Governor's Advisory Council on the Blind

GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE BLIND

MINUTES 05/06/2016

Call to Order: Chair, Lloyd Schmitz called the meeting to order at the BlindSight Delaware in Wilmington, Delaware 11:30 a.m.

Roll Call: Council Chair Lloyd Schmitz, Deidre Morris, Jillian Queen, Jim Law, Marjorie Deska, Nancy Frankl, Ken Rolph

Department of Health & Social Services

Office of the Secretary: Cabinet Secretary Rita Landgraf, Deputy Cabinet Secretary Henry Smith.

Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI) Staff: Daniel Madrid, Director; Elisha Jenkins, Deputy Director;

Ava Briggs, Administrative Specialist.

Members of the Public

General Public: Kat Schmitz, Mariam Marsh, Larry Byler, Eric Frankl. Business Enterprise Program: Wayne Marsh, Chair; Gary Pizzolo, Anthony Paolini, BlindSight Delaware, Inc.: Janet Berry, Executive Director; Kristy Harmon, Pattie Addison, Fred Nasser. Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Council (VRAC): Sonya Lawrence.

Welcome: Lloyd Schmitz welcomed everyone to the meeting.

April 1, 2016 Minutes Review. Lloyd asked for a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Nancy Frankl made a motion to accept 04/01/2016 minutes, seconded by Marjorie Deska. Motion carried.

Director’s Report. DVI Director, Dan Madrid, thanked BlindSight for hosting. He welcomed Secretary Landgraf and Deputy Secretary Smith for coming to the meeting. He explained that these two individuals have worked tireless in support of visually impaired. He requested to modify the agenda to relinquish the floor to the Secretary.

The Secretary’s Opening Statement. Sec. Landgraf said both she and Dep. Sec. Smith appreciated being invited to attend this meeting and thanked BlindSight for hosting in this beautiful location. She does not have a formal presentation. She is here to learn what challenges are facing people with visual impairments in the State of Delaware. She explained this is a critical time, a time of transition. With a possible administration change in the coming election, it is important to discuss and prioritize the needs of the blind and visually impaired to present to the next administration.

New Employees. Lloyd thanked Sec. Landgraf for authorizing the employment of the desperately needed new Teachers for the Visually Impaired, two new Transition Counselors, and two new Orientation & Mobility Specialists. Lloyd said he would like to see a continuation of the progress to get to a level of quality service for the visually impaired in the state of Delaware. While the O&M Specialists and Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Counselors are needed as much as the TVIs, Lloyd shared his concern about the ratio of cases vs. closed cases to warrant the new counselors.He shared a report about a student unable to cross the street because she was visually impaired. This limitation would prevent her from being an independent and productive member of society.

Sec. Landgraf responded that the legislation effect has not yet been realized. Government always takes longer than it is expected or needed. It doesn’t excuse it or justify it. Ways to advance that are always being sought. She acknowledged that Lloyd has attended many meetings of State.

Prioritize. Prepare for Transition. At this time, Sec. Landgraf is asking the Council to think about, what is the next step to change what doesn’t work, modernize or modify, for visually impaired and blind people in Delaware to thrive regardless of age and onset of impairment? She explained, while Government traditionally is a reactive body, as a system, it is necessary to become more proactive. Dan asked if Sec. Landgraf would like suggestions at this meeting or feedback. Sec. Landgraf said she wants both. She stressed the importance to prioritize what is the critically important. What is the foundational need, in order to build upon it – what needs to come first? The Orientation and Mobility needs and Employment needs of the disabled were known to the Cabinet. The Governor responded by making the Employment needs an important part of his agenda, despite oppositional criticism of his choice because it was focus on such a small population. It would be helpful to have a general discussion here to learn about the important issues and capture that in the written form. Then, it could be presented as our commitment from our department, to the next administration. Sen. Landgraf said Lloyd identified not only the challenges, but the opportunities, and complimented successes, beautifully.

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Birth to Grave Services. Lloyd said DVI deals with “birth to grave”, this complicates a needs prioritization, since the needs of separate populations--independent living, students, employment, seniors, etc.--within visually impaired and blind, and many people are involved. Sec. Landgraf said the needs may be separated. Lloyd said that Sec. Landgraf stated a recommendation of a small working group, like VRAC recommended, would undermine and, indeed, eliminate the need for this Council. That is the mission of this Council. To look at the overall agency and the welfare of the visually impaired.

Janet Berry said if the Council could list the strengths and weaknesses, failures and successes, it will be easier for Dan to work on his level, and easier to transition to the new government entity. Janet said she understands small focus groups have existed in the past. Education is still in the process. There is still a lot of work still to be done and she is willing to assist in the process.

Sub-committees. Lloyd recommended to the Secretary to take the federally mandated advisory committees and make them subgroups to this Council. Any other way, would be circumventing this Council. Janet said many other Councils meet in sub-groups first and present findings at a meeting together. Lloyd said this method is successfully working throughout the state. That way we are working together, but it will be a more effective method for reporting, especially for Dan.

Time Factor. Deputy Secretary Henry Smith said he works in the government and with the Secretary and Dan. If they could change things in the government to improve circumstances for visually impaired, they would. Some Government staff “imagineers” within the department, and yourselves who volunteer your time to help strategize, strengthen movement ability, but even if all the issues are identified, there is no guarantee that these separate issues will be addressed, and certainly not in a time frame you need it to happen. Lloyd said that sometimes it appears that we are not moving forward.

Expediency. Time and Money Constraints. Sec. Landgraf said if you go to any Cabinet department you will see that it depends on human and fiscal resources that are beyond our control. How do we get to the solutions in spite of the challenges? It really is about prioritization. If you are in a fiscal downturn, the money perspective drives the department. With a 2017 Fiscal budget with currently a $40 million gap, now the general assembly needs to figure out what to do. That is the reason for expediency. Guidance as soon as possible is necessary to make sure that the new administration has the background so they do not have to go back to assemble what has already transpired. The work that I am looking for is a sense of urgency because I don’t want the next administration to start over. Let us expedite the time once they are in full operation with by preserving what has already transpired and advance from there. Dep. Sec. Smith said the original number one priority of staffing was addressed. We all agreed that the teacher to student ratio was ridiculous. Now, what is the next step in prioritization? For instance, we could say we have made great strides in additional staffing. The next priority should be dedicated to additional training and resources.

Education prioritization. Janet Berry suggested to prioritize education reasoning people will not be transitioned to become independent without this focus. There needs to be clear goals, a plan of action, and formal process map with written policies. Staff needs to have the assurance they will have the time and the resources to achieve the goals. Janet said that she has continually asked Dan for written policies, standard operating procedures, and process maps. A formal process map with benchmarks is necessary to make sure that students don’t fall through the cracks.

WIOA. Lloyd asked Sec. Landgraf to speak about WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act). United Stated Department of Labor and Delaware is in draft form to guide how our state will operate in the WIOA. The Secretary reported the Federal committee is preparing a document that involves federal agencies, providers, and people who support people, and what we expect from them, and teaching best practices. There are some universities that have academic tracks for both teaching and for professionals training. We can have all the policies, but if we don’t have the tools to support staff with best practices, it will not be implemented. Sec. Landgraf received a lot of testimony that will be incorporated in answering how to transform a system and not leave people behind in the process. A meeting is scheduled in July at which time the draft will be finalized. She will make sure it is circulated. Sec. Landgraf said a Health Innovation at the Department of Labor in Healthcare transformation that she advocated for enabled Delaware to apply for a funding source. Delaware received $35 million. She suggested utilizing the same model for Employment Innovation for disability. It is at a federal level fund, but state entities can request it.

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Employment First. Lloyd asked Sec. Landgraf about Employment First. Sec. Landgraf said that Senator Tom Harkin became an advocate for deaf and other disabilities because his brother was deaf. His team wrote the Workforce Opportunity Act. Many states, like Delaware, have adopted the Employment First. The Governor signed that into law, and now the perspective is to do more in employment for people with disabilities. So there is a connection to WIOA from that perspective.

Lloyd asked if that will impact BEP. Dan said no. Servicing 14-18 year olds as an Agency looks at Transition situations, commission, and overarching commission and the agency from an internal perspective. We’re going to look to see how we are addressing this.

Identify, Quantify, and Prioritize, Process Map. Sonya Lawrence returned to the issue of students that are going from grade to grade without their services, and are academically where they belong, so they are not forgotten. Dep. Sec. Smith said that we’re talking about is life transitions within the services from birth to death. That is going to come out of WIOA. I think that it would be useful to quantify and prioritize the needs of those who have not received the necessary information to be successful in the next transition. The question to be asked is what material and intellectual resources that need to be in place to assist at each transition phase? Jillian Queen said that that is the purpose of standardized testing, benchmarks, and state standards. Lloyd said that some people don’t speak up. Sec. Landgraf said Sonya advocates for all. Sonya said, however, if the students’ needs were never identified, you can’t advocate, even if there is a federal law. Dan said we can provide information to staff and look at it as part of the Agency process, then identify the gaps and address them in groups. Sec. Landgraf said that Dan is in the process of doing this assessment and the department is committed to it. Dan said he is bringing it forward with discussions with the Department of Education and House bill 240 for after school education.

Students fall through the cracks. Daily classroom materials are not available. Sonya said that doesn’t address the students that are falling through the cracks now. If the school doesn’t know to identify it, then they are depending on DVI to provide the assessment and address the needs. Dep Sec. Smith asked if that information isn’t already available. Jillian said the educational team assessments are done for all special education students. Sonya said by time students are consistently behind, it’s too late. Jillian said it isn’t only a matter of catching gaps, but a lack of classroom materials. The students do not receive their materials on time, sometimes not at all. It isn’t about textbooks, although textbooks are also usually late, but the daily classroom materials. Sec. Landgraf asked why the materials aren’t available to the students. Jillian said that there aren’t enough trained and designated people to adapt the daily work. Students should never have to be told, sorry your materials haven’t arrived, so you’re going to have to sit and listen. Janet said we want to identify what the emergency is, develop a triage plan, and stabilize. How can all of us here help develop a plan to move forward?

Education is a core issue. Employment is a core issue. Sec. Landgraf said that what she is hearing is that education is the core, as the building block for employment. There are also barriers to access education. This is a priority that can be advanced. Employment is still a core and important. On the employment side, by addressing the education side will enable employment. Especially since we are starting earlier at 14 to come up with that career track. In addition, there are Employment activities on the federal level that we can guide us in that arena. These are two core issues we can advance if we collectively focus.

Extended School Year. Sonya said we would start with every single child with an IEP is eligible to Extended School Year. Assessments during the summer with temporary employment assessors. Sonya said that she doesn’t feel that there is any advancement in this area. Janet said that the reason Camp Sunnybrook closed was because the children had been recommended for ESY and would be evaluated and therefore not have time to go to the camp.

Advocacy direction. Parental and Self-Advocacy. Wayne Marsh said, as parents, they were aware of his son’s reading level, and we took the responsibility to follow his progress, but there are students that don’t have parents that do that. There were times when his son’s needs were not met. You don’t always get everything you want, but we brought it to the attention of his teachers in a civil manner. He asked who determines your direction for advocacy. Advocacy worked for him and would have worked for his son, but no one is asking what their needs are. Janet said advocacy should start with oneself or the parent, then to the community. BlindSight is working on a strategic process to address the gap. Sec. Landgraf said there is individual advocacy and also collective impact advocacy. Wayne said that advocates for the blind should be promoting what the blind want, not their own goals and objectives. Agreed.

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Students don’t know what to ask for. Anthony Paolini said that he came up through the school system. He was lucky to have a Nancy Frankl and a resource room. At a certain point, like Wayne said, the child should advocate for him/herself. The unfortunately part is that sometimes they don’t know about new technologies or another learning aspect of VI studies. The child needs to know the questions to ask. Sec. Landgraf asked Anthony for recommendations. Anthony said he feels that assessment, triage as immediate fix. Gary Pizzolo said that the child needs to know it is okay to ask questions and be an advocate, but the student needs to know what questions to ask. Annual assessment is a good idea. The student needs something blown up or darker. Larry said the student needs to speak up and be allowed to do that. Sec. Landgraf said that self- determination and self-advocacy, and building awareness. Jill said that is why the student is part of the educational team. Nancy said assessments in the summer, focus on education, self-advocacy, and encourage TVI’s to teach what is available to them. Eric Frankl said well-trained TVI’s.

Adults are afraid to ask for things they need. Patty Honicky Addison said that she can be her own advocate, and she is an advocate her special needs child. She is out supporting independence as a peer support manager. Lloyd asked if she worked with adults. Independent Living Skills is a big topic. People are afraid to ask for the things they need. Patty complimented Orientation and Mobility that clients have responded favorably. They are grateful to have this assistance and ILS in their homes. Robot calls have helped tremendously. People just need to come out and show that they are others in the same situation and independent and have a good quality of life. I encourage agencies to bring this to focus. Sec. Landgraf thanked Patty for that meaningful information and offered assistance with her child.