Questions and Answers

 

RFI#07-004

 

The Design and Operation of Service Centers for Independent Living/Independent Living Centers

 

 

Question 1

 

I have been working with individuals with disabilities for about 20 years, 10 of those years in school settings.  I have had an opportunity of running a summer program within the community focusing on transportation, community/vocational experiences, etc., all "Experiential learning" activities with students with moderate disabilities.  I would like to establish a program of this nature in downtown Troy or Albany (preferably sites in both cities.)  I obviously am not a not- for -profit corporation, but would like to get started developing an Independent Living skills site....where do I turn next?  Thank you in advance for any information to get me started.

 

Answer to Question 1

 

I am going to assume that you are responding to NYSED's Request for Information (RFI) titled The Design and Operation of Service Centers for Independent Living/Independent Living Centers. Please review the RFI document and pay particular attention to the section titled "Submission Requirements," which outlines how to respond to this RFI.

 

Please remember the following;

 

 Responses to this RFI will be reviewed by the Department for informational purposes only, and will not be considered as an offer to be accepted by the Department to form a binding contract. Failure to respond to this RFI will not exclude you from bidding on a Request for Proposal (RFP) should one be issued in the future.

 

NYSED will not reimburse vendors for any costs in connection with their responses to this RFI.

 

 

 

Question 2

 

Please clarify exactly what you mean by "current Independent Living Centers" in the RFI.

 

 

 Answer to Question 2

 

The "current ILC network" for purposes of the RFI equates with the ILCs that are included in NYS statute Article 23A section 1121-1124.

 

The full statute can be read on the VESID Web site www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/ilc/toolbox.htm

 

 

 

Question 3

 

There is some question as to my organization's eligibility. The program being submitted is non-residential, and located in NY State - I am unsure of the specification stating that 51% of the ILC board must have disabilities? Would our proposed project need its own board? The project being proposed is an employment center for individuals with disabilities.  Any information you could give would be extremely helpful. Thanks!

 

 

Answer to Question 3

 

The organization considering to develop a program must itself be a 501(c)3 not-for-profit with a governing board composed of a majority of people with disabilities on the board representing 51 percent or greater in number.  We are not looking for an oversight body of a program to be majority people with disabilities, it must be the governing body of the lead organization or entity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question 4

 

The list of core services seems to have been expanded.  As I understood it, there were only four core services: Peer counseling, Independent living skills training, information and referral, and individual/systems advocacy.  Has VESID redefined and expanded the core services that Independent Living Centers provide? 

 

 

Answer to Question 4

 

 The list of core serves are included in NYS statute Article 23A section 1121-1124 which reads differently from the Federal Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, that references only four core independent living services. 

 

The full statute can be read on the VESID Web site www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/ilc/toolbox.htm