Message from the Chair

Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Council on Children with Disabilities! It is my great privilege to serve as your Chair. The members of our Council come from a variety of backgrounds and represent a variety of viewpoints, but we all share the common goal of promoting the well-being of children with disabilities and their families. I am proud that we gather physicians from across primary care and specialties, as well as family members, to this common purpose.

The diversity of our experiences is our strength, and the COCWD is committed to promoting inclusion throughout all of our work- this is a core value of our Council and the AAP. Within COCWD, we have convened a Workgroup on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, whom we have asked to ensure that all of our policy, education, and advocacy activities serve both the AAP’s Equity Agenda and the COCWD’s mission/vision. Of course, we are particularly interested in supporting our children to experience a world free of ableism. If you haven’t already, please see the recent synopsis from AAP News written by members of our Council, “Health Equity Requires Anti-Ableism.”

Our Council's work consists of writing and reviewing clinical reports and policy statements for the AAP, making sure that the special needs of children with disability are considered in every aspect of Pediatric medicine. We also produce educational sessions – both at the National Conference & Exhibition and by webinar; advocate on the state and federal level; and mentor trainees and early career physicians. As a Council member, you get the latest news and information about programs and projects that focus on children with disabilities. You also become part of a broad network of pediatricians who provide care for our marvelous children and their families.

I invite you to explore our website, and contact me, any of our Executive Committee Members, or Alex Kuznetsov (our most excellent AAP Staffer) with your questions and ideas. This is your Council and we want your voice to be heard.

Garey Noritz, MD, FAAP, FACP
Chairperson, Council on Children with Disabilities