Message from the Director
Conference Brings Families Together
By Mike Hansen
I attended my first Family Café conference as the director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities June 15 through 17 in Orlando. I found it to be a wonderful experience for me to meet and speak with many families that receive services through APD. Many were very appreciative of the services the agency funds, while others were unhappy that the agency was not doing more for their loved ones. I truly appreciate the opportunity to listen to all our customers—those on the waiver and those on the waiver waiting list. The evening of June 15, I joined several other agency representatives on stage where I shared an APD update with the crowd. Later, all of us on stage answered questions from the audience.
On June 16, I hosted a breakout session. I asked people to tell me what information they were most interested in hearing. We had a lively discussion on a variety of subjects, including young children in group homes and membership in Family Care Councils. The agency is working to increase Family Care Council (FCC) membership across the state in the 15 FCCs. An FCC consists of individuals with disabilities or their family members, and they serve as an advisory group to APD.
Other APD employees participated throughout the Family Café conference making presentations. Some of the topics that were addressed were iBudget Florida, Employment, Outreach Efforts, Consumer-Directed Care Plus, and Preventing Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation of People with Disabilities. In addition, APD hosted an informational booth to field questions from families. Our Central Regional Office employees were very helpful in answering inquires. Other APD employees staffed a booth focused on employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
As always, I was very pleased with seeing and hearing how compassionate our APD employees are when trying to assist our customers and potential customers. It is clear that the individuals that work at APD do so because they are dedicated to helping people. I appreciate their work.
Clicking on most photos will open a larger version.
New Regional Offices Take Effect
Throughout this issue of The Champion, you will see references to regional offices instead of area offices. That's because the agency's new system of regions took effect on July 1. To help you get a handle on all this, here is an easy guide to the new regions and the former areas they contain:
- Northwest Region – Areas 1 and 2 except Madison and Taylor counties
- Northeast Region – Areas 3, 4, and 12, plus Madison and Taylor counties
- Central Region – Areas 7, 13, 14, and 15
- Suncoast Region – Suncoast Area (23) and Area 8
- Southeast Region – Areas 9 and 10
- Southern Region – Area 11
Also, you can view the agency's Regional Map, which shows the new regions and lists all of the counties within them.
Northeast APD Customers Begin iBudget
On July 1, 7,755 APD customers in Northeast Florida began using the iBudget Florida Medicaid waiver. Customers living in Baker, Clay, Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Flagler, Volusia, Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties have begun to use the more flexible waiver system to request and pay for services.
iBudget Florida is a new way to deliver Medicaid waiver services that has been approved by both the Florida Legislature and the federal government. iBudget provides greater ability to choose services that matter to customers given their unique situations. It gives greater flexibility for customers to respond to their changing needs. It also reduces the required bureaucracy and "red tape" in the tier waiver system.
Customers in the northwest part of the state have been using iBudget Florida to manage their services for several months. APD customers in other parts of the state will transition to the new waiver starting on October 1. More details, including the implementation schedule, are contained in a complete News Release and at iBudgetFlorida.org .
Lori Kohler Receives Davis Award
Registered Nursing Specialist Lori Kohler received her Notable Cash Award on June 1, during the Tallahassee awards luncheon of the 2012 Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards. APD Chief of Staff Barbara Palmer, Amanda Jackson, and Jeff Saulich accompanied Kohler to the luncheon and were the first to congratulate her. Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll gave the keynote address and participated in the award presentations.
Kohler was nominated for the award after she developed a system to identify residential opportunities for customers with behavioral or medical needs. As a result, planning coordinators can identify placements in 20 percent of the time it used to take, for an estimated savings of $275,000 yearly.
APD's Tacachale Center in Gainesville garnered 11 awards in this year's Prudential-Davis awards. Look for details and photos of the Gainesville awards presentation in the next issue of The Champion.
CDC+ Rule Update
APD is making progress in finalizing the rule for the Consumer-Directed Care Plus (CCD+) program. On June 25 in Tallahassee, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) held its final public hearing on the rule to provide an opportunity for public input. The next step is for the state's Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC) to provide its response to AHCA, which will then route the rule for final adoption.
Employment Awareness Month Theme Announced
The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy has announced this year's theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The theme—A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?—highlights the benefits of a diverse workforce that includes workers with disabilities. Early announcement of the theme allows communities nationwide to get a head start on planning events in October. Check future issues of The Champion for details on APD's activities for NDEAM!
EmployME First Forums to be Held
The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and the EmployME First Project are sponsoring a series of forums around the state to stimulate discussion about community employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They will include presentations on the council's EmployME First project, which will develop ways to increase access to community employment. The forums will be held in six Florida cities:
Tallahassee - July 9
Pensacola - July 11
Jacksonville - July 13
Orlando - July 24
Sarasota - July 25
Fort Lauderdale - July 26
Providers and others experienced in disability employment are welcome to participate. For more information, contact Allison Hall at Allison.hall@umb.edu or (480) 264-7215.
Safe and Secure
By Melanie Mowry EttersA positive attitude exudes from Jeanette Sciulara when speaking to others. Sciulara works at a Kmart store on International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, handling a variety of tasks—primarily tagging items with security devices to prevent theft.
"I like tagging the best. I work in the clothing area where the security tags are put on. I put the tag on the seam of the item," says Sciulara. One of her supervisors is Store Manager Charlie Byrd. "Jeanette has made a strong difference for our store. She helps us keep our losses down. She has a real purpose here. I regularly give her positive reinforcement that she is doing well," says Byrd.
Sciulara has developmental disabilities and receives job coaching and other services from APD. She has worked at Kmart for four years. Sciulara uses public transportation to get to work, and has never been late for her shift.
"I love it. It is a really good job with good people. In the beginning I was kind of nervous and afraid I wasn't going to do a good job. Now I feel comfortable here," says Sciulara. She has even been named Employee of the Month at the store, where they put her picture up on the wall and gave her a certificate.
Byrd uses humor in his interactions with Sciulara which helps reduce any anxiety she may be feeling. "She's probably the happiest person in this building. We tease each other. I like having her around." Sciulara says about the store manager, "He's a character. I get a kick out of him."
In her free time, Sciulara likes to shop. She enjoys buying frog trinkets of all shapes and sizes, and has more than 100 frogs in her collection.
Around the State
APD Customer Honored by Employer and Mayor
By Nancy Boutot
Supervisors, colleagues, and even the Mayor of Jacksonville came to congratulate Jason Hamilton when he received the Employee of the Quarter award from EverBank. The APD customer had just passed the 11-year mark as an employee of the bank when he was presented with the award on May 1 at a meeting of the Mayor's Disability Council. The chairman of EverBank's board of directors and a representative from the bank's human resources department also attended.
"Jason, or Moose as he likes to be called, is a dedicated Jaguar fan who loves to 'teal gate' with his friends before each home game," said Tyler Morris, chair of the Mayor's Disability Council. "He is devoted to his faith and is often times found ushering at church or involved in a Knights of Columbus activity in the community. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, loves the movies, and uses his poker face to win all your money playing poker!"
The highlight of the event was when Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown arrived to congratulate Hamilton and pose for a photo. Hamilton's mom Susan said the day was quite impressive and her son was so proud to receive such a memorable award.
Congrats to Jax Project SEARCH Class of 2012
Hope Academy Project SEARCH concluded its fourth year at University of Florida/Shands Hospital in June with the graduation of seven amazing young adults. Since the 2008 start-up of Project SEARCH in Jacksonville, more than 40 students with developmental and intellectual disabilities have participated in this secondary training program for special needs students.
Project SEARCH is a workforce development program designed to provide career exploration and training opportunities for young adults 18 to 29 with cognitive disabilities whose main goal is paid employment. Participants learn employability skills while completing three ten-week internships at a host business. This year, the internships were in Shands' human resources office, materials and receiving, ophthalmology, patient admissions, cardiology, and the gift shop, just to name a few! After completion of the program, individualized job development and placement are provided based on each person's experiences, strengths, and skills.
Orlando Office Reaches Out to Children's Hospital
Staff members of APD's Central Regional Office in Orlando gave a presentation on APD issues to the Behavioral Pediatric Unit at Nemours Children's Hospital. Nurse Mary M. Martin and Area Behavior Analyst Cydney Yerushalmi presented on June 25, at the request of Dr. Leslie Gavin, the head of the unit.
The presentation was well received and was followed by a lively question-and-answer session. The discussion was wide-ranging and covered topics such as eligibility criteria, the application process, the iBudget Florida program, and the waiting list for waiver services. All of the Nemours clinicians were given information on referring their young clients to APD for future services.
Gainesville APD Office Is On Track
On May 19, employees from APD's Gainesville office, now part of the Northeast Region, and members of the Area 3 Family Care Council spent their Saturday participating in an On Track conference sponsored by the Family Network on Disabilities. Parents of children with all disabilities, individuals on the waiting list, and service providers were invited to the free event in Gainesville, which focused on transition issues.
Participants enjoyed presentations by Alice Stanciu, senior human services program specialist in APD's Gainesville office, and Area 3 Family Care Council Chair Shelly Voelker. Other presenters covered topics such as transitioning from school to community, postsecondary education and the University of Florida's Project Set Sail, the Family Network on Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Social Security benefits and work incentives, and wills and trusts.
Chief of Staff Visits Southern Region
By Kirk Ryon
APD Chief of Staff Barbara Palmer recently visited the Southern Regional Office in Miami, accompanied by Program Development Director Denise Arnold, Terri McGarrity and Dineen Cicco. From June 20 to 22, the team from the Headquarters in Tallahassee met with Regional Operations Manager Evelyn Alvarez along with regional staff members, community partners, and the Family Care Council. Lively discussions on strategic planning and creating efficiencies were learning experiences for all participants.
Suncoast Is Hit by Hurricane Who?
Staff members from APD's Suncoast Region were among those who sprang into action when an imaginary hurricane struck. Hurricane Gispert, a Category 3 storm with a 12-to-16-foot storm surge, came ashore on May 22, according to the statewide training exercise sponsored by Florida's Emergency Operations Center. The following day, APD's Michelle Pilkington, Donna Fain, and Vanessa Stull joined representatives from other community organizations in Sarasota County's response to the fictional disaster.
Participants were grouped into strike teams, each focusing on scenarios related to the population that it represented. Pilkington, Fain, and Stull served on the developmental disabilities team. Other teams focused on issues involving the homeless, elders, mental health, youth and families, volunteers, and donation management.
"We needed to quickly assess the situation, problem solve, and find assistance for individuals in need, utilizing our own resources and those of other strike teams," says Pilkington. "At the end, we identified gaps and overlaps and all agreed that it truly was an eye opener and that our community has made great strides in the right direction."
The exercise gave the Sarasota Emergency Operations Center the chance to test its new, Web-based, interactive emergency response system. Members of Sarasota Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) also participated. Visit sarasotacoad.org to download an Emergency Resource Guide for Sarasota County residents with developmental disabilities.
"All citizens need to be more prepared and have a personal plan," advises Pilkington.
CFO Announces Disaster Preparedness Webinars
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is encouraging all Floridians to protect their homes by preparing financially for a disaster. The Department of Financial Services and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is hosting a series of disaster preparedness webinars. Topics will include ensuring adequate insurance coverage, safeguarding documents, preparing an itemized inventory, creating an evacuation plan, filing an insurance claim, and strengthening your home. The Webinars will be held on these days:
July 10 - 12 Noon
July 18 - 2 P.M.
July 24 - 5:30 P.M.
Visit http://www.MyFloridaCFO.com/YMM for information and online registration. Or contact Iris Collier at Iris.Collier@MyFloridaCFO.com or (850) 413-2854.
Changes for Disabled Parking Permits
If you have a permanent disabled parking permit, you need to be aware of the new requirements from the Legislature that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will implement.
Effective October 1, any person issued a blue permanent disabled parking permit must renew the permit every four years and, when doing so, provide a certificate of disability—Form HSMV 83039—completed and signed by a certifying authority within the last 12 months. Permit holders will not have to pay renewal fees.
Also, starting July 1, if your blue permanent disabled parking permit is lost or stolen, a replacement will only be issued if you submit the same documentation required for renewals. The new law does not affect red temporary disabled parking permits, nor people who have disabled (or wheelchair) license plates.
The legislation also directs DHSMV to collect calls reporting abuse of the permits. Calls should be placed to the DHSMV Customer Service Center at (850) 617-3803. Illegally obtaining or using a permit can result in the loss of the parking permit and carries the potential for criminal penalties as outlined in Florida Statute 320.0848.
Visit http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/disabled_pkg.html for more information.
Passes Make it Easy to Enjoy National Parks
If you enjoy visiting America's beautiful national parks and recreation areas, consider buying an Annual Pass. The $80 pass entitles the owner and accompanying passengers (or up to four adults at sites where per-person fees are charged) admittance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas. Other available passes include the $10 Senior Pass—a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens 62 and older; the free Access Pass for citizens with permanent disabilities; and the annual Volunteer Pass for park volunteers who work at least 250 hours. Visit http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html to learn more.
Governor Scott Makes Appointments
Governor Rick Scott announced several appointments and reappointments during June that are of interest to the disability community.
Joyce Hildreth was reappointed to the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind for a term beginning June 8, 2012, and ending at the pleasure of the governor. Hildreth, of Tallahassee, is the director of the Division of Blind Services.
Russell H. Otway was appointed to the Governor's Commission on Jobs for Floridians with Disabilities for a term beginning June 27, 2012, and ending at the pleasure of the governor. Otway, of Miami Beach, is veterans project navigator for the Center for Independent Living of South Florida and the co-founder of Veterans Energy Solutions.
Marion Hart was appointed to the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, succeeding Walter F. Schoenig, for a term beginning June 6, 2012, and ending August 13, 2015. Hart, of Tallahassee, is a retired administrator from the Department of Transportation.
Charlotte G. Temple was reappointed to the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged for a term beginning June 6, 2012, and ending August 13, 2013. Temple, of Jacksonville, is the advocacy director for Arc Jacksonville.
What a Cool Idea!
By Kimberly Tharpe
Like many of us, Daniella Jones, who works for the Office of Agency Clerk at APD Headquarters in Tallahassee, is smitten with Pinterest. If you don't know, Pinterest is the wildly popular virtual pinboard website where lots of interesting photos and creative ideas can be shared. Jones' attention was caught by an igloo project made with empty milk jugs. The minute Jones' seven-year-old son Logan saw it, the project became his mission.
Last February, Logan began asking for donations of empty milk jugs and everyone pitched in. Family, friends, and co-workers all brought in their empties. While Daniella bleached, dried, and stored the jugs, Logan counted them and patiently waited until enough were collected to begin construction.
Daniella and Logan began to lay the foundation with the help of her husband Matt. Employing a complex mathematical formula, they laid the first row of jugs, then quickly threw the fuzzy math out the window! They decided to just stack the jugs in place before hot-gluing them together.
By June, the 195-milk-jug-project was finished—five-feet tall, outfitted with LED lights, and move-in ready. The Jones family is understandably proud of their accomplishment. Logan and his older brother Chancellor love the igloo and use it as their reading room.
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