The Alliance News. Vision. Mission

Transcription

1 The Alliance News Issue 47 August 2015 In This Issue Board of Directors Page 2 Annual Rally Rewind Pages 3-4 Learning & Advocacy Page 5 Opportunity Advocacy Opportunities Page 6 8 Advocacy Opportunities Page 9 Vision Our vision is for self-advocates to work together to get the support we need to live the life we want in the community. Mission Our mission is to speak up for ourselves and each other while working together to make changes in our communities and in Illinois. The Alliance is proud to be an Initiative of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities As part of the Operation: Community Access campaign plan, a position paper will be written and your input is needed! We are asking self-advocates in Illinois to finish this sentence: Instead of staying at the workshop all day, I would rather What would YOU rather be doing? We want to know! Tara Wickey, the Alliance s Community Organizer at tara.advocacy@gmail.com by Friday, August 28, 2015 and let her know how you finished the sentence! Your voice and your words are important, and we want to include them in the position paper. We will share responses in the September 2015 Alliance newsletter. Illinois Self-Advocacy Alliance PO Box 666 Park Forest, IL krescenebeck@gmail.com Website: Find us on Facebook at Illinois Self-Advocacy Alliance

2 Alliance Board of Directors Page 2 On July 7, 2015, the Alliance s Board of Directors participated in a ½ day retreat. The focus of the retreat was to review The Alliance s Bylaws; to go over the role of a board member and how to be a board member; learn about Robert s Rules of Order and how to use them in a board meeting; and checking out SABE s Technology Handbook. The Alliance s Board of Directors Front Row, Left to Right: John B., Patty P., Adam W., Melissa J. Back Row, Left to Right: Richard B., Lawrence H. Not Pictured: Heather C., Michael J. (see pictures below) Heather C. Michael J.

3 Alliance Annual Rally Rewind Page The Alliance s annual rally was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, in Bloomington where 105 self-advocates and advisors/allies gathered. Self-advocates came from around Illinois, representing the following selfadvocacy groups: Advocates in Motion (AIM), Macon Resources Community Awareness Possibilities Support (CAPS), Change to Independence Altogether (CIA), Charleston Transitional Facility s (CTF) Advocacy Center in Charleston, CTF Tigers in Homewood, Livingston County Advocates in Action, The Network, Personal Power Players, Ray of Hope Self Advocates (ROHSA), Sertoma United, and Vocational Voices. The annual rally was a time to teach and learn about The Alliance's Community Access Campaign activities; the Division of Developmental Disabilities Life Choices Initiative by Mary Spriggs Ploessl, Statewide Coordinator for Life Choices Initiative; and to celebrate the 25 th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act. During the welcome and opening given by Alliance Board President Adam C., DHS DDD Director Greg Fenton was introduced and shared a few words. He conveyed the Division s commitment to partner with them and other stakeholders to design a person-centered service delivery system in Illinois, saying that there is no question that the advocacy of the above named groups has led to better health, better job opportunities, and increased opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to control their lives. Director Fenton shared with that early in his career I was discouraged from accepting a job offer as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP) because the position required a lot of writing and that wasn t a strength of his. After careful consideration, he decided to accept the QIDP position. Despite a few rough patches initially, he eventually succeeded in that role, which eventually led to other promotional opportunities. From that experience, Director Fenton learned important lessons about the power of our belief systems. First, whatever we believe about ourselves with feeling becomes our reality. Most of the self-limiting beliefs we have about ourselves (I m not smart enough, strong enough, tall enough, organized enough, etc.) are not based in reality. Second, never accept anyone else s beliefs about who you are, what you can become, and what your life can be. Director Fenton ended his remarks with my most favorite quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Check out picture from the rally on the next few pages! The Alliance Staff Contact Information Megan Norlin, Advocacy Coordinator megan.advocacy@gmail.com Krescene Beck, Program Coordinator krescenebeck@gmail.com Tara Wickey, Community Organizer tara.advocacy@gmail.com Leanne Roth, Organizational Coordinator leanneadvocacy@gmail.com

4 Alliance Annual Rally Rewind Page 4

5 Learning & Advocacy Opportunity Page 5 We want to hear from you! You are invited to attend a Listening Session. The State of Illinois received a federal grant to develop a plan to make it easier for people in Illinois to find information about long term services and supports, get help making decisions, and accessing services. State agencies want to hear from YOU about how people access information and assistance now, what is working well and what is not working well. Learning about your experiences will help the State develop a plan that will address existing challenges and improve everyone s ability to access services. Who Should Attend a Listening Session? Older adults, people with disabilities and their families. This includes people who use mental health and substance addiction services; people and families who use intellectual/developmental disability services; people with physical disabilities; people who have traumatic brain injuries or other types of disabilities, and Veterans. Service providers who provide information, counseling, and/or direct services to older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. What is on the Agenda? At each session, representatives from the state will present their vision for building a coordinated No Wrong Door System for all populations to improve information about and access to services. Participants will meet in small groups to discuss the following questions: How do people access information about long term services and supports in Illinois? What is working well now, that we can build on? What is not working as well now? What barriers stand in the way of people trying to get information and assistance? What do you think would make it easier for people with disabilities in Illinois to learn about their options and access services? Where and When? Session 3: Thurs, August 6, 1:00-2:30 p.m. - Chicago (Access Living 115 W Chicago Ave.) Session 4: Thurs, August 6, 3:00-4:30 p.m. - Chicago (Access Living 115 W Chicago Ave.) Please Register to Attend! Space is limited! Please tell us if you re coming so we can plan for the right number of people by calling or ing Brendan Flinn at Brendan.Flinn@Lewin.com or Let Mr. Flinn know if any accommodation or assistance with transportation would make it easier for you to attend (at least 3 days prior to the session you attend). For the benefit of all attending, please refrain from wearing strongly scented personal products. Come share your ideas for improving how people in Illinois get information about long term services and supports and access community services.

6 Learning Opportunity Page 6 The Power of Empowerment: Using Illinois Imagines Empowerment Guide Make plans to attend the September 1, 2015 Regional Meeting featuring the newest resource An empowerment group is a group of women with disabilities who support each other in preventing sexual assault and finding resources to help survivors of sexual assault. Members of empowerment groups work together to make changes in themselves and their communities. The Guide for Starting Empowerment Groups provides structure and content for a 23-session empowerment group for women with disabilities. Each session is described in detail including session plans, materials needed, a script for the facilitator to use, handouts for sessions, and forms to keep group notes and records. A time to learn a time to teach a time to empower. All participants will receive a copy of the Empowerment Guide.

7 Learning Opportunity Page 7 Illinois Imagines September 1, 2015 Regional Training Registration Form Please complete the registration below, forwarding to Susan Urquhart at Macon Resources, Inc. by fax at or return via to surquhart@maconresources.org. Each person attending the training must register separately. Space is limited; please register no later than one week prior to the training you wish to attend. Tuesday, September 1, am 1pm Impact CIL s East Room 2735 E. Broadway Alton, Illinois Name: Self Advocate Staff Illinois Imagines Team Represented (if applicable): If Staff, Organization/Agency Represented: Address: Phone:( ) Do you require accommodations during the meeting? Yes No (you will be contacted for details)

8 Learning Opportunities Page 8 Celebrate the 25 th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by checking out President Obama s remarks! You may recognize a few names here including Tia Nelis from Illinois! Congratulations to everyone who has been part of the journey, and thank you for making this a reality. No matter how tough things seem, change does happen. Here is the proof. Congratulations to Greg Fenton, Illinois Director of Division of Developmental Disabilities! For the last few months, Greg has been honored to serve as the Acting Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and is pleased to announce that Secretary-designate Dimas has asked him to stay on permanently and he has agreed! It s a huge responsibility to take on this job at a time when the Division is challenged to address so many unmet needs and to create increased opportunities for the people we serve to live fulfilling lives. Greg looks forward to working with everyone to meet this exciting challenge, and asks for continued support and collaboration as we move forward. Please register for The Alliance s August webinar Attitude is Everything... Is Yours Worth Catching? Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 10am CST Join Nathan J., self-advocate from Pontiac, Illinois, as he shares his steps to living a happy life with a positive attitude: Step 1: Believe happiness is a choice Step 2: Rid your life of negativity Step 3: Look for the positive in life Step 4: Reinforce positivity in yourself Step 5: Share happiness with others After registering, you will receive a confirmation containing information about joining the webinar. For assistance in registering, contact Krescene Beck at krescenebeck@gmail.com.

9 Advocacy Opportunities Page 9 Be a Part of Advocacy in Action by attending your local Advisory Council Meeting North Suburban To Be Announced Community Alternatives Unlimited 8765 W. Higgins Road Chicago, IL North Central Tuesday, August 4, am Freedom Hall (Morton Park District building) 349 W. Birchwood Morton, IL Northwest Tuesday, September 8, pm Milestone Training Center 4504 Shepherd Trail Rockford, IL City of Chicago Tuesday, August 11, 2015 UIC s Institute on Disabilities and Human Development (Auditorium) 1640 W. Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL Central Region Central Region: Please RSVP via to Maureen.Haugh- Thursday, August 13, 2015 Stover@illinois.gov or david.donner@illinois.gov if attending in-person 12.30pm or via conference call. If you have any questions or agenda items, Centrum Building please forward prior to the meeting. 319 East Madison Springfield, IL Or attend via conference line , passcode # Southern Region Wednesday, August 19, am 140 S. Locust Centralia, IL South Suburban Thursday, August 20, pm Suburban Access 900 Maplewood Avenue Homewood, IL