NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL (NYSILC)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE-YEAR
STATE PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (SPIL)
2008, 2009, and 2010
Public Notice
The New York State
Independent Living Council (NYSILC), in conjunction with the New York State Education
Department/Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with
Disabilities (VESID) and the New York State Office of Children and Family
Services/Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), is seeking
your input on the development of its next three-year State Plan for Independent
Living (SPIL). Three open and two targeted public hearings will be held at the
following locations:
Open Public Hearings
Targeted SPIL Hearings at
Public Events (All Held In Albany)*
*Participation at targeted
SPIL hearings at public events by conference registration and attendance only.
See details.
The public hearings are open
to the public. The targeted SPIL hearings at public events require registration
per conference guidelines. All hearings will be held in locations accessible to
people with disabilities. Materials will be provided in alternative formats.
For further information, contact NYSILC at (518) 427-1060 (Voice & TTY) or
at 1 (888) 4-NYSILC (Toll Free Voice for New York State Only).
If you cannot attend any of
the public hearings, you can submit written comments to NYSILC before 5:00 PM on
Wednesday, November 1, 2006. 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. Click and follow the menu options
provided on the home page for "SPIL Comments."
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
Introduction
Chapter 1 of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,
provides financial assistance to States for providing, expanding, and improving
the provision of Independent Living (IL) services, to develop and support
statewide networks of Centers for Independent Living (CILs), and to improve
working relationships among State IL Services (SILS) programs, CILs, Statewide
IL Councils (SILCs), programs funded under other titles of the Act, and other
programs that address the needs of individuals with significant disabilities funded
by Federal and non-Federal authorities.
The purpose of Chapter 1 of Title VII of the Act (Chapter 1) is to
promote a philosophy of independent living, which includes consumer control;
peer support; self-help; self-determination; equal access; and individual and
system advocacy in order to maximize the leadership; empowerment; independence
and productivity of individuals with significant disabilities; and the
integration and full inclusion of individuals with significant disabilities
into the mainstream of American society.
For a State to participate in the programs
under Chapter 1, it must submit to the U.S. Department of
Education/Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) an approvable State Plan
for Independent Living (SPIL). No Federal funds or other benefits can be
made available under this Chapter unless the SPIL conforms to applicable
statutory and regulatory requirements. This SPIL reflects the State's
commitment to carry out the programs in compliance with the provisions in the
plan, the application for funds under the part B, Chapter 1 program, and also
the State's planning and implementation activities related to various
administrative and operational considerations associated with the plan.
As such, the approved SPIL will serve as one of the key elements in RSA's
monitoring of the State's performance in carrying out the assurances to which
the State commits itself in submitting the State plan.
NYSILC,
VESID, and CBVH are authorized by the Rehabilitation Act as amended to jointly develop
the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The current process reflects the
State Plan Partner’s effort to obtain input from various individuals and groups
through varied methods and networks necessary to formulate the upcoming SPIL
for 2008-2010. Once approved, NYSILC is responsible to implement, monitor and
evaluate the SPIL.
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)
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).