Education and Advocacy (continued) nutrition <strong>for</strong> a person with HD, guides on finding long-term care facilities, and publications directed to medical professionals. All publications are available via download through the national website, as well as in print. In addition to these resources, the Society holds holds an annual National Convention, and each chapter and affiliate holds local or state educational events. At these events symposia and workshops are held, and people affected by HD may network and learn more about local resources. The HDSA National Convention, held in Pittsburgh, PA was a major success, with over 600 attendees participating in the 7 educational workshop tracks. For the first time, a special NYA education day was added to the pre-Convention Thursday schedule which included leadership training <strong>for</strong> chapter and affiliate officers, and professional training <strong>for</strong> chapter and Center of Excellence social workers. HDSA’s advocacy programs reached new levels of success during the past fiscal year. After many years of ef<strong>for</strong>t with other genetic-disease focus non-profits, HDSA advocates were able to celebrate the passage of the Genetic In<strong>for</strong>mation Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which creates new protections against the misuse of genetic in<strong>for</strong>mation by health insurance companies and employers. Following upon the success with GINA, the HDSA Advocacy program focused on convincing the Social Security Administration to update their their disability listings <strong>for</strong> HD, and to obtain a waiver <strong>for</strong> the 2-year Medicare waiting period <strong>for</strong> people disabled by HD. After meeting with official of the Social Security administration, HDSA embarked upon an ef<strong>for</strong>t to enact legislation to enact these changes. and in June, 20<strong>08</strong>, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) from San Diego, Cali<strong>for</strong>nia, introduced H.R. 6259, The Huntington’s Disease Parity Act on the floor of the House of Representatives. Thanks to lobbying by HDSA advocates throughout the U.S. other sponsors signed on, and while the Bill did not reach the floor <strong>for</strong> a vote, it was scheduled <strong>for</strong> and reintroduced to Congress by a number of new co-sponsors as the Huntington’s Disease Act of 2009. Chapters and Affiliates Your support of HDSA’s 39 Chapters and Affiliates is critical to their ability to provide local programming and support all phases of the HDSA Mission Arizona: Arkansas: Cali<strong>for</strong>nia: Colorado: Connecticut: Delaware: Florida: Georgia: Illinois: Indiana: Iowa: Kentucky: Maine: Massachusetts: Michigan: Minnesota: Arizona Affiliate Arkansas Affiliate Northern Cali<strong>for</strong>nia Chapter Greater Los Angeles Chapter Orange County Affiliate San Diego Chapter Rocky Mountain Chapter Connecticut Affiliate Delaware Chapter South Florida Chapter Central Florida Affiliate Georgia Chapter Illinois Chapter Indiana Chapter Iowa Chapter Kentucky Chapter Maine Affiliate Massachusetts Chapter Michigan Chapter Minnesota Chapter Missouri: St. Louis Chapter New Hampshire: New Hampshire Affiliate New Jersey: New Jersey Chapter New York: Greater New York Affiliate Upstate New York Chapter North Carolina: North Carolina Chapter North Dakota: Northern Plains Affiliate Ohio: Northeast Ohio Chapter Ohio Valley Chapter Central Ohio Chapter Oklahoma: Oklahoma Chapter Pennsylvania: Delaware Valley Chapter Western Penn. Chapter Rhode Island: Rhode Island Affiliate South Dakota: Sioux Valley Chapter Texas: Texas Affiliate Washington: Northwest Chapter Washington D.C.: Washington Metro Chapter Wisconsin: Wisconsin Chapter 6
Fundraising 12% Research 28% Management 13% Chapter Development 17% Education 7% Family Services 23%
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