COCA Steering Committee Meeting 15 March 2007

Attendees: Clare Collins, ME Laurel Ryan, BCDD, TN, Secretary Carl DuRocher, WI Norb Ryan, KY Sharon Hauss, IN Bethany Stark, Tarjan, CA David Morrissey, AUCD Laura Walker, (Pac-Rim), MO Gordon Richins, UT Co-Chair Angela Weaver, OIDD, OR Dean Westwood, OIDD, OR

ISSUES/DECISIONS: ACTION NEEDED BY:

UPDATES from David Morrissey: Bethany volunteered to David confirmed that COCA can recognize a UCEDD at the coordinate with Susan annual awards. Later this year the Planning Committee Yuan regarding Planning solicits nominations—one for an advocate and one for a Committee for AUCD UCEDD—from COCA. Send out in May – need to coordinate Annual Meeting. Susan with AUCD – Bill Kiernan is the President-Elect, and he and Bethany will send e- would be the person who receives the Committee’s mail to Bill Kiernan to suggestions for awards. Bill Kiernan also replied to David offer further participation. that a COCA representative is invited join the Planning Committee for the Annual Meeting. Gordon - Send out Paula Hirt is retiring and there is an interview process for address for Central Office her position as Deputy Director. When there is a new to COCA listserve so person in this position, COCA will invite this person to a members can send in Conference Call. Paula will be here part-time for about 3-4 cards, etc. weeks. Cards, etc. may be sent to Paula c/o:

AUCD 1010 Wayne Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-558-8252 – phone 301-558-2842 – fax

Disability Policy Seminar 2007 – First week in March. Very successful. A wide variety of issues were covered and fact ALL - Go to Policy page sheets were developed. (17 fact sheets are available on the at AUCD.org to AUCD website for downloading.) Good feedback – learning investigate and advocate! and advocacy. If you have problems finding or downloading, David will email them to you.

Policy Updates: Sen. Harkin has submitted the Community

Page 1 of 3 COCA Steering Committee Meeting 15 March 2007 Attendees: Choices Act SB 799 (formerly known as MiCASSA) to eliminate the institutional bias in Medicaid Funding and some grants to states to assist in better planning for long- COCA representatives are term care. AUCD released a press release praising this encouraged to educate development. legislators on these issues. www.aucd.org – Appropriations Committee – UCEDD and LEND’s – Dear Public Policy – members Colleague letter going around the House, urging Committee can review all individual to expand funding for LENDs/UCEDDs. Opportunity for bills – advocacy is also Representatives to sign this letter ends March 16, 2007. easy from that site.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – On March 30, 2007, countries can start to sign on to this historic event. Action Alert to urge President Bush to sign on.

PAR Update: (Angela Weaver and Dean Westwood) Development and Feedback Teams provided feedback on PAR Checklist – List of items that UCEDD directors had indicated they would like to have in the PAR toolkit. Waiting for people to get information to her. Cost-sharing information will be forthcoming next week. Received unofficial notice that no-cost extension will be granted. This will allow people to use $$ to attend AUCD Annual Conference in November. COCA will give a set amount to each team member. Though OIDD, all materials have been moved from Metadot system to a web site. This will be completed pretty soon and will be available for feedback. Cathy Harstaad – will contract with PAR grant to get it into easy language, from there it will be translated into Spanish. Dean will try to track down list of UAF’s and Another idea for the toolkit is to tap into original UAF’s – what tools did they use to involve individuals with disabilities and family members – e.g. NE, UT BCDD, IN… Angela

Maggie needs subcontractor stipend amounts. Angela will get the information to Gordon and Susan.

CAC Update: (Laura Walker) Still waiting on Jennifer Johnson and ADD to finalize their

Page 2 of 3 COCA Steering Committee Meeting 15 March 2007 Attendees: approval.

COCA Annual Meeting Involvement: (Gordon Richins) COCA Poster – Steering Committee – could Coordinate this. ALL – Send ideas, Workshops: comments, suggestions Medical Decision Making to Gordon CAC and PAR Grants Multi-Cultural/COCA Workshop See attached.

COCA minutes from AUCD Winter Board Meeting: – Anyone with questions can contact Gordon.

Kansas City Meeting: (Laura Walker, Angela, Dean, Gordon) Steering Committee and PAR Grant attendees. Nine steering committee members believe they will be able to attend at this time: Gordon, Angela, Dean, Norb, David, Susan, Sharon, Clare, and Laurel. Angela and Gordon Update on travel –Laura will finalize everything and get it to Gordon who will send it out to everyone. Angela and Gordon will send out an RSVP to both groups, so that Laura can get hotel rooms coordinated. Steering Committee members will need to book their own flights. ALL

Send issues and concerns for COCA Kansas City meeting to Gordon for inclusion to the Agenda that Carl Calkins is preparing. David – intro article COCA News Bulletin Article Collection- April 07: Please send to Susan or Gordon.

NEXT CALL: April 19, 2007 – 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT, 9:00 H-AT

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