Special to the Highlands News-Sun
Oct 23, 2024
The Democratic Women’s Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 with featured guest speaker Karen M. Clay, the current president of the State of Florida Democratic Disability Caucus. Refreshments begin at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at Highlands County Democratic Headquarters, 4216 Sebring Parkway.
The co-chair of the Southeast Region of the DNC Disability Council, Clay is also a member of the Florida Democratic Seniors Council. She was the 2017 recipient of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party Monroe Mack Community Service Award and she and her son Michael were recognized by the Tampa City Council for Outstanding Work in Healthcare Advocacy. Moreover, Clay has appeared with Michael on the MSNBC program, The Last Word, and routinely advocates for health care, the expansion of Medicaid, increased funding for the home and community-based services, and Medicare for all.
Clay retired after 16 years of service on the board of Florida Alliance for AssistiveServices and Technology, Florida’s Tech Act Project where, over the years, she held the positions of chair, co-chair and chair of the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee. In addition, she served on the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, the State Advisory Committee for Exceptional Student Education and numerous task forces, as well as state and national boards.
“First and foremost,” Clay says she “has advocated on behalf of all individuals with disabilities and care in their homes and communities.” As a caregiver for nearly 40 years, she has traversed the “broken” health care system, experiencing the pluses and minuses of private health insurance, as well as Medicaid and Medicare. She resides in Tampa with her son Brian and is most honored to be called mom and grandma.