Generation ADA Rise Up! 2015 Annual Conference on Independent Living July 27-30 Grand Hyatt Washington, DC Conference Program Presented by The National Council on Independent Living A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Advocates, Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 25 years ago, an entire generation of young advocates with disabilities has grown up - the ADA Generation. These advocates are here; ready to be included and supported to lead. I'm glad you will join us as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ADA, lift-up the next generation of disability-rights leaders, and do the work that will bring our Movement to its full potential: a united people who will create a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully. 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 our sponsors Centene; Google; Anthem; Verizon ; United Healthcare; IndependenceFirst; Kessler Foundation; Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL); Amtrak; National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability – Youth; The HSC Foundation / Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Conference Support Fund; AARP; Walmart; LEAD Center; Access Living; American Association for Homecare; The HSC Foundation; Bender Consulting; Regional Center for Independent Living; Pride Mobility; Independent Living Center of the North Shore & Cape Ann; SKIL Resource Center, Inc.; and Elsevier Direct Course. Kelly Buckland Executive Director National Council on Independent Living [Logo – ADA25: Americans with Disabilities Act 1990-2015] TABLE OF CONTENTS * A Message from the Executive Director: 2 * Agenda: 3 * Schedule of Events: 4-9 * Keynote Speaker: 9 * Workshop Guide: 10-24 * Map of Grand Hyatt Independence Level: 25 * What to Bring: 25 * NCIL Regions by State: 26 * Access, Accommodations, & Resources: 26-27 * Hotels & Lodging: 28 * Onsite Registration: 28 * Airports & Transportation: 29 * Sponsors: 30 * Advertisements: 31-34 AGENDA Saturday, July 25 * NCIL Board Meeting: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. NCIL Board meetings are open to the public. If you plan to attend this event and require an accommodation, please contact tim@ncil.org. Sunday, July 26 * Registration Open: 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. * Pre-Conference: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. * Orientation Session: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Monday, July 27 * Registration Open: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Opening Plenary: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. * Legislative & Advocacy Update: 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. * Preparing for the Day on the Hill: 11:30 - 11:45 a.m. * Concurrent Workshops I: 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. * Regional Caucuses: 2:45 - 5:15 p.m. * ADA 25th Anniversary Celebration: 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 28 * March to the US Capitol: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. * Rally at the US Capitol: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. * Hill Visits: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 29 * Registration and Exhibits Open: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Concurrent Workshops II: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. * Exhibit Fair: 10:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. * Awards Luncheon: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. * Annual Meeting: 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. * Diversity Committee's Closing Social: 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. Thursday, July 30 * Registration and Exhibits Open: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Concurrent Workshops III: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. * Concurrent Workshops IV: 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. * Concurrent Workshops V: 1:30 - 2:45 p.m. * Legislative Debriefing: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. * Closing Plenary: 4:30– 5:15 p.m. Friday, July 31 * NCIL Board Meeting: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. NCIL Board meetings are open to the public. If you plan to attend this event and require an accommodation, please contact tim@ncil.org. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Saturday, July 25 NCIL Board Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. * Constitution CDE (Constitution Level) Anyone is welcome to attend the final meeting of the departing Board of Directors on Saturday, July 25 and the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Board on Friday, July 31. If you plan to attend either of these events and require an accommodation, please contact tim@ncil.org. Sunday, July 26 Registration Open 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Independence Foyer ILA: Where We Are & Where We Are Going 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. * Independence Ballroom This year's theme celebrates a unique convergence of events: the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, the thousands of bright new leaders emerging all around us, and the burgeoning Independent Living Administration. The Pre-Conference will help participants, particularly young leaders, understand the changes and opportunities WIOA hold for the future of the Independent Living Movement. BIO: Kelly Buckland is the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living. He is the former Executive Director of Living Independence Network Corp (LINC) and the Idaho SILC, both in Boise. BIO: Diana Garrett is the Executive Director of Dynamic Independence, a CIL in northeastern Oklahoma. Diana currently serves as the Region 6 Representative on the NCIL board and is a Co-Chair of the Rehabilitation Act Subcommittee. BIO: From 1994 to 2012 Shannon Jones was the Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas (SILCK). Shannon is currently Co-Chair of NCIL's Rehabilitation Act Subcommittee and WIOA Task Force. BIO: Ann McDaniel is the Executive Director of the West Virginia SILC. Ann is currently Secretary of the NCIL Board. Orientation Session 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. * Independence A NCIL offers this general session for new NCIL members and Conference attendees. Join us to gain greater insight into NCIL's history, our Annual Conference, and formal procedures such as voting at the Annual Council Meeting. The Board of Directors will discuss preparations for the March and Rally and much more! Monday, July 27 Registration Open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Independence Foyer Opening Plenary 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. * Independence Ballroom Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Vanita Gupta, is set to deliver the keynote address. Read her biography on page 9. Legislative & Advocacy Update 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. * Independence Ballroom Get up-to-date information on the progress of NCIL's advocacy efforts from the Chairs of NCIL's Legislative & Advocacy Committees. The Chairs will review and answer questions about NCIL's advocacy talking points so participants are fully prepared for their Congressional visits on Tuesday. Michael Gamel-McCormick and Bill Knudsen from the Senate HELP Committee will speak on the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act. Preparing for the Day on the Hill 11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. * Independence Ballroom Learn the ABCs of NCIL's March & Rally, including where to meet, what to bring, important information about our route, what to do in case of an emergency, and how to get home after your Congressional visits. Concurrent Workshops I 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. * See page 11-13 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Regional Caucuses * Regions I through V: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.; Regions VI through X: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. This is your opportunity to strategize for your Congressional visits. Each state should decide exactly who will attend which meeting to ensure that every legislator is visited. A list of regions by state is available on page 26. Please note the separate times scheduled for Regions 1-5 and 6-10. Regions 1 & 6: Independence BC Regions 2 & 8: McPherson / Franklin Regions 3 & 7: Independence A Regions 4 & 10: Independence HI Regions 5 & 9: Independence DE ADA Celebration 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. * Independence Ballroom Please join disability rights leaders and activists, members of Congress, Administration officials, and others as we gather to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This community-wide celebration is being hosted by the National Disability Leadership Alliance (NDLA). This will be the largest ADA Anniversary event in the United States. Tuesday, July 28 Organize for the March 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. * 11th & G Streets NW Participants should assemble at 9:30 a.m. at G and 11th Streets, NW. The March will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. March to the US Capitol 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. NCIL members march from the Grand Hyatt to Capitol Hill demonstrating support for the independence of people with disabilities! A map of the March route and rally location is available in the Advocate's Guide to the Hill, included with your Conference materials. Lunch 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. * Capitol Reflecting Pool / Rally Site Bag lunches will be provided to conference registrants. 2014 Rally at the US Capitol 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Marchers will converge in front of the Capitol Building for an empowering rally featuring a number of speakers, including leaders in the IL Movement and elected officials working on the issues we care about most. Capitol Hill Visits 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to meet with their elected officials to discuss issues important in their districts. Congressional contact information is available in the Advocate's Guide to the Hill, included in your conference materials, or you can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Senators' and / or Representative's office. Participants must arrange their own services / accommodations for Hill Visits on Tuesday, July 28. Contact angela@ncil.org with any questions. Wednesday, July 29 Registration & Exhibits Open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Independence Foyer Concurrent Workshops II 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. * See page 14-16 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Exhibit Fair 10:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. * Independence Foyer Spend time browsing the products and services offered by our exhibitors, many of which are your fellow NCIL members. This conference would not be possible without the generous support of our exhibitors and sponsors. If America is to Succeed, All Women Must Have the Tools and Supports to Succeed 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. * McPherson / Franklin Film Screening: a video featuring testimony taken at NCIL's 2014 Annual Conference on Independent Living regarding what Congress needs to know and do regarding the needs of women living with disabilities. This film brought to you by the NCIL Women's Caucus! Awards Luncheon 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. * Independence Ballroom Join us to celebrate and honor this year's award winners! Awards will be presented over lunch. Annual Council Meeting 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. * Independence Ballroom Attend the 2015 NCIL Annual Council Meeting to vote for Board members and resolutions that will guide NCIL in the coming years. This year, elections will be held for: President, Treasurer, and three Members-At-Large. Elections for Representatives of Regions I, III, V, VII, and IX will be held prior to the Conference and the winners will be announced at the meeting. CILs and SILCs must pay their 2015 dues in full by June 30 (30 days prior) to be eligible to vote in person or by proxy. Youth Caucus Happy Hour 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. * Location: to be determined Youth attendees are invited to join the Youth Caucus for a happy hour. Come hang out and have fun with other members of #GenerationADA! ASL interpreters will be provided. Diversity Committee's Closing Social 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. * Independence A Don't miss the 2015 Closing Social, hosted by NCIL's Diversity Committee. The Diversity Committee will present awards to NCIL members who have committed themselves to centering people of color, LGBTQIA, young people, and other groups and communities underrepresented in IL. Following the awards, we'll have music, dancing, and a whole lot of fun! Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available free of charge, accompanied by a cash-bar. Thursday, July 30 Registration & Exhibits Open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. * Independence Foyer Concurrent Workshops III 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. * See page 16-19 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Concurrent Workshops IV 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. * See page 19-22 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Concurrent Workshops V 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. * See page 22-24 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Legislative Debriefing 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. * Independence A This session will summarize the advocacy accomplished during the week and develop a plan of action that can be implemented at the national, state, and local levels during the coming year. IL leaders from across the nation will lead a discussion on the changes coming to America's Independent Living Program and begin developing strategies for action. Closing Plenary 4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. * Independence A NCIL's young leaders will share a call-to-action to keep our advocacy fresh, relevant, and all-inclusive. Young people are joining NCIL and organizing at an incredible rate. They are bringing their ideas, perspectives, and hard work to NCIL and advocacy efforts around the country. Be there! Friday, July 31 NCIL Board Meeting 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon * Independence Level Anyone is welcome to attend the final meeting of the departing Board of Directors on Saturday, July 25 and the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Board on Friday, July 31. If you plan to attend either of these events and require an accommodation, please contact tim@ncil.org. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: VANITA GUPTA The head of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Vanita Gupta, is set to deliver the keynote address at the 2015 NCIL Annual Conference in Washington, DC. In addition to her tremendous contributions to the legal sector of Civil Rights, Ms. Gupta has been a strong advocate in legal matters regarding education and disability rights. A significant figure in the fight to promote equal rights for all, Ms. Gupta has recently spoken about the Department of Justice cases involving the unlawful flagging of scores of LSAT test takers receiving disability accommodations by LSAC (Law School Admissions Council) and parenting rights of individuals who have mental or physical limitations and have been wrongfully refused rights relating to their own children. Upon her graduation from Law school, she began her legal career with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, her first notable case succeeded in the effort to overturn the wrongful drug convictions of 38 individuals in Tulia, Texas. Ms. Gupta took her position as head of the Civil Rights Division in October 2014. Under her leadership, the Division continues its crucially important work in a number of areas, including advancing constitutional policing and other criminal justice reforms, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are afforded an opportunity to live in integrated community settings, protecting the rights of LGBTI individuals, and combating discrimination in lending and voting. Prior to joining DOJ, she was Deputy Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and Director of its Center for Justice. Vanita has won numerous awards for her advocacy and has been quoted extensively in national and international media on civil rights issues. In 2011, the National Law Journal recognized her as a Top 40 Minority Lawyer Under 40. Vanita is a magna cum laude graduate of Yale University and received her law degree from New York University School of Law. [Image – Vanita Gupta] WORKSHOP GUIDE 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 advocates. Workshops are classified by target audience: Front Line Staff & Consumers, Advocates & Project Directors, or Executive Directors & Board Members. Workshops are also classified as Newcomer, Experienced, or Appropriate for all levels at the end of each description. TRACKS SILC Track: Workshops covering best practices and innovation in operations and fulfilling responsibilities of Statewide Independent Living Councils; ILA Track: Workshops for CILs or SILCs related to the IL Program's transition to the Independent Living Administration at the US Department of HHS; Youth Track: Workshops related to youth leadership, outreach, and movement building; Orientation Track: Workshops aimed at orienting young advocates and new attendees to NCIL, disability rights advocacy, and federal legislation; General Track: Workshops for staff, consumers, and other advocates in the Independent Living Movement that do not fit the other four categories. POSTER SESSIONS A poster session is the presentation of research information with an academic or professional focus. Posters are displayed throughout the NCIL Conference space at the discretion of the presenter. Research-Based, Plain Language, and Free Resources that Support Consumers with SCI, TBI, and Burn Injury: An Overview of Products Offered through the NIDRR-funded Model Systems Program Poster by: Cynthia Overton The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that works with Model Systems researchers to make research meaningful to those with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and burn injury. The poster will list all resources offered through the MSKTC by injury area and will provide information on accessing the resources. Establishing Innovative Online Matching Service Registries Poster by: Eli Gelardin Explore the opportunities and benefits of establishing an online "matching service registry" to assist people with all types of disabilities in locating a care provider matched to her or his unique needs and preferences. Poster will demonstrate how the 7 organizations in the QuickMatch.org network have made matching service registries a reality and explored revenue generation, and how registries could be used for service delivery and workforce innovations. Climate Change and Disability: Impacts and Solutions Poster by: Alex Ghenis Climate change is one of the world's largest problems, and people with disabilities will be hit by it especially hard. We have unique challenges that need to be addressed. This poster presentation will show the ways in which climate change will impact people with disabilities, and then lay out actions that we can take to improve our resilience going forward. It'll also present ways that we can put those actions into policy - and show leaders worldwide the importance of this struggle. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS I Monday, July 27, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Reforming the Social Security Definition of Disability * Youth Track * Target Audience: Front Line Staff & Consumers. Knowledge Level: Newcomer. * Independence A Now is the time to change the Social Security Administration's definition of disability. Now is the time to eliminate work disincentives caused by the archaic defining of disability as the inability to work. Now is the time to enable young adults with disabilities to pursue the American Dream without fear of losing benefits. Organizations and individuals have been offering proposals this year on how to do this. This session will summarize current proposal frameworks, solicit feedback, and offer specific ways to move them forward. BIO: Justin Harford has worked as a community advocate for the rights of people with disabilities since January 2014 at FREED in Grass Valley, California. Justin joined the CareerACCESS Initiative as Co-Chair of the NCIL Subcommittee on Employment/Social Security in June 2014, shortly after authoring the initial draft of a NCIL Resolution to advocate for the elimination of the work test in the definition of disability, which the NCIL membership formally adopted that year. BIO: Aya Aghabi graduated from UC Berkeley in 2013 with a BA in Development Studies. Aya interned with several different organizations, including the World Bank's Middle East and North Africa office in their Sustainable Development department researching and reporting on urban development issues in Libya after the Arab Spring. In January 2014, Aya joined the CareerACCESS core team as their Policy Analyst Intern. BIO: Allie Cannington brings to the workshop her focus on disability, LGBTQ issues, and racial justice. Allie's passion for creating transformational spaces continues to evolve and diversify, specifically in the fields of public policy and community organizing. Allie works on communication venues that encourage critical thinking and consensus building. Sex, Drugs and Rock N' Roll: The Sequel * Youth Track * Target Audience: All Audiences. Knowledge Level: Newcomer. * Independence B & C Sex has always been a taboo topic when it comes to people with disabilities. The rate of drug use among people with disabilities is significantly higher than the rate for those without disabilities. People with disabilities are significantly more isolated than people who do not have disabilities. If these topics are not addressed, this will never change. At the APRIL 2014 Conference, Sex, Drugs and Rock N' Roll took a first step in beginning this discussion. Join us for the Sequel, which will be even better than the first presentation, so that we can learn together how to teach people with disabilities about these important topics. After the Conference, the discussion can continue in the SDR Facebook group. BIO: Roger Frischenmeyer has spent the last 14 years as an Independent Living Specialist with the Prairie Independent Living Resource Center in Hutchinson, KS. As a person who has lived with a disability most of his life, Roger uses his knowledge and experience to empower the customers he works with and to assist them to become advocates for themselves. BIO: Billy Thompson is an Independent Living Specialist and Office Manager with Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Pratt satellite office. Billy is currently the President of KAVESNP (Kansas Association of Vocational Education Special Needs Personnel) and Board Member and Facilitator for Pratt Leadership 2000 Plus program, which both focus on improving quality of life for Kansas Youth. Disability History is My History * Orientation Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence D & E Learning about history can be boring, but not at this workshop! Disability History is My History offers participants the opportunity to explore events in disability history in a FUN and meaningful way. Join this youth-led session and discover ways you can help learn about and share disability history. BIO: Dana Fink is the Assistant Project Coordinator at the Institute for Educational Leadership's Center for Workforce Development (CWD). She supports the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth and DC Advocacy Partners, a program that empowers people with disabilities and their families to become their own advocates and teaches them to navigate local administrative systems. BIO: Jennifer Thomas is the Youth Development Specialist for the National Collaborative for Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership's Center for Workforce Development. She is responsible for coordinating the youth development and leadership strand of NCWD/Youth. Currently, her primary focus is to steer the Youth Action Council on Transition (YouthACT). YouthACT is a national initiative to get more youth with disabilities and their allies involved as leaders who partner with adults and organizations to improve opportunities for youth to succeed in life. Organizing Disabled Youth of Color: Finding Solidarity with Reproductive Justice, Violence Prevention, and #BlackLivesMatter * Youth Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence F, G, H, & I This workshop will explore ways for CILs to develop a more well-rounded racial justice lens to their work, with an understanding that organizing youth of color is central to broadening the IL movement and placing it in the midst of the larger progressive movement and the Black Lives Matter movement. Presenters will share their work & experiences organizing young people of color with disabilities around reproductive justice issues and instituting restorative justice practices both in schools and in their personal and social lives. BIO: Candace Coleman coordinates Advance Youth Leadership Power, Access Living's organizing group led by and for young adults with disabilities. Candace serves as a board member for the Hip Hop Detoxx and Youth Move IL, which promotes positive mental health development for youth in the Chicagoland area. Fulani is the lead organizer of the Empowered Fe Fes, a group of young women with disabilities who want to change their environment and advocate around issues affecting women and girls with disabilities. BIO: Fulani Thrasher obtained her Sociology degree at Beloit College, which sparked her passion for social justice. Fulani believes that disability is important to every community. She would like to see more allies standing by the disability community in the fight for equality. How to Address a Priority Issue from Your Statewide Needs Assessment When Your SPIL Lacks Resources * SILC Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Lafayette & Farragut Your statewide needs assessment reveals that the employment rate is 31.2% and the poverty rate is 28.6% for people with disabilities. The State has $1.1 million dollars in Part B resources available on an annual basis. Is the overwhelming nature of this priority need beyond the scope, responsibility and control of your SPIL? Learn how the New York SILC and IL network addressed this priority need and successfully encouraged Governor Cuomo to issue Executive Order # 136, a cross-disability Employment First initiative with the goal to increase employment and decrease poverty for New Yorkers with disabilities by 5%. BIO: Brad Williams has been active in the IL movement for over 25 years, serving as the Executive Director of the New York SILC since 1999. In addition to issuing reports and surveys on a wide variety of topics, Brad has developed SILC best practices in areas such as member recruitment, orientation, SPIL formulation and public input strategies. Brad is a consultant with both the SILC-NET and APRIL. BIO: Lindsay Miller, MPH is Executive Director of the New York Association on Independent Living, the statewide membership organization of CILs providing programs in three interlocking areas: public policy and systems change, technical assistance and membership programs to strengthen the State's ILCs, and public education about Independent Living and the services and supports needed by people with disabilities to live in the community. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS II Wednesday, July 29, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. The Past, Present and Future of IL * Orientation Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence A How the Formative Years of IL inform Our Future: A historical retrospective on the formative years of IL: a look at the history of CILs and what we can learn from that history as we move into the future. BIO: Lex Frieden is director of ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) in Houston, TX. He is Senior Vice President at TIRR Memorial Hermann and Professor of Rehabilitation and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Frieden has served as both Chairperson and Executive Director of the National Council on Disability, where he led the process of crafting the ADA. He founded ILRU in 1977, and helped to found NCIL and APRIL. BIO: Darrell Jones is Project Director for IL-NET and New Community Opportunities Center, national training and technical assistance projects for CILs and SILCs. She oversees curriculum and publications development, and coordinates a 12-person team. Jones has over 35 years of experience in independent living as founding executive director of one of the first Title VII CILs in the country, Rochester (NY) CIL, and as founding director of the Association of Independent Living Centers in New York. BIO: Paula McElwee has worked in the disability field in Kansas for 25 years, and was appointed to three terms on the SILC of Kansas. In 2000 McElwee relocated to Fresno, CA, where she served on the board of Resources for Independence of the Central Valley. McElwee has been Technical Assistance Coordinator through ILRU since 2012. Basics of Building Grassroots Organizers for a Grassroots Movement * General Track * Target Audience: Advocates & Project Directors. Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all levels. * Independence B & C In this workshop, we will examine a model adopted in St. Louis, Missouri of building individual power, community power, and the power of an active coalition to raise up new leaders in the community of people with disabilities. Those leaders are then equipped to engage our community to take on issues important to us, and challenge systems, and get tangible results from that challenge. Finally, participants will be asked, how might this model work for you? BIO: Chris Worth is an Organizing Team Manager at Paraquad has 12 years of experience organizing for social change starting in Appalachia. Chris also co-headed a direct action oriented disability rights organization in Huntington, West Virginia. BIO: Derek Wetherell, Community Organizer, is on the leadership team of Jobs with Justice Missouri. Derek is an emerging leading figure in the conversation around white privilege and disability locally. He currently is working on issues around police brutality and disability, and public transit. Phasing Out Section 14(c): Collaborating toward a Future of Equality in the Workplace * Orientation Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence D & E Under Section 14(c) of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, workers with disabilities can be paid subminimum wages—which the DOJ found to be a violation of the ADA based on the 1999 Olmstead decision. After we present on Section 14(c), we will discuss what FREED CIL and the National Federation of the Blind are doing for its eventual repeal. Workshop participants will learn how people with disabilities are utilizing supported and customized employment strategies to engage in integrated, competitive employment, concluding with an interactive discussion of Section 14(c) and how we can responsibly phase it out. BIO: Rose Sloan is a Government Affairs Specialist for the National Federation of the Blind where she leads the advocacy effort to ensure fair wages for workers with disabilities. A graduate of Northwestern University, Rose's previous experience includes interning at the National Disability Rights Network, the American Public Human Services Association, and the district office of a Member of Congress. BIO: Justin Harford is the Community Organizer for FREED CIL, as well as the Co-Chair of NCIL's Social Security / Employment Subcommittee. He has worked on a variety of issues, but takes the greatest satisfaction from his efforts around employment and fair wages. A graduate of UC Berkeley, alumnus of two study abroad programs in Latin America and a recent job seeker who is blind, he knows how low expectations and misconceptions can prevent people with disabilities from reaching their potential. International Youth Seminar on Independent Living * Youth Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence F, G, H, & I Japanese youth delegation, along with several youth leaders from Asia and Africa, will join in celebration of the ADA 25th Anniversary by creating an opportunity to bring emerging IL leaders together. There is a great need and demand for Japan and other countries to learn how to implement effectively their national legislation and CRPD. The current movement, especially youth with disabilities - including young women with disabilities - can benefit by learning from the experience of the ADA, both before and after implementation, and the work done by civil society and government. In turn, US Youth can learn about how the IL Movement has spread worldwide and explore ideas on how the new generation can cooperate internationally. Organized by Japan Council on Independent Living Centers & DPI-Japan. BIO: Shoji Nakanishi became a wheelchair user when he was injured while a student. In 1986, he established the first IL Center in Japan, Human Care Association (HCA). He currently serves as the President of HCA, Vice-President of Japan Council of Independent Living Centers (JIL), Chair of DPI-AP (Disabled Peoples' International – Asia Pacific) and a board member of DPI-Japan. He has served numerous council members for Japanese legislation related to disability. BIO: Judith Heumann is an internationally recognized leader in the disability community and a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged people. She has served as Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State. She has served as the first Adviser on Disability and Development at the World Bank, where she led efforts to expand the Bank's knowledge and capability to work with governments and civil society on including disability in discussions with client countries; its country-based analytical work; and support for improving policies, programs, and projects that allow disabled people around the world to live and work in the economic and social mainstream of their communities. Countering Bias: Intergenerational Agility and Effectiveness * SILC Track * Target Audience: Executive Directors & Board Members. Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all levels. * Lafayette / Farragut This workshop will present background information on the efforts of the California SILC to reduce the median age of its members. Explore perceptions, group identity, assumptions and stereotypes; constructively address disruptive beliefs and biased behaviors that divide and devalue people; define how we can build cross-generational SILCs. This session will offer tools and information on membership / recruitment audits. We'll provide participants with examples of SILC activities that have been effective and provide an opportunity for participants to engage in discussion on what can be done in our SILCs to build participation and leadership of youth with disabilities. BIO: Liz Pazdral, Executive Director of the California SILC, has experienced the Independent Living movement from a variety of perspectives. Liz has been a consumer of services and worked at IL Centers in California and Canada for 13 years, including serving in the capacity of executive director. Additionally, she worked in the IL Unit of the California Department of Rehabilitation. Her career has emphasized disability rights issues, including employment, the ADA, earthquake response, and women's health. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS III Thursday, July 30, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Addressing Structural Racism and Inequity * General Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence A The treatment of people with disabilities by law enforcement and state and municipal officials is a serious problem. We have allowed problems of marginalization, exclusion, inaccessibility, discrimination, sexism and bigotry - problems that affect us all - to instead be addressed by a few, and have been content to say that it is a disability problem, or a race problem, or gender problem, or sexuality problem rather than admit that it is a problem for all of us. The purpose of this session is to institute a model of "engagement" to begin asking how the problems we see in minority and disabled communities are at least in part linked to the dehumanization that people can feel when they find themselves marginalized because of either the color of their skin or their disability. BIO: Stanley A. Holbrook is the Acting Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council for Independent Living and the Principle and Owner of S.A. Holbrook and Associates. Mr. Holbrook has over 27 years of experience in the Human Service arena. Stan has presented on cultural competency, diversity, and inclusion at several national conferences on health disparities and the Influence of race and ethnicity. Evolution of ADRC into a No Wrong Door System of Access to LTSS * ILA Track * Target Audience: Advocates & Project Directors. Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all levels. * Independence B & C The landscape of long term services and supports is rapidly changing. Hear from ACL about upcoming NWD System opportunities for the CILs and the Aging & Disability Networks. Hear about new innovations and opportunities in a No Wrong Door system though HHS's CMS & ACL grant activities. Hear from grantees how they created partnerships on the state and local levels. BIO: Elizabeth Leef is a program officer for the ADRC, Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) and Limb Loss (LL) grants at ACL and a former NCIL/CIL employee. Elizabeth has focused on partnerships between aging and disability networks since 2006. BIO: Joseph Lugo serves as the lead for the ADRC and No Wrong Door System national initiative. In addition, he has directly served as project officer for ADRC grants. Invited: Lindsay Baran, NCIL Policy Analyst; Heather Johnson, Consultant and Project Lead for the VT ADRC initiative and prior lead for MA ADRC initiative; Mary Margaret Moore, Executive Director of the ILC of the North Shore & Cape Ann, Inc. and Board President of the ADRC of the Greater North Shore, Inc. Parking Equity: Encouraging Reservation of Spaces with Access Aisles for Lift-Van Users * General Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence D & E This presentation focuses on a newly emerged issue of ramp or lift equipped van (RLEV) users having difficulty finding accessible parking spaces because of van accessible parking spaces being used by non-ramp or lift equipped vehicles (NRLEV). The presenters will present a project including a focus group of RLEV users to illustrate how this issue affects their ability to enjoy independent living, a brief interview of NRLEV users to show their view of using van accessible spaces, and a comparison of using different signs to discourage NRLEV drivers from parking in van accessible spaces. The presenters will facilitate a discussion on this topic, with the goal of examining policy options that might address it. BIO: Alice Zhang is a doctoral student in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science and a graduate research assistant in the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas. She serves as the Principal Investigator of the van accessible parking project and as a graduate research assistant for other projects such as advocacy skills training for requesting accommodation in postsecondary educational setting. BIO: Dr. Glen W. White has been involved in the rehabilitation and independent living field for over 30 years. He currently directs the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas and serves as Principal Investigator of the NIDRR-funded Research and Training Center on Community Living. Dr. White has conducted research and training activities in Perú, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. He is a Professor in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas, where he teaches in the areas of applied behavioral science, community psychology, and disability studies. Being an Advocate in Next Generation ADA * Youth Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence F, G, H, & I The ADA became law 25 years ago... what's next? Youth with disabilities have grown up with protections not known by past generations. However, we have new and ever changing challenges that we continue to face. In this session we will discuss what it means to be part of the ADA generation, what challenges we face, and how to be an advocate in a way that suits you. Participants will put together an action plan to map out their goals on how to contribute to the disability rights movement. It's our responsibility now to step up and become the next generation of leaders! BIO: Sarah Goldman's life with cerebral palsy has been about overcoming challenges while encouraging others to do the same. She is a graduate student at Florida State University studying Social Work Policy and Administration. Sarah has participated in White House Disability Roundtable discussions, has been an ambassador for a statewide Disability Employment Awareness Month campaign, and currently represents the voice of youth on the Florida Governor's Commission on Jobs for Floridians with Disabilities. Her dream is to be an advocate for people with disabilities, showing them that they can have hope and a future, no matter their challenges. BIO: Brianna Gross is the Communications Manager at the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV). With expertise in disability in the media, she presented at the Library of Congress panel Portrayal or Betrayal: People with Disabilities in Film and Media alongside Lawrence Carter Long, Tari Hartman Squire, and Dr. Beth Haller. She also produced a show on Connecticut Public Radio entitled Redefining Disability. Before working at ECNV, she was the Communications Manager at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). She graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and minors in Philosophy and Human Rights. BIO: Meredith Raymond is the Director of Nursing Facility Outreach at Independence Now Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland, managing the largest Money Follows the Person program in the state. Prior to this role she was a policy intern at the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), as well as a Para-Transit Specialist at the CIL of North Central Florida in Gainesville, Florida. She has a strong interest in law and policy and empowering others to empower themselves. Meredith is a graduate of the University of Florida and was inducted into the Hall of Fame largely due to her efforts in elevating disability in campus climate discussions and programming. Critical Role of CILs in the Implementation of WIOA * General Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Lafayette / Farragut The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) represents new opportunities for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to support Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and American Job Centers (AJCs) as they move forward to a fully accessible, seamless employment delivery system. At the state and local levels, WIBs must engage in a unified strategic planning process that will enhance their focus on cross system collaboration in an effort to identify the needs and resources necessary to meet the diverse needs of today's workplace. CILs can and should be a part of this process. Partnerships between the WIBs, AJCs, and CILs reinforce the inclusion of persons with disabilities at all levels. This session will help you understand WIOA from a disability perspective and how your fellow CILs are influencing positive change. This workshop is presented by the LEAD Center. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS IV Thursday, July 30, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Meaningful Reporting for the New Administration on Community Living * ILA Track * Target Audience: Management Staff of CILs who have extensive experience in program evaluation, outcomes measures and outcomes management and who are willing to continue this work through to a satisfactory product. Knowledge Level: Extensive Experience in IL program management and reporting. * Independence A This session is an interactive discussion that will generate recommendations for a new reporting process and format for the Annual Independent Living Report (also known as the "704 Report"). The discussion will include (1) a short review of work already underway; (2) a discussion about what to leave behind and what to take forward to the future; (3) generating operating principles for the best of all possible annual reports; (4) next steps for continued work on this effort. BIO: Pat Puckett is the Executive Director of the Georgia SILC; serves on the NCIL Board as the Region IV Representative; and co-chairs the NCIL Outcome Measures Task Force. BIO: Dan Kessler is Executive Director of Disability Rights and Resources, a CIL based in Birmingham, AL. He is Co-Chair of the NCIL Outcomes Measures Task Force and former NCIL President. Election 2016: Increasing the Disability Vote for Impact * General Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence B & C The goal of this workshop is to lay the ground work for building a more recognized and significant disability voting bloc – resulting in more political power for the disability community. And a successful get-out-the-vote (GOTV) plan always begins with planning a year in advance, establishing workable staff priorities and leadership roles. Non-profit organization partners will become familiar with the concepts and parameters to follow that will allow them to engage voters and remain compliant to election law and funding regulations. They will learn about the stages and division of labor within an organization that is needed to build a realistic and sustainable voting effort, tailored to their community and resources. Everyone will have the opportunity to evaluate their voting priorities, engage with seasoned election professionals, join a national disability vote collaborative and leave with materials to get started on building a 2016 GOTV plan. At the end participants will be asked to join a national disability vote collaborative that will meet monthly by teleconference to share resources, network and collaborate on strategies. BIO: Ted Jackson is the Community Organizing Director at California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. He brings with him over 25 years of community organizing experience at the local, state and national levels, and building community partnerships across stereotypical boundaries. As a disability advocate, Mr. Jackson organizes a California-based statewide network of 1200 members to increase access through systems change. BIO: Jim Dickson has 30 years of experience with nonpartisan voter engagement issues. He recently resigned as Vice President for Organizing and Civic Engagement for The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). He led AAPD's nonpartisan Disability Vote Project, a broad coalition of 36 national disability-related organizations whose mission is to close the political participation gap for people with disabilities. The ADA and Medicaid: Next Generation of Long-term Services and Supports * General Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence D & E As the ADA celebrates its 25th anniversary and Medicaid celebrates its 50th anniversary, it's important to look back on their evolution, their role in America's health care system, and the role they play for supporting people with disabilities into the future. Nearly a third of individuals today look to Medicaid for their long-term services and supports (LTSS). It is an important component of our nation's shift to a more comprehensive model of social and economic supports that further the inclusion independence of people with disabilities. This session will explore the next generation of issues in Medicaid LTSS, including workforce participation; the nexus to employer insurance; full community integration; and, sustainability. BIO: Connie Garner is the Policy Director for Foley Hoag's Government Strategy Group in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the law firm she worked more than 20 years for the US government, in both the Department of Education and the US Senate, as policy director for disability and special populations for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the HELP Committee. BIO: Andy Imparato is a disability rights lawyer who has been the Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities since 2013 and previously served as Senator Tom Harkin's disability policy director and as the president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. BIO: Bruce Darling is the President / CEO of the Center for Disability Rights and the Regional Center for Independent Living in Rochester, New York. Bruce has been a disability advocate for over 25 years and is best known for his work with ADAPT. BIO: Kelly Buckland is the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living. He is the former Executive Director of Living Independence Network Corp (LINC) and the Idaho SILC, both in Boise. BIO: Merrill Friedman is the Senior Director of Disability Policy Engagement at Anthem. She partners with individuals, families, advocates and stakeholders to ensure the needs and preferences of people with disabilities and older adults are addressed through Anthem programs and coverage options. Rising Up: Rochester's Youth Leadership Group; a Formula for Success! * Youth Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence F, G, H, & I The Regional CIL in Rochester, NY began with 4 founding members in 2013, and built a youth program from the ground, up, called YO! – Youth Own. Join us for an engaging session, where we will share our formula for success, and ideas for you to start or build your own program! Co-led by RCIL's Coordinator of Youth Leadership, and teens and young adults actively involved in YO!, this presentation will feature our youth-filmed promotional video, website, printed materials, project and service-based learning activities; and will stress youth involvement. You will hear success strategies from the youth themselves! BIO: Jensen Caraballo is a native of Guayama, Puerto Rico, and young adult mentor for RCIL's youth leadership group, YO! – Youth Own. He is on the Board of Directors at the Center for Disability Rights as the Vice Chair, and also chairs their Program Assessment committee. BIO: C. Jean Grover has been RCIL's Coordinator of Youth Leadership since 2013. Her previous experience includes 5 years as RCIL's Communications Coordinator, and 25+ years in the advertising, marketing, graphic design and new media fields. BIO: Julian Hiler is a 2015 graduate of Wilson Commencement High School in Rochester, NY, and an active member of YO!, RCIL's Youth Leadership group. He graduated with National Honor Society and "Black Scholar" distinction. He helped to film and produce YO!'s promotion video, with modifications to the GoPro camera. BIO: Priya Penner is 17 years old, has just completed her junior year at Fairport High School, Fairport, NY, and is a Founding Member of YO!. She has assisted in the establishment of the YO! website, and YO!'s presence in social media. Are We For Real or An Illusion? Hard Truths on Growing Future Senior Leaders with Disabilities within CILs and SILCs * General Track * Target Audience: Executive Directors & Board Members. Knowledge Level: Experienced. * Lafayette / Farragut As the Independent Living network has expanded over the last four decades, thousands of people have come to work at CILs and SILCs. Yet as we look towards the future of the movement, how can we ensure that CILs and SILCs are truly led by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities? What opportunities exist, or are overlooked? Do we exercise ableism in overlooking potential? How do we ensure that our work is inclusive and intersectional? Join us for an expert panel discussion on what it takes to equip CIL or SILC staff for futures as senior or executive management in Independent Living. BIO: Marca Bristo helped launch Access Living in 1980, one of the country's first CILs; she remains its founding President and CEO. Access Living has provided peer services and advocacy to over 40,000 people with disabilities in Chicago, winning systemic improvements in housing, schools, transportation, public access and long term care. BIO: Thomas H. Earle, a licensed attorney and the CEO of Liberty Resources, Inc. (LRI), has been involved in the legal rights of people with disabilities since admission to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1991. BIO: Sarah Launderville is the executive director of the Vermont CIL and is the Region I Representative on the NCIL Board of Directors, and the Co-Chair of the NCIL Women's Caucus. BIO: Regina Blye of Austin, Texas is the Executive Director of the Texas State Independent Living Council (SILC) and currently serves as Chair of SILC Congress, a national group dedicated to improving the effectiveness of SILCs. BIO: Rahnee Patrick is Director of Independent Living at Access Living where she started as the fair housing testing coordinator in November 2002. BIO: Amber Smock has worked at Access Living since 2005, starting as the Youth Leadership Coordinator. She is now the Director of Advocacy, overseeing the community organizing, policy, and Ombudsman teams. CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS V Thursday, July 30, 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Keep the Wheels Rolling: ACL Highlights Progress Made Being Made on WIOA Implementation in the IL Programs * ILA Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence A The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is a federal agency operating within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that works to realize its vision that all people, regardless of age and disability, live with dignity, make their own choices, and participate fully in society. ACL serves as the federal agency responsible for increasing access to community supports, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities across the lifespan. The establishment of the Independent Living Administration and the programs transferred to ACL under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) will make important contributions to this work in unique ways. BIO: Jamie Kendall is currently the Acting Director of the Independent Living programs and is Director of Special Projects at the Center for Disability and Aging Policy at the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Previously she served as the Deputy Commissioner at the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) between December 2010 – March 2013 where she provided leadership to the programs authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 and the Help America Vote Act. ADA in Action: Resources and Best Practices to Enhance Implementation of the ADA * General Track * Target Audience: Advocates & Project Directors. Knowledge Level: Experienced. * Independence B & C "How can I make meaningful ADA changes?" A panel will present strategies and resources for CIL staff to affect the implementation of the ADA in your community. A representative from NCIL will discuss the activities of the ADA / Civil Rights Subcommittee and its advocacy efforts on the ADA. The ADA National Network will review the resources available from the Network and regional ADA Centers. A CIL staff member will present ADA activities and strategies for developing an action plan to increase ADA implementation. Resources will be provided and ample time will be allowed for your questions. BIO: Marian Vessels is Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, one of the 10 regional ADA Centers that comprises the ADA National Network. Among her primary areas of expertise are training and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in employment, hospitality and government sectors. BIO: L. Dara Baldwin, MPA Serves as Co-Chair of the NCIL ADA / Civil Rights Subcommittee and is an expert with over 10 years of experience in public policy and over 30 years in social justice advocacy. She is currently the Public Policy Analyst at NDRN. BIO: Misty Dion is Executive Director of Roads to Freedom CIL of North Central Pennsylvania. She was a longstanding member of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center's ADA Coalition and is currently a member of its Leadership Network with many years of training experience on disability awareness and the ADA. Empowering Youth through Internship Opportunities * Youth Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence D & E Are you interested in learning about internship programs available in Washington, DC for students with disabilities? Have you thought about creating an internship program at your CIL? Would you like to discuss ideas on how to create more opportunities to empower young self-advocates through the power of internships and collaboration? Join us at this session to learn about internship opportunities available through the Greater Washington Internship Coalition; as well as the mechanics of establishing, funding and collaborating with others to develop new internship opportunities to empower young leaders. BIO: Kevin Webb manages national grantmaking and corporate employee volunteer programs as Sr. Director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. The Foundation's sole mission is to help young people with disabilities maximize their potential and participation in society by empowering them to lead productive lives. BIO: Ryan Easterly serves as manager of The HSC Foundation's National Youth Transitions Initiative (NYTI). The NYTI provides more than $1 million a year in funding and programmatic support to organizations that assist youth and young veterans with disabilities in creating and living a self-directed path to adulthood and employment. Practical and Effective Uses of Social Media for Engagement and Collaboration Among Disability Organizations * Youth Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Independence F, G, H, & I This interactive workshop will encourage cross-generational, cross-disability online engagement among CILs and other disability organizations. Learn to embrace social media as a means of communicating with consumers and sharing the important work your organization is doing. The session will cover best practices for using major social media platforms, social media strategy development, and online community building. BIO: Emily Ladau is a writer and advocate currently pursuing her M.A. in Disability Studies at CUNY School of Professional Studies. She has dedicated her career to harnessing the powers of communication and social media as tools for people of all abilities to develop their voice for advocacy. Along with Maddy, she is one half of Disabled Girls Talk, a podcast about coming of age with a disability. BIO: Maddy Ruvolo is the Systems Change Advocate at the Marin CIL. She graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College in 2014, where she was the president/co-founder of the Disability Illness and Difference Alliance. Mourn the Dead and Fight Like Hell for the Living * Orientation Track * Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. * Lafayette / Farragut In the past five years, over forty people with disabilities have been murdered by their parents. These acts are horrific enough on their own. But they exist in the context of a larger pattern. For the last three years, ASAN, ADAPT, Not Dead Yet, the National Council on Independent Living, the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, and other disability rights organizations have come together at local vigils across the country to mourn those losses, bring awareness to these tragedies, and demand justice and equal protection under the law for all people with disabilities. In this session, we will mourn these deaths, talk about what causes them, and talk about what we can do to make it stop. BIO: Julia Bascom serves as Director of Programs at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Julia's work focuses on technical assistance for self-advocates and state-level policy advocacy efforts, with an emphasis on leadership development, rights-based models of education, services, and supports, and bridging the gap between theory vs. praxis. In addition, Julia develops projects which look at standards for cognitive accessibility, the creation of independent living supports and the potential of natural supports, and ensuring meaningful, authentic, and respectful representation of the Autistic and disability communities throughout our society. Julia is the founder of The Loud Hands Project. [Image: Map of Grand Hyatt Independence Level (5B). Please visit the NCIL Registration Desk to find a sighted guide] WHAT TO BRING Conference participants often brave blistering heat, massive thunderstorms, and even chilly workshop rooms! 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; and * any medications or assistive devices you may need during strenuous activity. NCIL REGIONS BY STATE * Region I (1): Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont * Region II (2): New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands * Region III (3): Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia * Region IV (4): Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee * Region V (5): Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin * Region VI (6): Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas * Region VII (7): Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska * Region VIII (8): Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming * Region IX (9): Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands * Region X (10): Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington ACCESS, ACCOMMODATIONS, & RESOURCES Environmental / Chemical Sensitivities Fragrance and chemicals can be access barriers. To help make this conference accessible to participants for whom chemicals or fragrances are an access barrier, NCIL requests that you come fragrance free. Please refrain from wearing any scented products or washing with them. This includes clothing that has been laundered with fragranced detergent or fabric softening products. Additionally, please completely air out any dry-cleaned clothing before wearing it to the Conference. Smoke can also be an access barrier. It is essential that we maintain a smoke-free environment. If you smoke, please use the designated smoking area located outside the Hyatt. Please refrain from smoking near any other doorways or paths of travel. The hotel entrance at 11st Street should be the least polluted with cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust, although it unfortunately has steps. Van Parking The maximum vehicle height for the garage at the Grand Hyatt is 6' 5". Grand Hyatt valet staff will park taller vehicles at the Renaissance Washington as space allows. This arrangement will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis and billed at the Grand Hyatt regular self-parking rate of $32 / night. Auxiliary Aids & Services CART (Communications Access in Real Time), sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, personal assistants*, accessible materials, and other services will be provided upon request for all NCIL Conference activities. However, participants must arrange their own services for Hill Visits on Tuesday. Local Service Providers: Wheelchair and Scooter Rental and Repair ZASK Medical Supply - Alexandria, VA Phone: 703-354-1266 Email: zaskoo@erols.com Area Access - Falls Church, VA Phone: 703-573-2111 Roberts Home Medical - Germantown, MD Phone: 301-353-0300 Scooterplus / Lenox Medical Supply - Rentals only; delivery available Web: www.lenoxmedicalsupply.com Phone: 1-866 474-4356 or 202-387-1960 ScootAround - Rentals only; delivery available Web: www.scootaround.com Phone: 1-888-441-7575 Local Service Providers: Personal Assistant Services ENDependence Center of Northern VA (CIL) - Arlington, VA Contact: Ruchika Lalwani, PAS Coordinator Phone: 703-525-3268; TTY: 703-525-3553 Email: ruchikal@ecnv.org; Maxim Healthcare Phone: 202-545-6980 (711 for Relay) Email: clduvall@maxhealth.com * The route of the NCIL March from the Grand Hyatt to the US Capitol is slightly less than one mile. Many conference attendees rent power chairs or scooters and have them delivered to their hotel to ensure they can participate. * NCIL's Personal Assistants will be available during conference hours only. Use the information to the left to arrange your own personal assistant service during non-conference hours. HOTELS & LODGING Grand Hyatt Washington The Grand Hyatt is located one block from the Metro Center subway station in downtown Washington, DC. The Grand Hyatt is the official Conference hotel and virtually all events will be held here. 1000 H St. NW Phone: 800.233.1234 Embassy Suites 900 10th St NW Phone: 202.739.2001 Washington Marriott at Metro Center 775 12th Street NW Phone: 800-393-2510 ONSITE REGISTRATION Please note that rates are per person and include materials, workshops, and Awards Luncheon. NCIL Member $305 Non-Member $430 Daily Rate $210 Luncheon 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 26-years-old or younger in order that young people with disabilities be exposed to the benefits of active involvement in NCIL and self-advocacy. Meals * Luncheon tickets will be included in your registration materials and collected at the event. Unregistered guests may purchase Luncheon tickets for $150. * Rally lunches will be available to all registered Conference participants. Individuals not registered for the Conference are not guaranteed a lunch at the Rally. AIRPORTS & TRANSPORTATION * Visit www.wmata.com to plan your trip using public transportation. * All public buses, stations, and trains are accessible (when in operation). Super Shuttle: 800-BLUE-VAN Battles Transportation: 202-462-8658 Red Top Cab: 202-328-3333 [Image: Metro Map] Reagan National Airport (DCA) * Metrorail: The Metro stops adjacent to Terminals B and C. Take the Blue Line to the Metro Center station or the Yellow Line to the Gallery Place / Chinatown station. Both stations are 1-2 blocks from the Grand Hyatt. Fare: $1.35. * Red Top Cab: Call to reserve an accessible van 2-3 days in advance. * Super Shuttle: standard vans are available outside the Main Terminal. Contact them to reserve an accessible van. Baltimore / Washington International (BWI) * Public Transportation: 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, 2 blocks from the Grand Hyatt. Fare: $5.35; allow 1+ hour for travel. * Taxicabs: Approximate fare to DC is $75. Call 410-859-1100 for details. * Van Service: Contact BWI Shuttle at 410-859-1100. Reservations recommended 4 days in advance. Dulles Airport (IAD) * Public Transportation: Metrobus 5A departs Dulles once an hour, between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm, and travels to the L'Enfant Plaza station. From L'Enfant Plaza, take the Blue or Orange Line to the Metro Center station. Fare: $4.35. Please allow 1+ hour for travel. * Red Top Cab: Call to reserve an accessible van 2-3 days in advance. * Super Shuttle: standard vans are available outside the Main Terminal. Contact them to reserve an accessible van. SPONSORS Soldiers for Justice * Centene * Google * Anthem * Verizon Champions * United Healthcare * IndependenceFirst Revolutionaries * Kessler Foundation * Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) Movers & Shakers * Accessible Bath Technologies * Amtrak * National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability - Youth * The HSC Foundation / Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Conference Support Fund * AARP * Walmart * LEAD Center Activists * Access Living * American Association for Homecare * The HSC Foundation * Bender Consulting * Regional Center for Independent Living Catalysts * Pride Mobility * Independent Living Center of the North Shore & Cape Ann * SKIL Resource Center, Inc. * Elsevier Direct Course NCIL also thanks the following donors: The Shepherd Center; Yoshiko Dart Sometimes making a difference makes all the difference in the world. In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Anthem is proud to celebrate the ADA and build lasting participation and leadership of young advocates through its support of the National Council on Independent Living 2015 Annual Conference Anthem® College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving Recipients of Personal Assistance Services (PAS) are at risk for injury. 40% of the respondents report at least one fall during the year. Source: Newcomer R, Kang T, Faucett J. (2011). Consumer directed personal care: Comparing recipient outcomes among those with paid family and non-relative providers. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 30(4):178-197. Read the research, download the infographic, and take part in the solution: directcourseonline.com/NCIL DirectCourse Online Curricula For Life In Community UCSF University of California San Francisco M® University of Minnesota, Driven to Discover Elsevier 650 Out Out of Nursing Homes Into Homes of Their Own, The Ability Center ADAI Assistance Dogs For Achieving Independence The Ability Center @ Home personal assistance service UT The University of Toledo, Disability Studies ADA 25 Americans With Disabilities Act 1990 - 2015 abilitycenter.org Building Communities that Work for Everyone The Ability Center Greater Toledo, Ottawa County, Bryan This year, we celebrate: * our 650th person out of a nursing home, * the beginning of our Assistance Dog Breeding program, * the accreditation and launch of our new Personal Assistance program, * the approval of the nation's first Bachelor's degree program in Disability Studies at the University of Toledo, * and, of course, the 25th anniversary of our civil rights law. Celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act at 25 years — and beyond! Some things improve with age. The Research & Training Center on Independent Living Salutes NCIL and the ADA Generations of Past, Present and Future! Supporting Disability Advocates We support disability advocates in finding new ways to enhance community living and participation for people with disabilities. Our research is designed to create programs, practices and policies that support independent living for the ADA generations now and in the future The Research & Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) is a project of the RTC on Independent Living. The University of Kansas 4089 Dole, 1000 Sunnyside Ave. Lawrence, KS 66045-7561 785-864-4095 • TTY 785-864-0706 rtcil@ku.edu • www.rtcil.org/cl Research & Training Center on Community Living ABIL is proud to join NCIL as we Celebrate Our Movement's Past and Foster a New Generation of Leaders Programs and Services: * Advocacy * Information & Referral * Peer Support/Mentoring * Independent Living Skills * Employment Services * Home Modifications * Personal Assistance Services * ABIL Sports & Fitness Center Arizona Bridge to Independent Living Phoenix, AZ | 602-256-2245 | www.abil.org