ROUGH DRAFT --09-14-11, Outcome Measures for Centers for Independent 
Living – An IL NET Resource Presented by ILRU

>> Kelly Buckland: , OKAY, WELL,
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL COME BACK INTO SESSION.
AND WE'RE STARTING ACTUALLY A
LITTLE BIT LATE SO WE APOLOGIZE
FOR THAT.
I'M KELLY BUCKLAND, THE DIRECTOR
OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON
INDEPENDENT LIVING.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
INTRODUCING LYNNAE RUTLEDGE, THE
COMMISSION OF THE REHABILITATION
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.
LYNNAE AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH
OTHER FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN NEIGHBORS.
I WAS IN IDAHO, SHE WAS IN
OREGON AND WASHINGTON.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER
DOING A LOT OF THINGS ON BOTH
INDEPENDENT LIVING AND DBTAC
STUFF.
THE DISABILITY BUSINESS
TECHNICAL ASSISTANT CENTER STUFF
ON THE ADA.                                                         
SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER
OVER HERE IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST.
NOW WE'RE BOTH IN D.C., SO
AGAIN, WE'RE NEIGHBORS.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TOGETHER
AND WORK TOGETHER IN D.C., TOO.
IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE.
LYNNAE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN REHAB FOR A
VERY LONG TIME AND HAS BEEN THE
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING SO SHE DOES
KNOW.
SHE'S JUST AN ALL-AROUND GREAT
PERSON, I REALLY APPRECIATE
LYNNAE AND HAVE A GREAT WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO
UNDERSTANDS OUR ISSUES AND
LISTENS TO US.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
LYNNAE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Lynnae Rutledge: I HAVE A
MICROPHONE ON, AND I'M USUALLY
THE ONE WHO KIND OF SINGS AND
DANCES.
I USUALLY DON'T HAVE A
MICROPHONE THAT'S STANDING IN
FRONT OF ME, BECAUSE I CAN'T
SING AND DANCE IF YOU HAVE TO
HOLD ON TO THING.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME WELCOME TO
YOU MY HOMETOWN!
I LIVE IN THE PORTLAND AREA, I
USED TO LIVE ACROSS THE RIVER IN
VANCOUVER.
AS KELLY WAS SAYING, IN MY
CAREER I HAD A CHANCE TO BE THE
DIRECTOR OF A CENTER FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING BACK IN
MICHIGAN.
PROBABLY BEFORE SOME OF YOU WERE
BORN BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE NEED NEW BLOOD IN OUR
MOVEMENT.


BUT WHEN I WAS THE DIRECTOR AT                                       95
THE LANSING CENTER FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING, IN THE LATE
1970S, EARLY 1980s, I HAD A
CHANCE TO BE A COLLEAGUE AND
FRIEND AND HERE WITH
[INAUDIBLE].
SO MY COMMITMENT TO INDEPENDENT
LIVING AND MY CONNECTION TO
INDEPENDENT LIVING GOES BACK TO
THE TIME WHEN THE FIRST DOLLARS
WERE AVAILABLE ON THE FEDERAL
LEVEL FOR CENTERS.
WELL, SINCE THEN, IF YOU CAN'T
OF FAST-FORWARD MORE THAN 30
YEARS, WE'VE GROWN AS A
MOVEMENT.
WE'VE GROWN IN TERMS OF FUNDING
SOURCES.
WE'VE GROWN IN TERMS OF OUR
ABILITY TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN
OTHER COMMUNITIES.
BUT I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT
THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES
THAT WE'RE NOW GETTING TOWING
TALK ABOUT OUTCOMES.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE AND
VALUE THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME
TOGETHER BOTH TO BE HERE IN
PORTLAND, BUT ALSO TO BE JOINING
US BY WEBCAST.
BECAUSE THE DISCUSSION THAT
WE'RE HAVING, AND THE WORK THAT
YOU'RE DOING, AND HELPING US DO
-- AND I MEAN US, THE COMMUNITY
OF INDEPENDENT LIVING I DON'T
MEAN US, THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION.
I MEAN US, THE COMMUNITY, IS
REALLY IMPORTANT WORK ON MANY,
MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.
I HAVE SOME PREPARED REMARKS.
MY PLAN IS TO TALK FOR ABOUT 20
MINUTES OR SO, AND THEN I'D LIKE
TO JUST OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS, OR MORE IMPORTANTLY,
JUST COMMENTS.
SO LET ME FIRST START BY SAYING
THAT I LOVE IT WHEN JULIE'S IN


THE ROOM WITH ME.                                                    96
JULIE KEEPS US ALL HONEST,
RIGHT?
WHEN SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT
EXPERIENCE FOLKS HAD WITH THE
REHABILITATION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION WHEN WE HAD
REGIONAL OFFICES, I FIELD LIKE I
NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR PAST SINS.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER OUR
INTENT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOU
THAT SAYS, YOU AS A CENTER FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING ARE SOLELY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTCOMES OF
INDEPENDENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT AS THE
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION ON VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION AND INDEPENDENT
LIVING, AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE
REHABILITATION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION, IT'S NOT UNLIKE
QUESTIONS THAT I GET WHEN WE
ALSO LOOK AT THE HARRIS SURVEY,
AND WE SEE, SO WHAT'S THE IMPACT
OF THE ADA?
WHAT'S THE EMPLOYMENT RATE OF
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
SO, WHY HAVEN'T WE MOVED THE BAR
WHEN WE HAD LANDMARK
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
LANDMARK LEGISLATION.
AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION?
YOU CONTINUE TO GET RESOURCES
EVERY YEAR, RSA, WHY ISN'T THE
EMPLOYMENT RATE OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES IMPROVING?
SO I FEEL YOUR PAIN.
I KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ASK YOU OR
MACON REASONABLE COMMENTS, IT
PUTS YOU ON THE DEFENSIVE.
PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT'S WHY
I'M HERE.
I REALLY WANT TO TALK WITH YOU
ABOUT WHAT I SEE AS THE
RELEVANCE OF THE WORK THAT
YOU'RE DOING, AND HOW I THINK
IT'S RELEVANT ON A BROADER
SCALE, NOT JUST FOR CENTERS FOR


INDEPENDENT LIVING.                                                  97
I WANTED TO FIRST TELL YOU THAT
I THINK THAT THE FOCUS OF THIS
CONFERENCE IS BOTH TIMELY AND
RELEVANT.
IT IS SIMILAR TO CONVERSATIONS
THAT WE'VE HAD IN VOCATIONAL
REHABILITATION.
WE HAD WHEN I WAS THE DIRECTOR,
AS KELLY WAS SAYING, OF THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST DISABILITY AND
BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
CENTER, DBTAC, WE WERE GOING
THROUGH THE VERY SAME KIND OF
INTROSPECTION OF LOOKING AT
OURSELVES, AND TALKING ABOUT
WHAT'S OUR RELEVANCE?
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO WE HAVE
AS A DBTAC CENTER, SERVING A
REGION, WHEN INDEED, WE'RE NOT
ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING
DONE RELATED TO PEOPLE
UNDERSTANDING THEIR RIGHTS AND
THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE
ADA.
SO WE ALSO WENT THROUGH A VERY
SIMILAR PROCESS OF DOING A LOGIC
MODEL, WHICH IS IN AND OF ITSELF
KIND OF COUNTER-INTUITIVE.
IT REALLY DOES HELP YOU START TO
SAY, KEEP THE END IN MIND AND
START FROM THERE.
SO WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT TO
ACHIEVE?
AND THEN, WHAT ARE THE THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO DO, SO THAT WE
MAKE THOSE STEPS TO ACHIEVE
THOSE GOALS?
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE AND VALUE
THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE ARE
THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN THAT INITIAL STAGE, TO BE
ABLE TO SAY, CAN WE BUILD AN
ENVIRONMENT THE TRUST WITH
CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING,
AND AN ENVIRONMENT OF CONFIDENCE
THAT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU DO
GATHER WILL HELP TO TELL OUR
STORY BETTER.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE AT


IN THAT JOURNEY.                                                     98
IT'S A LONG JOURNEY.
THIS ISN'T ONE THAT'S GOING TO
BE, OKAY, SO WE DID THE TEST AND
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME
BENCHMARKS AND WE'RE GOING TO
KNOW WHAT OUR BASELINE IS, AND
THEN WE'LL FIGURE OW WHERE IT IS
THAT WE WANT TO GO.
I MEAN, THIS IS A PROCESS I
THINK IS ONE THAT IS OF VALUE TO
THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND OF
VALUE TO THE WORK THAT WE ALL
WANT TO DO.
IT'S GOING TAKE SOME TIME.
I'M GOING URGE YOU TO HAVE
PATIENCE AS WE KIND OF PUZZLE
THROUGH A LOT OF REALLY TOUGH
QUESTIONS.
I THINK THAT TOGETHER -- AND I
MEAN THIS AS THE BROADER
COMMUNITY -- TOGETHER WHAT WE'RE
ABOUT IS BEING ABLE TO
STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE PROGRAMS
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND I THINK THAT THE QUESTIONS
THAT YOU'RE ASKING AND THE WAYS
THAT YOU'RE GOING ABOUT IT WILL
HELP US ALL BE ABLE TO TELL OUR
STORY BETTER.
IT'S NOT JUST THE STORY THAT'S
TOLD AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND NOT
JUST A STORY THAT'S TOLD AT THE
STATE LEVEL.
AND TO BE VERY HONEST, IT'S NOT
JUST A STORY THAT IS TOLD AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL
MOVEMENT OF ASSURING THAT OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE,
AND THAT PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES HAVE BOTH THE
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
AROUND BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE AND
MAINTENANCE.
AND THAT YOU HAVE, AS
RESPONSIBILITY, AS A CENTER FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING, THE SENSE
THAT YOU'RE THE VOICE AND
CONSCIOUS OF YOUR COMMUNITIES,


BUT YOU'RE BLENDING THAT WITH A                                      99
VOICE AND CONSCIOUSNESS THAT'S
REALLY GLOBAL.
I WANT US TO ALWAYS KEEP THAT
BROADER PICTURE IN MIND.
FROM A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION REHABILITATION
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE
A STRUCTURE -- AND I KNOW
THERE'S LOTS OF CONCERN ABOUT
THE 704 -- BUT WE HAVE A
STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO
HELP COLLECT DATA AND HELP TELL
A STORY.
WE HAVE AT A STATE LEVEL, STATE
PLANS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE OTHER
FEDERAL PARTNERS AND FOLKS WERE
MENTIONING THIS EARLIER, THAT IF
YOU'RE RECEIVING FUNDS FROM HUD,
YOU'RE RECEIVING FUNDS FROM
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, YOU
OFTEN HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
DATA SEAMS REPORTING THAT YOU
DO.
HE I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO THINK
MORE BROADLY ABOUT HOW THOSE
PIECES ALL COME TOGETHER TO TELL
OUR STORY.
IF WE START TO LOOK AT IT, WE'RE
MAKING AN IMPACT, IT'S NOT JUST
IN A CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT
LIVING.
IT'S WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUR
PARTNERS AT FEMA, WHO ARE
LOOKING AT EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
AND THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN
KNOWING AND BEING ABLE TO
CONNECT WITH WHAT YOU DO AND
WHAT CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT
LIVING DO.
THEY ARE TRYING TO TELL THEIR
STORY.
AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE
CENTERS HAVE A PRETTY LARGE
BUCKET OF RESOURCES.
AND A BROAD SCOPE OF WHAT THEY
WERE DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO
IMPACT.
AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE


CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE AT THE                                        100
FEDERAL LEVEL AND AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, WE HAVE TO KEEP
REMINDING THEM THAT THERE IS A D
IN ADRC, AND THAT TOGETHER WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT
IS IT WE'RE DOING AS A
COMMUNITY.
BUT THEY ARE ALSO A PIECE TO THE
PUZZLE THAT'S GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT IMPACT.
WE KNOW THAT YOUTH WITH
DISABILITIES ARE THE LIFEBLOOD
OF THE FUTURE.  WHAT WE DO.
AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH
YOUTH, WITH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS,
WITH MENTORING, WITH PEER
SUPPORT, WITH INDEPENDENT LIVING
SKILLS TRAINING, WITH
CONNECTIONS TO SCHOOLS AND
CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE
VITALLY IMPORTANT.
AND WE NEED TO TELL THAT STORY
BETTER.
SO I LAY ALL OF THAT OUT TO YOU
TO JUST HELP RECOGNIZE THAT THE
WORK THAT YOU DO IS A PIECE TO A
LARGER PUZZLE.
AND THAT TOGETHER WHAT IT TELLS
US IS WHETHER OR NOT WE AS A
COUNTRY ARE FULFILLING WHAT THE
TEN NETS OF THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT REQUIRES OF US.
AND WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING
TO SEA BETTER FUTURE FOR NOT
JUST US, BUT FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
THAT, TO ME, IS WHAT'S MORE AT
STAKE.
I RESPECT THAT THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN THE DATA COLLECTION THAT WE
REQUIRE HAS DISCONNECTS.
I RESPECT THAT THE WORK THAT YOU
DO AT A LOCAL LEVEL, YOU HAVE
MANY DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT
YOU'RE SHARING INFORMATION WITH.
AND THEY ALL HAVE VARIOUS
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND
VARYING PERSPECTIVE BUSY WHAT
THE GOALS ARE AND WHAT THE


IMPACT IS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU                                     101
DO.
EACH ONE OF YOU HAS DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES AND DIFFERENT
CONSUMERS THAT RELY UPON ALL OF
US TO FIGURE ALL THAT OUT.
SO I LAY OUT TO YOU THAT I THINK
THAT OUTCOMES ARE A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO
BE ULTIMATELY JUDGED BY FUNDING
SOURCES, BY DECISION-MAKERS,
WHETHER THAT'S THE SUPER
COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO BE
MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR
COUNTRY, OR WHETHER IT'S A LOCAL
CITY COUNCIL THAT MAKES
DECISIONS ABOUT LOCAL LEVEL
FUNDING.
SO THE WORK YOU'RE DOING I THINK
IS GOING TO HELP US DEMONSTRATE
EFFECTIVENESS TO A WHOLE VARIETY
OF STAKEHOLDERS.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE
COMMITTED TO INDEPENDENT LIVING,
THE MOST IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDER
THAT IS PERSON WITH THE
DISABILITY.
THE PERSON WHO COMES TO YOU WHO
HAS GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS, AND
HOPES, AND COMES TO YOU FOR
SERVICES AND CONNECTION TO
RESOURCES, AND FOR THE ABILITY
TO LEARN TO BE ADVOCATES, TO
DEMONSTRATE L ADVOCACY SKILLS,
TO DO SYSTEMS ADVOCACY AS WELL
AS INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY, AND TO
BE ABLE TO CREATE FOR THEMSELVES
A BETTER FUTURE.
SO I THINK IT'S DEMONSTRATING
THE EFFECTIVENESS TO THOSE KEY
STAKEHOLDERS.
OUTCOMES HELP US BETTER MANAGE
LIMBED RESOURCES.
IT TELLS US WHETHER OR NOT THE
DOLLARS WE'RE COMMITTING TO
CERTAIN PROGRAMS OR APPROACHES
ARE GIVING US THE RETURN ON THE
INVESTMENT THAT WE INTENDED.
WE I THINK, FROM A DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, REHABILITATION


SERVICES ADMINISTRATION                                             102
PERSPECTIVE, CONTINUALLY HAVE
AND ARE CHALLENGED TO LOOK AT
THIS, NOT JUST BY OURSELVES, BUT
BY CONGRESS AND BY THOSE FOLKS
AT THE NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL WHO THE IN
TO SAY, SO HOW ARE YOU DOING
THAT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES?
AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH
WHAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE?
AND WHAT CAN THAT TELL US AND
THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES?
SO I THINK BEING ABLE TO PUT
THOSE PIECES TOGETHER WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND FUNDERS AND
DECISION-MAKERS, IS WHAT A FOCUS
ON OUTCOMES CAN GIVE US.
ONE OF THE THINGS, AS I WAS
READING SOME OF THE CORPORATION
MATERIALS FOR YOUR CONFERENCE,
WAS -- AND THIS PROBABLY CAME
FROM BOB MICHAELS, HOW CAN WE
TELL OUR STORY BETTER?
I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT A
FOCUS ON OUTCOME CONSIST ALLOW
US TO DO.
AND SOMETIMES WE CAN TELL OUR
STORY WITH DATA.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES THE STORY WE
NEED TO TELL IS AT A PERSONAL
LEVEL.
I WILL ALWAYS ENCOURAGE US TO
USE DATA TO HELP MAKE BETTER
DECISIONS, BUT RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE IS A DYNAMIC OF BEING ABLE
TO TELL THE STORY OF WHAT THE
IMPACT WAS THAT YOU HAVE ON THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES
AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT
REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE.
AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN SEE THAT
FROM THE DATA.
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S FROM THOSE
INDIVIDUAL STORIES.
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO THE IN
TO KEEP OUR FOCUS ON NOT JUST
THE DATA PIECE, BECAUSE THE DATA


PIECE IS IMPORTANT, AND MANY                                        103
TIMES PEOPLE REALLY JUST WANT
THE CLIFF NOTES.
BUT TELLING THE STORY AND BEING
ABLE TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU TOUCHED THEIR LIVES,
AND WHAT THE IMPACT WAS AS A
RESULT OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU
DELIVERED IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AS I WAS LISTENING TO SOME OF
THE PRESENTATIONS EARLIER THIS
MORNING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WAS STRIKING TO ME WAS TO
REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE
DONE EITHER AT THE DBTAC OR IN
THE V.R. AGENCY OR THE CENTER
FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, WE'VE
DONE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
SURVEYS AND WE'VE CALLED PEOPLE
AND WE KNOW WE'VE MADE A
POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE LIFE OF
THIS CONSUMER.
WE TALK TO THEM AND THEY DON'T
KNOW WHO WE ARE.
IT'S NOT THAT THEY DIDN'T VALUE
WHAT WE GAVE THEM, OR THE IMPACT
THAT WE HAD ON THEIR LIVES.
THEY HONESTLY AT TIMES DO NOT
REMEMBER THE NAME OF YOUR
ORGANIZATION.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY REMEMBER
BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN
CALLING, THIS WAS AN I&R, THEY
MAY HAVE CALLED 15 OTHER PLACES
BEFORE THEY FINALLY GOT SOMEONE
AT YOUR CENTER WHO WAS ABLE TO
ANSWER THEIR QUESTION.
AND THEY ARE A THANKFUL FOR THAT
AND GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND THEY
USE THE INFORMATION.
BUT DO THEY NECESSARILY REMEMBER
THE NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION?
NO.
AND THAT HAPPENS WITH DBTACs,
HAPPENED WITH V.R. AGENCIES,
HAPPENS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY
NONPROFITS.
WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IS BE ABLE
TO, AS THE FOLKS WERE SAYING
THIS MORNING, ASK THE QUESTIONS


IN A WAY THAT THEY WILL LEAD TO                                     104
AN ANSWER WE THINK THAT WE WANT,
BUT HELP THAT PERSON CONNECT
WITH WHO YOU WERE, AND THE
SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDED.
AND THEN FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT
THERE WAS A POSITIVE IMPACT.
FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY
USED THE INFORMATION THAT THEY
RECEIVED.
AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE NOW
EITHER BETTER ACHIEVED THEIR
GOALS OR AT LEAST HAVE HEADED
THEM IN A BETTER DIRECTION.
I RESPECTED WHEN I WAS HEARING,
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE A
SATISFACTION SURVEY OR SOMEONE
CALLS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHO
YOU WERE.
IT'S WASN'T THAT WHAT YOU DID
WASN'T OF VALUE.
BUT THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY
THINK IN THE SAME TERMS WE DO
ABOUT NAMES OF ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT THEY DO VALUE THE WORK THAT
YOU DO.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE WITH,
URGING US ALL TO TAKE THAT NEXT
STEP FROM THE WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING.
AND CONTINUE TO HAVE NOT ONLY
THE DIALOGUE THAT'S HAPPENING IN
THIS ROOM, AND THE DIALOGUE
THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE FOLKS
WHO ARE IN THE PROBABLY 80 SITES
AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE
PARTICIPATING VIA WEBCAST.
BUT TO TAKE THE CONVERSATION
EVEN BROADER AND TO ENGAGE WITH
THE GREATER COMMUNITY OF NOT
JUST THE CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT
LIVING THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS
INITIAL PROJECT, BUT THROES
THINK ABOUT HOW TO TAKE THIS
CONVERSATION FURTHER WITH A
WHOLE COMMUNITY OF CENTERS OF
INDEPENDENT LIVING.
AND HOW DO WE HAVE THAT DIAL
LONG THAT KELLY AND I HAVE ON AN
INDIVIDUAL BASIS.


BUT TAKE THAT TO THE NATIONAL                                       105
LEVEL OF THE CONVERSATION THAT
NEEDS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN THE
REHABILITATION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION, BUT ALSO THE
OTHER PARTNERS WHO YOU ARE
ACTIVELY WORKING WITH, SO WE CAN
FIGURE OUT HOW WE BETTER SHARE
AND HOW DO WE BETTER TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE INFORMATION AND
THE DIALOGUE THAT YOU'RE HAVING
LOCALLY, SO WE CAN BE INFORMED
AS A NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO I'M GOING STOP THERE.
I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE WITH
SAYING THAT FOR ME, BEING ABLE
TO COME TO ANY EVENT IN
PORTLAND, OREGON, IS ALWAYS
WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT MEANS I GET
TO COME HOME.
BUT YOU'RE HAVING A CHANCE TO
EXPERIENCE THE COMMUNITY THAT I
CALL HOME.
YOU'RE HAVING A CHANCE TO
EXPERIENCE A COMMUNITY THAT I
THINK HAS REALLY COME A LONG WAY
IN BUILDING ACCESSIBLE
TRANSPORTATION, BUILDING A
COMMUNITY THAT'S RESPECTFUL AND
ENGAGING AND WELCOMING OF PEOPLE
WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR ME, IS
KIND OF LIKE THE CENTER OF THE
UNIVERSE.
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S NOT
SUNSHINY WHILE YOU'RE HERE.
MAYBE THAT'LL KEEP US ALL IN THE
BUILDING TOGETHER.
IF IT WAS REALLY NICE OUTSIDE
YOU'D BE THINKING, I NEED TO GO
SHOPPING AT COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR.
I HEARD THERE'S A TOUR AND I CAN
GO DOWN BY THE RIVERFRONT AND
GET ACROSS SOME OF THE RIVERS
AND GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
RIVER.
YOUR WORK HERE IS IMPORTANT, I
WANT YOU TO STAY INSIDE THE
PORTLAND HILTON, AND I DON'T


WANT TO SEE ANY OF YOU OUT IN                                       106
THE STREET ONCE I LEAVE.
BUT I DO WANT TO YOU KNOW THAT
LITERALLY, THE DOOR IS ALWAYS
OPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR YOU TO COME BACK AND FOR YOU
TO FEEL LIKE THIS CAN BECOME
YOUR ADOPTED HOME.
BECAUSE PORTLAND IS A GREAT
PLACE AND I HOPE YOU REALLY
ENJOY IT WHILE YOU'RE HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Lynnae Rutledge: SO THOSE ARE
MY PREPARED REMARKS.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO OPEN IT
UP TO YOU, FOR EITHER QUESTIONS
TO ME, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
JUST COMMENTS, AND GIVE ME A
SENSE OF WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE
THIS CONVERSATION GO.
I KNOW THAT THE FACILITIES WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT, THAT'S REALLY
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING TOMORROW
AFTERNOON.
BUT WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS
CONVERSATION GOING?
AND HOW CAN I AND HOW CAN THE
REHABILITATION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION BE A GOOD PARTNER
WITH YOU TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN,
AND HAVE IT BE EFFECTIVE FOR ALL
OF US?
LET ME OPEN IT UP FROM THERE.
YES.
>>> SAY YOUR NAME AND WHERE
YOU'RE 41.
>>> I'M FROM GEORGIA.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M DOING WELL.
>>> I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHEN
YOU GET THE QUESTION ABOUT,
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND THESE
RESOURCES, YOU HAVEN'T FIXED
THOSE DETAILED PEOPLE YET?
WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN THAT
QUESTION IS ASKED OF YOU ON THE
HILL?
>> Lynnae Rutledge: TO MYSELF I
GO, ARE YOU KIDDING?


GET A LIFE.                                                         107
TO THEM I ALWAYS SAY, THIS IS A
VERY BROAD PICTURE THAT YOU'RE
PAINTING AROUND EMPLOYMENT OR
UNEMPLOYMENT OR INDEPENDENT
LIVING OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE VERY
SMALL PIECE TO THAT THAT I HAVE
RESPONSIBILITY AS COMMISSIONER
FOR.
AND ALWAYS WILLING TO ENGAGE
WITH PEOPLE TO SAY, WHAT COULD A
BROADER PARTNERSHIP DO TO IMPACT
THOSE BROADER GOALS.
BUT I'VE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME
SENSE OF, IT'S SO UNFAIR TO SAY
THAT EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES HASN'T MOVED
FORWARD EVEN THOUGH WE'VE
CONTINUED TO FUND THE
REHABILITATION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION AT THIS WILL HE
FEEL FOR THIS MANY YEARS.
MY RESPONSE IS TO HELP PEOPLE
SEE THAT IT'S A BIGGER PICTURE
THAN THE ONE PIECE THAT WE HAVE.
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR ROLE 1ST
THE PLACE THAT WE ARE IN THAT,
BUT ALSO THAT WE ALWAYS SEE
OURSELVES AS PART OF A BIGGER
SOLUTION.
AND I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE BRING MORE
OF THOSE PARTNERS TOGETHER TO,
BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
BETTER.
I ALWAYS APPLAUD WHEN SOMEONE
LIKE TOM HARKIN GOES TO THE U.S.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SAYS TO
THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
RIGHT NOW TODAY, LITERALLY A
MONTH AND A HALF AGO, RIGHT NOW
TODAY WE HAVE 4.9 MILLION PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE
EMPLOYED.
I WANT TO SEE THAT -- THIS IS
TOM HARKIN -- I WANT TO SEE THAT
GET TO OVER 6 MILLION PEOPLE IN
THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.


BY 2015 I WANT TO SEE MORE THAN                                     108
6 MILLION PEOPLE EMPLOYED.
WHAT YOU ARE, THE U.S. CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE, GOING TO DO FOR US
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
IT'S THOSE KINDS OF BROADER
CONVERSATIONS WHERE WE CLEARLY
SAY, IT'S NOT ABOUT, OH, WOE IS
US, IT'S REALLY TOUGH, PEOPLE
ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING A
JOB.
I KNOW THE MOVEMENT, THE
MOVEMENT HAS MADE THE KIND OF
PROGRESS THAT WE WANT.
WE NEED TO CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO
STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND SAY
WHAT, COULD WE BE DOING
DIFFERENTLY AND BETTER TO
ACTUALLY MOVE THAT.
THAT'S THE WAY I'VE BEEN
RESPONDING TO IT.
THANK YOU.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
YOU'RE ALL SO DAZZLED WITH WHAT
I HAD TO SAY.
I'M GOING TO BE AT THE NIKL
BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY SO I'M
SURE I'M GOING TO GET A LOT MORE
QUESTIONS FROM THEM.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ISSUE
YOU JUST RAISED OF EMPLOYMENT
BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY IS
IMPORTANT.
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS FIELD MANY OF
US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND ARE
OFTEN FRUSTRATED THAT THE
NUMBERS DON'T WORK.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE WITH YOUR
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE, THAT
THERE ARE BIG PIECES THAT WE
MIGHT BE MISSING, THAT THERE ARE
THINGS WE HAVEN'T TRIED AT ANY
LEVEL THAT YOU MIGHT SAY TO
YOURSELF, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE MAJOR
STEPS FORWARD IF WE DID A, B OR
C.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHAT'S
OUT THERE THAT WE COULD MAYBE


TAKE LOOK AT IN A DIFFERENT WAY?                                    109
>> Lynnae Rutledge: MIKE, THAT'S
A GREAT COMMENT.
WHAT I ALWAYS WANT TO REMIND
PEOPLE, WE COLLECTIVELY NEED TO
LOOK AT PEEPHOLELISTICLY.
IT'S NOT JUST V.R.'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT
VOCATIONAL ISSUES.
IT'S NOT JUST I.L.'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT I.L.,
THAT WE COLLECTIVELY AS WE WORK
TOGETHER BETTER CAN HAVE BETTER
OUTCOMES.
I LOOK AT IT FROM NOT THAT THE
GLASS IS HALF EMPTY BUT IT'S
LITERALLY HALF FULL.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO FILL IT
COMPLETELY UP.
I THINK THE LARGE CHALLENGES FOR
PEOPLE LIKE TOM HARKIN, I THINK
THEY ARE EXACTLY THE RIGHT
DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO.
I THINK WE HAVE NOT ENGAGED AS
MUCH AS YOU HAVE IN THE
INDEPENDENT LIVING MOVEMENT WITH
FOUNDATIONS AND PRIVATE
PHILANTHROPY.
I THINK FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN
DO THAT TOGETHER BETTER MIGHT
GET US FARTHER.
I THINK THE LARGE CHALLENGE THAT
THE PRESIDENT SET OUT WITH AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER AROUND HAVING
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REVIEWED
AS A MODEL EMPLOYER IS THE RIGHT
DIRECTION TO GO.
I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT THE
UNITED STATES BUSINESS
LEADERSHIP NETWORK IS DOING
AROUND REALLY SAYING THE
BUSINESS CASE AROUND EMPLOYMENT
OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND
IT'S NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE
VOCATIONAL RELATED SKILLS THE
PERSON BRINGS TO A JOB.
IT IS THE SOFT SKILLS, THE
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, WHETHER OR
NOT THEY HAVE TRANSPORTATION,
WHETHER OR NOT THEM DO THE


OFFSET OF BENEFITS AND PAYMENTS                                     110
TO DECIDE TO GO TO WORK.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH ASSET
LEVELS?
THAT MEANS ALL OF THOSE PIECES
TOGETHER.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS
THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AS
SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE
HAVEN'T LOOKED AT.
I THINK THE OTHER PLACE I THINK
WE REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT -- AND THIS ISN'T JUST
AROUND EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT WE DO
COLLECTIVELY.
AND I'VE BEEN USING THIS PHRASE
WITH PEOPLE TO SAY, WE ARE ALL
A, B, C, D, WE ARE ALL
ASSET-BASED COMMUNITY
DEVELOPERS.
I THINK IF WE START TO LOOK AT
OURSELVES THAT WAY, AND WE
ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE IN THAT
BROADER PERSPECTIVE, I THINK
WE'RE GOING GET FARTHER THAN
WHERE WE ARE NOW.
I THINK THOSE OF SOME OF THE
ANSWERS, MICHAEL.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE OUT
THERE BUT AT LEAST FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, THOSE ARE THE
PLACES WHERE WE'VE NOT DONE AS
GOOD A JOB AS WE COULD DO WITH
WHAT I THINK IS A COMMITMENT BY
THE PRIVATE SECTOR AROUND
EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE AS MUCH
AS YOU'VE DONE WITH THE
INDEPENDENT LIVING MOVEMENT,
BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH
FOUNDATIONS AND REALLY
UNDERSTAND, ARE THERE
PHILANTHROPY INTERESTS THAT WE
COULD LEVERAGE TOGETHER?
I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE AS MUCH
AS WHAT WE COULD DO OF FINDING
THOSE CHAMPIONS WHO ARE WILLING


TO BE BOLD, SOMEONE LIKE SENATOR                                    111
TOM HARKIN WHO WILL GO BEFORE
THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND
SAY, I WANT TO MOVE THE BAR FROM
4.9 MILLION TO 6.1 MILLION
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO BE
EMPLOYED BY 2015.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO HELP
US GET THERE?
I THINK THOSE ARE THE
CHARACTERIZED OF LARGER
CHALLENGES WE REALLY NEED TO
ENGAGE IN.
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
YOU GUYS ARE ALL TOO POLITE.
OKAY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
WELCOME YOU TO PORTLAND.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK.
I ENCOURAGE TO YOU WORK HARD
DURING THIS CONFERENCE.
BUT I ENCOURAGE TO YOU ENGAGE
WITH US AS A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
EDWIN ERICKSON INDICATION
REHABILITATION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION, ABOUT HOW DO WE
TOGETHER IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY
THE NORTH KOREAS, AND THEN BE
ABLE TO TELL THE STORY BETTER
ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT I KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE EVERY SINGLE DAY
IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, IN THE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES, AT THE STATE LEVEL,
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SO I THINK MS. PUCKETT THINKS
SHE'S GOING TO GET IN ONE MORE
QUESTION.
WHY IS IT WHEN I'M READY TO TAKE
OFF THE MICROPHONE THEY WANT TO
ASK MORE QUESTIONS.
WHAT IS THIS?
YES.
MS. PUCKETT?
>> Audience Member: I ACTUALLY
AM NO SURE IF THIS QUESTION 1ST
YOU OR FOR YOU, MIKE, BOB AND
RICHARD.
>> Lynnae Rutledge: OKAY.


>> Audience Member: IT MAY BE                                       112
MORE LIKE A PANEL THING.
I THINK THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN
DONE, AS I SAID EARLIER, IS
REALLY A GREAT START IT CAPTURES
WHAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT WAS TRUE
ABOUT CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT
LIVING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE
PRODUCING.
WHAT DO YOU SEE, ALL OF YOU
COLLECTIVELY, AS THE NEXT STEPS?
BECAUSE PART OF WHAT WE ALL KNOW
WHEN WE WORK IN ANY BUREAUCRACY,
WHETHER ON THE INSIDE OR IN IT
OR REPORTING TO IT OR WHATEVER,
WE VERY RARELY TOSS OUT OLD
THINGS BEFORE WE ADD NEW THINGS.
SO THE THING THAT'S REALLY I
THINK SCARY FOR A LOT OF US IS
THAT WE MAY BE ADDING OUTCOME
MEASURES WITHOUT DUMPING SOME
OTHER THINGS.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TIME
YET, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE
TO SEE A TASK FORCE, PERHAPS THE
SAME ONE THAT STARTED ON THE
OUTCOME MEASURES TO, BEGIN TO
LOOK AT THE 704 REPORT AND WHAT
PARTS OF THAT NEED TO BE LET GO
AND PUT TO BED.
THAT IS POSSIBLE UNDER CURRENT
LAW AND REGULATION, AND IS IT
TOO SOON TO TRY TO DO THAT?
I JUST HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT IT, WHY I THINK IT'S
PROBABLY MORE OF A PANEL
RESPONSE THAN AN INDIVIDUAL ONE.
I KNOW YOU'RE A VERY CRUCIAL
PART OF THE PANEL.
>> Lynnae Rutledge: I'LL BE
GLUED TAKE MY FIRST STAB AT IT
AND HAND IT OVER TO THE OTHER
TWO FOLKS.
I THINK THAT WHAT TOMORROW'S
SESSION IS DESIGNED TO BE ABLE
TO DO IS TO LOOK AT THE ARRAY OF
THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLE, AND
THEN BE ABLE TO SAY,   WHAT ARE
THOSE NEXT STEPS.
SO I JUST GIVE YOU MY COMMITMENT


THAT WHEN YOU HAVE MADE THAT                                        113
DECISION ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS
THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE, ONE OF
THEM FROM MY PERSPECTIVE NEEDS
TO BE THAT WE WILL ENGAGE AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, BETWEEN THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR INDEPENDENT
LIVING, AS WELL AS THE
REHABILITATION SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION TO BE ABLE TO
SAY, WHAT ARE THOSE NEXT STEPS.
WE CAN TALK REAL CANDIDLY ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO CHANGES
TO THE 704 RECORD.
IT DOESN'T ARE TO CHANGE THE LAW
BUT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH OMBA
FEDERAL LEVEL OF BUREAUCRACY
THAT DEFIES THE IMAGINATION.
I WOULD BE JUDICIOUS IN LOOKING
AT WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT TO
CHANGE.
I WANT ABSOLUTELY RABIDLY
COMMITTED TO MAKING CHANGES SO
THAT YOU HAVE AND CAN REPORT TO
US INFORMATION THAT'S OF VALUE.
BUT I WANT TO DO IT IN THE
CONTEXT OF WHAT'S DOABLE IN A
REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, AND
THEN BE VERY REALISTIC WITH YOU
TO SAY, WE'VE DONE CHANGES IN
THE 704 REPORT, HERE'S HOW ALONG
IT TAKES.
ARE THERE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE
CAN ANTICIPATE?
THINGS MAY LOOK VERY
DIFFERENTLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT AS A
PART OF THAT COMMUNICATION.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WE
WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, AND WE WILL
IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS
ARE AND WE WILL IDENTIFY WHAT
THE DELIVERABLES ARE THAT WE
EXPECT.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO YOU
THERE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Bob Michaels: THAT'S WHAT I


WAS LOOKING FOR.                                                    114
>> Lynnae Rutledge: OKAY, GOOD.
>> Bob Michaels: IF WE WANTED TO
CHANGE THE 704, WE DON'T HAVE TO
WAIT FOR REAUTHORIZATION?
>> Lynnae Rutledge: THAT'S
CORRECT.
>> Bob Michaels: WE JUST GO
AHEAD AND SAY WE WANT TO DO IT.
>> Lynnae Rutledge: AND AGAIN, I
THINK PART OF THAT CONVERSATION
SAYS, LET'S LOOK AT HOW LONG IT
TAKES TO DO A CHANGE TO THE 704.
AND IF IT TAKE AS YEAR TO GO
THROUGH PROCESSS WITH OMB, AND
WE ANTICIPATE THERE MAY BE
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE
REHABILITATION ACT, WHEN WOULD
WE WANT TO DO THAT?
OR ARE THE CHANGES SO
SUBSTANTIVE NOW THAT IT'S WORTH
GOING THROUGH IT NOW, AND MAKING
THOSE CHANGES.
AND IF THERE'S CHANGES IN
LEGISLATION, OR YOUR THOUGHTS IN
THE FUTURE, WHEN WOULD WE WANT
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
PART OF WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO DO AS THE
FEDERAL PARTNER IN THIS IS BE
REALISTIC WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT
KIND OF TIME FRAMES WE'D BE
LOOKING AT TO MAKE THAT ALL
HAPPEN.
I THINK THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE
OTHER -- BOB, YOU HAD YOUR HAND
UP BECAUSE YOU WERE GOING TO
MAKE A COMMENT OR RAISE A
QUESTION.
>> Bob Michaels: SHE ASKED ME
QUESTION.
>> Lynnae Rutledge: OKAY, G. AND
I THINK DAN WAS THE OTHER
PERSON?
WHO IS THIS GUY?
>> Audience Member: DAN KESSLER
FROM ALABAMA.
>> Lynnae Rutledge: ALABAMA,
YEAH, YEAH.
>> Audience Member: I THINK YOU


BRING UP SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS                                    115
THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
US BEING A PART OF A BIGGER
PUZZLE, AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO ENCOURAGE YOU, AS YOU GO AND
TALK TO SOME OF THESE OTHER
PARTS OF THE PUZZLE, OKAY, ABOUT
THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU TALK ABOUT
YOUTH, WHICH YOU'RE RIGHT ON
TARGET WITH THAT.
AS YOU'RE TALKING TO DEPARTMENTS
OF EDUCATION, STATE DEPARTMENTS
OF EDUCATION, TALKING TO STATE
V.R. AGENCIES, ET CETERA, WE
WOULD LIKE TO YOU TAKE THAT
MESSAGE.
BUT TO TAKE THAT MESSAGE WITH
YOU WHEN YOU GO TO SPEAK TO
THEM.
I KNOW A LOT OF US ARE DOING
THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> Lynnae Rutledge: DAN, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT.
>>> I THINK THAT THERE'S A
COMMENT THAT'S MIND OUR MOVEMENT
AND IT'S NOTHING ABOUT ME
WITHOUT ME.
AND I THINK THAT FOR ME TO HAVE
A CONVERSATION WITH HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICE, THE
ADMINISTRATION ON DEVELOPMENT AT
ALL DISABILITIES, WHAT'S THE
OUTCOME WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR,
FOR KIDS WITH SIGNIFICANT
DISABILITIES IN TERMS OF
TRANSITIONING FROM MY SCHOOL:  I
THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION
THAT'S BROADER THAN THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
I ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT,
IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
INDEPENDENT LIVING, THAT WE
ENGAGE WITH KELLY AND WITH OTHER
WHOSE CAN BE AT THE TABLE
TOGETHER, SO THAT WE'RE ALL
HEARING THE MESSAGE AT THE SAME
TIME, ALL DELIVERING THE MESSAGE


AT THE SAME TIME.                                                   116
THEN WE COLLECTIVELY IDENTIFY
WHAT ARE THE PIECES EACH ONE OF
US IS GOING TO BRING TO THE
TABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.
I'M ON THE ROAD A LOT.
I HAVE A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH
STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING
COUNCILS.
I WAS IN FLORIDA YESTERDAY FOR
THEIR STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING
CONFERENCE.
I MEET REGULARLY WITH STATE V.R.
AGENCIES AND WITH THE NATIONAL
REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION, AND
I'M CONTINUALLY HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PROGRAM
IMPROVEMENT RELATED TO
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION.
I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO THE IN
TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT RELATED TO
INDEPENDENT LIVING AND I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT MY PARTNERS FROM
INDEPENDENT LIVING ARE THERE AT
THE SAME TIME.
THANK YOU.
SO NOW I THINK I GET TO GO BACK
AND EAT THE REST OF MY LUNCH.
WHAT I UNDERSTOOD WAS THAT WHILE
HE WAS UP HERE SPEAKING KELLY
WAS EATING THE REST OF HIS
LUNCH.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]