Vogelzang Law Attends 15th Annual ADAO Conference
This weekend found the Vogelzang Law team in Washington, D.C. for the 15th Annual Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference hosted by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Since 2004, the ADAO has focused on the prevention of asbestos disease through activism and education.
Vogelzang Law Public Relations Manager Mirela Stefanescu and Cancer Wellness Marketing and Social Media Manager Allison Stern attended the conference this year and were honored to meet so many empowered individuals. For the ADAO, prevention remains the top priority. In order to truly eradicate mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, the ADAO holds that better education and regulation of the material itself is crucial. As such, the organization frequently lobbies for stronger legislation of asbestos materials. Representatives of the organization have testified at six Congressional hearings over the years. The conference took place during National Asbestos Awareness Week and featured presentations by filmmakers, mesothelioma fighters, family members, and doctors.
“ADAO’s 15th Annual Conference was equally informative, inspiring, and heart-rending. Each speaker brought a unique, passionate perspective in the fight to finally ban asbestos in the U.S.” Stern said.
This year’s conference kicked off on Friday, April 5 with the March for Justice and Remembrance. The march honored the individuals and families who have fought mesothelioma over the years and offered all attendees a powerful outlet to honor those who have passed away. Vogelzang Law proudly marched in memory of the clients who have lost their lives to mesothelioma. The nature of mesothelioma can often feel devastating, and the march created a space for determination to prevent the aggressive disease.
“I was so inspired to see the passion and tenacity of the ADAO staff and board members to bring awareness to the fact that asbestos is not banned in the United States. Their fight on Capitol Hill to get it banned is a powerful example,” Stefanescu said.
The conference provided many illuminating presentations regarding asbestos legislation and safety. Speakers detailed the material’s history in the United States, including the crucial need for stricter safety protocols and inspection guidelines. The ADAO continues to push for a complete asbestos ban by Congress in order to prevent further exposures. At Vogelzang Law, the human toll caused by asbestos exposure and disease is always at the forefront, and the team was privileged to hear moving testimonials by mesothelioma survivors and their families.
“Mesothelioma warrior Julie Gundlach, who lives with the disease and has undergone countless surgeries, including one that left her in an induced coma for 4 days, told her story. She left me in awe and gave me determination to spread awareness about this horrific disease and fight to ban it in the United States,” Stefanescu said.
Vogelzang Law is proud to support the ADAO’s work in the fight towards asbestos disease prevention.
