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Council Welcomes New Director



The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce that Kimberly Mercer-Schleider has been selected as the new Director. Kimberly has 14 years of professional experience in supporting individuals with disabilities. She started her career as a teacher for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) with students with Autism in one of the district’s largest high schools. She left teaching to support programming efforts at Center for Independent Futures. While there, Kimberly developed community based housing options, oversaw staffing structures, and helped to create supports needed to successfully support adults with disabilities to live in the community. Most recently Kimberly has been the Transition Manager for CPS where she has overseen district wide transition supports for the nation's 3rd largest school district.

With Kimberly's knowledge, experience, energy and enthusiasm the Council will continue on its path of leading change in Illinois so that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lead full lives in their communities. Director Mercer-Schleider will assume her duties on Monday, September 12, 2016.

Spotlight

NEW RESOURCE

The Council is pleased to share a new document created through one of the “Life Like Any Other” projects. What began with the question “how can we support more people to be in valued social roles outside the boundaries of disability services” evolved into this valuable resource.

Possibility of People Guide

CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT FUND

ICDD provides grant funding for the Consumer Involvement Fund to the Arc of Illinois. For more information Login and, click here.

EMPLOYMENT FIRST

Illinois became an Employment First State when legislation was signed in July of 2013. To comply with that law and a following Executive Order in June 2014, state agencies prepared an initial Strategic Plan for how policies and procedures will need to change. The full strategic plan is in development by 5 workgroups of state agencies, people with disabilities, and advocates.

The Employment First Summit Report summarizes the findings from a 2012 summit ICDD sponsored and lays out a series of recommendations for turning the vision of Employment First discusses at the summit into reality. See page of Investment Initiatives.

ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY RESOURCE

Illinois Emergency Management Agency Offers Emergency Preparedness Tips for People with Functional and Access Needs.
Click here for additional information.

What's New

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The Council has released a Call for Investment called Life Like Any Other. We are seeking 5 projects which will help communities develop local resources and adapt to provide full access to municipal, civic, social, spiritual and all aspects of community life. After reading the Life Like Any Other CFI, plan to attend an informational call on 12/13/16 at 1p.m. for further information on submitting a project proposal.

The Council uses a web based system called DD Suite. All proposals will be submitted using this system. For information about any new funding opportunities and instructions on the DD Suite system, click here: www.DDSuite.org

Use the Help button in the upper right hand corner and look under "accounts and organizations" to create an account or join an existing organization.

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SYSTEM.

Through a Council investment called the Life Choices Initiative, easy to follow materials were developed to help you navigate what may seem like a very complex system. Please take a look and see what you think.

Guide to Developmental Disabilities System

 TRAINING ON HOME AND
COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES (HCBS) RULE

The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) HCBS: Advocates Creating Transformation project offers web and on-site training and on-line resources related to Medicaid waiver funded services: https://www.c-q-l.org/HCBS-ACT.