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International Association of Rehabilitation Professionasl (IARP)
Author: | Saturday May 26, 2007
Steve Yuhas, M.Ed. and Robert Meier III, M.D. with Manual Salazar.
Rehab Pros Honor
Colleagues at Their
Annual Conference
There are many things that make the conference of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IAPR) special. But it can be argued that the most important is the gathering of professionals who have dedicated their careers to working within the vocational rehab system to help people return to their lives after injury or illness.
They came from all over the United States this spring for the conference, which was held in Washington D.C. Attendees had a chance to visit the museums and points of interest before and after the numerous sessions and workshops.
J.R. Harding, Ed.D, keynoted the opening session. Dr. Harding told of his own experiences as a two time survivor of spinal cord injuries who now lives with quadriplegia.
Dr. Harding works for the Florida Department of Education in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and is a member of the U.S. Access board. He is also an advocate and a driving force behind the Mentoring Program.
He encouraged the audience to continue their work to help individuals and to continue to promote the cause of accessibility and rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation Honors
A highlight of the annual conference is the presentation of awards, and this year was no exception. Following are the award winners:
•Paul Deutsch, Lifetime Achievement Award. Deutsch has over 33 years of experience in the field of rehabilitation and is a founding member of the Foundation for Life Care Planning Research. He was recognized as having demonstrated a long record of sustained dedication and leadership to advance the field of rehabilitation.
•Manuel Salazar was recognized as the Outstanding Rehabilitation Participant. Salazar lost both arms at the shoulder level and both legs above the knees as the result of a high voltage electrical burn injury.
He walks two miles a day on shortened stubby prosthetic limbs to prepare his body to use full length artificial prostheses.
Along the way he has taken up swiming, driving, and skiing. Salazar also speaks to amputees nationwide, and during his stay in Washington D.C. was planning to visit soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center.
•C. Jeannie Lehowicz was honored as the Outstanding Individual Professional member. She has been working on behalf of wounded and disabled soldiers and veterans for the past three to four years and works nearly every day at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center with the soldiers and disabled veterans who are returning to the U.S. from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lehowicz was described as a person who works on her own time evenings and weekends and has used her own money to assist servicemen and women and their families.
• Costco was named the Outstanding Employer based on its corporate employee benefits, culture and policies that focus on returning its employees to full productivity after illness or injury.
Through financial support and dedicated teams, the company works to help workers return to their lives and work.
•Jane Terrell was named the Oustanding Insurance Company Adjuster or Rehabilitation Nurse. Terrell works as senior adjuster for Electric Insurence for the general Electric company
She was recognized as a an excellent communicator who facilitates smooth transitions to return to work between the management, supervisors, medical providers and the injured worker.
"She personifies all that is right in claims management including empathy, efficiency, knowledge of the injured workers' rights and responsibilities and the importance of proactive case management."
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