HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250325 IDDAB Meeting Live Transcript Text Document14:46:54 Okay, I'm going to start recording the meeting because it's time. So just note that.
14:47:03 Okay. All right, people online, can you hear?
14:47:10 Okay, great. And is the camera on?
14:47:16 Oh, wait, I got to do that. Okay, here we are.
14:47:22 And you can see I tried to make little signs. As much as you can speak to the owl the better because our minutes taker who is off screen and someone who is a self-advocate needs
the recording in order to complete the minutes. And as soon as you
14:47:43 Turn away is like okay so as much as you can, please face the owl when you're speaking Okay.
14:47:54 Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board meeting. When you want to go around and make different deductions Yes. Sure.
14:48:10 I'm Bonnie Obramski. I am the intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Coordinator for Jefferson County.
14:48:19 And this is my second meeting and I'm really excited. There's a lot of fun stuff on the agenda today.
14:48:26 I'm Heather. And I'm Jefferson County Commissioner for District 1. My name is Camille Bidget.
14:48:36 You're applying. I'm applying for. To be a board member and the self-advocate position.
14:48:46 Thank you, Neil. I'm Kim Rafferty and I have a son with a developmental disability who grew up in this community and I am currently the chair of this board.
14:48:59 And I'm Katie Morton. I am a case resource manager for DDA.
14:49:07 I'm Meg Madison. I'm also a case resource manager for DBA.
14:49:13 Community Connections. Informing families coordinated for a colleague in Jefferson County and Grant for Jefferson County.
14:49:29 I'm Al Martin. I'm the director here at Jefferson Public Health.
14:49:34 It's challenging to hear okay Yeah, maybe let's all speak up a little bit and yeah aim Let's see if this improves things if we just increase our own personal volume.
14:49:50 I'm the director here at Jefferson County Public Health. Nice to see everybody.
14:49:56 Is that better? Yes. Ish.
14:50:01 Owen Rowe. I'm the representative from the city of Port Townsend City Council.
14:50:07 I'm Steve Temper. I'm Camille's. Perfect.
14:50:12 I'm Andre Midget, and I'm Camille's caregiver. I'm just making sure. Yep, that's Mike. Oh.
14:50:23 I wonder. Yep, that is better.
14:50:30 Is that better, Holly? No?
14:50:36 She just changed it so that the speaker is that or the microphone is the owl.
14:50:46 Anyone? Oh, it got better. It got better. Maybe it just had to switch over.
14:50:56 Okay, great. Okay. She said, okay.
14:51:03 Kelly? You want to introduce yourself?
14:51:13 I'm Kelly Matlock and I'm the mother of a young man on the autistic spectrum and I'm a member of the IDD board.
14:51:24 How about you, Taylor?
14:51:27 Hi, I'm Taylor Webster and I'm the director of Cascade Community Connections.
14:51:32 And we are a contracted provider of Jefferson County Public Health at For individual supported employment, community inclusion, group supported employment.
14:51:43 School to work and job foundation.
14:51:48 Lucinda.
14:51:50 Hello, I'm Lucinda Heidel. I'm the supervisor for the dvr um offices in Port Townsend and Port Angeles.
14:52:02 Sarah.
14:52:07 Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Sarah Walker, the Director of Inclusionary Practices in Chimicum Schools.
14:52:14 And Holly.
14:52:17 Hello, I'm Holly Morgan, Executive Director from OLLICAP and board member.
14:52:24 Nice to see you. Jennifer.
14:52:30 Hi there, I'm Jennifer. I work as the rehab tech in Port Townsend, working with with those in this program. So happy to be here. Thank you.
14:52:41 Rude? No. Brynd has asked to be present and okay great is that everybody?
14:52:53 Does it seem like that's everybody? Great.
14:52:56 Yeah, I think Sam Touche will be joining us. She's coming from a workshop so She'll join us and she is the transition coordinator for Cascade Community Connections.
14:53:08 And provides pre-ET services and school to work services.
14:53:13 Okay, thank you, Taylor. Okay, great. Okay, it's now time for public comment. Does anyone have any public comment?
14:53:25 No? Okay. We'll move on. Approval of minutes for january 28, 2000.
14:53:33 25. Did I ever get to review those? Have any questions, any changes?
14:53:40 No? Is there a move to approve the board? I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from the January, February 28th meetings.
14:53:52 Second? Nope. Okay.
14:53:51 I second it.
14:53:51 Is there a second? Okay, I didn't see who was that who seconded it.
14:53:59 That was Kelly.
14:54:01 Kelly, great. Okay, great. Thanks, Kelly. Okay, great. Now we're ready for discussion and potential action.
14:54:08 Board member applications Would that be?
14:54:13 Teresa decided not to, oh, you have an old agenda.
14:54:23 Great. Okay, cool.
14:54:28 Okay, what's it say here? Okay. Did everyone get to review Camille's application?
14:54:36 If anyone has any questions, Dr. Camille? Or Camille, would you like to say anything?
14:54:42 About being a board member And as self-advocate? Yeah.
14:54:49 All of these have our board members have But there is where it is.
14:54:58 Back home, I was self-advocates and i was the thrive people.
14:55:06 Where's home?
14:55:14 I can talk a little bit with Drive just for some background. My mother actually established a group for people with IDD back in the 60s.
14:55:22 And we've got Massachusetts to get all the people who are IDD out of the mental institution and form various housing units. And she did it with two other women.
14:55:33 They formed a group. It was called Greater Walber Program. And it expanded greatly. And then it went into Worcester and then they changed the name to thrive so that's Camille
is an honor to remember for the rest of her life. And I thought they were once a year.
14:55:49 In may for the prop That's great. You go back every May. Yeah. Awesome. Great.
14:55:59 Well, and I read through your application and I've gotten to know you this past year and I think that you would be a really great board member and a self-advocate. And I'm excited
you're interested in doing this, Camille. Yep.
14:56:13 Yeah, I have a question. You've been with the board for a while.
14:56:20 Have there been other self-advocates in the past? We have not had a self-advocate on the board for a very long time. So this is wonderful. Fantastic.
14:56:29 Good job. We're glad you moved. Is there any other, anyone else have any questions more for Camille?
14:56:45 When you were on the drive board What do you feel like was the best thing about being a selfie? We've talked about things on board.
14:56:57 We talk about staff and stuff on board and what we can prove for them the ways to improve yeah I like that.
14:57:08 Thank you for applying. And the little bit that I've known you, Camille, you're really happy to speak up and share your ideas and especially concerns for others.
14:57:20 That's great. And yes, that's number one. Yeah. So great. Hey, so I guess the final action would be to say we would like to move this applicant forward to the Board of County
Commissioners.
14:57:36 Correct. Do we make a motion for that? Would someone like to make a motion?
14:57:50 I move that we move. That we put camille forward?
14:57:43 To move Camille forward. As a board member to the Board of County Commissioners I think maybe
14:57:54 To the county commissioners, sorry, is that okay? Did I do it? Did I talk over anybody? Okay. It's hard to tell. Sorry.
14:58:03 Second Edge.
14:58:04 I know a second. Okay, great. Congratulations. Great, great, great. Okay. Now Bonnie's going to take over. I am so pleased and grateful. Thank you. Awesome.
14:58:22 And now we go to Erin. Aaron is going to lead us in a panel discussion.
14:58:28 And you're definitely welcome to join in on this. So Erin, take it away.
14:58:35 Yes, and I will say my two panelists aren't here yet. So I don't know if you wanted to maybe wait a minute for them to arrive or what you would like me to do.
14:58:45 I'm going to go ahead and do my presentation and then we'll go to
14:58:51 Okay, sounds good.
14:59:05 All right. A lot of you might already know the things in this presentation, but it was a way for me to review what I've learned since November and just refresh everyone else
if you need it.
14:59:16 I began here in November. I'm wondering if we should close this somehow.
14:59:20 Okay, there we go. And when I was hired, there were a couple of things that shifted intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health coordination are now separate
roles. Previously, they were both held by Anna, one person.
14:59:38 And right now the interim behavioral health coordinator is director of our team. This is the legal definition of intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to Washington
state.
14:59:56 The disability attributable to some things like, for example, terrible policy of autism or another neurological or an addition that originates before age 18 and is expected
to continue indefinitely.
15:00:12 Have a little bit of data here. So this represents the number of people who have been processed through the processed through developmental disabilities administration application.
And if they choose to receive services that's indicated as paid.
15:00:33 If they've signed up, they are eligible for services, but they have not chosen to receive services.
15:00:40 Then that's in the no page column. Did I get that right, Katie? Katie, you have to teach me.
15:00:46 Yes. Okay. So this is the main role of accounting coordinator. It's finding funding and monitoring providers of supported employment, community inclusion.
15:00:57 And birth to free services. So I need to find providers and then make sure they're getting funded and then make sure they're spending that money appropriately according to the
state laws.
15:01:10 Reported employment, providers help people with IDD find and keep jobs.
15:01:16 Here's Emma at her job at Quiver Mercantile. And here are the number of folks that as of August 2024 who are in a supported employment program or participating in community
inclusion.
15:01:36 You can see we have a lot of folks in individual employment, which is, for example, what Emma is engaged in.
15:01:45 And then there's a lot of folks taking advantage of community inclusion, which we'll get to.
15:01:51 We also support people who are 14 and older to transition into a working life.
15:01:57 There's various programs to assist with that. So these are the number of students through the years who have engaged in high school transition programs.
15:02:08 Community inclusion provides opportunities to engage with the general public in places accessible by public transit for a reasonable commute from an individual's home.
15:02:17 So this is an opportunity for folks community you know and they're hanging out with folks who are not paid professionals. They're members of the community who share their interests
and want to hang out together and have an experience together.
15:02:37 There's one provider who supported employment and community inclusion in the county. Taylor got that off her website. Good.
15:02:47 We also do birth to age three services for children who need help reaching developmental milestones.
15:02:55 And here's the number of kids doing child developmental services in August 2024.
15:03:02 There's one provider of birth to three services in the county, concerned citizens.
15:03:08 The state requires the county to continuously seek applications from qualified providers. That's a must.
15:03:15 And then I have to conduct very specific activities to evaluate provider performance and issue corrective actions when necessary.
15:03:26 The state inclusion. That sentence doesn't make sense.
15:03:34 But there's guiding values that are supposed to influence everything that the state is doing for people with IDD and values are inclusion, status, and contribution, relationships,
power and choice, health and safety, and competence.
15:03:52 The funding stream I wanted to show it to you. So we've got federal funds and estate taxes coming into the program, state program.
15:04:00 And then that flows into the Department of Social and Health Services.
15:04:05 And then from there, some goes to DVR and a lot goes to DDA. The size of the icon correlates to amount of money.
15:04:16 And then we get funding into the county program from those two sources. And some of the funding that goes into our region just goes directly to PACE resource management, like
Megan and Katie and their supervisors.
15:04:35 And most of the funds we receive go to pay providers of supported employment and birth to three services.
15:04:44 And then to pay me. And I'm responsible for doing administrative stuff. And then also I have funds to do outreach and educational activities within the community.
15:04:54 And then these other services over here support families people living with IDD and the providers to just make sure that they have opportunities for continuing education, for
the community access to other partner organizations that may be able to help.
15:05:18 That kind of thing. Is that a superhero case? I didn't know how to do that. I didn't need her to be any shape. And then I thought scarf. But then I thought cave. And I don't
want to like say that I'm a superhero. I didn't know how to do it. This is your brother at that time. She is a super guy.
15:05:43 So, you know, that's your cycle. So just to review, I manage contracts. I'm a local quality control, and then we're going to add this, as you can see here, I manage the intellectual
and developmental disabilities advisory board.
15:06:02 And you all know what the water has done. And then I also manage the ACAC. And I told you all about that last month. No changes.
15:06:14 There. And community outreach and educational activities. And these are just a few of our many partners yeah so luckily I get a lot of folks to teach me about what it is I'm
supposed to be doing. Ways to help out
15:06:35 We need more referrals for birth to three services. So that's most of those referrals come from primary care providers.
15:06:43 And then school to work uh the more Students know that that's a resource that can really fill a potential gap between ending school and finding a job.
15:06:56 Really want there to be a graduate to the couch as it's put, like time where you graduate and then there's not immediately something there for you to engage with. So school
to work make sure that by the time you graduate, you're already on your way to adulthood and in your job.
15:07:15 Thank you. I have a question. Yeah.
15:07:21 I'm curious about First to three referrals. And I'm curious because it's such a rich place to place support families who support families who and learn about observing and witnessing
their kid through really early developmental stages and then learn and notice things that might need to be learned about or addressed in unique ways.
15:07:46 I have a background in nurse home visiting for brand new babies before I went into leadership.
15:07:52 And I also have a background in childcare nurse consulting. And some of the most rich experiences I've had with little babies and kids and their parents and even child care
providers was talking about how to incorporate the ages and stages questionnaire, which is sort of the classic screening tool for young children, the ASQ.
15:08:16 Teaching them how to incorporate that kind of into their just basic cultural milieu.
15:08:22 So that parents could have a little more insight and connection to how to how to watch and how to encourage and also how not to be afraid if they see something they don't understand,
but to learn more about it and to have some shepherding with
15:08:39 With say for instance me a long time ago, and I'm curious, I want to make sure as the health department director that Our programs that we do across the county that especially
work with little kids that the nutrition and programs like nursing and partnership that work with brand new babies
15:08:59 That we're making sure that referral flow is happening well. And so this isn't really a question. It's more of a just hope that it's working well. And if we need a clearer channel
or even some support internally that I can give to our team to make sure that we're getting enough kiddos to you.
15:09:19 I just want to support that. So this was a topic of conversation at our last county meeting i think just last week.
15:09:30 I know, two weeks ago because it was before I was here at the bankrupt.
15:09:34 So Jamie was saying that she's getting very limited referrals from Jefferson County alone. So the topic of conversation is a lot of our medically needy children are being sent
out of county so they're not getting the information to connect to the local resources.
15:09:55 So we were trying to problem solve. That and trying to get more information out to local providers. In the past, my role as parent we would actually go to hospitals and meet
with parents of newly diagnosed or children that are struggling in a bad way or developmentally. So our goal is that that will happen again.
15:10:21 I know she's been struggling a lot with getting any referrals from Brendan or Colshine as well.
15:10:32 Well, I'd be happy to nurture that wherever I can. I just had a visit in Britain at the school district so And it was the topic of conversation, not this content, but just IDD
in general. So I will do what I can to nurture that. But thank you for sharing that you were discussing it.
15:10:51 Laura, Erin, do you feel like you're ready?
15:10:56 Okay, awesome. Take it away.
15:10:54 Yes, I am. Okay, thanks. So good to see you all. So I am Erin Dixon and I am the Executive Director of the Community Employment Alliance.
15:11:08 And we are⦠coalition of 40 different supported employment and community inclusion providers across the state of Washington.
15:11:19 And we support our members with advocacy, with the state legislature.
15:11:24 We support our members with sharing information and learning from each other in terms of best practices and how to provide the best services to the people that we all serve
and support.
15:11:35 And so I am here today with David, who I'll let you introduce yourself in just a second.
15:11:42 To talk a little bit about self-advocates and including self-advocates in what we do. Would you like to introduce yourself, David?
15:11:58 Hello, everyone. My name is David Wilder. I'm with Chinook Enterprises.
15:12:04 For close to 26 years now. I'm the advocacy specialist.
15:12:13 For Chinook. I help⦠train some of our customers on how to advocate for themselves.
15:12:22 I work on legislative priorities that Chinook Enterprises has.
15:12:28 Along with CEA. So I work closely with Aaron.
15:12:34 And I've been a self-advocate for myself Because of my experience⦠You know, for almost 40 years now on my own too so You know, I learned a lot.
15:12:50 After being⦠spending most of my first day in college stuck in a men's restroom because there was no automatic buttons at the time and nobody would help me take 30 seconds
and open the door.
15:13:08 So when I was growing up, when I was 18 in the 80s, I had to learn quickly.
15:13:13 So I hope I can help you. As we go along here, I'll give it back to Aaron.
15:13:20 Thank you, David. Just briefly to frame kind of where this is all coming from. And then we're going to do some questions and answers with David.
15:13:32 So I've been in my role for about a year and a half, but I previously worked at a provider up in Bellingham that is confusingly called Cascade Connections, not Cascade Community
Connections.
15:13:46 I was there for seven years before that. So I had been involved with the Community Employment Alliance as a member for a good number of years before being in my current role.
15:13:57 And we've seen this really beautiful transition in the last probably eight or so years from having No self-advocates involved with our organization to now regularly having around
eight or 10 folks with disabilities that are regularly involved with everything we do.
15:14:14 Sometimes our meetings are half people with disabilities, which seems like a pretty basic concept for an organization focused on disability advocacy, but You know, I think this
is just kind of where the world has been and we're trying to work towards being better. And so
15:14:31 I think with what I have seen our organization go through.
15:14:35 I really want to share about how impactful it can be to include people with disabilities in all levels of leadership in everything we do. And so that's what we're here to talk
about today.
15:14:46 And so I have some questions prepared that I will ask David and David's going to kind of take the show from here.
15:14:54 First question for you, David. How can organizations find people with lived experience with disabilities to get involved in the work that they're doing?
15:15:06 Of course, it all depends on what area of the state you live in.
15:15:10 And but any County DD board or any organization that works within wherever their home county is, she promote their events as much as possible, especially if they're looking
for self-advocates To be on a DD board or another community board
15:15:34 Don't just put on⦠the signs or on the emails People with disabilities One in four local board make it a little more⦠Not every detail, of course.
15:15:52 Say one to three things What are we going to be doing on that board? How are we going to be helping our community or how can we get involved Because that happens quite a bit.
15:16:08 And then⦠If you do have your meetings in person.
15:16:13 Make sure there's some place where it's actually accessible to someone in a wheelchair Or otherwise, because that still happens on occasion too But once you have people with
disabilities Come to a meeting as a meeting Just a guest. If your board allows that
15:16:37 So they can see what the board does. As much as possible.
15:16:42 And then maybe⦠Ask them at the both at the beginning how they can⦠what their experience was at the meeting.
15:16:54 So those are two or three things that I would do.
15:16:58 Thanks, David. And I saw your chat in the chat box, Bonnie. So Camille, if you'd like to jump in.
15:17:04 I'd love to hear what you have to share too.
15:17:07 All right. My name is Camille and I used to live in Camille.
15:17:13 Massachusetts, lawful massachusetts And I get the thrive.
15:17:19 Advocacy meeting. Well, one time. If Andre wouldn't join in pointing to what J&PI in South Africa. You did a great job.
15:17:38 Thank you. So next question.
15:17:44 Either or both of you. What are some ways that organizations can be more accessible to support self-advocates in their organizations?
15:17:57 Do you want to go first?
15:17:58 Um⦠I would say⦠When there are activities I know you have to promote it to the general public because you want everyone to come but really advertised toward people withâ¦
disabilities if you want them to attend, because that happens sometimes too
15:18:25 Some people with disabilities who have wheelchairs crutches. And if they're shy or nervous Around people. Try to make the activity as welcoming as possible.
15:18:40 But really promote it. If you can on and these days try to promote it on more than one Service, so to speak.
15:18:52 Whether that be Facebook, Instagram. Snapchat or however many There are now, and then I'll let Bonnie chime in if she wants.
15:19:06 Thank you. That's really helpful information that I'm going to take to heart.
15:19:11 Camille, did you want to add? Nope. I will add them because Camila and I went over the questions that were being asked.
15:19:19 And what became evident was she didn't understand it. So, um.
15:19:25 And it's not like we want to simplify to make a person feel invalidated.
15:19:31 But simplify so that they can understand. And the more we talked about it, what we were looking for was actually your presentation you gave. And I saw the two of us saw at the
beginning with the pictures and the flows
15:19:48 And giving things pictures easy ways to understand things. So if the presentation because you want to you definitely want to advertise and promote. And if you were to take videos
with simple instructions on what is the you know advisory board.
15:20:10 A definition of it, give examples of it, give examples of what they do and how it's done all the presentation of pictures of video.
15:20:20 I think and and i think that would grab them. I deal with a lot of friends of Camille and they love videos.
15:20:29 You know, they love you. Actually, I was telling Andre. And my mother couldn't help me.
15:20:40 This father is from his father his daughters.
15:20:46 Not speaking. And I can share with you guys about that because he's really top and found his daughter.
15:20:58 Yeah, that's one of our favorites that she watches on YouTube. It's called Fathering Autism. And the gentleman actually started years ago And he's been including you know his
audience on every step that he's taken to help his daughter and some of the things are quite
15:21:14 I definitely want to know about that. I put it in the meeting minutes too for folks.
15:21:20 Yeah, I can⦠Thank you.
15:21:26 Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
15:21:26 Awesome. Okay.
15:21:35 So another question would be You know, I've seen a lot of organizations have self-advocates be involved, but not necessarily end up in leadership positions So what can organizations
do to help people with disabilities to not just be involved in general, but to be able to be in leadership positions.
15:22:01 Any thoughts?
15:22:06 I think that's a great idea. Each county DD board or any board is different, of course.
15:22:19 If you do offer leadership position or to the membership.
15:22:25 Make sure that People with disabilities can be included in that.
15:22:35 One issue that I ran across when I served on there.
15:22:41 My local DD board years ago was that was that I couldn't serve in leadership because i couldn't leadership the agency I was working for was getting county DD services or funding
so if that that may be, I don't know about all counties, but that may be one issue you may have to deal with.
15:23:05 Depending on the circumstance, but involve them as much As you can, if not in leadership, can they be in an advisory role or some sort of advisory capacity.
15:23:23 Thanks, David. Anything you wanted to share, Camille?
15:23:30 No, right now.
15:23:31 Okay, sounds good. Okay, and then⦠I'm curious.
15:23:42 Again, I think one thing that we have learned is that If you're going to⦠meaningfully include people with disabilities in leadership that there needs to be some sort of availability
of training or training you know, something along those lines to make sure that it's not just, all right, we've put you in this position but
15:24:06 We're going to actually support you in that position and so I'm curious if either of you have had any experiences with any sort of trainings or anything you know support wise
to kind of help with being in leadership or any sort of positions like that.
15:24:31 Well, I have over the years, it's gotten better. Depending on the circumstances Because I've just learned that I have to Let people know right up front if you⦠want me to
serve or provide whatever services You want me to provide a presentation or an interview such as
15:24:57 Or other services I may need support either through computers or transportation possibly And other things and other things It's only, most of the time I can⦠get the services
or supports they need. There's been a couple times Where it hasn't worked out but it hasn't worked out
15:25:21 And that's what you need to do, no matter the person's circumstances.
15:25:26 If you want them to help with whatever activity or program you're working on.
15:25:34 Make sure that you have the⦠time in this staff that they may need To support what you want them to do.
15:25:45 Awesome. Thank you. Anything, Camille, that you want to say?
15:25:52 I've been with, we used to have, when I was at home, we had loose ship And they go out and they go out get the certificates.
15:26:07 I have something to add. As a board member, all of us are trained. I don't know if you're still doing that, but Anna used to sit down with board members and we'd go through
all the information. And so maybe
15:26:24 That would be very helpful to have one-on-one training for you and reflecting what your sister said, pull it out and make it more you know uh graphic and easier to kind of grasp
because even for me it was a lot of
15:26:48 Hmm.
15:26:41 Stuff to yet learn. So that's it. I appreciate Aaron bringing that up I think, too, you're in a leadership role in people first yeah Got it.
15:26:56 Well, yeah, because you're on the leadership. You're an officer of leadership and officer and we talk about But people versus self-advocacy group, if we meet once a month, I'm
the advisor and actually our vice president Yep. We talked about
15:27:21 Money. Well, we talk about?
15:27:27 Activities we've talked about But you're like, where's money put there So, um.
15:27:40 Candy and candy pokes and stuff.
15:27:46 And haven't you been learning about how to run meetings? Yeah, right.
15:27:51 Awesome.
15:27:51 People First has a new, well, it's not new it's uh Then we have it on our t-shirts. Nothing about us without us. And so the first is really anytime if any time any laws or anything
is being changed or looked at that we want to
15:28:11 The IGB community wants to have a seat at the table.
15:28:15 So we really pushed for that too and stuff like that.
15:28:20 I know that when I was helping Camille in the very beginning You played a great role in us being able to isolate her abilities.
15:28:31 Because you have these great questionnaires. And we had to sit down and fill these out. And I would imagine every member have done that and those could get combed through and
look for and find out what capabilities do they already have that we could utilize within the group?
15:28:52 Never mind. Yeah, I'll chip in as well. The essence of leadership is providing direction and achieving goals for whatever organization is there and if training was given to
the advocates of Athens in terms of eliciting from their peers what they need and want and then the advocate then presents that in a leadership role to whatever board incur you know
just really getting that basic
15:29:24 Training at what they're there to do is to represent their community because that's why you want them on the board That really would be a stress point of actually having them
be in communication with their peers and then presenting those issues. You know, and sometimes they may need some assistance in actually how to present that.
15:29:45 But they are the spokesperson for the community. For that community so let's help them engender those skills directly because i don't see that as the key aspect of what they're
role would be, like say this board.
15:30:04 Yeah, thank you everyone for the great comments. And we're just about out of time. So I want to just briefly wrap up really quick.
15:30:11 And just a couple of things that come to mind just from my own experience going through this shift that we've been through.
15:30:19 Is for one, I think back to our first self-advocate that we had involved uh There was this one specific time where the whole room in a meeting of like 30 people really all seem
to kind of be on the same page and thinking the same thing about something and
15:30:38 This individual spoke up and shared something that really shifted the entire room's perspective and that would not have happened if that person wasn't there. So I just think
that really speaks volumes to the impact it can have.
15:30:51 I think another really key takeaway that feels like it should be simple, but it's something that I think has to be said out loud is I think one of the key pieces to making this
work is your own internal work of seeing people with disabilities as your peers.
15:31:08 And I think that's something that I see people struggle with sometimes.
15:31:13 How you support people really influences their ability to really feel like they are our peers in these meetings and in rooms that we're in.
15:31:24 Another thing I think is that I have really seen this benefit everyone. So thinking of universal design.
15:31:30 The more that we've designed things to support people, people without disabilities are also finding it easier to get involved with our organization too, which has been really
great as well.
15:31:41 And the last thing that I'll end with is I still get things wrong all the time. I'm not some expert on this. What I've learned, I've learned from people with disabilities and
I still get it wrong all the time. And so I think the biggest takeaway I have is just listen to people with disabilities and that's the simplest
15:32:00 You know, thing you can do and I just want to thank everyone for letting us come and speak. I want to thank Camille and David.
15:32:11 And I also want to give Kelly a quick chance to say something really quick as well. Go ahead, Kelly.
15:32:18 So David, this is Kelly Matlock. I don't know if you remember me or not.
15:32:22 Yes, I do. Yeah, it's been quite a long time, but yes, I do.
15:32:39 Oh.
15:32:29 I've just been sitting when i Big shot to my heart. I've just been so exciting and bubbling over David, I was briefly the developmental disability coordinator for Skagit County,
and David definitely helped me learn my job he was outspoken and a ferocious advocate and we had a lot of adventures. We had a wild adventure going to the statewide conference. And
I can't remember, David, was that in
15:32:58 Was that in Yakima or was that in
15:33:01 It was on the east side someplace. Yeah. Yeah.
15:33:07 Yeah.
15:33:04 Yeah, I know. But yeah. It was so much fun. It's so wonderful to see you and so wonderful Still out there, you know, that's
15:33:11 Good. Yeah. Well, somebody's got to do it. And⦠There's a few of us Skagit County, but that's the hard part we don't We all advocate for ourselves. We don't really have a
As far as I know, a Skagit Countyâ¦
15:33:34 Advocates group. I mean, we have different clubs and and stuff like that. And it's all great, but I don't know how much we all connect with each other.
15:33:45 And by the way, David, I have to say hello from my husband. I think you'll remember him, Chef Martin.
15:33:50 Yes, I do. Yes, tell him hide from me.
15:33:54 I will. I will. He will be delighted to hear that you're in this meeting today.
15:34:02 So much, Aaron, David, and Camille and friends and family and other members of the board.
15:34:09 Awesome. Great points. Thank you, Erin. Thank you.
15:34:11 Thanks, everyone.
15:34:16 Okay, now for more super exciting stuff. If you want a printed out version of the items we're going to talk about next, there's copies.
15:34:28 On the back table there. So we're going to review bylaw changes.
15:34:34 They know these changes were done by our county legal team, not me. I might review them. And you're definitely welcome to chime in on yay or nay, obviously, all those things.
15:34:46 And then following that, the bylaw changes are because we I wanted to put this resolution before you That would mean we had to change the bylaws and make that happen so
15:35:03 Their person takes away. Well, so the change the major change to the bylaw is around the solution about the uh self-advocate stipend. Yeah.
15:35:17 So it's been integrated into the bylaws. Yes. So the updates allow for the state law stipend. So it's something that is allowed by state law And it ensures it ensures And that
what's written about that in our bylaws is in compliance with open public meeting law as well.
15:35:40 The bylaws have been reformatted to be stylistically consistent with other Jefferson County advisory boards, so it just has a different look and feel. There's a front page.
Owen, I don't know if you want to hold that up.
15:35:54 Yeah, so. And then there's little changes like the Board of County Commissioners prefers that we use the word resident instead of citizen. So there just have been little edits
like that.
15:36:10 So if you feel comfortable with that summation that was given to me by the attorney's office and good if you want more time to review or more questions, then we can do that.
15:36:27 Any discussion or is everyone okay with the changes I can't formally vote on those? Yes.
15:36:37 So in the bylaws, it still calls you the DDBH staff person. Is that a deal?
15:36:45 Changes. It's not officially separated.
15:36:50 We were separating it. So that will need to be a change to come because on the record for the county is still merged And we're seeking to separate it. It takes a long time to
change a job description in terms of its
15:37:08 It's content, even though we're not changing it, we're just separating it. But you're right. That's a good catch. So that needs to be updated. So can we go ahead and approve
the bylaws with just saying in the future that will be changed when that change happens. That sounds good enough.
15:37:27 Or can you just change it to her job title now?
15:37:31 That is her job title. Officially, yeah. So I think⦠Your suggestion has probably been reasonable.
15:37:41 Okay. I mean, he's⦠The thing is it's not it it would have to be brought forward again to actually make the change so maybe just have that prompted by this department and
so everybody's board to say, hey, the change has been made because no one else is going to be tracking that
15:38:01 Other than just different events, right? It won't actually get changed unless we say to say How about this? I'll put it on the agenda in November to review the bylaws again.
And that change would then be enacted. Yeah.
15:38:21 Put it in by a boat then yeah you're basically just giving the board of county commissioners the heads up that is pending and would be approved once it happens. But it's legitimate
now. As written, it is the case.
15:38:35 It's just that it will get separated and then it will get separated In November, you would likely be approving and voting on that change, which is that the DD coordinator IDD
coordinator is only an IDD coordinator, not an IDD and BH coordinator.
15:38:52 You're going to put it on your agenda to check it anyway. It's probably just simpler to put it forward as it is now.
15:39:05 And just give the prosecuting attorney and the Board of County Commissioners a heads up that this is going to change and then just submit it as a new change. It'll go through
the consent agenda really easily in November. At the time? Yeah, I would. I mean, I just don't.
15:39:21 I think it's adding a level of complexity to say you're approving it now Just when you're going to have to put it forward later anyway. Just make that change then. So don't
say anything about it now. Yeah, you can just give give philip a heads up. This is going to happen, you know, just in your message when you when you put forward the agenda request.
15:39:40 Just so they know. When they see it again in November, didn't they just approve this? No. But otherwise.
15:39:48 I would just do it then, honestly, for simplicity, just to keep it simple.
15:39:53 Okay, so the motion at hand is to approve the bylaws as they are Which adds the language about the stipend.
15:40:02 For the new self-advocate. Board member for your putting the violence and the resolution. We have to do them separate. So let's first approve the bylaw change and then approve
the rep the or approve for recommendation the resolution.
15:40:19 But is it the resolution in bylaws? It's not. No? No, the bylaws need to be different in order for the resolution to pass. All right. Yeah.
15:40:29 Okay. Do you have a copy of the requisition in front of you? I do. Okay.
15:40:35 Okay, so we're a motion to approve the bylaws as stated here Is there emotions?
15:40:49 So moved? A second.
15:40:53 I second it.
15:40:55 Kelly. Okay, great. Thank you. Okay, so all in favor say aye.
15:41:03 Hi. Those against say nay.
15:41:04 Oh, yeah.
15:41:08 No. Okay. The bylaws are approved with the changes. Now we're going to just bring forth the resolution that includes the stipend for the self-advocate and the who is an IDD
board member Any questions about this resolution?
15:41:30 No? Is there a motion to approve the resolution?
15:41:39 I make a motion to approve the resolution.
15:41:42 Is there a second? Who was that, Holly. Holly. Okay. Thank you.
15:41:43 I'll second.
15:41:49 All in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed say nay?
15:41:57 Okay, the resolution is approved. Congratulations. So I don't know if you saw all of that. Do you want me to just review real quick? Okay, cool. But can we say, though, and
some for my education too.
15:42:14 Once your application goes forward to the Board of County Commissioners.
15:42:19 I happen to sit on that board. We will vote and say, yes, Camille is now a board member At that point, at that point, you get to vote. She was a voting member correct okay so
then later when we're doing votes like this.
15:42:37 You can vote yes or no. And then also at that point, you will get a stipend of $50 to attend the meetings.
15:42:48 And I would like to assert that all the boards and commissions across the county Once a board member is onboarded into that role, they receive a letter, an official letter from
the Board of County Commissioners stating as such. They'll also ask you to
15:43:06 Consider viewing open public meeting content which is a training feature that's kind of across the board for anybody that joins a board or commission.
15:43:17 And I would be interested to know if the county has put thought into how those videos are more accessible to people of a variety of circumstances. So I'm going to look into
that. I just, Camille wanted you to know that as a new board member
15:43:33 You would be receiving a letter in the mail and it will indicate that there will be a training video to watch. And I don't want that to be a surprise. But it is a video. And
you can watch it online. You don't have to read it. But I think it also has captions and a transcript.
15:43:58 Yeah. Maybe a heartbreak can help me with it.
15:44:02 Yes. Or one of us, one of us if you have questions. Yeah.
15:44:09 Great. Wonderful. Okay. Oh, sorry. No, no, you're fine. Okay. Well, moving right along.
15:44:20 This program was represented at the Connectivity Summit along with other programs in Jefferson County Public Health. Outside of this room, meaning they're not part of this meeting,
on a table out there are a bunch of materials for you to look at, photos from the event. So feel free to take anything off that table, stand a minute and watch the electronic photo
frame, show you some pictures from the event. It was really cool and good.
15:44:46 Um and then just an update to the school work development contract. Previously, it was going to end this month, but now it's extended through the end of June.
15:44:58 And sorry, this is, we have two school to work contracts. One is for direct services that ends in September. One is for me to try and promote school to work. And I'm talking
about the promotional school to work contract has now been extended through the end of June.
15:45:17 I am known for going to get more developmental money, but it is likely that school to work direct services will continue for another contract year.
15:45:29 As we know with the administration as it is, everything feels a tiny bit up in the air but um the state's pretty certain.
15:45:38 Regarding the school to work program in Jefferson County for at least another year.
15:45:43 Last meeting we talked about the wheelchair and that's currently in possession of the Port Townsend School District. And April, when I meet with the Accessible Community Advisory
Committee.
15:45:55 I'm going to ask them to a final decision on what to do with the beach wheelchair.
15:46:05 Thank you. Oh, awesome. Very cool. Yay, thank you. Sure. Last time we talked about the Washington State House bill that would have made some changes to community inclusion,
that bill died so it's not going forward. I toured Campo site, Hamilton House, and attended a People Hearst meeting and those were all wonderful experiences and I hope to stay engaged
with you all.
15:46:32 And then the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, DVR, those are the folks who we work with for schoolwork.
15:46:40 They said they want to come see us in person. So they're coming for a visit and it's informal, but I'm excited to introduce them to members of the community who are involved
in transition programs and want to chime in.
15:46:57 All right. And that is the update. And we can move ahead to program and services updates from our partners.
15:47:06 Right. What are you doing? We have quite a few things, so I will try to make this short, but I definitely wanted to cover some of these things because it's been 15 months since
we last spoke. Cascade staff attended the connectivity summit as well.
15:47:22 We had a number of students, Sam and I worked at the table together and i was there on Saturday. Derek was there on Saturday as well. And we had a number of students drive by
our table and get information and we got a chance to talk to them.
15:47:37 In my opinion, the connectivity summit was just a really incredible. It was so good. And I think everybody got it.
15:47:44 I agree with that. And I've met a lot of people on the team. I remember at the booth, that was wonderful. And yeah, so it was a great experience and I really hope it goes to
work that way.
15:47:58 We met a lot of operate providers and it was great to talk to students Of all of our cascade teams participated in a one-day training in Colma in Port Townsend on the end of
February, the 27th. Heather Evans from WISE basically taught us intervention steps for mental health first aid in case persons are having a mental health challenge or are in crisis.
And then staff receive certification after that took place. And so Bonnie, thanks for
15:48:25 The support and putting all that forward. In spring, we're going to have two of our supported employment specialists join the spring wise online academy and so they will be
getting certified in discovery and person-centered planning, job development marketing, and systematic instruction and training techniques. So we're excited about that. That's going
to be
15:48:48 That would be great. They'll get certified as well. We are currently serving 25 people in individualized supported employment. We are serving seven people in group supported
employment. Five of those individuals are at the Jefferson County Transfer Station. And then now we have two individuals who are working as vending machine assistants in the community,
one that we plot appointments and the other at Port Townsend Athletic Center.
15:49:14 And so they're running those. And that's really a great opportunity. There were two new job starts since our last meeting.
15:49:22 One is the production assistant at Corvus Crafts. Mitchell, right? And I'm getting free tickets. My best friend.
15:49:38 Yeah, too. That's been very exciting.
15:49:42 We're very happy to have you. And then one vending machine assistant, a physician at Ring Plaza started.
15:49:51 And yeah, that's a lot of it. Kim, you asked the last time I was here to kind of noticed the employers that we're working with.
15:49:58 In the interest of time, I can either read those for you today or I can send them by email, whatever you would like. Yeah, that'd be great. I will email it to you.
15:50:08 I will then, I guess, hand it over to Sam. Sam.
15:50:18 Sorry, I lost my mouse for a second. So I am the transition coordinator, so I do transition and pre-ex in the schools and community for students 14 to 22.
15:50:32 And so right now we are doing or I'm doing 11 workshops between Port Swanson High School ocean And Chamucon High School.
15:50:43 Right now, a lot of the students are finishing up resumes. We've got some self-advocacy workshops going on budgeting, all the fun things that students are going to need to know
for employment either before, during, after.
15:50:57 And independent living as well. So we're doing that. Like Bonnie mentioned earlier, we do have a couple school to work students. One student is currently in the job development
process so Hopefully we are close to securing a paid position for that student. So that's really exciting.
15:51:16 Yeah, but the second student is just beginning their service. So we're working on getting their team meeting together intake paperwork done, things like that. So hopefully once
package going will be⦠pushing pushing that student right along as well.
15:51:34 So yeah, that's pretty much it for school to work No child foundations students right now this year.
15:51:44 And right now we are gearing up to do our kind of like summer internships. I don't know, like they're work-based learning experiences but We work in the community and private
businesses who want to work with students. They get a paycheck.
15:51:58 Employers get employees for the summer. So right now we've identified students and now we're going to start going out there and talking to businesses about hiring them and getting
them some experience while they're in school and Yeah, that's pretty much where we're at here for transition and Priyets.
15:52:18 Any questions?
15:52:22 Thank you, Sam.
15:52:25 Yeah.
15:52:25 And I'll give the community inclusion update today. As I mentioned in the last meeting, we promoted one of our great staff, Desiree Shepston, to the community programs manager.
So she's overseeing community inclusion and community engagement. She actually works with one of our participants at this time, so she's not able to come until that gets rescheduled.
15:52:51 Really quickly, Bonnie, you had it on your presentation earlier. We have 41 individuals that are registered for community inclusion.
15:52:58 And we're actively serving many of those and working with over 20 organizations and different activities that people are doing to volunteer. Last month, our last meeting, I
read off a list of those so Things are going really great. We just hired another community inclusion specialist
15:53:22 And we also have another person from community inclusion during the WISE 100 Level series, Derek, who's there in the room.
15:53:28 Is going to be participating in that three month long course that talks about what Gail said, the history of supported employment and services for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.
15:53:41 Among a lot of other really applicable topics for their positions and their positions and company-wide, I think that's it for community inclusion, unless everyone has anyone
has any questions.
15:53:56 Company-wide, I did want to mention we hired three new staff in our community engagement program, including a youth community engagement specialist, which is a brand new position
Because we have so many students that are coming to us between the ages of 14 and 21 that
15:54:15 Are receiving community engagement. So we just hired a person specifically to serve that demographic. So we're excited about that.
15:54:24 We are going to have our county evaluation coming up in June with Bonnie.
15:54:32 And we're also going to be doing our reaccreditation for CARF this year, which is a three-year accreditation really big process that happens. Well, it happens every three years
and there's a potential that members from this board could get interviewed.
15:54:52 For our services. So I'll send out notices of that when I have more information.
15:54:57 And we're currently renewing our DVR contract for the next two-year term so That's what we're up to.
15:55:07 Not too busy.
15:55:09 Now. Oh, and the one thing I was going to say related to our presentation today, it is one of our strategic goals to make our customer handbook into a video format and hire
self-advocates to help explain the policies that are in that customer handbook in a more accessible way.
15:55:33 So that's a project that we are working on if anybody wants to collaborate on that.
15:55:39 Be willing. Okay, thank you.
15:55:42 Cool. Great. Thanks, Taylor.
15:55:46 Is Jamie here? Janie Nelson? She's not. Okay.
15:55:51 So Laura, Hume. Um so I have been the parent to parent for four months now.
15:56:04 I am connected now with six families of all ages. I just got to experience a family with two kiddos.
15:56:15 I helped with the DDA application process. The moms are totally on top of everything and amazing.
15:56:24 But in that process, I got to tour Alan there and found out that they do have a DV population at the Assistant Living. So I'm working with them on networking And⦠what services
they can apply for and what resources are available out there for that population.
15:56:45 I also attended the connectivity summit Which was amazing. Jefferson does it.
15:56:52 And in that, I was actually sitting next to the Alzheimer's Association, which for column mosaic, we just had somebody that was recently diagnosed with rapid onset Alzheimer's
and we just lost long-term friend of our community as well. And in that, we've learned that we have three more that are
15:57:17 Just now diagnosed with dementia and they're under 40. So in talks with them, we were talking about designing a program to learn more about Down syndrome and Alzheimer's because
the statistics now are saying 90% will have Alzheimer's by the age of 50. People with Down syndrome? People with Down syndrome. They're seeing it as young as the age of 30 right now.
15:57:42 So we're really trying to push for more training. I've done the dementia and DB training for myself.
15:57:50 But there is that one that's It's involved.
15:57:54 Necessarily for Down syndrome. That's been exciting. I've also been in talks with Cindy Marks from the health department where our aim is to have a playgroup By May. We're waiting
for Tanya to He's offered the live work like for a play group and then
15:58:22 We already have long chat going for both chapters in quality.
15:58:25 Once they get a big enough following, then it'll just be Jefferson.
15:58:31 And then I saw on Facebook that Colchins having a resource fair Friday. So I invited myself. Well, I talked to them, but we will be presenting to the more
15:58:47 Western communities as well. I've been there a year. We're expanding programming we're now doing five days a week on community respite.
15:59:01 Our CE coaches we have one that we call them our dating coach. She's amazing. We're working on social skills and how to meet people appropriately.
15:59:13 We have one that's having we have three different people volunteering right now one just got offered a job.
15:59:19 At Field Hall as a field at as an internship and it's been amazing. I have a great group of guys right now. And I'm in the process of having my second supportive employee so
And I only have 14 staff members.
15:59:38 It's been fun. I love parent to parent and i'm In the process of hiring a program director so that I can act quickly and Jefferson more.
15:59:51 So if you need help with artistic or something, I can walk over.
16:00:02 That would be great. So I can help them out Oh, and then the other thing is i got approved by Kiwanis has started matching clubs for Clown County. So I'm in the process of that?
16:00:16 For application. And then joining the 7 o'clock in the morning.
16:00:27 Well, youth are also busy. Thank you. Thank you. Is Karina presenting?
16:00:36 There you are. Or Lucinda.
16:00:41 There we go.
16:00:42 Hi. Sorry. I kind of popped in and I've been having to deal with some things. So I've been listening on and off. Susan's on too.
16:00:54 And, um. Are you looking for just kind of updates and things going on?
16:01:00 Correct.
16:01:03 So we also attended the community connectivity summit and that was great. It was huge. I mean, I was only there for a little while on friday Because Susan and Megan both were
there the majority of the time. So I can let Susan share a little bit more, but I think that they made some really good connections.
16:01:26 While they were there. So yeah, I'll let Susan share that.
16:01:32 Sure. I could say one of those Yeah, Megan, feel free to too.
16:01:33 And Megan too she's
16:01:38 Jump in. But I think one of the most exciting things that we, connections we made at the connectivity fair was spreading the word about becoming an individual provider and that
process, because we all know that providers are a need in this community and really in every community. We had some young people who were interested who came on Friday during the time
when the connectivity fair was open to high schoolers because it's open, you know, people who are above 18 who can clear the background check and complete the
16:02:10 Qualifications are able to be individual providers. So that would be exciting, I think, particularly for younger people to have younger providers and just increased connections.
16:02:23 Also just spreading the word about other opportunities to contract with DDA at that connectivity fair. So there's some things kind of bubbling, but I don't have anything else
specific to share at this time.
16:02:44 Anything else, Karina?
16:02:44 I didn't know. No, Megan, did you have anything you wanted to share? Did Susan kind of cover it? I know that you've had some good connections you made too.
16:02:55 Yes, these are mostly covered it. I've been working on just creating connections with organizations in Jefferson County, been starting to communicate with the woman who's starting
a nonprofit with horses and using horses as a tool for communication and she's really interested in becoming a DBA contracted provider. So I'm really optimistic that we can
16:03:20 Get her like as she works on getting the nonprofit up and running that will have a lot of clients so Hopefully that'll be something in the next few months. And then, yeah, just
always on the lookout for more opportunities, especially, you know, I think
16:03:38 Kids have a really hard time getting connected to the case manager so um connected to resources outside of their family. So I'm really looking around for any ideas and opportunities
and If anybody has them, send them my way.
16:04:02 Okay.
16:03:58 Thanks, Megan. The only other thing I can say is that Our team is full. Finally, we have a new case manager that started March 1st here based out of the Port Angeles office.
Her name's Emily Fowler.
16:04:15 So that feels great. And then, I don't know, I don't think that I have anything um right now.
16:04:29 Else I can think of to share. Thank you.
16:04:33 Great, thanks. Thanks, Karina. Lucinda.
16:04:38 Hello. So for DVR, we have one big update that we've been sharing with everybody, but it's finally happened As of March 17th, DVR has closed some of its categories.
16:04:51 Due to budget cuts. I'm sure everybody is dealing with budget cuts and DVR is not an exception.
16:04:58 So all of our customers receive letters discussing what the order of selection is.
16:05:05 And basically DVR is broken up into five different priority categories.
16:05:10 We have closed five. I mean, three through five And we are servicing our most in need customers at this point.
16:05:21 So priorities one and two are still open and there isn't a wait to get an intake.
16:05:28 People should still apply if they're interested in DVR services. I highly encourage that because there is Even if they are placed in a three to five closed category, they'll
be first in line for us when the categories are open.
16:05:44 There was a lot of confusion out in the community for customers calling us, making sure that their cases were closed.
16:05:51 If their case is open and they have a job goal, that is not the case. They are open and they are fine This is not going to affect them even if they are in a priority five category.
If anybody has any questions in the community.
16:06:04 I encourage everybody to call me, call one of my staff.
16:06:07 Called the Port Townsend office, Port Angeles office And we'll make sure to clarify any information. It can get a little confusing.
16:06:19 But hopefully that will be the only categories we close. And we're going to have to reassess.
16:06:25 Opening or closing more categories. We're not quite sure. Once both budgets are reached, which is federal and state.
16:06:32 Which we all know is going to take a little bit of time.
16:06:37 So no big changes anytime soon after this. Is there any questions about the priority?
16:06:46 Priorities or the order of selection.
16:06:53 Okay, that's all the updates for DVR.
16:06:56 Thank you. Anything else? I think Taylor has additional business
16:07:05 Yes, just one thing since we're not totally running out of time.
16:07:09 I had a sort of a public comment and all started out in Derek, if you want to add anything, you can. This is coming on behalf of the Quimper Grange Garden.
16:07:20 We have a number, a few individuals who volunteer there And last year they applied for a grant which they received $2,500 out of a $3,000 ask.
16:07:34 To build raised garden beds for people in wheelchairs or elderly people or anybody with non-regular ambulation.
16:07:46 To be able to participate in the food bank growers garden. So they grow food that is then taken to the food bank and then given out to the community.
16:07:56 So one thing was just to spread the word that they do now have an accessible garden. If you know of anybody that's in a wheelchair that would like to volunteer there.
16:08:05 They're looking for more individuals that could utilize the garden. And then in addition, there was one thing in there grant that wasn't covered, which was a rubber mat that
would basically go along the pathway so that people's wheelchairs can be pushed on it steadily.
16:08:23 And so we donated $250 and they're looking for an additional $250.
16:08:35 Right.
16:08:29 I know that ACAC isn't accepting applications right now or yeah so if anybody knows of another organization that would be willing to donate.
16:08:41 So that they could complete that project. That would be great.
16:08:44 And it's $250 more you need.
16:08:48 Yeah. Yeah.
16:08:50 Okay.
16:08:56 So the quiver grain, they have a food bank growers garden. There's quite a few food bank robbery's gardens across the county, but the one that is filled in these ADA wheelchair
accessible beds is the quicker range for risk specifically. So right behind the quicker range, there is a big garden because it would be like
16:09:19 Yep.
16:09:18 I will say they're getting about enough spot for one wheelchair at a time. So don't descend too many.
16:09:29 Yeah.
16:09:32 Is there a place folks can go to donate? Should they should have like if someone was interested in donating, how would they do that
16:09:40 I have the contact information for how to donate directly to them.
16:09:45 Like how to make a checkout to their organization. So I can forward that to Bonnie if you'd like.
16:09:50 Or you can reach out to me and I can send it to you directly.
16:09:55 And it might be on their website too but I don't know. At least that's what I have.
16:09:59 Even got on the Quimburse range website is that
16:10:01 I don't actually know if it's on their website, if they even have one, but I have the information if you need it.
16:10:07 Great. Yeah, if you wouldn't mind sending it on, maybe she could send it out. I think I already have it, so I'll forward it to you.
16:10:15 Anything else? One of the things that came out of the activities summit was speaking to the benji project But the possibility of a youth mindfulness training. And I think that'd
be really cool for the IUD population specifically. And because the energy project is limited in their scope.
16:10:36 To you. I'm really hopeful to hear if there are ideas from public health about how something like that for older adults might also be possible. I know Nami was also there. I
didn't get a chance to talk to those folks.
16:10:49 I'd love to see some sort of mindfulness training for more of the people that we're serving here. So yeah, I don't know what that looks like. And the benching project was super
interested in partnering with us with the youth transition team in specifics I'd love to see that expanded as possible.
16:11:08 And then Owen, too. I don't know if you can tell Andy how great this thing is with the stipend, but I love that equity access and rights for it to also get something like this.
It'd be really cool. It's not your particularity.
16:11:24 Thank you. Anything else?
16:11:30 I actually just have⦠I think just a comment about about your position actually And just how important. I'd love to continue the conversation about training, which is really
It's really made me think a lot today about making because we do have these
16:11:58 Lived experience type positions on other boards as well.
16:12:04 And it makes me think a couple of things. One is that I'm really seeing on other boards And I know this takes, you know, we're deciding to create stipends but I have found on
other boards that people with lived experience of any
16:12:21 You know, experience. But it's much more comfortable and sometimes productive to have more than one.
16:12:30 Person on the board so that they're who has that experience. It can be um feel in terms of making it accessible, it can feel very isolating to be the only person on a board
with a certain experience. So that's just something to think about as we build these kinds of positions into boards.
16:12:51 In the future and now is to make when we think about it to potentially think about two sessions and potentially being able to resource that so that someone who's coming in with
your experience maybe has a buddy that also has a similar experience.
16:13:09 And you can even alternate that position and have two people filling the position if you only have resource for one so that you can share the role.
16:13:19 So that's just something to think about. And I also feel like so i have I have multiple people in my husband's in my family, the married side of my family who have intellectual
developmental disabilities. And so my siblings-in-law live with intellectual and developmental disabilities of various
16:13:46 Skills, some more functional than others and one who is the least functional eats from a tube wasn't meant to walk at all, but did end up walking. Doesn't have any verbal skills
except to sing. She can make singing noises, which is amazing.
16:14:11 She was going through the typically developing school system. She was in the public schools.
16:14:18 With typically developing children. And that was a huge benefit, of course, for but also for my children who are typically developing.
16:14:31 To have someone with intellectual developmental disabilities in their school was a huge benefit for typically developing children. So I think about that being on a board with
someone with an experience different than mine.
16:14:49 I think you have a whole lot more to teach me then I maybe have to teach you.
16:14:56 But there is something about how to be on a board with someone who functions differently than me.
16:15:03 I feel like i feel like i feel like We all need training in that too.
16:15:09 There's a level of patience. There's a level of communication that is different.
16:15:15 That I feel like we all need to learn. So when we're thinking about training, I think the other board members also need training.
16:15:26 About and probably best trained people with your experience to teach us how How do you need to be communicated with? Do you need us to slow down? Do you need pictures?
16:15:39 You know what helps you to engage well i When I was growing up.
16:15:47 I'm in. I was growing up, I didn't learn how to grow Read. Speak.
16:15:56 And block. If not, no later. Yeah.
16:16:00 And my mother fight for me too. Walk and talk and reading and Right. Stuff.
16:16:10 So one of the things that tells me is that when I'm on a board with someone who has a different experience than me.
16:16:19 That I need to have a little more patience. And maybe wait.
16:16:24 For someone to maybe develop a skill a little later.
16:16:31 Maybe you didn't learn. As quickly as someone, but you did learn eventually. Well, I was brain damage with boys Both.
16:16:42 And it took me a long time to that's spilled.
16:16:47 It's pretty amazing. And that takes patience, I think.
16:16:53 For me, I need to have a little more patience and wait sometimes and to get comfortable with waiting. That's the other thing that I feel like on these boards we go really fast
And we speak quickly.
16:17:09 And sometimes we just need to learn to listen and to wait for a minute.
16:17:14 So anyway, those kinds of things where I feel like I need to learn And there are some ways that we can learn how to be more productive with someone who has a different experience
than us.
16:17:28 Those are just some thoughts about that. And we definitely, I think in the years past when anna was, we were talking about multiple And so there are some more people out there
I think we've talked about it, that are also interested
16:17:52 When people first sit down. Yeah, and I understand we need to be mindful of the budgets and the stipend and how that's managed and all of that but I just want to encourage those
who are making decisions about that
16:18:08 Which includes me. That multiple people can be really productive and this is something to consider.
16:18:16 So thank you for that. Thank you. And Susan says in the chat, doing those things using accessible communication helps everyone yes yeah It helps everyone and i think everyone
It's like we have to be taught that this is worth our time.
16:18:35 To learn a different way. Because, yeah, we might learn something that we don't expect and might be very beneficial.
16:18:43 Thank you for me. Well, thanks, Heather. No other comments or questions?
16:18:53 Okay, well, I guess we can call this meeting adjourned.
16:18:59 This is officially my favorite meeting. And we're probably not supposed to. We won't tell any time.