Volume 8, Number 1, February 2022 Governor’s Council on Disability Newsletter GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability Image of GCD logo Inside this Issue Page 1: - GCD Update - Disability Rights Legislative Day 2022 Page 2: - Legislative Involvement from Home - Technology Association for Visually Impaired Missourians - COVID-19 Information and Resources Page 3: - Update on 2022 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum - GCD is preparing for its 2nd annual Virtual Leadership Summit Page 4: - Bicentennial Bridge opens in Jefferson City - Upcoming Events Governor's Council on Disability logo GCD Update by Claudia Browner Welcome to the February issue of the Governor’s Council on Disability’s (GCD) newsletter. Since the beginning of the year, our team has been gearing up for a number of GCD programs including the annual Inclusion and Youth Leadership Awards, the Legislative Education Project and Legislative Update, the Virtual Leadership Summit and the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum. You can find details about these programs in this issue. Our team was excited to learn that this year, many of Missouri’s disability-related organizations and agencies are going to offer their programs and conferences in person again. While virtual events and programs are very beneficial and have improved so much over the last two years, in-person events still provide more opportunities for networking and building professional and personal connections. On page 4 of the newsletter, you can find a listing of some of the upcoming events hosted throughout the State of Missouri in the coming months. The GCD staff is excited about participating and/or collaborating in planning and promoting these events with our partnering agencies. Another exciting announcement is the upcoming launch of the new Disability Web Portal, GCD Website, and GCD logo. Over the last few months, our team has been working with the Office of Administration’s IT division to update the look of these websites and make them more user-friendly. Stay tuned for more information and a fresh look to come in the next few weeks! Disability Rights Legislative Day 2022 by Claudia Browner Images: Disability Rights Legislative Day save the date flyer Photo of two women holding up their arms, one elderly woman is seated in a wheelchair and another woman stands behind her in on a paved trail in a park. Wording: There is Power in the Unity of Humanity March 9, 2022, Missouri Disability Rights Legislative Day, DRLD.org Blue and yellow Disability Rights Legislative Day logo. The shape of the State of Missouri is shown in blue with wording: Power in Unity, Disability Rights Legislative Day, Missouri 2022 The date for the 2022 Disability Rights Legislative Day (DRLD) has been set — mark your calendars now for Wednesday, March 9th. In its 21st year, this important advocacy event will once again be held in person at the Missouri State Capitol, in the first floor rotunda, with a virtual option for those who choose not to travel to Jefferson City. Interested individuals and organizations are invited to participate and hear from a variety of speakers about legislative topics important to the disability community and meet with legislators. To find out more details about the event, get answers to frequently asked questions, and register, please visit the DRLD website at drld.org You can follow the DRLD Facebook page for updates about the event at facebook.com/drld_missouri Page 2 GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability Legislative Involvement from Home by Laura Mueth Image of a laptop on a desk with pencils, books, and a vase. Wording on the screen reads Legislative Education Project (LEP) and link to website The 2022 legislative session is now underway. The General Assembly is in the Capitol and has been working on re-drawing the U.S. Congressional districts for Missouri as well as state budget issues and bills. They have also been filing and moving bills on a variety of topics impacting Missouri citizens. If you are wanting to be involved but do not want to go to the Capitol, the Governor’s Council on Disability (GCD) has a way you can track disability related legislation and/or learn more about what goes on at the Capitol and various aspects of legislative advocacy from home. Through our Legislative Update and Legislative Education Project (LEP) you can do both these endeavors. You can find all disability related bills and their weekly status courtesy of the 2022 Legislative Updates on the Legislative Updates web page. On the LEP page you will find videos and recorded modules which cover: - Your Elected Officials and General Assembly - Understanding How a Bill Becomes a Law - Building Effective Relationships With Legislators - Testifying at a House or Senate Hearing - Navigating the House and Senate Websites The videos have closed captioning and a separate audio description version for those who need those features. If you have questions after watching, please contact me and I will answer them or provide additional guidance/suggestions. To schedule a time to ask these for yourself or a group, please contact me to request a Virtual Q&A Session at Laura.Mueth@oa.mo.gov. In addition, you will find a publication titled Tips for meeting with your legislators to prepare you for a visit with your elected officials, either in person or virtually. Technology Association for Visually Impaired Missourians by Chip Hailey, GCD Council Member Designed to bring blind and visually Missourians 55 years of age and over into the world of computers, the Technology Association for Visually Impaired Missourians (TAVIM) offers refurbished computers, adaptive software, and training, at no cost to qualified applicants. For more information visit: tavi-mo.org or contact Chip Hailey at 417-540-9703 or e-mail: chiphailey52@gmail.com COVID—19 Information and Resources COVID-19 Free Testing Information—https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel- coronavirus/community-test.php COVID-19 Vaccine Information—https://covidvaccine.mo.gov COVID-19 Information Hotline—Call 877-435-8411 Need Transportation to get the vaccine? Get a Ride Resources—https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/ride/ Disability Web Portal—COVID-19 Resources page—https://disability.mo.gov/covid-19.htm Information about free In-Home Test Kits—https://www.covidtests.gov/ or call 1-800-232-0233 Page 3 GCD: Governor’s Council on Disability Update on the 2022 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum by Rachel Rackers Image: Missouri Youth Leadership Forum logo with blue with the letters YOU highlighted in yellow and the letters LEAD highlighted in red Kelsey Tainsh, a nationally recognized speaker, is this year’s keynote speaker for the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) and is scheduled to speak to the delegates and alumni on Tuesday, July 12th. Kelsey’s story is inspiring and encourages others to achieve their goals, no matter what obstacles they may face. We look forward to having Kelsey kick off our week that will be filled with various activities and opportunities for growth! As a reminder, the dates for 2022 MO-YLF are July 12-16th and the event is held at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. While at MO-YLF, the delegates will gain leadership skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and much more. During the week, delegates will learn a lot of valuable information. Some activities the delegates participate in include a community service project, a visit to the State Capitol, an employment event focusing on career exploration, mock interview exercises, networking, and tips on when and how to disclose disability status, information on volunteer opportunities, and a resource fair. Throughout the week they will also engage in fun social events including adaptive sports night, a talent show, and a dance. At the end of the week, the teams have a chance to present their experiences and what they learned to family members, staff and sponsors at the closing banquet. Also on the last day, there’s a resource fair and parent information session. Applications for delegates and volunteer staff are now being accepted and available on our website at http://disability.mo.gov/gcd/ylf.htm. The deadline for delegate applications is April 15, 2022. If you know of a student with disabilities who has leadership potential, please share the information about this exciting program with them. GCD is looking for applicants from all areas of the state. MO-YLF is free to the students who are selected. This is all made possible because of donations and sponsorships. For questions, please contact the Governor’s Council on Disability at (800) 877-8249 or (573) 751-2600. GCD is preparing for its 2nd Virtual Leadership Summit Image: Virtual Leadership Summit logo with the MO-YLF logo displayed on a computer screen on dark blue background The planning committee is getting geared up for the 2nd Annual Virtual Leadership Summit (VLS) to be held virtually on February 26, 2022. GCD staff along with multiple partnering organizations have been busy planning over the past year. Participants will meet virtually with leaders in the disability community and hear from employers, mentors, alumni, and keynote speakers about the importance of goal setting, self-advocacy, and leadership. Our team is looking forward to connecting with youth throughout the different parts of the state. During the Virtual Leadership Summit, the youth will get a small glimpse into what the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum is and also build connections with other youth, alumni, agencies, employers, etc. The application deadline for this year’s Virtual Leadership Summit has already passed. Be sure to watch for announcements and the application this fall for the 2023 event. For more information on the Virtual Leadership Summit please visit our website at https://disability.mo.gov/gcd/vls.htm For updates information on both the MO-YLF and VLS, you can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MOLeadershipForum Page 4 GCD: Governor's Council on Disability Bicentennial Bridge opens in Jefferson City by Claudia Browner Image: View of the new bicentennial bridge from Deborah Cooper Park, with the Missouri River bridge in the background Next time you plan a trip to Jefferson City, be sure to allow some extra time to check out the new Bicentennial Bridge that opened in December. This newest tourist attraction is an accessible bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists that leads you from the north side of the capitol grounds across the railroad tracks and down to a new park by the Missouri River, called Deborah Cooper Park. The park features paved walking trails located on the southern bank of the river on a piece of land called Adrian’s Island. An additional forest loop trail (unpaved) leads you east along the railroad tracks and the river. Park benches, a pavilion and outdoor games/activities are planned in the near future. This new park offers stunning views of the Missouri River, the Missouri River Bridge, the Governor’s Mansion and the state capitol. For additional information, please visit https://www.jcparks.com/park/deborah-cooper-park/ Upcoming Events - 2022 Virtual Technology Summit—February 3, 17, and 24 https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/technology-first/2022-virtual-summit - Disability Rights Legislative Day—March 9—State Capitol, Jefferson City https://drld.org - Power Up Assistive Technology Conference —April 4-5, Blue Springs https://at.mo.gov/power-up-conference/ - Independent Living (IL) Summit—May 22-24, Branson https://mocil.org Youth Programs for transition age high school students with disabilities - February 26—Virtual Leadership Summit (see link on page 3) - June/July—Center for Independent Living (CIL) summer experience (contact your local CIL for more information. Find your CIL at https://mocil.org) - June/July—Starkloff Disability Institute (SDI) Dream Big Camp, St. Louis (https://dreambigcamp.org/) - June/July—VR Summer Work Experience Programs (contact your local VR office) - July 12-16—Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (see link on page 3) If you know of other events you would like us to share with the disability community, please contact our office. Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Council Members Ronald Hack, Interim Chair, St. Louis Joan Bergstrom, Ed. D, Lee’s Summit Charles Comstock, Kirksville Wayne Crawford, Marshall Betty Davidson, Ph.D., St. Louis Chip Hailey, Joplin Rosemary Hendon, West Plains Katie Jones, St. Charles Kim Lackey, St. Louis Elijah Mayfield, Jefferson City Susan Orton, Creve Coeur Traci Ritter, Cape Girardeau Andrew Sartorius, Jefferson City Lesia Shelton, Buffalo James Trout, St. Louis Robert Wallace, St. Louis Missouri Governor’s Council on Disability Staff Members Claudia Browner, Executive Director Laura Mueth, Senior Program Specialist Rachel Rackers, Senior Program Specialist Jessica Zimmer, Lead Administrative Support Assistant