2013 SUMMER NEWSLETTER - FDDC Newsletter, 2013_2.pdf · of the statutes replace the word...

2013

SUMMER NEWSLETTER

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Summer Newsletter

124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-2981

Phone: (850) 488-4180 Toll-Free: (800) 580-7801

Fax (850) 922-6702

Our Mission: “To advocate and promote meaningful participation in all aspects of life for Floridians with developmental disabilities”

(1)

The 2013 Legislative Session is now over and individuals

with developmental disabilities made significant gains this ses-

sion! There was $36 million dollars in total funding for the De-

velopmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Services

(DD/HCBS) Waiver Waitlist for the first time in at least seven

years. For many individuals with developmental disabilities,

there are few options. The additional funding to enroll them on

the DDHCBS Medicaid Waiver will greatly enhance the lives of

these people and to those who assist in their needs.

Finally, advocates led by the Arc of Florida, convinced lawmakers to pass SB 142 (sponsored by Senator

Altman) and complete the removal of the “R-Word” from Florida statutes. This bill will require that the rest

of the statutes replace the word “retarded’ with the words intellectual disability.

Early Steps, one of Florida’s largest early intervention programs, received a funding increase of $3 million

dollars to be able to serve children ages 0-3 with more complex delays. Older children will benefit from the

passage of SB 1108 (by Senator Gardiner and Senator Thrasher). This legislation will make it easier for par-

ents to participate in their child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting and be fully informed about educa-

tion and graduation requirements. The use of parental consent forms for specified actions in a student’s indi-

vidual education plan were authorized. Disability Rights Florida and the Florida Network on Disabilities, along

with the Council, supported legislation that ultimately gives parents more rights in the IEP process and will

make it easier for children with developmental disabilities to be included in regular classes and activities.

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council would like to thank the Florida Legislature for their support

and hopes this will be the beginning of a long term commitment to address the needs of individuals with

developmental disabilities.

Yes of course Council Members take their positions on the board very seriously. It does not mean however,

that they do not enjoy themselves at the same time! A great meeting May 16 & 17 at the Marriott Airport Hotel in Tampa.

Kathy McAllister - Council Chair & Self Advocate - Sarasota, FL

Sylvia James-Miller - Council Vice-Chair & Parent Advocate - Ocala, FL Robert Whitney - Disability Rights Florida - Council Treasurer - Tallahassee, FL

Rixys Alfonso - Parent Advocate - Pembroke Pines, FL Pat Archer - Self Advocate - Boca Raton, FL

Ronni Bianco - Parent Advocate - Aventura, FL Richard Bradley - Appointed-At-Large, Non-Profit Member - Gainesville, FL

Conney Dahn - Appointed-At-Large, Parent-Advocate - Stuart, FL Laurie J. Harlow - Parent Advocate - Tampa, FL

Charlotte M. Curtis, RN, BSN, CPM - Children’s Medical Services Network Division - Tallahassee, FL Shevaun Harris - Agency for Health Care Administration - Tallahassee, FL

Cynthia “Marcy” Jackson - Parent Advocate - Tallahassee, FL Susan Kabot, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Parent Advocate - Plantation, FL

Shirley Kervin - Department of Elder Affairs - Community and Support Services - Tallahassee, FL Jack Kosik - Parent Advocate - Lakeland, FL

Kathy Leigh - Self Advocate - Starke, FL Aleisa McKinlay - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DOE) - Tallahassee, FL

Thomas (TJ) Moon - Self Advocate - Ocala, FL Bernadette Moran - Parent Advocate - Jacksonville, FL

Barbara Palmer - Agency for Persons with Disabilities - Tallahassee, FL Tricia Riccardi - Elected-At-Large, Self Advocate - Kissimmee, FL

Elizabeth Perkins, Ph.D. – Florida Center for Inclusive Communities - Tampa, FL Sara Robinson - Self Advocate - Lakeland, FL

Jean Sherman, Ed.D., R.N., Mailman Center UCEDD University of Miami - Pembroke Pines, FL Casey Stewart - Self Advocate - Pembroke Pines, FL

Monica Verra-Tirado, Ed.D. - Tallahassee, FL David Wood, MD, MPH - Local Agency - Jacksonville, FL

Victoria Vangalis Zepp - Parent Advocate - Pembroke Pines, FL

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Summer Newsletter (2)

2013 Council Members

Director’s Message


Debra Dowds,

Florida Developmental Disabilities Council

I hope you have noticed the “new look” for our Summer Newsletter. Our Council is currently

working on streamlining and up-dating our image as well as how we present our work to the

public. This will be seen in a number of our publications and on our web-page as well. One as-

pect of our work is on policy changes that help increase opportunities for individuals with devel-

opmental disabilities, therefore, I would like to draw attention to the information on our cover

page concerning the 2013 legislative session. It was a busy and historic time at the capitol this

year with a number of accomplishments for people with developmental disabilities. We feel it

was very successful and a good start to ensuring that more people receive the support and re-

sources they may need to be included into their communities. With this thought in mind, sum-

mer is the perfect time for people with developmental disabilities and family members to meet

with their legislators. Local visits are an effective way to let our legislators know of the chal-

lenging issues that affect you and your family. Now is the time to help educate our lawmakers

and to highlight the valuable services such as education, transportation and Medicaid that are

so important to individuals with developmental disabilities. If you have events planned for late

summer or early fall, invite your legislators to attend. It is also important that we remind all of

our lawmakers to look at the abilities of those with development disabilities and not their disa-

bilities. All of this will help to give them a foundation for future bills that may be on the 2014

agenda.

With more funding made available this year, Florida has taken a step in the right direction.

That’s something to celebrate and something to build upon for the future.

Projects And Programs


The Council’s Community Coalitions initiative is supporting the establishment of Project Empower – A Coali-

tion for Supporting Persons with Developmental Disabilities for Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Coun-

ties. Project Empower is working to support the development and strengthening of community resources

that will address the needs of

individuals with developmen-

tal disabilities and their fami-

lies. They are currently as-

sisting the Pure Friendship

Ministries to provide week-

end respite services for indi-

viduals with developmental

disabilities and their siblings.

They are looking for ways

to address the transportation

issue and providing a forum

for discussion of issues and

solutions for individuals with

developmental disabilities in

their community. Chairman Victor Smith (center) works with board members as they prepare to move

forward with numerous community projects during one of their meetings in Pensacola.

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is committed to advocating and promoting meaningful partici-pation in all aspects of life for Floridians with developmental disabilities. We especially enjoy sharing some of the stories of success such as; the Florida State College at Jacksonville, in collaboration with the Duval County and Nassau County School Districts, Project Achieve. This project is designed to provide students with intellectual disabilities, ages 18-22, the support to pursue their post-secondary education at a college, specifi-cally working on certification in the field of their choice. The certification programs chosen by students have included facials/cosmetology, child care, welding, carpentry, auto body repair, hazardous waste disposal and warehouse management. The Council is beginning its third year of supporting Project Achieve which has pro-vided fully inclusive career and technical post-secondary education to 10 students the first year and an addi-tional 12 students the second year. Successes: Of these 22 students in the first two years, two have success-fully completed their certificate in articulated nursing, one in the aviation coating technician program, one in automotive collision repair and refinishing, two in warehouse management, one in carpentry, one in welding, one in hazardous waste operation and emergency response, and two have not only completed their certifi-cate program but also passed their state licensing test for facial specialty. Overall 11 students have passed their certificate programs and are now working with their vocational rehabilitation counselors to find jobs in these areas.

Project Empower—Moving Forward!

Vertical Training Program (Project Achieve)—Into Its Third Year

Model Programs


Florida Program‐Wide Positive Behavior Support

This project was funded to establish five program-wide implementation sites and provide training to In- clusion Specialists to serve as an external coach to the leadership teams of program-wide sites. In addition, the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning training modules that are used to teach practitioners the Pyramid Model practices were re-designed to become a part of the Office of Early Learning statewide system of outcomes driven training. The revised modules were to be disseminated through a train-the-trainers event. This one-year project had ambitious, but achievable goals. The project was able to leverage the substantial national and local work of project staff (Lise Fox and Anne Wimmer) including evaluation tools, training packages, and technical assistance approaches for project staff. The following activities were achieved: 1. The recruitment and identification of five early care centers interested in working with the project to become program-wide PBS demonstration sites. This process involved an application, application preparation assistance, review of applicant’s readiness and potential for success, and the development of a leadership team with explicit obligations for participation. 2. The provision of a 2.5 day program-wide implementation training event to leadership teams and their external coaches (ELC Inclusion Specialists). Through this training, teams left the event with an implementation plan and the tools to begin implementation. 3. The provision of ongoing technical assistance to leadership teams through a social networking community of learning (group site), monthly conference calls with external and internal coaches, and site visits to each program (each program received two site visits). 4. The provision of a mid-year booster training day where teams shared their implementation progress and were guided in reflecting on their data and determining action steps. 5. The provision of a final training day where teams reviewed their first year data, were guided in data decision-making, and constructed a PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) strategic plan to continue to guide their implementation. 6. Program-wide implementation sites were guided on how to use evaluation tools for data-based decision-making and monitoring outcomes. Each site identified an evaluation coordinator that gathered data at the site and provided data to the project. Each site was provided with evaluation tools and materials and was guided in how to collect and use data. The project compiled a summary evaluation report for each site. 7. Throughout the process, project staff worked with the Early Learning Coalition's inclusion specialists to support their roles as external coaches to the program-wide implementation sites and to build their capacity to sustain and expand this work. The support to ELC external coaches included the provision of resources, training materials, phone calls, on-site meetings, and dedicated web meetings.

8. The project collaborated through face-to-face and telephonic meetings with the Office of Early

Learning to include the Center for Social Emotional Learning Modules for Pyramid Model practices

within the state outcomes driven training (ODT) system. However, in the second quarter of the project,

this development of the statewide career system that required OEL was redesigned. While OEL

endorsed the use of ODT training, the use of ODT modules as a formal part of the early care and

education career ladder was put on hold. Since many trainers were embracing the ODT approach, a

decision was made to continue the effort to “translate” the Pyramid Model training modules into that

format.

9. The project provided redesigned training modules that followed ODT format. These modules were

disseminated through a “train the trainers” webinar sponsored by the Office of Early Learning.

10. Two no-cost extension activities were conducted to expand dissemination of the project. One of

the programs held a community “open house” event to showcase their work and the outcomes of

program-wide implementation. Two additional train-the-trainers events were held to further

disseminate the ODT modules to trainers.

Project Outcomes All activities of the project were implemented and the goals of the project were met. As a result of the project, the following outcomes were achieved: Five demonstration sites for program-wide implementation of PBS were established. These sites have in place the elements of program-wide implementation and are using data to guide their implementation. While these sites are only in their first year of implementation (the process takes about 3 years to get to fidelity), they have begun to document important outcomes. Those outcomes include: 1) increasing the implementation of evidence-based practices to promote social competence and address challenging behavior; 2) increases in the quality of the program; 3) a reduction in dismissals due to challenging behavior; 4) increases in staff confidence about their ability to support children who have behavioral support needs; and 5) strengthening partnerships with families. Seven ELC inclusion specialists and TATS facilitators have the capacity to guide program-wide implementation as an external coach. They have the tools and materials to launch a similar effort if they have the support in their positions to work systematically with a program in support of implementation fidelity. Twelve training modules have been developed using the Outcomes Driven Training Format. Those modules will continue to be available for free (to download) on the web site of Florida Center for Inclusive Communities to ensure continued widespread dissemination to trainers in early education.

Model Programs (cont.)


FDDC Spotlight

Our Thought

For The Summer

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can make a difference, in

fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Meade


Sylvia James-Miller, Council Vice-Chair & Parent-Advocate —

“I was accepted into the Partners in Policy-making program and

it turned out to be the most incredible, valuable life-changing

experience ever. In November 2002, when I graduated from

Partners, I had found (as my Partners Project) Parents Helping

family from renters to homeowners. Because of this, I will be able to fulfill the dream

of my sons living in their own community with minimal support and more importantly, without me. I have

formed alliances with my school district, community organizations and local Recreation and Parks Department

to bring their fully inclusive, Pilot Kids Summer Program, to all children in our community and have estab-

lished the Marion County Disability Alliance—a group of local businesses and service providers to work on

making resources and employment opportunities more readily available to individuals with developmental

disabilities while changing the mindset of the community at large through constant awareness events. Finally

and most important, I have chosen to become a citizen of the United States having kept the FDDC as a con-

stant resource, thus, learning the importance of the vote and working with our policymakers to assist them in

making positive changes.” For additional information on initiatives and full testimonials, please go to our web-

site at www.fddc.org and click on Council Accomplishments under Priority Notices.

that provides support, training, special programs for children with

disabilities and community disability awareness events in 8 counties.

My sons, though just teenagers, are now well on their way to independent

living having gone from being taken care of, to learning how to take care of

themselves. My daughter has replaced her sense of hopelessness and need to

escape with a desire to stand beside and advocate for her brothers who do indeed

have a future that does not depend on her giving up her own life goals. I have

learned, and continue to learn, more about our system in order to navigate forward

FDDC Staff, Holly Hohmeister, Cindy Tan and Vanda Bowman prove they have what it takes during a Team Building Exercise in honor of July 4th.

July 1, 2013 marked the 22th

anniversary of the Telecommunica-

tions Access System Act (TASA). The

Florida Legislature passed TASA to

make basic telecommunications

accessible and affordable for deaf or

hard of hearing, speech-impaired,

and the blind & visually impaired.

Since then, TASA led to the formation

of Florida Telecommunications Relay,

Inc., a non-profit organization which

provides specialized telephones to all

Floridians for free. Since its founding,

FTRI has served more than 498,686

residents and distributed nearly

969,482 pieces of equipment.

Since hearing loss often impacts

seniors, FTRI offers a variety of amplified telephones with large buttons and other features for other age re-

lated health concerns, such as low vision and limited mobility. FTRI also provides telephones for those with

speech difficulties, allowing an individual to listen to a conversation and then type back a response. Addition-

ally, FTRI has phones that enable deaf or hard of hearing, as well as, blind or visually impaired individuals to

type and then read the responses using Braille refresher keys.

To qualify for FTRI’s services, an individual needs to meet only three basic requirements:

1) be a permanent Florida resident

2) be at least three years of age

3) be certified as having a hearing loss or speech impairment by a medical professional such as a physician,

audiologist, speech pathologist, a state-certified teacher for the hearing or visually impaired, or a deaf ser-

vice center director.

FTRI contracts with 22 non-profit organizations to conduct outreach and serve as regional distribution cen-

ters for the program. To find a location in your area, log on to www.ftri.org. Applications for the FTRI pro-

gram are also available online or at each regional distribution center. For more information contact:

[email protected]

Florida Telecommunications Relay Celebrates 22 Year Anniversary


Qualifying Floridians can receive a wide range of telecommunication equip-ment for a variety of needs. FTRI’s most popular products are amplified telephones, available in corded and cordless models.

http://www.ftri.org


Aleisa McKinlay—Director for the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Council Member, was honored as the Public Employee of the Year during the Able Trust Ability Awards ceremony held June 14, at the Golden Eagle Country Club in Tallahassee. Ms. McKinlay has consistently and publicly supported the Able Trust’s High School High Tech (HSHT) program throughout her years with VR. She has been an advocate for all programs that help assure employment opportunities for Floridians with disabilities and carries that commitment to her work on a daily basis. The Able

Trust Ability Awards annually recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions toward the employment of Florida citizens with disabilities.

Congratulations!

The Able Trust, at their Ability Awards ceremony on June 14th, created the Stephen R. Wise Founder’s Award to permanently honor the legacy of Senator Wise and his contribution to a better, productive life for Floridi-ans with disabilities. Many of you may not know that the creation of The Able Trust in 1990 was due in large part to the vision and persistence of then-Representative Stephen Wise. From 1988, when Dr. Wise was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, one of his passions that he focused his substantial energy was the employment of people with disabilities. The result of his advocacy was the creation of The Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation (now known as The Able Trust). The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council would like to add its voice to the recognition of Senator Wise for his steadfast advocacy for individuals with disabilities throughout his career at the Florida Legislature. Senator Wise understood the issues facing individuals with disabilities and their tre-mendous potential. He championed many issues for the Council and individ-uals with developmental disabilities. The Council extends its tremendous gratitude and admiration for Senator Wise for his many contributions to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities of this state.

Up-Coming Events

July 26, 2013: Child Development & Education Task Force Meeting, Tampa, FL—Contact April Katine at : 1-800-580-7801 for more information. August 1, 2013: Health Care & Prevention Task Force Meeting, Tampa , FL—Contact Holly Hohmeister at : 1-800- 580-7801 or 1-850-488-4180 for more information. August 8-9, 2013: Community Living & Service Coordination Task Force Meeting, Orlando, FL—Contact Allison Cruz at: 1-800-580-7801 or 1-850-488-4180 for more information. August 14, 2013: Employment & Transportation Task Force Meeting, Tallahassee, FL—Contact Sheila Gritz-Swift at: 1-800-580-7801 for more information. August 14, 2013: Public Policy & Advocacy Committee, Restraint & Seclusion Forum, Tallahassee, FL—Contact Margaret Hooper at: 1-800-580-7801 for more information. September 12, 2013: The Vertical Program Tour & Technical Assistance Workshop, Building A, FSCJ Downtown Campus , 101 W. State Street, Jacksonville, FL, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.—Contact Daniel West at 904-633-8456

September 19-20, 2013: Full Council Business Meeting, Tampa Airport Marriott—Contact Debra Dowds at 1-800-580-7801 for more information. October 9, 2013: Disability Employment Awareness Celebration, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Tallahassee City Hall

We have a new member of the FDDC family!

Brielle Paige Riccardi was born happy and healthy on July 15, 2013.

CONGRATULATIONS to Board Member

and Chair of the Self-Advocacy Leadership Task Force,

Tricia Riccardi and her husband Marshall.

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