Michigan State Plan for Independent Living

Attached below is the 2011-2013 Michigan State Plan for Independent Living.

This document has been submitted to the signatory agencies (Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and Michigan Commission for the Blind) as of Friday May 28th.

As of today, June 1, 2010, the public comment period and the comment sections are now closed.  There will be another posting with responses to submitted public comment.

Any further changes to the document will require agreement among all three signatories.

You may download the complete document: Michigan State Plan for Independent Living (Final) (Microsoft Word format)

The following is a list of public input received though the following methods:

• www.michiganspil.org
• SILC Facebook Page
• Input received to the SILC Office through phone, meetings, or direct comment.

Public Input

• Would like the plan to specifiy what Core CIL Services are performed without cost.
• Core funding, as identified in the SPIL, covers what?
• There is not a great deal of information about the Personal Assistance Services Reimbursement for Employment Services Program (PASREP) Program
• The goals and objectives need to be made more concise. They need to hold the same consistency in wording
• Comment has been received that Goal II, Objective I “Develop local Aging and Disability Resource Center partnerships using “no wrong door” and “person centered planning” approaches that will be fully functional within five years.” Should be changed to read: “Develop local Aging and Disability Resource Center partnerships using “no wrong door” and “person centered planning” approach.”
• Why not have SILC and the DSU produce an an annual report regarding the evaluation and progress of SPIL initiatives focused on increasing services, advocacy and leadership development or under represented communities and people with disabilities?

  Section 1.5 I think you need to add something like:
  The SILC as an independent Governors appointed council is in a position to serve as an important source for information relevant to independent living in Michigan.

  1. The SILc shall serve as an information resource in an advisory role, and work closely with the Governor’s Office regarding independent living and disability issues.
  2. The SILC serves as an information resource for both the Senate and House on independent living and disability related issues as requested
  3. SILC will work with relevant state agencies to assure that program designed to further independent living complement existing programs and continue to further the philosophy of independent living.
  4. SILC staff and council members represent IL concerns and present relevant issues on national and statewide taskforces, steering committees, and at meetings and conferences.
  5. SILC will work with Michigan’s CILs and Disability Network Michigan to identify problems with require creative solutions including resource development, data collection and other kssues that concern CILs in Michigan

  I feel there is a need to look at your plan and summarize the CORE VALUES and CORE STRATGIES contained in the plan and make those a public document.

  There needs to be a goal to: Develop and strengthen the Independent Living Network in Michigan
  Objectives could/should include:

  1. CILs and SILc will seek to increase/ or a least maintain stabilized funding with an emphasis on services to individuals of traditionally underrepresented populations , through coordination with other organizations with similar goals.
     MRS will provide core funding, training and technical assistance for the purpose of strengthen the current network of cil.
  2. Funds need to be specifically allocated for technical assistance in accordance to annual reporting and information secured from SILC public forums/public comment sessions; and other identified issues related to statewide independent living barriers as identified by SILC and/or the Common Disability Agenda
  3. Through the three years of the plan, MRS will 0provide ongoing compliance monitoring; grant administration, training and technical assistance and compliance review for all 15 CIL’s not receiving a federal review.
  4. Throughout the three years of this plan SILC will conduct educational forums and provide research reports on issues critical to the disability community, as requested and approved by the SILC

• I am concerned this document does not state it is the operation base for Michigan’s IL program. It should say somewhere that MRS acts as the fiduciary for Michigan in carrying out the SPIL. It reads more an appendix to the SPIL.
• I am concerned there is not more teeth in monitoring the IL program.
• Basically a good plan. I like the partnership emphasis and the expansion of the network being based upon the need assessment which will be conducted.
• That’s a lot of goals and objectives! Do we really think we can make progress on all that in three years? Is RSA expecting such a broad campaign? Can’t we work on some of that without planning to? It seems to me we’d have a much simpler SPIL if we only had three goals with specific objectives, and then a fourth, broader one, authorizing us to work on on an umbrella of other issues as part of the three major ones, to enhance IL services throughout Michigan.
• Just a quick note to say that I really like that the goals, objectives and activities are concise and easily understandable.
• Add an activity to identify VR&E counselors in unserved areas of the state and develop a plan for those counselors to report CFAL-type data to DN/M and / or a corresponding CIL.
• I urge the MISILC to consider and to commence advocacy to protect persons wtih disabilities from these discrimintary, assaultive, unconsititutional polices and practices. Attached is the complete document received for this comment. Complete document

The wikki page will soon be updated to match the current draft version of the SPIL. If you have input for the SPIL, please do the following:

1. Make a comment to this or any recent post. Comments are reviews and considered as posted. (Please note: commenting is turned off after a post is one week old to avoid spam)
2. Send an email message to spil@misilc.org
3. Contact the SILC office at 800-808-7452

If you are a SPIL Partner and would like edit privileges to the document, please do the following:
1. Request a user/password by contacting rodney@misilc.org

A Question has been received asking why there are no quarterly meetings of SILC, MCB and MRS included in the plan.

It is requested this be included in the document in order to maintain the necessary SPIL relationships to move the plan forward.

Update: (March 10)
There is every intention to include this somewhere in the document. The writing team has not reached that section as of the March 10th date.

Welcome to the planning site for the Michigan State Plan for Independent Living which will begin in 2011 and last through 2013.  This site is an attempt to solicit greater input and provide transparency on the process utilized to create the plan.

The document describes Michigan’s State Independent Living Services / Centers for Independent Living (SILS/CIL) program and outlines plans for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2011-2013.  It will be jointly developed by the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) Partners, in consultation with CILs, their association (DN/M), and other partners.

The SPIL Partners include the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) and the two Designated State Units – Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB).  As developed by the SPIL Partners, the SPIL sets the values, principles, and policy framework for the state’s SILS/CIL program.  The SPIL partners, in consultation with Michigan’s 15 CILs, their association (DN/M), and other IL partners, provide ongoing direction for implementation of the SPIL and operation of the program.

You may follow the progress of the SPIL Creation in the following ways.

1. Wikki – Everyone will be able to view the document as it is written.  SPIL Partners will have the ability to edit the document as well.
2. Facebook – News and Updates will be posted on MISILC’s Facebook page.
3. Twitter – For those who would like quick updates, you can follow the process on Twitter.
4. Commenting on Blog postings.
5. RSS Feeds – RSS Feeds are available to track changes and updates.

You may also send questions/comments/suggestions to spil@misilc.org and they will be posted.