- Introductions were completed.
- Minutes were approved; if you were unable to open them, they are available as always on the DD Council website (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).
- Announcements: Flyers referenced below
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached. Summer camp applications are being accepted.
Archcare at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center
See attached for openings in the Developmental Disabilities Clinic.
YAI
Please see attached flier for Autism Family Support Series as well as a flier for family services vacancies. Also, please see handout for the Health Education Workshop Series. The Advocacy Resource Center is opening at YAI on May 16th. All are welcome to attend the ribbon cutting. YAI has a lunch time phone-in support group: contact Jill.Krata@yai.org for more information. Call YAI LINK at 212-273-6182 for referrals and any other information.
Lighthouse Guild (formerly the Jewish Guild)
Program vacancy list is attached.
Chris Treiber, IAC’s Associate Director for Childrens Services, has been named chairperson of the Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC).
Presentation – NYC Family Information and Resources Network
Elly Rufer and Meri Krassner – Elly Rufer and Meri Krassner have founded the NYC Family Information and Resources Network. Recognizing that parent advocates are aging and a new leadership generation is needed, Elly and Meri explained that this network will serve to prepare new families to become strong advocates through a mentor/mentee program. Additionally, the network will be a source of information for parents via meetings, a website, and other avenues. Please see attached description.nycfirn Introduction nycfirn Policy
- State News
Donna Limiti reported that OPWDD has taken input from the field regarding the Front Door, and is now asking the provider community if they would like to partner with OPWDD in delivering the family information sessions.
Senator Carlucci has proposed legislation on the Front Door, which would require periodic reports on the status and would exempt crisis situations. Donna pointed out that crisis has always been dealt with immediately.
Donna is analysing the sticking points in the Front Door process—at which points there are delays. It is taking too long to get evaluations for eligibility and to develop the service plan. A Front Door policy manual is expected to be disseminated soon. A vacancy management policy is always being prepared.
Donna agrees that the Front Door should not be advising everyone to get MSC, which will prevent people from getting respite without also getting waiver.
OPWDD is refining amendments on the 1915c waiver renewal application. SEMP is being redesigned. Pathway to Employment should be operational by July; Pathway will have two phases, the second of which will permit additional training time.
Regarding guidance on service authorization: there is unspent money as well as new money in this year’s budget. Individualized services such as community habilitation, respite, and day hab without walls may be authorized locally. However, central office approval is required for new certified settings. New development of certified settings will be approved only if no other service options (vacancies in existing services or reinvestment money) are available.
City News
Sandra Piggee reported that there is some new money that will be used to expand existing city services. The Autism City Council funding will continue. Dr. Karpati has not yet been replaced.
There will be a citywide planning meeting on the local government plan on June 3.
IAC
Chris Treiber reported that Assemblymember Harvey Weisenberg has announced his retirement. IAC is hoping to identify a new champion.
Special Education: The Legislature enacted a fee-for-service reimbursement methodology for SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher) services to replace the tuition rate. IAC will offer input on the development of the new fee. The Governor’s proposed regional rates for SEIT were not approved in the final budget; regional rates can now be established only by legislative action, not by Executive Order. IAC believes the regional rates are important to demonstrate to the Legislature that SEIT is undergoing reform.
IAC is continuing to advocate for additional funding for 4410 preschools and for an annual increase linked to a permanent index for 853 schools.
There has been a change in state legislation requiring that the state be notified in cases where the CPSE recommends that the service provider be the same agency that evaluated the child. There is confusion at the local level, where some DOE officials incorrectly believe the evaluator is not permitted to also be the service provider.
Transition to Kindergarten: IAC conducted a Turning 5 survey encompassing about 200 children about families’ experiences with the process this year. The survey showed that when many preschool families went to their zoned school to meet with the IEP teams for the development of kindergarten IEPs, they confronted problems:
- The Department of Education (DOE) did not have the children’s paperwork available.
- Many DOE staff were ignorant about special education settings and regulations.
- The preschools were not notified of meetings.
- DOE staff at the schools declared they could only offer what is available in the schools. That is inaccurate.
- IEP teams claimed they could not finalize the IEPs, and many families don’t have their children’s IEPs even now. Families should not be leaving the meeting without an IEP.
- Small classes in non-District 75 settings was not offered as an option.
- Children with severe disabilities were not referred to the CSE, as they should have been.
IAC presented the survey results to the DOE, and the DOE is taking them seriously. To convey problems with the Turning 5 process, contact turning5@schools.nyc.gov and cc Advocates for Children atkindergarten@afcnyc.org.
Donna Limiti
V. City News
Sandra discussed how to allocate new dollars coming in.
- IAC/Federation Report
IAC:
Chris Treiber discussed Early Intervention as well as preschool reform.
Federation:
Did not meet
VII. Committee Reports
Family Support –Manhattan based programs in the arts will be discussed at the next meeting, and the June meeting will feature music programs. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5/13/2014, at 10am at YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 11th floor. Call Amy Bittinger at 718-859-5420, ext. 234 for more information.
Legislative – On May 20th there will be a rally in Albany to advocate for more residential development. The next meeting will be announced. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Jim Malley at jmalley@esperanzacenter.com.
Transition – At the last meeting there was a re-cap of the student information exchange. There are about 70 District 75 graduates this year who will need OPWDD services. Of these, 15 have identified agencies; others are in the process of getting eligibility. The next meeting will be on 5/14/2014, AHRC at 9:30 AM at AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor Board Room. Call Kathy Kelly at 212-780-2724 for more information.
Manhattan Family Support Services Advisory Council – At the last meeting, Clara Berg presented: “How to Tell Your Story in Just Three Minutes.” The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 6/10/2014, at 5:30 PM at YAI, 460 West 34th Street, 12th Floor, Room H/H1. The topic will be “Medicine and Technology,” presented by Dr. Lela Mayers, Chief of Medicine, Premier HealthCare. Call Margaret Puddington for more information, 212-799-2042.
Service Coordination – The MSC Forum will be held May 15th from 9 AM – 4 PM at Pace University, 3 Spruce Street, Upper Level. There are currently 109 registered. To participate on the committee or to become involved in any capacity, please contact Carol Lincoln at clincoln@ucpnyc.org.
Children’s Committee – The next meeting will be announced. At the last meeting the topic was: “How Do I Choose a Summer Camp for My Child.” For more information about the committee, contact Christina Muccioli at Christina.Muccioli@ahrcnyc.org.
Nominations Committee – Margaret Puddington announced that the terms of DD Council officers will expire in June. The Nominations Committee presented its recommendations: Marco Damiani, Chair; Marilyn Rubinstein, Professional Vice Chair; Susan Williams, Parent Vice Chair; Elly Rufer, Secretary; Jessie Backie, Treasurer. Term of office is two years. Elections will be held at the June meeting. To nominate yourself or anyone else, please contact Margaret at 212-799-2042 or Margaret.puddington@gmail.com. To be eligible to vote for Council officers, a member must have attended at least three meetings in the nine months prior to the voting meeting or have attended the two meetings immediately before the voting meeting. Voting is limited to one vote for each provider agency and one vote for each family member and self-advocate. Representatives of City and State governments are not eligible to vote.
Next DD Council meeting: Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 9:30 AM at AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th floor.