Transcript Slide 1

Today’s Speakers
Carole Gothelf, Ed.D
Director of
Individualized
Supports
AHRC New York City
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Today’s Speakers
Paula Sotnik, Director
National Service Inclusion Project
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Today’s Agenda
• New Federal Initiatives
– Federal Financial Aid
• Day Habilitation Goes to College
• National and Community Service
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TASH Webinar Series in Collaboration with Think College
September 22, 2010
PAULA SOTNIK
DIRECTOR
NATIONAL SERVICE INCLUSION PROJECT
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“Everybody can be
great... because
anybody can
serve.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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www.nationalservice.gov
www.serviceandinclusion.org
Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY)
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The Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS)
• CNCS discharges its mission to improve lives, strengthen
communities and foster civic engagement through service
and volunteering by providing opportunities for all
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage.
• Since its inception, with the 1993 National Community
Service Act, CNCS has been committed to the active
participation of Americans with disabilities in all of its
programs and initiatives.
• Thousands of people with disabilities serve in CNCS’s
three major programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and
Learn and Serve America.
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The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP)
A national training and technical assistance provider, (under a
cooperative agreement (#08TAHMA001)
for the Corporation for National and Community Service
(CNCS)
Develops the capacity of all national service, civic engagement and
volunteer communities to actively recruit and support Americans
with all abilities
Advances national service and volunteerism as a valued option for
all Americans in the disability community
By expanding opportunities for Americans with disabilities to engage
in service, the Corporation for National and Community Service
fulfills its mission to engage all Americans of all backgrounds in
service toward the strengthening of their communities.
~ excerpt from CNCS Mission Statement
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A Paradigm Shift…
The meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of their
communities
Provide opportunities for members and volunteers with disabilities
See http://serviceandinclusion.org/index.php?page=stories_snip and
http://serviceandinclusion.org/index.php?page=action
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Thousands of people with disabilities serve (or have served) in the CNCS three
major programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America.
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Dwight currently serves with
LIFE/Project LINC (Linking Individuals
Into Neighborhoods and
Communities) AmeriCorps. As an
AmeriCorps member, Dwight provides
peer support to over 1,200 individuals
with disabilities. He also helps
individuals transition from public
institutions to their own homes, and
started a “Men with Disabilities”
support group encouraging
independence
andMississippians
leadership.
As a result of Dwight's AmeriCorps
service, many
with disabilities are active, productive members of their community.
www.mcvs.org/
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Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
March 31, 2009: House of Representatives passed the Edward M.
Kennedy Serve America Act.
April 21, 2009: President Obama signed the bill into law.
Even more explicitly emphasizes a commitment to the inclusion of
people with disabilities as active participants in national service…
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CNCS and Disability Inclusion
• Each year the Corporation, by statute,
allocates a percentage of budget for the active
inclusion of individuals with disabilities in
national service
• Funding has focused on three grant priority
areas:
– Outreach and recruitment
– Placement, supports and reasonable
accommodations*
– training and technical assistance
* limited funds are available through State Service Commissions
for reasonable accommodations.
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Reservation of Funds To Increase
The Participation of Individuals
With Disabilities
The SAA expands the CNCS commitment to inclusion :
• developing projects to assist veterans with disabilities
• increases money for outreach and placement*
• makes grants to public or private nonprofit organizations
to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities
in national service and for demonstration activities
• Expands to all national service grant programs
* (2% of program funding - not to exceed 20 million)
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• CNCS charged with outreach to …agencies and
organizations serving veterans and individuals
with disabilities…
• collaborate with organizations with
demonstrated expertise in supporting and
accommodating individuals with disabilities,
including institutions of higher education, to
increase the number of participants with
disabilities.
• provide and disseminate information regarding
methods to make service-learning programs and
programs offered under the national service laws
accessible to individuals with disabilities;
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AmeriCorps State & National
• AmeriCorps (AC) supports a broad range of
local service programs that engage thousands of
Americans in full or part-time volunteering to
meet critical community needs including:
–
–
–
–
–
–
mentor disadvantaged youth
improve health services
build affordable housing
teach computer skills
clean parks and streams
help communities respond to disasters
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AmeriCorps State & National
• AmeriCorps program grants go to States,
National Non-Profits, Indian Tribes and U.S.
territories. Individuals 17 years or older, with a
H.S. diploma/GED or working on one, or with an
Independent Educational Assessment are
eligible to apply.
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Members receive:
– training and supervision
– life and job skills
– networks
– A living stipend
– An Education Award
– Health Insurance, as needed
– Child care benefits, as needed
The HEART Act of 2008 made it possible for the living
stipend to be disregarded as income for SSI eligibility
purposes. SSDI is still impacted. VISTA benefits are not
impacted.
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Segal AmeriCorps Education Award 2010
Education Award:
• Amount is $4,725* for a full-time award
(will increase and match Pell grant award amount)
• Part-time members receive pro-rated amounts
• Can be used for degree or enrichment coursework
• Can use it at any Title IV school including trade schools (beauty,
massage, auto repair, etc.)
• 100 colleges and universities match the AmeriCorps Education Award
http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/ed_award_match.a
sp
• Can pay for tuition, books, and cost of attendance items (which can
include a computer and equipment needed for coursework)
*Increased to $5,350 for approved 2010 positions
http://encorps.nationalserviceresources.org/segal_americorps_education
_awa.php
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A WIN-WIN Situation!
• People with disabilities are members of their
communities and want to “give back”
• People who serve are more likely to be happy
and satisfied with their lives. [CNCS AmeriCorps
Longitudinal Study 2008]
• People who serve improve their lives and make a
difference in the lives of those they help
• Communities really learn about what all
Americans can do!
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For more information:
www.nationalservice.gov
www.serviceandinclusion.org
Paula Sotnik, Director
National Service Inclusion Project
Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts
Boston
888-491-0326 (toll-free voice and TTY)
617-287-4343 (direct line)
[email protected]
www.serviceandinclusion.org
The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) is training and technical assistance provider
on disability inclusion, under a cooperative agreement (#08TAHMA001) from Corporation
for National and Community Service (CNCS). NSIP partners with the Association on
University Centers on Disability, National Council on Independent Living, Association on
Higher Education and Disability and National Down Syndrome Congress to build
connections between disability organizations and all CNCS grantees, including national
directs,
to increase the participation of people with disabilities in national service.
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Questions??
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