Volume 4, Number 1, February 2018 GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability Inside this Issue Page 1: GCD Update OATS Transit Page 2: Preparing for the 2018 MO-YLF Meet MO-YLF alumna Caitlin Bartley Page 3: Office of Special Education Meet Council Member Ron Hack Page 4: 2018 Disability Rights Legislative Day Upcoming Events Page 1: GCD Update by Claudia Browner The Governor’s Council on Disability has had a very busy and eventful year in 2017, and is looking forward to another successful and productive year in 2018. The Annual Report was completed in December 2017 and summarizes all of GCD’s activities. The Annual Report is posted online at http://disability.mo.gov/gcd/annualreports.htm Since the beginning of the year, GCD staff has been working on continuing its programs — the Legislative Update, Legislative Education Project, the Inclusion, Youth Leadership and Website/IT Awards programs, and the planning and preparation for the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum. The Legislative Update is a weekly newsletter that summarizes bills that may affect people with disabilities if they are signed into laws. To subscribe to the newsletter, you may contact Laura Mueth at laura.mueth@oa.mo.gov or by phone at 573-751-2600. For individuals who are interested in learning about the legislative process in Missouri and how to become more active in creating positive public policies for people with disabilities, the Legislative Education Project website offers educational modules and videos. For more in depth training, an organization may request LEP training at the Capitol or on site at their organization by contacting Laura at laura.mueth@oa.mo.gov. The in person training is scheduled based on availability and number of participants. The GCD has received several outstanding nominations for the 2017 Inclusion, Youth Leadership, and Website/IT Awards. The judges (Council members and state liaisons) are in the process of reviewing all nominations and determining the winners. We will present the awards to the winners at the Power Up Conference in Columbia on April 17. GCD staff is continuing to provide Disability 101 presentations to educate individuals about disability etiquette and people first language. Interested employers, agencies or organizations may contact GCD at gcd@oa.mo.gov or 573-751-2600 to schedule a presentation. Planning efforts for 16th Annual Missouri Youth Leadership Forum are well underway. Please see page 2 of this newsletter for details. OATS Transit Did you know...  OATS is operating an extended service in Camden County; the Tri-County Transit. This service includes  evenings and weekends to the general public. Just like their regular routes, simply call  800-269-6287 to make reservations.  Spread the word to others, especially to those that have transportation problems. Visit the OATS Website for further information:  www.OATSTRANSIT.ORG Page 2: Preparing for the 2018 MO-YLF by Wendy Molitor The Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) planning team has made a lot of headway into the planning of the 2018 forum. We have chosen Amberley Snyder as our keynote speaker. http://www.amberleysnyder.org/amberleysnyder/ Check Amberley out in the provided link. She is sure to be an inspiration to all. We are also excited to be back at the Mizzou Campus again this year. As a reminder, we will hold our 2018 Forum July 10th-14th and the deadline for high school students to apply is February 28. If you know of a high school youth in the state of Missouri with a disability and desire to lead between the ages of 16-21, encourage them to apply. Applications may be completed online. If you are interested in volunteering at the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, please complete the online application (look under “Who serves as staff?”). We are always looking for donations, cash or in kind, or simply your time. Please visit http://disability.mo.gov/gcd/ylf.htm for more information or to apply. Photo of MO-YLF keynote speaker Amberley Snyder pictured with her horse. Meet MO-YLF alumna Caitlin Bartley by Caitlin Bartley I attended MO-YLF in 2009, which was the summer between high school graduation and my first semester of college.  For me, the highlight of MO-YLF was going to the capital because it gave me my first taste of legislative advocacy.  I already knew that I wanted to be a social worker, but this experience helped me to see that I wanted to be a disability advocate.  Since I was a delegate in 2009, I have returned as a panel speaker, a mentor, and a keynote speaker.  I also was the 2015 recipient of GCD's Youth Leadership Award. I attended Lincoln University, where I double majored in social work and psychology.  During my time there, I completed two psychology internships (Special Learning Center and Boys and Girls Club of the Capital City) and one social work practicum (Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence).  Through LU's Women's Leadership Academy, I completed a project in which I made suggestions to the University President on how to make the campus more wheelchair-friendly.  These suggestions included constructing a new entrance to the sciences building and reconstructing a pedestrian bridge.  These renovations were completed 2014.  I graduated magna cum laude from Lincoln University in 2015 with a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor's of Science in Social Work (BSW). In 2016, I began the Master's program at the University of Missouri School of Social Work.  My concentration was policy, planning, and administration.  I did my final practicum with the Missouri Department of Mental Health-Division of Developmental Disabilities.  This was an amazing experience in which I learned about disability policy on a state and local level.  I assisted in revising division policies and regulations to reflect a person-centered approach and assessed disability service providers’ policies and regulations to ensure compliance with federal regulations.  I completed this practicum and graduated with my Master's of Social Work (MSW) in July 2017.   I still work for the Division of Developmental Disabilities as the National Core Indicators (NCI) Project Coordinator.  National Core Indicators is a nationwide effort to assess, measure and track system performance.  Through the data collected through NCI surveys, the Division can track their own performance over time and compare their data to the national average and to other states.  As the NCI Project Coordinator, I oversee the NCI surveys and processes for the state of Missouri.  This includes providing technical assistance to surveyors, reviewing and entering survey data into the NCI database, analyzing survey results and giving presentations on the data.  I've been in this position since August and I absolutely love it!  The data helps us see where service gaps exist, which helps the Division improve the quality of services. In my free time, I love spending time with friends and family (I have 11 nieces and nephews, including a set of triplets).  I am a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and I love country music. Photo of Caitlin Bartley To read more from Caitlin, check out her blog According to Cait https://accordingtocaitblog.com Page 3: Office of Special Education by Bonnie Aaron, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education The Office of Special Education administers state and federal funds to support services for students and adults with disabilities. This office works with other state and local agencies to coordinate the Missouri First Steps program, which provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The office works with local school districts in developing and improving special education services for students (ages 3-21) with disabilities. It also provides financial and technical support for all approved sheltered workshops in the state. Sheltered workshops provide employment for adults with disabilities.  This office also oversees the operation of three school systems administered by the State Board of Education. These are the Missouri School for the Blind, the Missouri School for the Deaf and the Missouri Schools for Severely Disabled. Through their outreach programs and consulting services, these school systems assist local school personnel and families throughout the state in meeting the needs of children with disabilities. Editors note: The Governor’s Council on Disability invites state liaisons from all Missouri state departments to participate in the quarterly council meetings. Bonnie Aaron serves as the state liaison for the Office of Special Education. Logo of the Missouri First Steps Program, Missouri First Steps is one of the programs administered by the Office of Special Education Meet Council Member Ron Hack As a member of Evans & Dixon’s Business Law Group, Ron represents large and small companies defending against various toxic tort claims involving asbestos, benzene, mold and welding rod fumes, as well as all types of environmental enforcement actions, product liability claims involving electrical equipment, recreational devices, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He also counsels small to mid-level companies regarding contracts, labor and employment matters, insurance coverage, and environmental matters. He tries cases involving all types of commercial matters including supply contracts, employee non-compete issues, and environmental contamination.  He has been professionally recognized by Best Lawyer in America® from 2013-2017. Ron has been serving as a Council member for the Governor’s Council on Disability since October 2, 2009 and currently serves as the vice chair.  He is very involved in his community and is also an active member of Sunset Hills Conservation Foundation, Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce Development Committee, and was a past board member and past president of the United Cerebral Palsy of St. Louis Page 4: 2018 Disability Rights Legislative Day Save the date! Disability Rights Legislative Day! “Let Freedom Ring!” Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Missouri State Capitol Please call 800.500.7878 if you need more information. Photo of Christopher Worth speaking into a megaphone, subtitled This year’s EMCEE….. Christopher Worth of Paraquad! Upcoming Events February 28, 2018 Application deadline for Missouri Youth Leadership Forum delegates (Staff/volunteer applications due May 1, 2018) March 2, 2018 Lake Transition Network, State Fair Community College, Osage Beach March 13, 2018 Disability Rights Legislative Day, Missouri State Capitol, Jefferson City March 14, 2018 Cole County Youth Transition Fair, Lincoln University, Jefferson City March 30, 2018 Reverse Job Fair, Inn at Grand Glaize, Osage Beach April 16-17, 2018 Power Up to the Summit, Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia July 10-14, 2018 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, MU Campus, Columbia For more information or questions about the events, please contact our office at 573-751-2600. 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 Todd Mayfield, Jefferson City DeAnna Noriega, Columbia Susan Orton, Creve Coeur James Trout, St. Louis Robert Wallace, St. Louis Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Staff Members Vacant, Executive Director Claudia Browner, Executive Wendy Molitor, Disability Program Specialist Laura Mueth, Disability Program Specialist