring.