SILC-NET Presents…
A National Two-Part Teleconference & Webcast

Strengthening Partnerships: Fostering Statewide Collaboration
An Introduction for Statewide Independent Living Councils

Part 1: Strengthening Partnerships Between SILCs and CILs

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

3:00 – 4:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Part 2: Strengthening Partnerships Between SILCs and DSUs

Rescheduled! Wednesday, July 8, 2009

3:00 – 4:30pm (Please note: Eastern Time!)

Please Note: Part 1 of this training has already taken place.
Please contact eleanor@ncil.org for access to part 1.

Having trouble eliciting successful collaboration between your SILC and people with disabilities, CILs, and the DSU so that you can create the best possible State Plan for Independent Living? Please join us for this two-part teleconference and CART webcast. Part 1 will provide participants with concrete examples of how SILCs can collaborate with CILs and people with disabilities across their state to assess the most important needs and use that information to develop a progressive, informed SPIL. Part 2 will explore successful and productive partnerships between SILCs and Designated State Units (DSUs), as well as the applicable regulations of the relationship.

TARGET AUDIENCE: The primary target audience is SILC executive directors, staff, and Council members.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this two-part presentation, participants will be able to:

• Describe statutory requirements related to developing working relationships with your CILs
  
  
• Identify avenues for collaborating with CILs for planning and developing your next SPIL
  
  
• Describe some examples of best practices for SILC-CIL partnering
  
  
• Describe statutory requirements related to developing working relationships with your DSUs
  
  
• Identify avenues for collaborating with DSUs for planning and developing your next SPIL
  
  
• Describe some examples of best practices for SILC-DSU partnering

PRELIMINARY AGENDA

Part 1: Networking Between SILCs and CILs

3:00 pm EST – Introductions
3:05 pm – Statutory Requirements; SILC Congress Activity
3:15 pm – Q&A
3:20 pm – The CIL Role in Developing a SPIL; Assessing Need
3:40 pm – Q&A Session
3:50 pm – Outreach to Underserved Communities
3:55 pm – Q&A Session
4:05 pm – Development of CIL Network; Goals, Objectives and Activities
4:20 pm – Final Q&A Session and Conclusion
4:30 pm – Presentation Ends

Part 2:  Networking Between DSUs and SILCs - Updated!

3:00 pm – Welcome & Introductions
3:10 pm – Joint preparation of State Plan Assessment
3:15 pm – Participant Feedback and Q&A
3:25 pm – Monitor, Review and Evaluate SPIL Implementation
3:30 pm – Participant Feedback and Q&A
3:40 pm – Degree of Coordination between the SILC and the SRC
3:45 pm – Participant Feedback and Q&A
3:55 pm – Level of SILC, DSU and SRC Engagement
4:00 pm – Participant Feedback and Q&A
4:10 pm – SILC Resource Plan 
4:15 pm – Participant Feedback and Final Q&A
4:30 pm – Presentation Ends

ABOUT YOUR TRAINERS

Mike Bachhuber, Executive Director, Independent Living Council of Wisconsin

Mike Bachhuber is the Executive Director of the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin, the State's SILC.  Prior to August 2007, Mike was the Executive Director of Access to Independence, one of the State's eight IL Centers.

Mike has been active in several organizations working in the emotional disability field and is currently Chair of the State's Council on Mental Health.  He has also served on the Board of Grassroots Empowerment Project, the State's MH Consumer Network.  Prior to working at the Center, Mike worked for the State's Protection and Advocacy System.  He was engaged in community transition for Nursing Home residents and litigation to fix paratransit issues at the P&A in addition to other projects there.  He had also worked as an attorney in private practice for ten years.

Brad Williams, Executive Director, New York State Independent Living Council

Brad Williams earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SUNY Albany in 1984 and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Russell Sage College in 1990. Mr. Williams served as the Executive Director of the Glens Falls Independent Living Center from 1990 to 1999. While at the center, he established the Center for Assistive Computer Technology, developed an ADA Marketing Strategy which won a national award from the University of Kansas, helped to establish a Saratoga County satellite office, and successfully completed a capital campaign to occupy a $ 1.5 million dollar multi-agency facility. During this time period, Mr. Williams was also the Chairman of the New York State Coalition On Independent Living (COIL) and Secretary of the New York State Commissioner's Advisory Panel for Special Education Services.

Brad Williams is currently the Executive Director of the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC). The council provides technical assistance and training to centers, looks to increase public awareness about independent living, and pursues a public policy agenda that results in systemic change for people with disabilities. Mr. Williams serves on the Governing Board of the National Council on Independent Living, Co-Chair of the New York State Interagency Partnership on Assistive Technology, and is a member of the New York State Office of Advocate for Persons with Disabilities (OAPWD) Advisory Board.

Charlene Dwyer, Administrator of the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Charlene Dwyer is the Administrator of the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).  She has served in this capacity since July 2001.  Charlene has 32 years of experience in the development and provision of supports to persons with disabilities including working three years in an independent living center from 1990-1993. In addition to her public service, she has also worked in higher education and in several non-profit sectors. 

Charlene earned her Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Doctorate Degree in Counselor Education.   She has been an individual NCIL member since individual memberships were offered and is a member of NCIL's Employment and Social Security Committee. Charlene fully supports partnerships between VR employment and Independent Living that lead to an improved quality of life for our common customers - persons with disabilities who want to be fully integrated into and contributors to their communities.

PRESENTED BY SILC-NET: A program of the IL NET national training and technical assistance project for Centers for Independent Living (CIL-NET) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC-NET). The IL NET is operated by ILRU, Independent Living Research Utilization, in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL).