NCIL: National Council on Independent Living Annual Report 2013 Image: Justin Dart Puppet About NCIL The National Council on Independent Living is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. NCIL represents people with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Councils, and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States. -NCIL advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities. -NCIL envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully. A Message From the Executive Director Dear Advocates and Friends, 2013 was a trying time for our nation and for the Independent Living Movement. As we anticipated and adjusted to the new healthcare law, gridlock gripped Washington, eventually leading to shutdown. In the midst of overwhelming obstacles, our community fought back. We brought the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities back to the Senate. We took major steps toward bringing about an Independent Living Administration. And in every town and every city, advocates did the hard work, on the ground, to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities and actualize our dream: independence for all. Yet many of our brothers and sisters remain locked in nursing facilities and other institutions. The Independent Living Program remains a hostage to the whims of bureaucrats. And American culture has not yet fully embraced the Independent Living philosophy of consumer control. These are battles we can win - with your help. For that reason, I ask that you become a NCIL Member. Your direct participation in the national Independent Living Movement is critical for its success. NCIL continues to provide first class member benefits, including training and technical assistance, insurance benefits, and a world-class Annual Conference. Most importantly, NCIL provides its members with representation on Capitol Hill, ensuring that our voices are heard by those with the power to enact our priorities. I hope you will join us as we build a future of independence for all. Sincerely, Kelly Buckland, Executive Director Image: A welder with a disability Advocacy & Accomplishments In 2013 NCIL worked to advance the social, economic, and political equality of people with disabilities by: -maintaining federal funding for CILs & SILCs without specific cuts to America’s IL Program, -progressing Senate Bill 1356, which contains reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act with specific language drafted by NCIL to include an Independent Living Administration, through the Senate HELP Committee, -leading a concerted effort to more effectively measure and promote outcomes of the IL Program, -pressing the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to provide effective monitoring and guidance to the CILs and SILCs, -bringing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities back to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, -partnering with other national consumer-controlled organizations to lead campaigns to end discrimination in organ transplants, suicide prevention, and reproductive technologies, -providing representation on several US Access Board Committees and making recommendations to increase accessible transportation options, prescription labeling, and standards for medical diagnostic equipment, and -partnering with the World Institute on Disability and PolicyWorks on CareerACCESS, a pilot project intended to markedly increase employment rates for youth with disabilities. In 2013 NCIL was increasingly effective in expanding the work of our members and advocating their issues nationally. NCIL also:  -with bipartisan participation, hosted the 7th Annual Congressional Policy Briefing on Capitol Hill to educate members of Congress on Independent Living, -maintained a strong and active membership base despite a severe recession and cuts to state budgets, -held the 9th annual Policy Briefing webinar for the IL community, -successfully placed NCIL Policy Internship Program participants in jobs within the disability community. -diversified revenue with new sources of income from grants, honorariums and sponsorships, and -was recognized as a top-five disability non-profit by Philanthropedia, a division of Guide Star. Image: A woman signs the word "independence" Image: A young man with a disability RE:GENERATION: 2013 Annual Conference on Independent Living Attendees of this year’s Annual Conference were a part of history. This event marked an important milestone for disability rights in America. NCIL thanks our members for their tireless efforts and the sponsors that made this event possible.  This year’s conference was one of the most impactful in many ways. The mix of hard-core veteran leaders and inspired new advocates created a dedicated army that left its mark on Washington. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, the first woman with a disability to serve in the House of Representatives, brought the house down during the opening plenary and prepared advocates to present their message to Congress effectively. First-time attendees were present in force and brought fierce passion to the annual march to and rally at the Capitol. Advocates left fired up and fully prepared to bring our voices on our issues to Congress, including our top priority, the establishment of an Independent Living Administration. Just a few days after our advocacy efforts, S. 1356 was successfully passed out of the Senate HELP Committee. The Annual Council meeting was the briefest in recorded history. Elections were held for President, Treasurer, and three Member-At-Large positions. The results of elections (held prior to the conference) for Representatives of Regions I, III, V, VII, and IX were also announced at the meeting. One resolution, which denounces disability profiling, was passed by the NCIL membership. 2013 Award Recipients NCIL congratulates the following advocates, who were honored in 2013 for their outstanding commitment to Independent Living and civil rights of people with disabilities. National Advocacy Awards: -President’s Award: The Honorable John Davison Rockefeller IV -Diana Vietz Award: Sara Moussavian -Corey Rowley National Advocacy Award: Shannon Jones -Max Starkloff Lifetime Achievement Award: The Honorable Robert Joseph Dole -Women’s Caucus Award: Michelle Krajewski, Ann McDaniel, and Julia Sain Regional Advocacy Awards: -Sarah Launderville, Region I -Elizabeth Rodriguez-Miranda, Region II -Timothy J. Moran, Region III -Dawn Alford, Region IV -Thomas Diedrick and Kitty Barry, Region V -Carla Lawson, Region VI -Mary Angus, Region VII -Travis Hoffman, Region VIII -Dolores Tejada, Region IX -Patt Kosier, Region X NCIL Board of Directors -Lou Ann Kibbee, President -Mark Derry, Vice-President -Pat Puckett, Secretary -Roger Howard, Treasurer -Stanley Holbrook, Diversity Chair -Maureen Ryan, Regional Representative Chair -Kelly Buckland, Executive Director Regional Representatives: Sarah Launderville, Cliff Perez, Jan Derry, Jan Day, Maureen Ryan, Brenda Stinebuck, Shawn D’Abreu, Tami Hoar, Sheri Burns, and Doug Toelle Members At Large: Shannon Jones, Ann McDaniel, Vicki Haws, Bruce Darling, Mary Margaret Moore, and Zainab Jama Image: People over profit - NCIL protest sign Image: Dawn Alford - Award recipient NCIL Staff -Dara Baldwin, Policy Analyst -Kelly Buckland, Executive Director -Eleanor Canter, Communications Coordinator -Thea Ervin, Development Coordinator -Tim Fuchs, Operations Director -Patricia Gill, Accountant -Denise Law, Member Services Associate -Brett Ogden, Policy Intern -Meredith Raymond, Policy Intern -Ashton Rosin, Policy Intern -Rie Terashima, Administrative Assistant -Austin Walker, Policy Analyst A Sampling of Member Accomplishments -The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, Ohio provided 500 business leaders, educators, and other community members with best practices and solutions to improving community inclusion through participation in the Accessible Communities Education Series. --Image: They also helped Dallas, pictured here, realize his 18th birthday wish: skydiving from 14,000 feet. -The disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock in Fredericksburg, Virginia gave 2,039 pieces of durable medical equipment to 1,492 people through its Equipment Connection reuse program in 2013. -Since 2004, Access to Independence of Cortland County, New York has transitioned or diverted 68 individuals, keeping them at home and in their communities, and resulting in a savings to New York State of $2,285,598. -The Blue Ridge Independent Living Center in Roanoke, Virginia distributed more than $80,000 for home modifications, keeping city residents independent in their own homes and communities, all while increasing the City’s accessible housing stock. -SKIL Resource Center, which operates throughout much of Kansas, hosted over 100 young people with disabilities at Disability Mentoring Day 2013, a daylong event that provided opportunities to receive information on job preparedness and interview skills. -Arizona Bridge to Independent Living matched 38 newly-injured consumers with Peer Mentors, and 366 volunteer hours were contributed to this program. -Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living, in cooperation with other advocacy organizations, hosted the first ever statewide conference on sexual violence against people with disabilities. This two-day training gave disability service providers toolkits they can use to ensure accessibility during the healing process. -The Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin, in collaboration with North Country Independent Living, provided transportation to 1,162 persons with disabilities (totaling 40,773 trips) to help them remain independent and living in their own homes. -Community Resources for Independent Living in Hayward, California sponsored the Community Leadership Academy: Leaders without Limits, a 5 week governance and leadership training program for people with disabilities. All participants are now actively promoting inclusion by serving their community in leadership positions. Independent Living Training and Events IL-NET is a national training and technical assistance project for Centers for Independent Living (CIL-NET) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC-NET) operated by NCIL in partnership with ILRU and APRIL that focuses on: -Deinstitutionalization / Community Services and Supports -Outreach to Unserved and Underserved Populations -Consumer Control -Peer Mentoring of CILs and SILCs -Systems Advocacy -Data Collection and Reporting In 2013, NCIL presented 4 national onsite trainings and 12 webinars, reaching more than 1200 people. The IL-NET program also provided technical assistance to thousands in the Independent Living community. National Onsite Trainings: -Finalizing Your Outcomes-Focused SPIL: Good Practices and Thorny Challenges** -Effective Service Coordination: Engaging Consumers with a Holistic Approach to IL Services* -Financial Management for Centers for Independent Living* -Public Relations & Marketing Workshop for Centers for Independent Living* National Teleconferences and Webinars: -Leadership: Shifting Your CIL into High Gear* -Effective Statewide Outreach Parts I & II* ** -SILC Duties and Responsibilities** -Cost Allocation Plans for CILs* -Needs Assessment: A Discussion on Current Approaches and Practices in Needs Assessment in SILCs** -Assessing the Health of Your CIL: Preventative Management Checkup Using RSA’s Review Tool Parts I and II* -Strategic Partnerships & Relationships with Other Disability Organizations** -Effective Rural Outreach: Using the Concerns Report Method as a Tool for Change* -Using Consumer Satisfaction Information for Planning Parts I and II* ** * CIL-NET ** SILC-NET Image: Protest sign - Employment = Empowerment Image: Protest sign - Don't Tread on the ADA Strategic Plan Priorities 2013 Improve Infrastructure -Foster new leadership and diversity with input and assistance from CILs and SILCs -Ensure staff capacity to meet organizational membership needs and priorities -Strengthen NCIL Committees and Subcommittees -Provide focused leadership to members -Create and promote the NCIL “Brand” Develop NCIL Membership -Expand and improve member services and benefits -Recruit new members -Develop leadership training and development -Develop and implement board recruitment process -Ensure that every member of the Board of Directors makes or secures an annual donation Create Systems to Secure Funding Support in the Short- and Long-Term -Generate restricted and unrestricted revenue from corporations -Generate program-related funding and operational support from foundations -Generate broad support from individuals -Secure in-kind support for goods and services -Create a National Honorary Advisory Board to promote NCIL’s visibility -Increase membership revenue -Develop opportunities for revenue through sale of unique products and services Expand NCIL’s Impact on Legislation & Policy as It Positively Impacts People with Disabilities -Improve communication with members -Be the “go to” organization for Independent Living issues -Build and launch a new NCIL website; increase website traffic -Increase awareness of issues facing people with disabilities and the principles of IL Philosophy Image: American flag with accessibility symbol in white stars Image: Protest sign - ADA: I Am Equal Too Statement of Financial Position* Revenues: -Grants & Programs: $579,096.62 (51%) -Annual Conference: $231,901.50 (20%) -Donations: $31,670.00 (3%) -Other Income: $46,959.84 (4%) -Membership Dues: $253,474.50 (22%) Total 2013 Income: $1,143,102.46 Expenses: -Administration & Finance: $98,326.98 (9%) -Training & Assistance: $408,338.96 (36%) -Advocacy & Programs: $414,253.71 (36%) -Annual Conference: $216,376.54 (19%) Total 2013 Expenses: $1,137,296.19 Assets: Current Assets: $271,326.36 -Prepaid Expenses: $40,466.62 -Prepaid Legal Expenses: $24,765.00 -Inventory: $1,434.14 -Fixed Assets: $5,029.07 -Deposits: $14,556.50 Total Assets: $357,577.69 Liabilities and Fund Balance: Current Liabilities: $209,185.60 Unrestricted Reserve: $142,585.82 Total Net Assets: $5,806.27 Total Liabilities: $357,577.69 *All figures represented in this statement of financial position are unaudited. Final numbers may vary slightly. Please contact NCIL for an updated report. Image: A person with a disability exits the light rail Donors NCIL would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the following people and organizations, who contributed financially in support of our mission in 2013: -Alexa Brill -Alpha One CIL -Ann Watts McDaniel -APRIL -Arbor Soft -ABIL -ATTIC, Inc. -Bob & Jane Fuchs -Bruce Darling -Bryon MacDonald -California SILC -Carol Tyson -Charlotte Stewart -Clifton Perez -Colleen Starkloff -Connecticut SILC -Dan and Gail Kessler -Dennis Fitzgibbons -Deone Wilson -Diane Coleman -DIRECT Center for Independence -Disability Rights and Resources -Dot Nary -Ellen Weaver -Elsa Quezada -Florida SILC -Garrett Hulett -Georgia SILC -Gregory Care -ILC of the North Shore & Cape Ann -IndependenceFirst -Invacare Corporation -James Dickson -Jan Day -Jeff Bandman -John Chappell, Jr. -Jones Family Charitable Foundation -Judith N. Herr -Kat Lyons -Kathleen Kleinmann -Kathy Hoell -Keith Gurgui -Kenneth Hoff -Kenneth Klauck -Kevin Logan -Kim Gibson -Kim Nielsen -Leon Williams, Jr. -Linda Dezenski -Linda Pogue -Living Independence Network Corp. -Lou Ann Kibbee -Lynnae Ruttledge -Maggie Roffee -Marca Bristo -Marsha Katz -Maureen McCloskey -Maureen Ryan -Merrill Friedman -Michael Meadows -Nancy Mattice -Nathan Tuff -New Horizons Independent Living Center -Patricia Puckett -Patt Kosier -Phil Chase -Phil Pangrazio -Randy Hayes -REACH of Fort Worth Resource CIL -Regional Center for Independent Living -Sarah Wendell Launderville -Shannon Jones -Shawn D'Abreu -Sheri Caveda -Sherisse Burns -Southwest Louisiana Independence Center -Southwestern Center for Independent Living -Stephanie Brady -Susan Tachau -The Ability Center of Greater Toledo -Tiffany Ingram -Tim Sheehan -Vicki Haws -Virginia Association of CILs -Wendy Booker -West Virginia SILC -Yoshiko Dart Corporate Sponsors NCIL thanks the following corporate sponsors for their support and partnership in 2013: -AAPD -AARP -ABC Medical -Accessible Bath Technologies -Alternative Communication Services -American Association for Homecare -Amerigroup -AMTRAK -Arizona Bridge to Independent Living -AT&T -Bender Consulting Services -Centene -CIL Suite / Q90 -Google -ILC of the North Shore & Cape Ann -IndependenceFirst -Living Independence Network Corporation (LINC) -Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation -Molina Healthcare -Not Dead Yet -Pride Mobility Products -SILC of Georgia -The HSC Foundation -Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living