Minnesota Statewide Independent Living Council"Creating the future of Independent Living through guidance and direction from people with disabilities"
Minutes for April 13, 2006
Meeting Location: Four Points Sheraton Midway, St. Paul
Present: Mark Eggen, Judy Sanders, Phyllis Coppess, Adrienne Haugen, Ann Zick, Barbara Chromy, Bryan Jensen, Lois Johnson, Mary Pennington, Karen Larson, Roberta Cich, Vicki Dalle Molle, Larry Lura, David Sherwood-Gabrielson (ex-officio), Brad Westerlund (ex-officio), Linda Lingen (ex-officio), Gail Lundeen (ex-officio), David Schwartzkopf (ex-officio).
Absent: Connie Lee Berg (excused)
Guests: Kimberley Peck, Director RS, Cara Ruff, E.D. ILICIL, Alan Augustin, E.D. SMILES, Steve Thovson, E.D. SWCIL.
Approval of January Minutes and April Agenda
Lois Johnson asked if there were any revisions to the January 2006 minutes. Ann Zick moved, Larry Lura seconded that the minutes be accepted as written. There was no discussion and the motion carried. The Chair next asked if there were any changes to the April 2006 agenda. Mark Eggen moved and Judy Sanders seconded, that the agenda be accepted as written. There was no discussion and the motion passed.
MACIL Presentation
Steve Thovson, Cara Ruff and Alan Augustin represented MACIL and gave a presentation on MACIL's 2006 position paper. Steve Thovson discussed how MACIL is working with Montana on determining projected amounts of dollars required to open new CIL's in Minnesota. Steve mentioned that this is a work-in-progress, and that the SILC and others will receive information on the findings.
Steve indicated that this position paper was a historical perspective of the CIL's and MACIL. He discussed the funding sources and the issues the Centers are facing with covering all counties in Minnesota with the current funding levels. Steve talked about the relationships with the legislature and the issues they faced with funding. MACIL took a look at each individual service area and examined where they stand and what they will need to do, to reach the unserved and underserved areas in MN.
Steve indicated that MACIL had determined the counties that would now be covered or served under this new funding, if the CIL's were to receive 500,000 in base funding. Discussion followed. A discussion regarding what does unserved mean, and if it means that no one is served in that county. Steve explained that unserved means that they still serve people in those unserved counties but the need is still there.
Dave Schwartzkopf asked that MACIL attend a Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD) meeting and provide them with this information. Steve and Cara were asked if the current State Plan will need to be amended to reflect these additional needs for the CIL's. Steve responded by saying that MACIL will work with the SILC and the DSU to effectively outline what the current needs are and what will need to be revised and amended.
The MACIL's position paper, which has been provided to SILC members, was reviewed in a PowerPoint presentation. (Position paper available upon request)
Committee Workgroups
The Website and Diversity/Outreach committee's met and continued work on the goals and objectives of the 2005-2007 SPIL.
Diversity and Outreach subcommittee
Larry-Lois-Phyllis-David-Adrienne-Mark-Mary-Karen
Brochure: Lundeen reported that DEED Communication division can work with the Council to develop a three-fold brochure. The cost charged to the council would be the cost of printing, which is estimated to be between $500 and $700 for 1,000 brochures. Layout and editing services are free. Because both subcommittees are discussing the development of a brochure, this proposal will be brought to the full SILC.
Center information gathering: Email was sent to all 8 centers. Most replied; they all have their own brochures, newsletters and posters.
Translation availability: DEED Communication Specialist, Laura Winge, states that DEED contracts with 3 different vendors for translation services. Services include translating materials from Native American language to English.
Deaf/Blind training: This objective has been completed. The SILC received deaf/blind training in January.
Olmstead Act: Schwartzkopf sits on a committee that is working on a plan for Minnesota they are calling it Option 2. Members of this committee include, but are not limited to, the following organizations: DHS, State Council on Disability, MACIL, and MN Housing Finance coop. When completed, the plan will be presented to the full SILC.
The Diversity and Outreach Subcommittee suggests that a portion of the June meeting be used for a presentation on the history of the Olmsted Act, the Federal law, and Minnesota's efforts to comply with this law.
Website Subcommittee
Brad-Gail-Bryan-Judy-Roberta-Barbara
The committee reports that objectives specific to the website have been completed.
Because both subcommittees are recommending that a brochure be developed, it is recommended that a new subcommittee, with members from each subcommittee be formed. The Website/Education Subcommittee suggests that a format, similar to the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities pamphlet DD Five Year Plan (available upon request) be followed. Editing, designing, printing, and translation services are available through the DEED communication division.
The DD Council has provided the Attorney General's Board Members' Handbook of Legal Issues. SILC should either provide a link to this location of the DD website or pursue making this handbook available on the SILC website.
State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind Update
Judy discussed that Townships would like an exception from providing accessible voting machines. House Bill #2833 would block the exception. Judy reviewed recent efforts to assure that all townships have handicapped accessible voting booths. She made the following points:
- There is a misconception that the accessible voting booths apply only to blind individuals.
- Townships are requesting an exemption, stating they a) have a low voter turnout, sometimes as low as 20 people b) do not have funds to pay for the booths and c) do not have people with disabilities who require such a booth. Townships have received some legislative support for this request.
- Accessible voting booths are not relevant to ADA, they are part of Public Law 107-252, the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Sanders stated that the costs of accessible voting booths were negligible. She is of the opinion that the state should cover the costs of the voting booths.
State Rehabilitation Council Update
The SRC is providing input to Rehabilitation Services on its vision and mission statements. There will be a metro public forum June 28 and a Greater Minnesota public forum in September.
People with disabilities are being encouraged to access universal Workforce Center services. Members of the SRC were concerned that not all people with disabilities have full access to universal services. Johnson asked the SILC if they would be interested in participating in an assessment of statewide Workforce Center accessibility. The SILC stated that such an assessment would be out of their purview, but suggested the Centers for Independent Living because their staff is trained to assess accessibility.
121 Project Update
Connie Lee Berg was not present for this meeting, and no report was given.
CIL Update
MACIL is conducting its annual legislative visits. Members provide their legislators with a booklet that thanks them for their support, provides information on the work of the CIL's and reviews the cost savings created by the Centers.
The Disability Linkage line has firm funding until June of 2007. Vicki Dalle Molle estimated that her Center's Disability Linkage Line, which covers the Southern tier of the state, receives 137 Medicare Part D calls per month and 400-600 general information calls. The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, which covers the metro area and the northern tier of the state, receives roughly one and a half times the total number of calls, about 200 Medicare Part D and 600 to 900 general information calls. Because there are several linkage lines, including the senior linkage line, there are questions about if they must continue to be separate.
The Centers will be holding nursing home relocation forums. Nursing home relocation, a very complex issue, must address many factors such as transportation, housing and appropriate medical care.
MSCOD Update
MNSCOD is in the process of holding state meetings throughout the state. The first one was on April 3, the next one will be on June 5. (See attachment)
SILC/ILC Brochure discussion
Judy Sanders suggested that a 'SILC/ILC brochure task force' be developed. Dalle Molle offered to provide input from MACIL and the ILC perspective. (See attached) Dalle Molle, Zick, Lingen, Roberta, Johnson, Westerlund, and Lundeen volunteered to work on this committee. A meeting time for the committee will be set at the May meeting.
Visitors' Comments
There were no visitors during this meeting.
Issues, Announcements, Correspondence
Mark Eggen made a motion to send a letter of support to MACIL for full base funding for IL Core Services and thanking the IL Center Directors for coming to the SILC meeting and presenting. Judy Sanders seconded the motion. Lois Johnson will draft the letter and submit it to MACIL.
Next Meeting, Adjournment
The next meeting of the SILC will be May 11th and 12th from nine a.m. to three p.m. at the Shooting Star Conference Center in Mahnomen. The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
