Tools for Life Advisory Council Meeting Minutes August 24, 2006 Members Attending: Cindy Milstead and Erin (Walton Options);Allan Goldman (Division of Aging Services);, Jerilyn Leverett (Disability Connections); Pat Hanus (Tech-Able); Starla Steinmann (GA Dept. of Labor/Workforce Development); Beth Tumlin, Chris Brand (FODAC), Joanne Willis (ReBoot-ATRC), Anne Warley, Chris Brand, Gigi Taylor, Jackie Wilks-Weathers Members Absent:: Kenny Blanchard*, Minna Hong, Lou Nations-Miller, Laura Overstreet, Curtis Rodgers, Naomi Walker*, Staff Attending: Doris Chadwell, Connie Freier, Maya Mattison, Tom Patterson, Liz Persaud, Carolyn Phillips, Martha Rust Discussion began with: CC Fund – Joe Tedesco * $2,000 raised so far. * Carolyn asked for input on the fund. Beth has exp. w/ the Maritta Enrichment fund. Will share process w/ Tech-Able. * Cindy M. – silent auction. Alan agreed. Beth-Civitans do large auction and she will share that process. * Sunday school classes – create a basket for donation * Dine out for Carolyn in Athens for Conf. – Jackie offered to assist in writing proposal. Sub Committee? * Beth * Alan Welcome and Meeting Introduction - Carolyn Carolyn welcomed Advisory Council members and staff to the Council meeting. After introductions, Carolyn called upon Council members to submit the names of potential new members. LiveAccess Update Carolyn and Doris Chadwell explained how LiveAccess might be useful for members who have difficulty getting here (Kenny Blanchard, Judy Bearden). * Alan Goldman asked how much LiveAccess would cost? Carolyn responded that she estimated it would be about $12,000 a year (portions of which may be written into other grants). * Alan asked if TFL had considered using GSAMS? * Beth asked if we had spoken with anyone who has used LiveAcces and if it could be used from home. * Alan suggested in we might be able to use conference calling so that members who could not make the meeting, could participate in some way. * Anne’s mom asked about one time rental of webcasting service, and asked shared her experience using Skype. * Joe suggested pay for service training to pay for the cost TFL State Plan Amendments – will update yearly Carolyn explained the process of submitting annual amendments to the TFL State Plan. She expressed appreciation for the Council’s input. Carolyn said she would send out the amendments via email and post to the TFL web site. Town Hall Meetings Highlights * AT Co-op * More TH meetings * More centers, more access (especially in south GA) The Town Halls served multiple functions. They were: * Marketing tools * Informational gathering tools * A part of amending the State Plan Alan reinforced need to get out there and boost visibility even if doing it is labor intensive. He remarked on the good input from audiences in the Town Hall he attended. Starla expressed some concern that the attendees appeared to be “mostly us” and wondered if we were “preaching to the choir.” I was agreed, however, that each person who came then went out and touched others. Carolyn noted that TFL had seen an increase in emails and calls. She noted that the Town Halls stimulated contacts in new regions and provided an opportunity for local agencies who had not necessarily been working together to talk about how they might partner. Jackie Wilks suggested that DVD of the Town Hall presentations might enable a wider audience to be involved. Chris Brand asked about the possibility of webinars ? Pat Hanus stressed that now that there is an initial connection, we could go back to those areas and have larger audiences, maybe even through LiveAccess. Co-op Issues: vendors are aware of idea and are communicating with each other (FCC law – Beth) Joanne is working with a group on co-ops. Carolyn said that pending grants have been submitted, the concept of the Co-op will be reconsidered. In the meantime we will explore relationships with VR and DOE AT Reuse Grant John Hager, Assistant Secretary of expressed hope that GA was going after grants Two proposals have been announced. One is a National Technical Assistance Center, the other is for a demonstration project to start or expand AT reuse within a state or region. An enthusiastic discussion followed about how Georgia might be involved. Carolyn explained the difference between the terms: recycle, reuse, and refurbish. Tools for Independence Center Concept (see Carolyn’s PowerPoint) Areas of Service (Jerilyn) Info refer Skill building Peer support Advocacy New: AT needed, gained access Health Care GA – Chris suggested partnering – mobile units Conference Jerilyn Leverette will coordinate ATRC staffing of exhibit hall Martha Rust is working on logistics and requested information on who planned to attend and if they would be volunteering. She said that most volunteers would be staying at GameDay, a condo complex that rents out units. Individuals will make own arrangements. Doris described how she is working with the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) track. There was a discussion of how Scholarships would be awarded and used. Each center will have over $5,000 to distribute to staff and clients.= Collaborations Martha told how she and Joy Kniskern will be presenting at ATIA and AT funding. Contract w/FODAC Dollars & Sense Funding Guide – Martha went through web site Web Site – Liz & Connie Requested info from Adv. Council Connie will be going to each center to link web sites Credit Able – Jackie Wilks-Weathers 2006 (to date) * 22 loans per yr. * 10 denied * 3 withdrawn 2005 (11 loans) * $423,000 in loans * Interest Rates – under 7% – 4% * 10 – 6.04% * Jackie described how she is exploring the possibility of a uniform rate (5% or something) for all borrowers. * Majority of loans went for adaptive vehicles * Wants to expand services * Areas Agencies on Aging * ˝ time in field in community – presentations, helping with apps * Has created a flow-chart of process * Has begun Direct Mail campaign – family connection coordinators in each county, hearing aid vendors, etc., and follow ups with consumers * United Way Resource * Jackie will be attending / presenting at many conferences * RESNA provides TA to AFP – Iowa program will mentor ATRC Highlights Disability Connections highlighted their progress. Discussed the Centers for Independent Living concept and the federal cut in Independent Living Centers. The first episode of DC’s cable TV program has been completed. The second and third episodes are in the works. TFL matching grant and Governor’s DD Council grant for pilot TV shows, Macon mayor agreed to air for free. Will show excerpts at a legislative lunch on September 21. TFL is considering additional funding towards equipment. TFL will also get video from projects. Will be on web site. ReBoot-ATRC – * Increase in getting out equipment * Collaborations – Healthy grandparents GSU, national fed of blind, Jewish center day program, increased donations, * Increased staff skills via training * Many visits to ReBoot – RESNA, Pass it on, RSA, Blaze sports * TFL additional grants went to equipment Tech-Able * State Rehab Council – invited to attend * Grant writer came in * Computer training class – Sally volunteered * Training many more clients – * Kristen: GA Highland College – space – Cartersville, Rome * Tech-Reach – new sites at colleges? * Intern – programmer, switch, mouse operated easily create books (Flash Books), working on Flash Test * AMAC – will supply training & materials to prisoners to make switch Consortium Legislative Update - Tom Bauer * Good year at state, avoided 2% cut, $30 k extra * Federal – AT Act, $30 - $29 million (increase from $24 m – to include AFP) * Tom will be in Washington next week and will advocate * E-text – building momentum at Regent level, AMAC got $800,000 for clearing house for model materials, good e-text bill, looking for grant for student advocates * Total state - $231,000 – equip & training for consortium * Money for TFL - > $200,000, had cuts Next Meeting Gigi Taylor graciously offered the use of her home as the location for our holiday meeting on November 29. * Potluck, white elephant * Rockdale County gift (unwrapped) * Connie will coordinate ARC meeting – Beth Tumlin, Maya will send out save the date, Sept 16 in Macon (wwww.thearcofgeorgia.org)