Statewide Independent Living Council
Council Meeting
ABIL Board Room
5025 E Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Minutes of Thursday, July 24, 2014
Council Members Present
Bob Michaels, Al Zulli, Wendy Dewey, Pete Weaver, Georgia McLaughlin, Suzanne
Malson, Rudy Buchannan, Joe Lee Yazzie.
Guests Present
Will Sassaman, Autumn Lafferty, Katherine Boudreau, Laura Duval, Shawnnita
Miranda, Dara Johnson, Dr. Danita Applewhite, Phil Pangrazio, Mica Stewart, Anya
Carrillo, Steven Cano-Wells.
Staff Present
Larry Wanger, Melissa Ann Santora.
Welcome/Introductions
Bob called the meeting to order at 9:10am and introductions were completed. In order to
proceed with the meeting, Bob Michaels asked Larry Wanger to present the budget
review to allow additional time for SILC member call in to achieve a quorum.
FY2015 Budget Review
Larry Wanger indicated that a new budget is in effect as of 7/1/14. In addition, SILC has
switched accounting to Quickbooks, which is likely to work better for SILC.
Larry indicated that at the next meeting, SILC members will receive new financial
reports out of Quickbooks. He indicated that one of the responsibilities of the council is
to monitor the financial picture of the organization. He is hopeful that the Quickbooks
financial reports will be more meaningful. Larry reported that the FY15 budget is
significantly less than what was originally proposed but within our scope of practice.
Chair’s Report
Bob Michaels provided an update of the Rehabilitation Act. He had a central role in the
reauthorizations of 1992 and 1998. The 2014 reauthorization will go into effect in
October 2014. There are several ways SILC will be affected:
-Independent Living will be moved to Department of Health and Human Services.
-Resource Development will be added as a function of SILC.
-SILC will be permitted to engage in advocacy efforts.
Bob explained that the Department of Health and Human Services will need to write
regulations, and indicated that we will need to watch this process carefully and
participate in any way that we can to ensure that what we need is included in the
regulations.
Bob reported that the Designated State Unit will now be called the Designated State
Entity (DSE). SILC’s will get to choose the agency to serve as DSE, and this may or
may not continue to be AZRSA. The DSE has to be a State agency, but the remaining
particulars are unknown.
Bob indicated that CIL’s will now have more input into the SPIL, and will be able to carry
over funds for 12 months. They will continue to be forward funded.
Independent Living will now have 5 core services: Information and Referral, Advocacy,
Peer Counseling, Independent Living Skills Training, and the new core service:
Transitioning.
Bob indicated that formula funding is not an aspect of the reauthorization.
Larry Wanger added that he participated in a call yesterday with various government
leaders. He said that Independent Living is a very small piece in the Workforce
Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). He also reported that regulations must be in place
within six months. There will be an open comment period, and we should be sure that
the regulations are implemented as intended. Wendy Dewey was on the call that Larry
referenced. She indicated that WIOA is overwhelming and across so many systems that
we need to be vocal and persistent so that our voice is not lost in this legislation.
Bob reported that Dr. Danita Applewhite will take Suzanne Malson’s place representing
the SILC on the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC). Bob thanked Suzanne for her
service.
Bob invited discussion regarding the next issue meeting of SILC, on September 25,
2014.
Larry indicated that he will be working on SPIL related surveys.
Dara Johnson indicated that the due date for having the Durable Medical Equipment
(DME) website up is August 31, 2014. Dara indicated that this could be part of a
presentation.
Wendy indicated that it might be helpful to have time to discuss WIOA.
Bob invited discussion regarding the business meeting scheduled for November or
December. After discussion, it was decided that SILC will forgo a holiday meeting.
Executive Director’s Report
Larry Wanger indicated that SILC continues emergency preparedness efforts. There is
a new contract in place with ADHS and that statewide presentations will begin in August
and go through January. These presentations will be directed toward individuals,
families, and care providers of people who have disabilities. There will be 12 to 14
presentations in total. The first will be August 12, 2014 at the Disability Empowerment
Center. SILC is also working with ABIL on emergency preparedness tribal outreach.
SILC is moving forward with the Partners in Preparedness Conference with ADHS
slated for March 2015. The focus of the conference will be community centered: school
age children and families.
Larry indicated that SILC and other invested partners have been working toward getting
Senator Flake’s vote in support of CRPD. He recently voted no despite these efforts.
SILC and partners will continue to educate and inform him.
Larry reported that he had attended a bill signing for Representative Stefanie Mach’s bill
removing the words handicapped and disabled from all state literature and signage
when referring to people who have disabilities in Arizona.
SPIL UpdatesLarry indicated that there is an objective to work toward increased state funding for VR
a letter has been sent to Director Carter.
Larry announced that the AZ 211 contract has finally gone through procurement. Larry
indicated that procurement issues meant a loss of $65,000 of SPIL funds last fiscal
year.
Larry is working with AZRSA to determine whether or not they are able to switch Part B
funds to I & E funds for IL awareness activities. Larry would like to collaborate when the
new Arizona government is elected and try to get ahead of issues to prevent further
delays in funding.
Office updatesLarry referred to the recent change of accounting to QuickBooks.
Larry indicated that Suzanne Malson, Jennifer Longdon, Melissa Ann Santora and he,
will be attending the NCIL conference this month.
Larry indicated that the office has been very busy primarily with AZYLF activities.
Minutes and Financials
Noting that a quorum has been realized, Bob Michaels asked council members to
Review the April Minutes and provide question or comment. A motion to approve the
April minutes as submitted was made by Wendy Dewey and seconded by Al Zulli. All
were in favor, and the motion carried unanimously.
Larry Wanger indicated that the February-May financials have been corrected and
submitted for Council approval. Larry indicated that the error was due to the Peachtree
upgrade. Bob indicated that he feels good about the financial situation at SILC, and
believes the staff is on top of everything. After review, Al Zulli motioned to approve the
financials for February, March, April, and May as submitted. Wendy Dewey seconded.
All were in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
Larry provided a proposed revision to the Director of Administration job description. The
change is primarily to make the position salary exempt rather than hourly. There is one
other minor change which takes out supervision of the Program Coordinator position,
which SILC no longer has. Motion to approve the change in job description was made
by Suzanne Malson and seconded by Wendy Dewey. All were in favor, and the motion
carried unanimously.
Executive Session
Members of the public were excused while the Council went into Executive Session.
Upon returning to open session and members of the public returning to the meeting, a
proposal was made to increase Larry Wanger’s salary by 5%, and retroactively to the
end of his probation. Suzanne Malson motioned to approve this proposal and Pete
Weaver seconded. All were in favor, and the motion carried unanimously.
Arizona Youth Leadership Forum Report
Melissa Ann Santora reviewed the report on Arizona Youth Leadership forum submitted
to the SILC. There were 21 students from eight counties who successfully completed
AZYLF. Presentations were given by 13 individuals/organizations. Melissa reviewed the
statistical information based on pre and post-forum survey. The data is overwhelmingly
positive, and by all accounts the event was a success. Melissa introduced the
leadership team elected by their peers at AZYLF. Mica Stewart was at the meeting in
person and provided his testimony regarding the positive experience he had at AZYLF.
Anya Carrillo and Steven Cano-Wells participated by telephone and also provided their
testimony. All three graduates welcomed and answered questions from Council
members.
CIL Reports
Wendy Dewey provided the following reports as submitted by the CIL’s:
SMILE-has completed 100 I&R’s. Received a two-year United Way grant, a one-year
city of Yuma home modification grant, and $2000 from Washington Federal Charities.
SMILE was supportive of AZYLF, providing one staff member to work as AZYLF staff for
the week.
ABIL-is hosting an IL Fair on 10/21/14. Engage in Art was successful with 50 attendees.
Participated with other disability advocates to meet with Senator Flake’s office regarding
CRPD. 5 ABIL staff will attend NCIL, and will visit 8 legislators.
ASSIST-Received a $25,000 Reeve Foundation grant for an accessible transport van,
and have applied for Native Federal Grant to expand services.
DIRECT-Have a grant for End of Life Planning, and will conduct workshops. Completed
35 home modifications last quarter, have 75 This is My Life program participants.
Reapplying for This is My Life grant. Finished Empowerment through Employment
modules, will start implementing training in September. Wendy nominated Jim Click of
Tucson for NCIL award, which he will receive. Hoping relocation will happen in early
October. Have 2 staff going to NCIL. Attended HB2667 Bill signing.
Committee Reports
Emergency Preparedness Committee-Pete Weaver reported that Stanley Brown and Ed
Myers have retired. The committee is looking for new members and hopes to meet in
August. Pete indicated that they have been looking at 508 compliance on Emergency
Preparedness websites, and have revised the Arizona Mutual Aid Compact to include
School Districts.
SPIL Evaluation Committee-Dara Johnson reported that the SPIL Evaluation Committee
has met. Dara provided and reviewed the matrix the committee has prepared. Dara
indicated that the committee has no concerns about progress, and summarized the
recommendations made to enhance the SPIL evaluation process.
State Rehabilitation Council-Suzanne Malson reviewed the July 2014 report. Suzanne
will complete her final SRC meeting in August. She will work with Dr. Applewhite to
transition responsibilities.
Announcements
Suzanne Malson indicated that she has been working on recruiting a Project 121
Coordinator to serve on SILC. Bob Michaels spoke about his efforts and indicated that
they have yet to come to fruition.
Suzanne announced that the Consortia for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR)
has new directors: Randall Skillers and Lou Adams, both from Michigan.
Call to Public
No comments.
Motion to Adjourn
Al Zulli motioned to adjourn and Pete Weaver seconded. All were in favor and the
meeting was adjourned.