Meetings and Minutes

Members Present: Janet Dorsey, Lewis Atkins, David Benjamin, Sheila Cox-Combs, Marcia DuBois, Rob Hazelton, Ben Johnson, Jenny McKenzie, Hazel Moran, Doug Nunnally, Jeff Pittman, Susan Prokop, Alan Schlank, Celestine Walker, Bill Ward, Sally Michael (conference)

Ex-Officio: Jane Ward Solomon

Staff: Lisa Grubb

Invited Guests: Mary Margaret Cash-DRS Representative, Fritz Knapp-CAS Coordinator

Members Absent: George Hubbs, David Harris, Theresa Preda, Billy Perkins

Call to Order:

Council Chairperson Janet Dorsey opened the meeting of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) by welcoming everyone and recognizing new council members:

• Sheila Cox-Combs, The University of Virginia's College at Wise in Wise
• Marcia DuBois, Valley Associates for Independent Living, Center for Independent Living (CIL) Representative, in Harrisonburg
• Jeff Pittman, Southside Community Services Board in South Boston
• Susan Prokop, Paralyzed Veterans of America in D.C.
• Celestine Walker from Lynchburg
• Bill Ward, reappointment

Dorsey congratulated Member David Benjamin on his appointment to the Vocational Rehabilitation Council for the Blind as the SILC Representative.As of this date no meetings have occurred. [1]

Dorsey expressed her condolences for Ex-Officio Member Theresa Preda on the loss of her grandmother. Additionally, she expressed her thoughts for Ex-Officio Member Billy Perkins during his father's illness and Eleanor Williams, DRS Staff, during her grandson's illness.

Today's major task is to discuss the current State Plan and begin discussing the upcoming State Plan.We are in the final year of the current state plan.Later in the day, Council Member and State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) Committee Chair, Rob Hazelton will be guiding us through a visioning process. Chair Dorsey encouraged everyone to participate and to keep in mind that we are an independent body and the State Plan does not need to be developed from a cookie-cutter mold.The state plan needs to address the independent living needs of the Commonwealth. [2]

Chairperson Dorsey thanked our hosting CIL, Blue Ridge Independent Living Center (BRILC) and Executive Director Karen Michalski-Karney for hosting our meeting making note that Ms. Michalski-Karney had been an active council member and her term just recently ended.Michalski-Karney welcomed the SILC and invited everyone to take time and view the facility.[3]

Chairperson Dorsey opened the floor for public comment.

Public comment:

• Betsy Head, Home Instead Senior Care, Roanoke Virginia. Ms. Head thanked the council for allowing her to speak. Home Instead Senior Care is a non-medical provider of companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, errands and incidental transportation serving senior adults.Ms. Head expressed her appreciation to the SILC for its efforts in common goals and for the efforts with the Virginia Olmstead project.Virginia is unique in that they group personal care providers with Home Health providers.Regulations under 12VAC5-380 are being revised to address this concern. The proposed revisions are due to be posted for public comment on or about October 27.It is critical that all interested individuals and organizations express their opinions and offer suggestions during the 60-day comment period. Ms. Head requested continued support of the goals.[4]
• Gwen Harris, Roanoke Virginia expressed concern for her lack of success in obtaining weekend personal assistance.She desires to stay in her home and this is a necessity for her to live independently.Chair Dorsey asked Ms. Harris to discuss her situation with her after the meeting.
• Michael Cooper, Executive Director of the Endependence Center in Northern Virginia asked permission to address the floor on two issues:
  • Cooper shared specifics of the recent case in Tennessee that resulted in the Supreme Court case, a wheelchair user summoned to appear in court to answer a charge claiming that he was driving without a valid license. When he arrived at the courthouse to be arraigned, he found that t the courtrooms were on the second floor.Court personnel offered to carry him upstairs; he asked that the trial be moved downstairs. The court refused and he was arrested on a charge of failure to appear in court.This will be a landmark case.
  • SILC funding - Cooper expressed his concern for the current plan being proposed by the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) for cutting funds to the SILC. The SILC is a much-needed resource for Virginia. Ms. Grubb, SILC staff does a stellar job. The funds that DRS are proposing to cut are the funds that support the operation of the SILC so that the SILC can release the Part B funds to support independent living programs. Executive Director Cooper noted that the funding that DRS is proposing to cut paid the salary of the previous SILC staff which ironically is now the person proposing to make the cut to the SILC. He feels that it would not be a good move for the current DRS Commissioner to go to the legislatures and request that the funding used to pay his salary be removed, even if over a graduated amount of time. Cooper requested that all parties address their legislatures and advocate for a line item to be added to support the operation of the SILC.
    • Discussion occurred among council members and it was decided to turn this issue over to the Executive Committee to consider.
• Marci Boone, Roanoke Virginia addressed the council and shared concerns for herself and the consumers that she works with in applying for Consumer Service funding. She cited several incidents in which awards were inconsistent and procedures were timely and expensive for consumers. Additionally, she commented on the application process and how it had been changed without informing those impacted most by this change. Mary Margaret Cash, DRS Deputy Commissioner asked Ms. Boone to discuss this with her.

Approval of Minutes:

Secretary Jenny McKenzie opened the floor for discussion of the July council minutes.Lewis Atkins moved to approve the minutes, the motion was seconded by Ben Johnson, there being no discussion, motion carried.

Treasurer Ben Johnson reported that DRS Staff Eleanor Williams was unable to supply the council with financial reports due to family illness.A financial report will be distributed to council members when she returns to the office.

SPIL Committee/Visioning Process:

SPIL Chair, Rob Hazelton began the SPIL visioning process.Hazelton facilitated the council in discussing the current goals and objectives.New issues were addressed for inclusion in the upcoming SPIL. Chairperson Dorsey thanked Hazelton for his work.[5]

CAS Report:

Fritz Knapp, Community Action Specialist (CAS) Coordinator reported on the Project. Knapp recognized Bill Duncan of Appalachian Independence Center for his outstanding performance.[6]

Committee Reports:

Ben Johnson gave the Housing Committee report. The committee welcomed new council members to the committee. There are continued efforts with the Housing Survey. Committee members will be attending a housing<