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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

CIL-NET and SILC-NET Present… A National Teleconference & Webinar: Working Together – Building a Statewide IL Network through CIL & SILC Collaboration

IL-NET Logo - CIL-NET + SILC-NETCenters for Independent Living (CILs) and the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) must collaborate in order to create an effective statewide IL network. It’s not just good practice, it’s required by law. The Rehab Act requires CILs and the SILC to collaborate on composition of the SILC, development and approval of the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL), and supporting a statewide network of CILs. This is something all CILs and SILCs should strive for, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Building a strong statewide network takes years to create and a concerted effort to maintain.

Join us on August 14 to hear how this partnership works in Kansas, where the SILC and CILs have remained committed to their network – and excelled – through difficult times.

Registration Fee: $75.00. Fee is per site (connection) and does not apply per participant; registrants are encouraged to gather as many individuals as desired to participate by telephone. 

Target Audience:

  • CIL & SILC Executive Directors, Council and board members, staff, and any others interested in strengthening the statewide partnership between CILs and the SILC.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will have knowledge and resources that will enable them to:

  • Describe statutory requirements related to developing collaborative relationships between CILs and the SILC.
  • Identify strategic processes for developing and maintaining a strong statewide network to advocate, collaborate, and deal with statewide issues as a team.
  • Describe examples of common barriers and ongoing collaboration, projects, and advocacy solutions.

Meet Your Presenters

Kathy Cooper is the Executive Director for the SILC of KS since 2013. She has a long history of IL and advocacy in KS, over 20 years, and some of her previous positions include; The Coordinator for Capacity Building Initiative for KS Rehabilitation Services, the Director of Home and Community Based Services at Coalition for Independence, and the Legislative Advocate at Resource Center for Independent Living. She has a B.G.S. in Psychology from the University of Kansas. Her areas of expertise for SILC mentoring include: SILC and CIL partnerships, SILC and State Agency partnerships, SILC and local disability organization partnerships, Nonprofit Bylaws and policies, Efficient Board meetings, Utilizing a “working” board and resolving issues with the DSE.

Bob Mikesic is a Co-Executive Director at Independence, Inc., a Center for Independent Living in Lawrence, Kansas serving people with disabilities in Douglas, Jefferson, and Franklin counties. He’s a member of the SPIL Housing Workgroup and SPIL Advocacy Committee. Doing and teaching self-advocacy based on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act and other disability rights laws and practices has been a primary activity during his involvement in the independent living/disability rights movement since 1976.

Deone Wilson is the Executive Director of the Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc. in Osage City, Kansas where she has worked for over eleven years. She has a B.S. for Emporia State University and has worked for non-profit organizations for over 25 years. Wilson recently termed of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas where she served as the CIL representative, Vice-Chair, and was very involved in the development of the current and previous SPIL, the policy committee and other workgroups. Wilson greatly values the positive and productive relationships the Centers for Independent Living in Kansas have with the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas.

 

The IL-NET is a national training and technical assistance project for centers for independent living and statewide independent living councils. The IL-NET is operated by Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), and Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities.

The IL-NET is supported by grant numbers 90ILTA0001 and 90ISTA0001 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.