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"Good People do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly."

—Plato

Webinars

January 15, 2012 53 Minutes

This will webinar will briefly review the various federal tax forms and instructions needed for employers and employees. Participants will receive valuable information to assist with 2012 IRS filing for persons with disabilities and the general public. In addition resources and materials will be referenced to assist filers to complete their forms. Margaret O’Malley, a Senior Stakeholder Relationship Tax Consultant with the Internal Revenue Service’s Stakeholder, Partnership, Education and Communication (SPEC) Division is the webinar presenter. In her position, Margaret partners with community organizations to help inform their clients about tax responsibilities. Currently, she works with partners to provide information about potential tax benefits and credits to taxpayers whose income is primarily from wages, as well as working to increase access to free income tax preparation programs. For additional information Margaret O’Malley may be reached at 561-616-2016 or margaret.omalley@irs.gov Moderator: Brenda Clark may be reached toll free at 1-866-818-4797 or 813-974-2581 or bclark7@usf.edu

Florida Developmental Disabilities Network Agencies Collaborative

Meeting with Lawmakers:
How to Impact Florida's Legislative Process

December 14, 2011

Sylvia Smith, J.D., Director of Legislative and Public Affairs, Disability Rights Florida
Margaret Hooper, MSW, Public Policy Coordinator, Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
Daniel Armstrong, Ph.D.,Executive Director, Mailman Center for Child Development, University of Miami
Elizabeth Perkins, Ph.D., Health Coordinator, Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, University of South Florida.
This webinar will:
a) Raise your awareness of the policy work of Developmental Disabilities Network agencies.
b) Increase your understanding of ways to become an effective and productive advocate or self-advocate.
c) Provide invaluable tips about meeting and influencing legislators.
d) Describe the legislative process and your role as an advocate.

Closed captioning is provided.

Webinar Recording: http://usf.adobeconnect.com/p1wg592but0

Powerpoint: DD Network Webinar - 12-9-2011

"Fighting for Our Lives!" Webinar
Self-Advocates & Families Presenters: Tricia Riccardi, Orlando, Charm Thometz, Tampa, Susan Creek , Gainesville, and Mark Owens, Brandon.
Webinar highlights include:

• What is happening with Medicaid Waiver services today.
• What you can do to stop your services from being cut.
• How we can join together to take action.

Webinar Recording http://usf.adobeconnect.com/p7wbk1iuvtg/

If you would like would more information, please complete this survey. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5Q2SR6J

SEXUAL HEALTH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND AUTISM: Why Is It Important & What Can You Do About It?
Parents and caregivers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often have so much on their minds that teaching sexual health falls on the backburner. Unfortunately, lack of proper sexual health education may lead to grave dangers for those individuals, including sexual abuse or inappropriate sexual behaviors. This webinar includes studies, statistics, lessons learned, and teaching tips. Presenters: Nila Benito, FCIC Coordinator of Community Supports. Jackie Selbst, USF second-year medical student. Moderator: Liz Perkins, FCIC Health Coordinator. For More Information: contact Nila Benito at benito@usf.edu IMPORTANT! Please complete this 3 minute survey after you view the webinar.

Webinar Archive: Affordable, Accessible, & Integrated Housing Options for People with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities

For most of us, home is the place where we take refuge from the world, the space where we freely express ourselves, and where we decide who to invite in. Too often, people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) are not included in even the most basic decisions about where and with whom they live. However, there are programs that are making strides in increasing the number of people with IDD who live in affordable, accessible, and integrated housing that they control. This webinar includes best and promising practices drawn from real examples, studies, and lessons learned from experts working on housing issues and policy at the national, state and local levels.

Jay Klein, Associate Clinical Professor in the Social Work School in the College for Public Programs at Arizona State University and Joe Wykowski, Executive Director of Community Vision in Portland Oregon share their valuable knowledge, insight, and guidance and address how to overcome the challenging barriers that impede individuals with IDD from achieving the goals of self-direction and community integration. For more information, contact Nila Benito benito@usf.edu

Part 1 Archive: http://usf.adobeconnect.com/p6efuge9bsj/

Part 2 Archive: http://usf.adobeconnect.com/p6nnmuhbt3u/

SSA (Eligibility/Benefits/Work Incentives)”

July 21, 2011 90 minutes .

Several million disabled persons receive monthly benefits from the Social Security Disability Programs. Many also utilize Medicare or Medicaid to aid them with their medical expenses. Often persons with disabilities worry that working or attempting to work may make them ineligible for these benefits forever. Social Security recognizing this fear has responded with developing the Ticket to Work Program. The presenters will introduce you to the Social Security Disability Programs, the Work Incentive Provisions and the Ticket to Work Program. Social Security Work Incentives are design to accommodate your needs and circumstances so you can go to work . (Powerpoint)

“Self-employment - New Opportunities await”

45 minutes.

Donna Whitfield, United Cerebral Palsy and Debra Noel, FCIC provide information about self-employment through the start-up and implementation phases of a small business and provide the background about why self-employment has emerged as a viable employment option for individuals with developmental disabilities.

“Employment Resources for Persons with Disabilities”

January 2011, 38 minutes.

This webinar provides resources especially for Florida job seekers with disabilities, family members and providers who want to learn about the resources available to aid in the job search. Moderator: Debra Noel.

“Asset Development Strategies for Persons with Disabilities”

February 2011, 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Michael Roush and Elizabeth Jennings from the National Disability Institute address many of the negative myths that surround the accumulation of assets by individuals with disabilities which are debunked and strategies for improving personal finances are shared. Moderator: Debra Noel.

"Achieving Dreams: Discovery & Successful Transition Planning for Individuals with Autism" Nila Benito, FCIC community supports coordinator, provides specific examples and successful strategies that optimize transition outcomes for youth with autism. The Individualized Career Planning Model is an individualized process that includes the Discovery person-centered planning approach. Moderator: Debra Noel Handouts: 20 steps to Discovery, Discovery Survey, HOWI Form, Discovery Brain Blizzard Sample.

Seclusion and Restraint: Concerns and Solutions
February 8, 2010

F.Daniel Armstrong, Mailman Center for Child Development, Miami, Florida
Lise Fox, Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, Tampa, Florida
Margaret Hooper, Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Tallahassee, Florida
Sylvia Smith, Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida

Families, educators, advocates and students are becoming increasingly concerned about the use of seclusion and restraint in school settings. In Florida, there are documented cases where seclusion and restraint has been used with disastrous and tragic consequences. This panel discussed the concerns related to the use of seclusion and restraint; provide information on its use within Florida Schools, and presented current efforts for ensuring how schools can provide effective and safe behavior intervention procedures including proposed state legislation, resources and training opportunities.

A DD Act Agency Collaborative Event

Webinar Recording (Click on the link to view the webinar)

Teleconference Discussion (Click on the link to hear the webinar discussion)

Webinar Resources

Proposed Florida legislation. House Bill 81 - Use, Prevention and Reduction of Restraint and Seclusion sponsored by Representative Dorothy L. Hukill

Proposed Federal legislation. Senate Bill 2860 sponsored by Senator Christopher Dodd. House Bill 4247 sponsored by Representative George Miller.

GAO Report on Restraint and Seclusion - Selected Cases of Death and Abuse at Public and private Schools and Treatment Centers

School is Not Supposed to Hurt: Investigative Report on Abusive Restraint and Seclusion in Schools. A shocking report released by the National Disability Rights Network.

In the Name of Treatment: A Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Child From the Use of Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion. This publication was developed by APRAIS, with editorial assistance and funding support from the founding organizations. Photographs have been contributed by the families of children who have been harmed by the use of restraint, aversive interventions, and seclusion, and are used with their permission. This publication is dedicated to the memory of Matthew Goodman (1987-2002) and to all those children who continue to be abused and to die “in the name of treatment.”

OSEP TA Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Effective Schoolwide Interventions. Considerations for Seclusion and Restraint Use in Schoolwide Positive Behavior Supports.