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Summary: Partners in Policymaking is an innovative, competency-based leadership training program for adults with disabilities and parents of young children with developmental disabilities. The purpose of this program is two-fold: to teach best practices and to teach the competencies needed to influence public policy. Over the course of the next 3 years, this project will “graduate” at least 72 Illinois citizens who will be equipped to be community leaders serving on policymaking committees, commissions, and boards at local, state, and national levels.
Summary: Project will develop capacity for child care providers in south suburban Cook and Champaign Counties to serve all children and avoid expulsions. Training on serving children with special needs will be developed and presented through in-person and then web-based webinars. Cadres of child care staff receive more intensive training to write and implement intervention plans which is paired with on-site technical assistance by an appropriate therapist to ensure successful implementation.
Summary: This grant project supported activities to implement the new Award for Excellence in Inclusion of Children with Special Needs which was part of a new quality rating system for early childhood programs in child care, public school, and Head Start based on a systematic assessment of standards. The project expanded its focus to support Illinoi stakeholders in following recommendations of a U.S. Dept. of Education and Health and Human service Policy Statement on Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs. An Early Childhood Inclusi9on Summit educated all stakeholders involved in work with young children and provided recommendations for coordinated work. Through existing committees and agencies, identified actions are taken on and reconvenes of the Summit attendees tracks progress.
Summary: Project will support the Bureau of Early Intervention in expanding eligibility for services to young children who have been exposed to lead. Service to these children will be piloted in 2 Child and Family Connections areas to validate and fine tune tools and trainings developed in line with best practice for service benefitting these children.
Summary: This project increases capacity for inclusive teaching through alignment of Gateways competencies with standards and guidelines of inclusive practice, identifying gaps in the professional development system and strategies to mediate gaps, and creation of resources for higher education faculty and Gateways trainers to incorporate competencies into professional development.
Summary: Envision will shift from its traditional day training model to smaller community hubs. The process and culture shift to close its 7 day training programs and have all activity revolve around hubs of no more than 50 individuals is underway. 520 more individuals will receive services through community hubs by the end of the project. Lessons on making a major shift within a large organization will be captured and shared.
Summary: A Supported Employment action Team will be formed to advocate for improved supported employment options through the Division of Rehabilitation Services. Partners include Illinois Assistive Technology Program, The IL Alliance, and the Sibling Leadership Network.
Summary: Through an agricultural vocational training program, transition youth from Chicago Public High Schools will gain vocational experience guided by a person-centered career plan, leading to community employment.
Summary: Roxana will expand a school-sponsored Food Truck business to offer lunch to local industry. Though this experience, transition age students will gain Food Handling Certification and employment in the community.
Summary: Individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities from Chicagoland communities will be welcomed and supported in mainstream organizations and community participation aligned with their interests.
Summary: The project will develop an inclusive theater company to involve individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities and demonstrate an inclusive community arts activity.
Summary: The Educating Consumers on the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Rule will educate individuals with developmental disabilities and/or family members to be equipped and confident to conduct training and advocacy on the new HCBS settings rule as a result of the training and mentoring received from the HCBS Advocates Creating Transformation (HCBS-ACT) project. While participating in the training on the new HCBS rule, those trained will report an increase in their knowledge about HCBS waivers, the new rule, and its impact on the service system.
Summary: Individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities in Winnebago, Effingham-Coles and Waterloo-Monroe counties increase their community inclusion according to personal choice.
Summary: Project to open Chicago's LGBTQ community to individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ. Entities and groups in the LGBTQ community to be trained on cultural competency in including people with intellectual / developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ. Individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ participate in self-advocacy training.
Summary: A community provides access to typical daily life for individuals with intellectual/ developmental disorders using PATH process. Community organizations include individuals as participants, volunteers, or employees.
Summary: Person-centered planning will be provided to advise transition-age people on educational and career choices, replication of the College for Life Program at a new site and developing and implementing training in best practices in transition and family financial literacy. Financial literacy education will take place through the Madison County Transition Planning Committee partnership with a co-sponsored event and a publication developed with grant funding made available for IEP meetings as part of the student’s transition plan. Transition-age people will have the opportunity to participate in a certificate program. This new approach to supporting post-secondary employment options offers an opportunity to complete a program and an opportunity to continue to attend if desired.
Summary: Individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities will mentor youth in school. Personal stories and messages will be captured and disseminated through media features. Individuals with intellectual/ developmental disabilities will advocate through attaining positions on community boards or commissions.
Summary: The goal of this grant project is to identify the interest and need for supportive housing within the developmental disability community, integrate DHS/DDD staff members into the planning and implementation of supportive housing resources in Illinois, and foster creative adaptations to the supportive housing model to best meet the needs of people served by and providers of developmental disability services. As a result, CSH will create a minimum of 3 community-based supportive housing initiatives with a minimum of 30 units across the state targeted to Ligas class members or individuals transitioning from state-operated developmental centers.