In October of 2010, President Barack Obama signed legislation requiring the federal government to replace the term “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” in many areas of government. The measure was known as Rosa’s Law, named for Rosa Marcellino, a Maryland girl with Down Syndrome. On May 11, 2011 President Obama announced his intent to appoint fifteen, highly-qualified individuals to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.  

James T. Brett, advocate for the disabled and President and CEO of The new England Council, was appointed chair of the committee. Other members include CEO of The Arc, Peter V. Berns, The Arc of Texas’ President of the Board of Directors, Clay Boatright, Micki Edelsohn, currently the Treasure of Homes for Life Foundation, Ann Hardiman, Executive Director of NYSACRA, a non-profit serving people with developmental disabilities and their families in New York City, Alison A. Hillman de Valásquez, Program Officer for the Open Society Foundations’ Disability Rights Initiative, Carl M. La Mell, President and CEO of Clearbrook, a service provider for individuals with developmental disabilities in Illinois.  Annette McKenzie Anderson, Ph.D., President & CEO of Diversified In-Valuable Assistance (DIVA) Enterprises, Carol Quirk, Co-Executive Director of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE), Susana Ramirez a Special Education Advocate at Disability Rights Oregon, Deborah M. Spitalnik, Ph.D., founding Executive Director of The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Lillian Sugarman, Director of the Early Head Start National Resource Center at ZERO TO THREE (ZTT), Liz Weintraub of the American Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Carol Wheeler of the Washington chapter of Project Children, Sheryl White-Scott, Associate Director of Community Health Services for the medically frail at AHRC/New York City and Medical Director for Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Services.  

         In a White House press release President Obama said, “These fine public servants both bring both a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their new roles.  Our nation will be well-served by these men and women, and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”