Believe We Are Better Reenergize, Reorganize, Reauthorize! NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDEPENDENT LIVING ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2009 The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.* Dear Advocates and Friends, We are facing monumental change – a new Congress, a new President, and new leadership for NCIL. We have the opportunity to bring our Movement out of the shadow of others. We have allowed others to tell our story. As individuals, Government still controls our services and lives. As a community, they have marginalized Independent Living by reinterpreting our law, diminishing our funding, and failing to properly measure and report our accomplishments. We must not sit and wait for change. We must focus on effectively promoting Independent Living to policy makers and appropriators. We must communicate the value of our Movement and our people. The Independent Living Program belongs to the People, not to bureaucrats and bean counters! It is time for us to take it back. This year’s Annual Conference, Believe: We Are Better. Reenergize, Reorganize, Reauthorize!, is designed to give us the tools to do just that. It is an acknowledgement that our time has come. It is a proclamation that we will no longer allow paternalistic professionals to impede Independent Living. It provides individuals with disabilities, Centers and SILCs across the country a unifying opportunity to confront our common enemies –complacency, cynicism and resignation. In 1986, Justin Dart testified before Congress that RSA’s vocational rehabilitation system was “a vast, inflexible federal system which, like the society it represents, still contains a significant portion of individuals who have not yet overcome obsolete, paternalistic attitudes about disability.” We have made in-roads, but we have yet to seize control and turn it in a progressive direction. As a community, we will insist that decisions be made with us and by us. We will reenergize our efforts to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act and we will insist on reforms that reflect the values of our community. No longer will programs exclude people with disabilities from deciding how our lives ought to be lived. We will design, implement, and monitor programs that will be focused on the principles of Independent Living: civil rights, consumer control, and social, economic, and political equality. The doors of opportunity do not slam open; our common commitment and effort must make it so. We must believe in our ability to create change; to do that which has seemed impossible. We have little to lose, and much more to gain in this time of critical change. We cannot stand in our own way. We need to put aside our internal differences, skepticism, and pessimism to Reenergize, Reorganize, and Reauthorize, for our common goals and our shared vision. I would like to thank the NCIL Board and staff for their tireless efforts to bring about this opportunity and our generous sponsors for making this event a success! Please take a moment to stop at the exhibit fair and review the advertisements in this program, as each of these contributors has shown a dedication to NCIL and the advancement of Independent Living through their donations. I would especially like to thank top sponsors Purple Language Services, Pride Mobility, Johnson & Johnson, Amerigroup, HealthSouth, The Center for Disability Rights, Verizon, Q90 CIL Management Suite, Invacare, NCART, IndependenceFirst, HSC Foundation, AdvaMed, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), Living Independence Network Corporation (LINC), Sunrise Medical, Vehicle Production Group LLC, and Edison Electric Institute. Sincerely, Kelly Buckland, Executive Director *Quote by Ayn Rand Image: Grand Hyatt Washington: Independence Level (5B)   Please note that rates are per person and include materials, workshops, and Awards Banquet. Onsite Registration -NCIL Member $305 -Non-Member $430   -Daily Rate $210 -Banquet Ticket $150 Personal Assistant Registration Policy: Personal Assistants are not required to pay the registration fee but should fill out a form to receive a badge. Personal Assistants are welcome to attend all conference events, including scheduled meals and receptions. Youth Registration Rate: NCIL is offering a reduced youth registration fee of $110 to all NCIL members 22-years-old or younger in order that young people with disabilities be exposed to the benefits of active involvement in NCIL and self-advocacy.   Comprehensive Schedule of Events Thursday, June 4   -NCIL Board Meeting: 11:00am - 3:00pm; Farragut / Lafayette -Registration Open: 2:00pm - 5:00pm; Independence Foyer -NCIL Orientation Session: 4:00pm - 6:00pm; Farragut / Lafayette -NCIL offers this general session for new NCIL members and conference attendees. Join us to gain greater insight into NCIL’s history, its Annual Conference, and formal procedures such as voting at the Annual Council Meeting. The Board of Directors will discuss preparations for the annual March and Rally, and more! -Diversity Reception: 7:00pm - 10:00pm; Independence A -Join the Diversity Committee and its caucuses for the inaugural party of the 2009 Conference!   Friday, June 5 -Registration Open: 8:00am - 5:00pm; Independence Foyer -Opening Plenary: 9:00am - 10:00am; Independence A Leaders from the Obama Administration will offer a national plan of action to win the full implementation of our civil and human rights.  Don’t miss this exciting Conference opener!  -Concurrent Workshops I: 10:45am - 12:00pm --Sex and the City: Disability Style; Independence A --Independent Living in Indian Country; Independence B & C --The End of 'Dependent Living Centers'; Independence D & E --Money Follows the Person (MFP) States Need You; Independence F & G --The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Independence H & I --Seclusion to Inclusion; McPherson / Franklin  -Lunch (On Your Own): 12:00pm - 1:30pm -Concurrent Workshops II: 1:30pm - 2:45pm --NCIL's Outcome Measures Task Force; Independence A --Successfully Telling Your Story Through Effective Use of 704 Data; Independence B & C --Upgrading the Economic Expectations; Independence D & E --Facing the Boogeyman: Conquering Your Fear of Advocacy; Independence F & G --Serving Veterans - An Overview by CILs and the VA; Independence H & I --Deaf Systems Advocacy in an ILC? It Can Be Done!; McPherson / Franklin -Diversity Plenary: 3:15pm - 4:45pm; Independence A The Diversity Committee will host this important session on the advantages of a true diversity. Join us to learn how you can make your organization representative of the community. -International Reception: 5:30pm - 7:00pm; Constitution Ballroom Join the International Committee for a casual reception and learn how you can become involved in efforts to advance Independent Living globally! Saturday, June 6 -Registration Open: 8:00am - 5:00pm; Independence Foyer -Diversity Townhall Forum: 9:00am - 10:30am; Independence Ballroom In this important plenary hosted by NCIL's Diversity Committee, NCIL will outline efforts to increase diversity in its membership and Board and seek questions and input from the audience. -Exhibit Fair: 10:30am - 11:45am; Independence Foyer Spend some time browsing the products and services offered by our exhibitors, many of which are your fellow NCIL members. The NCIL conference would not be possible without the generous support of our exhibitors and sponsors. Exhibits will also be open Friday and Sunday. -Awards Banquet: 11:45am - 1:45pm; Independence Ballroom Join us to celebrate this year’s national advocacy award winners! Awards will be presented over lunch. -2009 NCIL Annual Council Meeting: 2:00pm - 6:30pm; Independence Ballroom Attend the Annual Council Meeting to vote on resolutions and board elections that will guide NCIL in the coming years. This year, elections will be held for: President, Treasurer, Diversity Committee Chair, Representatives of Regions I, III, V, VII, and IX, and Members-At-Large. Sunday, June 7 -Registration Open: 8:00am - 5:00pm; Independence Foyer -Legislative & Advocacy Update: 9:00am - 10:00am; Independence Ballroom Get the most up-to-date information on the progress of NCIL’s advocacy efforts from the Chairs of each Committee. The Chairs will review and answer questions about NCIL’s advocacy talking points so that participants are fully prepared for their Congressional visits on Monday. -Preparing for the Day on the Hill: 10:00am - 10:45am Independence Ballroom Learn the ABCs of the March & Rally, including where to meet, what to bring, information about our route, what to do in case of an emergency, and how to get home after your Hill visits. -L & A Plenary Session: 11:00am - 12:00pm; Independence Ballroom This plenary session has been reserved for discussion of a pressing advocacy issue. The topic will be announced beforehand and details will be in the conference program. -SILC Congress / Lunch (On Your Own): 12:00pm - 1:30pm; McPherson / Franklin The SILC Congress, Regional Representatives, and Executive Committee will meet to work on the agenda for SILC Congress. Bring your own lunch. -Concurrent Workshops III: 1:30am - 2:45pm --Independent Living Administration; Independence A --ADA Amendments & You: How the New Law Impacts CIL Advocacy; Independence B & C --T.E.E.N.S.: Tools to Educate & Empower From a New Standpoint for IL; Independence D & E --8 Ingredients to Successful Grant Writing; Independence F & G --HAVA in New York: The Long Road to a Fundamental Right; Independence H & I --How Aging & Disability Are Coming Together to Create System Change; McPherson / Franklin -Concurrent Workshops IV: 3:15am - 4:30pm --CILebrity Squares; Independence A --Partnering with Americorps to Create Systems Change; Independence B & C --Recognizing & Responding to Violence & Abuse; Independence D & E --Providing Recovery-Oriented Services; Independence F & G --Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College & Living in Dorms! ; Independence H & I --Workers Compensation 101; McPherson / Franklin -Regional Caucuses: Regions 6 through 10: 5:00 - 6:15pm; Regions 1 through 5: 6:30 - 7:45pm -Regional Caucuses will take place on Constitution Level (3B, one floor above Independence). Please note the separate times scheduled for Regions 6-10 and 1-5. Room assignments are as follows. Regions 1 and 10: Wilson / Roosevelt; Regions 2 and 8: Cabin John / Arlington; Regions 3 and 6: Constitution A; Regions 4 and 7: Constitution B; Regions 5 and 9: Constitution C / D / E. This is your opportunity to strategize for your Congressional visits. Each state should decide exactly who will attend which meeting to ensure that every Senator and Representative will be visited. A list of regions by state is available on page 17 of this program. Monday, June 8   -Organize for the March: 9:30am - 10:00am; 11th & G Streets NW -March to the US Capitol: 10:00am - 11:00am A map of the March route and rally location is available in the Advocate’s Guide to the Hill, included with your Conference materials. -Distribute Bag Lunches: 11:00am - 11:30am; Capitol Reflecting Pool 2009 Rally at the US Capitol: 11:30am - 12:30pm; Capitol Reflecting Pool This annual tradition is your opportunity to take grassroots advocacy to the streets! Participants will march from the Grand Hyatt to Capitol Hill carrying signs and demonstrating support for the independence of people with disabilities! Marchers will converge in front of the Capitol Building for an empowering rally featuring a number of invigorating speakers from the disability rights movement and members of Congress. -Capitol Hill Visits: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Following the rally, participants are strongly encouraged to meet with their elected officials to discuss issues that are important in their districts. Contact information for your Senators and Representatives is available in the Advocate’s Guide to the Hill. -Closing Social: 7:00pm - 12:00am; Independence Ballroom The fun begins, accompanied by drinks, a non-stop DJ, and prizes. This is your chance to relax, celebrate the accomplishments of the week, and have some fun with your fellow advocates!     Tuesday, June 9   -Board Meeting: 10:00am - 12:00pm; Lafayette & Farragut Attend the first meeting of the newly elected NCIL Board of Directors. This meeting is open to the public and all members and Conference attendees are welcome and encouraged to attend! Workshop Guide   Welcome The following workshops have been selected by NCIL’s Annual Conference Subcommittee. Great care has been taken to ensure that the workshops are, as a whole, relevant to this year’s Conference theme and valuable to a cross-section of CIL, SILC, and IL Association staff, board members, consumers, and other Independent Living advocates. NCIL sincerely appreciates the tremendous amount of effort NCIL members provided to the application process and execution of these workshops, which each year prove to be an invaluable contribution to the organization and to the community as a whole. Let us know what you think! You will have the opportunity to evaluate each workshop you attend. -Note: We no longer require individuals to sign up for workshops in advance. Please arrive early, as workshops may fill up! -Workshops are listed by target audience: “Front Line Staff and Consumers”, “Advocates and Project Directors” or “Executive Directors and Board Members”. -Workshops are also classified - “Newcomer”, “Experienced”, or “Appropriate for All Audiences” - at the end of each workshop description. Poster Sessions   -Customer Service & Disability: Improving Access in the Hospitality Industry Presented by: Marissa Johnson, DBTAC: Mid-Atlantic ADA Center; Main Exhibit Hall Are you frustrated by how a hotel or restaurant has treated you or others with disabilities? Have you struggled to help event venues understand customer service and access for people with disabilities? Check out this poster session to learn about resources developed by the DBTAC: Mid-Atlantic ADA Center to help hotels and restaurants better serve customers with disabilities. Materials include etiquette tip cards, resources, training materials, and more! Newcomer. -National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services Presented by: Lori Simon-Rusinowitz and Kevin J. Mahoney, NRCPDS; Main Exhibit Hall This poster session will describe the National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services (NRCPDS), a new technical assistance center that offers states the tools they need to implement a wide variety of participant-directed long-term care programs. Located at Boston College, this is the only national center of its kind and is available to assist states and other entities that want to offer, or already offer, participant-directed services to people with disabilities. -AmeriCorps and Independent Living: Opportunities for Mutual Success This poster session will explore ways that people with disabilities can become involved in AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs. AmeriCorps is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to volunteers with disabilities. Thanks to the Heart Act of 2008, individuals receiving SSI and SSDI payments can accept AmeriCorps stipends without jeopardizing their Social Security benefits. Furthermore, many Centers for Independent Living receive volunteers through AmeriCorps. So please stop by this important poster session to learn how AmeriCorps can help your consumers and your CIL. Concurrent Workshops I Friday, June 5; 10:45 am - 12:00 pm -Sex and the City: Disability Style; Independence A Presented by: Terrie Lincoln and Chris Hilderbrant Let’s talk about sex! Do you feel that as a person with disability you are unattractive or undesirable? Do you have a fun, healthy and active sex life? Do you feel that social attitudes limit your opportunities to find compatible partners? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come join us to talk about SEX! Target audience: Front Line Staff and Consumers. Newcomer. Terrie Lincoln is the Systems Advocate at the Regional CIL in Rochester, NY. She is 31 years old, has a spinal cord injury, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work. She has worked as a Domestic Violence Advocate, Social Work Assistant in a nursing home, and as a Classroom Assistant for children with disabilities. In 2007, Terrie joined the national grassroots disability rights organization, ADAPT and in the summer of 2006 attended the ADAPT Youth Summit. Chris Hilderbrant is the Director of Advocacy at the Center for Disability Rights and organizes efforts to further the rights of people with disabilities in the Rochester area, across New York State and nationally. -Independent Living in Indian Country; Independence B & C Presented by: Jim Beck and Audrey Schremmer-Philip This best practices symposium will share the NCIL Taskforce position paper on Independent Living in Indian Country and the rationale behind its development. In addition, Taskforce members will share how they developed effective IL programs located on Tribal lands and staffed by Native Americans / Native Alaskans. Participants will have an opportunity to question the Taskforce participants and gain practical knowledge that can be translated into effective expansion of IL services to Native Americans / Native Alaskans. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Experienced. Jim Beck has worked in IL in Alaska for over 20 years. Jim has worked for Alaska VR in a variety of positions and as Executive Director at Access Alaska, a Center for Independent Living. Jim has served on the SILC since the 1990s and is a Board member of NCIL. Jim does consulting and training on disability rights and laws, accessibility and related disability topics nationwide. Audrey Schremmer-Philip is Director of Three Rivers Center for Independent Living in Kansas. In 2004, they collaborated with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to secure funding to implement an IL program on tribal land. Three Rivers was successful in securing Part C funds for Native Americans in northeast Kansas. -The End of ‘Dependent Living Centers’; Independence D & E Presented by: Burt Danovitz and Joann Marshall The “End of Dependent Living Centers” will establish a new direction for how Centers can approach funding, relationships with funding sources, and generalizing unrestricted dollars used for promoting the IL movement. Attendees will learn specific strategies for lessening dependence on single source funding. Appropriate for all audiences. Experienced. Burt Danovitz is Director of the Resource CIL in New York. The Center is diversely funded by 100 different sources. Burt has been very active in a variety of policy issues and he has presented at both national and international conferences. Joann Marshall is COO of the Resource CIL, and has particular knowledge of employment programs. She has become a leader in innovative strategies for developing integrated and competitive careers.  Joann was also instrumental in establishing a for-profit corporation at RCIL which is now a $2 million business, generating profits used for advocacy purposes. -MFP States Need You: Why NCIL, CILs, and Consumers Have Never Had a Better Opportunity to Free Our People!; Independence F & G Presented by: John Sorensen Money Follows the Person (MFP) is landmark legislation created to rebalance states’ Long Term Care Systems by way of deinstitutionalizing a proposed 35,000+ individuals and increasing Home & Community Based Services with the money saved over institutional costs. MFP is also unique in its requirement of consumer involvement. States are mandated to involve consumers in ways that go beyond the traditional advisory group, creating an unprecedented opportunity for CILs and other groups to work with State officials to transition persons with disabilities into the community and to increase the availability of HCBS. Appropriate for all audiences. Experienced. John Sorensen is the Project Officer & Outreach Coordinator for the MFP Demonstration at CMS. Before coming to CMS, he advocated for policies that later became the MFP Demonstration. He oversees grants for several states, and is a person with a disability and former Medicaid recipient.   -The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: America's Relationship with International Development; Independence H & I Presented by: Marca Bristo, Joan Durocher, David Morrissey and Kathy Martinez This workshop features a panel of experts renowned for their work on international disability concerns. They will discuss the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities and Foreign Assistance, emphasizing how ratification of the Convention in the US can impact our domestic advocacy agenda. The panel will describe areas in which US law is harmonious to that of the Convention's requirements, as well as gaps in US law when compared to the Convention. Panel will explore how NCIL members can become involved, and how CILs can take advantage of new opportunities for global partnership. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Experienced. Marca Bristo is President and CEO of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, President of U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD), and co-founder and past President of NCIL.. Joan Durocher is a Senior Attorney at the National Council on Disability and the Designated Federal Official for International Watch. David Morrissey is Director of USICD. Kathy Martinez is an internationally recognized disability rights leader and the Director of the World Institute on Disability. -Seclusion to Inclusion: Diversity Trainings to Reach an Underserved Population; McPherson / Franklin Presented by: Don Dew and Shannon Jones One goal of a Center for Independent Living is ensuring that the rights of all people with disabilities are in place and services are being provided. If gaps in services are found, they advocate for inclusion. CILs need to receive trainings on diversity and outreach that focus on all of the LGBT community, including those with disabilities. These trainings need to emphasize that the LGBT community must feel safe enough to request help needed and not fear repercussions based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Experienced. To rectify the lack of outreach and services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people with disabilities and their families, Don Dew founded ReachoutUSA. He sits on the SILC of Kansas (SILCK) and is co-facilitator of the NCIL GLBT Caucus. Shannon Jones, Director of SILCK, serves on the NCIL Board and advocates for laws and policies that protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Concurrent Workshops II Friday, June 5; 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm -Deaf Systems Advocacy in an Independent Living Center? It Can Be Done!; McPherson / Franklin Presented by: Dean DeRusso Has your Center had difficulties serving and advocating on behalf of people who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, or Hard-of-Hearing? Do you wonder how Independent Living Centers can better connect with people who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, or Hard-of-Hearing? Are Deaf people disabled? Does it matter? Are you looking for solutions to your challenges with your deaf community? Come see how a CIL in New York State has addressed these issues. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Newcomer. Dean DeRusso graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) through National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and received his Bachelors degree in Information Technology and Associates Degree in Computer Engineering Technology.  Although he has a technology background, he decided to become an Advocate to help break the barriers faced by deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind people in the community. Dean DeRusso is currently Deaf Systems Advocate for the Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL). He is also active in deaf organizations and committees. -NCIL's Outcome Measures Task Force; Independence A Presented by: Bob Michaels This workshop will bring IL advocates up-to-date on the work of the NCIL Outcome Measures Taskforce. The presenter will describe steps taken so far, from the inception of the committee, through the identification of desired outcomes; our efforts to and measure indicators of those outcomes, and the challenges we face when we pilot-test them. Participants will learn how the Outcomes Measures Task Force has incorporated ideas from the field into its products, and how to begin structuring Centers to measure outcomes. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and find out how they can participate. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Experienced. Since 1984, Bob Michaels has worked in IL as a Center Director, consultant and trainer, providing training and technical assistance, overseeing research on the management and administration of CILs and SILCs, and writing on a variety of related topics. He serves on the Arizona SILC. -Successfully Telling Your IL Story Through Effective Use of 704 Data; Independence B & C Presented by: Lita Jans, Sean Barrett, and Burt Danovitz This workshop demonstrates how data shapes the national understanding of IL accomplishments. The presentation shows why data quality is essential to telling the story of CILs’ successes and demonstrating their value to funders. Presented jointly by RSA and InfoUse, a research firm assisting RSA to improve 704 Report data quality, this interactive session presents examples of data that may lead to misperceptions, as well as practices that improve data quality. Examples of effective practices to report Consumer Service Records (CSRs) and goals, and recommended customer satisfaction questions will be provided. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Experienced. Dr. Lita Jans is Senior Researcher at InfoUse, a firm that specializes in disability-related program evaluation, data collection and outcomes measurement. She is the Task Leader of the current RSA-supported project on data quality in 704 Reporting and customer satisfaction measures for CILs. Sean Barrett works in the IL Unit at RSA. Mr. Barrett is also a former Center Director and member of a SILC. Burt Danovitz is Director of the Resource CIL in New York. He has been very active in a variety of policy issues and he has presented at both national and international conferences. -Upgrading the Economic Expectations: Emerging Projects in the IL Movement on Employment, Benefits, and Financial Planning; Independence D & E Presented by: Bryon R. MacDonald and Thomas Foley This workshop will cover a wide range of partners and services CILs can use to improve employment services. Partnerships to promote education and credentialing of benefits planning services will be explored, including Medicaid Infrastructure Grants, Ticket to Work Employment Networks, Disability Benefits, and much more. Workshop will address the asset building model of economic development with the goal of long-term economic health. Recommendations and strategies for legislation will be presented. Also appropriate for Advocates and Project Directors; Executive Directors and Board Members. Target audience: Front Line Staff and Consumers. Appropriate for all experience levels. Bryon MacDonald is founder and Program Director of the California World Incentives Initiative (CWII), at the World Institute on Disability. A NCIL member since 1996, he has chaired the Social Security Subcommittee for twelve years. He was appointed by President Clinton to the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel. Thomas Foley is Program Manager for WID’s Access to Assets Program. Tom brings a tax lawyer’s mind to disability benefits, asset building and financial education. -Facing the Boogeyman: Conquering Your Fear of Advocacy; Independence F & G Presented by: Anita Cameron and Chris Hilderbrant Is your CIL afraid to do advocacy? Are you worried that your 501 (c) 3 status will be in jeopardy? Do you feel that your image, credibility, or standing in your community will be negatively affected by engaging in advocacy? The Center for Disability Rights, a Center for Independent Living with a long history of advocacy will address and debunk the myths and fears about this core service and value of Centers. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Experienced. Anita Cameron works as a Systems Advocate for the Center for Disability Rights in Rochester, New York and is a longtime disability rights activist. She fervently believes in the power of grassroots activism and has been a member of ADAPT for 23 years. She served on the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities in DC and the Governor’s Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities in Denver. Chris Hilderbrant is the Director of Advocacy at the Center for Disability Rights and organizes efforts to further the rights of people with disabilities locally, across New York State and nationally. -Serving Veterans– An Overview by CILs and the Veterans Administration; Independence H & I Presented by: Steve Thovson This workshop is intended for anyone interested in veterans issues and benefits. A presenter from the Veterans Administration will discuss the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Independent Living Programs. CILs from three states will provide overviews of how they work with the VA to serve veterans. These CILs will discuss community outreach to veterans and veteran organizations, as well as successful collaborations. Discussion will take place on opportunities to establish new relationships with the VA and Veteran Service Organizations, and how to reenergize and reorganize existing relationships with veterans and the VA. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Newcomer. Steve Thovson is the Executive Director of the Southwestern Center for Independent Living (SWCIL) in Marshall, Minnesota, a very rural area. He is a co-founder and past President of the Minnesota Association of CILs. He has been active with NCIL, serving as Region V Representative, on the Rehab Act Subcommittee, and is currently Chair of the Veterans Subcommittee. Steve is a Viet Nam veteran.   Concurrent Workshops III Sunday, June 7; 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm -Independent Living Administration; Independence A Presented by: Jeff Hughes, Vicki Haws, and Ann McDaniel This session will be a dialogue on the future of Independent Living. The roundtable discussion will provide information on current language within draft IL Administration legislation. Discussion will be facilitated by a panel with detailed knowledge of current language within the Rehabilitation Act and the most recent language of the IL Administration. The panel hopes to receive feedback on draft language and participants will have the opportunity to interact with the panel. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members; Advocates and Project Directors. Experienced. Jeff Hughes, Director of Progressive Independence in Norman, OK has been involved with the IL Movement since 1993. He has participated in numerous state, local and national committees, and is the current Chair of NCIL’s Subcommittee on the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act. Vicki Haws serves with Jeff and Ann on the Subcommittee and is the Director of Green Country IL Resource Center. Ann McDaniel is Director of the West Virginia SILC and Secretary of the NCIL Board. She has provided training on the history and philosophy of IL, the roles of SILCs, and a variety of other topics. -ADA Amendments & You: How the New Law Impacts CIL Advocacy; Independence B & C Presented by: Marissa Johnson Unsure of how the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) will affect you, your work, and your consumers? This highly interactive workshop will help you better understand the ADAAA and apply it to everyday advocacy situations. Get your questions answered, interact with the ADAAA, and gain a better understanding of this new law and how it will impact advocates. Learn about important resources and where to get more information. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Experienced. Marissa Johnson is the Director of Training at the DBTAC: Mid-Atlantic ADA Center. She conducts trainings and coordinates regional ADA Coalition affiliates. She has previously worked at CILs in education and transition efforts and has served on the Boards of NCIL and the National Youth Leadership Network, and on the Youth Advisory Council for the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities. Ms. Johnson is finishing her Masters in Deaf Education. -T.E.E.N.S.: Tools to Empower and Educate from a New Standpoint for IL; Independence D & E Presented by: Roger Frischenmeyer How do we energize and organize youth to become involved in the effort to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act? Let’s revisit our T.E.E.N.S. and learn what it takes to promote youth involvement! Learn about tools that have been used to empower and educate youth in building a stronger community. Participants will learn the value of community service projects involving youth, the importance of involvement in the legislative process, the necessity in having pride in who they are, and more! Join us as we explore how to help youth believe in their value and believe in the value of our movement! Target audience: Front Line Staff and Consumers. Newcomer. Roger Frischenmeyer and Billy Thompson are IL Specialists with the Prairie IL Resource Center. Roger is Chair of the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns and President of the Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy. He created a curriculum to empower youth with disabilities in his community. Billy Thompson works with adults and youth in diverse capacities. He is the coordinator for Disability Mentoring Day and uses his experience and advocacy skills to empower those he works with. -8 Ingredients to Successful Grant Writing; Independence F & G Presented by: David Sanders We have all faced the challenge of what to do when we need to expand an existing service or support, propose a new service, expand our capacity to serve, or just survive as a non profit. Funders are requiring more often that organizations look elsewhere to sustain existing projects. This workshop will encourage participants to look past just “surviving” and move towards “thriving” as an organization. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced grant writer, join us for a interactive discussion on grant writing as a tool for advocacy. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Newcomer. David Sanders has a psychiatric disability and has worked in the mental health field for over fourteen years. David is currently employed by the West Virginia Mental Health Consumers’ Association as Vice Chair. He was appointed to the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council and currently serves on its Executive Committee. David has presented nationally on several issues including resource/fund development, involuntary psychiatric treatment, public policy advocacy, and psychiatric advanced directives. -HAVA in New York: The Long Road to a Fundamental Right; Independence H & I Presented by: Brad Williams and Douglas Usiak “HAVA in New York: The Long Road to a Fundamental Right” is a one-hour documentary that chronicles the struggle to achieve accessible voting rights in New York State. The multi-year battle took numerous advocacy actions and the exercising of civil and legal rights to win one accessible Ballot Marking Device (BMD) per polling place for Primary and Election Days 2008. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Newcomer. Brad Williams was Executive Director of a Center for Independent Living and has served as Director of the New York SILC for the past ten years. During this time period, Mr. Williams has worked with colleagues and stakeholders in various capacities to best leverage systems advocacy strategies with media exposure to realize increased outcomes. He has served on the NCIL Board and was appointed by the Governor to the original HAVA State Implementation Task Force. Douglas Usiak has served as the Executive Director of the Western New York Independent Living Project family of agencies in Buffalo for twenty five years. He has served on the NCIL Board; the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped Advisory Council of New York State; the World University Games Community Outreach Committee; and an array of regional and local organizations. -How Aging & Disability Are Coming Together to Create System Change; McPherson / Franklin Presented by: Joseph Lugo This session seeks to find common ground between Aging and Disability networks on systems change. How can aging and disability partnerships help achieve the desired outcomes of both communities? Common service needs, increased prevalence of disabilities among seniors and increased life expectancy of younger persons with disabilities are driving the need for partnership. Both consumer groups will continue to influence policy trends and necessitate the need for collaboration. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Experienced. Joseph Lugo, M.A. is an Aging Specialist for the U.S. Administration on Aging. The ADRC Demonstration Initiative is a collaborative effort by the Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that seeks to streamline long term care services. Concurrent Workshops IV Sunday, June 7; 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm -CILebrity Squares; Independence A Presented by: Renee Sluzalis CILebrity Squares is a replica of the game show “Hollywood Squares”, a fun, interactive way to learn IL Movement information. The workshop will consist of 9 ‘CILebrities’ that will answer IL movement related questions. There will be a host and screen projection from a computer program. The audience will be divided in to two teams, “X” and “O” and each audience member will have the opportunity to agree or disagree with the “CILebrity.” The topics covered will be basic IL movement information such as ADA related questions, information regarding Centers for Independent Living, and people that have been key players in the IL movement. Target audience: Front Line Staff and Consumers. Newcomer. Renee Sluzalis is Director at Roads To Freedom Center for Independent Living of North Central PA.  Renee’s passion is improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities, as such she enjoys presenting to employers and business owners on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. -Partnering with Americorps to Create Systems Change; Independence B & C Presented by: Kelly Buckland, Kimberly Steinberg, Martha Escandon, and Roger Howard Americorps grant projects offer the possibilities of recruiting more people with disabilities into the Independent Living Movement and investing in people who can be extremely focused on a specific systems change activity. Presenters will describe how the Americorps Accessible Transportation project was developed and funded, the possibilities and challenges of starting a new Americorps project, the different Americorps programs and benefits, and how to be a successful applicant. Learn how you can develop full time volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to your systems change priorities. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Experienced. Kelly Buckland has been involved in disability issues for 25 years and works closely with the Idaho Legislature and the U.S Congress. He is former Director of the Idaho SILC, past President of NCIL, and recently became NCIL’s Executive Director. Kimberly Steinberg is Project Director of the SILC AmeriCorps Project.  Martha Escandon is the Grants Officer for the Commission on Service and Volunteerism, the State AmeriCorps Disability Coordinator, helped start the SILC AmeriCorps program. Roger Howard has been Director of LINC since 2001 and served four terms on the SILC. -Recognizing and Responding to Violence and Abuse of Individuals with Disabilities; Independence D & E Presented by: Leslie A. Myers and Roberta Sick This workshop will teach participants the signs of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse. It will inform participants what to look for in both the consumer and the behaviors of abusers. Participants will be led in a facilitated discussion on what types of interventions should be made and how best to respond. Members of the NCIL Taskforce on Violence and Abuse will share their experiences working in this area. Target audience: Front Line Staff and Consumers. Appropriate for all experience levels. Leslie Myers holds an MS in Educational Rehabilitation Counseling and is a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor. She has been at IndependenceFirst since 1998, where she works on abuse against people with disabilities. Roberta Sick works at Partners for Inclusive Communities, Arkansas University’s Center on Disabilities. She has been involved in a number of efforts to prevent violence against people with disabilities and is co-chair of the NCIL Task Force on Violence and Abuse. -Providing Recovery-Oriented Services to Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities; Independence F & G Presented by: Michelle Olson and Karen Avery How does your CIL provide outreach and support to persons living with mental illness? There is a wide-held belief that ILCs do not serve persons with psychiatric disabilities. This workshop will help CIL staff explore how to change this impression, as well as reviewing how to implement recovery-oriented practices within IL services. Session will include an agency self-assessment tool and will be interactive using the café model to discuss barriers to providing services to persons living with mental illness. Target audience: Advocates and Project Directors. Experienced. Michelle Olsen is the Assistant Director of IL Resources in La Crosse, WI and a person with a mental illness. She has been involved in redesigning the mental health system and instrumental in the process of the ILC peer-run drop in center. She is President of Grassroots Empowerment Project, a statewide consumer-run organization. Karen Avery is a founder of Grassroots Empowerment Project, Associate Director of IndependenceFirst, a CIL in Milwaukee, and a person with a mental illness. She has been particularly active in the promotion of recovery-oriented housing for people with mental illness. -Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College and Living in the Dorms!; Independence H & I Presented by: Micah Fialka-Feldman What is a community and what is a student? This session will promote dialogue and educate the IL community that there are opportunities for people with cognitive disabilities to go to college, but it is critical for them to be empowered self-advocates because discrimination still exists, especially in higher education. Participants will learn about Micah Fialka-Feldman and his struggle to live in the dormitory at Oakland University. Micah will present on issues relevant to the impending 5th core service – transition; focusing on college students with disabilities, especially those with cognitive impairments – a new and groundbreaking idea. Appropriate for all audiences. Appropriate for all experience levels. Micah is a student with a cognitive disability, 24 years old, attending Oakland University through the OPTIONS program. He is one of the first students with a cognitive disability to be a college student and fight to live in the dorm. Since 2002, he has been an active National Board Member of Kids as Self Advocates and is a member of several committees of National Youth Leadership Network. Because of his advocacy, in 2004 he was awarded the “Yes, I Can” Award by Council for Exceptional Children. -Worker’s Compensation 101; McPherson / Franklin Presented by: Edward Shea; Dan Gass; Leon Williams BABB, Inc. has just completed a Pennsylvania Statewide Worker’s Compensation Program for consumer-directed attendant services for all CILs in the state and all home health and service agencies. The program began in October of 2008 and already has over 2000 consumer-directed attendants enrolled. It will eventually expand to other states and will be of particular interest to CILs should the Community Choice Act become law. The presentation will feature a question and answer session. Target audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Experienced. Dan Gass has a strong and diverse background. Twelve years in Commercial Insurance has given him a unique perspective and devotion to non-profit agencies and their support of others. As Vice-President of Social Services with Babb, Inc., Dan offers a wide range of expertise in Coverage.   General Information Van Parking: Van parking is available in a lot across the street from the Grand Hyatt. Elevator Notice: The Grand Hyatt maintains a high level of accessibility compared to other area hotels, and is the best location for the NCIL Conference. Staff and signage will be provided to direct guests to elevators. Meal Ticket Notice: Meal tickets will be included in your registration materials and collected at the event. No one may enter the event without a ticket. Unregistered guests may purchase Banquet tickets for $150. Rally Lunches Notice: Rally lunches will be available to all registered Conference participants. Individuals not registered for the Conference are not guaranteed a lunch at the Rally. Overcrowding: To avoid overcrowded workshops, we will close workshops when they are comfortably filled. We regret any inconvenience and hope that you understand the need to keep the workshops safe and comfortable for all attendees. Please arrive early! March and Rally Route and Locations: The March will begin at the Grand Hyatt. Participants should assemble at 9:30 a.m. at G and 11th Streets, NW, as the March will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. A map of the route is available in the Advocate’s Guide, included in your materials.   What to Bring NCIL Annual Conference participants often brave blistering heat, massive thunderstorms, and even chilly workshop rooms, all to bring our message to Capitol Hill! Remember to bring along the following items to ensure your comfort and safety. -Large plastic bags to cover any batteries or electric devices that might be exposed to rain during the March and Rally, and duct tape to secure them -Attire appropriate for both very hot and chilly temperatures -Any medications or assistive devices you may need during strenuous activity   Local Services   Wheelchair and Scooter Rental and Repair   Roberts Home Medical (rental and repair); 20465 Goldenrod Lane; Germantown, MD 20876; (301) 353-0300 (V) ZASK Medical Supply (rental and repair); 4600-C Pinecrest Office Dr.; Alexandria, VA 22312; (703) 354-1266 (V); zaskoo@erols.com (email) Area Access (rental and repair); 8117 Ransell Road; Falls Church, VA 22041; (703) 573-2111 (V) E-Car Corporation (scooter rental); 8673 Grovemont Circle; Gaithersburg, MD 20877; (301) 527-6119 (V); scooter rentals; hotel delivery and pick-up (in DC). Personal Assistant Services Maxim Healthcare Services; (202) 545-6980 (V); Use 711 for Relay; clduvall@maxhealth.com (email) ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (CIL); (703) 525-3268 (V); (703) 525-3553 (TTY); Attn: Ruchika Lalwani, PAS Coordinator Accessibility -Auxiliary Aids & Services: CART (Communications Access in Real Time), sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, personal assistants*, accessible materials, and other services are provided upon request for all Conference activities. Requests may be made on the registration form. -*Personal Assistants will be available during conference hours only. Please see page 4 for information on arranging your own personal assistant service. -Environmental / Chemical Sensitivities: For the safety and comfort of attendees with chemical or environmental sensitivities, please refrain from using perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, colognes, perfumes, fabric softeners, etc. It is also essential that we maintain a smoke-free environment. Please refrain from smoking in paths of travel and doorways. -Transcripts: Transcripts are available free-of-charge to individuals who requested notetakers on their registration form. Individuals not needing transcripts as an accommodation may purchase them for $10 per session or $75 for the entire package. Airports and Transportation -Reagan National Airport (DCA): Approximate taxi fare from DC is $15.00-$20.00. Red Top Cab at (202) 328-3333 has accessible mini-vans. Reservations recommended 2-3 days in advance. Contact Battles Transportation at (202) 462-8658 for large lift-equipped van service. Super Shuttle is also available; (800) BLUE-VAN for reservations or details. The Metro stops adjacent to Terminals B and C. From either Metro Center or Gallery Place / China Town, take the Blue or Yellow Line to the Reagan National Airport station. Total fare: $1.35; all stations and trains are accessible. -Dulles Airport (IAD): Approximate taxi fare from DC is $55.00. Red Top Cab at (202) 328-3333 has accessible mini-vans. Reservations recommended 2-3 days in advance. Super Shuttle is also available; (800) BLUE-VAN for reservations or details. The Metro nearest Metro stations are Metro Center, next to the Hyatt, and Gallery Place / China Town. Take the Blue or Orange Line to L’Enfant Station. From L’Enfant, take Metrobus 5A (departs once an hour between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm) to Dulles. Total fare: $4.35; all buses and trains are accessible. Please allow 1+ hour for travel time. Visit www.wmata.com for details. -Baltimore / Washington International (BWI): Approximate taxi fare to DC is $55.00. Call (410) 859-1100 for details. Contact BWI Airport Shuttle at (410) 859-1100 for van service. Reservations recommended 4 days in advance. Metrobus B30 departs BWI once every 40 minutes, and travels to the Greenbelt Metrorail station. From Greenbelt, take the Green Line towards Branch Avenue. Depart at Chinatown / Gallery Place, just two blocks from the Grand Hyatt. Total fare: $5.35; all buses and trains are accessible. Please allow 1+ hour for travel time. Visit www.wmata.com for details.   Regions by State -Region 1- CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT -Region 2 - NJ, NY, VI, PR -Region 3 - DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV -Region 4 - AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN -Region 5 - IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI -Region 6 - AR, LA, NM, OK, TX -Region 7 - IA, KS, NE, MO -Region 8 - CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY -Region 9 - AS, AZ, CA, CNMI, GU, HI, NV -Region 10 - AK, ID, OR, WA Advertisements Text only formats of advertisements will be distributed at the conference). 2009 Conference Advertisers and Exhibitors   Advertisers -Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC -Bender Consulting -Regal Cinema -Engineering Data Systems -West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services -Liberty Resources -Demos Publishing -BB&T -Tanabe Systems -Coalition for Community Integration -Babb, Inc. -Yoshiko Dart -Birmingham Center for Independent Living -Independent Living, Inc -Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) -Brailleworks -Disability Link of Georgia -Three Rivers Center for Independent Living -Greater Toledo Center for Independent Living -Texas Association of Centers for Independent Living -Idaho Statewide Independent Living Council -ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, Inc. (ECNV) -San Antonio Independent Living Services (SAILS) -California Statewide Independent Living Council -Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) -Western Wisconsin Independent Living Center -Placer Independent Resource Services -Topeka Independent Living Resource Center -People, Inc. Exhibitors -Research and Training Center on Independent Living: University of Kansas -Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) -CESSI: Cherry Engineering Support Services, Inc -Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) -Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) -Office of Disability Employment Policy -Tanabe Systems -It’s Our Story / Victor Pineda Foundation -Easter Seals Project Action -Mobility International USA -U.S. Department of Justice -54Freedom -U.S. Census Bureau -Peacock Distribution, Inc. -VSA Arts 2009 Conference Sponsors   Sapphire Level Sponsorship -Pride Mobility -Johnson & Johnson -Purple Language Services Ruby Level Sponsorship -AMERIGROUP -Center for Disability Rights -HealthSouth -Q90 CIL Management Suite -Verizon Opal Level Sponsorship -Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) -Edison Electric Institute -IndependenceFirst -Living Independence Network Corporation (LINC) -AdvaMed -Invacare -HSC Foundation -NCART -Vehicle Production Group LLC -Sunrise Medical Other Sponsors -Independence Today -International Reception Sponsors: Tony Coehlo, Glen White, Judy Heumann, Jeff Rosen, U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD)