FIELD NOTES
SEPTEMBER 2020
ISSUE 70
In this edition, liquidation FAQs, equality vs. equity, voting data from NCI, a California Council Highlight and more...

Questions/comments or to submit content for consideration, contact
Angela Castillo-Epps or call 202-506-5813, ext. 100.
COMPLIANCE CORNER
FAQ's on Liquidation 
 
Question: What is liquidation?   
 
Answer: In simple terms, liquidation means the period of time a state/territory can pay the bills for DD Council funds that were properly obligated. Liquidation does not include “doing the work”. 
Question: What is a liquidation waiver?
 
Answer: A formal request from the DD Council Executive Director to OIDD Program staff to extend the time period to pay the bills for properly obligated funds.  
 
Question: Does a liquidation waiver mean I can continue to do work past the liquidation time period?
 
Answer: No. An approved liquidation waiver means a Council would have additional time to pay the bills for properly obligated 
funds.
 
Question: Where can I find more information about obligation and liquidation?
 
Answer: The itacchelp.org website. Click below for the Financial Information page and select the AOD/OIDD Information items related to obligation, liquidation, and date of completion.
ITACChelp.org Website Updates
update
State Plan Development
REMINDER
Five Year State Plan Development
The plan is due on August 15, 2021, in the ACL reporting system for all DD Councils.

RESOURCE REMINDER!
Do you need more information on the Comprehensive Review and Analysis (CRA) section of the Five Year State Plan? A webinar was conducted in February and is accessible on demand from the Five Year State Plan page. The webinar covers the intent and purpose of the CRA, required and optional elements, data resources, rationale and approaches to development.

Comprehensive Review & Analysis Webinar (2/27/2020)


If you are looking for a resource and cannot find it on the page, contact Angela at
acastillo-epps@nacdd.org or call 202-506-5813, ext. 100.
DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE (DICLC)
equality and equity
Equality vs. Equity

EQUALITY is the even distribution of tools and assistance. Equality ensures that everyone has the same opportunities but it does not account for the unique needs of each individual to access and thrive from those opportunities.

EQUITY is the customization of tools and assistance that identifies and addresses the uneven distribution of opportunities. In other words equity recognizes the injustice that exists within certain intersects of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location etc.

JUSTICE involves changing the system itself to eliminate barriers that prevent equal access.

DD Councils continue to infuse equitable practices in every aspect of their work. Councils engage diverse communities to determine the unique needs of individuals and families and use advocacy, capacity building and systemic change activities to ensure people have the tools and resources they need to access the services and supports they deserve.

Considering the populations that Councils support and the racial and health disparities faced by today's society, Council's may want to consider assessing their policies and practices around public input, request for proposals and grantee engagement, and public policies supported through its advocacy efforts. Determine, if the policies and practices are culturally and linguistically competent and if they are also equitable and just.

For more information on analyzing policies, view the CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE POLICY ASSESSMENT, which includes multiple definitions related to CLC, Knowledge of Diverse Communities and Organizational Philosophy sub-scales and more. Review to see what definitions/questions could guide your policy work.

For more information on making diversity, inclusion and cultural and linguistic competence a priority at all levels of an organization, click below on the AUCD Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit website. If you have state/territory specific questions related to DICLC, contact Angela Castillo-Epps at acastillo-epps@nacdd.org
DD Act Education
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act)

(K) DEMONSTRATION OF NEW APPROACHES TO SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.— (i) IN GENERAL.—The Council may support and conduct, on a time-limited basis, activities to demonstrate new approaches to serving individuals with developmental disabilities that are a part of an overall strategy for systemic change. The strategy may involve the education of policymakers and the public about how to deliver effectively, to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, services, supports, and assistance that contribute to the achievement of the purpose of this subtitle.

Summary:
This section of the DD Act describes how Councils can use innovation (a new method or idea) to improve upon the ways in which services and supports are provided to individuals with DD and their families.The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a multitude of new changes to service delivery, everything from tele-health options to emergency management. The Councils are in a unique position to determine if these new approaches are the right ones for individuals and families and what system change efforts could support the gaps being created in systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Questions to consider... 

  • Are the "new" changes to services and supports in your state/territory appropriate and useful for the populations supported by DD Councils? If not, could your Council partner with its Developmental Disabilities Service Provider Agency/ies to gather feedback and develop recommendations?
  • Is there a new approach that could address the health disparities experienced during COVID-19 that could strengthen or expand your Council's targeted disparity work?
  • Think about the many areas impacted by these new changes to services and supports, for example, special education services with an online platform, reductions in service to public transportation, utilizing hotels for emergency management etc. How could your Council utilize demonstration of new approaches to capitalize on ways to support individuals with DD during and after the pandemic, and/or other emergencies?

To access the DD Act in its entirety, click below.
Data "Nugget" NCI - Voting
american flag
What Do NCI Data Tell Us About Voting Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities? 

A total of 32% of respondents to NCI’s 2018-2019 In-Person Survey said they had voted in a recent local, state, or federal election. Across states, the percentage ranged from 58% to 7%. A total of 5% of respondents said they had the opportunity but chose not to vote.  Excerpt from the full data brief, linked below.

Suggested ideas on how Councils use this Information

  • Collaborate with your State/Territory Protection and Advocacy organization to spread awareness about voting rights.

  • Work with Person Centered Planning initiatives to ensure the topic of voting and a plan to support an individual's right to vote is being covered during the Individualized Plan (IP) process.

  • Partner with your statewide/local self-advocacy groups to educate people with I/DD and family members about the importance of voting, as a civic duty for all citizens.

Download and share the entire Data Brief by clicking below.

National Core Indicators is a collaborative effort between the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities and the Human Services Research Institute.
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHT ~ CALIFORNIA
Woman holding microphone
Sneak Peek: “Let’s Work!” A Documentary on Young Adults and Employment

For National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the California DD Council will premiere the documentary “Let’s Work!” featuring young people with I/DD in the workforce talking about how they found work and sharing their tips for success. “Let’s Work!” is done in conjunction with the California Transition Alliance and Inclusion Films, a studio led by Joey Travolta that teaches film-making to people with I/DD.
 
Tips from Peers
The documentary will highlight working youth’s own pathways to competitive integrated employment. As they told their stories, their own tips for success came out, including how they:
  • Found their passion and interests
  • Prepare and interview for jobs
  • Showcase their talents and skills
  • Handle their decisions to disclose their disability
  • Present their disability as an asset
  • Partner with adult allies
 
Based on Best Practices
“Let’s Work!” uses four best practices identified by the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition and the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center:
1)   Telling personal stories to help other youth with I/DD visualize the possibility for work
2)   Developing interviewing skills through informational interviews
3)   Building a network of adult allies through mentoring
4)   Providing work experience
 
Project Elements
The project is funded through DD Council Program Development Grants and will result in:
1)   Documentary about young adults working in customized, integrated settings
2)   Instructional Videos that are excerpts from the video that give tips and pointers from people featured in the documentary
3)   Outreach to increase reach of the documentary and videos through movie premiers, traditional, and social media
 
Accessibility
The documentary and videos will be captioned in English, Spanish, and Chinese. A Networking Activity Guide will also be published in plain language.
 
Employing People with Developmental Disabilities
Two-thirds of the film crew on “Let’s Work” are people with /IDD. Inclusion Films teaches the art of film-making to people with developmental disabilities. By partnering with Inclusion Films, “Let’s Work” directly put people to work at competitive rates on a project to support other people finding competitive integrated employment.

To view the Let's Work! California trailer, click below!
To reach NACDD/ITACC staff, please feel free to contact:

Sheryl Matney Director of Technical Assistance
202-506-5813 ext. 148, smatney@nacdd.org

Angela Castillo-Epps Technical Assistance Specialist 
202-506-5813 ext. 100, acastillo-epps@nacdd.org