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WRC Meeting Minutes
July 17, 2008
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Present: Ben Anderson, Jim Dobrinska, Jodi Hanna, Steve Gilles, Ken Kluever, Gail Kolvenbach, Peter Lucas, John Lui, Cindi Pichler, Carol Schaufel, Dan Sippl, Linda Vegoe
Absent: Rob Buettner, Charlene Dwyer, Vivian Larkin, Patricia Lerch, Bill Malone, Ashley Marshall, Laura Owens, Roxan Perez, Dee Truhn
Resource staff/guests: Patricia Severt, Mike Greco, Vince Holmes, Jean Rogers, Kim Pomeroy, Dennis Carriere, Jim Mazzetti, Trina Lee, Mike Bachhuber, William Parke Sutherland, Carol Gilson, Alvin Hill
Interpreters: Tera Cater Vorpahl, Maureen Thurmaier
Recorder: Kristin Rolling
Call to Order
Linda Vegoe, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.
Roll Call
Introductions
Announcements
John Lui announced that the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute will host the Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Conference Oct. 16 & 17. Topics include ADA, mental health issues, economic development, ethics, cultural diversity, and employer solutions to work interruptions.
Review of Minutes
Anderson/Sippl moved/seconded to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2008 meeting.
Motion carried.
Old Business
None.
New Business
Public Comment
The mother of an adult DVR consumer read a letter that her daughter wrote to the WRC.
Updates
DPI
40% of schools are incompliance with Indicator 13 – the goal is 100% compliance. Resources are being directed to bring all schools into compliance. Wisconsin is part of a National Community on Transition. The October meeting of the group will focus on employment. The DPI publication Opening Doors to Employment has been updated.
IHO
One function of the WRC is to review decisions and track for any trends in appeal topics that indicate problems with the way in which policy is being applied. Language is being changed to “due process” instead of appeals.
To date in FFY 08, there have been 46 requests for appeal forms, 25 cases were assigned to an IHO, 3 cases were dismissed and 3 consumers withdrew their appeal.
Case closure is the most common appeal topic.
Training for DVR directors and supervisors will be held in the fall of 2008. An online training will be released for all staff in early 2009.
NRA
The ADA Restoration Act passed in the US House of representatives in June and is now being considered by Senate committee.
Anderson/Hanna motioned/seconded that the WRC will write a letter to Wisconsin Senators Kohl and Feingold encouraging them to support the ADA Amendment Acts. The WRC will also write a letter to Wisconsin Representatives praising their passage of the ADA Amendments Act.
ILC-W
Working with the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities on transition project called Peer Power.
A Disability Voter Guide is being developed that asks questions of candidates who have a contested race.
A committee is looking at progress that has been made since the last Disability Summit. There may be another summit in late 2009.
WRC member Question – Are independent living centers considering becoming an Employment Network? A meeting will be held in August to discuss becoming an Employment Network and taking advantage of the opportunities that the new Ticket to Work regulations offer.
Brain Injury Association
Quarterly meetings are held in Madison. The groups has three committees – Legal and Legislative, Education and training and Family and Peer Support.
Agenda Item: Committee Reports
Evaluation
The results of the DVR staff survey were presented to all DVR staff at the DVR staff conferences.
The DVR vendor survey has been written. The survey will be sent by Sept. 1, a reminder to complete the survey will be sent Sept. 15 and the survey will close on Sept. 30.
An Assistive Technology Best Practices Training is being developed. It is being developed in response to the findings of a statewide group (presentation at WRC April meeting) about the lack of standards and quality assurance measures for people purchasing assistive technology.
Reports
Request that WRC members review the FFY07 annual report and send any suggestions for changes or improvements to the committee chairs.
The committee will meet in September to discuss the FFY08 report.
Executive Committee
Committees will continue to meet in the afternoon prior to the full council meeting. Local DVR staff will be invited to attend.
Agenda Item: Legislative Packets
(Kristin Rolling, DVR)
The WRC passed a motion at the April meeting to compile and distribute packets to Wisconsin legislators informing them about DVR and Disability Program Navigators. A draft packet was presented to the WRC for their review approval.
Suggestions: Add an executive summary of both the Cornell report and the WRC Annual Report. Keep the packet small and introductory letter short to help insure that legislators/staffers read it The information in the packets should be posted to the WRC website.
Anderson/Schaufel moved/seconded to also send the packets to Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation. Motion passed
Agenda Item: Credentials for Benefit Counseling
(John Lui, WRC)
The ultimate goal of credentialing is to protect consumers.
Training would also be developed for referral sources so they understand the service and what they are paying for, as well as to create a better understanding of how often and when to refer a consumer
WRC Member Comment – Concern that referral are only made for those who have indicated that they want to go of benefits
WRC Member Comment – DVR should have a way of knowing if the benefits counselors they use are qualified, and should have an understanding of when it’s appropriate to refer a consumer for the service
The W-2/DVR workgroup would like a final product that resembles the DVR/DPI/DHFS agreement and that will open the lines of communication between DVR and W-2 agencies. Agencies can serve as a resource to one another, even if there is not a joint customer.
Agenda Item: Traumatic Brain Injury Report
(Vince Holmes, DVR)
WRC Member Comment – (regarding “failure to cooperate” as a reason for closure) that phrasing is offensive to the TBI population. Being uncooperative is part of the disability. DVR response – Closure requires full consultation and communication is required in a variety of modes. Counselors must insure that the consumer understands what is being explained/written to them.
WRC Member Comment – In future reports, include the high and low wage, in addition to the average wage
Agenda Item: State of WDA 6/Transportation Summit
(Kim Pomeroy, WDA 6 Director)
Shared “A Day in the Life” video – WDA 6 team video.
In the last 18 months, hired 3 counselors and one consumer case coordinator; three teams in the WDA The WDA exceeded successful rehabilitation goal for FFY 07. With 88% of FFY 08 complete, the WDA is at 86% of its goal for the year. 1067 active cases, 300 on the waiting list.
A business plan review committee was established in 2006. There have been 22 presentations to the group.
A BEP workgroup was established in 2007 to address staff and consumer concerns with the services.
WDA 6 challenges include plant closing, loss of jobs, increased transportation costs and the issues that are created by the rural area, i.e. transportation and lack of resources.
Kim is a member of the Governor’s Interagency Council on Transportation.
Agenda Item: DVR Administrative Report
(Mike Greco, DVR Director, Bureau
of Consumer Services)
(Jean Rogers, DVR Assistant Director, Bureau of
Consumer Services)
Employment Goals and Outcome Update
4 WDA’s have surpassed their goal for FFY 08.
91% of the statewide goal (3,166) has been reached, with 77% of the federal fiscal year completed.
Order of Selection Update
There are about 4,850 people on the waiting list. There will be about 5,000 by the end of July.
Category 1 consumers continue to be activated for services immediately.
DVR hopes to invite 400 Category 2 applicants off of the waiting list each month through the end of 2008.
One Stop Update
Initial proposal would have created 12 Regional Skill and Career Centers, from 39 Job Centers.
Concerns raised by partners and building owners who hold Job Center leases. The proposal is being debated and will be re-worked.
DVR wants to eliminate operating agreements and rent space in areas where it meets the DVR business need.
Fee Schedule Change
Computer purchase changed from $1,200 to $800. Does not include rehabilitation technology needs and exceptions can be requested.
WRC Member Question
Is there a mechanism to share proposed fee schedule and policy changes with the WRC prior to implementation?
Answer – Changes to DVR policy and fee schedule were presented at the joint DVR/WRC public hearings in April.
Agenda Item: Public Comment
Perez/Kluever moved/seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.