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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 28, 2004 RVCOG social worker rubs elbows with Bush By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune A Southern Oregon social worker was an unexpected witness to history last week, when she wound up watching President George W. Bush sign new support for disaster services to people with disabilities. Connie Salda�a, a planner with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, found herself standing in the Oval Office on July 22 as Bush inked an executive order mandating attention to disabled people during disasters including earthquakes, hurricanes and acts of terrorism. "It was wonderful to meet him. I found him to be a great host. We laughed and had a good time together," recalled Salda�a, 55. "That was the adventure of it. But the real exciting part was making sure that people with disabilities are considered during disaster planning." The new order creates a council within the Department of Homeland Security to monitor disaster services for disabled people. Advertisement Salda�a’s adventure began in 1997, after devastating Southern Oregon floods left advocates worried about the location and condition of many frail elderly and disabled people. "We did a disaster preparedness plan. We did a video of how individuals can prepare," Salda�a said Tuesday. The agency also created a disaster registry to pinpoint vulnerable people and the "Neighbor Helping Neighbor" program in which nearby friends volunteer to aid folks in a disaster. That work gained the attention of the National Organization on Disability, and, later, White House staff. On July 14, Salda�a got a phone call from Washington, D.C. "They told me I was going to meet with a high-level official," Salda�a said. The staffers wouldn’t identify the mystery official, but Salda�a had a clue. "When they asked me, ‘Is there any reason you should not be within arm’s length of the president?’ That was a little tip-off." Salda�a, who lives in Ashland, flew to Washington, D.C., with her 19-year-old daughter, Stephanie. She joined five other advocates for the disabled on a private tour of the White House and the Oval Office ceremony. "I probably wasn’t properly awestruck, although I was happy to be there," said Salda�a, who acknowledged she’s "of the other political persuasion." Party politics were less important to her than Bush’s attention to her pet issue — and what she described as his personal warmth. "He’s a very kind person," Salda�a said. "As an individual goes, I didn’t really have an expectation of him." She said she came away from the trip with a new appreciation for bipartisan effort. "I really get how we need to be seeing much more of each other than strictly who the parties are," she said. "We can’t be clashing. We have to acknowledge that we are all people who want to do the right thing." On this issue, Bush definitely did the right thing, Salda�a said. "While holding on to what we hold dear, we’re going to have to acknowledge the other person as having valid viewpoints so we can come to better solutions," she added. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times