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CECY WEBINAR

CALIFORNIA’S BLUEPRINT FOR COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT FOR

PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017

SPEAKERS: LANA FRASER, MARTY OMOTO, RICK HODGKINS, OLIVIA RAYNOR

1.5 hours

OLIVIA RAYNOR: GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE CALIFORNIA

BLUEPRINT FOR COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH

INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IT’S REALLY MY PLEASURE TO

WELCOME YOU THIS MORNING.

MY NAME IS OLIVIA RAYNOR, AND I DIRECT THE TARJAN CENTER AT UCLA AND

THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR CECY, THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT CONSORTIUM

FOR YOUTH.

PEOPLE WILL BE JOINING US BOTH BY TELEPHONE TODAY AND WEBINAR. AS

MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING, WHEN YOU ENTER THE WEBINAR,

PLEASE DO FIND THE CHAT BOX ON YOUR TOOLBAR AND SIGN IN. IT IS POSSIBLE

THAT AS WE GET GOING, THE CHAT BOX MIGHT DISAPPEAR. PLEASE LOOK FOR IT

ON YOUR TOOLBAR, AND YOU CAN OPEN IT INDEPENDENTLY AT ANY POINT. WE

WILL BE USING THE TOOLBAR – EXCUSE ME, WE WILL BE USING THE CHAT BOX

FOR YOU TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS TO THE PANELISTS THROUGHOUT THE

PRESENTATIONS, AND WE WILL ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS DURING THE LAST 30

MINUTES OF THE PRESENTATION.

AGAIN, WELCOME. AND I JUST WANT TO GO OVER A FEW MORE THINGS

RELATED TO LOGISTICS. ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE ON LISTEN ONLY MODE EXCEPT

FOR THE PANELISTS. ONLY THE WEBINAR PANELISTS WILL BE SPEAKING TODAY.

THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, AS I SPOKE – SAID EARLIER, YOU SHOULD POSE

THOSE IN THE CHAT BOX. AND THE CHAT BOX IS LOCATED IN YOUR TOOLBAR.

WE ARE GOING TO HOLD ALL QUESTIONS UNTIL THE LAST 30 MINUTES OF THE

PRESENTATION TODAY.

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ONCE THE WEBINAR IS COMPLETED, WE WILL BE POSTING IT ON THE TARJAN

CENTER CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT CONSORTIUM WEBSITE. THAT WEB ADDRESS

IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SLIDE. WE WILL ALSO BE SENDING OUT A

NOTICE TO ALL OF YOU WHO REGISTERED FOR TODAY’S PRESENTATION, SO THAT

YOU WILL KNOW THAT THE WEBINAR IS READY FOR YOUR VIEWING. AND ALSO

WE HOPE THAW WILL SHARE IT WITH OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES.

SO LET’S FIND OUT WHO IS HERE TODAY. WE HAVE OUR FIRST POLL. AND

YOU IF WOULD JUST CHECK ALL THAT APPLY, SO THAT WE CAN FIND OUT WHO IS

HERE.

SO WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP, PREDOMINANTLY OF PROFESSIONALS. BUT WE

DO HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF FAMILY MEMBERS, INDIVIDUALS WITH

DISABILITIES, WE HAVE SOME EMPLOYERS, STUDENTS. LET ME GIVE YOU A

CHANCE TO SEE WHO’S HERE.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE ALL – WE ARE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WITH

US TODAY.

LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS

MORNING. LET ME CLOSE THE POLL.

WE HAVE A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF PRESENTERS THIS MORNING WHO ARE

HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. LANA

FRASER, MARTY OMOTO, AND RICK HODGKINS. AS YOU ALL MUST BE AWARE OF

– BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE PIQUED A LOT OF INTEREST IN OUR WEBINAR

TODAY – THAT THERE IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL SHIFT THAT’S OCCURRING IN

HOW AND WHAT WE THINK EMPLOYMENT AND PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES.

THIS CHANGE IS BEING BROUGHT ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE ASPIRATIONS OF

OUR YOUTH, THEIR FAMILIES, AND A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO FULL INCLUSION

IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SOME SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGES. MANY OF YOU

MAYBE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY

ACT, SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING RELATED TO WHERE AND

HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED WAIVER.

AND ALSO, VERY IMPORTANTLY, CALIFORNIA’S EMPLOYMENT FIRST POLICY.

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TODAY IN CALIFORNIA THERE ARE ABOUT 85,900 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE

WORKING-AGE ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH OUR REGIONAL CENTER SYSTEM. MOST ARE IN

DAY SERVICES OR WORK ACTIVITY PROGRAMS. ABOUT 16% OF WORKING-AGE

ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE

EMPLOYED. IN 2015, THE YEARLY WAGE WAS ABOUT $7,248. WE KNOW THAT

WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB. AND THAT’S WHAT THIS WEBINAR IS ABOUT TO

INTRODUCE YOU TO, SOME OF THE EXCITING CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN

THE STATE. AND LANA FRASER WILL BE DOING AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEW

BLUEPRINT THAT IS IN DRAFT FORM BUT ABOUT TO BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT

FEW MONTHS.

MARTY WILL SPEAK TO WHAT SOME OF THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS ARE –

WHEN IT’S UNVEILED AND ROLLED OUT THROUGH THE STATE. AND THEN WE

HAVE A SELF ADVOCATE, RICK HODGKINS, WHO WILL SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT HIS

OWN EXPERIENCES AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY WHO

HAS BEEN PURSUING EMPLOYMENT AND HAS SUCCEEDED IN THE WORKFORCE,

IS WORKING.

AND THEN I’M GOING TO WRAP IT UP WITH SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH OUR WORK

WITH CECY.

SO WITH NO FURTHER ADO, I’M GOING TO TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO

LANA FRASER, WHO – LET ME INTRODUCE HER FIRST. LANA IS THE PROJECT

DIRECTOR FOR THE CALIFORNIA INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT BLUEPRINT, AND

SHE WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT THAT IS ALL ABOUT. SHE HAS BEEN assisting

THE THREE DEPARTMENTS – DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND

REHABILITATION – IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

BLUEPRINT. SHE HAS OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, HAVING SERVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF

REHABILITATION FOR OVER 35 YEARS.

SHE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING OF RECENT ABOUT THE

BLUEPRINT, TRYING TO ENGAGE WITH MANY DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS WHO

WILL BE IMPACTED AND WILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND DO IN ITS

IMPLEMENTATION. AND WITH NO FURTHER ADO, I’M GOING TO LET HER

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INTRODUCE THE BLUEPRINT AND GIVE US SOME DETAILS ABOUT WHERE IT

STANDS TODAY.

LANA FRASER: GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, OLIVIA. AND THANK ALL OF

YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY’S WEBINAR. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO

BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE THREE DEPARTMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF

THE CIE BLUEPRINT. AND WHAT IS – OUR FIRST SLIDE TALKS ABOUT, WHAT IS

THE CIE BLUEPRINT PROJECT? AND IT REALLY IS A HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP

BETWEEN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF

REHABILITATION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES TO

DEVELOP A BLUEPRINT THAT IS DESIGNED TO JOINTLY IDENTIFY WAYS TO

INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO PREPARE FOR AND ENGAGE IN COMPETITIVE

INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. IT IS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE BLUEPRINT DEVELOPMENT IN THE THREE BULLETS THERE TALK ABOUT A

STEERING COMMITTEE, PROVIDED OVERSIGHT TO THE INTERAGENCY WORK

GROUP TO HELP GUIDE AND DEVELOP THE BLUEPRINT. AND LET ME TALK A

LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. THE BLUEPRINT WAS DEVELOPED UNDER THE

DIRECTION OF A STEERING COMMITTEE. AND OUR STEERING COMMITTEE

INCLUDED THE DIRECTORS FROM THE THREE DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER

EXECUTIVE STAFF. IT INCLUDED REPRESENTATION FROM THE CALIFORNIA

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, AND

REPRESENTATION FROM SEVERAL OF THE ATTORNEYS FROM DISABILITY RIGHTS

CALIFORNIA.

THE STEERING COMMITTEE MET MONTHLY THROUGHOUT THE BLUEPRINT

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND PROVIDED FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE TO THE

INTERAGENCY WORK GROUP. THE INTERAGENCY WORK GROUP CONSISTED OF

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT MATTER

EXPERTS ON THE TOPICS RELATED TO COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT

AND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES.

THIS WORK GROUP MET WEEKLY TO DEVELOP THE BLUEPRINT DRAFT, WHICH

WAS THEN SENT TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW AND INPUT.

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THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THE BLUEPRINT STAKEHOLDER

INPUT HAS BEEN KEY. AND YOU’LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDER INPUT

ON THIS NEXT SLIDE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, OLIVIA.

THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS. IT WAS EXTENSIVE. WE CONDUCTED –

FACILITATED TELECONFERENCES, GATHERED INFORMATION FROM BUSINESS

PARTNERS, PARTICIPATED IN FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS WITH STATEWIDE

CONSUMER AND ADVOCACY GROUPS, RECEIVED INPUT FROM THE DEPARTMENT

OF FINANCE, AND MOST RECENTLY HAVE RECEIVED – THROUGHOUT THE

PROCESS RECEIVED INPUT OF OUR CALIFORNIA CIE INBOX. AND THAT INBOX

WAS JUST LISTED ON THE CIE. IT’S STILL OPEN AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS

ANY THOUGHTS AND INPUT.

OUR STAKEHOLDER PROCESS HAS BEEN INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE

BLUEPRINT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THE THREE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS

CONDUCTED FACILITATED TELECONFERENCES WITH STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING

CONSUMERS, FAMILIES, AND ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS,

EMPLOYERS, LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES, REGIONAL CENTERS, PROVIDERS,

BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND OTHERS. STAKEHOLDER CALLS WERE WIDELY

ADVERTISED, AND WE HAD OVER 800 PARTICIPANTS ON THESE CALLS.

ONE OF THE CALLS THAT WE HEARD SPECIFICALLY FROM OUR BUSINESS

PARTNERS. WE SAID FORTH A SERIES OF QUESTIONS FOR FOUR MAJOR BUSINESS

PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESS OF AT PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITY. THIS ALLOWED A LARGER GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS TO LISTEN INTO

THE CALL AND FROM HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY HIRING

INDIVIDUALS WITH IN COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS.

AND JUST AS A FOOTNOTE, ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDER CALLS, THE

TRANSCRIPTS FROM THOSE ON THE POSTED ON THE HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICES CIE WEBSITE. AND I’LL GIVE YOU INFORMATION ON THAT LATER IN THE

CALL HERE.

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WE ALSO ASKED FOR INPUT IN FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS WITH OUR ADVISORY

COMMISSION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES, STATE REHAB COUNCIL, AND MANY OTHERS.

THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BLUEPRINT, WE HAVE THOUGHT

THAT ON GOING WRITTEN INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS VIA THE CALIFORNIA CIE

E-MAIL INBOX HOSTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION. ALL INPUT

RECEIVED HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND USED TO DEVELOP, REVISE, AND IMPROVE

THE DRAFT BLUEPRINT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WHAT IS THE BLUEPRINT? THE BLUEPRINT IS INTENDED TO BE A ROAD GAP TO

GUIDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES, TO SUPPORT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL

DISABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. It’s

a DOCUMENT DESCRIBING INNOVATION IN TERMS OF WHAT IS WORKING AND

WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND CREATING AN INDIVIDUAL’S PATHWAY TO COMPETITIVE

INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT.

THE CALIFORNIA CIE BLUEPRINT IS A VEHICLE TO CREATE CHANGE IN

CALIFORNIA’S SYSTEM THAT WILL SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH ID-DD WHO

WANT TO WORK IN COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. THE BLUEPRINT IS

DEVELOPED FOR THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS,

ESPECIALLY THE AGENCIES AND ENTITIES WHO LOOK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES FOR POLICY DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE.

IN ADDITION, WE HOPE THE BLUEPRINT WILL HELP ALL STAKEHOLDERS

UNDERSTAND THAT THE OUTCOMES THE THREE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE

WORKING TOGETHER OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO ACHIEVE. TO THAT END,

WE PLAN TO DEVELOP AND MAKE AVAILABLE A CONSUMER AND FAMILY-

FRIENDLY VERSION OF THE BLUEPRINT WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES CONSUMER ADVISORY COUNCIL

ONCE THE BLUEPRINT HAS BEEN FINALIZED.

BECAUSE OF NEW FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS THE WORKFORCE

INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT AND THE CENTERS FOR MEDICATED

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MEDICARE SERVICES SETTINGS RULE AND THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT FIRST

POLICY, THERE ARE STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THE BLUEPRINT

THAT WILL HELP CALIFORNIA COMPLY WITH THESE NEW LAWS.

SO IN A REAL WAY, THE BLUEPRINT HELPS CALIFORNIA MOVE FORWARD WITH

THE DEVELOPMENT IN IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGES TO REALIZE THE AIMS OF

THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT FIRST POLICY AND TO MOVE US IN THE

DIRECTION THE NEW FEDERAL LAWS ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE CALIFORNIA BLUEPRINT IS NEARING COMPLETION. THE COMMENT

PERIOD WAS CLOSED ON DECEMBER 30TH, AND ANALYSIS OF THE COMMENTS IS

THE PROCESS – HAS BEEN RECEIVED. WE WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BLUEPRINT AS NEEDED. NEXT THE FINAL BLUEPRINT WILL

BE POSTED AND IMPLEMENTATION BEGINS.

THE DRAFT BLUEPRINT IS NEAR COMPLETION. AS I MENTIONED, IT WAS

POSTED ON THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE ON THE

CIE WEB PAGE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON NOVEMBER 16TH. AND THE PUBLIC

COMMENT PERIOD RAN FROM NOVEMBER 16TH TO DECEMBER 30TH. DURING

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, A PUBLIC TELECONFERENCE WITH A OVER 260

STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPANTS WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 13TH TO GATHER

ADDITIONAL INPUT ON THE DRAFT BLUEPRINT.

NOW THAT THE COMMENT PERIOD HAS CLOSED, THE INTERAGENCY WORK

GROUP IS CONDUCTING AN ANALYSIS OF ALL COMMENTS – EXCUSE ME – AND

MAKING ANY ADDITIONAL EDITS TO THE BLUEPRINT AS NEEDED. THE FINAL

COMPLETED BLUEPRINT WILL POSTED AND IMPLEMENTATION WILL BEGIN,

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE HAS ALREADY BEGUN,

PARTICULARLY THOSE ITEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

WIOA AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, WHICH IS

ALSO PART OF IMPLEMENTATION.

NOW THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO HAVING A COMPLETED BLUEPRINT, WHICH IS

WHAT WE PLAN TO DO, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEGINNING THE

IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, AND THAT IS HOW IT WILL BE DONE. THE

DEPARTMENTS WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THEIR

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STAFF, LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES, REGIONAL CENTERS, DURING

IMPLEMENTATION. INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE ALSO WILL BE AVAILABLE

TO PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDES ACTIVITIES AT THE STATE AND AT THE LOCAL

LEVEL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EACH OF THE THREE DEPARTMENTS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WE HAVE ADOPTED THE TAG LINE, IF YOU WILL, “REAL WORK FOR REAL PAY IN

THE REAL WORLD.” THAT’S SORT OF BEEN OUR VISION STATEMENT, AND IT

COMES IN PART – CERTAINLY THE REAL WORK FOR REAL PAY – FROM

EMPLOYMENT FIRST. WE ARE FOCUSING ON EACH PERSON’S MAXIMUM

EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL, AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS WILL BE DEFINED

THROUGH THE PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING PROCESS.

AS I MENTIONED, REAL WORK FOR REAL PAY IN THE REAL WORLD IS A VISION

STATEMENT BASED IN PART ON EMPLOYMENT FIRST POLICIES ENACTED IN 2013.

THE EMPLOYMENT – THE BLUEPRINT DEVELOPMENT TEAM ADDED “IN THE REAL

WORLD” TO EMBRACE THE REAL CONCEPT OF INTEGRATION. THE EMPLOYMENT

FIRST POLICY DEFINES INTEGRATION COMPETITIVE WORK IS ITS HIGHEST

PRIORITY OUTCOME FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH WITH INTELLECTUAL AND

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

THE WIOA LEGISLATION FURTHER DEFINES THE TERM “INTEGRATION AND

COMPETITIVE” TO BE WORK DONE IN A COMMUNITY IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS

INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT DISABILITY. AND COMPETITIVE WORK IS

WORK COMPENSATED AT THE PREVAILING WAGE AND WITH THE SAME BENEFITS

AS OTHERS DOING SIMILAR WORK.

THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ID-DD DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN PAID

WORK, AND OF THOSE, MANY DO NOT –they ARE NOT COMPENSATED AT

MINIMUM WAGE OR ABOVE. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT AIMS

TO CHANGE THESE OUTCOMES, TO HELP THOSE WHO WISH TO WORK IN

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

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WHAT ARE THE PROJECT OUTCOMES? INDIVIDUALS WITH ID-DD HAVING

MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. BUSINESS COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE

ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

AS A POTENTIAL WORKFORCE. AND SERVICES PROVIDED WILL PREPARE

INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOR

CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT AS INFORMED BY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE STUDENT CONSUMER OR CLIENT, SOME

CHANGES THEY ARE EXPECT IS TO BE PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION AND

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP EACH PERSON MAKE A DECISION REGARDING GETTING

EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. STUDENTS AND CONSUMERS CAN

EXPECT THAT THE VARIOUS AGENCIES WILL WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY

TO ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR EMPLOYMENT GOALS. THE BLUEPRINT PUTS AN

EMPHASIS ON HELPING STUDENTS AND CONSUMERS TO HAVE INFORMATION

AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT THEIR CAREERS

AND ADULT LIFE.

IN ADDITION, ON THIS SLIDE WE TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WITH ID-DD WILL

EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF SERVICES, AND COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS

ARE DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED BETWEEN SCHOOLS, LOCAL EDUCATION

AGENCIES, LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION DISTRICTS, AND REGIONAL

CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION. IMPLEMENTATION WILL OCCUR OVER THE

NEXT FIVE YEARS. IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEGUN ON ITEMS DIRECTLY RELATED

TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WIOA REQUIREMENT AND OTHER FEDERAL

REQUIREMENTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT WE ARE CALLING A

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT.

THE CALIFORNIA COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT BLUEPRINT

INTERAGENCY LEADERSHIP WORK GROUP, MADE UP OF STAFF FROM THE THREE

DEPARTMENTS, HAS ALREADY BEGUN THE IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITY. THEY

WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN LEADING THE

IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT. FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF

JOINT GUIDANCE FROM THE THREE DEPARTMENTS DESCRIBING WHAT IS

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REQUIRED, AND BEYOND THAT WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND POSSIBLE AT THE LOCAL

LEVELS TO CREATE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS TO DO THIS WORK.

IN ADDITION, THE GUIDANCE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO DEVELOP LOCAL

AREA AGREEMENTS WILL BE THE DEVELOPMENT – WILL BE DEVELOPED AND

PROVIDED TO ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS’ LOCAL OFFICES SUCH AS THE

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION FIELD OFFICES, LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES,

AND LOCAL REGIONAL CENTERS.

AS THE WORK GROUP MOVES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, A VARIETY OF

OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE INPUT AND PARTICIPATE IN

VARIOUS TOPIC-DRIVEN TASK FORCES WILL BE CREATE TO ASSIST WITH THE

IMPLEMENTATION ON VARIOUS ACTIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE BLUEPRINT THAT

WILL HELP MAKE CHANGES NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM SUPPORTING

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN CIE. WELL, THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION

PHASE ARE BEING DEVELOPED. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES

INTERESTED IN COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT SHOULD KNOW THAT

THE WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN. AND IF INTERESTED IN COMPETITIVE

INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS STARTING BY TALKING WITH

YOUR TEACHER OR CASE MANAGER. WHILE THERE IS SOME CAPACITY BUILDING

THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE IN CALIFORNIA, A PERSON INTERESTED IN

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT SHOULD START THE PROCESS.

BEGIN TO IDENTIFY WHAT PRE-EMPLOYMENT SKILLS MAY BE NEEDED TO

BEGIN THE PATHWAY TO COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. THE

BLUEPRINT IS HISTORIC FOR US AND WILL TAKE SOME TIME AND EFFORT TO

ACHIEVE ALL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASES. YOU WILL BE PROVIDED

UPDATES AS THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASES MOVE FORWARD. THE CALIFORNIA

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE WILL BE THE PORTAL FOR TRACKING

INFORMATION ON THE PROGRESS OF THE BLUEPRINT. IN ADDITION, THERE WILL

BE AN ANNUAL REPORT OUTLINING OUR TARGETED OUTCOMES THAT ARE

IDENTIFIED IN THE BLUEPRINT AND HOW WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD IN

ACHIEVING THOSE TARGETED OUTCOMES.

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AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE BLUEPRINT WITH

YOU TODAY, AND OLIVIA, I’LL TURN THIS BACK TO YOU.

OLIVIA RAYNOR: THANK YOU, LANA, FOR YOUR VERY DETAILED AND

THOROUGH EXPLANATION ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT AND ITS STATUS TODAY. WE

ARE ALL EXTREMELY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT WHEN THE DRAFT BECOMES

RELEASED IN OFFICIAL FORM, AND IMPORTANTLY WHEN THE IMPLEMENTATION

PLAN IS DEVELOPED.

I INVITE THE PARTICIPANTS TO PLEASE USE THE CHAT BOX. THERE SHOULD BE

AN INDICATOR FOR IT ON YOUR TOOLBAR, AND TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF

ASKING QUESTIONS. BECAUSE I’M SURE THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN ADDITION

THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM LANA AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER

SPEAKERS.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO INVITE MARTY OMOTO, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF

THE CALIFORNIA DISABILITY SENIOR COMMUNICATION A NETWORK, TO SPEAK

WITH US WEARING BOTH HIS POLICY HAT AND THAT OF A FAMILY MEMBER OF A

SISTER WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SEEN

TRANSFORMATIONAL POLICY CHANGES OCCUR IN THE STATE OVER THE MANY,

THE MANY DECADES, TO GIVE US SOME INSIGHTS AS TO WHAT HE THINKS THESE

POLICY CHANGES CALL FOR IN THE STATE AND SPECIFICALLY FOR FAMILIES AND

INDIVIDUALS.

SO I’M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO YOU, MARTY.

MARTY OMOTO: HEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE EVERYONE CAN HEAR

ME. FIRST WANT TO THANK CECY, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, OLIVIA RAYNOR, YOU

SPECIFICALLY, AND ALL DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE

BLUEPRINT, FOR FIRST PUTTING OUT THE BLUEPRINT, BUT ALSO PUTTING ON

THIS WEBINAR, BECAUSE OUTREACH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU FOR

THAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE MY BACKGROUND. I’M A FAMILY MEMBER,

AND THAT’S WHY I BECAME AN ADVOCATE, BECAUSE OF MY OLDER SISTER

ALANA, WHO HAD DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND

LATER ON SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. AND I HAD BEEN VERY CLOSE TO

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HER AND A PART OF HER LIFE. SHE WAS A PART OF MY LIFE, AND SHE

INFLUENCED ME AS MUCH AS I MIGHT HAVE INFLUENCED HER.

AND I JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW, AND MANY – THERE MIGHT BE A FEW

PEOPLE ON THIS PHONE CALL, AND CERTAINLY SOME OF THE PROVIDERS, THAT

MY FAMILY CAME FROM A TIME WHEN PARENTS WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS

NO REAL FUTURE FOR THEIR CHILD WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AT

LEAST NOT ONE THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH A CAREER OR DREAMS OF A

CAREER.

AND IT WAS MORE ABOUT PLACEMENT SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHERE OUT OF

THE WAY OR IN A PLACE SAFE, OR MAYBE NOT, OR MAYBE IN A PROGRAM THAT

HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, AND MOST

IMPORTANTLY THEIR INDIVIDUAL DREAMS. AND THAT’S NOT THE FAULT OF THE

PROVIDERS IN THOSE DAYS. THE REALITY IS, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT, AND EVEN US AS ADVOCATES, MANY OF US AS ADVOCATES,

NEVER THOUGHT TO TRY TO DO THINGS THAT WERE CONSIDERED IMPOSSIBLE.

AND THAT’S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. THERE’S A SERIES OF QUESTIONS

THAT OLIVIA GAVE TO ME FOR THIS WEBINAR, AND I’M GOING TO FOCUS MY

PRESENTATION IN ANSWERING IT. FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT DO POLICY

CHANGES CALLED FOR IN THE BLUEPRINT MEAN ON THE GROUND FOR PEOPLE

WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE FUTURE?

IT’S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. TO ME, THE BLUEPRINT BY ITSELF IS JUST A

PIECE OF PAPER. BUT – AND I THINK LIKE ANY PIECE OF PAPER, YOU KNOW,

WHAT HAPPENS IS REALLY UP TO ALL OF US, NOT JUST THE STATE AGENCIES, NOT

JUST THE LOCAL AGENCIES, NOT JUST THE LEGISLATURE, BUT ALL OF US – THE

PROVIDERS, THE WORKERS IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, THE FAMILIES, AND THE

PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AND I LIKE TO KIND OF VIEW THIS BLUEPRINT AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WILL

FOLLOW AS – JUST THINK OF IT AS A BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION PLAN FOR THE

STATE, FOR LOCAL AGENCIES, FOR OURSELVES. AND IT’S NOT – THE

FRAMEWORK ON THE STATE LEVEL IS REALLY REMARKABLE, BECAUSE IT BRINGS

TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME THREE MAJOR STATE AGENCIES THAT HAVE

RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS – YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES. YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT OF AGING – I’M SORRY, DEPARTMENT

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OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, AND

DEPARTMENT OF REHAB.

AND IT IS MEANT TO ALIGN OR SYNC, BRING TOGETHER POLICY MAKING OR

COORDINATE POLICY MAKING AND EXISTING RESOURCES TOWARD A GOAL AND

OUTCOMES THAT ARE PERSON CENTERED, AND TOWARDS GOALS THAT LEAD TO

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. THAT’S A MAJOR CHANGE.

SECOND, THE FRAMEWORK, THE BLUEPRINT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK TIED

TO GOALS AND OUTCOMES UNDER A PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING PROCESS

FOR LOCAL AGENCIES THAT SCHOOLS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT’S REGIONAL

CENTERS, THAT’S OTHER PROVIDER AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE LOCAL

DEPARTMENT OF REHAB OFFICES – IT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR EVERYONE

TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AGAIN, UNDER A PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING

APPROACH. AND IT LEADS TO THE CREATION OF LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WHERE

THE REAL WORK – THAT’S WHERE THE REAL WORK IS GOING TO BE DONE, IN

BRINGING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY WHAT WERE – PEOPLE WHO

WERE ADVERSARIES AND EVEN ENEMIES ON THE ISSUE OF PROVIDING SERVICES

AND SUPPORTS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

3RD, PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING IS AN OVER ARCHING DRIVER IN THIS

BLUEPRINT. AND THAT IS HUGE. THAT MEANS PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE MORE INCLUDED AND MORE INVOLVED IN

WHAT HAPPENS, AT LEAST IF WE MAKE IT HAPPEN IN THAT WAY. THE BLUEPRINT

HAS SEVERAL REFERENCES WHERE PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING IS THE

CONCEPT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT FOR INSTANCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL

EDUCATION PLAN FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT AND THE

INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM PLAN.

AND SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS REALLY PUTTING

FORWARD THE ISSUE OF PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING AS THE BASIS FOR

MAKING DECISIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. THAT’S MAJOR.

4TH, THERE’S TARGETED OUTCOMES IN THE BLUEPRINT. IN OTHER WORDS, A

LOT OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE STATE TEND TO SAY GREAT THINGS THAT WE ALL

ARE HAPPY – THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY OR LEAD TO PROMISES,

BUT THERE IS RARELY ANY SPECIFIC OUTCOMES FOR DATES OR GOALS – OR

DATES ATTACHED TO GOALS AND SPECIFIC OUTCOMES.

14

I KIND OF, AS AN ANALOGY, PUT THAT WITH WHEN MY KIDS WERE SMALL AND

THEY SAID “DAD, CAN WE GO TO DISNEYLAND,” AND I WOULD SAY OH, YEAH,

YEAH, WE’LL GO ONE DAY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY SMARTER KIDS

WOULD SAY “WHEN?”

AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE AS A PARENT I WANT TO AVOID GIVING ANY

SPECIFICS. AND THAT’S TRUE NOT JUST AT THE STATE, BUT THAT’S TRUE OF ALL

OF US. AND WHY THIS BLUEPRINT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER TYPES OF STATE

DOCUMENTS AND OTHER MAYBE BLUEPRINTS OR PLANS THAT MAYBE MANY OF

US HAVE SEEN IS THAT IT HAS SPECIFIC TARGETED OUTCOMES AND GOALS AND

DATES. AND THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THAT GIVES ALL OF US A WAY

TO MEASURE WHERE THIS IS GOING AND IF EVERYONE IS DOING WHAT THEY ARE

SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, WHICH IS THEN TIED TO OVERSIGHT AND

ACCOUNTABILITY. AND THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES,

CHALLENGES, AND BARRIERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY MAY FACE AS THE

BLUEPRINT IS IMPLEMENTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES? FIRST LET ME SPEAK TO

THE BARRIERS. AS A FAMILY MEMBER, I HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND WITH MY OWN

SISTER, BUT ALSO WITH SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT I HAVE COME IN

CONTACT WITH, THE FEAR OF CHANGE. AND IT’S – AND PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT

TO BE FEARFUL.

AND THE REASON WHY IS, MANY PEOPLE WILL FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN

LIED TO, EITHER BY A PERSON WHO IS CONNECTED WITH THE STATE OR A

PERSON WHO IS CONNECTED WITH A LOCAL AGENCY. AND IT DOESN’T THAT

PERSON WHO SAID THOSE THINGS WERE WRONG, I MEAN ARE BAD PEOPLE, BUT

THE STATE HAS PROVEN IN THE PAST THAT WHEN IT DOES BAD THINGS IT TRIED

TO COUCH IT WORDS THAT ARE MEANT TO BE MISLEADING, SUCH AS WHEN

THEY MAKE MAJOR CUTS THEY CALL IT SOMETHING US. THEY CALL IT “COST

CONTAINMENT.” THEY CALL IT “QUALITY ASSURANCE,” AND REALLY THE DRIVER

THERE IS TO CUT SERVICES.

AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEARFUL THAT THE STATE AND LOCAL

AGENCIES, AND EVEN OTHER ADVOCATES, WILL NOT KEEP THEIR WORD. OR

WHAT THEY SAY IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS. AND MY FAMILY HAS HAD EXPERIENCE

15

LIKE THAT, AND MANY PEOPLE ON THIS LINE WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND

PROVIDERS TOO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES LIKE THAT.

SO PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE AFRAID. AND IT’S ALSO THE FEAR OF

ISOLATION, OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ISOLATED. THAT’S A BARRIER. ISOLATED FROM

INFORMATION, ISOLATED FROM THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. TO ME IT’S ALMOST

LIKE PEOPLE ARE PRISONERS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE, AND SUDDENLY THEY

ARE LET FREE WITHOUT ANY TRAINING OR TRANSITION.

AND SO PEOPLE TEND TO HOLD ON TO WHAT IS – WHAT THEY KNOW, AND

THAT’S THE STATUS QUO. IN MY FAMILY WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET

SOMETHING THAT STABILIZED MY SISTER, WE KNEW THAT THAT WOULDN’T

LAST, AND WE HELD ON TO THAT AS LONG AS WE COULD. AND I UNDERSTAND,

THAT’S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE. THAT’S TRUE OF PROVIDERS, THAT’S TRUE

OF FAMILIES, AND THAT’S TRUE OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

WHO HAVE A CERTAIN TYPE OF SERVICE THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO LET GO OF.

SO THAT’S A BARRIER.

NUMBER TWO IS TIME. A LOT OF THE BLUEPRINT GOALS AND TARGETS HAVE

DATES THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO OCCUR – ACTUALLY WILL OCCUR THIS

YEAR AND NEXT YEAR. BUT IT’S A FIVE-YEAR PLAN. AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, A

BARRIER IS THAT TIME IS AN ENEMY. EVERY DAY AND EVERY MONTH AND EVERY

WEEK THAT GOES BY MEANS THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER LOSES AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND FOR EVERY PROVIDER IT MEANS THAT THEY GET FURTHER BEHIND IN

TRYING TO CHANGE IF THEY DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO. SO TIME IS

AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT AND COULD BE A BIG BARRIER.

ANOTHER BARRIER IS LACK OF INFORMATION. MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT ON

THIS CALL, AND MOST PEOPLE DON’T GET THE INFORMATION THAT A FEW

PEOPLE GET ABOUT WHAT IS OUT THERE IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB, ALL OF US TOGETHER, IN GETTING

GOOD INFORMATION OUT.

NUMBER FOUR, ANOTHER BARRIER IS ELIGIBILITY. SO MANY TENS OF

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE

FOR REGIONAL CENTER SERVICES OR DEPARTMENT OF REHAB SERVICES OR ARE

SHUT OUT OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED

16

BECAUSE THEY DON’T FALL UNDER THE CURRENT ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS,

WHICH BY THE WAY WERE ESTABLISHED DURING THE TIME OF BUDGET CUTS TO

SHUT OUT PEOPLE TO SAVE MONEY.

AND SO THAT’S A HUGE BARRIER FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SHUT OUT, AND THAT

IS CONNECTED TO ANOTHER BARRIER OF UNMET NEEDS OF FAMILIES.

5TH, ANOTHER BARRIER IS ACCESSIBILITY AND REASONABLE

ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE AND GETTING TO THE WORKPLACE.

AND MANY WORKPLACE LOCATIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE AND THERE’S WAYS TO GET

THERE, BUT MANY ARE NOT. AND THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS

AS WE EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES IN MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK PLACES

ARE ACCESSIBLE – THE BATHROOMS, FOR INSTANCE – AND THERE IS

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS MADE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NEED

FOR INSTANCE A SUPPORT STAFF THERE FOR PERSONAL CARE-TYPE HELP.

6TH, LANGUAGE. LANGUAGE IS AN IMPORTANT – IS A BARRIER FOR MANY

PEOPLE, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND MAY SPEAK ANOTHER

LANGUAGE. BUT ALSO IT’S THE LANGUAGE WE USE – EVEN IF YOU UNDERSTAND

ENGLISH, IT’S THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE IN TALKING ABOUT COMPETITIVE

INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, OR EVEN THIS BLUEPRINT. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE

– AND SO WE HAVE TO LEARN TO CLARIFY THINGS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, OR

EVEN IF THAT LANGUAGE IS THERE, TRAIN PEOPLE WHO CAN INTERPRET THE

LANGUAGE.

FOR INSTANCE, IN THE BLUEPRINT – AND AGAIN, I THINK THE BLUEPRINT IS A

TERRIFIC DOCUMENT AND A GOOD STARTING POINT. BUT THERE’S A SENTENCE

IN THE BLUEPRINT THAT SAYS “AN EXAMPLE OF TRIPLE E PRACTICE IS WELL

SEQUENCED PROVISION OF SERVICES AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS.”

NOW, I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. BUT I WOULD CHALLENGE THAT MOST

PEOPLE WHO WOULD READ THAT WOULD HAVE NO IDEA WHAT, YOU KNOW,

THAT MEANT.

AND SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TRAIN PEOPLE IN OUR

COMMUNITIES AND ALSO AMONG THE STATE AGENCIES AND THE LEGISLATURE

TO KIND OF TRANSLATE WHAT SENTENCES MEAN EVEN IF THEY ARE IN ENGLISH,

OR MAKE THE SENTENCE SIMPLER SO EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

17

NUMBER SEVEN, ANOTHER BARRIER, AND THIS IS – YOU KNOW, SPEAKS TO

NOT ONLY PROVIDERS BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES WITH THE PEOPLE WITH

DISABILITIES, THIS SPEAKS TO ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES – IS RESOURCES AND

FUNDING.

NOW, THE NEXT THING IS CHALLENGES AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES

TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING THE BLUEPRINT COMMUNITIES. NUMBER ONE – AND

THESE AREN’T IN ANY PRIORITY, BUT ONE IS THE NEED FOR ON GOING SUPPORTS

AND SERVICES. IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE EDUCATE THE STATE BUT ALSO

THE LOCAL AGENCY AND POLICY MAKERS AND ALSO EACH OTHER THAT THERE

WILL ALWAYS BE, FOR MANY PEOPLE, A NEED FOR ON GOING SUPPORTS AND

SERVICES.

IN OTHER WORDS, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS EMPLOYED DOESN’T MEAN

THAT THEIR NEED FOR HELP GOES AWAY. AND YET IT’S PORTRAYED THAT WAY

AT THE STATE CAPITAL, THAT IF PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED, THEN THERE’S NO NEED

FOR ANY SERVICES AND SUPPORTS OR BENEFITS, AND THAT’S NOT TRUE. MY

SISTER NEEDED HELP IN SOME PERSONAL CARE ISSUES, FOR INSTANCE, AND FOR

SOME OF HER BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. AND THE SAME WILL BE TRUE WHEN PEOPLE

WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR SPECIFIC NEEDS, OR THEY MIGHT NEED HELP IN

THEIR PERSONAL CARE, WILL NEED SUPPORTS IN THE WORKPLACE. AND THE

STATE RECOGNIZES THAT, FOR INSTANCE WITH THE WORKING DISABLED UNDER

PROGRAM UNDER MEDI-CAL AND ALSO HAS AUTHORIZED THAT IHSS IN CERTAIN

INSTANCES CAN BE USED IN THE WORKPLACE. SO WE HAVE GOT TO REMIND

POLICY MAKERS THAT SUPPORTS AND SERVICES WILL BE NEEDED.

NUMBER NINE, A SECOND THING FOR CHALLENGES IS HOUSING AND

TRANSPORTATION. BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T HAVE THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW,

STABILIZED, THEN GETTING A JOB ISN’T GOING TO BE POSSIBLE. SO IT’S ALL

THREE THINGS: EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS

SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO

DEAL WITH.

ANOTHER IS ONGOING – ANOTHER IS RESOURCES FOR PROVIDERS TO TRAIN,

TO TRAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR STAFF AND TO PROVIDE THE INCENTIVE TO

PROVIDERS TO TRANSITION TOWARDS OUTCOMES RATHER THAN SIMPLY

PROVIDING A SERVICE THAT HAS NO OUTCOMES AT ALL. ANOTHER CHALLENGE

18

FOR US TO MEET IS, AS I MENTIONED, THE ACCESSIBILITY IN EMPLOYMENT, IN

EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS, SO THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BUSINESSES

CHANGES SO THAT IT’S NOT ADVERSARIAL ANY MORE.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THEIR CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAS BEEN

PREDOMINANTLY, UNFORTUNATELY, IN AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP,

LAWSUITS, BECAUSE THEIR BUSINESS IS NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH

DISABILITIES. AND SOMEHOW, WITHOUT GIVING UP AND – NOT GIVING UP ON

THAT NEED THAT MAKE BUSINESS LOCATIONS ACCESSIBLE, WE NEED TO WORK

WITH BUSINESSES THAT THERE IS OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

NEED, AND THAT’S JOBS. AND I THINK WE CAN START CHANGING OUR

RELATIONSHIP WITH BUSINESSES IF WE APPROACH THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

ANOTHER IS – CHALLENGE IS THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE

AVAILABLE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AS WE KNOW, MANY OF US ON THIS

CALL KNOWS THAT WHILE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS DROPPING IN

CALIFORNIA, I THINK IT’S 5.3% STATEWIDE, MANY COUNTIES SUCH AS IMPERIAL, I

THINK THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THERE IS CLOSE TO 20%. BUT MANY OF THE

CENTRAL VALLEY COMMUNITIES, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RURAL COMMUNITIES,

HAVE REALLY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, THAT ARE EITHER – MUCH HIGHER

THAN THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. THAT CREATES A MAJOR CHALLENGE

TO WORK TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

ANOTHER IS, AS THE MINIMUM WAGE GOES UP IN THE STATE – WHICH IS A

GOOD THING – IT DOES CREATE ANOTHER CHALLENGE, AGAIN, IN HIRING OF

PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOW EMPLOYERS VIEW

HIRING PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS EXPECTATIONS. YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO

REDEFINE OR DEFINE FOR EVERYONE – FAMILIES, BUT THE PEOPLE WITH

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, PROVIDERS AND POLICY MAKERS – WHO IS

EMPLOYMENT FOR A PERSON WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES VERSUS A

CAREER? AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT’S THE TIME FRAME? IS THE JOB FOREVER?

AND WHAT ABOUT ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES?

AND SO ALL OF THOSE WE NEED TO START ADDRESSING. BUT THOSE ARE

CHALLENGES FOR US TO REALLY ADDRESS THOSE THINGS. AND ANOTHER

19

CHALLENGE IS ISSUES RELATED TO THE INDIVIDUAL, RELATED TO AGING AS THE

PERSON GETS OLDER AND ALSO ISSUES RELATED TO CULTURAL DISPARITIES.

BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES AND

DIFFERENT LIFE GOALS.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. BUT THE OPPORTUNITIES NOW,

TO THE QUESTION REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL –

HEMINGWAY ONCE WROTE THAT “MANY ARE BROKEN BY LIFE, BUT MANY – BUT

SOME ARE MAKE STRONGER IN THEIR BROKEN PLACES.” AND SO I THINK THE

BLUEPRINT, AND ESPECIALLY THE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, REALLY REALLY PROVIDE

A WAY FOR US TO ALL BECOME STRONGER IN THOSE BROKEN PLACES.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE BLUEPRINT – AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THINKING OF IT AS

A BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION PLAN FOR ALL OF US – THERE ARE INCENTIVES

AND CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE THERE NOW THAT – THAT WEREN’T THERE

BEFORE, THAT ARE TIED TO TARGETED OUTCOMES RELATED TO COMPETITIVE

INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT IN A PERSON CENTERED PLANNING WAY. THAT’S

MAJOR.

SO THAT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US. SO WHY THAT’S

IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE MANY OF THE EXISTING RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE

UNDER THE REGIONAL CENTERS, UNDER DEPARTMENT OF REHAB AND

EDUCATION, THAT INCLUDE THE TAILORED DAY SERVICES, for instance, THE

COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISABLED STUDENT SERVICES, AND THE – CERTAIN PILOTS

THAT ARE STILL WAITING TO BE FUNDED – SB-577 – COULD ACTUALLY BE

EXPANDED OR BE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES NOW THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF BECAUSE OF THIS BLUEPRINT.

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IS THAT – ALLOWS US TO BE CREATIVE IN CHANGING

AND ALIGNING EXISTING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS SO A PROVIDER IS PROVIDING

SUPPORTS AND SERVICES WILL LEAD DIRECTLY TO SPECIFIC COMMUNITY – LEAD

TO SPECIFIC COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES.

AND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IS THAT IT ALLOWS US TO BUILD REAL WORKING

RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE A PART OF. AGAIN, NOT

ONLY BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO REGIONAL CENTERS, LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF

REHABS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS AND OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS.

20

AND I THINK IT JUST BRINGS US TOGETHER, FORCES US TO WORK TOGETHER AND

CHANGES ALL OF OUR BEHAVIORS.

AND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, WHILE THE BLUEPRINT IS NOW BEING

UNFOLDED IS THERE IS MANY OTHER CHANGES OCCURRING THAT I BELIEVE AND

MANY BELIEVE WILL ACTUALLY MAKE POSSIBLE A LOT OF OTHER CHANGES AND

THAT COULD ADVANCE COMMUNITY COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT.

AND THAT IS THE CHANGES REQUIRED IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED

SERVICES FINAL RULE, THE CHANGES OCCURRING TO MEDI-CAL, THE CHANGES

REQUIRED BY THE WORK FORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES ACT, CHANGES

PUT FORWARD REGARDING THE ACHIEVING BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCES, THE ABLE

ACT, THE WHOLE PERSON CARE PILOTS, SELF DETERMINATION – THERE’S A LOT

OF THINGS OUT THERE THAT ARE OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THIS IS

BEING UNFOLDED, THAT I THINK CAN REALLY PUSH FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THE

GOALS AND TARGETED OUTCOMES IN THIS BLUEPRINT.

QUESTION – AND OLIVIA, KEEP ME ON THE TIME IF I AM GOING OVER –

OLIVIA RAYNOR: I THINK YOU SHOULD HIGHLIGHT what YOU THINK IN TERMS

OF THE LAST TWO QUESTIONS, WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TAKE AWAYS FOR

PEOPLE TO BE. YOU ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB OF INCORPORATING ALL THE

QUESTIONS INTO YOUR COMMENTS SO FAR. SO THANK YOU MARTY.

MARTY OMOTO: LET’S DO POLICY CHANGES CALLED FOR IN THE BLUEPRINT –

OH, THAT’S ACTUALLY THE FIRST QUESTION. HA HA. I COULD REPEAT THE FIRST

QUESTION.

WHAT PRACTICAL TIPS – IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, THE PRACTICAL

TIPS?

OLIVIA RAYNOR: CORRECT. THE PRACTICAL TIPS AND ADVICE TO FAMILIES. I

THINK THEY ARE BOTH – THEY ARE BOTH RELATED, THE LAST TWO QUESTIONS.

MARTY OMOTO: YEAH. FIRST, FIRST – AND I’LL GO THROUGH THIS REALLY

QUICK – IS FOR THE FAMILIES ESPECIALLY AND FOR THE PEOPLE WITH

DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY FEEL

ISOLATED.

21

DON’T GIVE US AND DON’T DESPAIR. THE HARDEST THING IS, FOR A LOT OF

FAMILIES – AND I KNOW THIS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE – IS THAT IT’S

FIGHTING ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. AND TO TAKE TIME FROM THAT AND TO

NOW DEAL WITH THIS NEW THING CALLED A BLUEPRINT, OR THE WHOLE ISSUE

OF MAYBE MOVING THEIR CHILD OR THEMSELVES FROM SOMETHING THAT THEY

FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH TO SOMETHING THAT THEY DON’T KNOW ANYTHING

ABOUT AND THEN TRUSTING SOMEONE, THAT’S REALLY HARD.

AND SO I THINK IT IS – I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO NOT

GIVE UP AND NOT GIVE IN TO DESPAIR AND TO REALLY TRY TO LOOK FORWARD

TO THE FUTURE, THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, AND RISK SOMETHING.

ANOTHER PRACTICAL TIP WAS TO BECOME AWARE OF THE PERSON CENTERED

PLANNING PROCESS AND TO GET TRAININGS AND TO INSIST THAT EVERYONE USE

IT AND TO USE IT IN YOUR OWN IPP OR INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN. MAKE

SURE THAT THE ISSUE OF A CAREER DREAM OR COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED

EMPLOYMENT IS PUT INTO THAT DOCUMENT AS A GOAL.

BE A PART OF A LOCAL GROUP AND CONNECT WITH LOCAL GROUPS OR STATE

WIDE GROUPS FOR INFORMATION. VERY IMPORTANT. GO TO THE WEBSITES

THAT LANA MENTIONED FOR INFORMATION. WE GOT TO PASS OUT AND SHARE

INFORMATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

LASTLY, THE LAST QUESTION FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH CHANGES IN THE

SYSTEM, WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH

STAYING INVOLVED. AGAIN, YOU ARE RIGHT, OLIVIA. BASICALLY THE SAME. BUT

JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE BY THOSE WHO SHOW

UP. AND MANY CAN’T, WON’T, OR DON’T.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS, DECISIONS ARE MADE WHEN PEOPLE AREN’T THERE.

AND SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FACES ARE VISIBLE AND OUR VOICES

ARE HEARD, OR ELSE DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE ANYWAYS. AND SO WE

HAVE GOT TO BE THERE. AND IT DOESN’T THAT EVERY ONE OF US HAS TO BE

THERE. IT JUST MEANS THAT WITHIN OUR GROUPS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES,

PICK ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WHO CAN REALLY BE THE LEAD PERSON ON THE ISSUE

OF COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY

IS TO PASS BACK INFORMATION TO THE LOCAL GROUPS.

22

GET INVOLVED WITH THE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS AS THEY ARE BEING

DEVELOPED IN COMMUNITIES. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE THAT’S

WHERE THE REAL WORK IS GOING TO BE DONE ON THIS BLUEPRINT. GET

INVOLVED IN THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT THE STATE IS DOING. THE WHOLE

PERSON CARE PILOT PROGRAM, FOR INSTANCE, IT’S HUGE AND COULD REALLY

HELP MOVE FORWARD COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT.

TALK TO YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS. ASK THEM TO PROVIDE YOU UPDATES ON

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. MAKE THEM GIVE YOU

INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE STATUS IS. CONNECT WITH YOUR SCHOOL

DISTRICTS, LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF REHAB OFFICE, REGIONAL CENTERS AND

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS.

ATTEND WEBINARS, LIKE THIS ONE, BUT ALSO CONDUCT WEBINARS IN YOUR

OWN COMMUNITY, OR CONFERENCE CALLS. AND THEN SUPPORT EFFORTS AT

THE STATE LEVEL. FINALLY, SUPPORT EFFORTS AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH

TALKING TO YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES SO THAT WE CAN

PUSH THE STATE FOR RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED

EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES AND PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING, AND ALSO THE

NEEDED FUNDING AND RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE TO TRANSITION FROM

PROGRAMS THAT MAY NOT BE COMPLIANT UNDER THE HCBS RULES, TO

PROGRAMS OR RATHER SERVICES THAT ARE.

AND I THINK REALLY WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PROCESS

THAT WE PUSH AND WHATEVER CHANGE THAT WE DREAM FOR NEEDS TO BE

FAIR AND NEEDS TO TREAT EVERYONE RESPECTFULLY AND IN A PERSON-

CENTERED WAY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS WEBINAR.

OLIVIA RAYNOR: YOU’RE WELCOME, MARTY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR

MANY COMMENTS ON WHAT WE CAN DO AS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND WHAT

THE POLICY RAMIFICATIONS ARE ONCE THE BLUEPRINT IS IN ITS

IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.

BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANTED TO ASK ANOTHER POLL – TAKE

ANOTHER POLL FROM THE PARTICIPANTS TO FIND OUT HOW FAMILIAR YOU ARE

WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT BLUEPRINT FOR

23

CHANGE. WE HAVE FOUND THAT IN THE PRESENTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN

GIVEN SO FAR TO VARIOUS CONSTITUENT GROUPS, THAT THIS IS STILL VERY NEW

INFORMATION. AND WE JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT MARTY WAS SAYING, IS

THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OURSELVES FOR

HELPING GET THE WORD OUT TO INFORM FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SO THAT THEY ARE INFORMED OF THE CHANGES

THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT CAN CHANGE THE

OUTCOMES IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ACCESS

THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED.

SO ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE CALIFORNIA COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED

EMPLOYMENT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT? NOW GRANTED, YOU

HAVE GAINED SOME FAMILIARITY, WE HOPE, TODAY. BUT LET US KNOW WHAT

YOUR EXPERIENCE TO DATE HAS BEEN.

AND WHAT WE ARE FINDING SO FAR – I’M GOING TO LET PEOPLE ANSWER,

COMPLETE THEIR ANSWERS – IS THAT THERE’S A GOOD NUMBER THAT ARE

SLIGHTLY FAMILIAR, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT ARE MODERATELY FAMILIAR, AND

ONLY A HANDFUL THAT ARE – IDENTIFIED AS VERY FAMILIAR OR HAVE NEVER

HEARD OF IT.

SO LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING US. OKAY.

SO MOVING ON, I’D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR LAST SPEAKER BEFORE WE

MOVE INTO SOME PRACTICAL TIPS THAT YOU CAN IMPLEMENT IN YOUR LOCAL

COMMUNITIES. LET ME INTRODUCE RICK HODGKINS, WHO IS A SELF ADVOCATE

AND DISABILITY ACTIVIST. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, REPRESENTING I

THINK HE SAID 10 COUNTIES SERVICED BY THE ALPHA REGIONAL CENTER. HE IS A

BOARD MEMBER OF CAPITAL PEOPLE FIRST. HE IS A PREVIOUS MEMBER OF THE

EMPLOYMENT FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES.

RICK IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ISSUES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH HOUSING,

TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS RECREATION. PRIOR TO

PRESENTING TODAY, I POSED A SERIES OF QUESTIONS, JUST AS I DID WITH

MARTY, TO SORT OF GUIDE RICK’S COMMENTS. LET ME JUST SHARE THOSE WITH

YOU FOR THOSE PARTICULARLY WHO MAY BE ONLY LISTENING ON THE PHONE.

24

I ASKED HIM WHAT DOES EMPLOYMENT FIRST MEAN TO HIM AND TO OTHER

SELF ADVOCATES, TO TELL US ABOUT JOBS THAT HE HAS HAD, WHAT WAS HIS

EXPERIENCE IN A SHELTERED WORKSHOP, WHAT HELPED HIM PREPARE TO BE A

GOOD EMPLOYEE, WHAT IS HIS DREAM JOB, AND WHAT IS HIS ADVICE TO SELF

ADVOCATES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS.

SO RICK, WITH NO FURTHER ADO, I’M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO YOU FOR

YOUR REMARKS.

RICK HODGKINS: THANK YOU, DR. RAYNOR. BEFORE TIMING, BECAUSE I JUST

UNMUTED MYSELF. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY?

OLIVIA RAYNOR: I THINK SO.

RICK HODGKINS: OKAY, GOOD.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RICK HODGKINS. AS DR. RAYNOR

MENTIONED, YES I AM WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND IT’S NOT ALTA REGIONAL CENTER, IT’S

ALTA CALIFORNIA REGIONAL CENTER.

OLIVIA RAYNOR: THANK YOU.

>> THAT’S OKAY. THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE SERVE – I SERVE – I

COVER 10 COUNTIES: ALPINE – JUST IN CASE YOU KNOW WHERE ALL OF THESE

ARE, SOME OF THEM – THEY ARE ALL IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – BUT THERE IS

ALPINE, COLUSA, EL DORADO, NEVADA, PLACER, SACRAMENTO, SIERRA, SUTTER,

YOLO, AND YUBA COUNTIES. AND IF WE HAVE ANYONE FROM THOSE COUNTIES

LISTENING IN OR ONLINE ON THEIR COMPUTER, WELCOME ABOARD, GLAD TO

HAVE YOU WITH US.

SO I’M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN. SO IN TERMS OF WHAT EMPLOYMENT FIRST

MEANS TO ME, EMPLOYMENT FIRST DOES NOT MEAN GOING TO A DAY

PROGRAM OR SHELTERED WORKSHOP, AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT IT DOES

NOT MEAN JUST HAVING SOMEPLACE TO GO AND SOMETHING TO DO DURING

THE DAY. RATHER, IT MEANS A JOB THAT IS COMPETITIVE AND INTEGRATED.

IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE JOBS THAT I HAVE HAD, I HAVE HAD SEASONAL

AND SHORT-TERM JOBS AS A SANTA CLAUS, BELL RINGER, TELEMARKETER, AND

SEASONAL CLERK AT THE FRANCHISE TAX BOARD. SOME OF THE JOBS I GOT ON

25

MY OWN, AND OTHERS I HAD HELP AND SUPPORT FROM DDSO EMPLOYMENT

PLUS. DDSO IS THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION, AND

EMPLOYMENT PLUS IS THEIR EMPLOYMENT DIVISION. IF THEY ARE LISTENING, A

SHOUT OUT TO THEM.

IN TERMS OF MY EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A WORKSHOP, I WORKED – I WENT

TO PRIDE INDUSTRIES, WHERE I WAS PAID SUBMINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE I WAS

UNSUCCESSFUL AT GETTING A JOB ON MY OWN AND WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE

WILL HIRE ME BECAUSE I AM BLIND.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT GOING TO PRIDE INDUSTRIES WAS PERHAPS A STEP

THAT WOULD LEAD TO WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD I

WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO JOIN A COMMUNITY WORK GROUP OR ENCLAVE, IF YOU

WILL, BECAUSE I AM BLIND. THE EXPECTATION WAS THAT I SHOULD STAY AT THE

WORKSHOP.

I ALSO – I ATTENDED PRIDE INDUSTRIES 2001 AND 2002. I ALSO WENT TO

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AFTER BEING TOLD BY MY REGIONAL CENTER AND AN

INDEPENDENT LIVING INSTRUCTOR THAT GOING THERE OR BACK TO PRIDE WAS

THE BEST OPTION AND PROBABLY THE ONLY OPTION, SINCE I WAS NOT BEING

HIRED IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITY AND ALSO BECAUSE OF

THE ECONOMY.

I WENT – I ATTENDED GOODWILL IN 2012. I WAS ONLY THERE FOR THREE

MONTHS. I WANTED TO LEAVE BOTH WORKSHOPS, BECAUSE THEY WERE A DEAD

END. I WAS VERY BORED, AND WORKING THERE LED TO NOWHERE, ABSOLUTELY

NOWHERE.

IN TERMS OF WHAT I HAVE DONE TO HELP PREPARE FOR WORK, TO PREPARE

TO BE A GOOD EMPLOYEE, I WENT TO COLLEGE AND I TOOK CLASSES AT

AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE AND EARNED A BAKING AND PASTRY CERTIFICATE.

I WORKED WITH FUTURES EXPLORED, ENTERED TAILORED DAY SERVICES, LIKE I

STILL DO NOW, FOR BOTH WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE AS WELL AS FOR JOB

COACHING AND JOB DEVELOPMENT AFTERWARDS.

I ALSO GET TO KNOW A COMPANY BEFORE I GO ON A JOB INTERVIEW. I KNOW

THAT BEFORE YOU GO ON AN INTERVIEW FOR A JOB, THAT YOU NEED TO LEARN

AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THAT EMPLOYER. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I APPLIED

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FOR MY JOB AT MCDONALD’S, I LEARNED ALL ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HOW

MCDONALD’S STARTED. I COULD EASILY ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHY DO YOU

WANT TO WORK AT MCDONALD’S? THE EXACT WORDS OF THE GENERAL

MANAGER WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWED BY HIM WAS HE SAID, QUOTE, “WHY

MCDONALD’S?”

IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I HAVE AND STILL HAVE FACED

IN GETTING WORK, I WOULD SAY THAT I A FACED A COMBINATION OF BOTH

HIGH AND LOW EXPECTATIONS. PEOPLE DID NOT EXPECT ME TO GO TO A JOB

THAT PAID WELL, BUT THAT THEY EXPECTED ME TO STAY IN THE WORKSHOP

UNTIL THEY THOUGHT THAT I – UNTIL THEY THOUGHT THAT I WAS READY, AND

THAT THEY EXPECTED ME TO WORK FAST, EVEN THOUGH I PHYSICALLY COULD

NOT.

ALSO I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE IS NOT BEING GIVEN A

CHANCE. PEOPLE DID NOT GIVE ME A CHANCE WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST.

HOUSING AND LIVING ON MY OWN MUST TAKE PRIORITY OVER FINDING WORK.

MOST OF THE JOBS I WANT ARE NOWHERE NEAR WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE. THIS

MEANS THAT THERE ARE NOT VERY MANY JOB OPPORTUNITIES. GETTING A

BETTER JOB PROBABLY MEANS LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE THERE ARE

MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

IN TERMS OF WHAT MY CURRENT JOB IS AND HOW I GOT IT, I WAS MEETING

WITH MY JOB COACH-JOB DEVELOPER AT THE MCDONALD’S DOWN THE STREET

NEAR MY HOUSE, AND THEY HAD A SIGN UP THAT SAID – THEY HAD A SIGN UP

THAT SAID “WE ARE HAVING OPEN JOB INTERVIEWS ON A SATURDAY.” I GOT

RIGHT ON IT AND TOLD MY JOB COACH, JOB DEVELOPER – THE PROGRAM THAT I

AM IN, THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE JOB COACHES ARE ALSO JOB DEVELOPERS.

I WORK IN THE DINING ROOM, THE DINING AREA. MY JOB IS TO GREET

PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN AND MAKE THEM FEEL WELCOME AT

MCDONALD’S. AND I ASSIST THEM WITH GETTING CONDIMENTS IF THEY NEED

MORE CONDIMENTS AND TAKING THEIR TRAY IF THEY WANT THAT.

I WORK FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS FROM 11-2 AT THIS POINT. IN THE FUTURE

I HOPE TO GET MORE DAYS AND HOURS AND ACTUALLY WORK IN THE KITCHEN. I

KNOW HOW A KITCHEN INSIDE A MCDONALD’S WORKS. THEREFORE, I THINK

THAT I WOULD BE GOOD AT IT. A POSITION HAS NOT YET BEEN OFFERED.

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IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME ABOUT

JOBS OR – YEAH, ABOUT A JOB, I LIKE HAVING A JOB THAT IS STIMULATING NOT

BORING. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK 20 HOURS A WEEK OR MORE, EVEN FULL TIME

WOULD BE NICE. HAVING MONEY IS ACTUALLY VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, SO

THAT I CAN DO WHAT I WANT WITH IT AND POSSESS THE THINGS THAT I WANT.

IN OTHER WORDS, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU EARN DEPENDS ON HOW MANY

HOURS THAT YOU WORK AND THE SALARY.

AS OF LAST YEAR, I NOW GET SOCIAL SECURITY MONEY – NOT SSI, BUT SOCIAL

SECURITY MONEY. THAT MONEY IS USED TO LIVE OFF OF. THEREFORE, WITH THE

MONEY THAT I EARN WORKING, I CAN DO THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO.

IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE MY DREAM JOBS, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A JOB BAKING

IN A RESORT TOWN. IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO DO THE TWO THINGS THAT I

LOVE: BAKING AND WORKING IN A KITCHEN, AND SEEING THE WORLD.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HEARD A STORY ABOUT A GUY THAT WORKED IN SAN

FRANCISCO AS A BREAKFAST COOK. AND EVERY DAY RIGHT AFTER HIS SHIFT WAS

OVER, HE WOULD GO HOME, GET HIS SURF BOARD AND HIT THE WAVES. I

WOULD PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING IN A SKI RESORT, A SKI RESORT TOWN.

SO THAT’S ONE DREAM JOB.

MY OTHER DREAM JOB IS TO BE ELECTED TO ASSEMBLYMAN KEN COOLEY’S

SEAT. HE IS DOING A BANG UP JOB, A VERY GOOD JOB, I MIGHT ADD. HE TURNS

OUT, THOUGH, IN 2024. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE A PSYCHOLOGIST. I HAVE

ACTUALLY TAKEN A PSYCHOLOGY CLASS IN COLLEGE WHILE WAITING FOR MY

BAKING AND PASTRY CERTIFICATE TO COME IN THE MAIL.

IN TERMS OF WHAT MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO SELF ADVOCATES, WELL TO

SELF ADVOCATES MY ADVICE – MY ADVICE TO OTHER SELF ADVOCATES WHO

WANT TO WORK IS TO LOOK AT YOUR HOBBIES, YOUR INTERESTS, YOUR

STRENGTHS, AND YOUR TALENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS INTERESTED IN PLAYING

SANTA CLAUS. AND AS I SAID EARLIER, I FOUND MYSELF A JOB WORKING AT

DIFFERENT MALLS. I ACTUALLY WORKED AT DIFFERENT MALLS THREE TIMES.

ONE MALL ONCE AND THEN ANOTHER MALL TWICE, TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN LET’S SAY GOING TO THE MOVIES, MAYBE A

GOOD JOB WOULD BE TO WORKING IN A MOVIE THEATER SELLING TICKETS OR

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WORKING AT THE CONCESSION STAND. IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN TAKING

CARE OF ANIMALS, PERHAPS THAT THEY CAN WORK IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER OR

AT A STABLE WHERE THEY CAN DO VARIOUS THINGS, INCLUDING WORK ON AN

ANIMAL’S TEMPERAMENT. YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THE TEMPERAMENT OF

DOGS AND HORSES AND EVENTUALLY PULL CARRIAGES AND SLEIGHS. FOR

SOMEONE, A JOB CAN ALSO START OUT AS A VOLUNTEER.

IN TERMS OF MY ADVICE TO FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS, THEY NEED TO

ENCOURAGE THEIR LOVED ONES AND THEIR CONSUMERS TO FOLLOW THEIR

DREAMS AND SUPPORT THEM. IN OTHER WORDS, NOT ONLY SAY THAT YOU

WILL SUPPORT THEM, BUT EVEN WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO THE BEST OF your

ability, WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT – IN OTHER WORDS, FIND OUT JUST AS MUCH

AS THEY KNOW, SO YOU CAN HELP THEM.

AND IN TERMS OF WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY OWN FUTURE, I HOPE TO HAVE A

WHOLE LOT OF – A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY, SO THAT I CAN HAVE MORE

CONTROL OVER MY LIFE AND POSSESS THINGS THAT I WANT TO POSSESS.

AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I’M SURE DR. RAYNOR WILL READ

THEM, AND I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

OLIVIA RAYNOR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, RICK.

YOU KNOW, WHAT’S IMPORTANT ABOUT HAVING A JOB IS VERY PERSONAL.

FOR SOME IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. FOR OTHERS IT’S THE PEOPLE. FOR

OTHERS IT’S ABOUT FINDING THAT SWEET SPOT WHERE YOU GET TO DO WORK

THAT IS PERSONALLY VERY SATISFYING. GETTING THERE IS ALL ABOUT DECIDING

WHERE YOU WANT TO GO IN LIFE AND FINDING A WAY TO GET THERE. IT’S ALSO

BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW AS A PERSON.

EVERYONE – AND, YOU KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE THIS HAS CHALLENGES, ALL OF

US, AND EVERYONE HAS CHOICES AS THEY FIND THEIR PATH TO SUCCESS.

PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, YOU CAN HEAR IT FROM RICK’S

STORY, YOU CAN HEAR IT FROM THE WAY LANA IS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE

BLUEPRINT WILL MODIFY FUTURES FOR PEOPLE AND MARTY IN TERMS OF HOW

POLICY IMPACTS EVERY DAY LIVES – ARE VERY INFLUENCED, PEOPLE ARE VERY

INFLUENCED, PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, BY THE PEOPLE, THE

SUPPORTS, AND THE SERVICES THEY RECEIVE.

29

WE ALSO HAVE LEARNED AS PART OF CECY, THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT

CONSORTIUM FOR YOUTH, THAT FOR THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE TALKING

ABOUT TODAY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, ARE REALLY GOING TO REQUIRE SOLUTIONS

AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. IT’S GOING TO REQUIRE NEW APPROACHES THAT ARE

REALLY NEEDED TO SOLVE THE INTRACTABLE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND WE KNEW – CECY IS A CONSORTIUM OF 45 REPRESENTATIVES, 23

DIFFERENT AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS. WE RECOGNIZED

WITHIN OUR PROJECT, WHICH WAS REALLY AROUND SYSTEMS CHANGE, THAT

WE HAD TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE LOCAL

LEVEL AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRENGTHS AND ASSETS THAT ALREADY

EXIST AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE BEYOND THE

SERVICE SYSTEMS TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY THAT HELP BE ENGAGED IN

THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

SO WE IMPLEMENTED A SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED ACTIVITY, WHICH IS THAT WE

WENT AROUND THE STATE AND HELD SEVEN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AT

LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE PUT TOGETHER PLANNING COMMITTEES. THERE

WERE ABOUT 50-60 PARTICIPANTS IN EACH OF THE SEVEN COMMUNITIES THAT

RANGED FROM THE FAR NORTH TO SAN DIEGO. WE WERE IN RURAL, URBAN,

SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES. ONE WAS HELD AT TWITTER, ANOTHER WAS HELD

AT A FAIRGROUND IN HUMBOLDT – FAIRGROUND IN BUTTE COUNTY.

ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT LOCALES, BUT WE ENGAGED MULTIPLE SECTORS OF

THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ASKED THE QUESTION IN A BIT OF WORLD café STYLE,

WHERE PEOPLE SAT TOGETHER IN SMALL TABLES AND ROTATED AROUND AND

GAVE US THEIR BEST IDEAS WITHIN A TWO-HOUR PERIOD OF WHAT CAN WE DO

TO INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR

COMMUNITY?

AND WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT CONVERSATION KIND OF FELL INTO

THESE FOUR THEMES ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE. AND CLEARLY THESE WERE

THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT KIND OF CAME OUT OF THE HARVEST,

WHICH IS WHAT WE DO AT THE END OF EACH OF THESE COMMUNITY

CONVERSATIONS, WHERE WE ASKED PEOPLE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST

IDEAS THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT ADVANCING EMPLOYMENT IN OUR

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COMMUNITY? AND THEY TALKED ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

TO SUPPORT COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT.

AND WE SAW IT RIGHT THERE IN THE ROOM. PEOPLE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE.

PEOPLE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO CONNECT AND NETWORK WITH ONE

ANOTHER AND COME UP IDEAS OF HOW TO MAKE IT WORK IN THEIR LOCAL

COMMUNITIES.

THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS, VERY EARLY IN LIFE, TO

PRIORITIZE EMPLOYMENT, THAT IT’S ALMOST TOO LATE TO START TO TALK

ABOUT IT AT 14, 15, 16. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT EMPLOYMENT WHEN OUR

KIDS ARE GROWING UP, AND WE ARE SAYING TO THEM, JUST AS WE WOULD

WITH ANY OF OUR OTHER CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE

WHEN YOU GROW UP? WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS? WHAT DO YOU LIKE? WHAT

INTERESTS YOU? AND EXPOSING YOUTH TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT WORKERS AND

OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO BUILD SKILLS EARLY AND DELIBERATELY IN TERMS OF PREPARING

YOUTH FOR CAREERS. AND FINALLY, WE NEED TO EDUCATE AND RECOGNIZE

EMPLOYERS WHO ARE ALREADY INCLINED, OR WHO ARE DEDICATED INTEREST IN

HAVING THE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION OF THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES

REPRESENTED IN THEIR WORKFORCE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED CONVENING THESE

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE STATE.

BY THE WAY, WE HAD ABOUT 450, APPROXIMATELY, PARTICIPANTS, OF WHICH

80 WERE EMPLOYERS. SO WE REALLY HAD A VERY INTERESTING AND DIVERSE

CONVERSATION.

AND LASTLY, BEFORE WE OPEN THIS UP TO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, I JUST

WANTED TO SAY THAT WE DID ONE OTHER IMPORTANT ACTIVITY THAT I THINK IS

RELATED TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS GOING TO BE DONE IN THE BLUEPRINT,

WHICH IS TO SURFACE TRIPLE E PRACTICES. YOU KNOW, EFFECTIVE, EMERGING

PRACTICES THAT ARE DOING NOTABLE JOBS IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF

ADVANCING EMPLOYMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH.

SO FOR CECY WE DID A CALL FOR BEST PRACTICES. WE IDENTIFIED SEVEN

AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDERS. THEY WERE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY

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WERE IRVINE – IRVINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, SWEETWATER SCHOOL

DISTRICT, A NUMBER OF OTHER PROGRAMS AND PROVIDERS – THAT SENT TO US

A NUMBER OF THEIR BEST PRACTICES AND OUTCOMES THAT THEY WERE

ACHIEVING BY IMPLEMENTING THESE PRACTICES, AND IT INCLUDED PERSON-

CENTERED PLANNING, MAKING SURE THAT YOUTH HAD DEVELOPED

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATES EVEN FROM LEAVING – BEFORE THEY LEFT

SCHOOL.

THE YOUTH OF TECHNOLOGY, THINGS LIKE VIDEO RESUMES. ESTABLISHING

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE

COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. DIVERSIFYING FUNDING STREAMS

THAT SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE YOUTH FOR EMPLOYMENT. AND

VERY IMPORTANTLY, ENGAGING FAMILIES EARLY ON, SO THAT THEY CAN BE PART

OF THE NETWORKS THAT HELP FIND INDIVIDUALS JOBS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE CREATED SORT OF SPOTLIGHTS ON

EACH OF THESE PRACTICES THAT WILL BE FEATURED ON OUR WEBSITE THAT I

POSTED IN THE CHAT EARLIER AND WE WILL DISTRIBUTE TO ALL OF YOU AGAIN.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO YOU DO, I HOPE YOU GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF

WHAT’S POSSIBLE, WHAT ARE SOME STEPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE AND STEPS THAT

CAN BE TAKEN BY YOUR ORGANIZATIONS OR AGENCIES. AND NOW ITS YOUR

TURN TO ASK US SOME QUESTIONS.

SO I’M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO GINA, AND IN OUR LAST 10 MINUTES

SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

GINA SEMENZA: HI. WE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ON EMPLOYERS, AND

QUESTIONS CENTERED AROUND WHAT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE OR WILL BE

MADE IN ORDER TO ENGAGE EMPLOYERS IN THIS PROCESS.

OLIVIA RAYNOR: GINA, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION?

GINA SEMENZA: PERHAPS MAYBE LANA? WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TAKE A

STAB AT THIS QUESTION?

LANA FRASER: SURE, I COULD START WITH THAT.

GINA SEMENZA: THANK YOU.

32

LANA FRASER: AND IT’S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, AND IT’S – YOU KNOW,

AND IT’S KEY IN TERMS OF US REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE THE NUMBER OF

INDIVIDUALS THAT REACH COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT.

EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT, BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT, THAT IS WHY WE

DEDICATED ONE OF OUR STAKEHOLDER CALLS SPECIFICALLY TO EMPLOYERS,

WHERE WE OUT REACHED TO SPECIFIC EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN --

AS OLIVIA HAD NOTED IN THERE, SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE

STATEWIDE – EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN

EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES.

AND THEY SHARED WITH US SOME REALLY I THINK VALUABLE INFORMATION

THAT WE PLAN TO SHARE ON A STATEWIDE BASIS WITH OTHER EMPLOYERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS INTERESTING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN

OUR WORK GROUP YESTERDAY, THE WHOLE AREA AROUND EMPLOYER

ENGAGEMENT, AN AWARENESS OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM,

AND THE CURRENT DIFFERENT REGIONS WITHIN THE STATE THAT THEY HAVE IN

TERMS OF THESE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT AREAS. WE ARE GOING TO –

THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION IS OUTREACH TO THAT AND

PARTNERING WITH CALIFORNIA’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM.

AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS WILL NEED – I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE KEY AT THE

LOCAL LEVEL. THERE’S ONE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, NUGGET IN THE BLUEPRINT THAT

I THINK WILL BE A USEFUL TOOL, AND THAT’S UTILIZING SOME OF THE ON THE

JOB TRAINING, FUNDS THAT DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION HAS TO

INCENTIVIZE SOME EMPLOYERS TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS IN PROVIDING

THEM WITH TRAINING. THERE IS ALSO SOME OF THE OTHER WORK THAT

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES IS DOING.

SO it’s a START, BUT I HEAR YOU WHAT ARE SAYING. EMPLOYERS ARE GOING

TO BE KEY TO THE SUCCESS, AND WE ARE REALLY COGNIZANT OF IT. YOU KNOW

MARTY MAY – YOU MAY HAVE SOME OTHER THOUGHTS, TOO.

GINA SEMENZA: AND MARTY, BEFORE YOU GO, THE OTHER FOLLOW-UP

QUESTION TO THAT IS, ARE THERE ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYERS

BESIDES WOTC TAX INCENTIVES?

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LANA FRASER: OTHER THAN THE CURRENT EXISTING INCENTIVES, THERE ARE

NO NEW INCENTIVES OTHER THAN WHAT I JUST MENTIONED, UTILIZING A

RESOURCE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ROUTINELY UTILIZED FOR THIS POPULATION.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE AN INTEREST – THERE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED A WILLING FOR

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM IN

TERMS OF SOME OF THE SYSTEMS OVER THERE THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO TAP

INTO. BUT THERE ARE AT THIS POINT – NO, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON’T HAVE

ANY NEW INCENTIVES.

GINA SEMENZA: THANK YOU, LANA. MARTY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER

THIS QUESTION AS WELL?

MARTY OMOTO: I THOUGHT SHE ANSWERED IT PRETTY COMPLETE,

ALTHOUGH I WOULD SAY THAT – THAT IS KIND OF ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, OR

IT’S AN ONGOING CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE EMPLOYERS. BECAUSE IT’S

HARD FOR US, UNLESS WE ARE EMPLOYING PEOPLE FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO SAY

WHAT IS GOING TO INCENTIVIZE ANOTHER PERSON OR ANOTHER

ORGANIZATION.

YOU KNOW, PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING OR PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH

WORKS IN EVERY WAY, AND I THINK WE NEED TO ASK EMPLOYERS THAT

QUESTION. THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE AREN’T DOING NOW THAT

MIGHT, YOU KNOW, BE INCENTIVES FOR AN EMPLOYER TO HIRE SOMEONE WITH

A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, LIKE MY SISTER WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE.

AND SO WE NEED TO REALLY, REALLY ENGAGE WITH THE BUSINESS

COMMUNITY AND BE CREATIVE ABOUT SOME NEW IDEAS. AND YEAH, THERE

ARE EXISTING THINGS OUT THERE THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK OF

NEW IDEAS AS WELL.

GINA SEMENZA: THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION. HOW ARE FAMILIES AND

INDIVIDUALS BEING EDUCATED OR INFORMED ON WHAT IS IN THE BLUEPRINT

AND WHAT – AND HOW TO ACCESS THE SERVICES OUTLINED IN THE BLUEPRINT?

LANA FRASER: THIS IS LANA. I’LL TAKE ANOTHER STAB AT THIS, AND I THINK

MARTY TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT AS WELL.

THE BLUEPRINT IS NEW. IT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED. IT’S THE PROCESS OF

DOING THAT. AND WEBINARS SUCH AS TODAY ARE GOING TO BE KEY. WE DO

34

PLAN TO HAVE A VERY BROAD DISTRIBUTION OF THE BLUEPRINT THROUGH EACH

OF THE VARIOUS PARTNERS’ NETWORKS. IN ADDITION, THE BLUEPRINT IS

WRITTEN IN SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, SO WE HAVE IT IN ALTERNATE

LANGUAGES. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WILL BE WANTING TO PUT

TOGETHER A CONSUMER FAMILY MEMBER-FRIENDLY VERSION AND EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY.

SO – AND WE NEED THE HELP OF ALL OF YOU ON THE CALL TO MAKE SURE

THAT EVERYONE HEARS ABOUT THIS, THE BLUEPRINT. AND AS WE GO FORWARD,

WE NEED TO – YOU WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT WEBSITE THAT WE

CURRENTLY HAVE IN TERMS OF SEEING HOW WE ARE PROGRESSING AND WHAT

IS HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE.

AND WE ALSO STILL HAVE THE CALIFORNIACIE@DOR.CA.GOV INBOX. SO IF

THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE DON’T GET TO TODAY, YOU ARE MORE THAN

WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS WITH US THROUGH

THAT SITE AS WELL.

GINA SEMENZA: THANK YOU, LANA. AND WE WILL BE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT

E-MAIL ADDRESS IN OUR FOLLOW UP E-MAIL, ALONG WITH A COPY OF THIS

PRESENTATION TO ALL PARTICIPANTS ON THE CALL TODAY.

LANA FRASER: GREAT. THANK YOU, GINA.

GINA SEMENZA: THANK YOU. ANOTHER QUESTION, WHAT CAN BE DONE ON

THE K-9 LEVEL TO ASSIST WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND COLLABORATION?

LANA FRASER: WELL, I’LL TAKE ANOTHER STAB AT THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE

TALKED – AND IT’S INTERESTING, THIS QUESTION HAS COME UP IN A COUPLE OF

DIFFERENT VENUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE

STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. MANY OF THE MEMBERS

THERE ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE K-9—YOU KNOW, K THROUGH 9.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE – ONE OF OUR KEY PARTNERS OF COURSE IS THE

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. WE HAVE BEEN SHARING AND TALKING WITH

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF THERE. SO I THINK THE CONVERSATIONS ARE THERE.

THE BLUEPRINT, EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE DIFFERENT FEDERAL

REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN CERTAIN PLANNING

PROCESSES BEGIN. BUT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AS A GROUP IS THE

35

NEED – AND AS OLIVIA HAS MENTIONED, I THINK IN SOME OF THEIR WORK, TOO

– IS THAT IF WE WAIT UNTIL AGE 14 OR AGE 15, THAT MAYBE WE ARE WAY TOO

LATE.

SO AGAIN, THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL NEED TO LOOK AT PART

OF IMPLEMENTATION. THERE’S A WHOLE LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND WE HAVE

GOT A FEW VERY DEDICATED FOLKS FROM EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT

ARE REALLY GOING TO GIVE IT THEIR BEST SHOT.

GINA SEMENZA: THANK YOU, LANA. NEXT QUESTION, WHAT IF ANYTHING IS

BEING DONE IN THE STATE AND UC COLLEGE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS

FOR THOSE WITH ID-DD TO ATTEND COLLEGE SO THEY CAN BE MORE

EMPLOYABLE?

OLIVIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THAT QUESTION?

OLIVIA RAYNOR: I’M SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT, PLEASE?

GINA SEMENZA: WHAT IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE IN THE COLLEGE SYSTEM

TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR THOSE ID-DD TO ATTEND, SO THEY CAN BE MORE

EMPLOYABLE?

OLIVIA RAYNOR: SO RIGHT NOW THROUGH A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SYSTEM, WE DO HAVE EIGHT COMMUNITY COLLEGES PROVIDING PROGRAMS

FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WITH

THE INTENTIONAL GOAL OF CREATING COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT.

MEANWHILE, COLLEGES, COMMUNITY COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE ARE

BEING PROVIDED WITH TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INCLUSIVE OF

STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AS PART OF

THEIR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OFFICES, AND THERE ARE SOME VERY

WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE HAPPENING BETWEEN THOSE OFFICES

AND THE REGIONAL CENTER SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY THROUGH TAILORED DAY

AND SOME OTHER SERVICES THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO GET ADDITIONAL AND

NECESSARY SUPPORTS.

BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A TREMENDOUS FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF

THESE OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM,

36

BUT ALSO THROUGH THE STATE COLLEGE SYSTEM AND THE UC’S, AND THERE ARE

MANY MODELS FOR THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A GREAT RESOURCE IS THINK

COLLEGE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

THAT AREA.

I HAVE JUST RELEASED A POLL THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ANSWER, THAT

– IN TERMS OF GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK ON YOUR LEVEL OF SORT OF

SATISFACTION WITH OUR WEBINAR TODAY. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER

ADDITIONAL ONES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. AND WE REALLY

APPRECIATE EVERYBODY’S PARTICIPATION TODAY.

I’M SORRY TO HAVE TO CUT OFF THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD. WE

WILL BE SENDING, LANA, THE CHAT BOX REMARKS FROM TODAY SO THAT SHE

WILL GET THOSE – YEAH, RICK, I HEAR YOU. ONE SEC. SHE WILL GET ALL THE

INFORMATION AND COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE RELATIVE TO THE

BLUEPRINT.

I CAN’T THANK OUR PRESENTERS ENOUGH FOR SPENDING THIS TIME WITH US

THIS MORNING, AND I THINK RICKS WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING IN ADDITION.

LET ME TURN IT TO YOU, RICK.

RICK HODGKINS: THANK YOU, DR. RAYNOR. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A

FOLLOW UP ANSWER TO THAT VERY LAST QUESTION ABOUT – IT’S GOOD THAT

THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE COMING ABOARD WITH THIS, AS I DON’T KNOW

IF AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE HAS DONE SO. I WISH THAT THE COLLEGES UP

HERE IN THE LOS RIOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES

AMERICAN RIVER, FOLSOM LAKE, SAC CITY AND CONSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE

WOULD FOLLOW SUIT AS WELL.

AND WITH REGARDS TO THE UC AND CSU’S, I HAVE HAD THOUGHTS HAD

WANTING TO ATTEND A CSU AND A UC TO GET MY DEGREES IN PSYCHOLOGY.

BECAUSE THE ISSUE THAT I SEE IS, TO GO FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO

THE CSU AND-OR UC, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WITH DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES – AND I’M REFERRING TO MYSELF – HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH

ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY, AND TRIGONOMETRY. SO HOW CAN WE GET PEOPLE

THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE MYSELF WITH ACADEMIC CHALLENGES DUE TO

THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, HOW CAN WE GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND

– I MEAN, WE CAN’T BE EXPECTED – A LOT OF PEOPLE AT MY REGIONAL CENTER

37

THINK THAT SINCE I HAVE SUCH GOOD VERBAL SKILLS AND SUCH GOOD

VOCABULARY, THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD GO HAND AND HAND. WHEREAS I

WANT TO STRESS, FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING FROM THE REGIONAL CENTER

SYSTEM, YOU CAN’T EXPECT SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF TO LEARN THINGS THE WAY

THEY ARE PRESENTED SIMPLY BECAUSE I HAVE A HIGH VERBAL IQ. IT’S GOING TO

HAVE TO BE TAUGHT IN A WAY THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE YOU ARE

SETTING ME AND A LOT OF OTHER CONSUMERS AND SELF ADVOCATES UP FOR

FAILURE. THANK YOU.

OLIVIA RAYNOR: SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO WRAP THINGS UP AND SAY

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE ATTENDEES. I WANT TO ECHO MARTY’S COMMENT

THAT WE ALL SHARE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT.

WE WILL BE POSTING THIS WEBINAR ON OUR WEBSITE. IF THAT IS A TOOL TO

HELP YOU IN ANY DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU HAVE, PLEASE DO USE IT.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, AND MORE TO COME. SO

THANK YOU AGAIN, AND HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR

ATTENDING.