Features
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November 2003 E-Newsletter
Welcome to the first issue of the Center for Self-Determination e-newsletter.
The newsletter is offered as a part of your membership with the Center
for Self-Determination or in affiliation with your subscription to AccessAbilities.
Please follow the link at the end of this page if you would like to receive
the e-newsletter by Email. This e newsletter is being brought to you by
Jack Enterprises. www.empowering-alternatives.com Jack Enterprises was
founded out of a passion for creating empowering alternatives for people
rather than systems and programs that control and limit options by Kristin
Smith. Kristin worked in the field of Community Mental Health in Michigan
since 1986 as a registered Social Worker and recently left to try to find
a different way to promote change in the system. Her experience has been
primarily working with individuals who experience developmental disabilities
and mental illness in residential and vocational facilities, and in support
coordination. Kristin is consulting with the Center working with Pat Carver
on special projects. Please welcome her! krismth@hotmail.com
Immersion Learning about Self-Determination
The Center for Self-Determination is putting the final scheduling touches
on the third annual Immersion Learning about Self-Determination. Hosted
in partnership with the Georgia Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities,
this thorough learning opportunity will be held at the Embassy Suites
Centennial Olympic Park, downtown Atlanta, April 28 - May 1, 2004. Extensive
sessions concerning alternatives to guardianship and developing systems
of the future where people with disabilities are able to waive rules within
Social Security and Medicaid regulations are planned. A close look at
self-determination for individuals with psychiatric disabilities is also
scheduled. Unique to this immersion learning is the planning stream. This
opportunity is arranged at the requests of many Councils on Developmental
Disabilities in the southern United States. Wanting to go beyond the rhetoric
of the self-determination movement, Councils asked for specific direction
in changing systems of support for citizens with disabilities. Therefore
this Planning Stream is specifically for organized groups who are ready
to begin or accelerate implementation of self-determination in their states,
localities or agencies. With the guidance of experts who have truly implemented
self-determination, the outcome of this stream of immersion learning will
be Blueprints for Implementation. Foundation Stream of learning for those
who are new to the movement or who wish to up-date their understanding
of the fundamentals of self-determination and develop individual plans
will be offered. Registration fee for three days of Immersion Learning
and intensive planning, valuable written materials organized for easy
use; professional planning facilitation with 3 lunches, daily refreshment
breaks, plus an opening reception is $350 up until March 31, 2004. After
this date, registration is $400. Attendance is limited to ensure quality
within the sessions and their outcomes. For more information contact Kris
Copeland at the Center for Self-Determination 734-213-5220 or visit website
www.self-determination.com Immersion Flyers available for printing and
distribution are accessible by linking to www.self-determination.com/pdf/immersionflier73.pdf
Psychiatric Disability and Self-Determination
The University of Illinois at Chicago National Research and Training Center
on Psychiatric Disability hosted an invitational meeting for leaders in
the psychiatric disability movement on self-determination October 2nd
and 3rd. With support from NIDRR (US Dept. of Ed.) these two days were
designed to create a blueprint for implementing self-determination for
those with psychiatric disabilities. Center Director, Tom Nerney, was
commissioned to develop a paper on a policy and financing agenda for this
population. His paper, The Promise of Self-Determination for Persons with
Psychiatric Disabilities, will be available on November 14th and will
be soon posted on the Center website. www.self-determination.com
INFO ON STATES
Colorado and New Mexico
Mid October found Nerney spending two days each in New Mexico and Colorado
assisting with planning efforts on these states beginning to change their
systems to support self-determination. These initial efforts have strong
support from Center members in both states and the backing of the State
Arc's led by Rebecca Shuman in New Mexico and Bill Baesman in Colorado.
Michael Allen continues his support for these efforts with the self-advocacy
movement in both states as well.
Connecticut
The Olmstead Coalition invited Nerney to present on The System of the
Future in late October. A slightly revised edition of this paper is now
available on the Center website. Negotiations continue with the Social
Security Administration and CMS on important features of this system change.
For revised System of the Future paper visit: www.self-determination.com/publications/systemfuture1.html
Florida
A $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) will fund the Florida Freedom Initiative, a project aimed at promoting
the concept of consumer-directed care. The Department's Developmental
Disabilities Program Office, in partnership with the Agency for Health
Care Administration, will request a Social Security waiver as well as
an expansion of the Independence Plus Medicaid waiver to cover about 1,500
individuals. The move is intended to increase individuals' control of
public funds for long-term support needs, and promote employment, home
ownership and financial independence without jeopardizing their eligibility
for both Medicaid and Social Security Income benefits. The pilot is a
cooperative effort between DCF, the Florida Developmental Disabilities
Council, the Center for Self-Determination, the Southern Movement for
Independence the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department
of Elder Affairs, and the Department of Health. www.self-determination.com/states/florida/index.html
Ohio
In an attempt to move self-determination to all 88 counties in Ohio, the
Center has been hired to provide training and technical assistance to
these counties. Center members including Dennis Harkins, Dan Rossiter
and others from Dane County, Wisconsin will be teaming up with counties
and starting 6 regional training sessions in early November. October was
marked with an overflow attendance at the second kick-off for self-determination.
Tom Nerney spoke and later led a discussion on developing a "rule
template" or set of principles to guide all future rule-making in
Ohio to make sure it is consistent with self-determination. This is one
of the products called for in the Center contract. For more information
contact Dennis Harkins: DWHarks@aol.com
Michigan
The first year of the Michigan Academy on Self Determination finished
on an enterprising note. Doreen Rosimos, of Income Links out of New Hampshire,
worked individually with each participant to develop ideas on micro enterprise
development. Evaluations indicate that this hands-on academy developed
by the Arc of Midland and the Center for Self-Determination is extremely
helpful to those in attendance. The second year begins in January with
participants coming with support "teams" from all across the
state.
The Center for Outcome Analysis and the Center for Self-Determination
is working with the Michigan Council on Developmental Disabilities on
a project "Re-inventing Quality" that will closely examining
what is being measured in quality of life assessments. Most major approaches
began firmly mired within disability thinking, rather than universal human
wants and aspirations. This project hopes to begin to clarify the essential
distinction between "quality of life" and "quality of service".
Watch for more information on both projects at www.self-determination.com/states/michigan/index.html
Center Website
The Center for Self-Determination web site is officially Bobby Approved.
Bobby is a comprehensive web accessibility software tool designed to help
expose and repair barriers to accessibility and encourage compliance with
existing accessibility guidelines. bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp
State Pages
Recent state pages on the website to receive updates this Fall are: Nevada,
Colorado, New Mexico, Florida and Michigan. If you have information to
share on your state web page, please contact Kris Copeland kcopeland@twmi.rr.com
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