Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special education

1. Governor’sCouncil onDisabilitiesand Special education Council Overview October 2013

2. Developmental Disabilities Council • Purpose • Advocacy • Systems change • Capacity building • Community Services • Consumer and family centered • Individualized supports • Consumer and family directed • Self-determination

3. Developmental Disabilities Council

4. Developmental Disabilities Council • 5-Year Plan • Advocacy and Leadership • Community Choice and Supports • Quality Assurance • Recreation • Housing • Transportation • Employment • Early Intervention • Childcare • Education • Health

5. Who are council members?

6. Special education Advisory Panel • Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), every state has a Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) • The Governor’s Council serves as Alaska’sSEAP • The Education Committee is the workgroup for the SEAP • The Education Committee is made up of representatives fromstakeholder groups

7. Who are SEAP members?

8. Special education Advisory Panel • Advise on unmet needs within the state • Comment publicly on any rules or regulations • Advise in developing evaluations • Advise in developing corrective action plans • Advise in policies on coordination of services • Review and comment on completed due process hearing findings

9. Interagency Coordinating Council • Under IDEA Part C, every state has an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities • The Governor’s Council serves as the ICC • The Early Intervention Committee is the workgroup for the ICC • The EIC is made up of representatives from stakeholder groups

10. Who are ICC members?

11. Interagency Coordinating Council • Advise on unmet needs • Review and comment on rules and regulations • Identification of program supports and services • Promotion of interagency agreements • Transition of toddlers to preschool • Report annually on the status of early intervention programs • Advise other agencies about the integration of services

12. Special Education Service agencySESA SESA Mission SESA provides consultation and training to support the unique educational needs of individuals and the Alaskan communities that serve them • SESA Programs • Low Incidence Disabilities (LID) • Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC) • Educational Transition Support Project (ETSP) • Alaska Deaf Blind Project (DSI) • Guiding and Investing in New Special Educators (GAINS)

13. Special Education Service agency LID program serves students who have the following disabilities: • autism • Deaf, deaf-blind • cognitive impairment • hearing impairment • blind and visual impairment • orthopedic disability • other health impairments • severe emotional disturbance • multiple disabilities

14. SESA Board Members TereseKashi, Taylor Gregg, Eric Gebhart, PJ Ford Slack, Ernie Manzie, Diane George, Don Enoch, Dan Kaasa, Milton Cheemuk

15. Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority • Perpetual Trust (like a private foundation) • Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Plan and Program • Trust Beneficiaries • Mental illness • Developmental disabilities • Chronic alcoholism • Alzheimer's and related dementia • Brain injury

16. Alaska mental health trust authorityFocus areas • Affordable Appropriate Housing • Disability Justice • Workforce Development • Beneficiary Employment • Alcohol

17. Alaska mental health trust authorityTrustees Mike Barton William Doolittle Laraine Derr Larry Norene Mary Jane Michael Paula Easley Russ Webb

18. Employment of Alaskans with Disabilities • Percentage of working age (18-64) Alaskans with disabilities who were employed in 2011 47% • Percentage of working age Alaskans without disabilities who were employed in 2011 80% Source: American Community Survey

19. Ak integrated Employment Initiative Goal: Double the number of youth and young adults served by the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services who are employed or self-employed, from 139 to 278 • Improved policies and regulations • Training (providers, families, educators, individuals) • Collaboration with business and industry • Dissemination of effective systems change approaches

20. Disability Employment initiative Goal: To ensure the Alaska Job Centers are accessible and have staff that are knowledgeable in effectively serving customers with disabilities • Staff training • Accessibility reviews, fixes and upgrades • Asset building activities • Customized Employment • Ticket to Work and benefits planning

21. Project search Transition program for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities that provides on-the-job training and education during their last year of high school • Current sites in Hospitals in Anchorage, MatSu, Fairbanks, Kenai/Soldotna • Collaborative effort of the Council, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Education and Early Development, service providers and businesses • 86% of graduates have secured competitive integrated employment

23. What is Project SEARCH?One year intensive transition program for students with disabilities age 18-22.Currently in 4 hospitals in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Matsu and Soldotna

24. Program Description • One school year program • 6-8 students • Students with a variety of disabilities • Last year of HS eligibility • Rotation through unpaid internships with continual feedback • Integrated, competitive employment is preferred outcome, with 87% so far!

25. Our Partners • Project SEARCH (Cincinnati) • Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) • Host businesses, i.e. hospitals • Local school districts • State Dept. of Ed & Early Development (DEED) • Community Rehab providers • Business Advisory Councils

26. What’s Next? Project SEARCH in Alaska State Government in Juneau Fall 2014 or Winter 2015 Patrick Reinhart, Planner Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education Patrick.Reinhart@alaska.gov 907-269-8554

27. THE TRUST Microenterprise Fund Alaska Mental Health Trust funding that provides grants to Trust beneficiaries to assist them in starting or expanding their own business • FY14 funding $150,000 • Awards range from $500 to $10,000 • Must have a dollar for dollar “match” • Must have proof of beneficiary status • Review committee accepts and reviews applications 3 times per year

28. Health and Emergency Preparedness • 3-year CDC Health & Disability Grant • Goals • Promote and maximize health • Prevent chronic disease • Improve emergency preparedness • Increase quality of life

29. Health and Emergency Preparedness • Alaska Health & Disability Program Committee • Members from various areas of public health • Meet monthly • Share resources • Build partnerships

30. Health and Emergency Preparedness • New Partnerships • Division of Public Health • Statewide Independent Living Council • Northwest ADA Center • Hope Community Resources

31. Alaska Safety Planning & Empowerment Network • Goal • History • Statewide ASPEN collaborative • Focus community collaborative

32. Alaska Safety Planning & Empowerment Network • Needs assessment • Policy review • Strategic Plan • Evaluation