SHARON: GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE TELECONFERENCE PRESENTATION, TRAINING ON THE REVISED STATE PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, PRESENTED BY THE REHABILITATION SERVICE ADMINISTRATION AND HOSTED BY THE IL NET AND ILRU. I WILL BE MODERATING THE WEBCAST AND VOICING ANY QUESTIONS BY E-MAIL TO THE PRESENTERS TODAY. I WANT TO REMIND YOU ABOUT SENDING AND ASKING QUESTIONS. IN ORDER TO SUBMIT A QUESTION DURING THE WEBCAST, CLICK THE SUBMIT QUESTION BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE REAL ONE PLAYER SCREEN OR E-MAIL TO WEBCAST@IRLU.ORG. PLEASE SEND YOUR QUESTIONS NOW OR AT ANY POINT DURING TODAY'S PRESENTATION. I'LL POST THOSE E- MAILED QUESTIONS TO TODAY'S PRESENTERS AND THEY'LL PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS AT TIMES THROUGHOUT TODAY'S PRESENTATION. FOR THOSE OF YOU ON THE TELECONFERENCE, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR OPERATOR ERIC. OPERATOR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AFTER THE SPEAKER'S REMARKS THERE WILL BE A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION. IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS DURING THIS TIME, PRESS STAR AND NUMBER 1. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WITH DRAW YOUR QUESTION, PRESS THE POUND KEY. SHARON: THANK YOU. IF ANYONE HAS TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, CALL 7135200232 AND DIAL 0 FOR THE OPERATOR. WE HAVE VOICE AND TTY CAPABILITY TO ASSIST YOU. AS I SAID BEFORE TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS TRAINING ON THE REVISED STATE PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING OR SPIL, AS IT'S REFERRED TO IT. IT'S BEING PRESENTED BY THOMAS KELLEY AND FELIPE LULLI. I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO THOMAS KELLEY. THOMAS: THANK YOU SHARON. MY NAME IS THOMAS KELLEY. I'M CHIEF OF THE INDEPENDENT LIVING UNIT AT THE REHAB SERVICES ADMINISTRATION HERE IN WASHINGTON. IT'S A PLEASURE PRESENTING TO YOU THE NATIONAL LIVING TRAINING. I UNDERSTAND WE ALSO HAVE OTHER GUESTS ON THE TRAINING, INCLUDING DIRECTORS OF CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING AND THE -- MANY OF THE STAFF OF THE STATE MONITORING AND PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT DIVISION IN RSA ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING. LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS TELECONFERENCE TODAY AND TO THANK IL NET AND THE PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING THE WEBCAST OF THE TRAINING. AS YOU KNOW, FUNDING UNDER PARTS B AND C PROGRAM OF THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM -- RSA MUST APPROVE THE THREE YEAR STATE PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING OR SPIL. THE NEXT SPIL IS DUE TO RSA ON JULY 1ST, 2007. THE SPIL INSTRUMENT AND INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN REVISED FOR THIS YEAR. THE PURPOSE OF THE REVISED SPIL IS, ONE, TO REDUCE THE DATA COLLECTION AND RECORDING BURDENS FOR THE STATE AND, TWO, TO MAKE THIS BILL INFORMATION MORE USEFUL FOR THE STATES AS WELL AS FOR RSA. THE NEW SPIL MORE PRECISELY REFLECTS THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 1, TITLE 7 OF THE ACT, AND THE CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS OF THE REGULATIONS. A COUPLE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS REGARDING THE NEW BILL ARE THAT THE REVISED PREPRINT REQUEST ONLY THE REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED BY THE LAW AND REGULATIONS. IT IS MORE BRIEF, CLEAR, AND CONCISE AND EASY TO COMPLETE. AND COMBINED THE REVISED BILL INSTRUMENT AND INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO SOME 35 PAGES FROM THE PREVIOUS ALMOST 50. THE REVISIONS DO NOT CHANGE THE KINDS OF GOALS, ACTIVITIES, OR SERVICES TO BE REPORTED BY THE STATES AND SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE BILL DEVELOPMENT ALREADY UNDERWAY IN MANY OF YOUR STATES. RSA EXPECTS SPIL DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR STATE WILL BE A JOINT PROCESS INVOLVING THE DUST AND THE PARTNERS BASED ON THE -- FOR THE SPIL TO BE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED SUCCESSFULLY IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE RESPECTIVE ROLES ARE UNDERSTOOD. THIS NATIONAL TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU DEVELOP AN APPROVABLE SPIL. THE TRAINING WILL GO OVER EACH SECTION OF THIS BILL, EXPLAINS THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE REVISED SPIL AND THE PREVIOUS SPIL, HIGHLIGHT POINTS TO CONSIDER, PROVIDE GUIDANCE ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED OR NOT INCLUDED, AND PROVIDE SOME MIDDLE INSTRUCTIONS. FELIPE WILL BE THE PRIMARY PRESENTER OF THIS INFORMATION. FIRST HE WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE REVISED BILL. THEN WE'LL GO OVER PART ONE, THE ASSURANCES AND PART TWO THE MERIT OF SECTIONS OF THIS BILL IN SOME DETAILS. AFTER EACH PART WE WILL PAUSE FOR YOUR QUESTIONS. AFTER PARTS ONE AND TWO OF THE SPIL WE WILL PROVIDE DETAILS AND INSTRUCTIONS AND I WILL PROVIDE SOME CLOSING REMARKS. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU HERE'S FELIPE. FELIPE: GREETINGS TO EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE SPILL. IT CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS. PART ONE IS A SERIES OF ASSURANCES OR STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE BASED ON LEGAL AND REGULATORY PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE SPIL'S -- THE S I L S AND CIL PROGRAM. IT'S THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS BILL EXCEPT FOR A FEW IMPORTANT ITEMS THAT WE WILL DESCRIBE AS WE GO ALONG. PART TWO OF THE BILL CONSISTS OF SECTIONS IN WHICH THE STATE DESCRIBES ITS SERVICES IN DETAILS. THE MULTIPLE ATTACHMENTS OF THE OLD SPIL INCLUDING THE "MANDATORY AREA" HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY A SINGLE DOCUMENT IN WHICH A LOGICAL SEQUENCE OF NARRATIVE RESPONSES PROVIDES A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE'S PROGRAM. THERE ARE SOME NEW NARRATIVE QUESTIONS BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE BRIEF AND CONCISE. PARTS ONE AND TWO TRACK EACH OTHER VERY CLOSELY AND ALSO YOU WILL NOTICE THAT WE'LL SPEND SOME TIME DESCRIBING SOME ELEMENTS OF THE SPIL THAT RELATE TO THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM -- INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND PROGRAM. WE'LL GET INTO MORE DETAIL AS WE GO ALONG, BUT THE ONE THING WE WANT TO CLARIFY AT THE ON SET IS THAT THE SPIL RELATES TO CHAPTER 1. IT'S REQUIREMENT FOR CHAPTER 1 FUNDS. IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO -- FOR STATES TO RECEIVE OLDER BLIND FUNDS. OKAY. SO LET'S START WITH PART 1, ASSURANCES. I WILL FINISH THE ASSURANCES. THEN WE'LL PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS. ON THE FIRST PAGE OF PART 1 -- OF COURSE WE HAVE TO BE SURE TO FILL IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER THE NAME OF THE STATE. SECTION 1, LEGAL BASES AND CERTIFICATION, VERY SIMILAR TO THE OLD SPIL. 1.1 - - YOU KNOW, WE INSERT THE NAME OF THE DSU. 1.2 -- WE INSERT THE NAME OF THE AGENCY. 1.2 APPLIES TO ONLY STATES WITH A SEPARATE BLIND AND GENERAL AGENCY AND DOES NOT REFER TO THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM. SO THIS APPLIES ONLY IF THERE'S TWO AGENCIES IN THE STATE. 1.3 REGARDING THE SILC. WE PUT DOWN, INDICATE THE NAME OF THE SILC. REGARDING THE SILC, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SILC'S MEMBERSHIP IS UP TO DATE, THAT THE MEMBERS HAVE CURRENT APPOINTMENTS. THAT IS, THERE'S A MAXIMUM OF TWO THREE- YEAR CONSECUTIVE TERMS FOR ANY MEMBER. ALSO BE SURE THAT HALF -- KNOW THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE ACTIVE MEMBERS ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS THAT RSA CANNOT ACCEPT THE SPIL IF THE SILC IS NOT LEGALLY CONSTITUTED MEMBERSHIP WISE BECAUSE THE SILC WOULD NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN THE SPIL. I'M GOING TO SKIP OVER TO NUMBER 1.7, AND HERE WE WRITE DOWN THE NAME OF THE DSU DIRECTOR AND THE TITLE OF THE SEPARATE AGENCY FOR THE BLIND. WE DON'T NEED THE NAME OF THE SILC CHAIRPERSON HERE. THE REASON IS THAT IN DEVISING SECTION 1 WE WENT STRAIGHT TO EDGAR AND WE BASED IT ON THAT. BUT THE SILC CHAIR DOES SIGN THE SPIL IN SECTION 9 OF PART ONE, ASSURANCES. SECTION 2, SPIL DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN, VERY CLOSE TO THE OLD SPIL. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT -- IN 2.1 I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PHRASE TO APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS ON A STATE-WIDE AND COMPREHENSIVE BASIS THE NEEDS IN THE STATE FOR THE PROVISION OF STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF CENTERS AND FOR WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN PROGRAMS PROVIDING INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES ET CETERA. THE REASON I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE -- THIS. UNLIKE THE VR STATE PLAN, THE SPIL DOES NOT REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO BE INCLUDED. BUT 2.1 MAKES CLEAR THAT THE SPIL MUST BE BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE STATEWIDE AND COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS FOR IL ARE. THIS UNDERSTANDING SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE SPIL. FOR EXAMPLE IN THE SPIL OBJECTIVE OR THE PRIORITY SERVICES AND PRIORITY POPULATION IN THE NETWORK OF CENTERS AND IN THE IDEAS INVOLVING OTHER AGENCIES. ALSO, IL NEEDS IN THE STATE MAY BE IDENTIFIED THROUGH PUBLIC HEARINGS, THROUGH WORK PLANS, AVAILABLE INFORMATION OR DATA FROM OTHER COUNCILS OR COMMITTEES OR ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING PERHAPS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OR DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS MAYBE THE VR STATE PLAN. IT HAS A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AND THEY MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO IL IN THEIR NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS. 2.2 REFERS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WE DON'T NEED A SUMMARY OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THAT'S NOT PART OF THE SPIL. ALTHOUGH YOU MAY WISH TO REFERENCE SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS IN YOUR RESPONSES TO THE NARRATIVE QUESTIONS IN PART TWO. OKAY. NOW 2.3 -- AGAIN, IT'S TALKS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCTING PUBLIC MEETINGS AND 2.3 LISTS SEVERAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING THE PROCESS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE DO NOT NEED A COPY OF THE ACTUAL WRITTEN POLICY HERE. IN THIS ASSURANCE. 2.5 -- ITEM 2.5 REFERS TO NEW METHODS OR APPROACHES DEVELOPED UNDER THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE PHRASE "SEEK TO INCORPORATE." ALL WE NEED HERE IS THAT THE DSU HAS SOUGHT TO INCORPORATE INNOVATIVE METHODS REGARDING THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM. IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO INCORPORATE THAT INFORMATION BUT TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO INCORPORATE THEM AS APPROPRIATE. 2.6 REFERS TO CONSULTATION WITH THE CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SPIL. THIS IS NOT A NEW POLICY OR LEGAL REQUIREMENT BUT SOME OF YOU MAY NOTICE THAT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS SPIL. SO WE WENT AND SAW THAT IT WAS THERE SO WE INCLUDED IT. REGARDING SECTIONS 3 THROUGH 8, I WON'T GET INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT THOSE RIGHT NOW. BUT THE POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS IN SECTIONS 3 THROUGH 8 APPLY TO ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS FUNDED UNDER CHAPTER 1. EVEN SILS THAT RECEIVE ONLY PART C FUNDS. WE'LL DISCUSS THIS MORE AT LENGTH WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PART 2 BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS -- THESE ASSURANCES. FOR EXAMPLE, HOW CAN THE SPIL ASSURE THAT PART C ONLY FILLS REQUIREMENTS SINCE RSA'S OR DSU'S ROLE TO MONITOR -- THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO MONITOR SILS ANYWAY. WE'LL DISCUSS IT LATER ON IN THIS TRAINING. ITEM 4.2 -- SKIPPING OVER FROM 4.2. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE PHRASE OR TYPE OF SIGNIFICANT DISABILITY. THIS IS REGARDING NONDISCRIMINATION. THIS PHRASE, TYPE OF SIGNIFICANT DISABILITY, REFLECTS THE CROSS DISABILITY NATURE OF THE IL PROGRAM. AND ITEM 4.3, THE KEY PHRASE IS PRESENT IN THE STATE, PRESENT IN THE STATE. THIS MEANS THAT ELIGIBILITY FOR IL SERVICES CANNOT BE LIMITED BASED ON ANY REVENUE REQUIREMENT OTHER THAN THAT OF INDIVIDUALS SIMPLY BEING PRESENT IN THE STATE. OKAY. NOW -- BEAR WITH ME HERE. IN SECTION 5, THE REQUIREMENTS -- 5.1 -- 5.2, RATHER. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE A SERVICE PROVIDER MAKES AVAILABLE PERSONNEL ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND TWO ASPECTS. ONE IS IN TERMS OF ALTERNATE MODES OF COMMUNICATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT DISABILITIES AND IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO ASPECTS THAT YOUR POLICIES NEED TO BE ABLE TO REFLECT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO ASSURE ON 5.2. I'M GOING TO -- THE REST OF THESE SECTIONS ARE SELF-EXPLANATORY. I WANT TO SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT SECTION 9, SIGNATURES. JUST -- ASK YOU TO PLEASE FILL IN THE TWO BLANKS IN THE PARAGRAPH WHERE YOU PUT IN THE NAME OF THE STATE AND ALSO THE TIME PERIOD OF THE THREE-YEAR SPIL. AND THAT TIME PERIOD BEING FISCAL YEARS 2008 THROUGH 2010. AND ALSO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE SPIL WOULD BE OCTOBER 1ST, 2007 IN THIS CASE. AND AGAIN, FOR THOSE STATES THAT HAVE A BLIND AGENCY AND A GENERAL AGENCY, THERE'S ONLY -- THERE -- THAT WOULD BE THREE SIGNATURES RATHER THAN TWO. DSU AND THE SILC AND THE SEPARATE AGENCY WOULD BE THE THIRD. THIS CONCLUDES THE DISCUSSION OF PART ONE AND I'M GOING TO ASK ERIC TO OPEN THE LINES. OPERATOR: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION PLEASE PRESS STAR 1. WE'LL PAUSE AT THIS MOMENT. OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM MICHAEL. HELLO. CALLER: HI. I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, LACK OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT. DOES THAT MEAN THAT NONCITIZENS IF PRESENT IN THE STATE SHOULD BE PROVIDED SERVICES? THAT WAS ON ISSUE THAT CAME UP EARLIER AND IT WAS KIND OF A LEGAL QUESTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD OFF ON RESPONDING TO THAT QUESTION. ONE THING WE'LL BE DOING AFTER THIS CONFERENCE IS SETTING OUT AND E-MAIL WITH SALIENT POINTS WE DISCOVER, LIKE A SUMMARY E-MAIL. I WILL BE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT QUESTION IN OUR FOLLOW-UP E-MAIL. CALLER: EXCELLENT. ONE OTHER QUICK CLARIFICATION. ARE WE WORKING ON -- SHOULD WE BE USING VERSION 17 OF THE SPIL DRAFT FROM FEBRUARY 2007. FELIPE: THE VERSION TO USE WOULD BE THE ONE LINKED IN THE E-MAIL ANNOUNCING THE TRAINING. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM DOWN LOADING THAT VERSION, FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW AND WE'LL SEND YOU THE LATEST BY E-MAIL. CALLER: THE REASON I ASKED IS THAT WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON OUR SPIL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THAT E-MAIL WAS SENT AND DIDN'T KNOW IF THE VERSION HAD CHANGED. FELIPE: YOU MENTIONED FEBRUARY? THERE ARE NO CHANGES FROM FEBRUARY. CALLER: EXCELLENT. FELIPE: EVEN BEFORE THEN, THE FIRST DRAFT WE SENT WAS IN JANUARY AND BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THERE WERE SOME CHANGES BUT THEY WERE MOSTLY IN THE INSTRUCTIONS AND DON'T AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SPIL ITSELF, OF THE QUESTIONS. SO THE REALITY -- IF YOU HAVE STARTED ON IT IN JANUARY, YOU STILL WOULD BE WORKING ON THE SPIL THAT YOU COULD SUBMIT TO US. CALLER: GREAT. THANKS. FELIPE: ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME. OPERATOR: AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. FELIPE: OKAY. LET'S PROCEED WITH PART TWO, NARRATIVE. FIRST, EXCUSE ME FOR THE COUGH. ON THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER WE'RE ASKED TO STATE THE NAME OF YOUR STATE. DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT DETAIL. SECTION 1 DEALS WITH GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND ACTIVITIES. SECTION 1 IS THE CRUX OF THE SPIL. THIS IS REALLY -- THIS REALLY SUMMARIZES WHAT THIS SPIL IS ALL ABOUT. IT CONSISTS OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND FINANCIAL PLAN AND A NUMBER OF OTHER QUESTIONS INVOLVING COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION. IF I WERE TO DESCRIBE THIS SECTION, I WOULD SAY FIRST THAT THE SPIL IS THE BLUEPRINT OR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ALL IL SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES IN YOUR STATE. AGAIN, NOT THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM NECESSARILY. IT OUTLINES WHERE YOU WANT THE IL PROGRAM TO GO OR TO BE THREE YEARS FROM NOW. LET'S SAY FROM POINT A 2007 TO POINT B 2010. WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES? AND THE GOAL AND MISSION DESCRIBES WHAT YOU WANT POINT B TO LOOK LIKE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN YOUR STATE. IT'S LIKE A MISSION STATEMENT. OBJECTIVES ARE HOW YOUR STATE WILL GET TO POINT B. IT'S THE ROAD MAP. THE OBJECTIVES ARE THE ROAD MAP THAT LEADS YOUR STATE FROM POINT A TO POINT B WITH ALL THE NECESSARY LANDMARKS AND GUIDE POSTS ALONG THE WAY. THAT IS KIND OF A LITTLE BRIEF SUMMARY. I'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE EXAMPLES OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT. BUT LET'S GO TO THE GOALS AND MISSION. GOALS AND MISSION -- THE STATES HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY WITH REGARD TO THE GOAL. THE ONLY THING THAT THE LAW SAYS THAT THE GOAL MUST DO IS THAT THEY ADDRESS THE GOALS AND MISSION OF BOTH THE SILS AND CIL PROGRAM. WHEN I SAY CIL -- STATEWIDE LIVING ASSIST -- SO THE PART B PROGRAM AND THE SILS PROGRAM IS THE PART C PROGRAM. IT NEEDS TO ADDRESS GOALS AND MISSION OF BOTH PROGRAMS. INCLUDING THOSE OF THE STATE AGENCY FOR THOSE WHO ARE BLIND AS IT RELATES TO THE PART OF THE SPIL ADMINISTERED BY THAT AGENCY. THAT'S IN THE CASE OF A BLIND AGENCY AND GENERAL AGENCY. RELATES TO THE IL PROGRAM, CHAPTER 1, NOT NECESSARILY TO THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM. WE'LL SAY MORE ABOUT THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM LATER. 1.2 OBJECTIVE. BY LAW, THE OBJECTIVES MUST INCLUDE THREE ELEMENTS DESCRIBED IN SECTIONS 1.2 A, 1.2 B, AND 1.3. THESE ARE A TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETION, A PLAN FOR OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVE POPULATION -- INCLUDING MINORITY AND URBAN POPULATION, AND A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR ACHIEVING THEM. IN ADDITION TO THESE REQUIRED ELEMENTS, THOUGH NOT REQUIRED BY LAW, RSA DOES EXPECT THAT OBJECTIVES BE MEASURABLE TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AND MEASURABLE WITH OUTCOMES BASED. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DESCRIBE BY OUTCOME BASED INDICATORS LATER DURING THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION. IN ADDITION, OBJECTIVES -- IN ORDER TO BE GOOD OBJECTIVES OF COURSE NEED SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES OR STRATEGIES TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES. ALSO, ASSIGNMENTS. OBJECTIVES CAN BE PURSUED AND INDIVIDUALS HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE OBJECTIVES TO THE EXTENT WE KNOW WHICH INDIVIDUALS ARE RESPONSIBLE OR THE LEAD PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIFFERENT ASPECTS. SO IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW IF IT'S DSU OR SILC OR CIL -- ALL THREE ARE CHARGED WITH THE SUPPORTING ACTIVITY TO THE OBJECTIVE. I MENTIONED THE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES -- TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE COSTS WILL BE AND WHAT WILL BE THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR ACHIEVING OR PURSUING THOSE OBJECTIVES. 1.2 A -- THAT TALKS ABOUT THE OUTREACH PLAN THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER, AND AGAIN I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT BY LAW THE OUTREACH PLAN MUST ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS. IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE -- ADDRESS THE POPULATIONS TO BE TARGETED AND THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OR COMMUNITIES WHERE THE TARGETED POPULATIONS RESIDE. IT ALSO NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES FROM MINORITY GROUP POPULATIONS. PLEASE NOTE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE POPULATION AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA. WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING BOTH -- POPULATION AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA. 1.3, THE FINANCIAL PLAN. THE FINANCIAL PLAN IS THE SUMMARY OF THE ANTICIPATED SOURCES, AMOUNTS, AND USES OF ALL FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE STATE TO SUPPORT THE SPIL OBJECTIVE. WHEN WE MEAN -- WHEN WE SAY ANTICIPATED FUNDING, WE MEAN EXPECTED OR SECURED FUNDING. IT DOESN'T MEAN FUNDING THAT WE HOPE FOR OR THAT YOU WILL STRIVE TO SECURE DURING THE NEXT YEARS. IT'S MORE FUNDS THAT YOU EXPECT. IF YOU DO HAVE HOPED-FOR FUNDS THAT YOU HOPE TO OBTAIN DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND IF THAT FUNDING DOES MATERIALIZE AND YOU HAVE MORE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR THE SPIL THAN YOU HAD PUT IN THE FINANCIAL PLAN, THEN YOU MAY SUBMIT A SPIL AMENDMENT REFLECTING THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AND THE USES FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS. THE FINANCIAL -- SO WE HAVE A NEW FINANCIAL PLAN TABLE -- I BELIEVE IT'S ON PAGE 9 -- AND I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT. BUT IN THE FINANCIAL TABLE WE SHOULD INCLUDE GRANT FUNDS, PROGRAM INCOME, AND PASS THROUGH FUNDS. BUT NO IN-KIND RESOURCES. IN-KIND RESOURCES ARE TO BE DESCRIBED IN THE FINANCIAL PLAN NARRATIVE, 1.3 B. WE ASK YOU COMPLETE THE FINANCIAL PLAN TABLE COVERING YEARS 1, 2, 3. FOR EACH FUNDING SOURCE PROVIDE ESTIMATED DOLLAR AMOUNTS ANTICIPATED FOR EACH OF THE USES. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, INCLUDE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM THE CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. AND YOU MAY INSERT ADDITIONAL ROWS FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC SOURCES -- EITHER FEDERAL OR NONFEDERAL. THE REASON WE DID THIS, THIS TABLE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THAT TABLE -- IS WE WANTED TO GIVE SOME GUIDANCE TO THE STATE. IN THE PAST IN THE SPILS SUBMITTED IN 2004, INDIVIDUALS DID THIS FINANCIAL PLAN DIFFERENTLY. THERE WERE NO TWO ALIKE. AS A RESULT NOT EVERY REQUIRED PIECE OF INFORMATION WAS INCLUDED PROBABLY IN ANY OF THE SPILS. SO THIS TABLE INCLUDES ON THE FIRST COLUMN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES SPELLED OUT IN THE LAW, IN THE REGS, AND THE OTHER COLUMNS TALK ABOUT THE FOUR BASIC USES FOR THESE FUNDS. AGAIN, AS REFLECTED BY THE LAW AND REGULATION. WE HAVE THE FIRST COLUMN BE SILC RESOURCE PLAN, SECOND IL SERVICES, THIRD GENERAL CIL OPERATIONS, AND FOUR OTHER SPIL ACTIVITIES. A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, IF I MAY. SPIL INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF THE FUNDING SOURCES. AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE THIRD ROW -- TALK ABOUT CHAPTER 2, OLDER BLIND, OIB. IT SAYS ONLY THOSE PROVIDED BY THE OIB GRANTEE TO FURTHER A SPIL OBJECTIVE. ON THIS ROW, WE DO NOT REQUIRE THAT YOU INDICATE HOW MUCH FUNDING RSA IS GIVING FOR THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM. THIS ROW COULD BE BLANK UNLESS -- UNLESS THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM HAS BEEN A PARTNER AT THE TABLE IN DEVELOPING THE SPIL AND HAS OPTED TO PROVIDE SOME OF ITS FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF A SPIL OBJECTIVE THAT IT HAS AN INTEREST IN PURSUING. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. LET'S SAY IF THE SPIL -- CHAPTER 2 -- THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM WANTS TO HELP INCREASE OUTREACH TO OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND. LET'S SAY OLDER OUTREACH INDIVIDUALS TO THE BLIND IS ONE OF THE SPIL OBJECTIVES. THE AGENCY THAT RECEIVES THE OLDER BLIND FUNDS MAY WIND UP PROVIDING 20,000 DOLLARS FOR EXAMPLE TO HELP THE REST OF THE CHAPTER 1 PROGRAM TO REACH THOSE INDIVIDUALS. SO IN THAT CASE, THE 20,000 DOLLARS THAT THE OLDER BLIND GRANTEE IS OFFERING TO SUPPORT THAT OBJECTIVE WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE SPIL. BUT ONLY UNDER THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. AND ALSO ANOTHER NOTE I'D LIKE TO MENTION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL PLAN IS THAT STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDS MAY INCLUDE THE STATE IL MATCHING FUNDS, IT COULD INCLUDE GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS, COULD INCLUDE FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH OTHER STATE PROGRAMS -- MEDICAID, DISABILITIES COUNCILS, ET CETERA. A FEW NOTES ABOUT FUNDING AMOUNTS AND USES. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS THAT THE SILC RESOURCE PLAN REFLECTS FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SILC. WE'LL DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE MORE IN SECTION 5. THE OTHER -- THE FOURTH COLUMN, OTHER SPIL ACTIVITIES, THOSE ARE ANY ACTIVITIES NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRST THREE COLUMNS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE SPIL OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED IN SECTION 1.2 A. THIS ITEM, OTHER SPIL OBJECTIVES, REFLECTS THE AUTHORIZED USES OF PART B FUNDS OUTLINED IN SECTION 713 OF THE ACT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, SECTION 713 SAYS PART B FUNDS MAY BE PROVIDED. . . MAY BE USED TO DEMONSTRATE WAYS TO EXPAND OR IMPROVE INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES. . . . TO CONDUCT STUDIES AND ANALYSIS, TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, TO PROVIDE OUTREACH -- ALL OF THESE AUTHORIZED USES, THEY MIGHT BE REFLECTED ON THE LAST COLUMN OF THE FINANCIAL TABLE. OKAY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL TABLE. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT 1.3 B, THE FINANCIAL PLAN NARRATIVE. THE FIRST QUESTION IS 1.3 B -- IT SAYS SPECIFY HOW THE PART B, PART C, AND CHAPTER 2 FUNDS WILL BE USED TO FURTHER THE SPIL OBJECTIVES. SO IN THE FINANCIAL TABLE YOU WOULD INDICATE HOW MUCH IN PART B, PART C OR CHAPTER 2 FUNDS WOULD BE DEVOTED TO ACHIEVING SPIL OBJECTIVES. HERE IN 1.3 B YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO FURTHER THE SPIL OBJECTIVE. I GAVE YOU AN EXAMPLE REGARDING THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM. BUT LET'S SAY PART C. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE THAT -- YOU KNOW, IN THE SPIL INSTRUCTION. PART C FUNDS WILL SUPPORT SPIL OBJECTIVES 3 AND 5, INCREASE OUTWARD USE AND INCREASE RESOURCE. . . . SO HERE THE PART C CENTERS WOULD BE PULLING RESOURCES SO THAT TOGETHER THEY CAN REACH OUT TO YOUTH IN TRANSITION. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE HOW THEY COULD BE USED IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. 1.3 B 2 REFERS TO FEDERAL COORDINATION OF FUNDING FOR CENTERS IN IL SERVICES. EXAMPLES OF THIS COULD BE IF THE SPIL WERE TO PULL FUNDING AMONG FEDERAL AND STATE SOURCES FOR THE EXPANSION OF NETWORK OF CENTERS OR CONDUCTING OUTREACH ACTIVITY. IN ANY EVENT THE LAW DOES REQUIRE THAT YOU SPECIFY THE AMOUNT, THE SOURCES, AND PURPOSES OF THE FUNDING TO BE COORDINATED. 1.3 B 3 REFERS TO IN-KIND RESOURCES. 1.3-4, OTHER INFORMATION. THAT'S MORE OPTIONAL BUT MAY INCLUDE MORE DETAILS ABOUT FUNDING SOURCES AND USES. MIGHT DESCRIBE COOPERATIVE SOURCES AND AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER ENTITIES THAT MAKES FUNDS AVAILABLE. OR IF YOU'RE ANTICIPATING POSSIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE FUTURE THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE FINANCIAL PLAN IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD. I'M GOING TO BREAK HERE FOR QUESTIONS AND ERIC, PLEASE OPEN THE LINES. OPERATOR: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION PLEASE PRESS STAR 1. OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM MOLLY. YOUR LINE IS OPEN. CALLER: REGARDING THE OBJECTIVES AND THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, IT SEEMS -- IN TALKING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER -- IN THE 2004 PLAN THERE WAS A DOLLAR AMOUNT TIED TO EACH STRATEGY WHICH WAS ARBITRARY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET MONEY PASSED IN THE STATE. SINCE THEY ARE NOT REQUIRING A SPECIFIC BUDGET THIS YEAR AND THE RESOURCE PLAN WHERE IT IS DESCRIBED IN NARRATIVE ARE WE REQUIRED TO PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON EACH OBJECTIVE AND EACH STRATEGY? FELIPE: GOOD QUESTION. THE LAW REQUIRES THAT THERE BE A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES. IT DOESN'T SAY THAT EACH STRATEGY OR EACH OBJECTIVE HAS A PRICE TAG ON IT. CALLER: OKAY. FELIPE: BUT WHERE POSSIBLE, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S PART OF ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT ALL THE PARTNERS IN THE SPIL KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT MONEYS ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO CERTAIN OBJECTIVES AND THEREFORE ANY GIVEN PARTNER CAN HOLD THE OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT. BUT -- CALLER: THAT WOULD BE -- IT'S VERY HARD TO TIE A THREE YEAR DOLLAR AMOUNT TO TRYING TO IMPLEMENT NURSING HOME TRANSITION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. FELIPE: EXACTLY. IN SOME CASES IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. WE WANT ANYTHING IN THE SPIL TO BE MEANINGFUL. BUT STRIVE WHERE POSSIBLE TO ATTACH A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY OR OBJECTIVE, IF POSSIBLE. CALLER: AND IF NOT THE FINANCIAL PLAN WILL SUFFICE -- FELIPE: THAT'S RIGHT. WE BELIEVE THE FINANCIAL PLAN TABLE WE PROVIDE IF COMPLETED CORRECTLY WOULD SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVE. CALLER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FELIPE: YOU'RE WELCOME. OPERATOR: OUR NEXT QUESTION -- CALLER: IT'S THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FELIPE: HELLO. CALLER: I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ON THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND THE ACTIVITIES AND THE TIME FRAMES -- THERE ARE SEVERAL FORMATS TO DO THIS TYPE OF REPORTING. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE. FELIPE: NO. WE LEAVE IT UP TO EACH -- CALLER: IN THAT SENSE I COULD PUT IT IN THE FORM OF A WORK -- WITH COLUMNS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT. FELIPE: YES. CALLER: I COULD DO THAT. FELIPE: YOU CAN. CALLER: THAT'S ONE THING I WANTED TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN EASIER WAY IF I'M GOING INTO THREE YEARS. THE NEXT THING, WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE FUNDING COLUMN, YOU HAVE PART B HERE. OUR CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING IS CONTRACTED BY RSA FOR THE INDEPENDENT LIVING OLDER BLIND. OKAY? FELIPE: OKAY. CALLER: I'M WONDERING WHERE IT HAS CHAPTER 2 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BLIND AND UNDER THE CENTERS, IF THEY TAKE OUT SOME OF THE MONEY FOR THE OLDER BLIND GRANT FOR THE CENTERS SHOULD THAT BE RECORDED? FELIPE: LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND. IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE CITY GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS WITH THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING? BUT WITH OLDER BLIND DOLLARS. CALLER: NO. FELIPE: PROVISION OF OLDER BLIND SERVICES? CALLER: WE'RE A 722 STATE. AND CONSEQUENTLY FOR THE OLDER BLIND GRANT, THE REHAB SERVICES ADMINISTRATION CONTRACTS THAT OUT TO DCCIL, THE CENTER. NOW, IF THE CENTER USES ANY OF THE OLDER BLIND MONEY FOR OPERATIONS, SHOULD THAT BE RECORDED THERE? FELIPE: YEAH. THAT WOULD BE RECORDED UNDER GENERAL CIL OPERATIONS. CALLER: BY THE CHAPTER TWO GRANT. FELIPE: YES. BUT THE SILS ARE CONTRACTED FOR SPECIFIC IL SERVICES THEY'LL GO IN THE OTHER COLUMN. CALLER: I REALLY DON'T HAVE AN IDEA -- THEY HAVE TO GIVE ME THAT INPUT. BUT I WANTED TO KNOW IF THE OLDER BLIND, IF THEY GIVE MONEY OUT OF THAT GRANT TO HELP OPERATE THE CENTER, THEN IT SHOULD BE RECORDED UNDER THE CENTER IN THE COLUMN WITH OLDER BLIND. FELIPE: YEAH. THE COLUMN WITH OLDER BLIND. THE ROW. AND THEN UNDER THE COLUMN GENERAL CIL OPERATIONS. CALLER: RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW. FELIPE: IT DEPENDS ON THE ARRANGEMENT. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU CAN GIVE ME A CALL AS WELL. CALLER: WE ALL FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY. I'M HAVING A LITTLE DIFFICULT TIME AS HOW TO GET THIS IN CERTAIN SECTIONS. FELIPE: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OPERATOR: OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM MOLLY. CALLER: HI. SECTION 1.3 B 2. I THIS THAT WAS A NEW ONE IN THE NEWER SPIL. FELIPE: LET ME SEE. 1.3 -- CALLER: FINANCIAL PLAN NARRATIVES. RIGHT UNDER THE TABLE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD. THIS IS A NEWER QUESTION THAT WASN'T IN THE JANUARY VERSION. FELIPE: WHICH ONE -- CALLER: DESCRIBE EFFORTS -- FELIPE: THAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL -- THAT'S NOT A NEW ONE. CALLER: MAYBE I MISSED IT WHEN I WAS DOING THE ORIGINAL NARRATIVE. FELIPE: DOES THE TABLE ALREADY ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES? ARE YOU JUST ASKING FOR -- I GUESS I NEED A LIT -- PURELY FROM A POINT OF VIEW OF DOLLARS IT'S ADDRESSED IN THE TABLE -- HERE WE WANT AN NARRATIVE -- THE EFFORTS THAT THE FEDERAL -- THE EFFORTS THAT THE STATES HAVE EMBARKED UPON TO BETTER COORDINATE FUNDING FOR CENTERS AND IL SERVICES. IT'S MORE OF AN EXPLANATION. CALLER: OKAY. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION THAT PROBABLY WILL SOUND SILLY. ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE DSU AND THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION FOR SIGNATURE OR JUST THE DIVISION,. FELIPE: THE DSU. CALLER: WE DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER. FELIPE: NO. CALLER: THANK YOU. FELIPE: OKAY. OPERATOR: AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS. FELIPE: OKAY. SHARON: THIS IS SHARON. I HAVE A WEBCAST QUESTION. THIS IS COMING FROM MARYLAND. AT ONE OF OUR SPIL HEARINGS A QUESTION WAS ASKED AND REQUESTED OF THE SPIL TO INCLUDE THE DEAF/HARD OF HEARING POPULATION TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED POPULATION BECAUSE OF THEIR COMMUNICATION BARRIERS IN THE COMMUNITY. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD BE FOCUSSING ON A CERTAIN DISABILITY SO THIS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWABLE. IS THAT TRUE? FELIPE: IT'S TRUE THAT SERVICES CANNOT -- INDIVIDUAL SERVICES CANNOT EXCLUDE CERTAIN DISABILITY GROUPS OR CERTAIN GROUP -- DISABILITY GROUPS CAN BE GIVEN PREFERENCE IN PROVISION OF IL SERVICES -- THOUGH THAT IS TRUE, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT A POPULATION THAT IS UNDERSERVED MIGHT BE A POPULATION OF A CERTAIN DISABILITY. SO BY REACHING OUT TO THE DEAF POPULATION, THE STATE OF MARYLAND WOULD BE ACTUALLY FULFILLING THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER OF THE LAW IN REACHING ALL POPULATION -- ALL DISABILITY GROUPS. SO PUTTING IN AN OBJECTIVE ABOUT REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY DOES NOT VIOLATE THE LAW AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW. SHARON: ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A RESPONSE FROM MARYLAND. PLEASE GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A MEASURABLE OUTCOME. WE WOULD NOT SAY WE WOULD TRANSITION 100 PEOPLE INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL SAY THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE INTEGRATED SETTING OF THEIR CHOICE. IS THIS CORRECT? FELIPE: YES, THAT WOULD BE CORRECT. HOWEVER, THERE HAS TO BE SOME WAY OF MEASURING IF THERE WAS AN INCREASE, SO THERE WOULD BE -- HAVE TO HAVE -- YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A WAY OF KNOWING WHAT IS THE CURRENT LEVEL, THE BASELINE, IF YOU WILL. AND THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MEASURE IF THERE WAS AN INCREASE. SO SAY AN INCREASE OR PURSUING AN INCREASE WITHOUT HAVING A BASELINE MEASURE WOULD NOT GIVE YOU A GOOD OBJECTIVE TO KNOW IF YOU SUCCEEDED OR NOT. IF YOU DO HAVE A BASELINE AND YOU WANT IT INCREASED, IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO HAVE A TARGET THAT YOU'RE STRIVING FOR THAN LEAVING IT AMBIGUOUS. SO AGAIN, IT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO COME UP WITH A NUMERICAL TARGET BUT IF YOU CAN, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND ADOPT SUCH A TARGET. IF YOU DON'T REACH THAT TARGET, NOBODY IS GOING TO BE PENALIZED. WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IS THE EFFORT IN STRIVING FOR THE OBJECTIVE. SHARON: GREAT. FELIPE: I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION BUT WE'VE GIVEN A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO THE STATES. SHARON: THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FROM THE WEB. THANK YOU. FELIPE: ANYMORE TELEPHONE QUESTIONS? OPERATOR: NO MORE. FELIPE: WE'LL PLUNGE INTO PART TWO. WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. WE'RE A LITTLE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. OKAY. LET'S SEE. ALL RIGHT. LET'S PICK UP ON SECTION 1.4. 1.4 A AND 1.4 B ADDRESS TWO RELATED ISSUES, COMPATIBILITY WITH REGARD TO THE PURPOSE -- SO WE WANT THE SPIL'S COMPATIBILITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF TITLE 7, CHAPTER 1 OF THE REHAB ACT AND COMPATIBILITY WITH THE CIL'S WORK PLAN. SO HERE YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY YOUR SPIL IS COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE TWO ELEMENTS OR ISSUES. WITH REGARD TO THE PURPOSE OF TITLE 7, CHAPTER 1, THAT'S IN SECTION 701 OF THE REHAB ACT. I'D LIKE TO READ THE WHOLE THING BUT WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SET THE CONTEXT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SPIL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER IS TO PROMOTE A PHILOSOPHY OF INDEPENDENT LIVING IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE LEADERSHIP, EMPOWERMENT, INDEPENDENCE AND PRODUCTIVITY AND INTEGRATION AND FULL INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE MAIN STREAM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY THROUGH 1, 2, 3. 1, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF STATES FOR PROVIDING AND EXPANDING IL SERVICES. 2, PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP AND SUPPORT STATEWIDE NETWORK CENTERS. 3, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES FOR IMPROVING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING, REHABILITATION PROGRAMS -- IL PROGRAMS, CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, SILCs, VR PROGRAM, CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND OTHER PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH THE REHAB ACT OR OTHER FEDERAL LAW OR PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH NONFEDERAL SOURCES. SO THIS STATEMENT UNDERLINES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THEMES OF THIS SPIL, COLLABORATION. AND LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES. SO THE SPIL IS STRONGER TO THE EXTENT THAT THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP -- THERE'S COLLABORATION, COORDINATION. ONE WAY TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION IS TO SHOW HOW THE SPIL ADDRESSES COLLABORATION AS WELL AS PROMOTING THE PHILOSOPHY OF INDEPENDENT LIVING. SO THAT'S 1.4 A. 1.4 B IS -- REGARDS CENTERS, THE WORK PLANS. IN THIS REGARD THE SPIL NEEDS TO DESCRIBE HOW -- AND I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW WORDS -- HOW THE DSU AND THE SILC CONSIDER AND INCORPORATE WHERE APPROPRIATE THE PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES ESTABLISHED BY CENTERS. THIS IS NOT A NEW REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL LAW OR REGULATION OR OUR STATE POLICY. IT'S NOT NEW. BUT IT WAS OMITTED FROM THE PREVIOUS SPIL. IN THE ORIGINAL IT WAS AN ASSURANCE BUT WE DISCOVERED THAT THE REGULATIONS REQUIRE NOT ONLY THAT YOU ASSURE BUT YOU ALSO DESCRIBE HOW YOU INCORPORATE THE CENTERS FEEDBACK OR WORK PLAN. NOW, THE MOST LOGICAL PLACE IN WHICH SPIL WORK PLANS WOULD BE INCORPORATED IN YOUR SPIL IS IN THE OBJECTIVES AND THE SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES TO THE OBJECTIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSPORTATION, NURSING HOME TRANSITION ARE TYPICALLY ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IN STATES. AND THEY TEND TO FIND THEIR WAY INTO SPIL OBJECTIVES. BUT THAT'S ALSO -- TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING TRANSITION ARE ALSO VERY OFTEN TIMES THE PRIORITIES OF THE CENTERS. AND THE CENTERS HAVE A VERY GOOD FEEL FOR WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THEIR AREA. AND BY PULLING TOGETHER THE INSIGHTS OF ALL AREAS IN OUR STATE WILL HELP REALISTIC OBJECTIVES. MIGHT HELP MEASURE INDICATORS REGARDING TRANSPORTATION OR HOUSING. OR COULD BE EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATION. SO WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE WORK PLANS AND THAT WILL PROVIDE A GOOD CLUE AS TO WHAT OBJECTIVES WE NEED ON A STATE LEVEL. BUT WOULD ALSO HELP THE STATE DEVELOP STRATEGIES, STRATEGIES WE WANT TO INCORPORATE THE ACTIVITIES THAT EACH CENTER IS PLANNING TO DO IN TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE. I WILL BE HAPPY TO WRITE ANY ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES LATER ON. OKAY. 1.5. IN DESCRIBING THE STEPS TO MAXIMIZE COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION IN 1.5, BE SURE TO IDENTIFY THE ENTITIES YOU PLAN TO WORK WITH BY NAME AND NOTE THAT THEY INCLUDE THE SILS PROGRAM -- STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM, THE SILC, THE CENTERS, THE DSU, OTHER STATE AGENCIES, OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES. WHEN I SAY SILS PROGRAM -- THAT CAN INCLUDE A AGENCY THAT PROVIDES SERVICES DIRECTLY. WE WANT THAT TO THE STATE ADMINISTERED -- TO BE COORDINATED WITH THE OTHER PARTS OF IL. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND THEN WE HAVE 1.6. WE TALK ABOUT COORDINATION OF SERVICES. 1.5 TALKS ABOUT COORDINATION -- COOPERATION, COORDINATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIP AMONG VARIOUS ENTITIES. THIS COULD SEEM REDUNDANT. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1.5 AND 1.6? 1.6 IS DIFFERENT FROM 1.5. 1.5 REFERS TO MORE OF THE BIG PICTURE, POLICY LEVEL. SO IT'S THE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE SILC AND THE SRC ON POLICY ISSUES. HOW WILL WE PROMOTE THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR STATE? HOW WILL BE GOOD SPOKES PEOPLE? LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON CERTAIN THINGS. 1.5 RELATES CLOSELY TO THE SILC DUTIES IN 705 C 3. 1.6 IS MORE ON THE GROUND LEVEL, MORE SERVICE ORIENTED. SO THERE YOU'D HAVE - - TALK ABOUT DD COUNCIL AND HOW THE SILS WHERE WORK WITH THE DD COUNCIL. IT'S MORE SERVICES. IN 1.5 YOU CAN HAVE THE SILC COORDINATED WITH THE DD COUNCIL BUT ON MORE THE POLICY LEVEL. SO I HOPE THAT HELPS. ON 1.6 YOU MIGHT DISCUSS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR PROVIDING SERVICES -- AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN A CIL AND DD COUNCIL. THESE ORGANIZATIONS LISTED IN 1.6 COME STRAIGHT FROM THE REGULATIONS. NOTE THAT THE LIST INCLUDES OLDER BLIND PROGRAM, INCLUDES VR PROGRAM -- STATE VR PROGRAM. INCLUDES SPECIAL EDUCATION, DISABILITY SERVICES, HEALTH, HOUSING, SO IT'S -- TRANSPORTATION. THESE ARE ALL LISTED AND TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE WE'D LIKE YOU TO ADDRESS AS MANY OF THESE KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY AND THE MORE THE BETTER. GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT SYNERGISM -- COLLABORATION. I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER. YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE HOW (INDISCERNIBLE) SOUGHT TO INCORPORATE METHODS OR APPROACHES THAT THE DSU DETERMINES TO BE EFFECTIVE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO INCLUDE NEW METHODS. AT THE VERY LEAST INCLUDE HOW THE DSU APPROACHED THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM OR -- TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY INNOVATIVE METHODS OR APPROACHES. IF THE DSU DETERMINES THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING METHODS, YOU WOULD DESCRIBE IT IN 1.7. BUT WE WANT SOME DESCRIPTION OF WHAT EFFORTS WERE MADE IN 1.7. OKAY. DEEP BREATH. SECTION 2. SCOPE, EXTENT, AND ARRANGEMENT OF SERVICES. YOU'LL SEE THE TABLE. THE TABLE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS IN THE OLD SPIL. WE DON'T WANT DOLLARS HERE. WE JUST WANT A CHECK MARK. YOU KNOW, JUST A CHECK IN THE BOX TO SERVICES THAT APPLY. THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS TABLE AND THE ONE IN THE OLD SPIL IS THAT THIS NEW ONE FOR THE DSU ACTUALLY HAS TWO COLUMNS FOR THE DSU. ONE IS FOR OCCASIONS WHERE THE DSU PROVIDES THE SERVICES DIRECTLY BE ITS OWN STAFF. THE SECOND ONE IS WHEN THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DSU THROUGH CONTRACTS OR GRANTS. THE THIRD COLUMN IS SERVICES PROVIDED BY CENTERS. BUT CENTERS NOT INCLUDING THE CONTRACTS RECEIVED FROM THE DSU. SO BETWEEN COLUMN TWO AND THREE, WE DON'T WANT DUPLICATION. WE DON'T WANT DUPLICATION THERE. OKAY? I HOPE THAT'S CLEAR. I CAN GO INTO IT MORE AFTER - - BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME LIST OF SERVICES AND WE TOOK THESE SERVICES DIRECTLY FROM THE REGULATIONS. THEY MAY NOT BE THE BEST DESCRIPTION BUT THAT'S WHAT THE REGS HAVE. 2.1 B DESCRIBE ANY SERVICE PROVISION PRIORITY. SO HERE -- WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS, PRIORITY TYPES OF SERVICES AND/OR PRIORITY TYPES OF POPULATION. EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT THE DEAF POPULATION. THAT COULD BE A PRIORITY POPULATION, UNDERSERVED POPULATION. TYPE OF SERVICE COULD BE IF YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN KIND OF IL RELATED SERVICE FOR WHICH THERE IS A GREAT NEED IN THE STATE BUT FOR WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN LITTLE RESOURCES, THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT THAT SERVICE AS A PRIORITY SERVICE -- SERVICE PROVISION PRIORITY IN 2.1 B. 2.1 C. THIS WILL NOT APPLY TO EVERYBODY. BUT STATES ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE CONSUMERS FOR CERTAIN SERVICES OR TO HAVE A FINANCIAL NEEDS TEST. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO SO, BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, THOSE HAVE TO BE APPLIED UNIFORMLY. AND YOU NEED WRITTEN POLICY AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS TO BE ASSURED THEY'RE APPLIED FAIRLY. WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE COPIES OF THE POLICIES BUT YOU NEED TO CITE THEM OR DESCRIBE THEM. 2.2, ARRANGEMENT FOR STATE PROVIDED SERVICES. HERE'S WHERE YOU DESCRIBE -- THIS IS IN CASES WHERE THE DSU HAVE GRANTS ARE CONTRACTS WITH THIRD PARTY CENTERS. YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU INCLUDE -- DESCRIBE IF THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE GRANTS OR CONTRACTS OR BOTH. WHAT ARE THE FUNDING SOURCES? ARE THEY FEDERAL, ARE THEY STATE? WHO DOES THE DSU CONTRACT WITH? WITH CENTERS, WITH NONCENTER PROVIDERS? THE TYPE OF SERVICES BEING PROVIDED VIA CONTRACT OR GENERAL OPERATION OF CENTERS? AND ALSO, I MENTIONED EARLIER SOME STATES PROVIDE IL SERVICES DIRECTLY THROUGH ITS OWN PROGRAM, OWN STAFF. WELL, IN THOSE CASES IF THE STATE DOES PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES UNDER ITS OWN PROGRAM -- WHETHER PART B OR STATE DOLLARS -- WE NEED THE SPIL TO DESCRIBE THAT HERE, IN 2.2 A. 2.2 B IS REGARDING DETERMINATION OF INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBILITY. IT MUST BE DELEGATE TODAY THE CENTER IN SOME CASES. SO YOU NEED TO DESCRIBE OR CITE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO BE SURE 2.2 B IS BEING FOLLOWED. WE DON'T NEED A COPY OF THE REGS OR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. A DESCRIPTION WOULD BE ENOUGH. SECTION 3, DESIGNED FOR THE STATEWIDE NETWORK OF CENTERS. TWO PARTS. ONE IS EXISTING NETWORK AND EXPANSION OF THE NETWORK. PLEASE -- IN 3.1, PLEASE GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXISTING NETWORK THAT -- AND ALSO, THE CENTERS -- YEAH. THE CENTERS IN THE NETWORK MUST COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS AND ASSURANCES. SO WE ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE A LIST OF THE CENTERS AND WHAT AREAS THEY SERVE OR YOU CAN LIST ALL THE COUNTIES AND INDICATE WHICH CENTERS SERVE THE COUNTIES. SO GIVE US A PICTURE OF CURRENTLY HOW THE STATE IS COVERED BY CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. 3.2 -- THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT AREAS ARE NOT COVERED. GEOGRAPHIC AREAS NOT COVERED BY THE CURRENT NETWORK. AND ALSO WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR COVERING THOSE UNSERVED AREAS. THIS INCLUDES FOR EXAMPLE THE ORDER OF PRIORITY FOR SERVING THOSE AREAS -- UNSERVED AREAS IF ADDITIONAL FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE. A LOT OF STATES PROVIDE -- IN THE PAST HAVE PROVIDED VERY GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. THE ONLY THING WE ASK IS MAKE IT AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE WHAT AREAS NOT COVERED ARE. TRY TO FOLLOW THE SAME FORMAT OR -- AS YOU DO FOR 3.1. YOU MIGHT WANT TO MERGE 3.1 AND 3.2. WE GIVE YOU A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU. THERE IS NO LONGER A SEPARATE ATTACHMENT FOR SECTION 723 STATES. THE REST OF THE SECTION IS APPLIED TO 722 AND 723 STATES. OKAY. SECTION 4. DESIGNATED STATE UNIT. 4.1, ADMINISTERED AND SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PROVISION OF ADMINISTERED AND SUPPORT SERVICES IS ONE OF THE REQUIRED DUTIES OF THE DSU. IN SECTION 704 C OF THE ACT. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES MAY INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, PROVIDING A DSU STAFF PERSON TO THE SILC TO PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. COULD INCLUDE OFFICE SPACE, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES. ALSO THE REGS LIST OTHER THINGS SUCH AS FINANCIAL PLANNING IN ACTIVITIES, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT INCLUDING AUDITS, PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT, RECORDKEEPING ACTIVITIES. MOST OFTEN ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT SERVICES RELATE TO THE SILC BUT MAY ALSO RELATE TO OTHER NONSILC ASPECTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IL SERVICES DIRECTLY -- WHATEVER THE STATE PROVIDES IN SUPPORT OF THAT PROGRAM COULD BE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES. OKAY. SECTION 5 -- STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL. NOW, RECOMMEND THAT YOU LOOK -- EVERYBODY INVOLVED LOOK AT SECTION 704 C AND HAVE A CLEAR IDEA AS TO WHAT THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE DSU ARE, WHAT THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DSU ARE AND ALSO THE SAME THING WITH THE SILC. IN TERMS OF RESOURCE PLAN, TO START THE DISCUSSION LET'S TURN TO THE FINANCIAL PLAN TABLE ON PAGE 9. BARE WITH ME. GO TO PAGE 9. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMN -- LET'S SEE. HOLD ON. LET ME FIND MY PAGE 9. LOOK -- THE COLUMN SAYS SILC RESOURCE PLAN. ONCE YOU FILL IN THIS TABLE, ONCE YOU COMPLETE THIS TABLE WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT COLUMN IS THE RESOURCE PLAN BECAUSE THE RESOURCE PLAN IS DEFINED AS THE SOURCES AND AMOUNTS AVAILABLE TO THE SILC. THE SILC -- THE RESOURCE PLAN IS NOT THE ANTICIPATED EXPENSES OF THE SILC. IT'S REALLY THE RESOURCES THAT IT HAS AVAILABLE. THEREFORE, THE SILC RESOURCE PLAN DOES NOT MEAN SILC BUDGET. SILCs ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE BUDGETS BUT THE SILC BUDGET IS NOT TO BE SUBMITTED IN THE SPIL. THE SILC RESOURCE PLAN REFERS TO THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SILC IDENTIFIED IN 705 C. YOU KNOW, THE SILC -- THE DUTIES ARE THE JOINTLY DEVELOPED AND SIGNED WITH THE STATE PLAN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING TO MONITOR, REVIEW THE STATE PLAN, TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES FOR THE STATE COUNCIL AND OTHER COMMISSIONS AND COUNCILS AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS OF THE SILC ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND TO SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER SUCH PERIODIC REPORTS THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUEST. SO THESE ARE THE DUTIES THAT ARE TO BE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE SILC RESOURCE PLAN. NOW, IF POSSIBLE AS A RESULT OF THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE REHAB ACT, THE DUTIES COULD BE EXPANDED. IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN AFTER THE SPIL IS APPROVED AND GOES INTO EFFECT, THEN -- AND IF THE STATE WANTED TO CHANGE THE SPIL TO REFLECT THE NEW DUTIES, THEN OF COURSE THE STATE CAN SUBMIT AN AMENDMENT. OKAY. AND THEN HERE OF COURSE YOU COULD ADD MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PLAN SUCH AS IN-KIND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE SILC. AND THEN 5.1 THROUGH 5.4 HAS A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS INVOLVING THE SILC, ALL FROM THE REGS. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE ALL DESIGNED AT PRESERVING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE SILC WITH REGARD TO THE DSU OR OTHER STATE AGENCIES. AND THESE DESCRIPTIONS CAN BE BRIEF. FOR EXAMPLE, BY CITING SILC BYLAWS OR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. I WON'T GO INTO ALL OF THEM IN DETAIL, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW A LOT OF THESE CONDITIONS SPECIFICALLY MENTION INDEPENDENCE OF THE SILC. IF WE USE THE LANGUAGE FROM THE LAW IN THE REGS. 5.2, ESTABLISHMENT AND PLACEMENT. WE NEED THE SILC TO ADDRESS BOTH THE ESTABLISHMENT AND PLACEMENT. ESTABLISHMENT REFERS TO THE LEGAL MECHANISM BUT WHICH THE SILC WAS ESTABLISHED. WAS IT ESTABLISHED BY STATE LAW OR EXECUTIVE ORDER? IT ALSO ADDRESSES THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE SILC. IS IT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR PART OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE? PLACEMENT REFERS TO WHERE THE SILC HAS BEEN PLACED. THAT MEANS IT COULD BE -- THE SILC COULD BE PLACED WITHIN THE STATE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. COULD BE AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY OR COMMISSION. OR OUTSIDE THE STATE IF IT WAS A 501 C ENTITY. IT CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED AS AN ENTITY WITHIN A STATE AGENCY. IT CAN BE PART OF THE STATE STRUCTURE BUT NOT PART OF THE AGENCY INCLUDED IN THE DSU -- 5.3, APPOINTMENT AND COMPOSITION. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR CURRENT SILC TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS THE APPOINTMENT AND COMPOSITION REQUIREMENTS. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, NEED TO HAVE MORE THAN 50 PERCENT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, MAKE SURE THE TERMS ARE CURRENT, THAT THERE AREN'T ANY TERMS THAT HAVE LAPSED. WE NEED TO KNOW HERE FOR EXAMPLE, 5.3, WHO MAKES THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE SILC. HOW DOES THE SILC NOMINATE INDIVIDUALS, HOW DOES IT NOMINATE INDIVIDUALS? HOW IS THE CHAIR ELECTED? HOW ARE THE TERMS TRACKED SO YOU KNOW WHEN A CERTAIN MEMBER NEEDS TO BE REAPPOINTED, HOW DO YOU FILL THE VACANCIES? THINGS LIKE THAT. WE WANT TO KNOW THERE IS A SYSTEM FOR assuring THAT THE SYSTEM IS CURRENT AT ALL TIMES. 5.4 IS STAFFING REQUIREMENTS. IT TALKS FOR EXAMPLE -- MAKE SURE THAT DUTIES ARE ASSIGNED -- ARE NOT ASSIGNED TO SILC STAFF. THAT MIGHT CAUSE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THERE CAN BE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. OKAY. ONE DEEP BREATH HERE. I WANT TO ADDRESS TOGETHER SECTIONS 6.1 AND 6.7. ALL THESE REQUIREMENTS RELATE TO THE ASSURANCES FROM SECTION 1 THAT APPLY TO IL SERVICE PROVIDERS. ASSURANCES IN PART ONE. IN PART TWO WE'D LIKE YOU TO DESCRIBE HOW THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE MET. ONE IMPORTANT NOTE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THESE REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ALL RECIPIENTS OF FUNDS INCLUDING SILS THAT RECEIVE FUNDS. EVEN IN THE CASE OF PART C CENTERS THAT DO NOT RECEIVE PART B FUNDS, IN THESE SECTIONS THE STATE PLAN NEEDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT STEPS THE DSU AND SILC HAVE TAKEN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CONFIDENTLY ASSURE THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE MET. THESE STEPS MUST CONFORM TO FEDERAL LAW AND REGULATION, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT RELATE TO DSU AND SILC DUTIES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SILC DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MONITOR SILS. THE DSU IS REQUIRED TO ACCOUNT FOR FUNDS. THIS INCLUDES MONITORING CENTERS THAT RECEIVE STATE FUNDS AND PART B FUNDS, EVEN IF THEY ALSO RECEIVE PART C FUNDS. REGARDING PART C FUNDED CENTERS, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THOSE CENTERS. DSU'S ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THOSE CENTERS UNLESS THEY ALSO RECEIVE PART B OR STATE FUNDS. BUT THE QUESTION IS, HOW CAN THE DSU AND THE SILC ASSURE RSA THAT A PART C ONLY CENTER IS MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS IF THE DSU IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING IT? HOW CAN DSU ENSURE A CENTER IS MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS IF IT'S NOT MONITORING IT? THE ANSWER IS THIS: ASSURE DOES NOT MEAN ENSURE. BECAUSE ENSURE DOES INVOLVE MONITORING. BUT WHEN WE ASSURE SOMETHING, WE'RE assuring SOMEONE THAT WE HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THE SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE MEETING THE REQUIREMENT. IT'S A REASONABLE EXPECTATION. I HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT THE CENTERS ARE COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATIONS. IN SOME CASES I CANNOT ASSURE THEY'RE DOING IT. BUT WE'RE TAKING STEPS TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET. I'LL GIVE SOME EXAMPLES. A STATE CAN -- THE STATE PLAN CAN ENSURE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET THROUGH ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, BY ISSUING STANDARDS FOR ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS. BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR TRAINING ON THE STANDARDS OR OTHER CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS FOR CENTERS, ASKING SERVICE PROVIDERS -- YOU COULD ASK SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE ASSURANCES TO YOU SIMILAR TO WHAT THE STATE IS PROVIDING TO RSA. THAT COULD BE DONE TOO. OR ANOTHER WAY IS ACTING WITH RSA COMPLIANCE REVIEWS -- REVIEWING REPORTS FROM RSA WHEN RSA DOES ON SITE REVIEWS OF CENTERS. THESE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW -- OF STEPS THAT DSU'S THEMSELVES CAN TAKE IN ORDER TO FEEL CONFIDENT TO ASSURE RSA THAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET BY SERVICE PROVIDERS. WHATEVER THE STATE DOES HAS TO BE SOMETHING -- OF COURSE SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IS COMFORTABLE WITH AND THAT RESPECT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES IN TITLE 7 AND NOT GO BEYOND THOSE. IF A CENTER THAT IS RECEIVING ONLY PART C FUNDS IS FOUND NOT TO BE COMPLIANT, THE STATE WILL NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. WE HOLD THE CENTER ACCOUNTABLE. AGAIN, IN RESPONDING TO THESE QUESTIONS, PLEASE BE BRIEF. YOU CAN CITE RELEVANT POLICIES OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS OR WHERE APPROPRIATE YOUR MONITORING PRACTICES. OKAY? NOW, WE DON'T NEED COPIES OF THE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES BUT WHEN YOU DO A REVIEW OF THE STATE -- WE WILL WANT TO LOOK AT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. DOCUMENTATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR REVIEW BUT NOT SUBMITTED IN THE SPIL. THE FINAL THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE -- IF A STATE DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE PRACTICES DESIGNED TO ASSURE RSA THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET, YOU CAN STILL SIGN THE ASSURANCES AS LONG AS IN PART 2 YOU DESCRIBE WHAT ACTIONS YOU'LL BE TAKING DURING THE THREE YEARS OF THE SPIL. OKAY. SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE DETAILS OF SECTION 6, 6.2 FISCAL CONTROL AND FUND ACCOUNTING -- 6.3 IS RECORDKEEPING, ELIGIBILITY IS 6.4. 6.5 ARE, ILC PLANS -- 6.6, 6.7. EVERYTHING IS SPELLED OUT, SO I WON'T TAKE ANYMORE OF YOUR TIME GOING OVER THOSE. I DO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT SECTION 7, EVALUATION. IN SECTION 7 THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO COMPONENTS THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU DRAWING YOUR ATTENTION TO, ONE IS THE PERIODIC EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN. SO PERIODIC EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS. THE SECOND IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE STATES EVALUATION OF SATISFACTION BY INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. SO THIS -- THE SATISFACTION SURVEYS WOULD APPLY BOTH TO THE SILS AS WELL AS SATISFACTION REGARDING SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE STATE DIRECTLY. EVALUATION TO BE -- AGAIN, WE GIVE STATES TREMENDOUS FLEXIBILITY AS TO HOW THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS BILL IS MONITORED AND EVALUATED, BUT I WILL SAY THAT MONITORING EVALUATION OF THE SPIL IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE SILC'S RESPONSIBILITY. TOGETHER WITH THE DSU AND OTHER STAKE HOLDERS. FINALLY, REGARDING THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION, SECTION 8 REVERSES STATE IMPOSED CONDITION. IF THE STATE HAS ANY REQUIREMENTS THAT GO BEYOND TITLE 7 AND CORRESPONDING REGULATIONS, THAT WHERE YOU WOULD DESCRIBE THAT HERE. FOR EXAMPLE A FINANCIAL NEEDS TEST. YOU NEED TO STATE WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE. NOT IN GREAT DETAIL. OKAY. THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION ABOUT SECTION -- PART 2 OF THE SPIL AND I AM NOW OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. OPERATOR: OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM -- CALLER: THANK YOU. HI. I'M STRUGGLING A LITTLE WITH TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE SILC PIECE OR RESOURCE PLAN. THE WAY -- YOU SAID YOU DON'T HAVE TO INCLUDE THE SILC BUDGET. FELIPE: UH-HUH. CALLER: BUT IF THE SILC ONLY HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL THE PART B MONEYS AND MAYBE SOME I AND E FUNDS -- SO WE HAVE TO USE A PIECE OF THAT MONEY TO PAY FOR OUR STAFF AND PAY FOR OUR MEETINGS AND ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS ATTENDED, DO WE KIND OF TAKE THAT OFF THE TABLE? FELIPE: NO. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. WE EXPECT THE SILC TO HAVE A BUDGET AND WE EXPECT THE DSU AND THE SILC AND ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES KNOWING WHAT THE SILC BUDGET IS AND WHAT EXPENSES THE SILC PLANS TO INCUR AND WHAT THE SOURCES OF THE FUNDING ARE FOR THE SILC -- YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE FOR TRAVEL OR OTHER ACTIVITIES. SO THE -- YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND WE DO A REVIEW OF A STATE OR VISIT OF A STATE OR AN ISSUE COMES UP, WE'LL ASK FOR A COPY OF THE BUDGET. BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE SPIL, WE DON'T NEED THAT BUDGET. AND AGAIN WE WENT TO THE LAW AND REGS AND WE INCLUDED WHAT THE LAW AND REGS SAID THE SPIL HAS TO INCLUDE. WE DIDN'T GO BEYOND THAT. BEYOND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF MONITORING AND PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT ISSUES WHERE WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR THINGS SUCH AS THE SILC BUDGET. DID THAT HELP YOU. CALLER: SOMEWHAT. WE MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS LATER. FELIPE: ABSOLUTELY. WE EXPECT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER IN A SPIL AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE MANY MORE QUESTIONS AND WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE STATE IS REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE SILC FUNDING -- FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE SILC TO FULFILL ITS STATUTORY DUTIES. HOW MUCH AND WHERE FROM IS UP TO EACH SPIL. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE DSU AND THE SILC NEED TO WORK OUT TOGETHER, AND SO FOR EXAMPLE THE SILC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT ITS ROLES ARE. IF POSSIBLE IT NEEDS TO ATTACH A DOLLAR FIGURE TO WHAT IT WOULD COST THEM TO DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO BY LAW AND THEN THE DSU CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THE SOURCES FOR THAT OR WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT REFERRED TO IS A REALISTIC AMOUNT AND THEN FIND THE SOURCES FOR THAT SILC RESOURCE PLAN. YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL SOURCES INCLUDING I AND E FUNDS, STATE FUNDS, PART B FUNDS. IT COULD BE OTHER PUBLIC OR EVEN PRIVATE SOURCES. CALLER: OKAY. THANK YOU. FELIPE: OKAY. OPERATOR: OUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM KATHLEEN. THE LINES ARE OPEN. CALLER: HI. HOW ARE YOU? FELIPE: GLAD YOU MADE IT. CALLER: . YES. I HAVE A BASIC QUESTION JUST ON THE IDEA THAT THIS BILL IS SUPPOSED TO REFLECT ALL OF THE MONEYS THAT COME IN FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY THAT INCLUDES B AND C CENTERS. IS THAT CORRECT? FELIPE: YES. ALL THE MONEYS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STATE TO SUPPORT THE CHAPTER 1 PROGRAM. NOT CHAPTER 2 NECESSARILY. CALLER: CHAPTER 1 PROGRAM. THAT MEANS I WOULD NEED TO GET ALL THE -- THE MONEY THAT KEEP COMING IN TO ADD ON TO THESE FUNDING AMOUNTS? FELIPE: YES. CALLER: IN TERMS OF THE FINANCIAL PART -- IT SAYS GENERAL SILS OPERATIONS. IS THAT THE SERVICES JUST IF WE HAVE -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN? FELIPE: YEAH. PART C DOLLARS FROM RSA ALWAYS GOES FROM THE GENERAL OPERATION OF CENTERS. CALLER: IT ALWAYS DOES. FELIPE: IN SOME CASES STATE MIGHT GIVE THE CENTER OPERATING FUNDS OR CONTRACT FOR SPECIFIC SERVICES. CALLER: UH-HUH. OKAY. FELIPE: IF IT'S FOR SPECIFIC SERVICES WE PUT IT UNDER IL SERVICES COLUMN. FOR GENERAL OPERATION YOU PUT UNDER CORRESPONDING COLUMN. CALLER: WE HAVE CONTRACTS THAT OPERATE THE SILS AND THEY PROVIDE OUR SERVICES SO I WASN'T SURE WHERE THAT WOULD GO. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT SHOULD BE GENERAL OPERATIONS, FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. FELIPE: I WOULD SAY YES FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING. CALLER: ALL RIGHT. I GUESS YOU'D BE AVAILABLE? FELIPE: . LET ME GIVE EVERYBODY MY E-MAIL ADDRESS. FELIPE.LULLI@ED.ORG. IF YOU COULD SEND ME THE E-MAIL WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. CALLER: OKAY. THANK YOU. FELIPE: THANK YOU. THESE ARE ALL VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. OPERATOR: THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS. FELIPE: HOW ABOUT WEB QUESTIONS? SHARON: WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE WEB. THIS HAS TO DO WITH SECTION 5 SILCs. DO YOU HAVE INSIGHT THAT THE DUTIES WILL BE EXPANDED IN THE OPERATION? FELIPE: I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS. SHARON: OKAY. GREAT. FELIPE: I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT THEM AND SOME PROPOSALS BUT I CAN'T SAY WHERE WE ARE ON THOSE. SHARON: OKAY. WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM ARIZONA. YOU MADE THE STATEMENT THAT A STATE'S IL PROGRAM ADMINISTERS DIRECTLY BY THE STATE SHOULD BE DESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 2.2 A. THIS SECTION DESIGNATES GRANTS WITH THIRD PARTY AGREEMENTS. FELIPE: LET ME GO TO THAT SECTION. WE'RE LOOKING AT SECTION 2.2, ARRANGEMENTS FOR STATE PROVIDED SERVICES. 2.2 TALKS ABOUT GRANTS OR ARRANGEMENTS WITH THIRD PARTIES. SO THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED THE QUESTION IS CORRECT IN SAYING THAT THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE MORE NARROW IN SCOPE AND IT IS NARROW BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE LAW AND THE REGS DESCRIBE IT. BUT THE OVERALL SECTION, THE 2.2, IS ARRANGEMENT FOR STATE PROVIDED SERVICES. IT'S BROADER DEFINITION. THE ARRANGEMENT FOR STATE PROVIDED SERVICES COULD INCLUDE DIRECT SERVICES. SO THAT'S WHY WE THOUGHT 2.2 A WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO PUT IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THE PERSON ASKING THE QUESTION FOUND A PLACE THAT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE OR CONDUCIVE FROM THAT STATE'S POINT OF VIEW, THAT'S FINE. BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT ARRANGEMENTS THE STATE HAS TO PROVIDE SERVICES DIRECTLY AS WELL AS THROUGH GRANTS OR CONTRACTS. AND I MIGHT ADD THAT THE LAW DOES SAY THAT A STATE MUST PROVIDE SERVICES, EITHER DIRECTLY AND/OR THROUGH CONTRACTS AND GRANTS. OKAY? SO I HOPE I ANSWERED THE QUESTION. SHARON: I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTION FROM THE WEB AT THIS TIME. FELIPE: OKAY. GREAT. WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG. WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE'LL GO OVER THE SPIL SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTION AND THEN WE'LL BE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. AND TOM KELLEY WILL HAVE THE HONOR. THOMAS: OKAY. HELLO, EVERYONE. THE SPIL MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA E-MAIL AND IN HARD COPY BY JULY 1ST, 2007. (INDISCERNIBLE) DOCUMENTS ARE PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED. ELECTRONICALLY PLEASE E-MAIL COMPLETED SPILs TO SPIL SUBMISSION AT ED.GOV. WE ASK YOU USE THE FOLLOWING TEMPLATE. USE YOUR STATE'S TWO LETTER ABBREVIATION. SO FOR INSTANCE, FOR ALASKA AK -- THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE BEING TRANSMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO YOU ALSO SO THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE. YOU MAY ALSO SUBMIT YOUR SPIL ON LINE THROUGH OUR MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, THE MIS AND WE'LL PROVIDE THAT E-MAIL TO YOU AGAIN. THE -- AS FAR AS HARD COPIES, LET ME GIVE YOU OUR ADDRESS ONE TIME AND THEN JUST TELL YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU INCLUDE. THE ADDRESS FOR THE SPIL TO BE E-MAILED -- OR TO BE MAILED TO WOULD BE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHAB SERVICES, ATTENTION ROSALIND THOMPSON, 550-12TH STREET, WASHINGTON DC 202. . . . WE WILL BE TRANSMITTING THIS INFORMATION TO YOU. RSA IS ALSO OFFERING SAFETY OPTION OF COMPLETING (INDISCERNIBLE) MIS. WE WILL PROVIDE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ON LINE SPIL SUBMITTAL. HARD COPY SUBMITTAL WILL BE REQUIRED IN THE CASE OF ON LINE SUBMITTAL NOT WORKING REALLY WELL. NOW, REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU SEND THIS WE NEED TO ACCOMPANY THIS -- OR TO BE A PART OF THIS BILL SIGNED COPIES OF THE ASSURANCES, PART ONE OF THE SPIL, A SUBMITTAL LETTER REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE SPIL, SIGNED CERTIFICATION FORMS, AND COMMENTS PERSONAL TO THE STATE REVIEW PROCESS UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 1372 IF ANY. THE ASSURANCES AND THE SUBMITTAL LETTER MUST BE SIGNED BY THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DSU, THE SILC WHERE APPROPRIATE FOR AGENCIES FOR THE BLIND. THE EFFECTIVE DATE -- A HARD COPY OF PART TWO, THE NARRATIVE IS NOT REQUIRED. NOW, FOR JUST -- ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS WILL ALL BE COMING TO YOU UNDER A SEPARATE SUMMARY, AGAIN THIS INFORMATION WILL. WELL, LET ME JUST ADD A FEW CLOSING THOUGHTS ON OUR END. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TALK WITH YOU DIRECTLY TO, YOU KNOW -- AND TO BE OF ASSISTANCE. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS. IN THE EVENT -- KEEP IN MIND, THOUGH, THAT IN THE EVENT OF A REHAB REAUTHORIZATION -- IF THE REAUTHORIZATION WERE TO SOMEHOW AFFECT THIS BILL SUBSTANTIALLY, WE WOULD -- FOR INSTANCE, IF IT WERE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF CORE SERVICES OR AT TO THE DUTY, THE DSU MAY WANT TO SUBMIT A BILL AMENDMENT TO RSA IN ORDER TO COME PLY WITH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AMENDMENTS ARE ALWAYS REQUIRED IN THE EVENT OF ANY RELEVANT CHANGE IN THE ASSURANCE OF THE PLAN OF COURSE. ALSO THE SPIL IS SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINES IT IS ESSENTIAL DURING THE THREE YEAR EFFECTIVE PLAN. WE MAY COME TO STATE (INDISCERNIBLE) MONITORING AND PICK UP ON SOMETHING WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THE AMENDMENT AND WE WOULD WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH STATES THROUGH THAT PROCESS. ALSO IN CONCLUDING, LET ME REMIND YOU THAT THE REVISED SPIL IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT INCREASED MONITORING, PROGRAM TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENT INVOLVING THE CENTERS. RSA WILL USE THE IMPROVED SPIL AND STARTING POINT FOR CONTINUOUS DIALOGUE WITH INDEPENDENT LIVING STATE HOLDERS AS PART OF THE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT MEMBERS INCLUDING THE ON SITE REVIEW. WE MAY AT POINTS REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO SPECIFIC MONITORING OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ISSUES THAT ARISE DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THE APPROVED SPIL. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING? SHARON: THIS IS SHARON. I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION THAT WAS E-MAILED IN. AGAIN FROM MARYLAND. HOW WOULD A SILC DO A SATISFACTION SURVEY IF THEY DO NOT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO THE CONSUMER. THEY WOULD NOT DO A -- WOULD THEY DO A SATISFACTION SURVEY TO THE PARTNERS IN IL, DSU, CIL, OIB, THE OFFICE OF DEAF/HARD OF HEARING, THE DB COUNCIL, ET CETERA. FELIPE: ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES SO THE CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE TO A SILC DIRECTLY. AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE STATE PLAN MIGHT INCLUDE IS MAYBE WORKING -- ONE POSSIBILITY -- NOT RECOMMENDING THIS BUT ONE POSSIBILITY WOULD BE THAT THE SILS TOGETHER COME UP WITH A COMMON CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEY WITH SOME BASIC QUESTIONS THAT APPLY TO ALL CENTERS. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR THE SILC COULD COMPILE A SUMMARY OF ALL THE FINDINGS FROM ALL THE CENTERS. THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE. OR IN THE CASE OF -- IN MARYLAND FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE DOES PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES, IL SERVICES. SO IT COULD INCLUDE A CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEY THAT THE DSU CONDUCTS OF ITS CONSUMERS. OR AS YOU MENTIONED, SILC SATISFACTION SURVEY OF ITS PARTNER COUNCILS AND COMMISSIONS. THAT'S -- THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TOO. THERE'S A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AS TO HOW THIS EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SPIL CAN BE CONDUCTED. AND, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE CREATIVITY AS WELL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THESE ARE ALL VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. SHARON: THAT'S ALL I HAVE FROM THE WEB. FELIPE: OKAY. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO CONCLUDE OUR PRESENTATION EXCEPT FOR, I BELIEVE SHARON -- DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOME CLOSING INSTRUCTIONS? SHARON: THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. TODAY'S WEBCAST WILL BE ARCHIVED ON IRLU'S WEBSITE. THE IL NET AND IRLU HAS BEEN PLEASED TO POST THE WEBCAST. IT WAS PRESENTED BY THE REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE WEBCAST TEAM WHO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. MARGE GORDON, DAWN HEINSOHN, OUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, ROB DICKEHUTH AND OUR CAPTIONER, JENNIFER MYERS. FOR A LIST OF UPCOMING WEST CASTS, VISIT IRLU.ORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. FELIPE: THANK YOU ALL.