eSight Community News

NYSILC is a consumer-controlled, non-profit council that supports the federally funded Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in New York State by: 1) increasing funding and resources, 2) raising public awareness, 3) providing technical assistance and training, and 4) developing and pursuing a public policy agenda that results in systemic change.

NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL (NYSILC)

DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE-YEAR

STATE PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (SPIL)

2008, 2009, and 2010

SPIL Facilitation Outline

NYSILC is a consumer-controlled, non-profit council that supports the federally funded Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in New York State and people with disabilities by increasing resources and opportunities, raising public awareness, providing technical assistance and training, and developing and pursuing a public policy agenda that results in systemic change. NYSILC is currently in the formulation of its next three-year state plan. NYSILC would like your input on some of the following questions.

1. USE OF TITLE VII, PART B FUNDS: These funds are resource oriented. In previous SPIL's, monies were used for purchase of IL services, technology acquisition, targeted fund development, targeted outreach, and best practice exchanges. The current SPIL prioritizes systems advocacy and conference opportunities. Approximately $750,000 is available.

a. What is the best way to maintain and/or improve support for the statewide systems advocacy network?

b. What do you think are the top technical assistance and training needs of the statewide network?

c. What is the best way to increase public awareness about CIL's and issues important to people with disabilities?

d. What is the best way CIL's can conduct outreach to unserved and underserved populations? What has worked in your community?

2. USE OF TITLE VII, PART C FUNDS: These funds are for center operations. Sixteen CIL's presently receive twenty-one grants totaling $4 million. The previous SPIL used new funds for the establishment of new CIL's. The current plan directs all new funds to the existing Federal network of CIL's until they receive a minimum of $200,000 each.

a. How can the statewide network best use new Title VII, Part C funds?

b. How can NYSILC encourage the maintenance and growth of a statewide network of centers?

c. What unserved or underserved areas of the state still exist?

d. What role should the SILC and CIL's play in assuring that culturally competent and linguistically appropriate IL services are available around the state?

3. DESCRIPTION OF EXTENT AND SCOPE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES.

a. With housing such a priority, and CIL's being non-residential, what can be done to:

* Increase affordable and accessible housing options?

* Best facilitate home ownership for people with disabilities?

b. What resources do CIL's need to effectively divert or transition people with disabilities out of institutional settings?

c. What role should the SILC and CIL's play in the development of leadership among youth with disabilities?

d. What role should the SILC and CIL's play in the implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)?

4. OPEN COMMENTS.

Additional comments can be sent via mail to NYSILC, 111 Washington Avenue, Suite 101, Albany, NY 12210, faxed to (518) 427-1139, or e-mailed to nysilc@nysilc.org. Comments can also be sent by visiting the NYSILC website at www.nysilc.org .

SPIL EVALUATION PLAN (FFY 2005-2007)

(Current SPIL)

* Objective 1: Maximize cooperation, coordination, and working relationships among CILs, NYAIL, other State agencies, councils, public and private entities that address the needs of specific disability populations and issues. (2005-2007)

* Objective 2: Maintain support for a statewide systems advocacy network with NYAIL. (2005-2007)

* Objective 3: At a cost of over three years, develop and implement a strategic statewide fund development plan with NYAIL. (2005-2007)

* Objective 4: Establish an IL training academy with NYAIL to help centers meet basic standards and expand the diversity of their programs and funding well above their state and/or federal IL appropriations through September 30, 2007. (2005-2007)

* Objective 5: Develop a housing institute that will implement strategies to increase the affordable, accessible, and integrated housing options for New Yorkers with disabilities. (2005-2007)

* Objective 6: Encourage best practice conference opportunities among CILs, other providers, advocates, and consumers with NYAIL. (2006)

* Objective 7: Develop and implement a statewide Voter Pledge Database and Education project. (2005-2007)

* Objective 8: Support and conduct a SSAN Disability Caucus with NYAIL and relevant stakeholders. (2007)

* Objective 9: Conduct two statewide consumer satisfaction surveys for the CIL network. (2007)

* Objective 10: Conduct a statewide needs assessment that will use a strategic planning process to evaluate the unserved needs and long-term growth of the statewide network. (2006)

* Objective 11: Conduct an IL statewide technology needs assessment to determine gaps that may have to be addressed in the next state plan cycle. (2007)

* Objective 12: Upgrade the Independent Living History & Philosophy DVD training product produced for the statewide network of CIL's. (2007)

Added by SPIL Technical Amendment (9/06)*

* Objective 13: Work with NYAIL to provide an Emergency/Rapid Response Technical Assistance Service for the statewide network of centers. (2007)

* Objective 14: Supported by the addition of $137,000 in Social Security Trust Fund monies to the SPIL, fund two peer-mentoring proposals identified during the RFP process conducted in cooperation with the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) through. (2006-2007)

* Pending approval.

NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL (NYSILC)

NYSILC Accomplishments

NYSILC's mission is "to support the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and increase the independence of people with disabilities in New York State." Its vision looks "to achieve a world where people with disabilities experience equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of society." The council has been successful over the past two years at achieving outcomes in four primary goal areas defined within its mission and vision statements. NYSILC has documented the following progress.

Goal 1: Funding and Resources. In cooperation with other advocates, agencies, councils, and elected officials, successful funding opportunities include receiving $60,000 over three years to act as the court appointed monitor in Galusha v. DEC Federal consent decree, connecting New York City area CIL's with Project Liberty to receive direct funding for disaster relief counseling services, receiving $60,000 per year from the IL NET to evaluate training and technical assistance needs in Regions I & II.

Goal 2: Public Awareness. Targeted media advocacy resulted in press coverage on significant systems advocacy issues over the past seven years. Development and distribution of individually tagged PSA Media Kits for the statewide network (2000-2001), sponsorship of the ABILITY Magazine radio show on WLUX in Long Island, sponsorship of the "Points of View" cable access television program, distribution of quarterly NYSILC "News Briefs," and updates to the NYSILC website (www.nysilc.org).

Goal 3: Technical Assistance and Training. Technical assistance and training activities have been provided at a local, state, and national basis on a wide variety of topics. Selected training events included support for a Nursing Facility Transition 101 training (9/05), a SILC Operations training in Bangor, ME (10/05), and sponsorship of the NYAIL 2006 Conference and Disability Caucus (10/30-11/1/06).

Technical assistance and training products included the development and distribution of an IL History & Philosophy training product to CIL's (10/01), distribution of DVD Version of IL History & Philosophy product (9/03), acquisition of the Wisconsin QUILS peer quality assurance product for the statewide network (9/05), and development and distribution of a Financial Reference Guide for the statewide network of centers (6/06).

Significant papers and reports issued by NYSILC included: 2003 Voting Machine Accessibility Survey (6/03), HOME SWEET HOME...unless you don't have a home! A look at the housing crisis for people with disabilities in New York State and recommendations for reform (3/04), 2004 NYS Statewide Consumer Satisfaction Survey (10/04), A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE: Zogby voting trends report (12/04), HERE THE RUBBER FAILS TO MEET THE ROAD: A look at the negative impact transportation gaps have on the life of New Yorkers with disabilities and recommendations for reform (2/05), Complaints Reveal Widespread Patterns of Voting Discrimination Against New Yorkers with Disabilities (3/05), 2005 Voting Machine Accessibility Survey: Let the buyer...and disabled voter...beware! (6/05), Time to Evaluate the Disability Vote in New York (5/06), NYSILC Housing Institute Handout: The Housing Crises for Persons with Disabilities by Robert Davies (7/06), and Executive Summary: 2006 NYS Voting Access Survey Report (8/06)

Goal 4: Public Policy. In cooperation with other advocates, agencies, councils, and elected officials, the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN) achieved the following public policy accomplishments: reversal of a NYS Code Council decision that now calls for 100% adaptability in the construction of new apartments (12/01), Medicaid Buy-In program (1/02), Most-Integrated Setting law coordinating council (9/02), Help America Vote Act (HAVA) (10/02), budget restoration/SSI COLA (5/03), NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer sign on to State of Minnesota amicus brief in Tennessee v. Lane before the U.S. Supreme Court (10/03), and media support for the Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Waiver law (10/04).