PRESS RELEASE
-For Immediate Release-
September 10, 2008

Contact: Brian Gumm, (202) 683-4812, bgumm@ombwatch.org

Erika Hagensen Wins Award for Outstanding Public Interest Work

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2008—OMB Watch is pleased to announce that Erika Hagensen, Director of Disability Rights and Family & Technology Policy at The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy Disability Policy Collaboration, has won a Public Interest Rising Star Award for her outstanding public interest work in the Washington area and on the national stage. She holds a dual Masters degree from the University of Washington.

The Public Interest Rising Star Awards are part of OMB Watch's year-long 25th Anniversary celebration. They honor the outstanding, dedicated work of younger people and encourage their continued pursuit of government accountability, citizen participation, or social justice. Public Interest Rising Star Award winners will be recognized at OMB Watch's 25th Anniversary event in Washington, DC, the evening of Sept. 17.

Hagensen has actively sought to win positive change for the disability rights community since she was 18 years old. Now 33, she brings the ability to inspire and engage others without trading on guilt or sentimentality. Though she toils mostly behind the scenes, she is a savvy, effective advocate and eagerly imparts her knowledge and insight to others. Her colleagues believe she has unlimited future potential as an advocate for change, and they see her as becoming one of the most effective lobbyists for disability rights in the nation.

Upon learning of the award, Hagensen said, "OMB Watch is incredible. To be recognized by an organization that I respect this much is an honor. I don't know what to say. I'm so shocked."

Gary D. Bass, Executive Director at OMB Watch, offered his congratulations. "Erika's work on behalf of Americans with disabilities is nothing short of inspiring. From her time as a student on the West Coast to her current position in Washington, DC, she has proven to be a highly effective advocate. She combines her intelligence and leadership skills with her ability to work with diverse groups of people who many times come to an issue with many different perspectives. Additionally, Erika inspires others to lead and to fight for positive policy change. OMB Watch is proud to name Erika one of its five Public Interest Rising Stars."

The full list of award winners is available at /files/25th. There were roughly 100 nominees considered for the award. For more information about OMB Watch, see http://www.ombwatch.org/article/archive/250.

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Erika Hagensen Bio

Erika Hagensen began working within the disability community over 10 years ago as a volunteer for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Oregon and SW Washington. Later while serving as a board member, a chance encounter changed her path entirely: when asked to describe living with disability, a young man carefully carved the word 'o-p-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n' onto a piece of paper. His response, despite its clarity and passion, remains largely unheard by the rest of society.

Erika entered a dual masters program in Social Work and Public Health at the University of Washington. While there, she developed a research study on medical transition for young adults with child-onset disability, lectured extensively on ableism, and worked with individuals with disabilities, their families, and providers to reduce barriers to care and increase community participation.

Four years after a single word launched a journey, Erika became the executive director of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation and worked with Eunice Kennedy Shriver to challenge barriers to higher education and community living for adults with intellectual disabilities. Erika now serves as the Director of Disability Rights, Family and Technology Policy for The Arc of the United States and United Cerebral Palsy's Disability Policy Collaboration. There she continues her social justice work not only through national public policy, but also by working with self-advocates and their families to understand the power and necessity of their voice. As a woman with a disability, Erika is grateful for the voices of leaders who have come before her.

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OMB Watch is a nonprofit government watchdog organization dedicated to promoting government accountability, citizen participation in public policy decisions, and the use of fiscal and regulatory policy to serve the public interest