What's New at the DD Council?

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    Notice of Availability of Funds in the area of Transportation

    The January 26th Edition (Issue #2, 2001) of InfoNet is now available on the web!

    Partners in Policymaking 2001
        (Rescheduled for Fall 2001)     
    
    Upcoming Events
            Summer Youth Leadership Forum
            Iowa Parent-Educator Connection Conference
            Early Childhood Care & Congress

    Scholarships
             Family Mini-Scholarships
             VSA arts of Iowa Scholarship

    State Plan for 2001-2003

Notice of Availability of Funds

The Iowa Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) announces the anticipated availability of a total of up to $80,000 for one and/or two year for projects in the area of transportation.

Intent: It is the intent of the Council to invest in initiatives that demonstrate collaboration and cooperation and result in reliable, efficient transportation which helps assure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities of access to their community as other community members.

The Council must work within its mandatory parameters and invest only in those initiatives that produce results according to our transportation outcome statement: "All people with disabilities access affordable, reliable efficient transportation that effectively meets their needs."

Council Target:
By 2003, as a result of Council initiatives, 200 additional Iowans with developmental disabilities will use affordable, reliable, efficient transportation that meets their individual needs.

Target Areas: Areas in which the Council will invest include:

• Coordination and/or changes in transportation services leading to an increased number of persons with disabilities who can access community resources including recreation and employment opportunities.
• Systems which increase the utilization of existing vehicles.
• Systems which increase the number of non-traditional means of transportation (car pools, vouchers, share a ride, etc.)
• Systems that increase ways to access transportation, increase the adaptability and flexibility of transportation and reduce the amount of time it takes to get to desired destinations.

NOTE: DD funds cannot be used to purchase vehicles

Project Period: May 1, 2001 through April 30, 2002.

Request for Proposals: Will be issued after January 19, 2001.

After January 19, 2001 you may download a copy of the RFP at this web site!

You may download a copy of the RFP at the DHS web site at: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/rfponline.asp

You may request a printed copy by calling Ann Hunt at 800/452-1936 or 281-9082 or by sending a request in writing to:
      Ann Hunt
      Governor's DD Council
       617 East Second Street
       Des Moines, IA 50309

An information and training conference will be held February 5th at the Governor's DD Council Office in Des Moines, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The purpose of this conference is to explain the Council's application and the target plan process. As this is a different style of Request for Proposal, which may be unfamiliar to some applicants, we strongly encourage key individuals who will be responsible for the proposal and project to attend this conference

Letters of Intent are due to the DD Council Office by 4:30 p.m. (CST) Friday, February 2, 2001.

Partners in Policymaking

Now Accepting Applications - Sessions will begin Fall 2001!
(The DD Council is currently accepting applications for participants in the 2001 Session of Partners in Policymaking.)

Would you like to be a part of a growing group of individuals that are on the cutting edge of change? Would you like to learn how to effect that change at the local, state and federal level of Government to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities? If so, Partners in Policymaking is for you!

Partners in Policymaking is a training program federally-funded by the Governor's Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council. Partners is an International program that is designed for individuals with developmental disabilities and parents of young children with disabilities. We provide up-to-date, state-of-the-art information about disability issues from local and nationally-recognized presenters.

During Partners you will learn about current issues and best practices, policymaking and legislative processes, and build the skills you need to obtain appropriate services for yourself, family members and others. The overall goal is to achieve a productive partnership between the people needing and using services and those in a position to make policy.

As a Partner participant, you will attend nine, one-day sessions. The sessions will be one Saturday per month beginning in February and ending in November, excluding August. Sessions will typically run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The training sessions are held in the Des Moines area and are free of charge for participants. Overnight lodging will be provided for those participants living more than two hours from Des Moines. Meals will be provided during the session. Mileage is reimbursable. Personal assistant services and child care may be reimbursable, decided on a case-by-case basis. Participants MUST make a commitment to attend ALL sessions, to complete and turn in homework assignments between sessions as well as complete forms recording time spent on disability-related issues.

Session topics include, but are not limited to:

• History of the disability movement
• History of institutionalization
• Self-Advocacy
• Creating a vision for tomorrow
• Local, state and federal policy
• Inclusive education and communities
• Supported employment
• And More...

Partners in Policymaking is now actively seeking applications from highly motivated men and women who have a disability or are parents of a young child with disabilities.

If you would like an application or would like to learn more about this exciting training program, please call 1-800-452-1936 or
(515) 281-9082, or via e-mail at: abaule@dhs.state.ia.us

Click HERE to view or print an application form
for Partners in Policymaking
(This document has been posted in pdf format.)

To save the application form, right-click on the underlined link and select "Save As", to download to your local directory. Then, launch Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print.

Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

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Upcoming Events

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Summer Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities

The third annual Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities will be held July 28 through August 3, 2001 at Iowa State University in Ames. The forum is organized by the Iowa Commission of Persons with Disabilities. This conference is open to high school juniors and seniors with disabilities who have demonstrated leadership capabilities in their communities and schools. Approximately 30 students will be selected to attend, expenses paid by the Youth Leadership Forum.

Application deadline is February 2, 2001.

For a copy of the application, contact the Parent-Educator Connection at 1-800-392-6640 or log on to the State of Iowa web site at www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/pd/index.html

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Iowa Parent-Educator
Connection Conference
February 11-13
Hotel Ft. Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa

Sponsored by the statewide network of the Parent-educator Connection. A two day conference with guest speakers and hands-on workshop sessions for all educators and parents who work with and care for children who have special needs.

The first 20 AEA 2 educators and parents of children who have special needs who register will have their registration fee and one night's lodging paid by the NTAEA PArent-Educator Connection. Call Sandy or Roberta to register at 1-800-392-6640.

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Eighth Annual Early
Childhood Care & Congress
February 27-28
Des Moines, Iowa

Presenters include:

• David P. Weikert, Perry Preschool Project
• Craig T. Ramsey, PhD, Director and University Professor, Psychology, Pediatrics, Maternal and Child Health and Neurology
• Helen Blank, Director of Child Care & Development, Children's Defense Fund
• Jaon Lombardi, Child and Family Policy Specialist

For more information, contact the NTAEA Parent-Educator Connection at 1-800-392-6640

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Scholarships

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VSA arts of Iowa Scholarship

VSA arts of Iowa is awarding a $500 scholarship for an individual age 15 or older with a disability to take classes to further his/her skill in his/her art form.

Family Mini-Scholarships
(Available for 2000-2001 School Year)

Grant Wood AEA and University Hospital School are making small grants available to individuals and families who want to attend conference, classes, or training sessions in the school year 2000-2001.

You are eligible to apply for a family mini-scholarship if:

• You are a person with a disability or a family member who wants to attend a disability-related conference
• You live in the Grant Wood area (the counties of Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington)

Grants will range from $100 to $250 per person. Mini-scholarships will be awarded for registration fees, hotel, and/or travel expenses. An application may be for more than one person. Conferences must occur no later than June 30, 2001.

Details about upcoming conferences can be found at www.DisabilityTraining.org.  An application form can be found at www.DisabilityTraining.org/minischolarshipapp.html