MNSILC Minutes - 8 December 2005

Minutes for December 8, 2005

Meeting Location: Four Points Sheraton, Minneapolis

Present: Barbara Chromy, Judy Sanders, Bryan Jensen, Sharon Johnson, Roberta Cich, Mark Eggen, Ann Zick, Adrienne Haugen, Larry Lura, Linda Lingen (ex-officio) David Sherwood-Gabrielson (ex-officio)

Absent: Phyllis Coppess, David Hancox, (excused) Lois Johnson, (excused) Connie Lee Berg, (excused) Karen Larson, (excused) Mary Pennington, (excused)

RS Staff: Brad Westerlund, Gail Lundeen

Call to Order, Introductions: The December 8, 2005 meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) was called to order at 9:03 a.m. by Mark Eggen, Acting Chair. Introductions followed.

Approval of November Minutes and December Agenda:

Minute revisions:

Add Lois Johnson’s name to the website subcommittee
Ann Zick is chair of the Website Committee. Zick’s name should be dropped from the Diversity Committee. Roberta Cich is secretary of the website Committee.
Minutes should be bolded and in 12 font
Do not use DRAFT watermark. The watermark makes items hard to read.
Linda Lingen is not part of the diversity subcommittee. She will float between subcommittees.

Judy Sanders moved to accept the November minutes as amended. Sharon Johnson seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. Sharon Johnson moved to accept the December agenda as presented. Larry Lura seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

Cultural Diversity Discussion: Lundeen reviewed Lifetrack Resources cultural diversity training options. (see attached) Lingen stated that SSB potentially had resources for presentations on Hmong and Somali culture. The three to four hours of training suggested by Lifetrack would be difficult to accommodate at a single meeting. Perhaps the May 11 and 12 meeting at the White Earth reservation could accommodate this topic.

Adrienne Haugen observed that American Indians and Russians, two of the groups the subcommittee had targeted, were not addressed in the Lifetrack proposal. Sharon Johnson volunteered herself and Connie Lee Berg to present on American Indian issues. Roberta Cich reminded the SILC that diversity needs and interests varied greatly throughout the state.

Lundeen commented that the Diversity/Outreach subcommittee work is primarily through written word. If the goal is to assure that written materials are culturally appropriate, is a different type of training/consultation needed? Lundeen was instructed to discuss with the DEED communication department the resources they could provide to assure that written materials were culturally appropriate.

Cultural diversity training was referred back to the subcommittee for further discussion and recommendations.

121 Project report: In the absence of Connie Lee Berg, Sharon Johnson provided background information about the 121 Projects.

The 121 Projects were created with the inception of the Rehabilitation Act and were in response to statistically documented concerns that Vocational Rehabilitation had not adequately served American Indians. A percentage of VR dollars were designated by Congress to be reserved for self administrated VR programs on American Indian Reservations. Each 121 project is designed by the people on the reservation to meet their unique needs and interests. The application process is very competitive, rigorous, and subject to public review. Minnesota has two 121 projects: White Earth Vocational Rehabilitation and Red Lake Vocational Rehabilitation.

The Rehabilitation Act requires Project 121 representation on the SILC. 121 projects representatives also serve on the Minnesota State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind and the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC).

CIL Update: No report given

State Council on Disability Report: No report given.

State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind: The RCB annual report is completed, approved and available on the SSB website. This report is a compilation of the work of the six RSB committees.

The Attorney General’s Office has provided a Board Members’ Handbook of Legal Issues. Lundeen will try to obtain the book in electronic form to distribute to SILC members. Some of the issues included in this book are: a public record must be kept on how each member votes; the legislature has allowed specific Councils, SILC included, to conduct meetings via telephone; and all meetings must be open to the public.

State Rehabilitation Council report: In the absence of Lois Johnson, Gail Lundeen gave a State Rehabilitation Council report.

Jennifer Sheehy Keller, Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the US Department of Education, met with the Executive Committee of the State Rehabilitation Council, members of Rehabilitation Services Administration, members of the employment subcommittee of MN Council on Disability, and other community members. Ms. Keller was in town to participate in youth mentoring day. Lundeen will send out an electronic biography on Ms. Keller.

Judy Sanders reported that many people took Ms. Keller’s visit as an opportunity to express extreme dissatisfaction with Rehabilitation Services reorganization. The regional offices have been closed. Slowly, the RSA we know is being dismantled.

The State Rehabilitation Council has developed a calendar of responsibilities for 2006. Together with Rehabilitation Services, the SRC will jointly write portions of the state plan and participate in strategic planning.

The SRC has developed a connection with the Governor’s Workforce Development Council (GWDC) with representation on the Creating Connections subcommittee. This strategic committee, will make recommendations to the GWDC on methods to further the employment of people with disabilities.

Rehabilitation Services Organization Chart: The SILC reviewed the Rehabilitation Services organization chart. The Council expressed a desire for more information on the titles of people in the organization chart. David Sherwood-Gabrielson reviewed his unit’s staff assignments.

The SILC asked if Bob Zimmerman’s role had changed. He is now listed in the Central Office organization chart. Sherwood-Gabrielson stated that Zimmerman continues to provide independent living services and is housed in the Midway WorkForce Center .

The SILC broke into the Diversity and Outreach Subcommittee and the Website Information Subcommittee. The following work was brought back to the larger group for discussion.

Website Information Subcommittee: Brian Jensen, Ann Zick, Judy Sanders, Roberta Cich, and Barb Chromy. Rehabilitation Services staff: Brad Westerlund and Gail Lundeen

Objective A: Develop a mechanism to provide training throughout Minnesota in areas of IL philosophy, choice, and self-determination.

The committee recommends that information be provided through the internet and websites rather than by formal, statewide training. Lundeen will survey the DEED website and report back on what is available on the DEED website that the SILC website should provide links.

Brad will work with David Hancox and Diane Mutchler to survey available materials and provide links to in-depth information in Independent Living philosophy.

The committee will develop a brochure aimed at the general public informing them of the Independent Living Centers and directing them to key websites. Brad will locate the present ILC brochure and bring to the committee to review and determine if it can be expanded upon.

Objective D: Develop fact sheets for statewide distribution to CILs, Workforce Centers , et alia for the provision of information concerning the ADA and other civil rights laws for people with disabilities.

Brad will work with Diane Mutchler, RS Rehabilitation Specialist, to assure that ADA and other disability rights laws are referenced on the SILC website.

Care will be taken that when the SILC website provides links to other websites, the reader should be able to return to the SILC website.

Objective E: Develop fact sheets for statewide distribution to provide information on how to work effectively with elected officials.

Brad will research information on how to work with legislators. This information will be brought back to the committee for further discussion

The SILC document clarifying Council member’s advisory responsibilities and lobbying prohibitions will be linked to on the SILC website.

The DD Council publication Make Your Case will be provided to the subcommittee for review.

Objective F: Create a monograph of fact sheets and other pertinent educational materials for national distribution.

The subcommittee recommends that the website serve as the monograph of fact sheets.

Diversity/Outreach Subcommittee: Sharon Johnson, Larry Lura, Adrienne Hagen, and David Sherwood-Gabrielson

Objective B: Inform diverse populations statewide of, and ensure access to, independent living concepts and philosophies through targeted outreach.

The committee recognized the challenge of assuring access to Independent Living Centers because of lack of transportation, particularly in rural areas. Sharon Johnson volunteered to seek further information on this issue.
Centers should be surveyed for existing brochures and posters.
DEED communication department will be contacted to discuss translation services.
The subcommittee proposed that cultural diversity training be provided to the full SILC. The January meeting will provide training on Deaf/Blind. The April meeting will provide training from one of the ethnic groups available through SSB contacts. The subcommittee requests a 45 minute presentation with 15 minutes for questions and answers.

Objective C: Continue to evaluate and monitor unserved and underserved disability groups within differing ethnic and racial populations statewide.

The subcommittee is reviewing the IL Needs Assessment Survey and will discuss at the next meeting.
The IL Centers will be surveyed for information on how they monitor unmet need in underserved and unserved populations.

Objective G: Seek increased collaboration with other disability organizations such as the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities, the ARC, Consumer Survivor Network, et alia.

The collaboration documentation sheet was rerouted through the full SILC.
The SILC still needs to get an update on the Olmstead project in Minnesota at a future meeting.

Objective J: Plan, develop and implement targeted outreach activities for minority and youth audiences to encourage a more diverse SILC membership.

More discussion needed on this objective.

Independent Living Philosophy Discussion: Ann Zick brought the SILC’s attention to the fact that the IL philosophy as described in the SILC by-laws and the IL philosophy as described in the website are not the same. Ann proposed that the language on the website be retained, but the IL philosophy in the by-laws be reframed as the SILC mission.

Adrienne Haugen made a motion that discussion regarding the IL philosophy and SILC mission be tabled until materials could be provided in print for further discussion. Votes are as follows: Those in favor: Judy Sanders, Bryan Jensen, Roberta Cich, and Adrienne Haugen. Those opposed: Ann Zick. Ayes prevailed and the motion was tabled until a later date.

Issues, Announcement, Correspondence: Ann Zick requested that notes from the public forum be distributed to the full Council. Westerlund agreed to distribute prior to the next Council meeting. Ann made a motion that future public forum meetings be announced on the SILC website. Jensen seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

The Council was reminded that if a member is unable to attend a meeting, please contact Brad and request that the room reservation be cancelled. If the room is not cancelled, the SILC must pay for the cost of the room.

Next Meeting, Adjournment: The next SILC meeting will be held on January 12, 2006 from 9:00 to 2:30 at the Four Points Sheraton Minneapolis, 1330 Industrial Boulevard. The SILC meeting adjourned at 2:30.