WV Developmental Disabilities Council

Five Year State Plan

FFY 2007-2011

 Council Mission 

The Developmental Disabilities Council is a State agency established by Executive Order of the Governor in 1972 and is funded by the Federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Council membership is by appointment of the Governor and is composed of over sixty percent (60%) persons with developmental disabilities and family members. The Council also includes representatives of State government and other public and private organizations.

The Council’s mission is to assure that West Virginia citizens who have developmental disabilities receive the services, supports and opportunities they need to achieve self-determination, independence, integration, and inclusion in their communities.

Developing the Plan

 Under the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (PL 106-402) ( DD Act), the Council is required to develop a five year strategic State Plan that addresses the most pressing needs of persons with developmental disabilities and their families. The Plan priorities and goals are based on information obtained through a variety of activities carried out in the Spring of 2006, including public forums, needs surveys, and review of relevant reports and studies. Persons with developmental disabilities, family members, providers, advocates, government representatives, and interested citizens participated in those activities.

The Council, as stipulated by the DD Act, coordinated activities that encouraged people to provide their views on a wide range of issues affecting people with developmental disabilities and their families in the areas of: Employment, Education, Child Care, Health Care, Transportation, Recreation, Housing and Quality Assurance. Based on the needs assessment activities, the Council has selected four major areas of emphasis to address in the new Five Year State Plan:

Quality Assurance

• Employment
• Education
• Recreation

A draft Plan was distributed widely and made available for public comment for public comment on June 1, 2006. A Plan Workgroup of the Council met in July to consider the comments received and to refine the goal statements, prioritize the goals, and identify strategies. A final Plan was submitted to the ADD on August 15, 2006, following final approval by the Council. The Plan will be provided to State policy makers, program managers, and other systems partners for their use as well.

What Does The Council Do?

The DD Act guides Council’s actions and authorizes it to engage in capacity building, advocacy, and systems change activities that are designed to bring about a family centered, comprehensive, and coordinated array of services and supports. Council activities include training and technical assistance, demonstration of innovative programs, outreach, applied research, supporting and educating communities, interagency collaboration, barrier elimination, and development of citizen coalitions. The Council also works to develop public policy recommendations which promote its vision and mission for supporting persons with developmental disabilities.

The State DD Network Partners

The DD Act provides a mandate and guidance to states for planning and collaboration among the DD Councils, protection and advocacy programs, and the Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Staff from the West Virginia Advocates and West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities have collaborated with the Council in the State Plan development process.

Developmental Disabilities Definition

Developmental disability is defined in the DD Act as:

 (A) In general, a severe, chronic disability of an individual that –

 is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;

• is manifested before the individual attains age 22;
• is likely to continue indefinitely;
• results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity:
• Self-Care.
• Receptive and expressive language.
• Learning.
• Mobility.
• Self-direction.
• Capacity for Independent Living.
• Economic self-sufficiency; and
• Reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated

(B) Infants and Young Children – An individual from birth to age 9, inclusive, who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition, may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting 3 or more criteria described in clauses a) through e) of subparagraphs (A) if the individual, without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life.

 AREAS OF EMPHASIS, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES

I. QUALITY ASSURANCE

 Council’s Desired Outcomes in Quality Assurance:West Virginia’s developmental disabilities service systems will be grounded in person-centered principles. Definitions of quality in services will be described by persons with developmental disabilities as well as nationally recognized standards. Service providers focus on the support of individual rights, self-advocacy, the protection of vulnerable people, and the promotion of self-determination. State government and service providers will be accountable in the provision of services and supports to people with developmental disabilities and their families. People with developmental disabilities and families will participate in the design of and have access to needed community services.

Family Support

 Goal 1 More families who have members with developmental disabilities will receive the services and supports they need.

 Strategies and Activities

 1a) Provide funds to support attendance by people with developmental disabilities and their families to in-state training events/conferences.

 1b) Sponsor and coordinate training events on issues important to families including: guardianship, wills, and trusts; improving in-home services and relationships with providers and; the legislative process.

1c) Collaborate with the West Virginia Family Support Program and others to strengthen assurances that families receive education/training about their family member’s rights, grievance procedures, and access to advocacy services.

 1d) Educate policy makers about the needs of families.

Self-Advocacy

Goal 1 More people with developmental disabilities will develop self-advocacy skills through leadership training opportunities and participation on local advocacy coalitions.

 Strategies and Activities

1a) Fund and support the development of a self-advocacy organization for persons with developmental disabilities.

1b) Sponsor and coordinate annual training for persons with developmental disabilities and/or families of young children with developmental disabilities on the legislative process.

1c) Support a cross-disability organization focused on public policy change and self-advocacy.

1d) Sponsor training about the history of de- institutionalization in West Virginia as told through personal stories.

 Workforce Development

Goal 1 Recruitment, development, and retention of qualified direct support personnel will be improved.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Fund independent studies/investigations, and reports on the direct support workforce and its relationship to the quality of supports provided to people with developmental disabilities.

1b) Support and promote a demonstration project that includes values based training and credentialing strategies for direct support workers.

1c) Collaborate with multiple stakeholders in planning, advocacy, research, data collection, and public policy advocacy to strengthen the direct support workforce.

1d) Support and promote the development of direct support workforce credentialing/curricula in vocational education programs and community/technical colleges.

1e) Coordinate and support the expansion of values based developmental disabilities curricula in higher education coursework in social work and other relevant professional programs.

1f) Sponsor values based training for behavioral health personnel and others on the principles of normalization, social role valorization, and practices that support the philosophy of self- determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in their communities.

1g) Support and promote training for emergency responders with focus on safe, responsible and effective support for people with developmental disabilities in disaster, emergency medical, behavioral, and criminal offense situations.

Accountability in Public Services

Goal 1 State policy makers and administrators will strengthen assurances that the responsible State agencies and local developmental disability service providers use approaches that are person-centered.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Support and promote collaborative data and information sharing across programs and systems to monitor and report on the quality of services provided to people with developmental disabilities.

1b) Support and promote plans to establish person-centered planning practices for all persons served under the Medicaid MR/DD Waiver Program.

1c) Support and promote increased participation by people with developmental disabilities on public policy boards, committees, and workgroups.

1d) Advocate for improvements in State policies to mandate open disclosure of behavioral health provider performance and compliance made available to the public, especially as it relates to the protection of civil rights and the quality of services provided to people with developmental disabilities.

1e) Sponsor training events targeted for social workers, medical personnel, family members and other on ethical and legal issues in serving people with developmental disabilities.

Goal 2 Formal appeals and grievance mechanisms are readily accessible, responsive, and understood by people with developmental disabilities and families as a group who depend on services and supports.  

Strategies and Activities

2a) Conduct or support statewide satisfaction survey for people with developmental disabilities and their families concerning the quality of information and support they receive about appeals and grievance procedures.

2b) Support and/or sponsor training for people with developmental disabilities and their families about grievance and appeals policies/ procedures.

 2c) Participate on relevant policy and oversight groups to help strengthen procedural safeguards offered to recipients of public services.

Un-served and Underserved People with DD

Goal 1 State policy makers and administrators of behavioral health, education, employment and other systems will establish new procedures for collecting and analyzing data concerning the needs of people with developmental disabilities who are not eligible or adequately served by current State and community programs.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Seek/facilitate creation of multi-system data sharing program focused on tracking people with developmental disabilities who are un-served or under served.

2b) Support or fund study and report that identifies the health, safety, and community support needs of persons with developmental disabilities who do not quality for, or are not receiving State or community supports.

2c) Advocate for new, formal State policies that assure that information about the needs of un-served or under served persons with developmental disabilities are regularly assessed and reported.

2d) Advocate for new State policies that assure that minimum safeguards and protections for the health, safety, and welfare of all persons with developmental disabilities are in place.

II. EMPLOYMENT

Council’s Desired Outcome in Employment: People with developmental disabilities will have the skills, access and support needed to obtain valued employment with competitive wages and benefits in their communities consistent with their interests.

Goal 1 People with developmental disabilities will receive adequate preparation, job training, planning, and access to community employment options.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Fund business led model for school to work training in high school work exploration programs. Project includes development of training manual for schools, community service providers, local businesses, and others in developing local business led school to work programs.

 1b) Support and promote information dissemination; training, and counseling initiatives for people with developmental disabilities and

their families on work incentives, entitlements, and other employment related supports.

1c) Collaborate in training and transition planning to encourage community employment for people with developmental disabilities in sheltered work settings.

1d) Advocate for public policies and approaches that support improved employment transition planning for people with developmental disabilities.

Vocational Education

Goal 1 Vocational education programs will modify curricula, methods, and criteria for certification/completion of programs to meet the work training needs of persons with developmental disabilities and employers.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Support or fund a demonstration project focused on modifying curricula and certification standards in vocational education programs to improve access to people with developmental disabilities.

1b) Collaborate with key organizations to provide technical assistance and training to vocational education programs about strategies for improving accessibility to adult vocational programs for people with developmental disabilities.

Self-Employment

Goal 1 People with developmental disabilities will have greater access to information, training, support, and opportunities to become self-employed.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Fund and support training and technical assistance for service providers in developing self-employment options for people with developmental disabilities.

1b) Collaborate with the disability network and relevant business organizations to promote self-employment options.

Educating the Business Community

Goal 1 West Virginia ’s business community, local governments, and the public will become knowledgeable of the contributions by workers with developmental disabilities.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Support and promote education and training for business leaders on disability issues including legal rights, employer benefits in hiring people with developmental disabilities, and relevant Federal laws (e.g.; ADA and tax credits).

1b) Provide support and resources to develop a Business Leadership Network in West Virginia.

 1c) Collaborate with the Governor’s Economic Development Office to develop training and education for WV’s business community including incentives for hiring people with developmental disabilities.

• EDUCATION

Council’s Desired Outcome in Education: Students with developmental disabilities of all ages will have access to quality, inclusive educational opportunities in their neighborhood schools.Students and parents receive additional supports and planning at periods of transition

Parent Education and Support

Goal 1 Parents receive consistent, timely, and accurate information and support concerning their child’s education rights and the planning process.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Support and promote collaboration among established parent education and advocacy programs in the development of plans and strategies to improve training and support for parents of children in special education programs.

1b) Support and promote activities and programs that encourage parents to participate on education advocacy and policy related groups.

1c) Support and promote the development of improved transition planning methods and training/support for parents and students related to transition.

Staff Training

Goal 1 More teachers will receive training on inclusive education through peer training and mentoring.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Fund and/or support a statewide training project, led by recognized personnel of exemplary inclusive education programs.

1b) Provide technical assistance and support to the Department of Education in planning and coordinating inclusive education training at regularly scheduled training workshops for school personnel.

• RECREATION

 Council’s Desired Outcome in Recreation: People with developmental disabilities will participate in inclusive recreational, leisure, and social activities consistent with their interests and abilities. Individuals will have increased opportunities to form positive relationships with peers who have and do not have disabilities.

Building Relationships

Goal 1 People with developmental disabilities have greater opportunities to develop positive social relationships with peers who have and do not have disabilities.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Fund programs that provide people with developmental disabilities opportunities to participate in existing community recreational and leisure activities.

2a) Collaborate with the WV Commission on National and Community Service to expand the opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to volunteer in public service.

Advocacy and Local Participation

Goal 1 Local governments, businesses, and organizations that govern or operate recreational venues are responsive to the needs of persons with developmental disabilities to access and participate.

Strategies and Activities

1a) Support and promote strategies to increase the number of people with developmental disabilities who participate on local governmental and/or recreation related boards and committees.

1b) Collaborate with the West Virginia Division of Tourism to improve policies and practices that make recreation and leisure activities more accessible to people with developmental disabilities.

1c) Support local planning and advocacy efforts that address the need to remove physical, attitudinal, and systemic barriers regarding access to recreation by people with developmental disabilities.

V. HEALTH – NOTE: While the Council did not select Health as a major area of emphasis to address during the next five years, two grant projects related to healthcare will continue through FY 2007. The Marshall University School of Medicine’s CARES: Care Coordination through Medical Homes Project is a nationally recognized model for specialized health care coordination and family support; the Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley’s Health and Wellth Program provides training and support for people with developmental disabilities in accessing community healthcare and fitness programs.