Revolution: A Global Independent Living Movement Annual Conference on Independent Living 2017 Conference Program July 24-27, 2017 Grand Hyatt Washington, DC Image: A globe in NCIL blue encompasses a heart symbol. A Message from the Executive Director Welcome to NCIL’s 2017 Annual Conference on Independent Living! In the wake of a new Administration and troubling changes to services for people with disabilities in our country, it may be tempting to turn our focus inwards at this time. Instead, we are expanding our vision to celebrate the strides being made in the Independent Living Movement around the world. We unite with our friends both nationally and internationally to present our 2017 Annual Conference on Independent Living: Revolution – A Global Independent Living Movement. Independent Living is not just an American issue. Globally, there are over one billion people with disabilities, comprising one fifth of the world’s population, according to the World Report on Disability. We must continue to advocate so that people with disabilities can live wherever and however they choose. Now is the time to join forces with our international allies as we push back against the rising tide of discrimination and bigotry that confronts people with disabilities every day. We have come together this summer to proclaim that we will not be silenced. Independence may have sparked our fire, but it is interdependence that will keep it burning. I would especially like to thank our sponsors: Anthem; Centene; Uber; Verizon; United Healthcare; Waymo; Ability360; Walmart; IndependenceFirst; Center for Disability Rights; Pride Mobility; National Disability Institute / The LEAD Center; Molina Healthcare; Institute for Educational Leadership; Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann; Microsoft; Youth Transitions Collaborative; and Disability Power & Pride. Kelly Buckland   Table of Contents - A Message from the Executive Director: - Agenda: - Schedule of Events: - Workshops & Poster Sessions: - Keynote Speakers: - What to Bring: - Map of Independence Level (5B): - Rules of Conduct for Annual Meetings: - Access, Accommodations, Resources: - NCIL Regions by State: - Onsite Registration: - Sponsors: - Advocate’s Guide to the Hill:   Agenda Saturday, July 22 - 1:30 - 6:00 p.m. — NCIL Board Meeting   Sunday, July 23 - 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. — Global IL Summit - 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. — Conference Registration Open   Monday, July 24 - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Registration Open - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. — Opening Plenary - 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. — Legislative & Advocacy Update - 11:30 - 11:45 a.m. — Preparing for the Day on the Hill - Lunch (on your own) - 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. — Greater Washington Internship Coalition Presentation - 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. — Concurrent Workshops I - Regional Caucuses -- 2:45 - 3:45 p.m. — Regions 6-10 -- 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. — Regions 1-5 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. — Diversity Mixer   Tuesday, July 25 - 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. — Organize for the March - 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — March to & Rally at the Capitol - 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. — Hill Visits   Wednesday, July 26 - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Registration and Exhibits Open - 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. — Concurrent Workshops II - 10:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. — Exhibit Fair - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. — Film Screening: Rooted in Rights’ “Bottom Dollars” - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. — Awards Luncheon - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. — Annual Meeting - 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. — Revolution & Global Unity Celebration   Thursday, July 27 - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Registration and Exhibits Open - 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. — Concurrent Workshops III - 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. — Concurrent Workshops IV - Lunch (on your own) - 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. — NCIL Youth Caucus Annual In-Person Meeting - 1:30 - 2:45 p.m. — Concurrent Workshops V - 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. — Legislative Debriefing - 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. — Closing Forum: Q&A with the ILA   Friday, July 28 - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. — NCIL Board Meeting   Schedule of Events   Saturday, July 22 NCIL Board Meeting: 1:30 - 6:00 p.m. / Declaration AB NCIL Board meetings are open to the public. If you plan to attend this event and require an accommodation, please contact tim@ncil.org by July 17, 2017. Sunday, July 23 Global Independent Living Summit: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. / Constitution CDE * The Independent Living Movement is growing rapidly. In recent years, we’ve had as many as 1,500 attendees at NCIL’s Annual Conference from all 50 states and around the world. Centers for Independent Living are springing up in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Taiwan, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru, to name just a few. The Global IL Summit represents an unprecedented step forward for NCIL and the Independent Living Movement as a whole. We will join together to learn from one another and explore the creation of a global network for Independent Living. - Space is limited. Only delegates who applied and were accepted may attend.   Monday, July 24 Opening Plenary: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. / Independence A International disability rights activist and IL hero Judy Heumann will deliver an opening keynote address to kick off a week of movement-building and global solidarity. Fasten your seatbelts, because no one embodies the theme of Revolution like Judy Heumann. See Keynote Speakers section for biographical information. Don’t miss this exciting 2017 Annual Conference opener! Legislative & Advocacy Update: 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. / Independence A 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. Preparing for the Day on the Hill: 11:30 - 11:45 a.m. / Independence A 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 Capitol Hill Visits. Greater Washington Internship Coalition Presentation:12:00 - 1:00 p.m. / Franklin We invite staff who work directly with youth from Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils to come learn about the Greater Washington Internship Coalition (GWIC), a group of organizations dedicated to providing resources and internship opportunities for youth with disabilities. The meeting will feature several presentations from prominent members with internship opportunities, allowing CILs and SILCs to see what programs are available for their young consumers. For more information on the Greater Washington Internship Coalition, please visit www.gwicinternships.org. This is a brown bag lunch, and is open to youth transition coordinators, CIL & SILC staff who work directly with youth, and members of GWIC. Concurrent Workshops I: 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. See page 9-11 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Regional Caucuses: - Regions VI through X: 2:45 - 3:45 p.m. - Regions I through V: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. This is your opportunity to strategize for your Capitol Hill Visits. Each state decides 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 listed for Regions I - V and VI - X. - Regions 1 & 8: Independence BC - Regions 2 & 7: Independence FGHI - Regions 3 & 6: Independence A - Regions 4 & 9: Independence DE - Regions 5 & 10: Lafayette / Farragut Diversity Mixer: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. / Independence A  The Diversity Committee will present awards to NCIL members who have committed themselves to centering people of color, LGBTQIA, young people, and other communities underrepresented in IL. Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available, accompanied by a cash-bar. Tuesday, July 25 Organize for the March: 9:30 - 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 - 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 Rally location and directions to and from the Hyatt are available on pages 32-33. Lunch: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. / West Front Lawn of the US Capitol Building / Rally Site Bag lunches will be provided to conference registrants. 2017 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 Independent Living Movement and elected officials working on the issues we care about most. Capitol Hill Visits: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to meet with their elected officials and their staffs to discuss issues important in their districts. Congressional contact information is available at house.gov and senate.gov, 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 accommodations, including interpreters, for Hill Visits ahead of time. Contact angela@ncil.org with any questions.    Wednesday, July 26 Concurrent Workshops II: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. See page 11-14 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Exhibit Fair: 10:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / 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 be open all day Wednesday and Thursday. Film Screening - Rooted in Rights’ “Bottom Dollars”: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / Lafayette / Farragut Join Rooted in Rights for an open captioned and audio described screening of Bottom Dollars, their new hour-long documentary that exposes the segregated workplaces and low wages often paid to people with disabilities. Through personal stories and expert interviews, the film presents a vision for better alternatives that promote community inclusion, equal opportunity, and fair wages. After the screening, the Rooted in Rights team will share their experiences with Bottom Dollars as a case study in how film screenings can be used in successful community organizing. Explore best practices for accessible events that energize members and leave with a free DVD! Awards Luncheon: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. / Independence Ballroom Join us to celebrate and honor this year’s national award winners! Awards will be presented over lunch. Admission to this event is included in full Conference registration. Annual Council Meeting: 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. / Independence A Attend the 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, Secretary, Treasurer, Diversity Chair 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 2017 dues in full by June 26 (30 days prior) to be eligible to vote in person or by proxy. Revolution & Global Unity Celebration: 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. / Independence Ballroom  Join us as we celebrate the revolution. Come ready to join your fellow advocates in merriment and don’t forget your dancing shoes! Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available free of charge, accompanied by a cash-bar.   Thursday, July 27 Concurrent Workshops III: 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. See page 14-17 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Concurrent Workshops IV: 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. See page 17-19 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. Concurrent Workshops V: 1:30 - 2:45 p.m. See page 20-22 for descriptions, presenters, and locations. NCIL Youth Caucus Annual In-Person Meeting: 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. / Franklin The NCIL Youth Caucus will meet to discuss their 2016 year-in-review and goals for 2017. This event is open to any Youth Caucus member, NCIL youth scholarship recipient, or anyone under the age of 26 who is interested in joining the NCIL Youth Caucus. This is a brown bag lunch. Legislative Debriefing: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. / Independence A This session will summarize the advocacy accomplished during the week and serve as a springboard for development of a plan of action that can be implemented at the national, state, and local levels during the coming year. Closing Forum: Q&A with the ILA: 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. / Independence A Bob Williams, Deputy Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities and Director of the Independent Living Administration, will address NCIL members and conduct a question and answer session with the audience before we return home and prepare to make change. See Keynote Speakers section for biographical information about Bob Williams. Friday, July 28 NCIL Board Meeting: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / Lafayette / Farragut NCIL Board meetings are open to the public. If you plan to attend this event and require an accommodation, please contact tim@ncil.org by July 17, 2017. Workshops & Poster Sessions   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. Creative Community Access  Poster by: Audrey Schremmer - Executive Director, Three Rivers Inc. Three Rivers Inc. collaborated with the University of Kansas Engineering Department and the National Science Foundation BREAK program to engineer an accessible children's train car so that children using wheelchairs can now fully experience riding the Spirit of Wamego Train that has operated in the city park since 1947. This poster presentation outlines the collaborative methods, which included multiple public and private partnerships, to accomplish this project, which is believed to be one of a kind in the United States.   CareerACCESS Poster by: CareerACCESS CareerACCESS is a career-building alternative to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for young adults with disabilities. Under current rules, an individual with a disability must prove they cannot work to be eligible for benefits. And, after an SSI award, available work incentives are difficult to navigate and little used. CareerACCESS offers an alternative for SSI-eligible youth to escape poverty and dependence. Working with a Career Coach to develop an Individualized Career Plan, young adults will transition with counseling support to independence through employment. The CareerACCESS goal is to make it easy to work. Learn more: www.ourcareeraccess.org.   Workshops   Workshop Tracks - International Track: Workshops related to understanding and supporting international development of the Independent Living Movement. - Youth Track: Workshops related to youth leadership, outreach, and movement building. - WIOA / Core Service Track: Workshops addressing WIOA, ILA, and / or sharing innovation and best practices in the core services of Centers for Independent Living. - Healthcare / Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Track: Workshops related to healthcare, personal assistant services, managed care, and deinstitutionalization. - SILC Track: Workshops covering best practices and innovation in operations and programs of Statewide Independent Living Councils. - General Track: Workshops for staff, consumers, and other advocates in the Independent Living Movement that do not fit the other five categories.   Workshop Sessions 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. Concurrent Workshops I Monday, July 24, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. IL in Japan and Beyond! International Track / Independence A Individuals from Japan Council on Independent Living Centers will lead this exciting discussion on the IL Movement in Japan and East Asia. We must work together to achieve global solidarity. Please join us to learn how we can reach across borders and work together to expand the IL Movement! Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Satoshi Sato lived in an institution after he acquired a disability at the age of 9. He got involved with the IL Movement when he met a person with a severe disability living independently. In 2003, he began assisting CILs in developing countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Taiwan, Mongolia, Costa Rica and Bolivia. Satoshi now serves at DPI-JAPAN as the Secretary General. His work involves policy negotiations, human rights protection, and accessibility. Fifth Core: Bridging Youth to the Rest of Their Lives  WIOA / Core Service Track / Independence BC  The new fifth core service includes “… [To] facilitate the transition of youth …with significant disabilities… to postsecondary life.” Access Living’s Youth Institute can be a model for your CIL to meet the requirements for WIOA, through a combination of different funding sources. Presenters highlight two components of the Institute. Pre-Employment Transition Services connects youth to employment while in school to gain experience. READY is a liaison from high school to employment for youth with disabilities. Unlike traditional job placement and job coaching, READY is a unique program. Attendees will learn how to bridge youth to long-term careers. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Katie Blank is Manager of the Youth Institute at Access Living. Katie has her Master’s degree in Social Work and Early Childhood Education and has been working with Access Living for over seven years. She now manages Access Living’s youth programs. - Elaine E. Katz, MS, CCC-SP, is Senior Vice President for Grants and Communications at Kessler Foundation. She is responsible for developing a comprehensive grantmaking program to increase employment for people with disabilities and overseeing external communications. Elaine has over 25 years of consulting experience working with non-profit organizations in areas of board development, capacity building and business development. - Jacky Dorantes is a READY Coordinator at Access Living and has her Master’s degree in Social Work. As the READY Coordinator, Jacky works to ensure students with disabilities in Chicago Public Schools are connected to continuing education and/or employment upon graduation from high school. - Erin Michalowski is a READY Coordinator at Access Living. Erin has her Master of Arts in Intercultural Service Leadership and Management. Erin has vast experience working in youth development and worked in refugee resettlement. As a READY Coordinator, Erin works with youth with disabilities to ensure they are connected to continuing education and/or employment upon graduation from high school.   Partnering with Managed Care: What's In It for Me? Healthcare & LTSS Track / Independence DE The transition of Long Term Services and Supports to managed care is creating both new opportunities and challenges for community providers. Many CILs are deciding how and if they want to contract with these organizations. This session will describe the value that effective partnerships can bring to both the Center for Independent Living and the managed care organization. Target Audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Knowledge Level: Experienced. - Erica Anderson is the Senior Director of the Disability Network Business Acumen Center at the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD). In that role, she manages the Business Acumen for Disability Organizations Resource Center. Prior to joining NASUAD, she worked at the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) where she was responsible for project management and research related to quality measure development for LTSS and person-driven care, and was instrumental in the recent release of the accreditation standards for LTSS.   L&A Hot Topic: The Disability Integration Act and ADA Notification General Track / Independence FGHI Today in Congress, the disability community faces both serious threats to our rights and opportunities to advance them. In Congress, the ADA is under attack. The ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620) would significantly undercut our rights by forcing Americans with disabilities to provide notice to businesses violating the ADA and delay our right to take legal action. At the same time, the bipartisan Disability Integration Act of 2017 (H.R. 2472 / S. 910) is gaining momentum. The DIA would ensure that Americans with disabilities are no longer denied their Constitutional rights to life and liberty by being forced into institutionalization. This workshop will provide up-to-the-minute information on these two pieces of legislation and give advocates the tools they need to effectively advocate on the Hill and organize at home. There will be time for Q&A, and the session is sure to get advocates pumped up for their Hill Visits! Come prepared to make some noise! Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all Audiences. - Dara Baldwin is the Senior Public Policy Analyst with the National Disability Rights Network and Vice Chair of NCIL’s L&A Committee. Previously, Dara has served as an ADA Compliance Specialist in the DC Government and a NCIL Policy Analyst. Ms. Baldwin worked on 12 bills that passed Congress and were signed into law by President Obama. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University. She received a 2009 and 2010 Presidential Citation Award for her work in the American Society for Public Administration. - Bruce Darling is co-founder and CEO of the Center for Disability Rights, a CIL in Rochester, NY. He also serves as CEO of the Regional CIL and All About You Home Care, a disability-led home care organization. He is Vice President of NCIL, Chair of the L&A Committee, and an organizer with ADAPT. He organized the efforts to craft and introduce the Disability Integration Act. He has a Master’s degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. - Steve Higgins is the Executive Director of Independence Associates, Inc., a CIL in East Bridgewater, MA. From 2006-2011 Steve served as the Coordinator for the Massachusetts SILC and as the Secretary for SILC Congress, prior to that working at CILs in MA for over 10 years. Steve is a NCIL Board member and Co-Chairs the ADA / Civil Rights Subcommittee. Introduction to the New Guidebook for SILC Members and Chairpersons / Administrators SILC Track / Lafayette and Farragut The SILC-NET national training and technical assistance project for SILCs offers this orientation to the newly published IL-NET guidebook for SILC members, chairpersons, and administrators. The guide is a resource for orienting and training new members; a quick reference to check duties, responsibilities, and authorities of the SILC; a summary of tips and strategies for managing a council and committees; suggestions for bylaws and procedures; a summary of Robert’s Rules of Order; ideas for the support of members and other collaborators; points to remember in the SPIL development process; and much more. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Paula McElwee is the Technical Assistance Coordinator for the IL-NET program at Independent Living Research Utilization. She moderates training calls monthly for new CIL Executive Directors and Program Managers and for SILCs. Her blog, ilnet-ta.org/wp, is a repository of questions and answers from CILs and SILCs. Paula was the first Director of Link, Inc. in Kansas beginning in 1979. She worked in the disability field in Kansas for 25 years, and was appointed by two governors to serve three terms on the SILC of Kansas. Paula has provided training, facilitation, and consultation with state associations, SILCs, and CILs throughout the country. - Ann McDaniel is the Executive Director of the West Virginia SILC with both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Ann has worked in Independent Living since 1985, eleven years at a CIL followed by her current position. She has helped develop seven SPILs and a few SPIL amendments and has served as a peer mentor to 8 other SILCs. Ann has provided national, state, and regional training on the history and philosophy of independent living, the roles and functions of SILCs, SPIL development, strategic planning, measuring consumer satisfaction, the legislative process, advocacy, parliamentary procedure, the Rehabilitation Act, and a variety of other disability and IL topics.   Concurrent Workshops II Wednesday, July 26, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Independent Living Revisited  International Track / Independence A This workshop will explore the original understanding of Independent Living, subsequent changes in understanding, and a shift in emphasis as caused by changing political, economic, and social environments from the perspectives of mainly the U.S. and Western Europe. We will look at concepts such self-determination, deinstitutionalization, mainstream education, disabled vs. old people, direct payments and market forces, and question "Nothing about us without us" as our motto. Dr. Adolf Ratzaka will be joined by Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago President & CEO Marca Bristo and International disability rights leader Judy Heumann (see page 22 for biography). Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Adolf Ratzka, Ph.D., is the Director of the Independent Living Institute, Sweden. He is the Founder of Stockholm Cooperative for Independent Living; Founding Chairperson of the European Network on Independent Living; Founding Director of the Independent Living Institute; and has lived, studied, and worked as a disabled person in Germany, the US, and Sweden. He has degrees in Sociology and Business Administration from UCLA and was a researcher at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm from 1981-1996. Creating Inclusive Career Pathways: Leveraging Partnerships Across Systems WIOA / Core Service Track / Independence BC  The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) increases requirements for workforce development systems to meet the needs of youth and adults with disabilities, increasing their access to workforce services and supporting people to achieve employment and economic self-sufficiency outcomes. This interactive session will offer promising practices and effective strategies for partnering with the workforce system and resources available to CILs to support improved employment outcomes. The session will highlight the LEAD Center’s toolkit, Promoting Employment and Economic Advancement: A Toolkit for CILs and AJCs, which was developed with NCIL, CILs in several states, and workforce partners to provide resources to both CILs and American Job Centers (AJCs). Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Jennifer Sheehy is the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). Previously, Jennifer spent ten years at the US Department of Education in many roles, including Director of Policy and Planning in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, acting Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, and acting Deputy Commissioner of RSA. - Bob Williams is Deputy Commissioner for the Administration on Disabilities, Administration for Community Living, and Director of the Independent Living Administration at HHS. Previously, Bob served as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner for Retirement and Disability Policy at the Social Security Administration; and served as Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities and then as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Disability, Aging and Long-term Care Policy at HHS. - Christopher Button is Supervisory Policy Advisor for ODEP, where she leads the Workforce Systems Policy Team. Chris leads cross-team activities in policy analysis, research, and program design and implementation to identify and develop policy direction, expand successful practices, and promote transformative systems change for the full inclusion and economic advancement for youth/adults with disabilities through competitive, integrated employment. - Rebecca Salon is Project Director of the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center). Rebecca is a recognized national leader in policy and program development with an emphasis on cutting edge demonstrations that promote employment and economic self- sufficiency for individuals with significant disabilities.   - Andy Arias is a Policy Advisor at ODEP on the Workforce Policy Team, focusing on WIOA implementation and systems change. He is member of many boards and commissions related to creating greater visibility and advancement for diverse communities, especially the disability and LGBTQI communities. He has worked to open doors both for youth with disabilities and into the entertainment industry to create greater media visibility of people with disabilities.   Independent Living Services in Local Jails General Track / Independence DE The Northern Regional Center for Independent Living (NRCIL) team will provide a presentation that will focus on both the administration and delivery of peer services in jail settings. Our Recovery Coaches will share how their experiences with substance abuse and incarceration brought them to NRCIL. Working together with leadership as a team, they will share their experiences and negotiations in setting those services up and how this can be done by other Centers for Independent Living across the country. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Karen Boliver, Associate Director has been employed at NRCIL for sixteen years. Karen provides guidance to staff working in two office locations in rural Lewis County. Karen provides oversight to five programs within the community, one of which is within the Lewis County Jail. Karen will share how this program began and how it has grown in the past three years to the current program of today. - Patricia O'Donnell works as a Recovery Coach and a SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) case manager at NRCIL. Trish is a trainer for Recovery Coach training through Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). Her experience with substance use disorder and incarceration led her to where she is today. After being incarcerated, she went back to school and obtained a dual associates degree in Human Services and Chemical Dependency. - Scott Danforth works as a Recovery Coach and a SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) case manager at NRCIL. His addiction to alcohol led him to experience jail and prison. He has selected to work with individuals with similar life experiences to intercept what can be a dangerous life path.   American Health Policy 101: Health Reform and Independent Living - Healthcare & LTSS Track / Independence FGHI This training workshop will: 1) introduce key terms and concepts in health policy discourse; 2) provide a brief overview of the evolution of the US health care system; 3) describe key components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on people with disabilities; 4) identify specific current Congressional proposals for healthcare reform; and 5) allow ample time for questions and discussion. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Jae Kennedy is a Professor and Department Chair at Washington State University, and heads the Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (CHRIL). - Lex Frieden is one of the original leaders of the Independent Living Movement and heads the Independent Living Research Unit (ILRU) at TIRR Memorial Hospital in Houston TX. He will serve as the moderator for this workshop. - Karl Cooper is an attorney with the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD), and directs the National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC). - Jean Hall is the director of the Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies at the University of Kansas and professor in the University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Health Policy and Management.   Thinking of Changing Your DSE? You Need to Hear This! SILC Track / Lafayette and Farragut Are you thinking of changing your Designated State Entity (DSE)? What should you consider? Several states have already done it. What problems came up – both anticipated and unanticipated? Learn from their experiences and share your own experience related to changing your DSE. Target Audience: Executive Directors and Board Members. Knowledge Level: Experienced. - Mike Bachhuber is the Executive Director of the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin. A recovering lawyer, he is the father of two adult children, a person with a psychiatric disability, and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Mike graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School with a J.D. and from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a B.A. - Kathy Hoell is the Executive Director (and previous member) of the Nebraska Statewide Independent Living Council (NESILC). Kathy graduated from University of Nebraska with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She is a volunteer at local CIL and with many other statewide disability organizations promoting IL Philosophy. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and is a Registered Nurse.   Concurrent Workshops III   Thursday, July 27, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.   What the World Needs Now: US and Global CIL Leaders Share Global IL Movement Perspective from International Exchange International Track / Independence A  The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has ushered in a new world of activism within the global disability community. Centers for Independent Living are emerging throughout the world! Come hear about the CILs and their impact in Japan, Nepal, and Costa Rica as told by CIL leaders! Each presenter comes from a different part of the U.S., visited a different country, and saw different cultures – all utilizing the same IL philosophy. Insights will be shared, lessons discussed, and unity sought in how we can all benefit and move forward with the Global IL Movement in the USA. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Marca Bristo is President & CEO of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago. As the former President of the NCIL, Bristo worked with the broader civil rights community on the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Bristo served as the Presidentially-appointed chairperson of the National Council on Disability from 1994-2002. She is the most recent emeritus President of the United States International Council on Disabilities. - Julie Espinoza is the Assistant Director of REACH of Plano CIL. Julie has been involved in the U.S. IL Movement since 1989 and the Global IL Movement since 2016. She is the NCIL Region 6 Representative and a member of the Texas SILC, ADAPT of Texas, and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. Julie has Rheumatoid Juvenile Arthritis and is a two-time cancer survivor. - Ms. Susan Sygall, who is a MacArthur Fellow, is an internationally-recognized expert in the area of international development, educational exchange and leadership programs for persons with disabilities. She is the CEO and co-founder of Mobility International USA (MIUSA), whose mission is to empower people with disabilities around the world to achieve their human rights through international exchange and international development. - Feliza Ali Ramoz is a social worker with a Master degree in Management and Attention to Persons with Disabilities. Disabled from a traffic accident in 1988, she has been an advocate on disability issues since then. She assisted the government of Bolivia to develop the first National Plan on Disability. In 2011 she was selected to study Independent Living at the Mainstream organization in Japan. Upon returning to Bolivia she started the association of people with physical disabilities in Sucre and is now helping to organize others in La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia. These organizations are developing opportunities for independent living which has included protests, rallies and advocacy to pass legislation to provide a disability allowance similar to SSI. The rallies have been met with significant government opposition and her leadership has been unwavering. - Wendy Barrantes Jimenez has been an activist for the rights of people with disabilities since 2012, when she along with other fellow disabled activists started the Morpho Center for Independent Living in Pérez Zeledón Costa Rica. She has worn many hats during the past five years, including lobbying, project planning, staff management, emotional and legal support for people with disabilities. Her contributions were crucial for passing the bill 17.305 “Law for the promotion of the autonomy of people with disabilities” in Costa Rica.   Parents in Youth Transition WIOA / Core Service Track / Independence BC This training workshop will focus on the parents of the youth we serve in the Fifth core service. Parents are a resource rarely acknowledged in the Youth IL movement. Learning objectives include how to engage parents as well as youth in CILs. Attendees will consider levels of involvement that parents exhibit in their child's independence, and how that can be both beneficial and problematic for advancing youth transition. Attendees will discuss ideas and solutions for "helicopter parents", as well as the benefits of parent peer support groups, how to balance IEPs for the first time, and how parents can encourage their child in self-determination and independence. We will also discuss how engaged parents can drastically change for the better the level of youth engagement in a Center. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Kings Floyd is the 2016-2017 Youth Transition Fellow at the National Council on Independent Living. She currently lives in DC and is focused on bringing youth led initiatives into the IL movement.   Aging with a Disability and Work Incentives: Maintaining Financial Well-being General Track / Independence DE Employment leads one out of poverty and improves living conditions. This applies to those people with disabilities at retirement age. Fear of losing essential healthcare and support services often discourages such individuals from working even when they desire to. This workshop will explore current program incentives and disincentives and stimulate advocacy, both state-wide and nationally, in ways that will help maintain financial well-being as one ages. Specifically, improvements to Medicaid Buy-in and related programs will be discussed – allowing retirement age individuals to continue working, as well as to retain earned savings once fully retired. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels.  - Sam Liss is the former Chair of the Vermont SILC; Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Vermont CIL; Vice-Chair of the Vermont State Rehabilitation Council; member of the Governor's Committee on Employment for Persons with Disabilities; and acting Co-Chair of the NCIL Employment and Social Security Subcommittee. Sam specializes in advocacy to eliminate barriers to employment for people with disabilities. He has many years of experience on the state and national levels, beginning in Connecticut in the 1990's as a member of Independence Northwest and its advocacy arm, Northwest Advocates for Disability Rights.   What’s Next for Money Follows Person and Transition Services in States Developing Managed Long Term Services and Supports Programs Healthcare & LTSS Track / Independence FGHI Currently 43 states rely on Money Follows Person (MFP) programs throughout the U.S. to support access to home and community-based services (HCBS) for individuals transitioning from institutions to the community. As funding for MFP ends in 2017 for some states and is timed out for others, identifying new partnerships to continue these important transitioning services will be imperative. Join us in a conversation about the next phase of transition supports in an evolving services environment. Explore how Centers for Independent Living and managed care organizations can partner to deliver these important transition support and services and improve outcomes for individuals. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Ken Smith joined UnitedHealthcare in September 2015 as the CEO of Long Term Services & Supports and Dual Eligibles. Before UnitedHealthcare, Mr. Smith worked at the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services, four years as the assistant commissioner and chief of staff at the Department of Developmental Services, and six years at the Office of LTSS with the last four years as the director of this division of Medicaid. Previously, Mr. Smith also has experience as a home health administrator and nursing home administrator. Empowering Youth to Succeed: Succeeding at the Fifth Core!   Youth Track / Lafayette and Farragut This workshop will address how the District of Columbia Center for Independent Living, Inc. (DCCIL) started their youth transition services in 2013 and how the CIL collaborated with the DC Public Schools / DC Charter School System and The Designated State Entity (DSE) to implement the fifth core service (Transition) for Centers for Independent Living and fulfill RSA’s transition obligations under the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014. We will review the challenges faced by our staffs as well as some of the success enjoyed. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Amber Keohane graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Edinboro University. Growing up in Texas, Amber was the first in her district to be mainstreamed in a wheelchair. She stood up all her life for the rights of people with disabilities. After college she moved to Washington, DC to work for the DC CIL as an Independent Living Specialist. She leads the Youth Transition Team to offer transition services to students and young adults with disabilities. - Shileta Gorham was born with Cerebral Palsy and received her Associate’s degree in Business Administration in 2010. Shileta is a young adult who is determined and ambitious in her goal to obtain independence. Shileta is an Independent Living Specialist Assistant at DC CIL and a member of the DC SILC. It was here that she gained a passion for advocacy. Shileta currently attends Trinity Washington University and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. - Heyab Berhan was born with Cerebral Palsy and has a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He now works at the DC CIL as a Youth Transition Team Member and serves as a member of the DC SILC and the University Legal Services Assistive Technology Advisory Committee. Heyab is currently a student at George Washington University studying Rehabilitation Counseling. - Christopher Nace is currently the Interim Director of Secondary Transition for DC Public Schools. He has worked in education for the 8 eight years and holds two Bachelor’s degrees, in Education Policy and in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University (GMU). He also holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from GMU and a Master’s degree in Secondary Special Education and Transition Services from George Washington University. - Willina Robson is a Project Manager with the DC Department on Disability Services / RSA. Willina coordinates the provision of pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities in DC Public Schools and Public Charter Schools, including developing and maintaining Memoranda of Agreement with partner agencies, and being the administrations primary point of contact with the State Education Agency and Local Education Agencies.   Concurrent Workshops IV   Thursday, July 27, 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.   An International Collaboration between Ability360 (An Arizona CIL) and MERCI, Madagascar’s Consumer-Directed Disability Program: Experiences, Challenges, and Lessons Learned from International Professional Development Exchanges International Track / Independence A  One year ago, Ability360, the CIL in Phoenix and Madagascar Education and Resource Center Initiated for all People with Disabilities (M.E.R.C.I), an organization serving individuals with disabilities in Antananarivo, Madagascar, began a collaboration that would prove to be not only a valuable exchange of program best practices, and culture, but a paradigm shift for all involved. Representative from Ability360 and M.E.R.C.I. will share their journey, how other Centers can replicate this exchange, and the work that led to the creation of the first peer support program in Madagascar. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - April Reed is Volunteer Program Manager at Ability360 (formerly Arizona Bridge to Independent Living). She coordinates the Ability360 Peer Mentor and General Administrative Volunteer programs, which includes recruiting, training, and matching mentors with consumers working on independent living goals. April has facilitated multiple IL-NET online classes and on-location trainings on volunteer peer mentoring program development. - Holiniaina Rakotoarisoa is from Madagascar. Holiniaina has had blindness since childhood. She is the Executive Director / Founder of the NGO M.E.R.C.I., which works for the promotion of rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. She is Vice-President of the national network of women with disability in Madagascar (RNFH/Mada). Holiniaina manages the Local Inclusive Development Project and the CBR program. She is the train-the-trainer in Inclusive Education and the UN-CRPD. Holiniaina holds a Master’s degree in English from the University of Antananarivo.   Peer Support Works: The Paper Proof General Track / Independence BC  This workshop will highlight Gina’s journey from long-term institutionalization to full time work as a Certified Peer Specialist. We will briefly explore the history of Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Billable Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Services and the data that demonstrates its mutual benefits. Through valid survey results, Gina will highlight how Peer Support has benefited people participating in the services, Certified Peer Specialists, the Behavioral Health system, and the greater community. We will also review lessons learned and next steps for continued growth of peer support services across the human service delivery system. Target Audience: Frontline Staff and Consumers. Knowledge Level: Experienced. - Gina Calhoun works for the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery. After 17 years of back-to-back institutionalization, Gina credits her journey forward in life to relationships that chose to focus on What's Strong Not What's Wrong and to meaningful employment. Gina often says, "I didn't get well and go to work. Work was my pathway toward wellness." Gina was the keynote speaker at the National Olmstead Policy Academy; the Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s All Staff Meeting and for the University of Tokyo’s Mental Health Convention.   Get Out of Town! IL Services in Rural Areas General Track / Independence DE  Access to places and people can be a challenge no matter where you live, but there are exceptional challenges when you live in a “rustic” setting. Working, visiting relatives, getting groceries, seeking fitness facilities or social opportunities, and getting to / from medical appointments require more time and effort when you live miles away from a centralized hub of activity. Do you know where there are consumers in your service area who live in neighborhoods without sidewalks, store fronts, and bus service? Per Census population statistics, the U.S. is at about an 80%-20% split between urban and rural residents, respectively. Come to this session to determine if your core service delivery is inclusive of consumers in the 20% of those living outside the nation’s cities. Target Audience: Frontline Staff and Consumers. Knowledge Level: Newcomer. - Nan Sninsky has three years of experience in TRIPIL’s Core Services delivery first as an ILS Specialist and Employment Network Manager and, now as Chief Administrative Officer. Prior to her work in the CIL, Nan was a manager in Pennsylvania’s one-stop employment system where she spent ten years supporting people of all abilities in meeting their employment goals. She also has experience and some training in ADA accessibility matters as well as in creating and conducting presentations. - Brenda Dare has worked in the IL field for more than twenty years providing all five Core Services. She grew up in a rural area and has lived and worked in both rural and urban settings. She is currently the IL Supervisor at Tri-County Patriots to Independent Living. How Disability Advocates and the National MLTSS Health Plan Association Can Work Together to Advance Community Integration Healthcare & LTSS Track / Independence FGHI This workshop will feature a round table discussion between disability advocates and members of the National MLTSS (Managed Long Term Services and Supports) Health Plan Association about shared policy goals and how we can work together to achieve them. Participants will leave with information to leverage synergies and work with MLTSS plans to achieve shared goals. Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences. Knowledge Level: Experienced. - Merrill Friedman leads the Disability Policy Engagement team and advocacy strategy for Anthem. Previously, Ms. Friedman was interim director at a nonprofit foster care agency serving at-risk children. She also served as president and CEO of a private organization that owned and operated residential treatment facilities, group homes, and home and community based services in several states for adolescents with a variety of disabilities. Ms. Friedman was appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and serves on the board of the Long-Term Quality Alliance, the National MLTSS Association and Family Voices.  - Lisa Hayes is the Associate Vice President of MLTSS for Molina. She has twenty years’ experience working in healthcare operations and contracting; seven of those as Director of Disability and Senior Access services where she focused on helping Molina shape its healthcare delivery system to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities moving into more coordinated systems of care. Lisa serves as an appointed commissioner of the California SILC and serves on NCIL’s Healthcare / PAS Subcommittee. - Sarah Triano is the national manager of LTSS Product Innovation and Development for Centene. Previously, Triano served in California Governor Jerry Brown’s administration as a disability policy advisor to the Secretaries of Health Care Services and Labor, was the Program Director at Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, and the Executive Director of the Silicon Valley ILC.   Youth-Led Intersectional Organizing   Youth Track / Lafayette and Farragut During this workshop, young people will learn about strategies, terminology, and tools to organize around policies and practices related to disability. Movements are often fueled through the efforts of young people. This session will equip Generation ADA on the process of organizing, both through intellect labor and direct action strategies, so they can more fully participate in the revolution of the Independent Living Movement. This workshop will also utilize a framework of intersectionality so that young people with disabilities from all backgrounds are intentionally included in our Movement’s organizing efforts. Target Audience: Frontline Staff and Consumers. Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels. - Keri Gray, Intersectionality and Youth Programming Artist, works with young professionals on a local and national scale to broaden their experience and knowledge bases as transferable skills. Gray also increases the productivity of organizations and businesses by consulting with them on how to utilize the strengths of the millennial generation. All of Gray’s consulting is constructed through a framework of intersectionality. She actively influences systematic change by re-constructing organizational programming and practices so that they are inclusive of individuals with multiple marginalized identities. She has worked with multiple national disability organizations, student organizations, and grassroots and national Black organizations. Concurrent Workshops V   Thursday, July 27, 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.   Independent Living in the WORLD International Track / Independence A Representatives from Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam will present on the Independent Living Movement in their respective countries. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Muzi Patrick Nkosi is from Gauteng province and became disabled in 1981. Currently, Muzi is the CEO of ParaQua Dynamics and Chairperson of the Self Help Association of Paraplegics (SHAP). Muzi is a Council member of Disabled People International (DPI) and represents the disability sector on the South African National Aids Council. Muzi will be joined by Ney Lin Sou (Myanmar); Abner (Philippines); and Hong Ha (Viet Nam).   "There's No Place Like Home" What To Do When the Yellow Brick Road Has Bumps Along the Way WIOA / Core Service Track / Independence BC  Presenters will demonstrate how a rural CIL has used their diverse skills and multi-tiered approach to transition over 150 individuals annually from nursing facilities into the community. Participants will learn strategies to empower consumers with the tools needed to successfully transition and remain in the community. Focus will be on best practices with setting up Personal Assistant Services (PAS), providing assistance with home modifications, overcoming family resistance, focusing on a high level of quality assurance and maximizing consumer satisfaction. Target Audience: Frontline Staff and Consumers. Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels. - Andrea Costello is the Chief Administrative Officer with TRI-County Patriots for Independent Living (TRIPIL) located in Washington, PA. In her role at TRIPIL, she leads a team of professionals who provide support to consumers in all aspects of home and community based services. These services include agency and consumer delegated personal assistance services, nursing home transition services, and home modifications to over 750 consumers in Southwest, PA. She has more than 15 years’ experience working in home and community based programs. - Brenda Dare is the Independent Living Specialist Supervisor for TRIPIL. Brenda has worked in the Independent Living movement for over 20 years. She is a person with multiple disabilities who is dedicated to helping others with disabilities to empower one another. Currently, Brenda leads an expert team of Independent Living Specialists at TRI-County Patriots who assist over 750 consumers in Southwest PA.   We Need to Talk About Violence Against Our Disabled Community General Track / Independence DE This workshop will explore violence against people with disabilities, and what CILs and disability activists can do about it. First, we will explore violence by careworkers and intimate partners against the disabled community. Then we will consider police violence as a disability issue that our community must mobilize against. Finally, we will discuss how violence is currently framed in the media - and what we can do about it. Together, as a group, we will explore program measures that can provide support to those reporting domestic violence; disability community responses to police violence; and media interventions. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Stephanie Hydal is a Program Manager at the Westside CIL, participates in Disbeat, and is active in the Mad Rights community and Southern Californians Against Forced Treatment. In addition to her long-term work in the Independent Living community, she is also an Independent Audio Producer and makes stories to advance community activism. - Anastasia Bacigalupo is the Executive Director of Westside CIL. She has 13 years of experience advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities while working at Disability Rights California and the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. She worked in domestic violence shelters as a counselor and advised victims / survivors of violence on family law and immigration law under the Violence Against Women Act as a legal advocate. - Lawrence Carter-Long's unique blend of the arts, media & public policy has been recognized by such diverse entities as former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the American Association of People with Disabilities. He was a co-host / producer on non-commercial, listener-supported WBAI-FM's LARGEST MINORITY RADIO SHOW in NYC from 2006-2010.   HAIL: Empowering CIL Consumers to Manage Their Health Healthcare & LTSS Track / Independence FGHI As baby boomers age, we are becoming more and more aware that good health is important to independent living! This workshop will describe an evidence-based program, Health Access to Independent Living (HAIL), which was developed with consultation with CILs, to assist CIL direct service staff to more easily empower consumers to manage their health. Currently focused on those with mobility impairments but useful to those with other disabilities, HAIL features a) a health resource database, b) fact sheets on the secondary health conditions of pain, fatigue, and depression, c) fact sheets on six health-related consumer skills, and d) a simple process to set and track health-related goals of the consumer's choice (e.g., beginning or increasing exercise, cutting back on pop, making the most of medical appointments). Presenters will provide results from trials at two CILs, demonstrate the database, provide copies of the fact sheets, and solicit feedback on this program that is still in development. Target Audience and Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all audiences and knowledge levels. - Dot Nary is an Assistant Research Professor at the Research and Training Center on Independent Living, University of Kansas. She is a wheelchair user who has found the Independent Living Movement to be life-changing. She obtained her doctorate in order to contribute to the knowledge base about Independent Living, and health promotion for people with disabilities. Dot is especially interested in finding evidence-based ways for people with disabilities to promote their own health. - Audrey Schremmer has served as the Executive Director of Three Rivers, Inc., a CIL in northeast Kansas since 1998. She is very knowledgeable of and involved in healthcare delivery, and served on the Kansas Managed Care Advisory Committee as the state moved toward a managed care system that included long term care services. Audrey provides training regularly on self-direction with a special focus on helping individuals to develop personalized training manuals, including personnel policies so that they can effectively hire, train, and direct their personal care attendants.   Building Sexy Relationships: Activities to Get it Done Youth Track / Lafayette and Farragut “Ask the young. They know everything.” - Joseph Joubert   This Youth Track Workshop places focus on young adults with various disabilities and how we, as professionals within the IL Movement, can assist them in honing their communication skills, self-awareness, and individuality to make decisions that impact their personal relationships. We will discuss the benefits of having a peer mentoring to assist a CIL in a program that could include taboo topics that young people need. Some of APRIL’s Peer-to-Peer Mentors will facilitate an interactive workshop session based on an updated sexuality curriculum that utilizes hands-on skill building activities to assist other professionals on what “most used practices” work when discussing dating, relationships, sexuality, and decision-making according to young adults themselves. Target Audience: Frontline Staff and Consumers. Knowledge Level: Appropriate for all knowledge levels. - Rachel Kaplan is the Diabetes Prevention Coordinator for the Diabetes Advisory Council of South Carolina (DAC) and employed by Eat Smart, Move More SC. She is incredibly excited about this new opportunity and creating a strong and sustainable program across South Carolina for prevention and education on type II diabetes. Prior to this position, Rachel was the Youth Transitions Coordinator at Able South Carolina where she oversaw and built statewide programming for young adults with disabilities. - Sierra Royster works at the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) as the Youth Programs Coordinator. She works to create bridges nationally for gaps in the disability community, develop training tools, facilitate creation of programs that will assist youth and young adults with disabilities to be included not only in their local community, but to the disability community at large. Sierra, with her experience as a person with a systemic disability and education in Recreational Therapy has worked with people of all ages and abilities. Previously to this position she worked in a Center for Independent Living facilitating school and community based programs to assist the transition process from youth to young adults. - Dustin Gibson is a community builder that centers his identity as a Black man with bipolar disorder in his work. During his time as Director of Independent Living Services at Three Rivers CIL in Pittsburgh, he developed programming that gave platform to the visceral experiences of people with disabilities and created technology access curriculum. As director, he expanded youth transitioning services to include districts that historically lacked support. Through the Rural Institute of Montana and APRIL, he serves as an adviser to the Healthy Community Living Skills project. Currently, he Chairs NCIL’s Diversity Committee. Keynote Speakers   Judy Heumann Judy Heumann needs no introduction in the Independent Living Movement. She is a co-founder of the National Council on Independent Living, World Institute on Disability, and Disabled in Action. Judy has devoted her personal and professional life to advancing the rights of people with disabilities across the globe. Most recently, as Special Advisor on International Disability Rights at the US State Department, Judy traveled the world to foster relationships and leadership with people with disabilities discovering the Independent Living and disability rights Movements – and to share the power of disability pride with those who had not yet encountered it. Previously, Judy served as Director of the DC Department of Disability Services, Advisor of Disability and Development for the World Bank, Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), and Deputy Director of CIL Berkeley. Judy is a graduate of Long Island University and has a Master’s degree from UC Berkeley. Bob Williams Bob Williams joined the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in January 2016 to serve in the dual roles of Deputy Commissioner of the Administration on Disabilities and Director of the Independent Living Administration. Active in disability rights since high school, Williams came to Washington, DC to go college and has lived and worked here for over three decades. Formerly, he was the Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner for Retirement and Disability Policy at the Social Security Administration and a key leader of several interagency initiatives to create greater opportunities in career paths, employment, and economic mobility for people with significant disabilities. In earlier roles, Williams headed SSA’s Office of Employment Support Programs and has advised the Kaiser Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund, and other organizations on policy issues affecting the health, independence and economic well-being of people of all ages with disabilities. He also served as the Commissioner on Developmental Disabilities and then as the deputy assistant secretary for disability, aging and long-term care policy at HHS. He also helped gain the passage of the ADA and to create community living services and supports to children and adults once consigned to Forest Haven, DC’s institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What to Bring - 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; - an umbrella to shield sun and rain; - attire appropriate for both very hot and chilly temperatures; and - any medications or assistive devices you may need during strenuous activity.   Map of Independence Level (5B) Restrooms All restrooms on Independence Level (5B) will be gender neutral for the duration of the conference.   Rules of Conduct for Annual Meetings To ensure fair and orderly meetings that allow all council members to participate, NCIL uses Robert’s Rules of Order for the conduct of annual meetings to the greatest extent possible. However, NCIL feels that under no circumstances should "undue strictness" be allowed to intimidate members or limit full participation. The conduct of ALL business is controlled by the general will of the whole membership, with the right of the majority to decide. The following is a quick reference to the rules of order: Anyone may obtain the floor (the right to speak) by being the first to stand or raise your hand or indicate in some way that you wish to speak, and wait to be recognized by the Board President before speaking. A member may make a motion at any time after they have been recognized to speak. All motions must be seconded. Debate cannot begin until the President has restated the motion and asked if there is discussion on the motion. Rules of order that members can invoke at any time during the meeting, including during discussion of a motion: - Point of Privilege: Pertains to noise, personal comfort, etc. - may interrupt only if necessary, does not require a second or a vote - Point of Information: Generally applies to information desired from the speaker: "I should like to ask (the speaker) a question." - does not require a second or a vote - Point of Order: Infraction of the rules, or improper decorum in speaking. Must be raised immediately after the error is made, does not require a second or a vote - Any questions regarding correctness of procedure will be referred to the independent parliamentarian secured by NCIL for that purpose.   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. Quiet Room / Sensory Retreat The McPherson room will be available throughout the conference as a quiet room / sensory retreat. This room is reserved for individuals that need a break from overstimulation and / or the large group environment of the Conference. Please help us maintain this accommodation. Please do not use this space to hold conversations or meetings. Local Service Providers: Wheelchair and Scooter Rental and Repair 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. ZASK Medical Supply - Alexandria, VA - Phone: 703-354-1266 - Email: info@zaskmedical.com ScootAround Rentals only. Delivery available. - Web: www.scootaround.com - Phone: 1-888-441-7575 Express Mobility Services - Contact: Jabessa Daba (703-346-8796) - Website: expressmobilityservices.com Scooterplus / Lenox Medical Supply Rentals only. Delivery available. - Web: www.lenoxmedicalsupply.com - Phone: 1-866 474-4356 or 202-387-1960   Local Service Providers: Personal Assistant Services NCIL’s Personal Assistants will be available during Conference hours only. Use the information below to arrange your own personal assistant service during non-conference hours. 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 Van Parking  The maximum vehicle height for the garage at the Grand Hyatt is 6’ 6”. Taller vehicles (up to 8’ 2”) may park in the City Center complex, directly across the street from the Grand Hyatt. City Center offers an overnight parking rate of $24 / night, which is actually quite competitive for downtown DC. Auxiliary Aids & Services Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART), 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.   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 Onsite Registration Please note that rates are per person and include materials, workshops, and Awards Luncheon. - NCIL Member: $305 - Non-Member: $430 - Youth (26 or younger): $110 - 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. 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.   Sponsors Soldier for Justice: - Anthem - Centene Champion: - Verizon - United Healthcare - Uber Revolutionary: - Waymo - Ability360 - Walmart Activist: - IndependenceFirst - Center for Disability Rights - Pride Mobility - National Disability Institute / The LEAD Center - Molina Healthcare - Institute for Educational Leadership Catalyst: - Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann - Microsoft - Youth Transitions Collaborative: Jointly funded by The HSC Foundation and the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation - Disability Power & Pride NCIL also thanks the following donors: Shepherd Center; the American Association for Homecare; AAPD; and Yoshiko Dart.   Advocate’s Guide to the Hill Each year, the highlight of the NCIL Annual Conference is the convergence of members from across the nation, who unite on Capitol Hill to share stories of discrimination, institutionalization and segregation with their Senators and Representatives. Our message is loud and clear: Independent Living is a civil right we are willing to fight for!   March & Rally Tuesday, July 25, 2017 has been set aside for NCIL’s March and Rally on Capitol Hill. We will be lining up outside of the Grand Hyatt Hotel along 11th & G Streets NW at 9:30 a.m. for the March. Participants will be divided up into their respective regions where signs will be distributed by state. We will begin marching at 10:00 a.m. sharp. The March route is a little over one mile long. We have an area designated on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building, near Constitution Avenue and First Street NW (see page 33 for map or page 32 for directions). The Rally will begin at 11:30 a.m. Please feel free to join the Rally even if you are not able to participate in the March. Lunch will be provided to conference registrants.  The March and Rally will occur rain or shine so it is important to dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared to spend most of your day outdoors on Capitol Hill. Be sure your chair is fully charged, and you have enough medications, supplies, snacks, and drinks to get you through the day. As we learned in years past, it is imperative that people who use power wheelchairs or electric scooters bring plastic bags to protect batteries and controls in case of rain. After the Rally, NCIL members are strongly encouraged to go and meet with their elected officials to discuss pressing legislation impacting people with disabilities and Independent Living nationwide.   About Your Visit to Capitol Hill Security Notice: In order to meet with your elected official, you will have to pass through a security screening in all House and Senate office buildings. You are encouraged to bring photo ID with you on your Capitol Hill visit. All bags are subject to thorough search and security screening. If you have any of the following items with you on your visit to Capitol Hill, you may not be allowed to visit your representative. Prohibited items include: - Mace and pepper spray - Any sharp or pointed object - Knives of any size, including pocket knives - Cans and bottles - Any bag larger than 14" wide x 13" high x 4" deep (per security discretion) - Weapons of any kind - Non-aerosol spray - Aerosol containers This is an abbreviated list. If in doubt, leave it at the hotel! Tunnels: Both the Senate and the House Office Buildings are connected by a series of underground tunnels. Once you pass through security to either the Senate or the House Office Buildings, you can move about freely between buildings of that office without having to repeatedly go through security. The interconnecting tunnels can be found in the basements of both the Senate and House Office Buildings.   Hill Cafeterias Have some down time in between appointments once you are in the House or Senate Office Buildings? Both offer a number of places to have everything from a quick snack, to a full meal. For more specific information on directions to tunnels, eateries, or to your representatives’ office, feel free to ask Hill staff or security. Senate Office Buildings: - Russell Basement: Coffee and Sandwich Shop - Dirksen Basement: Full Cafeteria - Your best bet on the Hill! House Office Buildings: - Longworth Basement: Cafeteria - Rayburn Basement: Coffee and Sandwich Shop There is also a cafeteria located inside the U.S. Capitol Building.   Services on Hill Visits 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, July 25. The following email contact is provided by the Capitol Visitor Center: Interpreters@saa.senate.gov.   Directories of the 115th Congress: 1st Session   Directory of the Senate To contact your Senator, use the following directory: www.senate.gov/senators/contact. Senators are listed alphabetically with their phone numbers, email addresses, and office locations available. You may also find information by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Your Senator’s office will be in one of three “Senate Office Buildings” or SOB. They are Dirksen, Hart, and Russell. The room number of your Senator coincides with the floor his or her office is on. If your Senator is located in Hart 302, that office is on the 3rd floor; Dirksen 439, is on the 4th floor; Russell 238 is on the 2nd floor. Directory of the House of Representatives To contact your Representative, use the following directory: www.house.gov/representatives. Representatives are listed alphabetically with their phone numbers, email addresses, and office locations available. You may also find information by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121.  Your Representative’s office will be in one of three “House Office Buildings” or HOB. They are Cannon (CHOB), Longworth (LHOB), and Rayburn (RHOB). The room number of your representative coincides with the floor his or her office is on. If your representative is located in Cannon 328, that office is on the 3rd floor. If the office number is more than three digits, disregard the first number and the second number represents the floor your representative’s office is located on. For example, an office listed as Rayburn 2439, is on the 4th floor; Longworth 1721 is on the 7th floor. Additional Resources For more help with planning your visit to the Capitol please visit the Capitol Visitor Center's website: www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/visitors-disabilities Do-It-Yourself Sign Kits Complimentary Do-It-Yourself Sign Kits will be available on the conference floor the afternoon of Monday, July 24. Please use this kit to create your signs for the March and Rally. This is your opportunity to speak truth to power! Feel free to be creative. Some examples include: - Medicaid Saves Lives #SaveMedicaid #NoCutsNoCaps - Disability Integration Act Now - Free Our People / Institutionalization Is No Way to Live - Disability Rights Are Civil Rights #NCIL2017 - Don’t Roll Back Our Rights! - ADA: Making the Dream Live for ALL (Lead On) #ADA27 - Nothing About Us Without Us - Full Community Integration Now - Employment = Empowerment - Equality Now! America for All - Down with Nursing Home Lobby Pigs - I Escaped a Nursing Home - We Demand Freedom - Justice Delayed is Justice Denied - Our Homes Not Nursing Homes! #freeourpeople - ADA: I Am Equal Too - Civil Rights Are Not Special Needs - The Future is Accessible - Access is a Civil Right - Cure Ableism #checkyourpriviledge - Disability Power! #DisabilityPride - I Am A Pre-Existing Condition - Disabled People Vote #CriptheVote   March Route Directions from the Grand Hyatt Hotel (1000 H Street NW / Washington, DC 20001) to NCIL Rally Site (West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building) - From the Grand Hyatt (1000 H Street NW), Head East on H Street NW toward 10th Street NW (118 feet) - Turn right onto 10th Street NW (0.4 miles) - Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue NW (0.5 miles) - Continue onto Constitution Avenue NW (0.2 miles) - At Constitution Avenue NW & 1st Street NW, turn right onto 1st Street. - Proceed 100 feet on 1st Street – Rally should be to your right. Directions from Rally Site Back to Grand Hyatt - From Constitution Avenue NW & 1st Street NW, head west on Constitution Avenue NW toward Louisiana Avenue NW (0.3 mi) - Continue straight onto Pennsylvania Avenue NW (0.4 mi) - Turn right onto 10th Street NW (0.4 mi) - Turn left onto H Street NW - Destination will be on the left   Accessible Entrances - Capitol Building: Public tours enter through the Capitol Visitor Center; Official House business enters on the south side of the Capitol; Official Senate business enters on the north side of the Capitol. - Capitol Visitor Center (CVC): Main entrance at First and East Capitol streets. The CVC also offers an on-demand shuttle and other services. - Cannon House Office Building: Entrance on New Jersey Avenue, SE, south of the terrace at the intersection with Independence Avenue. - Dirksen Senate Office Building: First and C Street entrance. - Ford House Office Building: Entrance on 3rd Street, SW or 2nd Street, SW. - Hart Senate Office Building: Second Street entrance or Constitution Avenue entrance. - Longworth House Office Building: Main entrance, Independence and New Jersey Avenues. Or the South Capitol Street entrance. - O'Neill House Office Building: C Street SW between 2nd and 3rd Streets.   NCIL Rally Site NCIL Rally Site: West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building Hashtags Together, we can create a strong presence on social media, so that the work we do during the Annual Conference on Independent Living reaches far and wide. - #NCIL2017 - #ILRevolution When you post to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, just add the hashtag at the end of your post. Then, click the hashtag to see what others are posting about. Please caption any photos you post if possible, so they are accessible to the entire community. Ads Uber Uber half page ad. Uber Logo. A man assists another man, who is using a wheelchair. Uber is proud to sponsor the 2017 Annual Conference on Independent Living, and we look forward to continuing to bring wheelchair-accessible vehicle options to even more cities around the country. Diversity Partners Diversity Partners half page ad. Bridging the gap. You are the bridge! Employment service professionals improve employment opportunities for jobseekers with disabilities by creating a culture of excellence and leveraging business relationships. Diversity Partners Program offers the following services: - Online training and resources to help organizational leaders build employer partnerships and conduct agency level planning - Online tools and resources for frontline staff on over 20 topics related to disability and employment, business relationships, and policy initiatives - On-demand technical assistance for employment service professionals For more information or to request technical assistance and training, please email us at info@buildingdiversitypartners.org or call us at 1-888-296-3202 www.BuildingDiversityPartners.org Diversity Partners Logo This project was developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DP006501). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The content of this website does not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Votec  Votec half page ad. Votec Voter Kiosk - Designed For All. DRG Logo. HELP design the next accessible voting system! "Your input is vital, be a part of history!" - Doug Towne. Image: Two men shaking hands - Douglas Towne, Chairman, Disability Relations Group (left) & John Medcalfe, Chief Executive Officer, VOTEC (right). www.votecdesignedforall.com MissionBox MissionBox half page ad. Image: A man smiles and holds up a red puzzle piece. Benefits of Joining the FREE MissionBox Nonprofit Network - A worldwide mission-focused, nonprofit allies network - A one-stop resource for over 600 "gold" knowledge nonprofit operations articles - Access to information about your Business Community - without solicitation - SEO visibility across the internet for your mission - Exclusive access to MissionBox Philanthropic Fund grants - Free research on any nonprofit topic MissionBox Logo: Your global network of nonprofit power Centene Centene full page ad. Image features NCIL members marching toward the US Capitol. Centene Corporation. Proud sponsor of Revolution: A Global Independent Living Movement - Annual Conference on Independent Living 2017. University of Toledo University of Toledo quarter page ad. Image features the Justin Dart puppet, the Road to Freedom Bus, and seven people posing for a photo. A banner reads "Justice for All - Justin Dart: One pioneer among many..." Text: The UT Disability Studies Program: designed by activists, for activists. Why Disability Studies at the University of Toledo? - Course work (arrow) real world impact on people with disabilities - Exemplary, full-time faculty members - Disability experience is an asset Accelerated programs, including: 3-year degree completion 4+1 program (completion of BA and MBA in 5 years) Learn more: - utoledo.edu/programs/undergrad/Disability-Studies - DisabilityStudiesProgram@utoledo.edu - 419.530.7245 UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare half page ad. Image features three women of different ages embracing and smiling. Icon: the palm of a hand with a heart in the middle. UnitedHealthcare. We are proud to partner with the National Council on Independent Living to help build healthy, inclusive communities for all. UnitedHealthcare logo: Community and State. RTC on Promoting Interventions for Community Living The RTC on Promoting Interventions for Community Living Joins NCIL in the Global IL Revolution! We're exploring the best ways or people with disabilities to modify their home environments and enhance their personal skills in order to increase their community participation. Our researchers are building on two evidence-based interventions to make them even more effective. We'll collaborate with CILs and consumers to test these strategies: - Home Usability - Participation begins at home. In this project, people with disabilities work with their local CIL and other community resources to self-assess and improve the usability of their homes. - Out and About - People with disabilities learn a variety of ways to set goals, overcome barriers, and build social networks so they can participate more fully in their communities. Images: A woman who uses a wheelchair reads to a child in bed; People with disabilities march down a street; A man holds a white can and smiles at the camera; Three people take a selfie. Logo: KU Research and Training Center on Independent Living - Life Span Institute Logo: RTC:Rural - Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities The Research and Training Center on Promoting Interventions for Community Living (RTC/PICL) is a project of the Universities of Kansas and Montana. Contact: RTC/IL at the University of Kansas 1000 Sunnydale Ave., 4089 Dole Lawrence, KS 66045-7561 785-864-4095 TTY 785-864-0706 rtcil@ku.edu www.rtcil.org Ability360 Ability360 half page ad. We are proud to be a part of the REVOLUTION. Ability360: Advocacy, Independence, Equality. Ability360 Logo: a circular arrow. Image features a word cloud that includes the words: housing, benefits, sports, livability, recreation, school, personal, fitness, coaching, living well, etc. IndependenceFirst IndependenceFirst quarter page ad. IndependenceFirst Mobility Store: quality devices, affordable prices. Image: a man using a scooter. Stay active and independent. Large selection of new and refurbished durable medical equipment that costs 70% below retail prices: - manual and power wheelchairs - walkers and Rollators - bath equipment and much more - financing options are available Latest products and sale items: ifmobility.org Locations: 3720 N. 124th St., Unit F, Wauwatosa, WI - 1-844-686-4667 2554 Advance Road, Madison, WI 1-844-313-5511 MILP MILP half page ad. What is MILP? Montana Independent Living Project is a not-for-profit agency providing services that promote independence for people living with disabilities. MILP serves 14 counties in SW Montana. Call not to see what we can do for you. Toll free number: 1-800-735-6457. www.milp.us. Like us on Facebook. SCIL SCIL: Service Center for Independent Life. Cards with a Special Touch combines tactile Brailling technology and graphics to create greeting cards for the sighted as well as the blind and visually impaired. Image: cards that say "happy birthday", "To my friend...", and to the one I love..." We also provide other related services such as: - Transcribing documents into Braille - Converting documents into audio - Creating Braille menus, brochures, and pamphlets Cards with a Special Touch is a program of Service Center for independent Life. cardswithaspecialtouch.org 909-621-6722 scil-ilc.org SCIL Logo features universal symbol of accessibility Anthem Anthem full page ad. Image: A woman using a manual wheelchair and a young child smile at each other while embracing. Our community is stronger when we all participate. Proud to be a supporting sponsor - 2017 NCIL Annual Conference. Anthem Logo.