CT Council on Developmental Disabilities

January 22, 2010

CONNECTICUT COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF GRANT FUNDS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR 2010 INITIATIVES

The Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities announces the availability of funds for initiatives that promote the full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in community life. The Council makes funds available to implement its mission in accordance with its State Plan and the federal Developmental Disabilities Act. The Council is seeking partners to implement advocacy, capacity building and systems change initiatives. Private and public entities are encouraged to respond to the request for proposals (RFPs) described in this document. The definition of "developmental disabilities" and a description of each initiative for which proposals are requested are included in this publication, posted on our Web site at http://www.ct.gov/ctcdd, and are available from the Council Office at (860) 418-6160, (860) 418-6172 (TTY), or 1-800-653-1134. This RFP is also posted on the State of Connecticut’s web portal at http://www.das.state.ct.us/Purchase/Portal_Bids_Open.asp. Applications for funds may also be obtained from our Web site or by contacting the Council Office. Applications for funds are due in the Council Office no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, February 22, 2010. Late applications will not be accepted. Funding for initiatives is contingent upon the availability of funds. Not all initiatives may be funded. The Council will make decisions about awards on Thursday, March 4, 2010 for 12 month initiatives beginning April 1, 2010.

RFP #1: Informing and educating families on rights, services and supports to obtain meaningful early intervention and public education for their children.

A. Name of Initiative: Grassroots intensive parent training on inclusive education.

B. Purpose: To provide grassroots intensive training on using special education law to achieve inclusion and to avoid the use of aversives, restraints and seclusion.

C. Activities: The Council will fund the creation or purchase of materials and the presentation of workshops around the state for parents on inclusive education, family focused positive behavioral interventions, and reporting the uses of aversives, restraints and seclusion. The intent of this training and workshops is to provide parents with day-to-day survival skills.

D. Expected Outcomes: (1) Some number of parents who have children with developmental disabilities use special education law to achieve full and appropriate inclusion of their children in regular classrooms of their home public school. (2) Some number of parents who have children with developmental disabilities report avoiding the use of aversives, restraints and seclusion. (3) Some number of parents who have children with developmental disabilities report using family focused positive behavioral interventions. (4) Some number of parents who have children with developmental disabilities report the use of aversives, restraints and seclusion.

E. Eligible Applicants: Private and public entities are encouraged to apply.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

RFP #2: Inform youth and their families about post education opportunities.

A. Name of Initiative: Training parents on building circles of support, the McGill Action Planning System (MAPS) and Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH).

B. Purpose: To teach parents, simple, values-based, graphical tools for planning for the transition of their children with developmental disabilities to the adult world.

C. Activities: The Council will fund individuals and entities skilled in building circles of support, MAPS and PATH to do regional workshops around Connecticut. Applicants are to obtain and use the new “PATH and MAPS Handbook: Person-centered Ways to Build Community” from Inclusion Press, Toronto, Canada.

D. Expected Outcomes: (1) Some number of parents who have children with developmental disabilities preparing to transition to the adult world report having built and sustained circles of support, or MAPS and PATH plans. (2) Some number of parents who have children with developmental disabilities preparing to transition to the adult world use circles of support, or MAPS or PATH plans, with their children to build personal networks, make connections to generic community associations, and develop positive future plans.

E. Eligible Applicants: Private and public entities are encouraged to apply.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

RFP #3: Increase training and education for physicians and dentists with regard to patients with developmental disabilities.

A. Name of Initiative: CT Medical Safeguards Program in In-patient Settings

B. Purpose: To start up a medical safeguards program, based on the Massachusetts Medical Safeguards Program, to protect the lives of people with developmental disabilities in in-patient settings. Hospitalization experiences by people with developmental disabilities indicate a need for a group of physicians, nurses, other medical practitioners and advocates to protect the health and lives of people with developmental disabilities in in-patient settings. People with developmental disabilities are at-risk to threats on their health, well-being and life in health care settings.

C. Activities: The Council will support purchasing advice, consultation and technical assistance from the Massachusetts Medical Safeguard project and the Social Role Valorization Implementation Project to assure that a CT Medical Safeguards project has consistent values. The Council will support the start-up of a safeguards program.

D. Expected Outcomes: (1) A group of physicians, nurses, other medical practitioners and advocates on-call, on contract or otherwise committed and regarded as the CT Medical Safeguards Project. (2) Formal arrangements with the MA Medical Safeguards Project and Social Role Valorization Implementation Project for advice, consultation and technical assistance. (3) A plan for promotion of the project, outreach to individuals and families and response.

E. Eligible Applicants: Private and public entities are encouraged to apply.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

RFP #4: Increase the availability of personal assistant and personal management services.

A. Name of Initiative: Naturally Occurring Living Communities: Aging In Place Demonstration

B. Purpose: To demonstrate the organization and delivery of services and supports to people with developmental disabilities who are aging and already living independently, or with whom they have chosen, in their homes in their communities with their neighbors who may not have disabilities.

C. Activities: The Council will support a regional demonstration based on the Beacon Hill (Boston, MA) Village aging-in-place in the community model that includes people with developmental disabilities. Applicants are expected to purchase and use the Beacon Hill Village Founders Manual and the NEW Supplement to the Manual. Respondents are expected to adapt the Beacon Hill Village concept and process in a demonstration centered around people with developmental disabilities who are aging and already living independently, or with whom they have chosen, in their homes in their communities with their neighbors who may not have disabilities. Respondents are expected to work closely with AgePlan, NY (www.ageplan.com), an advocacy and training network that promotes successful aging across the lifespan, and the CT Council, to explore networking this demonstration with one or more model demonstrations in Nevada.

D. Eligible Applicants: Private and public entities are encouraged to apply.

E. Expected Outcomes: (1) Some number of people with developmental disabilities who are aging and already living independently, or with whom they have chosen, living in their homes in their communities, with their neighbors who may not have disabilities, receiving services and supports based on the Beacon Hill Village aging-in-place in the community model. (2) Some number of people with developmental disabilities who are aging and already living independently, or with whom they have chosen, living in their homes in their communities, with their neighbors who may not have disabilities, prevented from being institutionalized. (3) A demonstration of using the Beacon Hill Village and AgePlan concepts to support people with developmental disabilities who are aging and already living independently, or with whom they have chosen, living in their homes in their communities, with their neighbors who may not have disabilities. (4) Promotion of the model demonstration with policymakers as an alternative to institutionalization.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

RFP #5: Working with architects, developers and landlords on incorporation of universal design.

A. Name of Initiative: Visitable SmartHomes that Incorporate Universal Design

B. Purpose: To increase awareness among archetects, home builders and housing groups that will encourage the creation of housing stock that is easily modified so that people with developmental disabilities have more options about where they can live and so that there is more wheelchair accessible housing in general.

C. Activities: The Council will support the promotion with architects, developers and landlords creating accessible housing stock that combines wheelchair accessibility and universal design features with an intelligent living environment, environment-friendly habitation and technical innovation. The Council’s intent is to encourage the creation of housing that is dispersed and integrated in communities and not segregated units or communities. Respondents are expected to explore programs such as Georgia’s EasyLiving Home program and SmartHome technology pioneered by Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. Respondents are expected to (1) build and maintain a coalition of housing and citizen partners, (2) promote visitability, SmartHome technology and universal design with homebuilders associations and housing groups and (3) conduct a public awareness, education and marketing campaign on the value of visitable SmartHomes that incorporate universal design.

D. Eligible Applicants: Private and public entities are encouraged to apply.

E. Expected Outcomes: The successful bidder will (1) Create a coalition of housing and citizen partners, (2) Increase awareness about visitable, SmartHome technology and universal design through promotion and public education, and (3) resulting in an (1) an increase in the housing stock in Connecticut that incorporates visitability, SmartHome technology and universal design.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

RFP #6: Transportation

A. Name of Initiative: Transportation Demonstration with a Transit District

B. Purpose: To promote policy change through a demonstration with a transit district to improve the accessibility, affordability and availability of public transportation.

C. Activities: The Council will fund a demonstration with a transit district on the use of wheelchair accessible cooperative transportation models, such as the independent transportation network pioneered in Portland, Maine, or an on-demand, wheelchair accessible system that enables people with developmental disabilities to get transportation to attend meetings and events of their choice that are open to the general public in their community. Council funds are not be used with separate and segregated transportation programs or to transport people with developmental disabilities to programs run by agencies in the field of disabilities.

D. Expected Outcomes: (1) A demonstration of wheelchair accessible transportation enables people with developmental disabilities to attend meetings and events of their choice that are open to the general public. (2) Some number of people with developmental disabilities attend meetings and events of their choice that are open to the general public in their community.

E. Eligible Applicants: Transit districts are encouraged to apply.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

RFP #7: Young Activists

A. Name of Initiative: Enabling Youth with Developmental Disabilities Under the Age of 21 to be Active Advocates Locally, Statewide and Nationally.

B. Purpose: To develop new, young, emerging leaders to revitalize the disability advocacy movement.

C. Activities: The Council will fund an entity to support young people with
developmental disabilities to become activists on issues of importance to young people with developmental disabilities and their families. Permitted activities include using and respecting the administrative, bureaucratic and democratic process; how to testify; public speaking; participation on generic agency boards, commissions and councils, and observing when civil disobedience is appropriate. Funds may be used to acquire mentoring, role-models and technical assistance on civil rights. Youth may not be supported to be part of civil disobedience but they may be supported to observe when such tactics are appropriate. Youth may not travel to be demonstrators but youth may travel to events concerning issues of importance to young people with developmental disabilities, including visits with members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation. Funds are not intended to be used simply to enable participation in conferences and meetings. Funds are not intended to be used for events specific to a disability label. The entity awarded funds will be the recipient of requests for support from youth with developmental disabilities or their advocates. The entity will decide on the appropriateness of requests.

D. Expected Outcomes: (1) Some number of youth with developmental disabilities testify, speak publicly or participate on generic boards, commissions and councils. (2) Some number of youth with developmental disabilities travel to events concerning issues of importance to young people with developmental disabilities or visit with members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation. (3) Mentoring, role-models and technical assistance is acquired on civil rights.

E. Eligible Applicants: Public and private entities are encouraged to apply.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

RFP #8: Internships

A. Name of Initiative: Internships in Business and Industry for Youth with Developmental Disabilities.

B. Purpose: To support business and industry to provide internships for youth with developmental disabilities.

C. Activities: The Council will fund business and industry associations,
or business and industry professional and trade associations, to provide internships in non-stereotypical career areas for young people with developmental disabilities for whom employment has not been considered possible. Internships will not be funded in the stereotypical occupational categories of food service, cleaning services, horticulture and landscaping services, or factory piece-work. Internships must be in real occupations that reflect fields that have a high potential for growth in Connecticut’s career market. Internships must include the potential for employment. Young people between the ages of 16 and 25 years of age may be interns. Young people for whom employment has not been considered possible may include people with severe and multiple disabilities, challenging behavior or intellectual disabilities. Internships may be full or part-time over a few or several weeks and unpaid or paid. Paid internships must be at least at Connecticut’s minimum wage. Internships may be closely integrated with school-based activities or provider agencies in the field of disabilities. Internships must be relevant to the interests of the intern.

D. Expected Outcomes: (1) Some number of youth with developmental
disabilities for whom employment has not been considered possible have internships in non-stereotypical fields that have high potential for growth in Connecticut’s career markets.

E. Eligible Applicants: Business and industry associations, and business and industry professional and trade associations, are encouraged to apply.

F. Funding: Up to $40,000 is available for the period April 1, 2010 through
March 31, 2011. Grants can be renewed for up to 3 years based upon performance. It is anticipated $36,000 will be available in year 2 and $32,400 will be available in year 3. Respondents should only apply for the cost of activities for year 1. Respondents are to provide (match) 25% of the total cost of the initiative each year.

Posted by Ed Preneta at 2:14 PM | Comments (0)

Applying for CT Council Funds

Consistent with the federal Developmental Disabilities Act, the CT Council prepares, approves and executes its budget using funds provided in the CT Council's annual federal allotment and based on the goals, objectives and activities established in the CT Council's State Plan. The CT Council allocates funds to obtain CT Council staffing and to operate and carry out its functions and duties. The CT Council also allocates portions of its funds to sponsor initiatives and other activities which the CT Council plans, designs and approves to meet the goals and objectives of its State Plan.
Match. The CT Council rarely funds an initiative 100%. The CT Council typically requires at least a 25% match. In other words, for every $1 of CT Council funds awarded, the CT Council expects the award recipient to find a match of $.33. The match can be in-kind or other nonfederal funds. The CT Council allows a 10% match for initiatives located in federally designated poverty areas and that address people with developmental disabilities and families who live in federally designated poverty areas. The CT Council reserves the prerogative to increase, reduce or waive the matching requirement.

A. Award of Council Funds

The CT Council may implement initiatives internally with Council members and staff, on a sole source basis or through requests for proposals. If the Council elects to sponsor an activity of a specialized nature requiring skills and experience which are rare or highly specific, the Council may award funds on a sole source basis. At its discretion, in response to new ideas, the Council may award funds anytime during the year. In all instances regarding the award of Council funds, the Council seeks systems change initiatives that result in increasing the self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in the community of people with developmental disabilities. CT Council funds may not be used to replace or supplant activities or funds of pubic or private agencies. The Council reserves the prerogative not to review applications which do not meet Council requirements and not to award funds for any application in response to a specific request for proposals. No Council award is final until the Council provides written notification of the terms and conditions of the award to the award recipient.
Reports. Most award recipients can expect to be required to provide the CT Council with interim and end-of-year narrative and financial reports, a report on outcomes and satisfaction, and host a CT Council site visit evaluation. Most award recipient will also be required to provide the CT Council with some level of audit.

B. Duration of Council Funding

The duration of CT Council funding will depend on the particular nature and outcomes of a given initiative or activity. The CT Council may terminate funding at any time with written notification.

In general, the CT Council awards funds for the following types of initiatives and activities:
1. Systems change activities to bring about progressive reform of public policy and its implementation as well as positive societal and community attitudes, behavior and practices concerning people with developmental disabilities and their families. These initiatives may require multiple and long range strategies necessitating CT Council funding on an indefinite basis depending upon project effectiveness and outcomes.
2. Supportive activities to enhance the situations of people with developmental disabilities and their families including information, training, studies, analyses, and beyond-state-of-the-art research. These initiatives are generally time limited with a deliverable product upon completion and may receive CT Council funding on a one-time-only basis or for a range of three to five years depending on project effectiveness and outcomes.
3. Demonstration of new and innovative ways to promote and increase self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life of individuals with developmental disabilities. These are time-limited awards with CT Council funding of three to five years based upon project effectiveness and outcomes. When the Council funds successful demonstrations it shares responsibility with the award recipient to promote systems change to extend, expand and incorporate positive practices developed through such demonstrations.

C. Proposing New and Innovative Ideas

The CT Council is always seeking innovative ideas that advance new systems change strategies, responds to new or unanticipated events, and suggest new ways of improving current services and supports, even after the CT Council has made decisions on initiatives. Ideas can be submitted at anytime, however, the CT Council’s review process can be lengthy depending on a number of factors such as the scope of the initiative, available CT Council funds and the timing of CT Council meetings. Proposals should generate systems change, capacity building, and/or advocacy activities that enhance the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Innovative ideas can also build upon or challenge best practices.

What is the process for submitting a new and innovative idea?

A description of the idea (no longer than 1 page) should be submitted to the CT Council Office. The description should include:
1. Purpose or goal
2. Activities/strategies envisioned to achieve the purpose or goal
3. Expected outcomes
4. Estimation of the (a) cost of total project, (b) funds requested from Council, and (c) match.

What happens after a new and innovative idea is submitted?

All ideas are referred to one of the CT Council’s committees. The assigned Committee will determine if the idea is consistent with the CT Council’s mission, goals, and priorities; is fiscally sound; and merits further consideration. If the idea is considered to have merit, 2 Council members will volunteer to sponsor the idea. Sponsors will contact the proposer to further explore appropriateness and viability of the idea. The proposer of the idea will be asked to submit a formal application for CT Council funds using the CT Council’s application for funds. Sponsors will present the idea to the CT Council or its Executive Committee depending upon the timing or urgency of the initiative.

Posted by Ed Preneta at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)

2010 Initiatives

At its September 22, 2009 Council meeting, the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities decided to spend about $487,000 in 2010 to fund the following 2010 Initiatives. Applications are not requested at this time, however, individuals and entities interested one or more of these initiatives are invited to e-mail, fax, write, or call the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities.

1. Aging-In-Place in the Community

Objective: To demonstrate the organization and delivery of services and supports to people with developmental disabilities who are aging in their homes in their community to avoid institutionalization for the rest of their lives.

Description: The Council will make funds available for a regional demonstration based on the Beacon Hill Village aging-in-place in the community model that includes people with developmental disabilities.

Audience: People with developmental disabilities who are aging and already living independently, or with people with whom they have chosen to live, in the community and their neighbors who may or may not have disabilities.

Time Frame: 2010 through 2012

2. Service Broker and Peer Mentor Demonstration in Money Follows the Person (MFP) for people targeted for the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) waiver.

Objective: To support Connecticut Community Care, Inc., for a 2nd year to develop and demonstrate a person-centered support broker/counselor service and peer mentorship program within CT’s MFP program for people targeted for the PCA waiver with priority given to those with developmental disabilities who do not currently have this service in the service package within which they are enrolled.

Description: Support brokers and peer mentors will be demonstrated with some number of eligible people in a region for possible replication statewide and incorporation as an on-going service in CT’s Personal Care Assistance Waiver. Support brokers will assist people with developmental disabilities with coordinating in-home supports and peer mentors will be available to provide advice, counseling and support.

Audience: People with developmental disabilities leaving institutions to live in the community and policymakers responsible for the PCA Waiver.

Time Frame: 2009/2010 through 2011/2012

3. Influence Transportation Public Policy with a Transit District Demonstration

Objective: To promote policies and support a demonstration with a transit district to improve the accessibility, affordability and availability of public transportation.

Description: The Council will fund a demonstration with a transit district on the use of wheelchair accessible cooperative transportation models, such as the independent transportation network pioneered in Portland, Maine, or an on-demand wheelchair accessible system that enables people with developmental disabilities to get transportation to attend meetings and events of their choice in their community.

Audience: Transportation policymakers and transit districts and people with developmental disabilities who use those systems.

Time Frame: 2010 through 2012

4. Promoting with Architects, Developers and Landlords
Visitable SmartHomes that Incorporate Universal Design

Objective: To create housing stock that is easily modified so that people with developmental disabilities have more options about where they can live and so that there is more accessible housing in general.

Description: The Council will make funds available for a Visitable SmartHomes initiative. This initiative will combine Georgia’s EasyLiving Home program with SmartHome technology pioneered by Carnegie Mellon University. This initiative will combine wheelchair accessibility and universal design features with an intelligent living environment, environment-friendly habitation and technical innovation. The GA EasyLiving Home program is a voluntary certification program that specifies first level accessible features in new home construction. This initiative will require (1) the building and maintenance of a coalition of housing and citizen partners, (2) development of a statewide voluntary accessible homes certification program for builders, (3) promotion with homebuilders associations and housing groups, and (4) a public awareness, education and marketing campaign on the value of visitable homes.

Audience: Architects, developers and landlords and people with developmental disabilities who will live in visitable SmartHomes incorporating universal design.

Time Frame: 2010 through 2012

5. CT Medical Safeguards Program In In-Patient Settings

Objective: To explore start up of medical safeguards program, based on the Massachusetts model, to protect the lives of people with developmental disabilities in in-patient settings.

Description: CT Council funds will support conferences, meetings and workshops with entities which might take the lead on establishing a safeguards program. Council funds will also support the purchase of advice, consultation and technical assistance from MA Medical Safeguards and the Social Role Valorization Implementation Project to assure consistent values. Council funds will support the start-up of a safeguards program.

Audience: Medical practitioners and others willing to serve as medical advocates and people with developmental disabilities in in-patient settings.

Time Frame: 2010 through 2012

6. Grassroots Intensive Parent Training on Inclusive Education

Objective: To provide grassroots intensive training to parents on using special education law to achieve inclusion and to avoid the use of aversives, restraint and seclusion.

Description: The Council will fund the creation or purchase of materials and the presentation of workshops around the state for parents on inclusive education, positive behavioral interventions and reporting the use of aversives, restraints and seclusion. The intent of this training and workshops is to provide parents with day-to-day survival skills.

Audience: Parents with children with developmental disabilities

Time Frame: 2010

7. Internships with public agencies and private businesses for youth with developmental disabilities

Objective: To provide youth with developmental disabilities on-the-job experience.

Description: Council funds will be used to support internships in various public agencies and businesses.

Audience: Youth with developmental disabilities.

Time Frame: 2010

8. RoboWaiter Competition

Objective: To support Trinity College, Hartford, for a 4th year to promote the role robotics will play in enabling people with developmental disabilities to be supported to live in integrated community settings.

Description: The Council will co-sponsor a RoboWaiter competition for college and high school students and independent engineers, including a symposium on service robots. The competition is for high school, technical school and college robotics teams to design, build and demonstrate robots that assist people with developmental disabilities with household activities, chores, tasks and other activities of daily living.

Audience: Students hoping to be engineers and engineers and people with developmental disabilities who will use service robots.

Time Frame: 2010

9. Training Parents on Building Circles of Support, MAPS (McGill Action Planning System) and PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope)

Objective: To teach parents simple, values-based, graphical tools for planning for the transition of their students with developmental disabilities to the adult world.

Description: The Council will fund people skilled in Circles of Support, MAPS and PATH to do regional workshops.

Audience: Parents who have students with developmental disabilities transitioning to the adult world.

Time Frame: 2010

10. Explore television, radio and print productions that further the mission of the Council to promote the full inclusion of all people with disabilities in community life.

Objective: To use the media to promote with the public the full inclusion of all people with disabilities in community life.

Description: The Council will explore and fund one or more media strategies on selected subjects. Activities will include writing letters to the editor and editorials, exploring the use of Facebook, and radio and television productions. This may be implemented with free lance writers or public relations firms.

Audience: The general public.

Time Frame: 2010

11. Emergency Preparedness Conference

Objective: To provide funds for a follow-up to the Council’s 2005 conference on emergency preparedness and subsequent training to assess the status of changes made since 2005.

Description: The Council will fund a conference with participants in the 2005 conference and entities that have been trained since 2005 to reflect on what has changed and what still needs to be done in order to assure that people with disabilities are properly and safely evacuated.

Audience: First responders (e.g. emergency personnel, fire, police, etc.).

Time Frame: 2010

12. CT Youth ADAPT

Objective: To provide a 3rd year of funding to the Disability Resource Network to support the activities of CT Youth ADAPT.

Description: CT Council funds will support training on meaningful participation on boards, commissions and Councils, and mentors and transportation to enable such participation.

Audience: Youth with developmental disabilities.

Time Frame: 2010

13. Parents with Cognitive Limitations

Objective: To work with the Department of Children and Families, the Head Start Collaborative, and others, to coordinate efforts among state and private agencies to provide appropriate services and supports to families in which at least one parent has cognitive limitations, and who are associated with Head Start.

Description: The Council will co-fund the Work Group with DCF and the Head Start Collaborative to train providers in 6 trainings in 6 regions.

Audience: Head Start and other public and private providers.

Time Frame: 2010

14. Digitizing the Weicker Papers

Objective: To put in digital format for access online the important papers on disability issues, including the Developmental Disabilities Act, championed by parent, and former CT Senator, and former CT Governor, Lowell P. Weicker.

Description: The CT Council will make funds available for a researcher to research the papers of Sen. Weicker that are archived at the University of Virginia. Selected papers will be forwarded to the Minnesota Council on Developmental Disabilities. The MN Council will convert the papers to digital format. The MN Council will then place the digitized papers online as part of the history of the disability movement already on line at the MN Council website. A link to the website is on the CT Council website.

Audience: Anyone interested in the history of the disability movement.

Time Frame: October to November 2009

15. CT Council on Developmental Disabilities’ 40th Anniversary

Objective: To create visibility and knowledge about the CT Council by publicly celebrating the CT Council’s 40th anniversary.

Description: A public celebration to recognize the CT citizens and agencies who served as Council members and the advocacy, capacity building and systems change they achieved.

Audience: Past and current CT Council members and initiatives, CT DD Network partners, policymakers, and organizations of people with developmental disabilities and parents.

Time Frame: March 2, 2011.

Posted by Ed Preneta at 4:37 PM | Comments (0)

Please tell us your personal stories on the use of physical restraints and seclusion on your student in special education so that we can strengthen state law next year. While it would be great if you could name your school and town, we understand that some of you may wish to remain anonymous.

New state law regulates the use of physical restraints and seclusion on students receiving special education in schools beginning October 1, 2007. The legislation requires schools to (1) notify parents of each incident, (2) keep records on each instance, (3) compile annual reports and (4) report serious injury to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education must notify the Office of Protection and Advocacy and the Child Advocate about these reports. The Office of Protection and Advocacy and the Child Advocate are authorized to investigate incidents involving serious injury.

While this is better than it was, schools are not required to report all instances of the use of physical restraints and seclusion and the State Board of Edcuation is not required to review each school's annual report. Also, the State Board of Educaiton is not required to issue a yearly summary on the use of physical restraint and seclusion.

Since the use of physical restraint or seclusion on your special education student may not be reported to the State Board of Edcuation, and the State Board of Eduation may not review your school's report or report on the use of physical restraints and seclusion by schools, we thought our blog would be a good place to collect your stories so that we can use them in a report to strengthen the legislation in 2008.

Thank you in advance.

Posted by Angela Spino at 12:15 PM | Comments (10)

The CT Council is exploring the effectiveness of its advocacy, capacity building and systemic change activities such as:

1. outreach
2. training, leadership development and learning forums
3. technical assistance to policymakers and legislative committees
4. supporting and educating communities and community development
5. interagency collaboration, coordination and convening stakeholders
6. coordination with related councils, committees, programs and partnerships with government
7. barrier elimination, systems design and redesign
8. coalition development and citizen participation
9. informing policymakers and the media
10. demonstrations of new approaches to services and supports and model programs
11. influencing public opinion
12. nonpartisan analysis and research
13. supporting advocacy
14. influencing administrative policy

We want to know:

What does the Council do well?

What could the Council do better?

Please give us your opinion as to whether you Agree or Disgree with any of the following:

IMPACT – Council activities have improved the ability of individuals with developmental disabilities and family members to:

1. make choices and exert control over the services and supports they use

2. participate in community life

SATISFACTION – Council activities promote self-determination and community participation for individuals with developmental disabilities

To submit comments, click on Comments below, fill in the boxes and Post.

Thank you very much.

Posted by Ed Preneta at 9:42 AM | Comments (0)