>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, IT´S BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ >>> GOOD DAY, AND WELCOME TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

I´M YOUR HOST AMELIA HEADLY LaMONT OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER OF THE VIRGIN ISLAND, AND I´M EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO IS ANGUS DRYINGO.

GOOD DAY, WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, FIRST OF ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> WELL, I´M VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT YOU´VE ELECTED TO TAKE THIS IMPORTANT POSITION, QUITE HONESTLY, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, OR FOR YOU TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO THE COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY BUT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

WHO IS ANGUS DRIGO?

>> WELL, I CONSIDER MYSELF A PROUD MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I LIVED HERE WHEN I WAS 2.

MOVED AWAY FOR ABOUT, AH, 14 YEARS OR SOMETHING, AND I´VE BEEN BACK FOR 39 MORE.

SO -- I CONSIDER HERE TO BE MY HOME AND THAT´S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I´M IN THE POSITION THAT I´M IN, BECAUSE I CARE A LOT ABOUT WHAT´S HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, YOU´RE A YOUNG MAN.

SO YOU BRING A YOUNGER PERSPECTIVE AS WELL, I WOULD IMAGINE?

>> YEAH.

I -- YES, BUT I -- MY EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF WHERE I SERVED BOTH IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THE PAST 30-SOMETHING YEARS.

I´VE CERTAINLY SHAPED HOW -- I MEAN, HOW I THINK AND HOW I FEEL ABOUT WHERE I LIVE, AND WHAT I´D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

>> IN WHAT CAPACITIES HAVE YOU SERVED IN THE PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE SECTORS?

>> I SERVED UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

IN THE ´90s.

2009 TO 2016, I THINK IT WAS.

UNDER BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND IN INSURANCE BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTANT BUSINESS, ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.

SO I´VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN WHAT´S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> CERTAINLY ONE OF THE THINGS PERHAPS THE PUBLIC KNOW IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ACCOUNT FOR HOW YOUR FEDERAL GRANTS ARE SPENT.

LIBERTY RIGHTS CENTER AT THE PRESENT TIME HAS 12 GRANTS, THAT HAVE TO BE MANAGED, AND THAT MEANS REPORTING TO DIFFERENT ENTITIES.

YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE SEPARATE, SO TO SPEAK REQUIRING PROGRAM REPORTING AS WELL AS THE FISCAL SIDE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO I´M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE THAT EXPOSURE THAT EXPERTISE, THAT PASSION, AND I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT EVERY YEAR OUR OFFICE IS AUDITED, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE RECIPIENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

SO THAT´S A VERY IMPORTANT SKILL SET THAT YOU BRING TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

YES.

I´VE HAD FIVE YEARS OF MANAGING GRANTS, AND WHY NOT SO MUCH ON THE PROBLEMATIC ENDS OF THINGS, BUT CERTAINLY ON THE FISCAL END OF THINGS, AND ALSO HAVE BEEN PROJECT MANAGER ON THE FEDERAL SIDE.

SO I´VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.

SO I THINK THIS SHOULD BE -- SORT OF A SEAMLESS TRANSITION.

>> I WANT TO SHARE WHAT WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT YESTERDAY.

ONE OF OUR GRANTS INVOLVES TRAINING AND INFORMATION.

PROVIDING TRAINING AND INFORMATION TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND JUST SO HAPPENED THAT OUR, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, ONE OF OUR SUPPORT PEOPLE OUT OF OUR REGION, WHICH IS REGION TWO SENT ME A MESSAGE AND ASKED ME WHETHER THIS WAS THE ANGUS WHO USED TO WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

ALL SHE SAID.

I´M THINKING WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, SHE HAD WORKED WITH YOU WHILE YOU WERE WORKING AT HEALTH, BECAUSE THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS PERFORMING WHATEVER -- PEER REVIEWS OR WITH THE INTERNAL CHILD PROGRAM.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> SAYS TO ME WHAT?

THIS IS A SMALL WORLD.

>> YES IT IS, AND IT´S NOT UNCOMMON FOR INDIVIDUALS OR PERSONALITIES TO SERVE IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE´RE TRYING TO MEET A COMMON GOAL WHICH IS, WHAT?

PROVIDING -- IN THIS INSTANCE, GOOD HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN.

UNDER THE -- SO THAT´S -- I WAS JUST QUITE AMUSED THAT YOU REMEMBERED WHO THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS.

SHE REMEMBERED YOU.

FONDLY.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND THAT WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS VERY COMFORTING FOR ME TO SEE AND FOR US TO EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER.

SO THEY BOTH, YOU KNOW, REMEMBERED EACH OTHER FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.

THAT´S A WONDERFUL THING.

SO ANGUS, WHAT BRINGS YOU TO THIS KIND OF WORK?

WHY WERE YOU INTERESTED IN SERVING AT EXEC TIB DIRECTOR OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER?

>> WELL, I´VE ALWAYS, WHERE I´VE WORKED, HAD A COMMITMENT TO HOW WE DO THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I REMEMBER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH I WOULD TELL MY STAFF, ALL THE GUYS WALK UP TO THE CLINIC, THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE AND THAT WASOBLIVIOUS, AND BRING YOU RIGHT BACK TO YOUR DESK WITH ALL THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR I WAS ALWAYS INVOLVED TRYING TO GET SPONSORSHIPS AND THINGS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

ANY TYPE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDED HELP.

SO I´VE ALWAYS BEEN THAT KIND OF PERSON.

BUT EVEN MORE SO, THOUGH, I -- I HAVE TWO KIDS, AND ONE OF THEM ISAUTISTIC, AND THAT IN ITSELF WAS A DIFFICULT AND LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE, AND AS SUCH, I BECAME VERY, I MEAN, CLOSER.

AND ALSO OLDER PEOPLE AS WELL, I HAVE ASSISTED, BUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH OF A CONNECT BECAUSE WE NEVER GREW UP TOGETHER, BUT HAVING THAT FUN AND HAVING TO MAKE ALL THOSE LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS WHICH INCLUDED, OF COURSE, LEAVING THE ISLAND BECAUSE WE DIDN´T HAVE SERVICES THERE AT THE TIME, AND HOW THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE ITSELF.

THAT´S SORT OF BROUGHT ME FULL CIRCLE WITH THE SERVICE AND THE -- THE, AND UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCING AND THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH YOU HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO HELP AND TO SERVE.

>> I -- I THINK ALSO, WHEN WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, OH, NOT TOO LONG AGO.

WAS, IT´S BASED UPON, WELL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, RELIGION, AND HOW DEDICATED YOUR FAMILY IS TO THAT.

I MEAN, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PERSUASIONS, BUT I WAS REALLY QUITE MOVED BY YOU TELLING ME THAT EVERY DAY YOU WENT TO CHURCH.

>> GROWING UP -- STARTING THE, TWO YEARS WHEN I LEFT, VI, I HAVE, TOO.

FOR ALL OF THOSE 40 YEARS EVERY DAY WE HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH.

MY GRANDMOTHER, GO TO CHURCH.

MY MOM DOES IT NOW.

I DON´T LIVE WITH HER BUT MY MOM, I DIDN´T SEE YOU ANYWHERE.

THOSE COMMITMENTS AND YOU LEARN FROM THAT.

YOU TAKE SOMETHING THAT IS INSTRUMENTAL IN YOUR LIFE AND REALLY HAVE IT AS A LIFELONG EXPERIENCE, AND IT HAS BEEN A BEEN ROLE IN MY LIFE, AND HOW I´VE COME INTO THINGS.

YOU KNOW?

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> RIGHT.

A SENSE OF SERVICE.

YOUR SENSE OF COMMITMENT, RIGHT?

>> YES, IT DOES.

>> IF YOU´RE A GOOD CATHOLIC, YOUR SENSE OF GUILT, BUT -- SAYING -- >> I´M NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT ONE!

BUT -- BUT CERTAINLY COMMITMENT, AND -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- AND IT PROVIDES SOME SORT OF STRUCTURE IN SENSE AND A WAY FORWARD THAT IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT´S REALLY NOT TANGIBLE BUT YOU UNDERSTAND IT MENTALLY THAT IT´S THERE, I THINK THAT HELPS YOU DO OTHER THINGS IN LIFE.

>> AND WHAT ARE SOME AREAS OF INTEREST?

WHAT DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING IN THE COMING YEARS?

>> WELL, IN THIS NEW ROLE, I -- I -- I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

MENTAL HEALTH IN PARTICULAR.

EDUCATION.

AND I THINK VERY IMPORTANTLY BEING ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY YOU KNOW, DISABILITY PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO HELP THEMSELVES, BECAUSE THAT´S -- MY GOAL, ALWAYS IN FRONT, IN TERMS OF -- UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE EQUITY.

AND -- WE -- AND I THINK WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT EARLIER.

EQUITY AND EQUALITY, WHICH MAY BE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PEOPLE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY REGARDLESS OF THEIR DISABILITY, YOU LOOK AT THEM AS AN EQUAL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU LOOK AT THEM IN PARTICULAR, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WANT TO CONTRIBUTE AS ABLE-BODIED PERSONS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU LIVE IN, AND I THINK IT SHOWS A REMARKABLE WAY OF LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY ON A WHOLE, IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, IF YOU COULD TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO COULD TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES BEFORE OLDER, IT SHOWS THAT YOU ARE A COMMUNITY THAT IS TOGETHER.

IT SHOW AS COMMUNITY THAT CAN DO ANYTHING, ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.

SO FROM, FOR ME, I WANT TO KEEP THAT AS MY GOAL.

ALWAYS HAVING THAT IN FRONT OF ME, THAT WE ARE HERE TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF THEIR DISABILITY HAS AN EQUAL SAY, AND AN EQUAL RIGHT TO LIVE HERE AND LIVE HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE.

>> RIGHT.

THAT´S A GREAT POINT.

I MEAN, WE RECENTLY HAD A FOCUS GROUP OF A FEW PARENTS, AND ONE OF THE PARENTS SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY RESONATING WITH ME.

WHICH WAS, LET´S LOOK AT OUR CHILDREN´S ABILITIES.

A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN MAY HAVE SOME STRENGTH IN THE ARTS.

>> UH-HUH.

>> WHETHER IT´S DRAWING OR MUSIC, OR SPORTS.

AND THESE ARE, SADLY, DISCIPLINES THAT ARE BEING DIMINISHED IN ITEM OF THE XOOGS.

SCHOOLS.

I´VE SEEN AMAZING WORK DONE WITH DISABILITIES.

MUSICIANSHIP, SO I -- I WOULD JUST, WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU WITH A VERY COMPELLING COMMENT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN A CHILD IS CAPABLE OF.

HIS OR HER STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A MAJOR FOCAL POINT FOR OUR COMMUNITY?

TALK TO US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

>> I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MOMENTUM, THAT I THINK THAT IT´S REALLY KEY AND FOR US WE WHEN HUMAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WHATEVER THE TERMS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE, WE LOOK AT IT AS JUST SOMEBODY BEING ON THE STREET AND YOU CAN -- THEY CAN´T SEEM TO GET THEIR LIFE OR STRUCTURE IN THEIR LIFE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER DEGREES OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK FOR US AS A COMMUNITY WE NEED A PLAN GOING FORWARD, THAT ADDRESSES THAT ISSUE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THROUGH EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE, AND BEING ABLE TO OPEN THEM UP TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE AND HOW TO VIEW PEOPLE, HOW TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

HOW TO HELP THEM.

THAT WOULD MAKE FOR A -- BETTER SET OF GOALS FOR US.

IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE´S A STIGMA ATTACHED TO A LOT OF -- OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

AND PART OF THAT CHANGE HAS TO COME FROM EDUCATION.

SO IT´S NOT JUST EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED BUT EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE -- >> RIGHT.

>> NOW, YOU WILL BE AT THE HELM OF A SMALL ORGANIZATION, AND IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, HAVE WE LEARNED AS FAR AS BEING IN OFFICE?

>> AND THAT -- I WOULD SAY THAT WAS JUST FOR -- FOR OUR OFFICES BUT THE FLEXIBILITY THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE, WHETHER IN YOUR HEAD OR YOU ARE BRINGING IN EQUIPMENT OR WHATEVER ELSE.

RETRAINING PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT IT IS SO VITAL AND FOR US, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CASEWORKERS FOR ALL THE AGENCIES, AND WE SORT OF POLICE SOME OF THOSE THINGS, AND HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT´S HAPPENING?

HOW CAN THEY DO THEIR JOBS?

AND HAVE THAT NEGLECT, BECAUSE OF WHAT´S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE VERY NIMBLE, VERY FLEXIBLE AS AN ORGANIZATION.

AND I THINK FROM WHAT I´VE SEEN HERE WITH YOU, I THINK YOU HANDLE THAT REALLY WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO THAT´S -- THAT´S ONE OF THE OTHER FEATHERS IN YOUR CAP, AND KNOWING YOU´RE TRYING TO GET INFORMATION, INTRODUCE ME TO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU, TOO, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN -- YOU HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS.

I´VE KNOWN YOU FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND THERE IS NOT ONE THING, ONE DAY THAT I CAN SAY THAT I MET YOU OR SPOKE TO YOU ON THE PHONE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WITH A SMILE -- WITHOUT A SMILE.

NOT ONE THING.

THAT SMILE THAT´S ALWAYS PRESENT, AND THERE´S THAT WARM FEELING THAT THE PERSON ON THE OTHER LINE IF YOU´RE TALKING TO THEM, IS COMFORTING.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY AND I´M SURE THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU´VE BEEN HERE, WHAT?

25 YEARS?

>> YES.

>> SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU, AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE 25 YEARS.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHT YOU HAD, AND SOME OF THE PLANS AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE GOING FORWARD WITH THE ORGANIZATION, NOW THAT YOU HAVE SOMEBODY -- >> I´M GRATEFUL WE´LL HAVE A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH WE CAN CONFER, AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME, PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME, WELL, ARE YOU LEAVING THE ISLAND?

I WAS LIKE, NO.

THIS IS MY HOME, TOO.

I´VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 40 YEARS, AND THIS HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE FOR A YOUNG LAWYER AT THE TIME WHO -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- WAS NEW TO MANAGEMENT.

I ASSUMED THIS POSITION IN MARCH OF 1996, AND -- >> WOW.

>> YEAH.

I KNOW.

RIGHT?

SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY!

SO, AND I -- UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF, KNOW, SUPPORT LOCALLY.

WE ARE A PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK, WHICH IS NOW REFERRED TO AS THE NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS NETWORK AND THEY SENT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO BECAME MY MENTOR AND FRIEND TO GUIDE ME ON HOW TO, YOU KNOW, CREATE A PERSONNEL POLICY AND PROCEDURES.

LITERALLY FORM ADD ROUNDTABLE AND BUILT THIS ORGANIZATION.

I HAD A BOARD.

INITIALLY A GOOD BIT OF THEM WERE MOMS, WERE PARENTS.

YOUR MOM WAS ONE OF THOSE -- >> I REMEMBER THAT.

>> SHE SAID YOU NEED TO MEET MY SON ANGUS.

YOU KNOW?

AND UNBEKNOWNST TO ME YOU´VE BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL PARTNER IN BUILDING OUR ORGANIZATION OVER THE YEARS, BUT IT WAS PARENTS, REALLY, THAT GOT MY, GOT ME STARTED IN WORKING IN THE DISABILITY RIGHTS FIELD.

THERE WERE PARENTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD GET TOGETHER AND MEET AND CONFER, AND, YOU KNOW, SHARE STORIES AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO EACH OTHER, AND I´M HOPING WE CAN INSTILL THAT AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT HAS NOT BEEN AN -- YOU KNOW, AS PRESENT AS IT HAS BEEN MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

SO I STARTED AS A LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY BACK IN 1982.

AND -- I WAS INVOLVED IN LITIGATION, HAVING TO DO WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION, LEGAL SERVICES WAS INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT TRYING TO IMPROVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

WHEN THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION COULD NO LONGER KEEP CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AS A RESULT OF THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, PROHIBITION, DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER ASSUMED THE SPECIAL ED CLASS ACTION CASE.

AND SO -- YOU KNOW, THAT´S HOW -- WE -- YOU KNOW, BECAME MORE INVOLVED IN SPECIAL ED KAGS EDUCATION AS AN ISSUE, BUT WE´RE NOT JUST LIMITED TO THAT.

IT´S BEEN EDUCATION.

IT´S BEEN TRANSPORTATION.

IT´S BEEN ENFORCEMENT OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

IT´S BEEN MENTAL HEALTH.

>> YES.

>> RIGHT?

WHICH YOU, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT AS WELL.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> MOST ALL OF THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PROUDEST MOMENTS WITH THE BODY OF WORK THAT YOU´RE DONE OVER THE YEARS?

>> WOW.

>> I KNOW I HAVE TO ASK RIGHT AWAY, I MEAN, ANSWER RIGHT AWAY.

>> I´M REALLY PLEASED AND PROUD OF OUR STAFF.

I THINK WE´VE GOT A PHENOMENAL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR WORK, AND ONE OF MY THINGS I SAY TO MYSELF.

I TRY TO CREATE A VERY NICE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT SO THAT NOBODY WANTS TO LEAVE!

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW?

I PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB, AND I -- I REALLY THINK WE´RE REALLY GREAT, OUR STRENGTH IS WORKING AS A TEAM.

THAT´S NOT TO SAY THERE AREN´T DISAGREEMENTS OR -- BECAUSE THAT´S LIKE A FAMILY.

RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU´LL HAVE YOUR GOOD DAYS AND YOUR NOT SO GOOD DAYS, AND I THINK BY AND LARGE WE ARE A GROUP OF REALLY DEDICATED ADULTS WHO WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GET THEIR DUE, AS, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I´M PROUD OF THE THAT CAN´T THAT WE OWN OUR OWN BUILDING.

WE ARE THE FIRST PROTECTION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION TO OWN ITS OWN BUILDING.

WE´RE THE FIRST PROTECTIVE ORGANIZATION AGENCY TO VTS OWN PODCAST, OR GAIN PODCAST TO HAVE A TV SHOW.

WE DID A LOT OF WORK IN 1987.

AN EIGHT-WEEK LITIGATION CAMPAIGN IN WHICH WE BROUGHT A SERIES OF LAWSUITS AGAINST DIFFERENT PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS WHAT WE CALLED IT, OR PRIVATE BUSINESSES, AND THAT WAS A ORGANIZATION AND WITH INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

SO HOW WE SET IT UP IS WE WOULD CALL A PRESS CONFERENCE AND WE WOULD CREATE, YOU KNOW, SAY A MOVIE THEATER.

SO WE´D, YOU KNOW, CREATE THE SCENE WITH A BOWL OF POPCORN AND THEN SOMEONE WOULD DO A POEM, AND, YOU KNOW -- THIS WEEK WE ARE FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST -- AND HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH ALVIN G., WHO IS -- A JOURNALIST AND WOULD SAY, OKAY.

WHAT´S THIS WEEK?

WE WOULD HOLD OFF AND THEN GIVE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

MY FAVORITE ONE WAS WHEN WE DID RESTAURANTS AND WE HAD A BOARD.

WE CALLED IT CAFE JUSTICE.

WITH A MENU.

OKAY?

[ LAUGHTER ] FOXTAIL, WHATEVER, AND ONE, ALSO DID ONE ON HOTELS, AND THE LINE THAT STAYED WITH ME A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF JAMEEL MOHAMMED WHO DID THESE POEMS AND HIS CLOSING LINE WHEN WE FILED THE LAWSUIT AGAINST ONE OF OUR LOCAL HOTELS, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, DESCRIBING, NO RAMPS, STAIRS.

CAN YOU GO THROUGH THE DOOR?

AFTER 2000 YEARS THERE´S STILL NO ROOM AT THE INN.

>> AT THE INN.

WOW.

>> AT THE INN.

>> THAT´S POWERFUL.

>> IT´S POWERFUL!

AND I´M THANKING THE LOCAL MEDIA AT THE TIME, ALVIN G., WHO CAPTURED THAT, AND IT REALLY RESONATED.

I THINK WE DID, LIKE, OVER 20, MAYBE, OVER 25 LAWSUITS.

YOU KNOW?

AND IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL, EMPOWERING MOMENT FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE´RE BEING HEARD, BECAUSE BEFORE, BECAUSE THIS ORGANIZATION DID NOT HAVE LAWYERS, YOU KNOW?

AH.

SO WHAT?

OKAY.

BUT WHEN IT -- WHEN IT BECAME A, A PROCESS.

YOU KNOW?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> A FORM OF LITIGATION, THE CIVIL RIGHTS.

PEOPLE TOOK NOTICE.

PEOPLE TOOK NOTICE.

A WONDERFUL -- THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF AND THAT WAS BACK IN 1997, AND WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO, QUITE HONESTLY.

THIS IS NOT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF IT, AND WE´VE DONE REPORTS.

ONE HAVING TO DO WITH TRANSPORTATION, BACK IN 2012.

WE HAD A CONTRACT WITH A COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.

AND THEY DID A PHENOMENAL REPORT HOW TO IMPROVE OUR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

SADLY, IT WAS NEVER REALLY, I DON´T THINK, EVEN READ, OR PICKED UP.

BUT IT´S STILL ON OUR SHELVES AND IT´S STILL A DOCUMENT THAT SHOULD BE REFERRED TO.

THERE WAS A MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS, OOH, BACK IN 2009.

THAT -- >> I REMEMBER.

>> YES.

YOU REMEMBER!

YOU HAD A HAND IN -- USHERING IT THROUGH.

AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE FUNDING SO THAT IT COULD BE WRITTEN, BECAUSE IT INVOLVED A VARIETY OF -- PSYCHOLOGISTS, MENTAL HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, THE HOSPITALS.

IT WAS A COMMISSION SET UP AND LED BY A PHENOMENAL LEADER OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS.

BROUGHT THESE PARTIES TOGETHER.

WE CAME UP WITH THE DOCUMENTS AND AGAIN, ON THE SHOW.

HERE IS A "HOW-TO" MANUAL HOW TO IMPROVE DISABILITIES.

CASE MANAGEMENT.

THAT´S THERE.

IT CAN BE DONE -- TODAY!

OKAY?

>> AND, AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS, MUCH OF THE WORK BEING DONE WITH IT.

SO ALTHOUGH IT´S DIFFICULT IT´S ALMOST LIKE A LOW-HANGING FRUIT, AND I THINK THAT´S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO PUSH FOR UNDER MY LEADERSHIP HERE.

>> EXCELLENT.

MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE UP THAT MANTLE AND MOVE IT FORWARD.

>> THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT.

EXCELLENT.

AND, OF COURSE, OUR MOST RECENT REPORTS HAVING TO DO WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP AS A TERRITORY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

OUR INABILITY TO ACCESS SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INSURANCE, OUR NON-VOTING POWER.

THE MEDICAID LIMITATIONS.

YOU KNOW, THE LIMITS THAT ARE PLACED UPON OUR MEDICAID SUPPORTS.

I MEAN, OVER THE YEARS I´VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH MEDICAID AND HEARING FROM FAMILIES AND SECRETLY HEARING, WELL WE CANNOT PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE THE PROGRAM HAS RUN OUT OF MONEY.

SO YOUR SON MAY HAVE A HEART CONDITION, BUT WE CANNOT SEND HIM TO PUERTO RICO, OR WHEREVER.

SO, THIS COMES FROM MANY YEARS OF BEING IN THE TRENCHES, SO TO SPEAK, AND I´M VERY PLEASED AND PROUD OF THIS DOCUMENT, AND WE INTEND TO YOU KNOW, DISTRICT IT TO APPROPRIATE AUDIENCES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN KNOW.

PEOPLE CAN LEARN.

MY MENTOR WHO GUIDED ME, SHE RECEIVED A COPY, AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER.

SHE SAYS, I´M SO BLOWN AWAY WHAT´S CONTAINED IN HERE.

I THOUGHT I KNEW A LOT ABOUT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND I DON´T.

SHE SAYS, I´M GLAD I CALLED BECAUSE IT SAVED ME FROM WRITING A CONGRATULATORY NOTE!

SO IT´S -- IT´S MAKING SOME REALLY IMPORTANT, BRINGING IMPORTANT THINGS TO LIGHT, AND I´M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>> SO WHAT´S YOUR -- YOU KNOW, TO -- TO CAP OFF A LOT OF WHAT YOU´RE SAYING, WHAT IT´S YOUR HOPE FOR US, THOUGH?

NOW THAT YOU´VE LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A LOT OF THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN, WHAT IS YOUR HOPES FOR?

>> WELL, WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

I SAID WHAT AM I MOST PROUD OF IN MY BODY OF WORK?

IT´S FINDING THE RIGHT SUCCESSOR.

I MEAN IT.

BECAUSE SO MUCH LOVE HAS GONE INTO THIS THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FELT COMFORTABLE.

YOU CAN´T JUST GIVE THIS PRODUCT TO ANYBODY.

ANGUS, I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU´VE AGREED TO TAKE THIS ON AND I WILL CERTAINLY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU ANYTIME.

I KIND OF -- >> THANK YOU.

>> I GOT A CALL A DAY AFTER MY HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY!

[ LAUGHTER ] A PERSONAL CRISIS.

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THIS IS, AND I HAVE TO LAUGH, BUT THAT´S HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE WORK, BECAUSE IT´S NOT ABOUT ME.

IT´S ABOUT GETTING THE JOB DONE.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, TRULY.

TRULY, FOR TAKING THIS ON AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, AMELIA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I´M HAPPY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE A PHONE CALL AWAY.

>> THAT´S TRUE.

THAT IS TRUE.

>>> FOLKS, I´D LIKE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EVENT FOR ME, AND FOR MY SUCCESSOR ANGUS DRIGER, I WISH YOU MUST SUCCESS.

SO TAKE TEAR AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

♫♫ >>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.