93 Gooding Avenue Bristol, RI 02809 401-253-8949 401-253-8929 Fax		Executive Director Reports Access this web site in French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish at Alta Vista Translator - Click Here Executive Director’s Annual Report September 26, 2007 As we look back this fiscal year, it is important to evaluate and compare our mandate with the Council’s actual accomplishments. Through committee initiative and action, continual recruitment efforts, community sponsorship and collaboration with other organizations, 2007 has seen success in furthering independent living in Rhode Island. Achievements such as developing the new SPIL 2008-10, developing a pro-active legislative agenda, revising and resuming the Mentoring Program, welcoming five new Council Members, five new committee volunteers and new part time staff, and sponsoring and collaborating with others in the disability community are demonstrations of the Council’s dedication to implementing its charge. The State Plan/Monitoring Committee developed and wrote the new SPIL 2008-10. This committee is comprised of representatives from the Council, the Centers, ORS and other state agencies that provide support, advocacy or services to individuals with disabilities. All members of the State Plan Committee devoted considerable time and energy to its development. In addition, the committee worked with a new format and requirement of measurable outcomes for the goals and objectives. Drafts of the goals and objectives were debated, developed, written and rewritten. Their hard work produced a fine, workable document that was approved unanimously by the Council in June, signed by ORS and Council representatives and forwarded to the federal government for approval. Beginning with this new State Plan, the Council's funding source will change from Title VII Part B to Title I Innovation and Expansion Funds. This positive change allows all Part B funds to go to the Centers for services, while continuing the Council's independence and composition. After many meetings, research and review, the Council and ORS reached agreement on a level resource plan for the RISILC of $ 136,984 for each year of the SPIL 08-10. Through out the past year, the Leadership Development and Advocacy (LDA) Committee worked hard to develop a pro-active legislative agenda. After research and debate on a number of disability related issues, the committee, with Council approval, decided to focus its efforts on the Olmstead Resolution. Letters of support were sent to the Speaker of the House and local State Representatives. The resolution passed and a task force will be appointed shortly. Independent Living will be well represented with the appointment of representatives from OSCIL and PARI. I expect the Council, especially the LDA Committee, to give input and be available as a resource. In addition to the Olmstead Resolution, the Council supported having the AutoMarks voting machines ready for use when the polls opened, as well as, passage of H5969 requiring all candidates who receive public matching funds to make their television commercials accessible through using closed captioning. I want to emphasize that the LDA Committee is developing and organizing a November 9, 2007 forum titled “Election 2008: The Disability Voice.” This promises to be an educational and exciting forum. So, please watch for details and mark your calendars to attend. The Mentoring Program was revised and resumed in January. It now consists of six interactive monthly sessions. The reason for the development of this program was to further educate existing Council Members and newly recruited volunteers in order to increase knowledge about the Council, the Centers, and their role in implementing independent living in Rhode Island. I want to thank Rick Costa, Pro Lyon, Tanja Blicker, Susan Shepardson, Al Iacobbo and Jane Slade and Marika Terlecky for their participation. I am pleased to report that the following five new Members joined the Council in the year 2007: Pro Lyon, Tanja Blicker, Marika Terlecky, Mary Wambach and Liz Graves. The following five volunteers joined committees: Al Iacobbo, Jane Signorelli-Slade, Susan Shepardson, Alexandra Gonzales and Kristen Connors. Our new part time staff person is Lisel Rockwood; her title is Program Assistant. Here is to their continued commitment and involvement with the Council. Their efforts are greatly appreciated. It is our commitment to Independent Living that brings us together and fuels our efforts. The strides made and accomplishments achieved in 2007 are testament to that commitment; but, as we all know, there is still much work to be done. ALL people with disabilities need to know they can choose to live independently. Policy makers need to understand, support and pass legislation that furthers Independent Living. For 2008, we must all strengthen our commitment and expand our efforts to advance Independent Living, our most important charge. Respectfully submitted, Camille L. Pansa Executive Director’s Quarterly Report December 14, 2007 At the quarterly meeting on December 14, 2007, the Council will vote to approve the 2007 704 Report. The submittal of this monitoring report will effectively end the SPIL 2005-2007. This year’s 704 Report came together very quickly thanks to the help and support of Judith Kapuscinski, Pat Ryherd, and Ron Racine. ORS has generously printed copies of the new SPIL 2008-2010 for the Council. Copies will be distributed at the quarterly meeting. Considerable time and effort went into the SPIL development. Now it is time to begin its implementation to that end. Everyone needs to thoughtfully and thoroughly review this document and ask themselves how the RISILC can help and support its goals and objectives. The past few months have been extremely productive for the Membership Committee. After considerable outreach efforts, the Committee saw success in recruiting from the unserved and underserved communities. Silvermoon Mars, a Native American, and Alston Davis, a war veteran who is disabled have joined the Leadership Development and Advocacy Committee (LDA). Additional new volunteers, all consumers, are Margarita Grome (LDA), Anna Liebenow (LDA), and Lucien Perron (Finance Committee). I look forward to their help and support in advancing independent living. I will resume the Mentoring Program in January 2008. The exact date and time will be announced shortly. While all new volunteers are expected to attend, the mentoring sessions are open to any and all Council members who would like to refresh or enhance their knowledge of independent living, IL philosophy, CILs, and SILC. I can report that the first quarter resource funds were received on November 28, 2007. Because these funds were delayed, it necessitated drawing $13,000 from our line of credit with the bank in order to pay bills and meet payroll. Drawing on this line of credit has incurred unanticipated interest charges. We still have not received sole source designation. ORS has expressed confidence that it is forthcoming. Also, the Auditor began the yearly audit on December 3rd. He is expected to report his findings in January 2008. In October, I sent a letter on the behalf of RISILC to Dr. Nelson, Director of Mental Health Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH) expressing our concern over the shared living option for people who are developmentally disabled. The letter asked that there be regulations, as opposed to standards in place for this option. Regulations would require public hearings and enforceable statutes to help insure the safety and support of this vulnerable population. The letter also addressed the need for consumer choice to be a part of shared living. I am very pleased that Dr. Nelson has asked to meet with me and other Council members to discuss this further. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 9:00am at our Bristol office. The New Year promises to be a busy one with the new SPIL, but also an exciting one of new endeavors. I look forward to your continuing active participation and hard work. Respectfully submitted, Camille L. Pansa

93 Gooding Avenue

Bristol, RI 02809

401-253-8949

401-253-8929 Fax

Executive Director Reports

Access this web site in French, German, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish at Alta Vista Translator - Click Here

Executive Director’s Annual Report

September 26, 2007

As we look back this fiscal year, it is important to evaluate and compare our mandate with the Council’s actual accomplishments. Through committee initiative and action, continual recruitment efforts, community sponsorship and collaboration with other organizations, 2007 has seen success in furthering independent living in Rhode Island. Achievements such as developing the new SPIL 2008-10, developing a pro-active legislative agenda, revising and resuming the Mentoring Program, welcoming five new Council Members, five new committee volunteers and new part time staff, and sponsoring and collaborating with others in the disability community are demonstrations of the Council’s dedication to implementing its charge.

The State Plan/Monitoring Committee developed and wrote the new SPIL 2008-10. This committee is comprised of representatives from the Council, the Centers, ORS and other state agencies that provide support, advocacy or services to individuals with disabilities. All members of the State Plan Committee devoted considerable time and energy to its development. In addition, the committee worked with a new format and requirement of measurable outcomes for the goals and objectives. Drafts of the goals and objectives were debated, developed, written and rewritten. Their hard work produced a fine, workable document that was approved unanimously by the Council in June, signed by ORS and Council representatives and forwarded to the federal government for approval.

Beginning with this new State Plan, the Council's funding source will change from Title VII Part B to Title I Innovation and Expansion Funds. This positive change allows all Part B funds to go to the Centers for services, while continuing the Council's independence and composition. After many meetings, research and review, the Council and ORS reached agreement on a level resource plan for the RISILC of $ 136,984 for each year of the SPIL 08-10.

Through out the past year, the Leadership Development and Advocacy (LDA) Committee worked hard to develop a pro-active legislative agenda. After research and debate on a number of disability related issues, the committee, with Council approval, decided to focus its efforts on the Olmstead Resolution. Letters of support were sent to the Speaker of the House and local State Representatives. The resolution passed and a task force will be appointed shortly. Independent Living will be well represented with the appointment of representatives from OSCIL and PARI. I expect the Council, especially the LDA Committee, to give input and be available as a resource. In addition to the Olmstead Resolution, the Council supported having the AutoMarks voting machines ready for use when the polls opened, as well as, passage of H5969 requiring all candidates who receive public matching funds to make their television commercials accessible through using closed captioning.

I want to emphasize that the LDA Committee is developing and organizing a November 9, 2007 forum titled “Election 2008: The Disability Voice.” This promises to be an educational and exciting forum. So, please watch for details and mark your calendars to attend.

The Mentoring Program was revised and resumed in January. It now consists of six interactive monthly sessions. The reason for the development of this program was to further educate existing Council Members and newly recruited volunteers in order to increase knowledge about the Council, the Centers, and their role in implementing independent living in Rhode Island. I want to thank Rick Costa, Pro Lyon, Tanja Blicker, Susan Shepardson, Al Iacobbo and Jane Slade and Marika Terlecky for their participation.

I am pleased to report that the following five new Members joined the Council in the year 2007: Pro Lyon, Tanja Blicker, Marika Terlecky, Mary Wambach and Liz Graves. The following five volunteers joined committees: Al Iacobbo, Jane Signorelli-Slade, Susan Shepardson, Alexandra Gonzales and Kristen Connors. Our new part time staff person is Lisel Rockwood; her title is Program Assistant. Here is to their continued commitment and involvement with the Council. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.

It is our commitment to Independent Living that brings us together and fuels our efforts. The strides made and accomplishments achieved in 2007 are testament to that commitment; but, as we all know, there is still much work to be done. ALL people with disabilities need to know they can choose to live independently. Policy makers need to understand, support and pass legislation that furthers Independent Living. For 2008, we must all strengthen our commitment and expand our efforts to advance Independent Living, our most important charge.

Respectfully submitted,

Camille L. Pansa

Executive Director’s Quarterly Report

December 14, 2007

At the quarterly meeting on December 14, 2007, the Council will vote to approve the 2007 704 Report. The submittal of this monitoring report will effectively end the SPIL 2005-2007. This year’s 704 Report came together very quickly thanks to the help and support of Judith Kapuscinski, Pat Ryherd, and Ron Racine.

ORS has generously printed copies of the new SPIL 2008-2010 for the Council. Copies will be distributed at the quarterly meeting. Considerable time and effort went into the SPIL development. Now it is time to begin its implementation to that end. Everyone needs to thoughtfully and thoroughly review this document and ask themselves how the RISILC can help and support its goals and objectives.

The past few months have been extremely productive for the Membership Committee. After considerable outreach efforts, the Committee saw success in recruiting from the unserved and underserved communities. Silvermoon Mars, a Native American, and Alston Davis, a war veteran who is disabled have joined the Leadership Development and Advocacy Committee (LDA). Additional new volunteers, all consumers, are Margarita Grome (LDA), Anna Liebenow (LDA), and Lucien Perron (Finance Committee). I look forward to their help and support in advancing independent living.

I will resume the Mentoring Program in January 2008. The exact date and time will be announced shortly. While all new volunteers are expected to attend, the mentoring sessions are open to any and all Council members who would like to refresh or enhance their knowledge of independent living, IL philosophy, CILs, and SILC.

I can report that the first quarter resource funds were received on November 28, 2007. Because these funds were delayed, it necessitated drawing $13,000 from our line of credit with the bank in order to pay bills and meet payroll. Drawing on this line of credit has incurred unanticipated interest charges. We still have not received sole source designation. ORS has expressed confidence that it is forthcoming. Also, the Auditor began the yearly audit on December 3rd. He is expected to report his findings in January 2008.

In October, I sent a letter on the behalf of RISILC to Dr. Nelson, Director of Mental Health Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH) expressing our concern over the shared living option for people who are developmentally disabled. The letter asked that there be regulations, as opposed to standards in place for this option. Regulations would require public hearings and enforceable statutes to help insure the safety and support of this vulnerable population. The letter also addressed the need for consumer choice to be a part of shared living. I am very pleased that Dr. Nelson has asked to meet with me and other Council members to discuss this further. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 9:00am at our Bristol office.

The New Year promises to be a busy one with the new SPIL, but also an exciting one of new endeavors. I look forward to your continuing active participation and hard work.

Respectfully submitted,

Camille L. Pansa