Update on the Independent Living Administration: Your Input Needed by August 27, 2010

Read the Latest Draft and Submit Comments!

Dear NCIL Member:

As you may be aware, the National Council on Independent Living’s (NCIL) Subcommittee on Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act has been working on the design of an Independent Living Administration (ILA).  Initially, we formed three workgroups (ILA Administration, SILC, and CIL) to draft the ILA language.  We invited NCIL members and people from the various conferences who expressed an interest to join any or all of the workgroups. We then attempted to get additional feedback/input through a blog.  This is a third opportunity for NCIL members to provide feedback on our ILA paper.

The concept of an ILA has been discussed for quite some time. Because of issues surrounding the reinterpretations of the Rehabilitation Act and a suggestion from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, it has become one of our top priorities over the last few years.

Initially our strategy entailed working toward the ILA in concert with the Reauthorization.  However, due to recent issues that would significantly impact the structure of IL, the workgroup doubled its efforts and prepared an ILA synopsis to coordinate efforts with the Senate HELP Committee to consolidate, reduce duplication, improve and streamline access to IL services to address areas of unmet needs.

NCIL has recently submitted this synopsis to the Senate HELP Committee to aid in their efforts with the Reauthorization of the Rehab Act. It is our intention to see the ILA developed into legislative language and included in the Reauthorization.

As this process moves forward your input and involvement is crucial.  To allow for continuous updates and feedback on the ILA, NCIL created a blog at www.iladministration.blogspot.com. 

Please provide your comments by August 27, 2010.

Sincerely,
Shannon Jones, Vicki Haws
Co-Chairs, Rehab Act Subcommittee