1

The Importance of Including Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change

as an Authority in Your SPILMonday, January 18, 2016

Brad Williams, MPA, New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC)

2

Introduction•Independent Living is a cross-disability peer network. And since many of us here are peers…

•What one memory do you recall related to your disability experience that empowered you to move forward with your life?• What one systems advocacy/change experience do you remember that reinforced the collective power of working together toward a common goal?

• So systems advocacy/change is more than just “making a lot of noise.” It is about empowerment and has enormous value to the individual. • If I can learn skills and be a part of a collective change, it can be less intimidating to

me to use the same skills to advocate for myself and – have more control over decisions in my own life.

3

Introduction (con’t)•Systems advocacy/change is also about fulfilling purpose (the purpose of this chapter), collaboration, and achieving progress.

•Our learning objectives for this session are:• To review the historical background and legal/regulatory basis of systems

advocacy/change related to SILCs.• To look at examples of collaboration and progress related to systems change.• To discuss how the New York SILC is going to address statewide systems

advocacy/change as an authority in the upcoming SPIL 2017-2019.• To discuss how the New York SILC sees the future and need to transition the

movement.

4

Historical Background•Strong statewide systems advocacy networks directed by SILCs established in Kansas, Pennsylvania, California, and New York.

•New York developed their model in 1999 and the SILC utilized a regional coordinator model with local sites to grow grassroots support and achieve significant collective results.

• At SILC Congress in New Orleans, RSA delivered an interpretation that was contrary to how SILCs previously operated – i.e., resource development and statewide systems advocacy activities.

•SILCs, largely through NCIL advocacy, voiced their opposition and dissatisfaction with the interpretation. Several hundred peers rallied in front of the RSA offices regarding the issue. A group met with the appropriate staff. Nothing substantive happened.

5

Historical Background (con’t) •NCIL kept this as an active issue to address. It was not on the radar of the new administration – amongst the long list of things to do.•Ten years after RSA interpreted law and SILC best practice, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) included changes to the law and regulation to clearly restore the integrity of SILCs being able to perform:•Resource development as an authority that must be identified in your SPIL, along with• Perform other functions consistent with the purpose of the chapter and determined appropriate by the SILC as an authority in your SPIL (like systems advocacy – stated in the purpose).

6

Legal/Regulatory Basis• Question: What gives you the authority to do systems advocacy?•Answer: Based on defined activities, you are fulfilling the purpose of Title VII of the Act, as amended.

Section 701. Purpose. - The purpose of this chapter is to promote a philosophy of independent living, including a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and system advocacy, in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society, by: (3)

7

Legal/Regulatory Basis (con’t)

§ 1329.2 Purpose. The purpose of title VII of the Act is to promote a philosophy of independent living (IL), including a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and system advocacy, in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, and to promote the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society by:

(c) Providing financial assistance to States, with the goal of improving the independence of individuals with disabilities, for improving working relationships among—

(3) Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs or Councils) established under section 705 of the Act (29 U.S.C. 796d);

8

Legal/Regulatory Basis (con’t)

Section 704. State Plan. - (2) Authorities. – The Council may, consistent with the State plan described in section 704, unless prohibited by State law – (C) perform such other functions, consistent with the purpose of this chapter and comparable to other functions described in this subsection, as the Council determines to be appropriate.§ 1329.16 Authorities of the SILC.(3) Perform such other functions, consistent with the purpose of this part and comparable to other functions described in section 705(c) of the Act, as the Council determines to be appropriate and authorized in the approved SPIL.(b) In undertaking the foregoing duties and authorities, the SILC shall: (3) Comply with Federal prohibitions against lobbying.

9

Examples of Collaboration• Systems advocacy/change provides an opportunity to develop cooperation, coordination, and working relationships with various public and private groups both within and outside of the network who serve people with disabilities Section 704. State Plan. (i) by building partnerships, coalitions, issue papers, reports, working on administrative and legislative solutions.

• Creation of a 40 organization Medicaid Buy-In coalition that educated and pushed through initial resistance to get a program passed, improved, and in place for over a decade.

•IL advocates led the way for an Employment First Gubernatorial Executive Order which looked to increase the employment rate by 5% and reduce the poverty rate by 5%. Public forums, interest, and feedback to the commission came from a wide variety of disability stakeholders statewide. Many of IL’s priorities made it into the final recommendations. (search NYS Employment First Report March 2015) This led to the formation of over 20 disability organizations into the Inclusive Workforce Alliance.

10

Examples of Achieving Progress• Systems advocacy/change progress is documented on the IL Tutorial Timeline for a given year. It chronicles to the best extent possible progress made in both New York State and at the national level for people with disabilities.

•Statewide systems advocacy, the network, and collaborations are only a part of the change and results. Other results occur due to the efforts of other peers and colleagues.

•This is the link to the timeline webpage: http://www.nysilc.org/~nysilc/il_philosophy/timeline.html.

•Scroll along the dates at the bottom of the timeline to advance to contemporary dates (spin dates right-left). Click the panel with an event description above. Then move through events by clicking the left or right arrows framing the event screen.

11

How Address Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change as an Authority in SPIL• The New York SILC had its Public Policy Committee develop and present a process to address authority (C) related to statewide systems advocacy/change. It was expanded to include leadership development.

•Since there is no guidance of where to place authorities in the SPIL template, we are going to place this authority with the SPIL objective for the SILC. For cross-reference, it was decided that the resource development authority (B) might be best placed in the SILC resource plan section.

Draft language:

Per Section 705 (c) (2) (C), NYSILC seeks to define a process to perform two functions consistent with the purpose of this chapter as determined appropriate by the council.

12

How Address Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change as an Authority in SPIL (con’t)

I. Statewide Systems AdvocacyConsistent with the “purpose” of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act as amended, the council will utilize the following protocol to identify, discuss, and address priority issues faced by New Yorkers with disabilities and engage in statewide systems advocacy.•The council will charge the Public Policy Committee with the responsibility to develop its statewide systems advocacy strategy.•The Public Policy Committee will disseminate an agenda based on priorities from its statewide needs assessment. It will be a three-year agenda that will be adjusted annually. •Based on time and the priority of issues, the committee will make recommendations to the full council (or executive committee which has the authority to act in between council meetings) which issue or issues to

13

How Address Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change as an Authority in SPIL (con’t)•potentially respond to in a given year. The council/executive committee will confirm the recommendations and potential actions.•Action may include but not be limited to writing correspondence, issuing reports, promoting education and media opportunities, and collaborating and coordinating efforts with the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL), the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN), and other disability stakeholders on efforts.•Documentation of activities and actions will be kept via the committee’s minutes, letters and or documents created, and noted in the “partner/collaboration” sections of both the quarterly contract and annual 704 reports. Significant achievements will be noted.

II. Leadership Development Consistent with the “purpose” of Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act as amended, the council will utilize the following process to support leadership development for New Yorkers with disabilities.

14

How Address Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change as an Authority in SPIL (con’t)•The council will charge the Outreach Subcommittee, supported by the Youth Leadership Subcommittee, to post, solicit, and review applications for youth and young adults (age 18-28) with disabilities in New York to receive reimbursements of up to $250 to attend disability leadership training experiences through our Pat Figueroa Sponsorships. Committee decisions are based on cost, need, and availability. Follow up questionnaire provides feedback about experiences. Recipients indicate interest in the Youth Leadership Subcommittee and council.

•The council will charge the Development and Outreach Subcommittees to create a new Leadership Development and Civic Engagement Program (LDCEP). The LDCEP will be designed as a web based social marketing campaign for New

15

How Address Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change as an Authority in SPIL (con’t)•Yorkers with disabilities. Individuals who sign up as members will have access to an interactive website. Training materials and webinars will be made available on a wide variety of topics ranging from the broad themes of leadership development, civic engagement, economic self-sufficiency, and advocacy/systems change. The overall goals of the LDCEP will be to cultivate a peer membership base, facilitate knowledge and training, which will direct peers to increased independence, empowerment, and community integration.

•Documentation of activities and actions will be kept via the committee’s minutes, letters and or documents created, and noted in the quarterly contract and annual 704 reports. Significant achievements will be noted.

16

How Address Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change as an Authority in SPIL (con’t)•Both the Pat Figueroa Sponsorships and the Leadership Development and Civic Engagement Program (LDCEP) will be supported by another SPIL authority related to resource development, Section 705 (c) (2) (B).

17

The Future and Need to Transition the Movement•Remember the second part of the purpose of Title VII… in order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, and to promote the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of American society.

•After 25 years of progress since the ADA, advocates/peers/colleagues having been “hammering” away to create system change.

•As youth and young adults emerge, we need to transition the movement to leadership development and civic engagement toward the full inclusion and integration of our peers in community life.

•Going from accessible polling places/ballots/machines – to registering to vote, frequently voting, becoming poll workers, volunteering for campaigns, running for office, and getting elected to office.

•Going from increasing access to and attending a public meeting – to getting leadership development training, to getting named to a council or board, serving on a committee, becoming a committee chair, and serving as the chair of the council or board.

18

Q & A

19

Contact information• Brad Williams, NYSILC, bradw@nysilc.org, (518) 427-1060 X5, www.nysilc.org.