The Governor's Office of Disability Affairs Newsletter
August/September 2019
|
|
Governor's Office of Disability Affairs Conference Video
to air statewide, available online
|
|
The video recap of the 2019 GODA Conference is scheduled to be televised on the Louisiana Hometown Network (LHN) channel in the month of September. Please click
here
to gain access the LHN's viewing schedule.
In addition, the conference video can be seen via YouTube with closed captioning by clicking
here
.
|
|
Establishment of Local Special Education Advisory Councils
|
|
Senate Bill 158/ Act 274 of 2019
mandates the creation of Local Special Education Advisory Councils in all public and charter school districts no later than January 1, 2020. At its June 18 meeting, the
Governor’s Advisory Council on Disability Affairs (GACDA)
discussed this mandate as well as member suggestions for the most effective, meaningful implementation of this new requirement.
GACDA is asking all traditional public and public charter school districts to consider the following suggestions as they go about the important work of establishing and running these Advisory Councils:
·
Public posting of the opportunity to apply for membership in your Local
Special Education Advisory Council.
·
Establishing a transparent application process, including clearly defined
term limits.
·
Diversity in selecting members: diversity in disability, race, gender, and
geographic location within your district. Such diversity would ideally apply to
parents, teachers, and other stakeholders selected for membership.
·
Including self-advocates, such as high school students with disabilities, for
membership.
·
Including student leadership and a school board member in the “other
stakeholder” group.
·
Including representation from a local non-profit (such as Families Helping
Families), a community group serving students with disabilities, Louisiana
Rehabilitation Services, post-secondary education program and an adult
with a disability.
·
Making the Advisory Council meetings public, and publicly posting meeting
agendas and minutes.
·
Making all Advisory Council meetings accessible to all people with
disabilities (such as wheelchair accessible meeting locations for persons
with physical disabilities or having an interpreter present to provide access
for members of the deaf community).
GACDA appreciates the consideration of these suggestions and looks forward to the contribution these Local Special Education Advisory Councils will make in improving outcomes for students with disabilities in our state.
|
|
Office of Behavioral Health
to Host Listening Tour throughout the State
|
|
The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health will be holding a series of regional meetings, or listening tour.
Each stop on the “Conversations on Behavioral Health” listening tour will allow individuals, community representatives and providers an opportunity to share with state officials their ideas and concerns about their experiences with the behavioral health system.
From New Orleans to Shreveport and Monroe, the tour includes 15 different meetings at nine locations.
Note that some dates have separate meeting times for providers and community members. The flyer below shows all the meeting dates, times and locations. For more information please click
here
.
|
|
Ms. Wheelchair Louisiana Competition
|
|
The Ms. Wheelchair Louisiana Competition will take place on November 2, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The mission of Ms. Wheelchair Louisiana is to provide an opportunity for women of achievement, who utilize wheelchairs, to successfully educate and advocate for individuals with disabilities.
The deadline to submit applications for the 2019 competition is October 10, 2019. To download an application or for more information please click
here
.
|
|
Louisiana Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Conference
|
|
The Louisiana Chapter of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) will host its annual conference on September 18-20, 2019 in Alexandria, Louisiana.
This three day conference will feature a variety of presentations relative to social work, psychology, and other important practical information to individuals with developmental disabilities and their support network. Nursing CEUs will be available.
To register or for more information regarding the AAIDD Conference please click
here
.
|
|
NADD to host 36th Annual Conference in New Orleans
|
|
The NADD will host its 36th annual conference in New Orleans on October 23-25th 2019.
The theme of this year's conference is "Parading Through Life: Celebrating Resilience, Joy and Wellness...Letting the Good Times Roll in New Orleans".
The NADD is an association for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs, established for professionals, care providers, family advocates and policy makers. NADD provides leadership in the expansion of knowledge, training policy and advocacy for mental health practices that promote a quality of life for individuals with IDD/MII.
For more information regarding the conference or to register, please click
here
.
|
|
GOLD Awards &
Inclusive Art Contest
|
|
The
GOLD Awards
recognizes extraordinary individuals and organizations who have contributed their time and talents to benefit the lives of persons with disabilities in Louisiana. The
Inclusive Art Contest
enables participants to increase awareness of the importance of inclusion in today's society through artistic expression.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or concerns. We thank you for your continued support and participation!
|
|
Lighthouse Louisiana Survey
|
|
Lighthouse Louisiana is in the midst of a community needs assessment to better understand the needs of people with disabilities in the Baton Rouge Community. There are three phases of the project:
1) organizational interviews (that’s you!)
2) focus groups with people who are blind, Deaf, Hard of Hearing,
Deafblind, and parents of children who are blind or have other
disabilities; and
3) an online community survey of those same populations.
Please click on the link below to participate in the survey.
|
|
Statewide Independent Living Council to Host Series of
Job and Resource Fairs
|
|
The
Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
will host a series of Inclusion Job and Resource Fairs in October. October is
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
. The SILC encourages all interested parties to find out more about possible career opportunities and resources available to the community by with interfacing over 40 vendors. The job fairs will take place in various locations throughout the state (see the schedule below) from 10am to 2pm. These job and resource fairs will provide valuable information regarding employment and other important resources for individuals with disabilities.
Oct. 9: Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Dr, Lake Charles
Oct. 10: Baton Rouge- BREC Ball Room, 6201 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge
Oct. 11: Lafayette- Robicheaux Rec Center, 1919 Eraste Landry Rd
Oct. 16: Monroe- West Ouachita Sr. Center, 1800 N 7th St, West Monroe
Oct. 17: Terrebonne-
Fletcher Tech. Comm. College, 1407 LA-311, Schriever
Oct. 18:
Metairie - Ree Alario Special Needs Center,
6900 Saints Drive
Oct. 23: Shreveport- David Raines Comm. Center, 2920 Round Grove Ln
Oct. 24:
New Orleans East Hospital, 5620 Read Blvd, New Orleans
Oct. 30: Pineville Community Center, 2450 Hwy 28 East Pineville
Oct. 31: Hammond Recreation Center, 601 W. Coleman Ave., Hammond
Individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to attend. For more information or to be a vendor for this event, contact Jessica Lewis at 225-219-7552. This event is sponsored by the Statewide Independent Living Council and Healthy Blue.
|
|
Louisiana Special School District Unveils New Career and Technical Education Center
|
|
On August 14, 2019, the Louisiana Special School District celebrated its grand opening of CTE D.R.E.A.M Academy at the Louisiana School for the Deaf and Visually Impaired in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
This initiative is a career and technical education program which offers high school students a career diploma in high-demand industry pathways, preparing them for a successful career after graduation.
For more information regarding the CTE D.R.E.A.M Academy, please click
here
.
|
|
Deaf Focus to Host 10th Anniversary Gala
|
|
On October 5, 2019, Deaf Focus will host its 10 year anniversary Gala in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Founded in 2009 by GACDA Council Member Paula Rodriguez, Deaf Foucs has served the state of Louisiana by providing direct counseling, sign language interpreting, job coaching, advocacy services, and community events.
Patricia Smith of the Louisiana House of Representatives is the Guest of Honor for the Gala, and Jimmy Challis Gore, the President of the Louisiana Association for the Deaf is the featured guest speaker.
For more information regarding the 10th Anniversary Gala please click
here
.
|
|
Statewide Independent Living Council Gala Recap
|
|
The Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) hosted its first Inclusion Gala on August 10, 2019 in Lafayette, Louisiana. Humana and United Healthcare sponsored the event.
The SILC's Inclusion Gala was created to create awareness of the importance of inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of today's society, and to recognize individuals and organizations whose contributions helped the independent living movement.
The following individuals were recognized:
- SILC Distinguish Servant Award – Gale Dean
- SILC Outstanding Advocate Award- Jamie Duplechine and Sharron Hennessey
- SILC Community Service Award- Antoinette Harrell and Rashad Bristo
- SILC Memorial Recognition Award – Kris “Biscuit” Herbert and Rev. Mallery Callahan Sr.
- Outstanding SILC Executive Director- Jessica Lewis
|
|
2019 South Louisiana Community Health Summit
|
|
The Acadiana Healthcare Coalition will host the South Louisiana Community Health Summit on September 25, 2019, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m, in the Haymann Convention Center, Lafayette.
Participants of the summit will have an opportunity to access data and information on the latest trends in healthcare, administration, and effective strategies.
To register for the South Louisiana Community Health Summit please click
here
.
|
|
United Flag Football League
|
|
The Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation (SPAR) has created a flag football league for individuals with disabilities.
The league games begin on September 14, 2019.
For more information please call Princess Park at 318-673-7815.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
