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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release October 12, 2000

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES MARCA BRISTO AS CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL

COUNCIL ON DISABILITY

The President today announced his intent to nominate Marca Bristo to serve as Chair and Member of the National Council on Disability.

Ms. Marca Bristo, of Chicago, Illinois, currently serves as Chair of the National Council on Disability. She is the first person with a disability to hold this position. Ms. Bristo is also president and CEO of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago (Access), a nonresidential independent-living program for people with disabilities. She brought Access into full autonomy in 1987 as the only such program in Chicago. Previously, Ms. Bristo was president of the National Council on Independent Living, which she co-founded. Ms. Bristo has served on the congressionally appointed Task Force on the Rights and Empowerment of Americans with Disabilities and was a member of the United States Delegation to the United Nations World Summit on Social Development - the first person with a disability to participate in a UN Summit. In June 1996, she also served as U.S. Delegate to the UN World Summit on Urban Living and Shelter. Ms. Bristo chaired the Illinois Public Action Council Board from 1989 to 1994 and is a board member of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. She is also a member of The Chicago Network and an alumni of Leadership Greater Chicago. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the 1993 Henry B. Betts Award and the Distinguished Service Award of the President of the United States.

Ms. Bristo received her B.A. degree from Beloit College and a B.S. degree from Rush College.

The National Council on Disability is responsible for promoting the integration, independence and productivity of individuals with disabilities in the community, schools, workplace and all other aspects of American life. In the fulfillment of this mission, the Council evaluates the effectiveness of federal government programs and statutes concerning individuals with disabilities.

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