ILC COMMUNITY AND SYSTEM ADVOCACY PLANS 2005-06

NYS ILC COMMUNITY AND SYSTEM ADVOCACY PLANS
CONTRACT PERIOD: October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

Table of Contents

1. ALBANY Capital District Center for Independence, Inc.

2. AMSTERDAM Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc.

3. AUBURN Options for Independence

4. BATAVIA Genesee Region Independent Living Center, Inc.

5. BINGHAMTON Southern Tier Independence Center

6. BRONX Bronx Independent Living Services, Inc.

7. BROOKLYN Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled

8. BUFFALO Western New York Independent Living Project, Inc.

9. CORNING AIM Independent Living Center

10. CORTLAND Access to Independence of Cortland County, Inc.

11. DELAWARE Catskill Center For Independence

12. GLENS FALLS Glens Falls Independent Living Center

13. HARLEM Harlem Independent Living Center

14. ITHACA Finger Lakes Independence Center

15. JAMESTOWN Southwestern Independent Living Center, Inc.

16. KINGSTON Resource Center for Accessible Living, Inc.

17. LONG ISLAND Long Island Center For Independent Living

18. MANHATTAN Center For Independence Of The Disabled Of New York

19. MASSENA Massena Independent Living Center, Inc.

20. MIDDLETOWN Action Toward Independence, Inc.

21. NEWBURGH Independent Living, Inc.

22. NIAGARA FALLS Niagara Frontier Center for Independent Living, Inc.

23. OLEAN Directions in Independent Living, Inc.

24. PLATTSBURGH North Country Center for Independence, Ltd.

25. POUGHKEEPSIE Taconic Resources for Independence, Inc.

26. QUEENS Queens Independent Living Center

27. ROCHESTER Regional Center for Independent Living, Inc.

28. ROCKLAND Rockland Independent Living Center, Inc.

29. STATEN ISLAND Staten Island Center for Independent Living, Inc.

30. SUFFOLK Self Initiated Living Options, Inc.

31. SYRACUSE ARISE

32. TROY Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, Inc.

33. UTICA Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc.

34. WATERTOWN Northern Regional Center for Independent Living

35. WHITE PLAINS Westchester Independent Living Center

36. YONKERS Westchester Disabled On the Move, Inc.

1. ALBANY

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: Capital District Center for Independence, Inc.

Address: 855 Central Ave., Suite 110, Albany, NY 12206

Contract No.: C006624

Report Period: October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Laurel Lei Kelley, Executive Director

Board President Authorization: Kim Strauchon-Verner, Board President

I. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Education Advocacy:

1. To change local school district policies and/or practices to allow for more student/parent input in creating and modifying IEPs.

B. Employment Advocacy:

1. At least one employment or job placement agency will change its policies and/or practices to comply with Title I of the ADA.

2. There will be a measurable increase in the number of integrated employment preparation programs, such as internships, community work experience programs, and job readiness training programs for persons with disabilities.

3. At least one area business will change its application form to eliminate questions that discriminate concerning a person's disability.

4. At least one area business will change its policies regarding the rights of employees with disabilities and procedures for obtaining reasonable accommodations.

C. Health Care Advocacy:

1. Albany County Social Service Department will change its policies to allow as many hours as needed of home care to avoid placement in nursing homes.

2. A long-term facility will change its policy to allow the Capital District Center for Independence, Inc. to conduct a support group for residents.

3. There will be a change in procedure and policies, which will allow more people with disabilities, to leave long-term facilities and return to the community.

4. Long-term facilities will change their policies to include information on community resources, which allow people to remain in the community.

5. Hospitals and rehabilitation center facilities will change their policies to include information on community resources, which allow people to remain in the community.

6. The Capital District Center for Independence, Inc. advocacy efforts will result in the passage of new national, state, and/or local laws to eliminate barriers to community living.

D. Commerce Advocacy:

1. There will be an increase in the number of affordable integrated and accessible housing options for people with disabilities.

2. Increase in state and/or federal subsidized accessible and affordable rental units.

3. Increase in state and/or federal accessible home buying programs.

4. Local municipalities will change their policies and will adopt a new policy to make accessible parking enforcement a main concern.

5. STAR will change its policy by adding a more in depth disability awareness training.

6. STAR will change its policy allowing more people with disabilities access to the STAR system.

E. Social Advocacy:

1. There will be a measurable increase in the architectural and communication access in local social activities and/or establishments for people with disabilities.

2. At least one recreational facility/program will establish and post easily identifiable policies and procedures for consumers with disabilities to request and receive individual assistance ensuring equal service.

3. There will be a measurable increase in the number of integrated community social activities that become accessible.

F. Citizenship Advocacy:

1. Bring Schenectady and Albany County into compliance with the Help America Vote Act.

2. AMSTERDAM

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc.

Address: 2450 Riverfront Center, Amsterdam, NY 12010

Contract No.: C006641

Report Period: October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Burt Danovitz, PhD, Executive Director

Ramon Rodriguez, Program Director

Board President Authorization: Elizabeth Bowers

I. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Education Advocacy:

1. At least one school district will change its policy to engage parents in their child's school, CSE Committee, and IEP development process at an earlier point in the child's education.

2. A local school district will make procedural changes to transition plans for students with disabilities to include developing information on PASS, VESID, Independent Living advocacy, and linkages to other community based agencies and organizations.

B. Employment Advocacy:

1. The capacity of individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain integrated employment will be increased through the establishment of a new program to increase the potential for competitive integrated employment.

2. Businesses are not accessible for employees as well as the public. At least one business will make necessary changes to make their business fully accessible for employees as well as the public.

C. Health Care Advocacy:

1. Community and government agencies providing health care services are not fully accessible to people with disabilities. At least one community or governmental agency providing health care services will improve its accessibility to people with disabilities. This is part of the Center’s emphasis on providing individuals the ability to live independently in the community.

2. There will be an increase in the number of Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program enrollments in Fulton County and that number will be sustained to a stable foundation.

3. The lack of waiver monies will be explored further to affect change in the policy of DDSO and the way waiver monies are distributed.

D. Commerce Advocacy:

1. There will be an increase in the number of integrated accessible/adaptable housing units available to persons with disabilities.

2. There will be an increase in the number of ADA Title III entities that are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities in the center’s service area.

E. Social Advocacy:

1. There will be an increase in the number of integrated community social activities that become accessible.

2. There will be an increase in the number of recreational and fitness facilities and programs that are accessible to people with disabilities.

F. Citizenship Advocacy:

1. The Board of Elections will be in compliance with the accessible voting provisions of the NYS Election Law by implementing a training program for poll workers presented by RCIL.

2. There will be an increase in the number of accessible polling sites in Fulton-Montgomery Counties.

3. There will be an increase in the number of consumers/staff that serve on community and statewide boards/committees/task forces that previously have not had representation from the disability community.

3. AUBURN

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: Options for Independence

Address: 75 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021

Contract No.: C006638

Report Period: October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Guy Thomas Cosentino, Executive Director

Board President Authorization: Betty Palega

I. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Educational Advocacy

1. At least one school district will incorporate Parent Information Nights as an education component for families with children with IEPs and 504 Plans.

2. At least one school district will incorporate a Transition Fair/Transition Night where families and students can come to learn about community resources, employment, higher education and other services available for students with disabilities upon graduation.

3. A school district in Cayuga County will make a procedural change to have transition plans for students with disabilities include participating in Cayuga County's Disability Mentoring Day.

4. Cayuga Onondaga BOCES will institute a system of providing information in the form of a flyer sent to parents about the need for benefits advisement services to be included in the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) Transition Plans for all appropriate special education students.

B. Employment Advocacy

1. The Cayuga One-Stop will incorporate training sessions and workshops that are designed by Options staff that focus on issues related to disability and work into the employment services that they offer the community. These sessions will be on various topics including advocacy, maximizing benefits and community resources.

C. Health Care Advocacy

1. Options for Independence will work with at least one health care provider during the Program Year to make their facilities accessible to their patients with disabilities.

2. Local human service agencies and public health services will provide brochures and pertinent program information in accessible formats.

D. Commerce Advocacy

1. Options for Independence will work with both private and public businesses in Cayuga and Seneca Counties resulting in a measurable increase in the number of ADA Title III entities that are more accessible to individuals with disabilities.

2. Cayuga County Courts and the Auburn City Court will provide access and effective communication for people with disabilities.

3. Options for Independence will work with the Auburn Housing Authority to increase housing vouchers available specifically for people with disabilities.

4. Emergency housing services developed and offered in the community will be made accessible and available to people with disabilities.

5. Options for Independence will work with and assist area restaurants to provide their menus in accessible formats.

6. The City of Auburn and/or the County of Cayuga will change its building codes to require that Visitability features are included into single-family housing that is built with Federal dollars.

7. Options will work with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity so that new homes built by this organization will be visitable homes.

E. Social Advocacy

1. The accessibility of existing recreational facilities will increase.

2. Options for Independence will work to increase the number of integrated recreational and social opportunities in Cayuga and Seneca Counties.

F. Citizenship Advocacy

1. Options for Independence will work to increase the number of polling sites that are accessible to people with all types of disabilities in both Cayuga and Seneca Counties.

2. Political leaders will adopt policies that ensure that meetings and rallies are held in accessible locations and their materials will be available in alternate formats. Options will ensure that this is done by having elected officials sign a Pledge Letter stating their intent to be inclusive to the disability community and Options monitoring meeting locations.

3. The Cayuga County and/or Seneca County Board of Elections will incorporate Options training on disability sensitivity and awareness for its poll watchers.

4. There will be an increase in the number of persons with disabilities who participate on Boards where services are offered to people with disabilities that previously have not had representation from the disability community.

5. The Cayuga County and/or Seneca County Board of Elections will commit to not granting waivers to any polling site that is not accessible.

4. BATAVIA

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: Genesee Region Independent Living Center, Inc.

Address: 61 Swan Street, Batavia, NY 14020

Contract No.: C006621

Report Period: October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Ann M. Bell, Executive Director

Board President Authorization: Craig Wilcox

I. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Education Advocacy

1. Goal: A local school district will make procedural changes to incorporate information on ILCs, PASS Plans, VESID, and other community resources, in the transition plans of students with disabilities.

2. Goal: IL Philosophy and History Training will be incorporated into the procedure of a local CSE committee, to be presented during meetings with students with disabilities and their parents/guardians, in order to increase the knowledge of Independent Living Centers and the referrals to Independent Living Centers.

B. Employment Advocacy

1. GOAL: The Center will continue their efforts to increase the number of integrated employment opportunities for our consumers. There will be a measurable increase in the number of integrated employment preparation programs, such as internships, community work experience programs, and job readiness training programs, for persons with disabilities.

2. GOAL: Establish a written arrangement whereby the local One-Stop Center will offer an on-site advocacy program for persons with disabilities.

3. GOAL: A local One-Stop Center will incorporate “Sensitivity Training”, developed by GRILC, as part of their training procedure for all new employees.

4. GOAL: GRILC will develop a written agreement with a local One-Stop to provide PASS Plan development and other employment services to their consumers who have disabilities.

5. GOAL: A local One-Stop will formally change its policies and procedures for referring consumers to community independent living services and resources.

C. Health Care Advocacy

1. GOAL: The Center will increase physical and communication access within health care facilities including physician offices, clinics, and hospitals.

2. GOAL: A local health care facility will change their policies to include information on community independent living resources, which allow individuals to remain in the community.

3. GOAL: A local long-term care facility will incorporate the Olmstead Panel DVD, developed by GRILC, as part of the information given to consumers and caregivers, to increase knowledge among these individuals, of what resources are available to allow individuals to remain in the community.

D. Commerce Advocacy

1. Goal: Increase ADA compliance in the business and commercial sectors of the community, i.e. Batavia Bus Service, restaurants, stores, etc.

2. Goal: GRILC will establish a written arrangement whereby a law enforcement agency will offer an on-site disability sensitivity training track as a regular part of it’s training for employees.

E. Social Advocacy

1. GOAL: Increase the number of accessible municipal sponsored recreation opportunities, and facilities by changing the systems that control the resources that make it possible so that people with disabilities will benefit from them.

F. Citizenship Advocacy

1. GOAL: The Center will ensure that political candidates adopt policies that ensure that meetings and rallies are held in accessible locations.

2. GOAL: GRILC will increase the number of consumers/staff that serve on community and statewide boards/committees/task forces, that previously have not had representation from the disability community.

3. GOAL: GRILC will continue to work towards the full implementation of HAVA in New York State.

5. BINGHAMTON

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: Southern Tier Independence Center (STIC)

Address: 24 Prospect Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13901

Contract No.: C006646

Contract Period: October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Maria Dibble, Executive Director

Phone: (607) 724-2111

Email: mdibble@stic-cil.org

Board President Authorization: Linda Geise

I. COMMUNITY AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY PLAN

A. EDUCATION

1. At least one school district will make a policy change to include vocational goals and activities in students’ IEPs starting at age 14 (rather than waiting until the last semester).

2. A local school district will incorporate information about STIC, VESID and other appropriate agencies into students’ transition plans.

3. Achieve a measurable increase in the inclusion of assistive technology in IEPs for students with disabilities.

4. STIC will establish a written contract with at least one additional school to provide augmentative communication assessments and related services to students with disabilities.

5. As a result of the activities of STIC's Parent Mentor Project, STIC will create an advocacy team of parents to identify and respond to systemic education issues as well as to assist and/or train other parents.

6. As a result of the Early Childhood Direction Center’s (ECDC)’s advocacy efforts, there will be an increase in the number of inclusive preschool opportunities for children with disabilities in the mid-south region.

7. Through the advocacy efforts of the ECDC, a Special Education Itinerant Teacher for preschool children will become available in the region.

8. As a result of the advocacy activities of the ECDC, there will be a measurable increase in the availability of home-based services for children with disabilities.

B. EMPLOYMENT

1. Increase self-employment opportunities for people with disabilities in our service area.

2. Increase supported employment opportunities and availability in Chenango and Tioga Counties.

3. All One-Stops in Broome and Tioga Counties will become fully accessible.

4. Achieve a reallocation of employment related funding from sheltered to integrated employment programs on a statewide basis.

5. Achieve implementation of one consistent statewide policy for supported employment services no matter the funding source.

6. As a milestone toward securing passage of NYS Sovereign Immunity legislation, obtain the introduction and sponsorship of a Senate bill comparable to the Assembly’s version.

C. HEALTH CARE

1. Increase the availability of psychiatric/evaluation services for children with disabilities in the Broome County area.

2. Secure the adoption of State Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) regulations that are acceptable to advocates.

3. The NYS Legislature will change the EPIC program to include coverage for people with disabilities.

4. The NYS legislature will adopt mental health parity legislation.

5. NYS DOH and SOFA will implement a plan for a Point of Entry (POE) for the Long Term Care program.

6. Prevent any changes to the Medicaid program that restrict or limit eligibility and choice.

7. Achieve a measurable improvement in the physical and programmatic accessibility of medical facilities in our service area.

8. DIVERSION, DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION AND OLMSTEAD IMPLEMENTATION GOALS:

a. When implemented, STIC will ensure verifiable local implementation of the NYS Department of Health Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver.

b. At least one institution will include, as part of its community transition process, a comprehensive guide to supports and services developed by Broome County CASA with significant input from STIC.

c. Achieve greater integration, inclusion and/or independence of people with disabilities in Tioga County through the implementation of the "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" project verifiable by at least one consumer being approved for services through the program.

d. At least one institution will change its procedures and/or policies to allow more people with disabilities to transition from institutions into integrated community living.

e. NYS will adopt an Olmstead Implementation Plan, which complies with the letter and spirit of the Supreme Court decision.

f. Congress will adopt MiCASSA and/or “Money Follows the Person” legislation.

D. COMMERCE

1. Increase the availability of integrated daycare opportunities for preschool children with disabilities.

2. Achieve a measurable increase in the number of accessible local businesses.

3. Achieve verifiable implementation of "Access to Home" in Broome and Tioga Counties.

4. The City of Binghamton will implement the transition plan required under ADA.

5. NY will incorporate the housing provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act into state law.

6. NY will establish a statewide affordable accessible housing registry.

7. Secure passage of Income Source Discrimination legislation related to housing in NY.

8. Secure implementation of ADA Title III legislation in NY.

E. SOCIAL

NONE

F. CITIZENSHIP

1. Increase the number of accessible polling sites in Tioga and Chenango Counties.

2. As a result of STIC’s advocacy efforts, the voting machines selected by Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties will be as accessible as possible.

3. The Broome, Tioga and Chenango Boards of Elections will adopt a policy assuring the proper training of polling site workers to appropriately assist people with disabilities at the polls.

4. Disaster preparation and relief plans addressing the needs and concerns of people with disabilities will be adopted in Broome County.

5. NYS will adopt legislation to incorporate Title II of the ADA into state law.

6. Prevent the adoption of the ADA Notification Act by Congress.

7. Prevent the appointment of judicial nominees that are in opposition to the protections of the ADA.

8. Increase participation of individuals with disabilities and/or center staff on community, regional and state boards/committees/task forces that previously have not had effective representation from the disability community.

7. BROOKLYN

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: Brooklyn Center For Independence Of The Disabled, Inc. (B.C.I.D.)

Address: 2044 Ocean Avenue, Suite B-3, Brooklyn, NY 11230

Contract No.: C006623

Report Period: October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Sandrina Kingston, IL Coordinator

Board President Authorization: Charlotte Rubin

I. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Education Advocacy:

1. At least one school district will change its policy to engage parents in their child’s CSE Committee and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) development process at an earlier point in their child’s education.

2. Ensure that Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA) meetings and other school related meetings are accessible for parents with disabilities.

3. Increase access to youth programs and groups, such as scouts and after school programs.

4. Increase access to deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the public schools.

B. Commerce Advocacy:

1. Increase access to commercial establishments in Brooklyn.

2. Improve public and para-transportation access for Brooklyn residents – for inter-borough and inner-borough trips.

3. Increase physical access and decrease communication barriers to Police Department, Fire Department

4. Increase access to the Long Island Railroad, and the Port Authority of New York.

C. Social Advocacy:

1. Increase access to public parks, pools and playgrounds.

2. Increase access to religious institutions.

3. Increase the number of integrated social clubs, health spas, and fitness programs.

4. Increase access to senior citizen programs.

D. Citizenship Advocacy:

1. Politicians will make policy change to increase accessibility to locations where meetings and rallies are held, and to make sure the availability of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters.

2. Achieve accessibility to polling sites and voting machines.

3. There will be an increase of staff and board serving on various community and statewide boards, advisory committees, and task forces that previously have not had representation from the disability community.

8. BUFFALO

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: The Western New York Independent Living Project, Inc.

Address: 3108 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14214

Center No.: C006654

Report Period: October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Douglas J. Usiak

Board President Authorization: Dennis M. Kessel

I. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Educational Advocacy

1. At least one college or university will incorporate WNYILP's Independent Living Philosophy presentation into its curriculum for professional preparation programs that work with persons with disabilities.

2. One Institution of Higher Learning will incorporate WNYILP's Peer Recovery Model presentation into its curriculum for mental health care providers.

3. At least one local school district, BOCES, or Early Intervention Program will incorporate WNYILP's Independent Living Philosophy presentation into a training curriculum for its staff and parents.

B. Employment Advocacy

1. As a result of WNYILP's participation on the WNY Employment Consortium, one employment placement agency will change its policies and procedures to provide disability sensitivity training for newly hired job coaches and developers.

C. Health Care Advocacy

1. As a result of WNYILP involvement on the Erie County Integrated Setting Committee, one county department will adopt policies that will maximize the community inclusion of persons with disabilities.

2. NYS Department of Mental Health shall issue regulations mandating the consistent application of notification of rights of consumer choice.

D. Social Advocacy

1. The ILP will increase access for persons with disabilities in places of worship.

2. The ILP will increase physical access and use of assistive listening devices in area theaters.

3. ILP will improve access to alternative communication formats in area theaters (i.e. programs, etc.).

E. Commerce Advocacy

1. As a result of collaboration between the WNYILP and other community agencies, more accessible and integrated housing will be available for persons with disabilities.

2. The Erie County Department of Social Services will increase their physical access to Social Services programs.

3. At least one media outlet will adopt the use of a WNYILP developed “Style Book” when writing media pieces that relate to persons with disabilities.

F. Citizenship Advocacy

1. The City of Buffalo will modify its policy to allow for easy access to interpreters for common council and other public meetings sponsored by the City of Buffalo.

2. The ILP will increase physical access to local polling places.

9. CORNING

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Corning Council for Information and Referral for the Disabled no longer does business as Access to Independence and Mobility. Our new DBA was filed with VESID’s Finance Department last year, and we now do business in NYS as:

Name of Center: AIM Independent Living Center (AIM)

Address: 271 East First Street, Corning, New York 14830

Contract No. C006620

Report Period: October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Marsha Sweet, Deputy Director

Board President Authorization: Ed Pears, President

1. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Education Advocacy

1. Goal: Change school procedures to demonstrate that students with disabilities are being referred to adult service agencies when they are preparing to leave high school.

Milestone: Upon establishment of a partnership with two Elmira schools, an AIM advocate will be sited in two school buildings in Elmira weekly, to provide transition services to students- insuring the dissemination of information on what adult services will be available to them upon transition from high school into the adult world and assisting with the referral process.

2. Goal: Ensure that PTA meetings and other school functions will be accessible for parents with disabilities.

Milestone: AIM’s Deaf Services team will meet with the Elmira Superintendent of Schools to ensure that a policy is created stating that meetings are accessible for parents who are deaf and/or hard of hearing.

B. Employment Advocacy

1. Goal: At least one area employer in Steuben or Chemung Counties will change his or her employment policies and/or procedures with regard to the recruitment process to eliminate questions that discriminate against people with disabilities.

Milestone: All AIM advocates, in evaluating Title 1 of the ADA, will work with area employers regarding the requisite changes that eliminate questions that discriminate against people with disabilities.

2. Goal: At least one location of the Department of Labor in either Steuben or Chemung Counties will have assistive technology on site.

Milestone: All AIM advocates, in evaluating Title 1 of the ADA, will work with local Departments of Labor in both Steuben and Chemung Counties regarding the use of TTY, voice recognition systems, Braille resources to assist people with disabilities who will visit the DOL site.

C. Health Care Advocacy

1. Goal: As a result of AIM’s establishment of a referral system with at least one hospital, that hospital will make a policy and procedural change that will facilitate a more efficient referral process for community services for patients with disabilities.

Milestone: Advocates working in AIM’s Traumatically Brain Injured Program, or Consumer Directed Personal Assisting Services, or Deaf Services will promote, in all presentations, changes that educate hospitals to implement more efficient referral processes regarding patients with disabilities.

D. Commerce Advocacy

1. Goal: A local public transit company will adopt a policy ensuring the proper training of all transit/driving personnel on disability sensitivity and awareness.

Milestone: AIM’s public speaking personnel will canvass all public transit entities to do no-cost presentations that detail proper training and will offer services in the transit company reconstructing policy language.

2. Goal: At least one new place of commerce will install a TTY/TTD device.

Milestone: In evaluating Access Award nominations throughout the year, advocates will request places of commerce to install a TTY/TTD.

E. Social Advocacy

1. Goal: At least one movie theatre in our catchment area will regularly provide and actively publicize captioned films for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Milestone: Advocates working in Deaf Services unit will promote through presentation to local movie theatres changes that urge theatre operators to implement captioned films for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.

F. Citizenship Advocacy

1. Goal: At least one local government will start providing agendas in alternate formats at publicly attended meetings.

Milestone: In meeting annually with local governments to promote AIM’s programs and services, advocates will urge alternate format discussions.

10. CORTLAND

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Name of Center: Access to Independence of Cortland County, Inc.

Address: 26 N. Main Street, Cortland, NY 13045

Contract No.: C006628

Report Period: October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006

Contact Person: Mary E. Ewing, Executive Director

Board President Authorization: Andrea Haenlin-Mott

I. Community and Systems Advocacy Plan

A. Educational Advocacy

1. At least one local school system or CSE will make a policy change in the development of transition plans for students with disabilities, so that plans will include information on Independent Living Centers, VESID, and agency linkages.

2. The SUNY Cortland Institute on Disability Studies will institute a disabilities awareness track developed by Access to Independence, to be included as part of its basic curriculum.

3. The Cortland School District will incorporate in its curriculum an Access to Independence developed peer advocacy group for transition age youth with disabilities, including programs on topics such as: goal setting, independent living skills, self-advocacy and empowerment.

4. Cincinnatus School District will make changes to the front entrance of the high school in order to make the facility accessible.

B. Employment Advocacy

1. Access to Independence will establish a written agreement with the local VESID District Office to teach a work readiness, core curriculum to enhance employment outcomes for VESID consumers.

2. The Cortland Works Career Center (One-Stop) will increase programmatic access through the purchase of adaptive equipment, such as closed-captioned videotapes, tape recorders and word-prediction software.

C. Health Care Advocacy

1. The number of health care providers who are universally accessible will increase.

2. Opportunities for participating in integrated fitness programs in the community will be increased.

3. A program will be established that will assist one or two consumers per year to return to the community from an institution.

4. The Center will contract with OMRDD to provide “Startup Broker” services, designed to increase empowerment and self-directed goal setting for people with developmental disabilities.

5. Local medical facilities will provide sign language interpreter services to their patients.

6. Access to Independence will develop a written agreement with the Cortland Housing Assistance Council (CHAC) to provide lead and asbestos assessments, at no charge, to low income people with disabilities.

D. Commerce Advocacy

1. Increase the number of businesses that are fully accessible.

2. Increase the number of crosswalks in the City of Cortland that are fully accessible.

3. There will be a measurable increase in the number of government buildings that become fully accessible from one reporting period to the next.

4. Cortland Transit will have at least two ADA compliant buses; expanded service hours; and accessible, limited cross-county service.

5. Safe and accessible parking will be available in Cortland for people with disabilities.

6. Accessible public housing will be available to more persons with disabilities.

7. Cortland Housing Authority will implement an unbiased process for selecting set-aside Section 8 Vouchers, for Medicaid Waiver applicants who are self-identified as disabled, which will require the applicant’s permission before information is sent to Section 8.

8. There will be a measurable increase in the physical and programmatic accessibility of at least one library in Cortland County.

E. Social Advocacy

1. There will be a measurable increase in the number of integrated social activities in the community for persons with disabilities.

2. There will be a measurable increase in architectural and communication access to social and recreational activities for people with disabilities in Cortland County.

3. The Cortland Repertory Theatre (CRT) will become fully accessible.

4. The Cortland Arts Council will become fully accessible.

5. There will be an increase in the number of special events and gatherings in Cortland County that are accessible to travelers, tourists and community members.

6. There will be a measurable increase in the number of faith-based organizations in Cortland County that are accessible to people with disabilities.

F. Citizenship Advocacy

1. There will be a measurable increase in the number of accessible polling sites in Cortland County.

2. An advocacy network/infrastructure will be established, with organized teams of trained consumer advocates available to address issues as they arise.

3. There will be a measurable increase in the number of people with disabilities who serve on community or statewide boards, committees, and task forces that have not previously included representation from the disability community.

4. The City of Cortland will pass legislation that enables low income people with disabilities to be eligible for a partial exemption from real property taxes.