Volume 6, Number 3, June 2020 GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability Newsletter Image of GCD logo Inside this Issue Page 1: . Celebrating the Anniversary of the ADA . Disability Employment Awareness Month Poster Contest Page 2: . 2020 Legislative Session comes to a close . COVID-19 Resources Page 3: . Regional Leadership Forums coming this fall . Celebrating 2020 Graduates Page 4: . World Elder Abuse Awareness webinar series . Upcoming Events Celebrating the Anniversary of the ADA by Claudia Browner Image of logo for ADA 30th anniversary 1990 to 2020 This year marks an important milestone for the disability community! On July 26, 2020, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Governor’s Council on Disability, in collaboration with several partnering agencies, will be hosting an event to honor this important anniversary on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the first floor rotunda of the State Capitol in Jefferson City. Invited speakers include Governor Parson, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, and Missouri Youth Leadership Forum alumna Madelynn Hubbs. A local musician, Sam Doman, will provide a musical performance. In addition, we will honor and celebrate the legacy of former Council member and state legislator Chuck Graham, who passed away on May 19th. More information about the ADA30 celebration and the tentative agenda can be found on our website at https://disability.mo.gov/ada30.htm. Please participate in our survey to gather input from Missouri citizens on the successes and accomplishments of the ADA and to share visions for an inclusive, accessible future. If you have not taken this survey, please go to https://surveymonkey.com/r/KRKZ2K2 to participate. The survey will close on June 30th. If you are looking for ideas of what you can do to celebrate the ADA and promote inclusion in your own communities, please visit the ADA National Network’s website at https://www.adaanniversary.org/ideas-celebrate-ada Disability Employment Awareness Month poster contest Image of Disability Employment Awareness Month Poster Contest flyer GCD is now accepting entries for this year’s poster contest to raise awareness about the importance of employment inclusion. How has the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) impacted employment? Artists are encouraged to reference the 30th anniversary of the ADA in their artwork. More information and Poster Contest Entry Forms are available at: https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/PosterContest/ Please submit your artwork before the August 1 deadline. Page 2 2020 Legislative Session comes to a close by Laura Mueth Image of the Missouri state capitol The 2020 legislative session has now finished. What began as a typical session in March and April turned into a session the likes of which have not been seen before. Individual bills took a backseat to ensuring COVID-19 funds were allocated within the state and the fiscal year 2021 state budget was passed by the May 8th deadline. During the last two weeks of the session, many bills were combined with others in hopes of getting as many priorities passed as possible. Several bills that have been tracked in GCD’s weekly Legislative Update ended up in these bills. They include individuals being able to have a medical alert notification placed on a driver’s license or state ID, fire protection districts having epi-pens, determination of organ donation receipt not being based on disability in most cases, living organ donor status being the sole factor in insurance decisions, breast cancer screening insurance mandates, the development of long-term care savings accounts to pay for designated beneficiaries long-term care expenses, raising awareness of the importance of organ donation in minority populations, designating Deaf Awareness Month, mental health awareness, designating Buddy Check 22 Day, commercial driver’s license accommodations, personal care assistance services vendor requirements, and changes to state service dog laws which will be discussed in more detail below. House Bill 1387 was passed as a stand-alone bill. It allows electronic monitoring devices to be placed in the rooms of long-term care facility residents. The law requiring all individuals operating or riding a motorcycle changed. The final version is different than the motorcycle helmet bills tracked this session. Individuals who are age 26 or older can operate a motorcycle without a helmet as long as they have a full license and have proper insurance. Those under age 26 or who have only a permit must wear a helmet while operating or riding a motorcycle. It also does not allow for any ordinances or laws which require helmets to be worn. The changes are part of House Bill 1963. As part of Senate Bill 656, members of eligible military families who are not MO residents but are residing in MO as part of military service are to receive developmental disability services while in MO. These services are temporarily suspended for military family members who are MO residents but move out of state due to military service. Senate Bill 644 and part of Senate Bill 656 change the definition of service dog in state statute and place the state definition more in line with federal law. Both bills ensure the definition is used in all service dog statutes. Mental health or psychiatric service dogs are added as a type of dog joining Guide Dog, Hearing Dog, Mobility Dog, Search and Rescue Dog, Medical Alert/Response Dog, and Service Dog Team. Misrepresentation of a service dog and assistance animal is also defined. Finally, they require our office to create an informational placard for businesses and brochures for business owners, landlords, and tenants. More specifics about those aspects will be shared in a future newsletter article should Governor Parson approve of the bill or bills. As a reminder, in order for any bills passed by the General Assembly to become law, they must not be vetoed by Governor Parson. COVID-19 Resources If you are looking for information and resources about the coronavirus pandemic, specifically in regards to individuals with disabilities, please visit our COVID-19 website. The information is frequently updated and new resources are being added as they become available. https://disability.mo.gov/covid-19.htm Page 3 Regional Leadership Forums coming this fall by Rachel Rackers Image of a Missouri map with RLF locations highlighted Image of the Regional Leadership Forum flyer The 2020 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) was set to take place from July 14-18 at the University of Missouri campus in Columbia. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this summer’s MO-YLF has been canceled. Our planning team is saddened by the cancellation, but the well-being and safety of everyone is important to all of us. On a happier note, the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is offering four, one day Regional Leadership Forums (RLF) for students with disabilities (ages 16-21) this fall! Our team is looking forward to connecting with youth throughout different parts of the state. During each RLF, the youth will get a small glimpse into what the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is and also build connections with local alumni, agencies, employers, etc. Dates for 2020 Regional Leadership Forums (RLF) are: September 26th in Jefferson City October 3rd in Kansas City October 17th in Springfield November 7th in Cape Girardeau Please help us share this exciting opportunity with students, parents, teachers and colleagues. Applications are now being accepted! For more information or to apply, visit our website at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/ylf.htm Celebrating our 2020 Graduates by Rachel Rackers Image with names of the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum alumni who graduated high school in 2020 on a background of graduation caps and ribbons The 2019-2020 school year turned out very different than expected for many Missouri high school students, especially for the seniors who were looking forward to all of the memorable events that come with senior year, such as prom and, of course, graduation. Sixteen of our Missouri Youth Leadership Forum alumni were seniors this year and we want to celebrate their accomplishments! We present to you the 2020 High School graduates—Samuel Andersen, Sophie Bond, Courtney Bonner, Bailey Brees, Izzy Collins, Brett DeClue, Nikohlas Gash, Sean Hays, Malea Jackson, Nathaniel Lewis, Caden Martin, Lydia Olmsted, Alison Politte, Reece Pellegrin, Talon Pellegrin, and Duncan Waltrip. Congratulations and best wishes for your future!! Page 4 World Elder Abuse Awareness Webinar Series by Claudia Browner Image of flyer for World Elder Abuse Awareness webinars, held June 3, 10, 19 and 24 at noon World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed on June 15 each year to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, there will be a series of four free webinars throughout the month of June that are designed to raise awareness of elder abuse risk factors in the current pandemic. The 45-minute webinars are being hosted by The St. Louis Elder Financial Protection Multidisciplinary Team and The Oasis Institute. To register for the webinar(s), please email elderprotect.stlmdt@gmail.com More information about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day can be found on the Administration for Community Living (ACL) website at https://acl.gov/news-and-events/events-and-observances/world-elder-abuse-awareness-day Upcoming Events . July 28, 2020 ADA30—Anniversary Celebration, State Capitol, Jefferson City . Sept. 10-13,2020 Leadership Development Program for Deaf/HH, Fulton . Sept. 26, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Jefferson City . October 3, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Kansas City . October 15-18, 2020 MCDHH Interpreters Conference, Lake Ozark . October 17, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Springfield . October 25-27, 2020 MRA (Missouri Rehab Association) Conference, Lake Ozark . November 7, 2020 Regional Leadership Forum, Cape Girardeau 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 . 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