Oregon Independent Living Finding the missing pieces What does it take to live independently and reach your dreams? Before answering that, you might ask, “What do you mean by ‘live independently?’” For many people, the term “independent living” brings up images of financial independence, or not having to live in someone else’s home. Those things may be involved, but not necessarily. Unless you are Superman or Wonderwoman, you likely don’t have the ability to “do it all” on your own. We all need help with some aspects of our lives. If you need to hire a mechanic to fix your car, or a plumber to fix your sink, then you understand that independence doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own. People who are independent have authority over their lives and they take responsibility for the consequences of their decisions. The unfortunate truth about authority is that it doesn’t always come with sufficient resources to do what needs to be done. There are often unmet needs - missing pieces. Part of the planning process for Oregon’s Independent Living program involves identifying resources Oregonians with disabilities commonly lack when it comes to exercising their independence. In addition, the SILC must evaluate how Centers for Independent Living and other IL program partners are doing in assisting Oregonians with disabilities in locating and learning to use those resources to reach their IL goals. To accomplish this, the State Independent Living Council (SILC) periodically conducts a statewide needs assessment. This is an opportunity to examine the gaps between the needs of consumers with disabilities and the resources the IL program has to assist with those needs. On the following page you’ll find more information about the IL program needs assessment process and how you can participate. Volume #45 - August, 2011 Needs Assessment Work Group Much planning is needed to conduct an effective needs assessment. Currently, SILC members and representatives of Centers for Independent Living, who are part of a Needs Assessment Work Group, are preparing strategies for our 2011/2012 statewide assessment. This year we plan to expand our methods beyond simple surveys. Like many organizations, the SILC has found that more meaningful information is needed than what is received through surveys alone. We expect to add focus groups to the assessment process to gain more specific answers about the needs expressed and ideas people have for addressing those needs. Are you a consumer? A disability service provider? The SILC wants to give you an opportunity to express the needs you experience or observe; things you consider the greatest disability-related barriers to independence. Help us improve services provided by the Independent Living program by letting us know you’d like to participate in our survey or focus groups. You can reach us by e-mail at oregon. silc@state.or.us. Be sure to identify whether you are a consumer or service provider and include your name, mailing and e-mail addresses and phone number so that we can contact you when the assessment begins - or call Joette Williams at 503-945-7015 to provide your contact information. Speak up on Healthcare Transformation! Oregon was among 15 states selected by the federal government to design new approaches to coordinate primary, acute, behavioral health and long-term services and supports for dual eligible individuals (those enrolled in both the Oregon Health Plan and Medicare). During our September 9 meeting, the SILC will hold a forum to hear input from dual eligible individuals regarding how the delivery and coordination of services can be improved. Staff of the Oregon Health Authority will be on hand, beginning at 10:45 a.m., to collect input. See the sidebar on the next page for the forum location. UPCOMING MEETING! State Independent Living Council September 9, 2011 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Salem Conference Center 200 Commercial St SE Salem, Oregon 97301 Public Comment at 10:30 a.m. The SILC wants to hear your ideas about how Independent Living services are working or how to make improvements. Dual Eligible Forum at 10:45 a.m. For more information about the SILC, go to www.orsilc.org The SILC welcomes new member, Tony Ellis, of Medford. Tony is the founder of a Medford spinal cord injury support group, and invests time in mentoring peers with disabilties. His message provides hope and motivation to expand activity and independence. As a wheelchair athlete, Tony is a model of the qualities he encourages in others. We look forward to his service on the Council! Rehabilitation Act Rumblings In 1998, the Rehabilitation Act was incorporated into the larger Workforce Investment Act (WIA). After expiring in 2003, ongoing funding for WIA has been supplied through continuing resolution, which allows for appropriation of funds by Congress when a formal funding bill has not been signed into law. Recently, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee began work on WIA reauthorization. The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has worked closely with legislators to promote language changes in the Rehabilitation Act portion of WIA that affects the Independent Living (IL) program. The most drastic change includes extracting the IL program from the Rehabilitation Services Administration and creating a separate IL Administration (ILA) within the Office on Sepecial Education and Rehabilitative Services. Included in the requested language are also a number of changes that would give greater flexibility to SILCs, improved funding mechanisms for CILs, and enhance consumer control over the IL program. Mark up of the bill has been postponed and does not currently appear on the HELP Committee calendar. Unofficially, we have heard it may take place in mid-September. We will continue to monitor progress on the bill and hope to have more information to share in our November newsletter. Coming to Portland...National training for Centers for Independent Living! Over the past few years, a National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) work group began development of outcome measures for Centers for Independent Living (CILs), in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of services provided through the Independent Living (IL) Program. Having identified and pilot tested a set of outcome measures, NCIL has invited CILs and IL program staff to the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower on September 13-15 for a national onsite training to share the background on this project, and assist CILs in developing plans, materials and procedures to effectively measure progress toward desired outcomes. Learn more about this event at http://ncil.org/training/outcomemeasures2011.html