In August 0f 2001, Pat was appointed by the President to serve as the Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She oversees four discretionary grant programs authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Services and Bill of Rights Act of 2000.

Prior to Pat's appointment she was the Senior Associate, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Worldwide Technology Business, Disability Consulting Services, advise clients on effective and compliant means to provide opportunities for and services to individuals with disabilities.

While in government and working in the private sector, Pat has worked tirelessly for over 30 years to change perceptions, attitudes and living conditions of the disable community through changes to national legislation.

She served as the senior disability policy advisor for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Responsible for legislation on federal disability policies such as:

• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997,
• The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998,
• The Education of the Deaf Act Amendments of 1998,
• The Assistive Technology Act of 1998,
• The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999
• and the Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 1999

Pat has written extensively on a variety of disabilities issues including A Primer for Corporate America on Civil Rights for the Disabled (1991) and Employer's Guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act (1991, supplements in 1992, 1993, and 1994).

She received her A.A. in liberal arts (1964) from Harford Community College, her B.A. in psychology (1966) from Stetson University and her M.Ed. (1971) and Ph.D. (1974) in special education from Pennsylvania State University.