Lowell has more than 28 years of experience analyzing public policy issues and developing creative and pragmatic legislative and regulatory solutions that meet the income security, health care and support needs of people in poverty including people with disabilities and seniors.
He served for more than six years in several staff capacities in the U.S. House of Representatives, Select Committee on Aging, including serving as the acting staff director for the Subcommittee on Retirement Income and Employment. In these positions, he served as the prime drafter of many provisions of legislation, including the Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984. Lowell also served as a negotiator and mediator on policy issues, including facilitating negotiations between the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service reconciling the differences in wages between the two agencies. Lowell continued to use his skills for four years in the Office of the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He worked on a number of internal taskforces and workgroups including serving as a staff person on the Under Secretary’s Task Force on Health Care.
He worked as a Program Officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts in the area of Health Systems Reform and Health Professions. He then served at the Associate Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics’ Center for Health Policy. While there, he created innovative programs including a fellowship and internship program for faculty and students at the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For the past 12 years, Lowell has served as the Executive Director of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD). He has been instrumental in developing legislation and policy advances for people with developmental disabilities, including the successful Medicaid buy-in program, called NJ WorkAbility.
Lowell has authored and co-authored journal articles, book reviews and policy analyses on income security, health and long term care, and supports for people with disabilities and seniors. He has presented speeches to national and state organizations throughout the country, as well as serving on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, and Monmouth University. He has served as a consultant for state agencies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and for hospitals and managed care organizations. Lowell received his Bachelor of Arts from Hiram College and a Masters in Science of Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. Lowell is an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance.
Megan Ducoff, Policy Analyst
Prior to her appointment as Policy Analyst, Megan worked as an investigator in New Jersey’s Public Defender’s Office. She was assigned to the law guardian division where she worked to advocate for the rights, needs, and wishes of children involved in parental abuse and neglect cases. Working with underprivileged clients inspired her to return to graduate school and she received her M.S.W. in 2009 from Rutgers University. While in graduate school she completed clinical practicums at a partial-care program for adults with acute mental illness and as a play therapy intern at Burlington County’s Head Start program. Immediately prior to joining ABCD she worked in case management at Woods Services, a provider agency for children with mental health and behavioral issues.
Candace Pressman, Legislative Associate
Before joining ABCD, Candace worked in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a Research Assistant for the Center for Immunization, where, among other projects, she participated in the implementation of the H1N1 influenza vaccination initiative. She recently received her Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the Spring of 2010. After a concentration in health policy, she wrote her final policy analysis on Medicare Part D. In 2008, Candace received her BA in Political Science and Philosophy from Rutgers University.
Staff Bios
Meet Our Staff
Lowell Arye, Executive Director
Lowell has more than 28 years of experience analyzing public policy issues and developing creative and pragmatic legislative and regulatory solutions that meet the income security, health care and support needs of people in poverty including people with disabilities and seniors.
He served for more than six years in several staff capacities in the U.S. House of Representatives, Select Committee on Aging, including serving as the acting staff director for the Subcommittee on Retirement Income and Employment. In these positions, he served as the prime drafter of many provisions of legislation, including the Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984. Lowell also served as a negotiator and mediator on policy issues, including facilitating negotiations between the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service reconciling the differences in wages between the two agencies. Lowell continued to use his skills for four years in the Office of the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He worked on a number of internal taskforces and workgroups including serving as a staff person on the Under Secretary’s Task Force on Health Care.
He worked as a Program Officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts in the area of Health Systems Reform and Health Professions. He then served at the Associate Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics’ Center for Health Policy. While there, he created innovative programs including a fellowship and internship program for faculty and students at the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For the past 12 years, Lowell has served as the Executive Director of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD). He has been instrumental in developing legislation and policy advances for people with developmental disabilities, including the successful Medicaid buy-in program, called NJ WorkAbility.
Lowell has authored and co-authored journal articles, book reviews and policy analyses on income security, health and long term care, and supports for people with disabilities and seniors. He has presented speeches to national and state organizations throughout the country, as well as serving on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, and Monmouth University. He has served as a consultant for state agencies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and for hospitals and managed care organizations. Lowell received his Bachelor of Arts from Hiram College and a Masters in Science of Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. Lowell is an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance.
Megan Ducoff, Policy Analyst
Prior to her appointment as Policy Analyst, Megan worked as an investigator in New Jersey’s Public Defender’s Office. She was assigned to the law guardian division where she worked to advocate for the rights, needs, and wishes of children involved in parental abuse and neglect cases. Working with underprivileged clients inspired her to return to graduate school and she received her M.S.W. in 2009 from Rutgers University. While in graduate school she completed clinical practicums at a partial-care program for adults with acute mental illness and as a play therapy intern at Burlington County’s Head Start program. Immediately prior to joining ABCD she worked in case management at Woods Services, a provider agency for children with mental health and behavioral issues.
Candace Pressman, Legislative Associate
Before joining ABCD, Candace worked in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a Research Assistant for the Center for Immunization, where, among other projects, she participated in the implementation of the H1N1 influenza vaccination initiative. She recently received her Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the Spring of 2010. After a concentration in health policy, she wrote her final policy analysis on Medicare Part D. In 2008, Candace received her BA in Political Science and Philosophy from Rutgers University.