Silverstein Luncheon and Meeting Senator Harkin

This afternoon, I had the privilege of attending the Silverstein Fellow Luncheon, where I had the opportunity to meet former Senator Harkin. The Silverstein Fellowship is administered by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and named after Bobby Silverstein, a Powers Law partner who passed away in 2022.  It was a surreal experience hearing from one of the champions of disability rights legislation firsthand and learning his thoughts on what the most prevalent issues will be in the coming years.

As a Drake Bulldog myself, the senator and I shared a special connection to Iowa and Drake University, where the Harkin Institute, named after Senator Harkin, is located. The Harkin Institute is a globally recognized leader in disability inclusion and accessibility. Its mission, inspired by Senator Harkin's work on legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, is to “Advance inclusive, evidence-based public policy by connecting research, civic learning, and diverse lived experiences.”  

An additional connection is the fact that the Harkin Institute houses two decades of Bobby Silverstein’s Congressional files for disability policy research purposes.  Before joining Powers Law, which hosts the NAAOP Breece Fellowship, Bobby served as Chief Counsel to Senator Harkin when he served as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Disability Policy Subcommittee.  Bobby was the chief Senate staffer credited with drafting and negotiating the ADA when it was enacted in 1990, as well as being instrumental on over 20 major disability-related bills throughout his tenure in the Senate. 

Thank you, Senator Harkin, for all your support of the disability community!

Read more about the Harkin Institute here: https://harkininstitute.drake.edu/

Read more about the Silverstein Fellowship at Bobby Silverstein Fellowship - AAPD