[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1849-E1850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MARGARET-LEE THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of a 
constituent whose lifetime of passionate and intensive work on behalf 
of developmentally disabled children and adults has been recognized at 
a national level.
  Margaret-Lee Thompson, a resident of Redmond, Washington, and the 
coordinator of the King County Parent Coalition for Development 
Disabilities, was awarded the ``Advocacy Matters!'' honor by the Arc of 
the United States because of her efforts and courageous advocacy.
  Ms. Thompson's adult son, Dan, has lived with disabilities his entire 
life. While focusing wholly on the daily needs of her son, Madam 
Speaker, Ms. Thompson identified a variety of inconsistent and wrong-
headed policies and practices at different levels of government and 
local organizations. In 1990, seizing on a six-month grant opportunity 
to bring parents of the developmentally disabled and policy makers 
together, Margaret founded the Parent Coalition. Twenty years later, 
Ms. Thompson is nationally recognized as a committed, veteran leader of 
an incredibly worthy movement. Her work and advocacy have changed 
hearts and minds, Madam Speaker.

[[Page E1850]]

  The Parent Coalition--with Ms. Thompson as its leader--has three 
overarching goals: to work for a better future for people with 
developmental disabilities and their families through systems advocacy, 
to organize parent training workshops, and to inform families in King 
County, Washington about the developmental disabilities system at all 
levels. Under Ms. Thompson's leadership, the Coalition has accomplished 
its goals--and much more.
  Madam Speaker, Margaret-Lee Thompson is a leader, an advocate, and a 
social entrepreneur. She's helped thousands of developmentally disabled 
individuals in King County and influenced thousands more policy makers, 
community leaders, and residents. After 20 years of leadership and 
advocacy, Ms. Thompson has finally received the type of recognition she 
so richly deserves. She's a selfless humanitarian, Madam Speaker, and 
I'm honored to call her a constituent, thank you.

                          ____________________