The Importance of Including
Statewide Systems Advocacy/Change
as an Authority in Your SPIL
Monday, January 18, 2016
Brad Williams, MPA, New York State Independent Living Council
(NYSILC)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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)
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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);
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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How Address Statewide Systems Advocacy/
Change as an Authority in SPIL (con’t)
I. Statewide Systems Advocacy
Consistent 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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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).
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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.
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Q&A
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Contact information
• Brad Williams, NYSILC, bradw@nysilc.org, (518) 427-1060 X5,
www.nysilc.org.
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