Time For Change: Use Your Power! National Council on Independent Living 2008 Annual Conference on Independent Living July 21 - 24; Washington DC; Grand Hyatt Hotel Dear Advocates and Friends, I am proud to announce the 2008 NCIL Conference, “Time for Change: Use Your Power!” This year’s Annual Conference promises to be one of the greatest, and its focus will be a call to action for IL advocates and people with disabilities everywhere. We must organize firmly to create the change we all know is needed. This event will serve as an opportunity for our community to renew our resolve, organize grassroots and national plans of action, and call on Washington to restore our civil and human rights! It is my sincerest hope that you will join us for this week-long event, especially during this crucial time for our community. We must end draconian interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We must end the shameful institutional bias and corruption of our values. And, we must end the disgraceful degradation of Independent Living through unceasing budget reductions. If we stand together we can realize a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully. Power is not given; but only seized by those who embrace their ability to do so. Thus NCIL calls on all people with disabilities to use the power of 54 million who have had enough to claim their sovereignty and advance the social, economic, and political power of people with disabilities nationwide. Please join us for this opportunity to reinforce the resolve that will be needed during the coming year. NCIL and advocates nationwide must remain firm in our determination, our objective, and the courage it will take to get there. We will organize our communities; We will vote; We will demonstrate support for needed legislation; We will free our brothers and sisters; We will fight to strengthen Independent Living nationally and throughout the world; We will exercise our human and civil rights! Sincerely, John A. Lancaster, Executive Director Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.* *Quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Registration: Please complete and return the Conference Registration Form at the end of this document. Confirmations will be sent to each participant via the address listed on this registration form. Individuals must register for the conference and pay in full before reserving a discounted room at the Grand Hyatt. If you have any questions, please contact the National Council on Independent Living at 877.525.3400 (Voice), 202.207.0340 (TTY), or conference@ncil.org (email). Conference Registration Costs: A complete account of Registration fees is located near the end of this document. You can register by completing the form on page 17 of this brochure or by visiting www.ncil.org. Sunday, July 20 11:00am -3:00pm NCIL Board Meeting 2:00pm -5:00pm Registration Open 4:00pm -6:00pm Orientation Session Monday, July 21 (No Exhibits Monday) 8:00am -5:00pm Registration Open 9:00am -10:00am Opening Plenary 10:15am -11:15am Legislative & Advocacy Update 11:30am -12:15pm Preparing for the Day on the Hill 12:15pm -1:30pm Lunch (on your own) 1:30pm -2:45pm Concuurent Workshops I 3:15pm -4:15pm Regional Caucuses: Regions I – V 4:45pm -5:45pm Regional Caucuses: Regions VI – X 7:00pm -9:00pm Diversity Committee Mixer Tuesday, July 22 (No Registration or Exhibits Tuesday) 9:30am -10:00am Organize for the March: (Meet at 11th + G Streets NW) 10:00am -11:00am March to the US Capitol 11:00am -11:30am Distribute Bag Lunches 11:30am -12:30pm 2008 Rally at the US Capitol 1:00pm -5:00pm Hill Visits Wednesday, July 23 7:00am -8:00am Exhibitor Set-up 8:00am -5:00pm Registration Open 8:30am -9:30am Regional Reporting Sessions: Regions I – V 10:00am -11:00am Regional Reporting Sessions: Regions VI – X 11:30am -12:30pm Diversity Caucuses 12:30pm -2:00pm Lunch (on your own) 2:00pm -3:15pm Concurrent Workshops II 3:45pm -5:00pm Concurrent Workshops III 5:30pm -6:30pm Diversity Caucuses Thursday, July 24 8:00am -5:00pm Registration Open 8:30am -9:15pm Concurrent Workshops IV 10:00am -11:30am Un-named Plenary Session 11:30am -1:00pm Lunch (on your own) 1:00pm -5:00pm Annual Meeting 5:00pm -7:00pm Exhibit Fair 7:00pm -9:00pm Awards Banquet 9:00pm -12:00am Closing Social Friday, July 25 10:00 am – 12:00 pm NCIL Board Meeting * Exhibitor registration and set-up begins at 7:00am - Wednesday only. Accessibility: Dear NCIL Conference Attendees, Many of you have expressed valid concern about the limited accessibility at the Grand Hyatt hotel as the selected site for our Annual Conference. I share your frustration. Just last year our staff and Board of Directors considered every hotel in the Washington, DC area. The few hotels that are large enough for our group are either not interested in our business, have access issues worse than the Grand Hyatt, have room rates upwards of $300/night, and/or are too far from downtown for the March & Rally. In addition to those barriers, the new Washington Convention Center contracts with hotels to give preference to “city-wide” events, excluding non-profit groups like ours, whose budget-conscious events are quickly passed over by hotel revenue managers. In fact, the only other hotels in Washington, DC large enough to host our event are the: -Omni Shoreham Hotel – Major access issues (stair-rail lift to function space); uptown location is too far for march to US Capitol; -Marriott Wardman Park – Major access issues (perched atop a very steep hill); uptown location is too far for march to US Capitol; -Renaissance Washington DC Hotel – Lack of elevators to conference level similar to Grand Hyatt. Also, being the closest hotel to the new Washington Convention Center, they have clearly refused to accept our business; and, -JW Marriott Hotel, Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Capitol Hilton – all of which have nightly room rates well over $300. I believe the lack of additional elevators is the only major access issue at the hotel. While this is a significant concern, we have also received feedback from members praising the hotel for its excellent customer service, dining, location, and amenities. Some of you have made it clear that you are offended by the suggested use of the service elevators in the hotel’s employee hallways. We wouldn’t dare challenge those perceptions – we understand the position and plenty of NCIL staff and board members share the sentiment. However, for other conference attendees, these additional elevators are a necessary accommodation. We are beholden to all members as we strive to strike this delicate balance. I hope this explains why we have chosen the Grand Hyatt, despite its lack of additional elevators to the conference level. Regards, John A. Lancaster, Executive Director Accommodations and Local Services: Auxiliary Aids & Services: CART (Communications Access in Real Time), sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, personal assistants*, accessible materials, and other services will be provided upon request for all NCIL conference activities. Please make requests on your registration form. *Personal Assistants will be available during conference hours only. Please see below for information on arranging your own personal assistant service. Environmental / Chemical Sensitivities: For the safety and comfort of attendees with chemical or environmental sensitivities, please refrain from using perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, colognes, perfumes, fabric softeners, etc. It is also essential that we maintain a smoke-free environment. Please refrain from smoking in paths of travel and doorways. Wheelchair and scooter rental and repair: Roberts Home Medical (rental & repair) 20465 Goldenrod Lane Germantown, MD 20876 (301) 353-0300 (voice) ZASK Medical Supply (rental & repair) 4600-C Pinecrest Office Dr. Alexandria, VA 22312 (703) 354-1266 (voice) zaskoo@erols.com (email) Area Access (rental & repair) 8117 Ransell Road Falls Church, VA 22041 (703) 573-2111 (voice) E-Car Corporation (scooter rental) 8673 Grovemont Circle Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 527-6119 (voice) 4-wheel scooter rentals including hotel delivery and pick-up (in DC). Personal Assistance Coordinators: ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (Center for Independent Living) 703-525-3268 (V); 703-525-3553 (TTY) Attn: Ruchika Lalwani, PAS Coordinator Maxim Healthcare Services (202) 545-6980 (V); Use 711 for Relay. clduvall@maxhealth.com (email) Hotels and Lodging: Grand Hyatt Washington We will return to the Grand Hyatt Washington, located at 1000 H St. NW, one block from the Metro Center subway station in downtown Washington, DC. This landmark property offers city and atrium views as well as spacious guestrooms. Meeting rooms are large and well designed. The Grand Hyatt is the official conference hotel and virtually all events will be held here. A block of rooms has been reserved for NCIL Conference attendees from Sunday, July 20 through Friday, July 25 at a special rate of $225 single/double (plus tax of 14.5%). Triple occupancy is available at $240 (plus tax). Regency Club rooms are available at a variable rate, based on availability. To make your reservations, call the hotel at (800) 233-1234 (voice/tty). Be sure to identify yourself as a NCIL Conference attendee to receive the discounted rate. Reservations received after June 19, 2008 will be accepted on a space availability basis. Van parking is available in a parking lot across the street from the Grand Hyatt. Vehicles parked in this outdoor lot are accessible 24 hours-a-day, but the lot entrance / exit is closed from Midnight until 6:00 a.m. daily. Important Notes: -Participants must register for the conference before they are eligible for NCIL’s discounted rate at the Grand Hyatt. -Accessible rooms are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis! -The Grand Hyatt will sell out – register for the conference and reserve your rooms today! Embassy Suites A block of accessible and standard rooms is available at the Embassy Suites - Convention Center, just 1.5 blocks from the Grand Hyatt. The rate is $179 single/double and $199 triple /quadruple occupancy (plus tax). Reservations must be made by June 19, 2008. Please call the hotel at (202) 739-2001 for reservations. Airports and Transportation: Reagan National Airport (DCA) Taxicabs: Available at the exits of each terminal. Approximate fare to DC is $12.00-$15.00. Van Service: Contact Battles Transportation at (202) 462-8658 for large lift-equipped vans. Super Shuttle is also available; (800) BLUE-VAN for reservations or details. Red Top Cab at (202) 328-3333 has accessible mini-vans. Metrorail: The Metro stops adjacent to Terminals B and C. Take the Blue Line to the Metro Center station or the Yellow Line to the Gallery Place / Chinatown station. Both stations are 1-2 blocks from the Grand Hyatt. Total fare: $1.35; all stations and trains are accessible. Dulles Airport (IAD) Red Top Cab: Approximate fare to DC is $55. For an accessible van, call (202) 328-3333. Reservations recommended 2-3 days in advance. Super Shuttle: Super Shuttle vans are available outside the Main Terminal. For an accessible van, call (800) BLUE-VAN for reservations or details. Public Transportation: Metrobus 5A departs Dulles once an hour, between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm, and travels to the L’Enfant Metrorail station. From L’Enfant, take the Blue or Orange Line to the Metro Center station. Total fare: $4.35; all buses and trains are accessible. Please allow 1+ hour for travel time. Visit www.wmata.com for details. Baltimore / Washington International (BWI) Taxicabs: Approximate fare to DC is $55. Call (410) 859-1100 for details. Van Service: Contact BWI Airport Shuttle at (410) 859-1100. Reservations recommended 4 days in advance. Public Transportation: Metrobus B30 departs BWI once every 40 minutes, and travels to the Greenbelt Metrorail station. From Greenbelt, take the Green Line towards Branch Avenue. Depart at Chinatown / Gallery Place, just two blocks from the Grand Hyatt. Total fare: $5.35; all buses and trains are accessible. Please allow 1+ hour for travel time. Visit www.wmata.com for details. Gatherings and Events: Sunday, July 20th, 2008 NCIL Orientation Session: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. NCIL offers this general session for new NCIL members and conference attendees. Join us to gain greater insight into NCIL’s history, its Annual Conference, and formal procedures such as voting at the Annual Council Meeting, preparations for the annual March and Rally, and more! Monday, July 21st, 2008 Opening Plenary: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Regional Advocacy Awardees will be honored for their work fighting for the rights of people with disabilities everywhere. Leaders from the Independent Living Movement will offer a national plan of action to demand and win the full implementation of our civil and human rights.  Don’t miss this exciting 2008 Annual Conference opener!  Legislative & Advocacy Update: 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Get the most up-to-date information on the progress of NCIL’s advocacy efforts from the chairs of each committee. The chairs will review and answer questions about NCIL’s advocacy talking points so that participants are fully prepared for their Congressional visits on Tuesday. Regional Caucuses: Regions I through V: 3:00- 4:00 p.m. and Regions VI through X: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to strategize for your Congressional visits. Each state should decide exactly who will attend which meeting to ensure that every Senator and Representative will be visited. A list of regions by state is available on page 16 in this brochure, or at www.ncil.org. Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 NCIL March and Rally: 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This annual tradition is your opportunity to take your grassroots advocacy to the streets! Participants will march from the Grand Hyatt to Capitol Hill carrying signs and demonstrating support for the independence of people with disabilities! Marchers will converge in front of the Capitol Building for an empowering rally featuring a number of invigorating speakers from the disability rights movement and members of Congress. Following the rally, participants are strongly encouraged to meet with their elected officials to discuss issues that are important in their districts. NCIL Capitol Hill Visits: 1:00 p.m. -- 5:00 p.m. The Key to a Successful Hill Visit is…Planning! It is very important that meetings with Senators and Representatives are scheduled 4 – 6 weeks in advance. Contact the Appointment Secretary / Scheduler of your Senators and Representatives to schedule a meeting for the afternoon of July 22. Explain your purpose and whom you represent. It will be easier for Congressional staff to arrange a meeting if they know what you wish to discuss (e.g., IL funding, housing, transportation, etc.). Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 Diversity Committee Caucus Meetings: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. On Monday and Wednesday the caucuses of the Diversity Committee will meet to develop annual priorities, which will be relayed to the full committee by the caucus chairs. Caucuses that do not have a chair may also use this time to elect one. These meetings are open to all attendees, but caucus chairs must be or become NCIL members. The Diversity Committee’s current caucuses are: African-American; Aging & Older Adult; Asian & Pacific-Islander; Latino/a; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT); Native American; Youth; and Deaf. Is your community or identity represented? Contact NCIL to learn how to start your own Caucus! Thursday, July 24th, 2008 L & A Plenary Session: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This plenary session has been reserved for discussion of a pressing advocacy issue. The topic will be announced beforehand and details will be in the conference program. 2008 NCIL Annual Council Meeting: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Make sure to attend the Annual Council Meeting to vote on the resolutions and board elections that will guide NCIL in the coming year and beyond. This year, elections will be held for: Vice President, Secretary, Representatives of Regions II, IV, VI, VIII, and X, and Members-At-Large. Don’t miss the Annual Council Meeting – it’s your vote! Exhibit Fair: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Spend some time browsing the products and services offered by our exhibitors, many of which are your fellow NCIL members. The NCIL conference would not be possible without the generous support of our exhibitors and sponsors. Please stop by and support them! Note: Exhibits will be open Wednesday and Thursday. ADA Banquet & Party: 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Join us to celebrate and honor this year’s national advocacy award winners! Awards will be presented over dinner. Then the fun begins, accompanied by drinks, a non-stop DJ, and some serious prizes. This is your chance to relax, have some fun, or even win big! Poster Sessions Sport as a Tool for Independent Living Presented by: Ann Cody The “Sport as a Tool for Independent Living” poster session will provide frontline staff and consumers with information on how sports programs/activities can enhance independent living skills. CIL staff and consumers will receive information on the benefits of sports participation, using sport as a convening mechanism for delivering IL services and referring consumers to local sports programs. Newcomer. Workshops & Poster Sessions The following workshops have been selected by NCIL’s Annual Conference Subcommittee. Great care has been taken to ensure that the workshops are, as a whole, relevant to this year’s Conference theme and valuable to a cross-section of CIL, SILC, and IL Association staff, board members, consumers, and other IL advocates. Let us know what you think! You will have the opportunity to evaluate each workshop you attend. Note: We no longer require individuals to sign up for workshops in advance. Please arrive early, as workshops may fill up! Workshops are listed by target audience: “Front Line Staff and Consumers”, “Advocates and Project Directors” or “Executive Directors and Board Members. Workshops are also classified — “Newcomer”, “Experienced”, or “Appropriate for All Audiences” — at the end of each workshop description. Front Line Staff and Consumers Assisting People with Disabilities to Obtain Assistive Technology: Making Use of Alternative Financing Presented by: Patti Kraemer People with disabilities cherish their independence. Assistive Technology (AT) is often needed to ensure this independence. Unfortunately, funding for AT is often limited or non existent. Alternative Financing Programs (AFPs) are one means of funding AT that allows consumer choice and consumer involvement. A panel of staff from various AFPs will share information about their programs and how the ILCs can become more involved to ensure all states have an AFP. Appropriate for all experience levels. Critical Role of CILs for Aging and Disability Resource Center Networks Presented by: Joseph Lugo, Kim Borowicz, and Maria Oquendo-Scharneck This session is Part II of the conversation that started last year at the 25th Anniversary NCIL Joint Conference Luncheon, which hosted ADRCs and CILs from across the country. At this joint luncheon, CILs shared their experiences in developing, leading and sustaining productive collaborative partnerships between the aging and disability networks. Any staff interested in learning how CILs are playing an active role in ADRC networks could benefit from this session. Partnerships at the community level, which cut across aging and disability networks, are required to create a seamless experience when consumers access long-term care. The entities that have agreed to participate are actively involved in forming partnerships, are respected in both the aging and disability communities, and have had previous experience sharing their story to various audiences. Appropriate for all experience levels. Movement by the Masses: Using Alternative Media to Speak Truth to Power Presented by: Ryan Pinion, Anita Cameron, and Stacey Milbern Interested in getting your voice heard by the masses? Why bother with mainstream media---create your own! Come see how you can create your online space for less than $20 and have it read by millions. By attending this workshop, activists will have the means needed to realize the potential of the internet and other forms of alternative media (blogs, video, zines). Once maximized, activists can use this media to voice truth in a world where disability is often misrepresented. This session is vital for NCIL members interested in viral communication, creating community space, and tapping into their full power. Newcomer. Grassroots Women with Disabilities vs. Sexism and Ableism: Feminists Organizing for Power Presented by: Amber Smock and Monica Heffner Are you bothered by what happened to Ashley X, Terri Schiavo and Sharon Kowalski? Do you know women who have been discriminated against because they are women and they have disabilities? This workshop will look at how to organize grassroots women with disabilities against sexism and ableism. We will present the collective citizen organizing work of Feminist Response In Disability Activism (FRIDA) as a model, and ask the audience to brainstorm more ways grassroots women can take action on issues of sexism and ableism. Experienced. This session is also very appropriate for advocates and project directors. The Roots of Power: How Your CIL Can Create Community and Move Beyond Advocacy Presented by: Stacey Milbern, Everett Deibler, and Eleanor Canter Creating “space”. Promoting disability culture. Moving beyond advocacy. Are you wondering how other CILs around the country are able to not only include members of the community (specifically youth), but have them sign up to actively serve in various leadership capacities? Attend this workshop to find out how to get back to the roots of people power. We will explain the need for building a community that is bigger than advocacy and awareness and how about you can go about doing so at your local CIL. Newcomer. Using the Power of the ADA Presented by: Marissa Johnson and Hannah Pitts-Gilmore Are you looking for new (or new-to-you) advocacy tools? Unsure of how to use the Americans with Disabilities Act to its best advantage in your advocacy efforts? This highly interactive workshop will help you better understand the ADA and apply it to the advocacy situations you face each day. Get your questions answered, interact with the ADA and gain a better understanding of the civil rights law essential to your role as an advocate. Also, join this workshop to learn important resources and where to get more information. Newcomer. Advocates and Project Directors Organizing Our Communities for Change: A Best Practice for Grassroots Systems Advocacy in the Disability Movement Presented by: Jason J. Beloungy Each day, thousands of lobbyists fill the halls of capitol buildings throughout our nation, while millions of dollars are poured into campaign coffers. How can the disability movement compete and move forward to make our issues and policies a priority? This workshop will look at one CIL’s efforts to develop a network to educate and empower citizens to impact disability policy at the local, state and federal level. Jason Beloungy will discuss “Act Now, Network for Disability Advocacy”, an effort taking place in Wisconsin. Experienced. My Polling Place or Yours: Survey Tools for Accurate Accessibility Reviews Presented by: Mark Derry If you are working in your community to ensure polling place accessibility, or giving advice on accessibility, your credibility is your most valuable asset! Making sure you have the right survey tools, and knowing how to quickly get accurate answers to accessibility questions will build your credibility and value as a resource in the community. This training will include hands-on demonstrations of survey tools, from simple fish scales to electronic Smarttool Levels. Attendees will gain knowledge about the “tools of the trade”, where to get them, and how they are used effectively to document barriers to access. Time is spent on the importance of checklists and where to obtain them. An example Polling Place Checklist, and survey notes are provided to the participants. The experience gained assessing polling places in this election year can also be carried forward to other access issues within advocates’ communities! Experienced. Nursing Facility Outreach - Countdown to Independence: 3… Getting In; 2… Getting Ready; and 1… Launch to the Community! Presented by: Nancy Diehl Come learn about practices currently successful at reaching out to nursing facility residents to tell them about the systems in place to assist them to move to the community. The audience will be introduced to the innovative methods Independence Now uses to outreach and achieve successful transition. Learn to contract with nursing facility survivors and those that still live in facilities to help with outreach. Learn how to conduct “happy hours” (non-alcoholic, with food and activities) at nursing facilities to talk to those who have expressed an interest in learning more. Learn to host Advocacy Movie Nights to improve advocacy skills and to host other community activities held in various fun locations, where consumers and nursing facility residents come together to socialize. Funding mechanisms will be explained. Experienced. Assisted Suicide: Why Leading Disability Advocacy Organizations Oppose Its Legalization Presented by: Marilyn Golden The legalization of assisted suicide is a controversial issue. In the disability community, many people are strongly opposed to legalization, along with NCIL and ten other respected disability rights organizations. Others sometimes question that position. Many are simply uninformed about this crucial issue. This workshop will explain assisted suicide and provide a place for honest expression without criticism, attack, or judgment. Disagreement is expected and will be welcomed. Marilyn Golden of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund will describe the position of DREDF and many other disability organizations, and then open it up for a facilitated discussion. Appropriate for all experience levels. High School/High Tech: Teaching Advocacy to Youth through a Career Framework Presented by: Rebecca Hare High School/High Tech helps youth make better, more informed decisions about careers and their futures and advocacy plays a role in this. It’s successful in reducing the dropout rate of youth with disabilities, increasing their enrollment in college, and improving their participation in employment-related activities. HS/HT programs develop and sustain youth-based partnership building strategies in order to help youth explore exciting opportunities and careers in technology; helps parents to watch their children become more independent; helps employers to gain access to a new, viable, and well-trained labor source; and helps CILs to train the next generation of disability community leaders. This workshop will feature youth with disabilities co-presenting on their experiences with the program alongside program staff. Experienced. The Nebraska Agenda for Full Participation: Framing the Disability Discussion Presented by: Brad Meurrens and Kathy Hoell This workshop will discuss the Nebraska Agenda for Full Participation project and how advocates can and should employ a proactive approach to systems advocacy so their voices can begin to frame the public discussion of policies affecting people with disabilities rather than being purely passive participants. Experienced. Collaborating for Systems Change in Education Presented by: Amber Smock, Jose Ocampo and Veronica Martinez Systems change that is by the people and for the people happens because people get together and demand it! Learn how a youth disability rights group and SEIU Local 73 worked together to stand up to the officials of the third largest school district in the country to demand teachers and staff support students with disabilities. Empower yourself by hearing a terrific story and seeing how grassroots organizing Tactics were used to prevent special education in Chicago from being “flushed down the toilet”. Experienced. Responding to Community Need: How One CIL Created an Alternative to the Community Mental Health System Presented by: Dana V. Spinney, Jim Beck, and Rosalie LeBaron Centers for Independent Living must respond to the specific independent living needs of their communities. More persons with TBI and psychiatric disabilities are looking to CILs on their personal path to recovery. In this session, participants will see an example of how a CIL can meet these specific community needs through the state Medicaid system while keeping in tune with organization mission and the independent living philosophy. Experienced. Nursing Home Transition: Show Me The Money! Presented by: Kevin Nale and Lydia Cosgrove Nursing Home Transition could soon be the fifth core service for CILs. The work is necessary and important, but where’s the money going to come from? One CIL, covering both urban and rural areas, has identified non-traditional funding sources and collaborations that have resulted in more than $25,000 for nursing home transition expenses in three years. Hear directly from the Nursing Home Transition Coordinator and the grant writer who have made this happen, and are continuing to find money for the agency’s program. Newcomer. Stepping Stones: How to Provide a Platform for Peer Mentoring for Nursing Home Survivors Presented by: Monica Heffner, Tom Wilson, George Brimmage and Fran Madnick This workshop examines the issues encountered as people transition to community living after a period of confinement in a institution. Access Living’s experiences in developing a peer mentoring group called Stepping Stones for nursing homes survivors will be shared in a way that will help centers learn from our peer mentoring model. We have found from working with peer mentoring nursing home survivors that participants tend to stay in the community and evolve into self advocates. Experienced. The Right to be Healthy: Evidence to Support Individual and Systems Advocacy in HCBS Presented by: Dr. Amanda Reichard, Dr. Glen White, and Martha Hodgesmith This session will discuss the relationship between HCBS and health services, especially preventive and screening services. The discussion will be based on a Kansas study that reviewed the use of HCBS waiver services in correlation with healthcare usage. Participants will be able to describe how the health of individuals has improved, describe how the use of healthcare services has changed and improved, and identify what CILs and personal care attendants can do to help consumers and policy makers improve health outcomes for consumers with physical disabilities. Experienced. Leveraging Your Voting Access Efforts Presented by: Brad Williams This workshop will explore a range of voting access efforts that led to successful results. Some examples include a voter-turnout PSA; a voting advocacy video; a state legislative bill to improve polling place access; the defeat of procedures to segregate countywide voting sites for voters with disabilities; the defeat of a proposed amendment that would have suspended accessible voting rights under HAVA in New York until 2010; and various litigation efforts and media impact. Experienced. Executive Directors and Board Members Leveraging the New Ticket to Work Program for Your Center for Independent Living or Statewide Independent Living Council Presented by: Deb Cotter SSA is listening, learning, and responding. Proposed changes to Ticket to Work (TTW) Program regulations create greater financial incentives and more flexibility for Employment Networks (ENs). SSA is re-launching the TTW Program based on these changes. Resources and tools were developed to make becoming and serving as an EN easier. Creative outreach strategies will increase the number of beneficiaries participating in the Program. Hear from a CIL that has been successful in getting beneficiaries to work under the TTW Program. With more than $11.6 million paid to over 450 ENs to date, wouldn’t your Center like to share in the success? Experienced. This workshop is also appropriate for advocates and project directors. Supercharge Your Mission by Making New Partners! Presented by: Burt Danovitz and Joann Marshall The disability rights movement is stuck. Now, more than ever, there is a need to create new partnerships that will support Centers work in creating opportunities. This session will focus on why and how this can be done. Examples of who Centers can work with and how they can develop a plan for doing so will be presented in this highly interactive session. Working Effectively with the Media: Basic Practices for Advocacy Using Media Relations and Fundraising Presented by: Abbie S. Fink, Phil Pangrazio, Carol Voss, and Jim Moore Join us as we help your ILC to “jumpstart” media relations and fundraising efforts to promote your advocacy initiatives. Learn about how awareness can help your ILC to raise funds. Hear about a success story that combines public awareness, media relations and fundraising to support an ILC. This workshop includes tips for writing effective news releases and story pitches, how to make friends with the media and how to make the most of an interview situation. Participants will have the chance to practice what they learn as part of this interactive workshop. Appropriate for all experience levels. Managing Risk: Time for Change! Presented by: Daniel Glass and Leon Williams, Jr. “If it’s almost right, it’s wrong!” Have you ever faced this philosophy? What if it becomes a reality that places your organization in jeopardy? When your best intentions and efforts face the scrutiny of the EEOC, will you be prepared to defend yourself? Along with similar questions, Babb Incorporated will equip participants with the tools to manage their Risk. This session welcomes questions and challenges! Experienced. This workshop is also appropriate for project directors, advocates, front-line staff, and consumers. General Information and Registration Rates Registrant Replacement Policy: If it has become necessary for you to send someone to the conference in your place, please contact us as soon as possible. Substitutions must be made in writing, PRIOR to the conference. Please send written requests to the National Council on Independent Living by fax to (202) 207-0341, or by email to ncil@ncil.org. Cancellation Policy: Cancellation requests received on or before July 11, 2008 will be refundable less a $50 processing fee. There will be no refunds made after July 11, 2008. Cancellation requests must be made in writing and sent to the National Council on Independent Living by fax to (202) 207-0341, or by email to ncil@ncil.org. Personal Assistant Registration Policy: Personal Assistants are not required to pay the registration fee but should fill out a form to receive a badge. Personal Assistants are welcome to attend all conference events, including scheduled meals and receptions. Youth Registration Rate: NCIL is offering a reduced youth registration fee of $110 to all NCIL members that are 22-years-old or younger. NCIL believes it is vital that more young people with disabilities be exposed to the benefits of active involvement in NCIL and self-advocacy. We hope this special rate will allow young people to afford the conference and for CILs, SILCs, and other organizations to sponsor additional young people to attend. Region 1- CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT Region 2 - NJ, NY, VI, PR Region 3 - DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV Region 4 - AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN Region 5 - IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI Region 6 - AR, LA, NM, OK, TX Region 7 - IA, KS, NE, MO Region 8 - CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY Region 9 - AS, AZ, CA, CNMI, GU, HI, NV Region 10 - AK, ID, OR, WA Registration Costs Please note that fees are per person and include materials, workshops, meals, and the anniversary banquet; except the Daily Rate, which does not include a ticket to the anniversary banquet. Full Conference Registration Registration Rate: Payment postmarked on or after May 23, 2008 NCIL Member=$265 Youth Member (22 & Under)=$110 Non-Member=$385 Early Bird Rate: Payment must be postmarked by May 23, 2007 NCIL Member=$190 Youth Member (22 & Under)=$110 Non-Member=$310 Onsite (“At the Door”) Registration Rates: NCIL Member=$305 Non-Member=$430 Daily=$210 Daily Rates: Please indicate which days you will attend on your registration form. NCIL Member=$115/day* Non-Member=$160/day* *Daily Rate does not include banquet ticket. ADA Banquet: (Included with Full Conference Registration!) Banquet Ticket Only=$150 Banquet Ticket and Thursday Registration NCIL Member=$165 Non-Member=$210 2008 NCIL Conference Registration Form Please type or print and use a separate form for each registrant. Send completed registrations to NCIL; instructions are listed below. If you prefer to register online, please visit www.ncil.org. Full Conference Registration: [please eliminate other options]. -Full Registration (postmarked after May 23, 2008) -Early Bird Rate (must be postmarked by May 23, 2008) -I am the Personal Assistant of: (no charge) Daily Registration:[please eliminate other options]. -Monday -Tuesday -Wednesday -Thursday -Thursday and Banquet -Banquet Only Prefix and Name: Organization: Region: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: TTY: Fax: Email: Auxiliary Aids (Please indicate the materials and services you will need.) [please eliminate other options]. Materials: -Large Print -Braille -Audio CD -Text-Only CD Accommodations: -Reader -American Sign Language -CART -Transcripts -Assistive Listening Device -Personal Assistant -Contact Sign -Other: Diet: -Salt-Free -Vegetarian -Low Cholesterol Other: Payment Information Check payment: Please make checks payable to “NCIL Annual Conference”. Credit card payment: Visa or MasterCard ONLY (please circle one). Card #: Exp. Date: Signature: Total Charge: $ Send completed registrations to: The National Council on Independent Living / 1710 Rhode Island Ave NW / Fifth Floor NW / Washington, D.C. 20036 or by fax to (202) 207-0341 . If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at (202) 207-0334; by TTY at (202) 207-0340 or by email at ncil@ncil.org. Find up-to-date conference information at www.ncil.org.