Volume 6, Number 1, February 2020 Governor’s Council on Disability GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability Inside this Issue Page 1: . GCD Update—30th Anniversary of the ADA . Disability Rights Legislative Day Page 2: . MO-YLF Alumni Updates . Apply now for the 2020 MO-YLF Page 3: . New Leadership Development Program . GCD Legislative Programs Page 4: . New Online Reporting of Abuse and Neglect . Upcoming Events Governor's Council on Disability logo GCD Update by Claudia Browner Image: ADA30 anniversary celebration save the date, July 28 2020, 11 am to 1 pm at the capitol in Jefferson City This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. Many organizations are honoring this milestone with a celebration. The Governor’s Council on Disability, in collaboration with other state agencies, centers for independent living, disability organizations, and the Great Plains ADA Center, is planning an event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ADA on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at the Missouri State Capitol (1st floor rotunda). Please save the date and join us for this event! In preparation for this event, the GCD has developed a survey to get input from Missouri citizens on the successes and accomplishments of the ADA and to share visions for an accessible, inclusive future for the next 30 years of the ADA. To participate in the ADA30 survey, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KRKZ2K2 Stay tuned for more details about the event in the coming weeks. Disability Rights Legislative Day by Claudia Browner Image: 2020 Disability Rights Legislative Day flyer The 19th annual Disability Rights Legislative Day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The event is held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the first floor rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol and is attended by individuals with disabilities, advocates and disability organizations to meet with legislators and bring attention to disability-related topics. For more information, please contact Becky Dickey at (573) 522-1691 or Mark Satterwhite at (573) 874-1995. Page 2 MO-YLF Alumni Updates by Rachel Rackers Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) alumni are continuing to do great things! At times it can be challenging to keep updates on all 344 alumni, but we always enjoying hearing and sharing what they have been doing. Here are just some of the highlights: . Steven Gregg received the Fire Explorer of the Year award from Bolivar City Fire Department . Candace Cunningham was selected as one of the 2020 Missouri Mental Health Champions. She also recently was elected as a Board Member for APSE MO and Summit Future Foundation. . Camryn Dickinson, Claire Solomon , Alex Ney and Emily Ernest presented at their schools or IL Centers about MO-YLF . Sarah Schwegel was recently hired by Paraquad as a Public Policy Specialist. . Kelsey Redding, Kayla Patek and Dylan Farmer have all been nominated for GCD’s Youth Leadership Award for 2019 . Madelyn Hubbs has continued her journey as a 2020 National Patient Ambassador for Shriner’s hospital. Her journey has recently taken her to Tampa, FL for East West Shrine Bowl and Pasadena, CA to be float rider in the Rose Parade. She also has been invited to be a speaker at the 30th anniversary of the ADA celebration on July 28th in at the Missouri State Capitol. We are very proud of our MO-YLF alumni. Keep doing great things and continue as leaders in your communities and beyond! Photos: Steven Gregg proudly displays his Fire Explorer of the Year award; Madelyn Hubbs with the college football team at the East West Shrine Bowl game Apply Now for the 2020 MO-YLF by Rachel Rackers Image: Missouri Youth Leadership Forum logo The 2020 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) will be held July 14th-18th at the University of Missouri Columbia campus. This leadership and career development program is for Missouri high school students with disabilities, ages 16-21. Applications for staff, volunteers and delegates are now available on GCD’s website. The deadline for delegate applications is March 31st and staff applications are due May 1st. The MO-YLF planning committee encourages you to spread the word about MO-YLF and to come experience this life-changing week! For more information and the online application, please visit https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/ylf.htm or contact Rachel Rackers in the GCD office at (573) 526-4564. Page 3 New Leadership Development Program by Claudia Browner Image: Leadership Development Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing flyer New in 2020, a Leadership Development Program for Deaf/Hard of Hearing high school students is being offered June 18-21, 2020 at Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton. The Leadership Development Program is hosted by the Governor’s Council on Disability in collaboration with Missouri School for the Deaf, Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, MU Pre-Employment Transition Services, Paraquad, and Vocational Rehabilitation. If you know of any students who might be qualified for this program, please encourage them to apply. Applications are now being accepted and can be found online at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/LDPDHH.htm The deadline for applications is March 2, 2020. 2020 Legislative Education Project by Laura Mueth Image: Legislative Education Project flyer The Legislative Education Project (LEP) is under way for 2020. The purpose of the LEP is to educate individuals about the legislative process in Missouri and provide opportunities to become more active in creating positive public policies for people with disabilities. Three LEP on the Road trainings are already scheduled. The first is in Kansas City in mid February, the second is in St. Louis in late February, and the third is in Jefferson County in early March. Two LEPs at the Capitol are scheduled for March. If you are interested in scheduling an LEP for your group of ten or more please contact Laura Mueth at Laura.Mueth@oa.mo.gov. If you do not have time or a minimum of ten individuals, watching the online videos and recorded Power Points is an option. More information about the LEP can be found at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/LEP.htm. If you are already familiar with the legislative process but would like to stay updated on disability-related bills throughout the legislative session, you can subscribe to the weekly Legislative Update newsletter by contacting Laura Mueth or visiting the website at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/legupdates.htm. Page 4 New Online Reporting of Abuse and Neglect by Claudia Browner Image: Abuse and neglect hotline logo and phone number 1-800-392-0210 The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is now offering online reporting of concerns of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the elderly and disabled in addition to the phone hotline. The online reporting allows mandated reporters to report a concern during nighttime hours when the hotline is not in operation. Persons who are deaf and hard of hearing my use Relay Missouri by calling 1-800-735-2466. To report an incident online, go to https://apps4.mo.gov/APS_Portal/ For more information, visit the DHSS website at: https://health.mo.gov/seniors/abuse.php Upcoming Events . March 10, 2020 MOAIDD Self-Determination & Advocacy Conference, Columbia . March 11, 2020 Disability Rights Legislative Day, State Capitol, Jefferson City . March 23-27, 2020 Legislative Spring Break . March 30-31, 2020 Power Up Assistive Technology Conference & Expo, Columbia . May 10-13, 2020 National ADA Symposium, Kansas City . May 15, 2020 Last Day of Session . June 18-21, 2020 Leadership Development Program for Deaf/HH, Fulton . June 23, 2020 Missouri Mental Health Champions’ Banquet, Jefferson City . July 14-18, 2020 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, Columbia . July 28, 2020 ADA30— Anniversary Celebration, State Capitol, Jefferson City Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Members . Yvonne Wright, Chair, New Bloomfield . Joan Bergstrom, Ed. D, Lee’s Summit . Charles Comstock, Kirksville . Betty Davidson, Ph.D., St. Louis . Ronald Hack, St. Louis . Chip Hailey, Joplin . Mary Ann Harter, St. Louis . Rosemary Hendon, West Plains . Katie Jones, St. Charles . Kim Lackey, St. Louis . Elijah Mayfield, Jefferson City . DeAnna Noriega, Columbia . Susan Orton, Creve Coeur . Andrew Sartorius, Jefferson City . Lesia Shelton, Buffalo . Opeoluwa Sotonwa, Jefferson City . James Trout, St. Louis . Robert Wallace, St. Louis Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Staff Members . Claudia Browner, Executive Director . Laura Mueth, Disability Program Specialist . Rachel Rackers, Disability Program Specialist . Jessica Zimmer, Administrative Office Support Assistant