STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL
April 17, 2019
11:30am – 2:30 pm
Granite State Independent Living Office 
21 Chenell Drive, Concord, NH 
Members and Nominees:  Jeff Dickinson, Andrew Harmon, Rose Prescott, Marcia Golembeski, Shellie Lemelin, Gary Whitmarsh, Dorine Pelletier, Carrie Dudley, Joan Marcoux, Christopher Emerson, Susan Wolf-Downes
Staff: Jennifer Beaulieu
Communications Assistance: Laurie Meyer and Rachel Farrell (interpreters) and Donna Wells (CART)
Guests: Maureen Shields, Ellie Kimball, and Vilay Skidds from the NH Legislative Budget Assistant 
The SILC meeting was called to order by Chair Jeff Dickinson at 11:32 AM.  Attendance was taken via introductions. 
*Quorum was reached.
Presentation from Maureen Shields at the PIC
Maureen Shields from the Parent Information Center (PIC) spoke at the beginning of the meeting about the services the PIC provides. The PIC provides services such as information, training, connections, resources, support, and more in areas such as special education, children with special health-care needs, parent/school/community partnerships, parent involvement, early childhood issues, secondary transition, youth involvement and self-advocacy, and positive systems change. She also answered questions from the audience. 

Review and Approval of February Minutes
Andrew suggested that GSIL should be spelled out and the address listed out.
He also mentioned that Jen should get rid of the double negative under the GCD (Governor’s Commission on Disability) item. 
Susan asked that her last name be changed to Wolf-Downes instead of Wolfe-Downes. 

*Motion to approve February 20th Minutes with suggested edits
Motion to Approve: 			First Vice Chair Marcia Golembeski
Second: 				Shellie Lemelin
All in Favor: Yes		Motion Carries	

10 Year Transportation Plan
Jeff started off mentioning that one of the activities that the transportation task force is working on is advocacy involving the 10-year transportation plan. They are aiming to improve accessible transportation options around the state by advocating for it to be put into the 10-year plan. He mentioned the fact that at past 10-year plan development meetings the notes reflect expressed interest in having more transportation options for people with disabilities and the elderly, but this interest is not reflected in the final plan. He mentioned that there are a lot of opportunities for members of the SILC to be involved in the development of the 10-year plan. He went into detail about the different timeframes for updating the 10-year plan.  He mentioned that the public hearings would be a good way for the SILC to get some input on the plan. 
He noted that the SCC (State Coordinating Council) is a group of transportation providers, networks, government officials, etc. that meet every month on the first Thursday. Marcia and Andrew have gone to quite a few SCC meetings over the last couple of years and are becoming fixtures at those meetings. The SCC has regional coordinating councils. Andrew, Marcia, and Shellie attend their regional state coordinating councils. Shellie is also involved with the COAST bus. 
Andrew commented that New Hampshire Public Radio recently had Senator Maggie Hassan on as a guest. He emailed her asking if she will be able to help us get additional funding for public transportation. She mentioned that the main source of funding for transportation is the gas tax which is constitutionally required to go only to roads and bridges. Andrew mentioned that the SILC and the public could look into trying to get a constitutional amendment to try and spend some of that money for public transportation.

Reports of the SPIL Implementation Task Forces
Expansion of IL Services in the State
Rose reported that she is researching resources on accessible and affordable housing. She mentioned that 211 housing resources had multiple lists for different types of housing. She found some phone numbers on some websites.
Rose listed the questions she included on her part of the community living and recreation survey. Carrie listed her questions which are similar to Rose’s but focus more on parents and young adults. 
Carrie reported that they were trying to get the survey questions ready for the Champions of Aging Health Fair. Rose mentioned that Tobey was concerned about having the survey questions done right. 
Jeff suggested that that the survey questions could be worked into the survey we are going to use for the SPIL as we start developing a new one for the next three years.  Rose and Carrie will forward the questions to Jen and Jeff so Jen can send them to the group in case anyone has suggestions or edits. 
Expansion of Accessible and Affordable Transportation
Jeff reported that they are continuing to work on gathering information and resources on transportation to put on the website. 
They are also trying to make sure the MCOs (Managed Care Organizations) are meeting the transportation needs of their consumers with disabilities, so consumers can make their appointments. They hope by August to get feedback from consumers on their experiences with receiving transportation services from the MCOs. 
Jeff also reported he hopes to partner up with the SALT (Self-Advocacy Leadership Team) and the MCAC (Medical Care Advisory Committee) which is the advisory body for the state Medicaid program. 
The task force has a goal to get involved in the 10-year plan for transportation. 
Shellie announced that she got a notice from COAST about a pilot program during the summer for folks who live in Dover, Somersworth, and Portsmouth. They are going to be able to ride on specific days from their homes to specific places such as Market Basket or Walmart. In this program, you get an hour and a half for shopping and a 20 pound limit. The driver will load and unload the bags. A round-trip costs $4. Andrew mentioned that there was a similar program in Keene, but it only went 2x a month. Shellie noted that she will send the information to Gary, Jen, and Jeff so Jen can share it and post it on the website as recommend by Gary. 
Jeff reported that the task force is looking into what other states are doing when it comes to transportation and seeing if they can be implemented in NH. 
Marcia, Andrew, and Shellie have been active in their regional coordinating councils. Shellie has also been active with COAST. 
One of the other things they are doing is monitoring SB 216-FN, a bill related to autonomous vehicles which creates an oversight commission and commits to developing a process for allowing autonomous vehicle use initially for testing but then for regular use on the road. He mentioned that there was a bill last year that was similar, but it got vetoed because the governor felt that it wasn’t specific enough and not inclusive enough of all the types of autonomous vehicles that are being worked on. 
Jeff lastly mentioned that having PIC involved in the discussions and identification of solutions related to Objective 1 is in-progress. The first step towards that was reaching out to PIC and having a speaker from the PIC. 
School to Work and Nursing Home Transition Services
Susan reported that they made progress with their task force. She mentioned that having the PIC speak at today’s meeting met Goal 3, Objective 4, Activity B.
She noted that Goal 3, Objective 4, Activity B was met when Nancy Diamond and Valerie Kidder came from GSIL to talk about their PCA program. They still need a PCA to join the committee which relates to Goal 3, Objective 4, Activity C. Jeff is looking for a PCA that can join the committee and the council. 
Susan mentioned that we need to work together on collaboration with other organizations.
She mentioned that the Champions of Aging Health Fair will have Northeast Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services staff to interpret and provide CART at the fair. 
In a response to a question from Marcia, Susan reported that a lot of the objectives are completed; some of them are ongoing such as advocacy. She mentioned that there will always be a need for advocacy and that each disability group needs to constantly work on advocacy around their specific needs.
Marcia asked about any specifics around school to work transition. Susan responded that there have been some challenges such as how the DOE assists someone who is under 21. She went into detail about people who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing in NH often have to be sent out-of-state to the New England for the Deaf even though it would be cheaper to keep people here.
Susan lastly mentioned that she will be retiring in July. She mentioned that she wants to make sure the new Executive Director will be a member of the SILC and has put that requirement into the management plan.

Membership Update
Jen noted that she created both a new appointment nomination letter and a reappointment letter. She collected all the required documents and will send over the documents to the Governor after Jeff signs them.
Jeff highlighted the need to have more members with disabilities on the council.
Andrew mentioned that he spread the word about SILC at the last NH State Convention for the National Federation of the Blind. 

Champions of Aging Health Fair Exhibit Update
Gary mentioned that he will be going to the Ludholm gym on April 27th from 10:00am to 1:00pm for the Champions of Aging Health Fair, along with Shellie and Marcia. Carrie will be joining for a bit. Marcia and Gary will go visit around the other exhibits and hand out SLC brochures before the fair starts.
It was also reported that we have SILC brochures, pens, business cards, and a banner. Half of them will be brought to the conference while the other half will be stored in Jen’s desk at the GCD. He also mentioned that he designed a SILC t-shirt and mentioned he could order them and the prices will go down as quantities go up. He also designed a table cloth for exhibits that says SILC NH but it costs $300 to order it.
Gary noted that maybe we could have a smaller survey and bring it to the exhibit. Use three or five questions. 
Jen mentioned that she asked Lisa Hinson-Hatz at VR about using SILC funding for future exhibits and exhibit materials. Lisa responded that some exhibit materials such as pamphlets would be permitted, but promotional items such as pens would not. Registration fees for members to attend conferences will be covered if there is funding available. Jen is waiting to hear back from Lisa on whether or not exhibit table registration fees will be covered. 

Other Business
Dorine mentioned that we should advocate for Maureen Shields from the PIC to come join the SILC. Marcia mentioned that she spoke with her on that subject and she said she will ask the Executive Director to see if there was somebody on their council who can serve.
Jen mentioned that the Governor’s Commission on Disability will be having its 2019 New Hampshire Governor’s Accessibility Awards. She said that she will forward the information on this to the group.
Chris Emerson mentioned that on April 25th there will be an event for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people and will send info on it to Jen to share. 
Vilay Skidds introduced herself as working for the Legislative Budget Assistant and mentioned that they/she are conducting an audit of NH Vocational Rehabilitation. She handed out her business cards and answered questions related to the order of selection. 

Adjournment
*Motion to adjourn
Motion to Approve:			Andrew Harmon				
Second:				Christopher Emerson
All in Favor: Yes		Motion Carries
Meeting was adjourned at 2:32pm. 

NEXT SILC MEETING: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 in Room 100, Walker Building.
Recorded by Jennifer Beaulieu