NCD WELCOMES COUNCILMEMBER BRIAN PATCHETT

The following information was released by the National Council on Disabilities (NCD):

Today the National Council on Disability (NCD) welcomes its newest member to the independent federal agency charged with advising Congress, the President and federal agencies on disability policy.

Brian Patchett took the oath of office today and officially began his time as NCD Council member in a ceremony presided over by NCD Acting Chairman Neil Romano.

"As we move forward, I'm really looking forward to working with you," Romano told Patchett at the swearing in. "I think you're going to bring tremendous experience (to the Council)," he said.

Patchett was appointed to the Council by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on February 2 and replaces Acting Chairman Shawn Kennemer, who had been appointed in 2022. With Kennemer's departure, Vice Chairman Romano became Acting Chairman.

Patchett joins Acting Chairman Romano and Councilmembers Hoskie Benally Jr., Sascha Bittner, Theo Braddy, Kimberly Hill Ridley, and Risa Jaz Rifkind.

"Each Council member brings a different lens by which to view the issues that NCD grapples with on a daily basisdifferent life experiences, different disabilities, different professional backgrounds," said NCD Executive Director Ana Torres-Davis, who moderated the ceremony.

"For me this is about helping people with disabilities become more independent every day," said Patchett upon taking the oath. I'm really honored to be part of NCD because I see what has been accomplished and what can be accomplished, he said.

Appointments to NCD are made by the President of the United States, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and the House Minority Leader pursuant to Section 451 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Pub. L. 113128).

Biography

Brian Patchett is President and CEO of Louisiana Association for the Blind. He has been a leader in the field of health and social services for over 25 years, building organizations that deliver employment and rehabilitation services for people with visual and other disabilities and has worked closely with national leaders to strengthen service organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Patchett has had visual impairment since age 7 and has been a self-advocate and for other people with disabilities throughout his life.

During his undergraduate time at Utah State University, Patchett worked with the University Affiliate Program on Disability, advising people across the state on Assistive Technology and The Americans with Disability Act. He received his Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University as well as a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. He counseled students with disabilities to help them be successful in college and in their future endeavors. He also spent 3.5 years studying the Russian language in college, and two summers in Russia on an exchange talking about disability-related issues.

From his time in college until now, Patchett worked in the field of assistive technology, promoting independence for people with disabilities. He chaired the Nevada Governor's Council for people with disabilities and served as a member of the Nevada Developmental Disabilities Council for 14 years. He sat on state rehabilitation councils in both Nevada and Louisiana. He served as a lobbyist for 10 years influencing passage of several legislative initiatives that resulted in improved access to early intervention services, independent living skills, and making voting accessible.

Patchett started his career as the Director for Assistive Technology at Easterseals Washington and as the manager of the Eastern Washington office for three years, then as the Vice President for Easterseals Arizona for 6 years. He built many programs and services from the ground up including assistive technology, employment services, independent living and in-home care services for seniors and people with disabilities. He was the CEO of Easterseals Nevada in Las Vegas for 15 years and North Central Sight Services in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for three years. Currently, he is President and CEO for Louisiana Association of the Blind where he has been for 2.5 years, implementing significant changes while collaborating closely with colleagues to improve technology, employment services, and accessibility for our employees and clients across the community.

Patchett has pursued policy and advocacy with the Louisiana State Legislature as a member of the Louisiana Rehabilitation Council. He serves on the board at Vision Serve Alliances and co-chairs the Public Policy Committee. He is a member of the Public Policy Committee for National Association on Employment for People with Disabilities (NAEPB).

About the National Council on Disability (NCD):

First established as a small advisory Council within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Rehabilitation in 1978, NCD became an independent federal agency in 1984. In 1986, NCD recommended enactment of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and drafted the first version of the bill which was introduced in the House and Senate in 1988. Since the ADA became law in 1990, NCD has continued to play a leading role in crafting policy solutions, and in advising the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policies, programs, and practices.