Center for Self-Determinaton E-Newsletter

The Road Map includes recommendations in the areas of public awareness, performance management; educational and transition from school to work and adult life; employment and asset development and family services and supports. Of interest to Center members are the Executive Summary introductory words: "We have concluded that, historically, public assistance in exchange for enforced poverty and the absence of freedom is a bad deal…" Sound familiar? The summary continues, "A new road map is required, one that aligns a public rhetoric to desired outcomes. It needs to be based on the principles of the self-determination movement that has been evolving since 1993." Another indication that we are being heard is the section on asset development. The dual waiver spearheaded by the Center in Florida is specifically recommended as a way to advance personal and economic freedom. To read the report visit www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/pcpid

Alliance for Freedom

"Our numbers in the Alliance for Freedom are growing!" says Center Alliance Coordinator, Tiffany Devon. "Currently we are close to1000 members. Let’s double that in the 2005. The more, the better in presenting the point that freedom is for everyone." As you know, the Center for Self-Determination is the primary self-determination clearinghouse, training and technical assistance center in the country. We are devoted to moving power and authority over resources directly to individuals with disabilities, families and allies. The Alliance supports lives of high quality and great expectations, meaningful community and relationships, as well as the pursuit of both economic and spiritual goals for all persons with disabilities. Devon encourages "Please print off the Alliance membership form, distribute widely and send our way."
http://www.self-determination.com/membership/index.html

Change for Prosperity

The Immersion Learning about Change for Prosperity in Chicago was the first of what we hope will be many opportunities for people to come together to work toward self-determination for young people with disabilities. Co-sponsored by the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development's Employment Policy Group and the Center for Self-Determination, the purpose of the Immersion Learning was to bring together people who are concerned about the future of America's youth with disabilities to see how we can use the principles of self-determination to help them secure their economic futures.

The inspiring speakers brought a wealth of experience and knowledge from outside the developmental disabilities arena. This stimulated participants to create alliances with others working toward self-sufficiency and the eradication of poverty.

As with all Immersion Learning events, time was dedicated to planning changes back where participants live and work. Teams from Alaska, Iowa, Florida, Wisconsin, Maine, Illinois and California spent three days working together to create a plan for their state. The conference was designed to raise expectations of what is possible for young people with disabilities. The future depends on what we do today to give every young person the tools to create a rich and meaningful life for themselves.

Self-Determination State Sites

California

-Waiver Submission Assessment
At the request of California Alliance for Inclusive Communities (CAIC), the Center for Self-Determination submitted a review of the CMS draft waiver submission under application in California. Our analysis addresses several issues that concern the intent of the self-direction waiver. In our recommendations, we propose to strengthen this Waiver and move it closer to self-determination. To see entire report visit http://www.caic.org/NerneyOnCA.html

Florida

- Blue Ribbon Report Finished
Last year, the Blue Ribbon Task Force designed a plan of action to expand and improve inclusive community living options for Floridians with developmental disabilities. The task force addressed statewide transition services, postsecondary education, vocational training and other programs within adult community services. Recommendations to improve competitive, integrated employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities were also made.

Beginning with a series of public forums and presentations from national experts on best practices, in which the first guest speaker was Center Director Tom Nerney, the comprehensive report was released last month. Nerney says, "The report captures so much of what we mean by self-determination, emphasizes income generation and real community inclusion as well as important transition issues". To read report visit http://www.fddc.org/Misc/finalreport12-15-04.pdf

- Enrollment begins for Freedom Initiative
Next month, Florida will begin enrolling individuals with developmental disabilities into the dual Social Security and Medicaid 1115 demonstration Waiver. These combined Waivers will allow individuals with disabilities to earn almost 5 times the amount of money now possible before SSI begins to be reduced. They will be able to save without penalty of thousands of dollars for potential down payments on homes, capitalizing very small businesses, purchasing the means of transportation, pursuing higher education.

Minnesota

- Information of Great Substance
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities web site ongoing provides useful and free materials to enhance independence, inclusion, individual productivity and self-determination for people with disabilities. Free materials and features include excellent resources for individuals, families and professionals, a library of 10,000 pages of documents on a wide array of topics and other helpful materials all produced by the Minnesota council. You will also find helpful, self-paced online learning courses available to anyone who would like to increase their knowledge and skills in self-advocacy, education and employment. Check it out at www.mncdd.org

New Mexico

- Another Center without Walls
Priscilla Salinas, Center State Contact in New Mexico is now the coordinator of "El Poder de los as Jovenes" (Empowerment of Youth) - a Youth Information, Training and Resource Center with The Arc of New Mexico. Funded through a three-year Project of National Significance grant from the United States Administration on Developmental Disabilities, the "center without walls" will provide information, referral and support in English and Spanish to promote positive outcomes for young people with developmental disabilities in the areas of education, employment, recreation, and healthy lifestyles. For more info http://www.self-determination.com/states/newmexico/index.html

Texas

- Self-Determination Project Begins
"Self Determination for Texas: A Collaborative Project" will bring the principles and practices of self-determination to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, the diverse cultures of Texas communities, Texas providers and political/administrative systems. Information, training, technical assistance and hands-on consultation regarding self-determination will be provided by Imagine Enterprises. Two-day trainings will be held in 10 regional areas: the Panhandle, West Texas, Dallas Metroplex and Gulf Coast (year 1); The Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio/Laredo and El Paso (year 2); and Houston, Austin/Central Texas and Deep East Texas (year 3). Additionally, a group of skilled self-determination trainers will be developed.

The project is working to make it possible for people with developmental disabilities to have the freedom to live a meaningful life in their communities, with authority over dollars available, with support to organize resources in ways that are life enhancing and meaningful, with responsibility for the wise use of public dollars, and with confirmation of the important leadership that self advocates must hold in a newly designed system. Imagine is partnering with the Center for Self-Determination in this endeavor. For more information contactkimt@yahoo.com or njaloway@houston.rr.com

- Sabine Valley Leads the Way
In January, the Sabine Valley MRMH Center sponsored a very successful "Guaranteeing the Promise of Freedom through Individual Budget" training in Jefferson, Texas. Individual budgets for five individuals who receive support for Sabine Valley Center were developed and useful counsel concerning income production, companionship, community connections and more were offered to the five individuals. More than 30 training participants-from across the vast state of Texas- learned about the initial Quality Protocol conducted late last year by the Center for Self-Determination with five individuals and their families. http://www.self-determination.com/publications/enews/archiveOct2004.html#quality

Sabine Valley Center is piloting this new set of quality standards and demonstrating great leadership in sharing how life plans, aspirations and ambitions are the just the same for persons with disabilities as they are for all of human kind.

Contact Dorothy.Hull@SabineValley.org for more information.

Wisconsin

- The end of the transformation and a new beginning
On January 25 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Dane County Department of Human Services will celebrate the completion of the conversion to self-directed supports. And they are saying, "It's not been a cake walk"
http://www.self-determination.com/states/wisconsin/index.html

Updates and Announcements

National Review Endorses Self-Determination

The conservative National Review Editor and syndicated columnist, Rich Lowry strongly endorsed the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities report and self-determination. See the National Review http://www.nationalreview.com/lowry/lowry200501031200.asp

A Call for Papers

Autreat, run by Autism Network International, is accepting proposals until Feb. 15, 2005 for workshops to be presented at Autreat 2005. The conference will be held Monday-Friday, June 27-July 1, 2005, in metropolitan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The proposal announcements reads "We are interested in workshops, by either autistic or non-autistic people, about positive ways of living with autism, about functioning as autistic people in a neurotypical world, and about the disability movement and its significance for autistic people."

For more information on ANI, Autreat visit http://ani.autistics.us/

A Meaningful Life after the Hospital

In the new documentary Inside Outside: Building a Meaningful Life after the Hospital, film by ex-patient filmmakers Pat Deegan and Terry Strecker, people with significant personal histories of psychiatric hospitalization are interviewed about their experience of developing meaningful lives for themselves in the community. They discuss their fear of leaving hospital and talk about the different therapeutic, self-help, practical (housing, employment, transportation) and spiritual supports they used to rebuild their lives.

For more information about Inside Outside, including how to order, see www.patdeegan.com.

Closing Quote

"There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free."
Walter Cronkite