[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6548-S6549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DENISE WEISENBORN

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, today I commemorate a woman who dedicated 
her life to helping others: Denise Weisenborn. Living in Parma, OH, 
Denise was a lawyer and advocate of employment and independence for 
people with disabilities. Denise, who had muscular dystrophy, used a 
wheelchair all of her life, but never let that stop her from 
accomplishing her goals. Denise was 51 years old at the time of her 
death on May 2, 2006. She is survived by her mother Mary Lucille and 
her sister Diane.
  Denise spent her entire life overcoming obstacles and then exceeding 
all expectations. Even though she was unable to attend school, Denise 
had tutors help her at home during her younger years. As a student at 
Maple Heights High School, Denise was able to take part in classes 
while she was home. In 1972, Denise graduated as class valedictorian.
  She carried on this legacy of academic success by majoring in foreign 
languages at Cleveland State University, graduating summa cum laude in 
1976. Denise then attended Cleveland Marshall College of Law, where she 
served as an interpreter and finished in the top 20 percent of her 
class in 1980. She passed the bar exam later that year. These 
accomplishments were just the beginning of the amazing things Denise 
Weisenborn would accomplish throughout her life.
  Denise worked in Columbus as an education lawyer for Ohio Legal 
Rights Services, where she helped families of children with 
disabilities get the educational services they needed. She presented a 
federal case, Roncker v. Walter, in the U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth 
Circuit. Eventually, the severity of her disability made a 40-hour work 
week very difficult, and she moved back to Cleveland to be closer to 
her supportive family.
  She continued to give her talents to help people with disabilities by 
serving on the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, the Governor's 
Council on People with Disabilities and the Ohio Rehabilitation 
Services Commission.
  She also was an area representative for Assistive Technology of Ohio 
in the Cleveland area, where she developed medical equipment loan 
programs for medical goods and adaptive equipment, as well as compiling 
a directory of service providers.
  Firmly believing that people with disabilities should be able to live 
independently, Denise moved from her parents' home to a federally-
subsidized apartment building in Parma for people with physical 
disabilities and urged officials to build additional homes of this 
kind. Denise also called for home-based employment opportunities for 
people with disabilities.
  She was a champion of a program called ``Choices,'' funded through 
the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, where volunteers provided 
encouragement and community support to people with disabilities who 
lived in nursing homes but wanted to live independently in the 
community.
  Many people were skeptical that this program would work, but Denise 
believed in the project. As a result of her leadership, hundreds of 
Ohioans with disabilities are now living independently in community 
settings. Denise's advocacy has helped so many people in both their 
personal and professional lives.

[[Page S6549]]

  Denise was a person of great faith, dedicating a substantial portion 
of her time to helping others in their own spiritual journeys. She 
demonstrated this commitment through her work with Rainbow Girls and 
the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at college. She served as a 
counsel and Bible study leader for the Billy Graham Crusade in 
Cleveland and organized and led Bible studies for church youth. Denise 
once said, ``Of all my experiences, the one which has had the most 
profound influence on my life, and for which I will be eternally 
joyous, is the time I gave my life and opened my heart to my Savior, 
Jesus Christ. Much of my time each day is spent in talking to my Friend 
and studying His Word.''
  Denise was a gifted lawyer. She volunteered her talents to non-profit 
agencies that helped people with disabilities. She served on the board 
of commissioners of a large state agency that helped people with 
disabilities. And she lobbied the state and federal government for the 
betterment of people like herself.
  For all these efforts, this attorney with 26 years of experience 
earned about $5,000 per year. It is a sad irony that although Denise 
was learned in the law, it was the law--and not her disability--that 
kept her from earning a living. For Denise, however, having a low 
income was an act of survival. Denise's health care was covered by 
Medicaid. Denise had muscular dystrophy. It affected her speech; her 
voice was soft and quiet, making it difficult to hear her in a crowded 
room. She relied heavily on assistive technology for independence. She 
used a power wheelchair for mobility and operated her computer by 
pointing a laser at an on screen keyboard. She required 24-hour 
personal attendant care and too frequently her life was interrupted by 
extended and expensive stays in the hospital when her health declined.
  Given the severity of her disability, there were no other options for 
her. The law in Ohio prevented her from earning more money without 
losing her health care. She was given a Hobson's choice--she had to 
choose between making a living and living at all.
  This is why Denise Weisenborn spent the last years of her life 
fighting for a Medicaid Buy-In program in Ohio. These programs, 
allowable in States under federal law since 1999, give people with 
disabilities the right to earn more money, and pay premiums to the 
State to help cover their health care costs. Medicaid Buy-In removes 
the powerful, institutional disincentive for people with disabilities 
to work.
  If Ohio had a Buy-In program, Denise Weisenborn could have been even 
more independent by earning a living, helping Ohio cover her health 
care costs, and paying taxes.
  Simply put, she could have been a lawyer. It is the independence for 
which she fought and wanted so deeply, and it is shame that Ohio did 
not give her that chance before she passed away.
  It is something that I think those of us who reside in Ohio should 
think about and consider. It would be a fitting tribute to her life for 
us to take the appropriate action in Ohio to change the status quo. and 
to give people like Denise the opportunity to move forward and to work 
and not have to give up the health care, not have to give up the 
support that enables them to live, not have to make the choice Denise 
had to make.

  Denise Weisenborn led a full and personally enriching life. She 
fought for people with disabilities and their right to find and sustain 
employment and to live independently. She dedicated her life to 
service, and Ohioans with disabilities are much better for her efforts. 
They are much better for the fact that she lived.
  Mr. President, I continue to keep the family and friends of Denise 
Weisenborn in my thoughts and prayers.

                          ____________________