The White House announced that President Barack Obama will appoint Dan Habib, project director and filmmaker at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (IOD), to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
"It's an honor to be appointed to this committee and I'm excited to work alongside people from all over the country who share a passion for disability rights,” said Habib. “I intend to make the most of this opportunity. I look forward to hearing ideas and input from my colleagues at the IOD and from people around New Hampshire and the country."
Habib, the project director of the Inclusive Communities Project at the IOD, directed the award-winning film Including Samuel, a documentary about his family’s efforts to include his son Samuel, who has cerebral palsy, in all facets of their lives. Habib’s latest film, Who Cares About Kelsey? documents the life of a student with emotional and behavioral challenges and the innovative educational approaches that help her succeed.
“The President’s appointment of Dan to this important committee is a testament to Dan’s unwavering commitment to issues related to disability and the national impact of his work,” said IOD director Charles Drum. “His passion and talents will undoubtedly be significant contributions to the committee.”
"I intend to make the most of this opportunity. I look forward to hearing ideas and input from my colleagues at the IOD and from people around New Hampshire and the country."
- Dan Habib
Established by President Johnson in 1966, the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) aims to ensure the right of a “decent, dignified place in society” for people with intellectual disabilities. The PCPID promotes policies and initiatives that support independence and lifelong inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in their respective communities.
Habib, a former photography editor of the Concord Monitor, received the Champion of Human and Civil Rights Award from the NEA New Hampshire (National Education Association) in 2012 and the Justice for All Grassroots Award from the American Association of People with Disabilities in 2013. He lives in Concord.
