Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC)

Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) Adult Issues Committee Minutes of Meeting, January 16, 2015 DDDS Fox Run, 2nd floor training room 2540 Wrangle Hill Road, Bear, DE 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Members Present: Larry Henderson, Executive Director- Independent Resources, Inc., Self-Advocate, Committee Chair; Terri Hancharick, Parent Advocate, EPIC; Carol Barnett, Division of Services for Aging Adults and Persons with Disabilities (DSAAPD); Bill Monaghan, Officer- Delaware People First (DPF) & Self-Advocate; Barbara Monaghan, Officer- Delaware People First, Self-Advocate, DDC Chair; Laura Strmel, St. John’s Community Services; Alvin Emory, Self-Advocate; Gary Mears, Ed.D., Parent Advocate; Debra Veenema, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Delaware

Members Absent: Karen Gallagher, Self-Advocate; Sonal Cercena, Self-Advocate; Bernadette DeAngelis, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS); Vivian Turner, Director- Collaborative Efforts to Reinforce Transition Success (CERTS); Tina Fields, Self-Advocate; HarrietAnn Litwin, Department of Labor, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

Guests Present: Brigitte Hancharick, Self-Advocate; Beth MacDonald, DPH Office of Preparedness (teleconference); Ginny Schwartzer, All Clear Emergency Management Group; Joanne Huie, All Clear Emergency Management Group; Lorraine Janusas, Eventful Connections

Staff: Kristin Cosden, Social Services Administrator - Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council

I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:50 AM

II. Approval of Minutes: The January 16, 2015, meeting minutes were approved with one change. Debra Veenema of MS Delaware was mistakenly listed as absent for the December meeting.

III. Approval of Agenda: The January 16, 2015, meeting agenda was approved as mailed.

IV. Chair’s Report: Larry Henderson stated that he would prefer not to provide a report this month, in order to allow the maximum amount of time to Ginny Schwartzer, Joanne Huie and Lorraine Janusas, who all had to leave prior to the scheduled end time of the meeting in order to travel back to their respective home states.

V. Staff Report: Kristin Cosden likewise deferred to Ginny, Joanne and Lorraine in order to maximize the benefit of this face-to-face meeting.

VI. A. Emergency Preparedness Conference: The group discussed the Prepare Yourself Delaware Conference. Contractor Ginny Schwartzer and Joanne Huie of All Clear Emergency Management Group and Lorraine Janusas of Eventful Connections (hereafter referred to as the Project Team) facilitated this portion of the meeting. 1 *CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

 The committee agreed with the Project Team that more time was needed between sessions. A 15 minute buffer was added to the schedule after lunch, making the second concurrent session(s) start time 12:30 PM instead of 12:15 PM.  The rest of the schedule after the 12:30 PM change also moved back 15 minutes, resulting in the conference ending at 2:45 PM instead of 2:15 PM.  The committee agreed that the concurrent session planned to discuss DelDOT’s Emergency Transportation plan is too narrow in focus.  The committee would like this session to focus on a more complete view of what happens at the county emergency management level, with the Delaware National Guard, with the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and with DelDOT.  The Project Team and committee requested that Kristin Cosden attempt to reach out to county emergency managers, Delaware National Guard, DEMA and DelDOT.  Beth MacDonald noted that Phyllis Guinivan would prefer that someone else take her place on the “Sheltering in Place” afternoon concurrent session.  Carol Barnett and Ginny Schwartzer confirmed that funds will be sent from DSAAPD to All Clear Emergency Management Group to facilitate bringing Nate Trull of the Shriver Center to Delaware.  The Project Team will handle Nate’s travel arrangements and will reach out to the committee as needed for guidance on accommodations.  Deb Veenema and Bill Monaghan requested that printed copies of the Save the Date cards be mailed to them.  The committee shared that they would like to see email blasts promoting the conference to the LIFE Conference email distribution list.  Kristin asked for all committee members help in spreading the word about the conference on their listservs, Facebook pages, etc…  The committee requested that the Project Team develop an 11x14 size poster using the graphics and theme from the Save the Date cards, so that the posters can be placed in selected high-traffic agencies/organizations facilities.  The committee agreed to a continental breakfast and a plated lunch.  The Project Team stated that they conducted a site visit at the Modern Maturity Center (MMC) on Wednesday and were pleasantly surprised.  Lorraine noted that all three ballrooms would be utilized, with a max attendance of 150 registrants.  Attendees would enter in the East Entrance of the MMC.  Personal care rooms have been arranged.  No vendors will be set up in the foyer area.  There is room for 6-8 exhibitors, who will be located in the two side ballrooms.  Breakfast and lunch will be served in the center ballroom.  Walls between the main ballroom and the side ballrooms will slide and be removed for the concurrent sessions.

2  Need to set exhibitor fees.  Possible cap on registration type was discussed. Project Team proposes capping online registration so that the maximum amount of persons with disabilities can register.  Tables will need to be rented for rooms outside of the main ballroom.  Setup will be banquet rounds set for eight, with room for additional theater-style seating in the back of the room.  The Project Team is still working on the plan for AV equipment.  The committee would like to discuss the registration fee further with the Project Team.  Proposed volunteer resources for the day before the conference and day of the conference: Jeanne Zimmerman’s Charlton School class, Delaware People First members, DDC staff Cindi Wood’s daughter’s travel ball team (night before only).

B.-Remaining State Plan Objective and Plan to Address:

The committee has completed almost all of its objectives as stated in the 2012-2016 DDC State Plan. Only one objective remains unaddressed. This objective states:

“Educate at least 300 parents and people with developmental disabilities, plus all state legislators, on the importance of adequate dental care after the age of 21 for people with developmental disabilities.”

Kristin distributed a proposed work plan and timeline to address this objective. The committee discussed the objective and agreed to issue a Request for Proposal for the development of a marketing and public awareness campaign regarding oral health after the age of 21 for people with disabilities in Delaware. Carol Barnett stated that Chris Oakes of DSAAPD is already doing a great deal of work focusing on oral health, and recommended that the committee invite Chris to speak. The committee requested that Kristin proceed as detailed in the work plan to draft a RFP and provide a copy for their review by January 30, 2015.

VII. New Business: All committee meetings in 2015 will be held on the third Friday of the month from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM at DDDS Fox Run. The address is 2540 Wrangle Hill Rd., Suite 200, Bear, Delaware.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 PM.