Peggy Hathaway Joins United Spinal Association As Senior Public Policy Associate
Jackson Heights, NY- Peggy Hathaway has been appointed to the position of Senior Public Policy Associate with United Spinal Association, a national disability organization that provides services and programs for people with spinal cord disorders. Hathaway’s substantial legislative expertise will be tapped to work on vital legislation such as Stem Cell research and issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act. She will be based out of the organization’s Silver Spring, Maryland office.
President and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Tobin noted, “We are delighted to welcome Peggy to the United Spinal family. Peggy brings wide and varied experience in the world of public policy. Her skills and talents, and the enthusiasm she has for our work and mission, will greatly assist at this pivotal moment in our history when we are making strides to serve ever greater numbers of Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders.”
Most recently, Hathaway was a 2006 recipient of the prestigious Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation Fellowship––awarded to those with demonstrated commitment to issues affecting people with disabilities. She served on the staff of the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and federal tax.
At the Senate Finance Committee, she was responsible for oversight of the new Disability Service Improvement regulations designed to reform how people are determined eligible for Social Security disability benefits, work incentives for those receiving Social Security disability benefits, Social Security Advisory Board initiatives and issues involving both Medicaid and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). She had a leadership role on philanthropic issues affecting foundations and other non-profits, and she addressed solutions for how low-income housing tax credits could better serve people with low incomes and disabilities.
Prior to her Kennedy Fellowship, Peggy was an attorney with the Department of State’s Office of Civil Rights where she was responsible for Equal Employment Opportunity issues as they relate to laws such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Ms. Hathaway was a Director of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, where she was lead staff to a major component of this large national trade association. Her initial public policy position was as committee staff in the California Senate. She has co-authored one book, contributed chapters to others and authored many articles in the legal and professional press.
Peggy earned her law degree from U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law and is admitted to the California, D.C. and the United States Supreme Court Bars. She also holds a master’s degree in Counseling from San Francisco State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California at Davis.
Among her numerous volunteer and community activities, Peggy founded and currently co-chairs a group that focuses on full inclusion and accessibility at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. where she helped create a “Buddy Program” for children with disabilities. She also serves on the Committee on Accessibility of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C.
Peggy and her husband Spencer live in Washington D.C. They are the proud parents of Phoebe Hathaway, who has developmental disabilities.
United Spinal Association is a national membership organization dedicated to providing expertise, creating access to resources and strengthening hope, thereby enabling people with spinal cord injuries or disorders (SCI/D) to fulfill their potential as active members of their communities. In addition to helping write the Americans with Disabilities Act, United Spinal was also instrumental in drafting portions of the Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The Association promotes compliance with these laws and educates the public about them. Membership is free and open to all individuals with a SCI/D. For more information, please visit www.unitedspinal.org, or call 800-404-2898.