Happy Anniversary!

Today, Community Options, Inc.'s National Development Council is celebrating it's first year anniversary! Today was the day of our first council meeting. The National Development Council has had a very productive year. We have worked on an employee contribution campaign, coordinated National Disability Awareness Week that will occur every year, and held a balloon release ceremony in response to the International Day of Disabled Persons. We are excited about the upcoming year. We have plans to celebrate World Autism Day on April 2, 2008, our second National Disability Awareness Week, and an iVote because iMatter Campaign. You will want to stay tuned to the happenings of this very exciting and productive upcoming year! Enjoy some of the pictures from the past year!

Are the Clients you support registered to vote?

Did you know that half of American's with disalbities are not registered to vote?!?!



Please take a moment to read the article below taken from the American Association of People with Disablites (AAPD) website www.aapd-dc.org/dvpmain/voterreg/vrguide.html



"If the primary activity of your organization is to provide services to people with disabilities, and if your organization receives state funding to provide these services, the organization must be designated as a voter registration agency.


Human service and health organizations can help empower their clients by systematically offering voter registration during the application, intake, or orientation process, and by registering all of their employees to vote.


At least half of all Americans with disabilities are not registered to vote. While the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) makes voter registration available at motor vehicle and public assistance agencies, many people with disabilities are not being reached. For this reason, Section 7a of the NVRA says that "each state shall designate as voter registration agencies.. all offices in the state that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to people with disabilities." Private non profit organizations and state agencies are covered by the law. Some agencies, but by no means all, that are covered under this law include: Medicaid; vocational/rehabilitation agencies; special education agencies; commissions for the deaf and the blind; para-transit providers; independent living centers; disability specific service providers such as United Cerebral Palsy, ARCs, MS Society, Epilepsy Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, etc.


The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires states to have an electronic, interactive, statewide voter registration database. The federal government provides 95% of the cost. The state HAVA implementation plan should include electronic linking Medicaid and disability agencies to the state’s voter registration file.


Many will vote. Studies show that 70% of the people whom volunteer canvassers register to vote in welfare and food stamps offices actually go to the polls and vote in presidential elections.

FOLLOW THESE FOUR EASY STEPS

1. Appoint one permanent staff person to oversee and coordinate voter registration activities. This person should design the best method for routinely offering voter registration in the intake process, at the reception desk, or during orientation at your agency.
   


2. Agency intake forms and procedures should be amended to include the question, "IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE WHERE YOU NOW LIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REGISTER TO VOTE HERE TODAY?"
   


3. Clients should always be offered help in completing the voter registration form. HAVA requires--first time voters who register by mail must show identification at the polls. In many states, an agency representative delivers voter registration forms to the elections office. They are deemed not to be mail-in registrations, exempting registrants from the identification requirement. Obtain answers to commonly asked questions such as, "How will I know if I'm registered?" "Where do I vote?" "How do I get an absentee ballot?" "Do I need an I.D. card to vote?" "Can I register to vote at age 17 if I will be 18 on Election Day?" "If I register now, am I permanently registered?" "Do I have to choose a political party when I register?" "If I vote in a party's primary election, do I have to vote for that party in the general election?"
   


4. Record the names and phone numbers of people who register to vote at your agency. This step is for get-out-the-vote efforts. You can also keep track of how many people register to document your success to your staff, board, funders, local coalitions, national affiliates, or the press.
   

ALL VOTER REGISTRATION SERVICES MUST BE NON-PARTISAN
"Non-partisan" means that the activity or program shall not be influenced by, affiliated with, or supportive of the interests or policies of any political party or candidate. Support for candidates of two parties in an election ("bipartisanship") is not a non-partisan activity. You need to put up a sign which reads:
Our voter registration services are available without regard for the voter's political preference. Information and other assistance regarding registering or voting, including transportation and other services offered, shall not be withheld or refused on the basis of support for or opposition to a particular candidate or particular political party."

Couldn't Be Happier

An individual supported in Northern New Jersey, Robert is helping me to post this blog about his first day of work at the Wayne office. Robert has been supported by Community Options for over 10 years. In the warmer months Robert is a landscaper however because it is cold out, Robert is working in the office to help out in various areas. We were talking about the blog and he insisted that we post about his first day. Great job, Robert and keep up the great work!

"Gift of Giving"

"It is better to give than to receive" was the theme during Community Options of Pittsburgh's annual "Gift of Giving" holiday fundraising campaign. Over one hundred volunteers descended upon Century III Mall with one mission - WRAP PRESENTS!!!!!! Through hard work, yards of wrapping paper, and a few paper cuts...over $2500 was raised! Our gift wrap booth provided the prime opportunity to not only raise funds, but to also create organizational awareness! Thank you to all who have volunteered their time or utilized our wrapping service!!!

Emerging Leaders Program

Community Options has joined the Emerging Leaders Program! Emerging Leaders is a highly competitive program that places college students with disabilities in fulfilling summer internships and provides them with leadership development opportunities. Emerging Leaders partners with businesses to help them find outstanding young talent while also considering diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices.

Student applicants are matched with businesses through a careful screening process that helps ensure that the internship placement is a good fit for both parties.

Booz Allen Hamilton founded Emerging Leaders in 2001. The program currently is managed by the National Business & Disability Council.

"Emerging Leaders is one of the most proactive and effective initiatives to integrate people with disabilities into competitive levels of the workplace as fully participating, productive employees," says Edmund L. Cortez, President and CEO, National Business & Disability Council.

Community Options is dedicated and committed to developing its internship program, nationally. By becoming an Emerging Leader Partner, we are taking a huge step in developing and demonstrating our commitment to this program. Check it out at www.emerging-leaders.com

2008 Save the Dates

April 3, 2008 -World Autism Day and Campaign

April 30, 2008 -Birch Lane Hop for Health Fundraiser

August 16, 2008 -2nd Annual iMatter Surf Camp -10am-4pm at Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton, NY

October 25, 2008 -5k Run -Disability Awareness Week -Liberty State Park, Jersey City

November 8, 2008 -5k Run for Children with Autism -Eisenhower Park -East Meadow, Long Island

WEINBERG'S 'BILLY'S LAW' APPROVED BY SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE

WEINBERG'S 'BILLY'S LAW' APPROVED BY SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg known as "Billy's Law," which would create an oversight council on the out-of-state placement of children was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The bill is named for Billy Albanese of Brooklyn, NY. Billy suffered a traumatic brain injury and attended Bancroft Neurohealth in Haddonfield from 1992 to 1997. Billy was reportedly left unsupervised in his wheelchair on numerous occasions, resulting in three falls which required a total of 40 stitches to his face and head. Billy's father, Vito Albanese, helped found the Family Alliance to Stop Abuse and Neglect, Senator Weinberg said.

"As parents and grandparents, our main priority must be to protect the health and safety of our children. This responsibility increases when they are out of our care, and so must our diligence in protecting our kids," said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. "This legislation would work to help protect hundreds of New Jersey's children. We must work to ensure that our children who are sent out-of-state for treatment are kept safe, and treated with the same amount of care that they would receive here in New Jersey."

Senator Weinberg's bill, S-2490, would require the Departments of Human Services and Children and Families to develop placement guidelines for children from New Jersey attending a residential school or program in another state. The departments would create a registry of approved residential schools and programs.

In order to be listed on the registry, out-of-state schools and programs would undergo an inspection and evaluation of the facility by a representative of the Departments of Human Services or Children and Families. During the inspection the facility it would have to be found that the facility is licensed and has laws in place for investigation of allegations of abuse and neglect. Any contract entered into between either department and an out-of-state facility would have to include language authorizing the departments to conduct unannounced inspections, Senator Weinberg said.

The departments would be responsible for determining whether or not out-of-state placement is necessary by identifying whether or not the services can be provided at a New Jersey facility. They would also be required to compile service directories and lists of funding opportunities, and to collect, analyze and share data on children who are placed in in-State and out-of-state schools and make funding recommendations. The departments would establish public awareness, training and assistance initiatives. Lastly, each department would be required to report to the Governor and the Legislature within 18 months of the adoption of the bill?s regulations on its implementation and the department's efforts to expand the State?s capacity for housing children needing treatment, in an effort to reduce the number of out-of-state placements.

This legislation unanimously cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 7. It now heads to the full Senate for a vote.