ADVOCACY
GRAPHIC of WVSILC TITLE

Disability Policy Priorities and Strategies

At the December 2, 2009 SILC meeting, representatives from West Virginia Centers for Independent Living (WVCIL); West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC); West Virginia Olmstead Council; West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association (WVMHCA); and the Fair Shake Network (FSN) presented their disability policy priorities and worked with SILC members in small groups to develop strategies for those priorities. The issues and strategies agreed upon were:

West Virginia CILs:

  • Issue: Cuts to State IL Funding
    • Talk to friends, neighbors, etc. who have benefitted from IL services
    • Develop IL Fact Sheet and make available to SILC members
    • Public Hearing to receive testimony on the impact of budget cuts
  • All Issues Including IL Funding and Supported Employment Extended Services Funding, Olmstead Plan Implementation, AD Waiver Quality Assurance, and RYPAS Funding
    • Work with legislature to restore the funding
    • Use WVCIL telephone tree or e-mail list to distribute information
    • Get personal stories to share with legislators
    • Mountain State CIL and Appalachian CIL will help provide transportation to the Capitol for SILC members to visit legislators

Olmstead Council:

  • Issue: Olmstead Plan Implementation
    • Recommendations need to cite Olmstead Council Mission and the Executive Order 11-05
    • Distribute materials on Olmstead issues to stakeholders and policymakers
    • Personal stories from Council members and the Transition Navigator program to share with policymakers
    • Develop joint document with common goals supported by disability/advocacy organizations

Fair Shake Network:

  • Issue: Cuts to State IL Funding
    • Public meeting/hearing to receive testimony on the impact of budget cuts
    • Develop fact sheet on IL funding cuts and impact
  • Issue: Olmstead Plan Implementation
    • Work with the DDC, Olmstead Council, WVCIL, and FSN on a meeting to strategize on Olmstead and make sure we are all saying the same thing
  • Issue: Limitations on administration of medications by AMAPs to residential settings
    • Continue AMAP group meetings to provide recommendations and strategize