APRIL Conference October 20-23 2017
23rd Annual Conference
Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All
Youth Conference: Team Work Makes the Dream Work
#APRIL  		#IndivisibleIL
Twitter: @APRIL4ruralIL
Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/RURALIL
Website: www.april-rural.org

Contents
Letter from the President
Letter from the Executive Director
2017 Conference Exhibitors
Conference Supporters
Youth Conference
APRIL Pre-Conference Agenda
Conference Agenda
2:00- 3:30 PM Saturday Concurrent Workshops Begin
Sunday, October 22nd, 2017
Celebrate, Honor, and Remember Our Colleagues
Keynotes
About our Workshop Presenters:
APRIL and the IL-NET Partnership Refunded!
Thank you to our Advertising Sponsors!

	

Letter from the President

Welcome APRIL advocates to beautiful Spokane!
This is APRIL’s 23rd Annual Conference and you are in for one fabulous conference covering the entire range of issues facing all people with disabilities. APRIL leadership is hopeful you will engage in the numerous opportunities provided to you this week to give your voice to these issues and help shape the future.

While we close in on the end of a year of stunning surprises, and mind-numbing decisions by our nation’s policymakers, we strongly encourage you to embrace the energizing power of our community and celebrate our strength and unity. Wrap yourself in the theme of this year’s conference. And celebrate the amazing youth from across the country, which should be enough to jazz up the passion of any IL advocate. But the second half of our conference theme—Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All!-- couldn’t come at a better time to focus our efforts on the daunting work that remains.

Take advantage of all the great knowledge and resources of your peers from across the country. Absorb and share our mutual passion for the free exercise of our civil rights. Learn from each other, celebrate knowledge, embrace the exuberance and emerging leadership of a younger generation, and most importantly—have fun!

But, we also have other work to do while we are together. Today in our nation, there remains a nearly inhumane and appalling lack of affordable, accessible, non-toxic housing, and even more appalling so in rural America. Too many of our brothers and sisters still cannot go where they want to go, when they want to go there. And there remains a persistent and shockingly low rate of participation in the workforce for all people with disabilities.

It’s time to get to work!

Sincerely,
Tim J. Sheehan

Letter from the Executive Director

Hello and welcome to the 23rd Annual APRIL Conference:  Indivisible With Liberty and Justice for All.  As I reflect back on the year that was, I keep hearing the lyrics of a Grateful Dead tune….What a long strange trip its been.  Since our last gathering, we’ve had a Presidential election, a healthcare battle, wide-spread natural disasters and another healthcare battle.  Those are just a few of the issues on this long strange trip, but a common thread in all of these events has been the united voice of people with disabilities.  All disabilities!

We have taken Ben Franklin’s words at the signing of the Declaration of Independence to heart…”we must indeed all hang together, or we will assuredly hang separately.”  You, my brothers and sisters, hung together and are to be celebrated for the tremendous work in saving Medicaid, upon which, millions of people’s lives depend.  Nothing about us, without us! 

Finally, I want to thank all of our sponsors for making this event possible, but most importantly, thank You for being here and all the things you do in your community to enrich the lives of our brothers and sisters with disabilities.

Billy Altom
Executive Director

2017 Conference Exhibitors

RTC: Rural University of Montana
Missoula, MT

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
Washington D.C.

Q90 / CIL Suites 
Salem, UT

ILRU
Houston, Texas

Tools For Life 
Atlanta, Georgia

Election Assistance Commission
Washington D.C.

Rooted in Rights
Seattle, WA

AgrAbility  
West Lafayette, IN

WA ABLE Savings Plan 
Olympia, WA

MiCIL	
Honolulu, Hawaii

QRamp
Ontario, Canada

Cascades College and Career Academy
Sedro-Woolley, WA

Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC:CL)
Lawrence, KS

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Short Hills, NJ

Eastern Washington University 
Cheney, WA

Hamilton Relay
Tacoma, WA

Election Systems and Software
Omaha, NE

John Smith-Five Cedars Group
Beaverton, OR

Access 4 All
Spokane, WA

Sorenson Interpreting Services LLC
Salt Lake City, UT

Conference Supporters

Conference Sponsors
Centene
St Louis, MO 

Anthem
Indianapolis, IN

Amtrak
Washington, DC

IndependenceFirst  
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ability360
Phoenix, AZ

Southwest Center for Independent Living 
Springfield, MO

DisABILITY Link
Tucker, GA
YOUTH SUPPORT
Sharon Finney
Houston, TX

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Short Hills, NJ

Tim Sheehan
Menomonie, WI

Washington SILC 
Olympia, WA

Department of Services for the Blind Spokane, WA

DAC, NW
Moscow, ID

Youth Conference

“Teamwork Makes the Dream Work”
Date: October 20, 2017 (Friday)
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Place: Davenport Grand Hotel,
Spokane, WA

Join us for the 2017 Youth Conference where “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!” Find out why we need all people and all communities to be active in the Independent Living Movement.  Discover how race, gender, class, ethnicity, and disability all play a role in fighting the barriers and stereotypes of people with disabilities.  Learn about civil rights, disability history, and how you can create positive change through teamwork with others.
FRIDAY October 20, 2017 8:30am-12:00 pm	Conference Registration for Preconference and Youth attendees ONLY.
9:00 am – 9:30 am		Welcome and Introductions
9:30am-10:00am		Spider Web
10:00 am – 10:30 am	Superhero Advocacy
10:30 am – 10:45 am	Morning Break
10:45 am – 11:15 am	Keynote Speaker
11:15 am – 12:00 pm	Social Identity Activity 
12:00pm – 1:30 pm		Lunch Break – 
 		(registered Youth Conference & Pre-Con attendees only) 
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm		Intersectionality Wheel
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm		Roundtables  
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm		Afternoon Break 
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm		Advocate Panel  
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm		Round Table discussion  
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm		Wrap Up

APRIL Pre-Conference Agenda
Back to Basics: IL Skills Training
Date: October 20, 2017 (Friday)
Time: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm 
Place: Davenport Grand Hotel, 
Spokane, WA

8:30 am – 12:00 pm	Conference Registration for Preconference and Youth attendees ONLY.
9:00 am – 9:30 am		Welcome, Ice breakers, and Housekeeping
Group Guidelines
9:30am-10:30am	Mechanics of IL Skills Services: Finding, recruiting, opening consumer files- Jamie Hardt and Scott Burlingame
10:30 am – 10:45 am	Morning Break
10:45 am – 11:45 am	Consumers, Content, and Comfort- Oh My! 
Susan Cervellera
11:45 am – 12:00 pm	Tips, Tricks, Struggles, and Questions 
12:00pm – 1:30 pm		Lunch Break – 
 (registered Youth Conference & Pre-Con attendees only) 
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm		Facilitation Tips and Tricks – Michael Beers
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm		Evaluating: How, When and Why to do it- Meg Traci
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm		Tips, Tricks, Struggles, and Questions
4:00pm-4:15 pm 		That’s A Wrap! (Please fill out your evaluation!)
This preconference is a part of the APRIL Board Subcommittee “Future Track”.
If you would like to learn more about this group, or have questions during the preconference or need assistance, please find one of our knowledgeable and enthusiastic members ~ Thank you! Jim Whalen, Scott Burlingame, Kimberly Tissot, Cassie Wick, and Melissa Ann-Santora 

Conference Agenda
Friday, October 20th 2017  
Conference Activities Begin
Spokane Scavenger Hunt- All Weekend
Over the weekend, youth will work in small teams to scavenger and record ‘information’ in and around the hotel.  Teams completing the hunt will be individually entered into the raffle for Sunday evening.  Friday morning, lists will be given and teams formed.  Details and any questions will be addressed then.  Happy Hunting!
1:30 PM Prefunction Area
Registration for all conference attendees opens. Prior to 1:30 PM only those attending the preconference or youth conference will be able to register.

6:00-7:00 PM Cedar Ballroom 
APRIL Annual Membership Meeting and Board Elections
Learn about APRIL’s accomplishments in the past year. Voting members may vote in the APRIL Board of Directors Elections.  

7:00-9:00 PM APRIL Welcome Reception   Grand Ballroom B
Come join us to meet and greet old friends and make some new ones. Snacks and Cash Bar 

Saturday, October 21st, 2017 
8:30 AM Conference Prefunction Area and Continental Breakfast Opens
Conference Registration table is open to register, get your name tag, and informational program.  APRIL T-shirts will go on sale in the registration area. Choose from the Youth conference T-shirt or the APRIL Conference T-shirt, or Both! Supplies Limited. This year we will have our raffle tickets on sale in the registration area for the entire conference. All the proceeds from this year’s main conference raffle will go to Portlight and their Emergency Prep and Disaster Relief efforts. Winners to be pulled at the Banquet on Sunday evening. Come check us out, bring some cash, and get some goods! 

9:00 AM- 10:30 AM Welcome Ceremonies and Opening Keynote 
Grand Ballroom AB
Washington State and APRIL welcome you to the 23rd Annual APRIL Conference in Spokane, Washington.

Welcoming activities include a welcoming from:
Billy Altom, APRIL Executive Director and Tim Sheehan, APRIL Board President 
Moriah Grace, APRIL Youth Steering Committee Chair
Lux Devereaux, Executive Director of the American Indian Center (AICC) 
Kim Conner, Washington SILC Executive Director
Bill Kane, Spokane Valley CIL Executive Director
Gary Stokes, President and General Manager of KSPS Public Television
Dawn Kinder, Director Community Housing and Human Services-Spokane
U.S. Election Assistance Commissioners
We will have a short welcome from Commissioner Matthew Masterson and Commissioner Christy McCormick who will also discuss some special opportunities for you to be involved in improving access to voting for people with disabilities right here at the APRIL Conference.

10:30- 12:00 PM Break, Vendor Fair, US Election Assistance Town Hall
Vendor Fair 		Prefunction Area 2 and 3
All: Stop by the Vendor booths and learn about some great resources and opportunities. 
Youth: Don’t forget that this is your opportunity at People Bingo/Candy Crush, test your game playing skills in real time and life! Collect Candies by having the vendor with the matching candy initial your board during the resource fair. Collect 5 candies in a row to be entered into a drawing to win a PRIZE! Once you have completed the board give it to an APRIL Youth Executive Committee Member.

EAC Town Hall – Accessible Voting in Rural America                 Maple
Vicky Dalton, Commissioner Masterson, Commissioner McCormick
Commissioners from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and local election officials invite you to join them for a town hall dialogue about voter accessibility in rural America.  The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), provides people with disabilities the right to a private and independent vote. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate and accessible elections by developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration, including products that enhance the voting experience of Americans with disabilities. The EAC also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting systems, as well as administers the use of HAVA funds. For more information, visit www.eag.gov.  As we approach the 15th anniversary of HAVA on October 29, we want to hear from you about your experiences registering to vote, casting your ballot, and interacting with your local election offices.  The panel will also provide information about EAC’s work to support voters with disabilities and how your input can help to shape the commission’s efforts.  This is an open session, you can stop by any time and be a part of the discussion."
12:00-1:30 PM Luncheon and Keynote			Grand Ballroom AB
Join us for a plated lunch in the Ballroom. Remember, special dietary meals are available if you registered for them and your name tag will indicate if you get one of these meals. Any questions? Come see us at registration!
1:00 PM Keynote: A View from the Inside    
Sarah Triano, Director of Policy and Innovation Complex Care, Centene Corp
Triano will share lessons learned from her journey as a participant in the nation’s first Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) for Students with Disabilities in 1992 to becoming the Director of Policy & Innovation for the nation’s largest managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Company in the country. Triano will also share her thoughts on the future of LTSS in America based on her perspective as a person with a disability professionally embedded in the medical model.   
2:00- 3:30 PM Saturday Concurrent Workshops Begin
Youth Workshop Blocks- All Weekend
Note that throughout the entire conference, there is at least 1 session in each block of workshops that is designated as Youth Focused. Please know that this just means this session was written with youth in mind, however, you can and might want to go to any of the workshops during the conference, and that is ok too! Enjoy!

Social Media: An Audience with Youth			Meeting Room 1
Vicki Leeper and Sharon Fuller
Social Media marketing is important for your organization to reach today’s youth. Maybe you’re already doing it, or maybe you’re looking for the best way to get started. This fun interactive course shows you how to use social media to get results you can measure.  You will learn best practices for Websites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Blogging, Pinterest, and Hash slider platforms. Build your online social connections fast and easy.
IL in Indian Country						Meeting Room 2
John Nousaine, Sunshine Lemieux, Doug Defoe
North Country Independent Living of Wisconsin was one of three Independent Living Centers nationwide awarded a three year demonstration project to better serve Indian Country in the delivery of ILC services.  The project focuses on four of the eleven federally recognized tribal communities in Wisconsin.  The four tribes North Country serves are Red Cliff, Bad River, St Croix and Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO).    The project has an advisory committee and is staffed by tribal members representing three of the four tribes it serves; LCO, Red Cliff, and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Come to this panel discussion to find out about this new exciting project, meet the staff, and discover what we have accomplished and learned so far.
Accessible Healthcare: Rights and Responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act							Meeting Room 3
Michael Richardson
The absence of professional training on disability competency issues for health care practitioners is one of the most significant barriers that prevent people with disabilities from receiving appropriate and effective health care. One way to reduce these barriers (and what this lecture intends to do) is to self-empower IL service providers and consumers with ADA knowledge so that they are better equipped to request accommodations and have greater opportunities for equal and accessible healthcare services. Objectives: assist participants in understanding the rights and responsibilities of physical access for people with mobility-related disabilities and effective communication for people with hearing, vision, and cognitive disabilities in medical settings. Discussion topics will cover:
•	Understanding the applications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to healthcare.
•	An overview of accessible exam rooms, chairs and medical diagnostic equipment.
•	ADA legislation overview and definitions of effective communication.
•	Common auxiliary aids, services, and strategies to ensure effective communication.
•	ADA resources for training and technical assistance support.

CIL Services for Parents with Disabilities 			Meeting Room 10
Kimberly Tissot
Parents with disabilities are often viewed as unfit based solely on their disability and are not provided with appropriate family preservation and reunification services and supports that are tailored to their needs.  This  session  provides  an  overview  of  applicable  laws  and  federal  guidance followed  by examples  of  systemic advocacy  efforts  and  services  that  CILs  can  provide  to  support  parents  with disabilities.

The Safety Project: Partnering with 13 CILS to Develop an Abuse Prevention Program for People with Intellectual Disabilities 		Meeting Room 11
Rosemary Hughes and Brittany Hepler
People with intellectual disabilities are at high risk for abuse. Participants in this workshop will learn about the development and systematic evaluation of a safety program for people in this population. The presenters will share how close partnerships among researchers, people with intellectual disabilities, disability rights activists, and Centers for Independent Living succeeded in developing an IL class that included information and activities related to communication skills, healthy boundaries, the nature and types of abuse, warning signs of abuse, respect and safety in relationships, safety planning, help seeking, and disability rights. The presenters will lead the session by sharing PowerPoint slides that were used by the CIL group leaders, demonstrating role playing and other skill development activities that used in the program, and facilitating a discussion about the need and feasibility of offering a safety awareness program in CILs.

Advocacy through Video and Social Media				Meeting Room 12
Rooted in Rights- Vilissa Thompson and Clark Matthews
(Youth Focused) When it comes to self-advocacy, few tools pack as much power as video and social media. Staff from the award-winning team at Rooted in Rights share their secrets for how you can take control of the disability narrative - and empower those around you to do the same. HINT: If you have a story and access to a smartphone, you’re almost there!
3:30-4:00 BREAK							Prefunction Area

4:00- 5:00 Concurrent Workshops
Choose one of these sessions to share your voice or your experiences and hear from others. Learn about and help shape policy, programs, and opportunities to come. 
Home Alone or Out and About: Enhancing Usability & Community Participation for All										Meeting Room 1
Dr. Glen White, Lillie Greiman, Hayley Burghart, Dr. Craig Ravesloot
The first step to getting out into the community is facing challenges in your home. In the Home Usability Program, consumers work with an Independent Living Specialist to identify usability problems within their homes and connect with community resources to help find solutions to these problems. By making one’s home not only accessible but more usable, persons with disabilities will be better prepared for engaging in their communities.  But, what if getting out and about isn’t so simple? That is where the Out and About program comes into play. This program addresses both environmental and health-related barriers to community participation by providing resources and developing skills in self-advocacy and goal setting. Join us for an interactive discussion on the Home Usability and Out and About programs that will explore resources and identify creative solutions to addressing barriers both in the home and in the community.  

Opportunities and Barriers for Agricultural Workers with Disabilities: A Discussion
Paul Jones, Sierra Royster, Tom Younkman				Meeting Room 2  
This session will be based on The Unconference Principle: “The sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of expertise of the people on stage.” The facilitators will provide a brief (5-10 minute) overview of disability in agriculture and some of the major issues involved with it. Participants will also have the opportunity to add topics for discussion. Facilitators will then lead the discussion based on the established discussion points and will take notes on flipchart sheets. Participants will be encouraged to share strategies for serving agricultural workers with disabilities, barriers, resources, and suggestions for future initiatives.

APRIL SILC to SILC YLF Style
Melissa Ann-Santora, Jamie Davis, Bill Wood 				Meeting Room 3
Presenters will share their perspectives on being the first IL-NET/ APRIL SILC to SILC Youth Leadership Forum Mentoring partners, in hopes of encouraging others to consider mentoring opportunities. This will be an interactive session with plenty of opportunities for participants to engage with presenters about their experiences and tips they learned.     

Identifying Technical Assistance Needs in the Field		Meeting Room 10
Paula McElwee and the IL-NET
Come share your input on what trainings and information you need to be successful in the field. The IL-NET is a partnership between ILRU, Utah State, NCIL, and APRIL, funded through the Administration on Community Living. Briefly learn about programs to assist you in your Independent Living field needs and help shape the future of technical assistance.

Been There Done That							Meeting Room 11
Scott Burlingame, Cassie Wick, Kimberly Tissot, Jim Whalen 
(APRIL Future Track Subcommittee)
Come join some Center for Independent Living (CIL) “vets” from across the country ready to share wit and wisdom to anyone who wants to explore a career path in “IL.”   We welcome your questions about working in the field of IL and how to get in, stay in, and move up. We will discuss the skills we find most helpful and different ways to gather them.  We welcome you into one of the most dynamic (and caring but don’t tell anyone) networks and you will leave knowing where and who to ask for further information and support.  Hint this is pure peer to peer sharing.  It is our secret sauce! Whether you consider yourself a newbie and have questions or a veteran and have answers, come one, come all.

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation				Meeting Room 12 
Shannon O’Conner
Help us shape the future of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. What are the gaps in the community for people with disabilities? Where would you like to see future funding from our organization target? Youth, what do you see as needs in your community? Come share your voice and learn about our grant process, what have we funded in the past, and where we should go in the future? 

5:30-7:00 PM   Mentoring Mixer						Grand Ballroom C
Sponsored by the Washington Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
Join us for tasty appetizers, refreshments, and an evening amongst peers at the APRIL Mentoring Mixer. One of our goals at the APRIL conference is building relationships in the disability community. We rely upon peer support. We are encouraging you to join our speakers and others from across the country in sharing experiences and building networks. There is a short panel discussion followed by plenty of time to eat appetizers and meet others. Come to share the things that make you great, whether its hobbies, work experiences, housing, or other.  This is a time to learn what CILs, as employers, are looking for in an employee, brainstorm and trouble shoot barriers, share success stories, or find someone with the same personal interests as you to share tips and tricks with. 

8:00-12:00 PM Youth Dance
All are welcome to join the youth dance the night away until the morning! We will be announcing the winner of the Candy Crush Bingo contest.  We will have a dance off competition, so bring your best moves.  All of this with games, food, new family, and fun! 

Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 
8:30 AM Conference Prefunction Area and Continental Breakfast Opens
Conference Registration table is open to register, get your name tag, and informational program.  APRIL T-shirts will go on sale in the registration area. Choose from the Youth conference T-shirt or the APRIL Conference T-shirt, or Both! Supplies Limited. This year we will have our raffle tickets on sale in the registration area for the entire conference. Winners to be pulled at the Banquet on Sunday evening. Come check us out, bring some cash, and get some goods! 

9:00– 10:00 am General Session Grand Ballroom AB
Advocacy Report
Tim Sheehan and Billy Altom and Youth Advocacy Committee 
Come and hear about our advocacy priorities for the coming year and beyond. Don’t just come to listen, step up and join in. After discussing our shared priorities determined by members, engage in a dialogue with APRIL leaders on strategies to inform our work. As THE voice of the disability rights movement in rural America, APRIL is committed to developing an agenda to identify and mitigate barriers to living full and complete lives in the places we call home. Your voice is needed to help design this agenda.

10:00 – 10:30 am Break/ visit vendor areas

10:30-12:00   Concurrent Workshops Begin
Health Policy Reform 							Meeting Room 1
Liz Wood and Jae Kennedy

How does health reform affect people with disabilities? What do we know, and what do we still need to find out? What rural issues require better focus in the ongoing healthcare debate? The Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living is a NIDILRR-sponsored research project that examines the effects of health reform on people with disabilities. In this open policy forum, we will share highlights of our ongoing research projects and ask attendees for their expert advice about the research, training, and technical assistance that will help them be optimally informed and responsive to recent and future health policy changes.

Fun with Funding Formulas						Meeting Room 2
AOCIL: Kirt Toombs, Sheila Thomas, Randy Samuelson, Barry Fox-Quamme,  Greg Sublett, Curtis Raines
Attendees will learn how Oregon CILs used a new scientific funding formula to:
1.	Establish a target goal for consumers to be served annually;
2.	Establish a time allocation standard of 55/25/20 (55% Direct Consumer Services, 25% System Advocacy Activities (Note: Vital discussion how CILs are shifting from system advocacy to service based contracts and how this may have detrimental results for the IL movement), 20% Other CIL Responsibilities)for each CIL staff;
3.	Establish an average time to provide direct services for each consumer;
4.	Establish a livable wage standard;
5.	Determine how many FTE statewide are required to provide services;
6.	Determine how many FTE are required by each CIL to meet target goal;
7.	Determine annual statewide IL budget based on a target of serving 5% of people with disabilities residing in each CIL service area;
8.	Determine cost for expanding into unserved areas.

Attendees will learn how CILs successfully obtained public and SILC support and incorporated the determinations into Oregon’s new ACL approved SPIL. Attendees will also learn how to complete the formula to determine or verify their annual statewide IL budget and the cost of expanding into unserved areas or implementing new service mandates.

Building Financial Independence and Funding AT 			Meeting Room 3
Danny Housley
This session will cover options for finding funding, and alternate means of acquisition for consumers. We will cover the model GA uses and then explore options for use that exist across the country. We will also look at alternative financing programs and how our ATP in GA has paired with CILS AT program and others to focus on credit building AT acquisition and financial independence. This will be presenter led interactive presentation.
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program		Meeting Room 10
Chris Gagnon

The workshop will educate the disability community about the available opportunities to save and plan for a better economic future and quality of life experience through the establishment of ABLE accounts. New ABLE accounts allow eligible individuals with disabilities to create tax-advantaged savings accounts with contributions of up to $14,000 annually.  ABLE allows more individual control over spending and investing, while protecting eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and other means-tested public benefits. Many individuals with disabilities also have mental health issues and a few mental issues qualify for SSI and Medicaid assistance. For those individuals, they are forced into poverty by not exceeding $2k in assets to maintain these benefits (SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, etc.). The ABLE program allows folks to save money, climb out of poverty, while not jeopardizing their benefits. Therefore better quality of life outcomes are anticipated.

Preserving Access and Independence: 				Meeting Room 11
Understanding Alternatives to Guardianship
Charlie Walters
Many in the IL world may not be fully aware that the rate of people with disabilities being placed under guardianship has tripled in the last 20 years (TASH, 2015). In many cases, people’s rights are being taken from them in “their best interest” without a full understanding of other options available for support. Without a robust awareness of the issues at hand, Centers for Independent Living are at risk of missing opportunities to support adults with disabilities in preserving their rights. The facilitator of this session will discuss the ethical and research-based underpinnings for the importance of autonomy and independence, detail the growing momentum behind Supported Decision Making and other alternatives to guardianship, and describe what guardianship entails. Content will be delivered through lecture with an open-ended invitation for question and comment and short videos with closed captioning and ASL accompaniments. 

Be Loud Be Proud: Youth Making a Difference			Meeting Room 12
Joan LaBelle and Ian Engle
(Youth Focused) Interactive workshop on youth engagement, our history, importance of activism, different types of systems advocacy. How to be loud and proud and a voice for people with disabilities.  

12:00-1:30	Lunch On Your Own

1:30-3:00	Concurrent Workshops Begin

Disability Integration: How to get involved in the 			Meeting Room 1
Emergency World	

Jerry Riener

Navigating the emergency management world can be overwhelming. In this workshop the Idaho State Independent Living Council will share how we developed our position within local and statewide emergency preparedness including: lessons learned, suggestions for engagement with various emergency management groups, and how you can help the world of emergency management implement inclusive practices in your community’s emergency preparedness plans.

Bluepath.org: Good Access is Good Business			Meeting Room 2
Mark Leeper
Originally launched in 2006 by NW ADA Center, BluePath.org has gained traction to compete with websites such as TripAdvisor and Yelp! by providing complete, detailed information on accessible businesses to people with disabilities. Designed to be business friendly and start the process of getting more businesses in a community to be accessible, it’s looking for Pathfinders who are ready to promote their favorite accessible businesses. Learn how to do a Quick Look ADA survey and market accessible businesses in your community. 
Asking Questions Leads to Solutions: 				Meeting Room 3
Tools for Today and Tomorrow 
Tracy Boehm, Kerry Morse, Lauren Smith, Dr. Catherine Ipsen, Tannis Hargrove, Meg Tracy, Maggie Lawrence, Andrew Myers

We all want tools, resources, and solutions to make our participation in community life the best it can be. Do you ever wonder where the ideas for tools and resources come from? Asking the right questions to explore and solve rural problems and then testing tools to address those problems is part of what RTC:Rural does. This session starts with an overview of several tools and resources you can use today, including a new website designed to help you easily find rural disability resources, a toolkit to creatively engage consumers in advocacy, and more. Then, we will share some “hot off the press” information that we are learning in our current projects and that we think you will be interested in knowing such as how often rural people with disabilities move to a more urban location or how rural people feel like they fit in their rural communities.  We also have some important questions for you that will help us continue to make our work relevant to the needs of rural folks across the country. Please join the discussion to help develop the tools of today and shape the tools for tomorrow!

Taking Charge, Increasing Functional Independence 		Meeting Room 10
Through Understanding and Empowerment
Heather Bahme

A TBI occurs every 9 seconds in the US. While most are told they will “recover” 10-15% will have chronic symptoms that can be life altering. Little can be done about the injury but a great deal can be done to empower the individual to take control of their symptom management. Attendees will earn how to recognize a TBI and simple techniques to assist in the management of symptoms that cross over from TBI to behavioral health, chronic pain and Mental Health.

Be a Friend Festival							Meeting Room 11   
Lillian Burch, Amanda Blake, Kevin Fugate

Due to the recent anti-racism, anti-disability, anti-semitism, anti-muslim actions in this country, it is important to advocate for all people to be friends.  This annual festival is a community wide effort for our children to promote positive relationships especially with minority groups:  people with disabilities, different races, ethnicities, religions, genders, LBGTQ, etc.  We collaborated with local minority groups and service providers to provide kid friendly activities and sought partners for resources.  Fun activities, entertainment, etc. were provided.  We will share start up, slides from event, materials, etc.  Participants will get tools to recreate it in their CIL.

It’s My Right Under the ADA! 						Meeting Room 12
Rene Cummins and Rebecca Williams

(Youth Focused)  Be prepared to be active and have fun!  Attendees will learn about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA while participating in interactive activities including guided group discussions, art projects, dramatic arts such as skits, improvisations, and role plays, and opportunities to interact with role models.  Appropriate for all Youth and young at heart.

3:00-3:30	Break

3:30-5:00	Concurrent Workshops Continue

Finding and Using your Strengths to 					Meeting Room 1
Forward the Independent Living Movement 
Diane Groff

Join our interactive workshop with an emphasis on sharing personal success stories and referencing empowerment, membership, regeneration, synergy, dialogue, and collaboration, and suspension of disbelief.

Social Media: Reaching Farther, Working Better			Meeting Room 2
Rayna Sage and Justice Ender

How to use social media to bridge main and branch offices, reach rural communities and promote: peer support, access to transportation, housing, mental health, youth engagement, work opportunities and other areas of independent living.  How to use Facebook options including boosts, groups and other features to project organizational information and encourage discussion. What other social applications can be used in the office and other events to connect people and enhance workflow.  

The Impossible Journey is the One You Don’t Begin:		Meeting Room 3
Successful Transitions
Dora Warman and Denise Wardle

Importance of working with schools and other agencies. Keeping it fun, interactive and appropriate for the audience. Providing education, peer support, and a sense of involvement (not controlling) for parents and caregivers. Lessons we have learned, changes we will make in the future transition workshops. Peer support, involving successful transitions with transitioning adults. Involving Community. Tools for recreating programs for your consumers.

State Disability Advisory Groups; 					Meeting Room 10
Who They Are, What They Do, and How They Can Help 
Alexandrea Hatcher

How emergency managers might affect disability inclusion by connecting with disability advisory groups at the State and Local level and across all phases of disasters including preparedness, response, and recovery. The presentation will also discuss the three pillars of accessibility and show examples of effective communication and how disability advisory groups can assist in connecting emergency managers with resources.

SILCS Sharing with SILCS: Facilitated Peer Sharing		Meeting Room 11 
Paula McElwee 

(SILC Focused) Come and join us for some good old fashioned peer support. This guided discussion group will give SILC staff and members an opportunity to discuss the trials and tips from their home state while networking to find others across the country who are in a similar position as them. 

Getting Accommodations in College					Meeting Room 12
Emily Robinson and Molly Spence

(Youth Focused) Come learn about college accommodations, how are they different than high school, and how do you get them. We will also discuss the laws that colleges are covered by. Interactive. Come to move and discuss! 

6:30-9:00	Awards Banquet, Entertainment, Raffle, and Youth the Word
(Cash bar; Name tags required) Join us for a plated dinner and celebration. We will have dinner entertainment by Jim Meck who is described as a “first class entertainer and singer/songwriter with over 30 years of experience. His piano/vocal style has been compared with artists like Billy Joel and Jackson Browne.”  
Following dinner we will honor and celebrate our esteemed colleagues during the awards portion of our evening. 
Youth Wrap Up- Sunday Evening Banquet
Closing the show will be our Youth sharing their APRIL experience and recharging us all to go forth and make change for all.  
Youth can sign up at the youth conference to speak at the Youth Wrap up at our Awards Banquet Sunday evening.  They can share anything they would like, share a story, poem, experience, essay, singing, rapping, dance…really whatever they would like to share.  
Raffle
Don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets, all proceeds will be donated to Portlight and their Emergency relief efforts. We will be pulling winners throughout the evening.      
Monday, October 23rd, 2017 
8:30 Plated Breakfast in Grand Ballroom AB
9:00-11:00 Closing Keynote and Remarks
Disability Solidarity: Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free
Dustin Gibson and Vilissa Thompson
Vilissa Thompson, LMSW and Dustin Gibson will discuss the important issues that impact disabled people of color by exploring erasure and defining intersectionality. Disabled people of color often encounter resistance and ignorance when advocating for diverse representation.  It is vital that the IL community understands how discrimination has targeted disabled people of color specifically in economically distressed communities.  We will examine how the liberation of disabled activists and co-conspirators are bound up with other marginalized groups, and provide practices that can be used to increase visibility, promote radical inclusion, and dismantle racism inside and outside of the IL Movement.

WSU College Tour-Monday After conference wrap up 
Sign up with APRIL youth vendor table to tour the WSU Campus on 2:00 PM Monday and learn about their undergraduate and graduate programs.

	That’s a Wrap!

Please make sure to leave your completed evaluations on the tables or in the Evaluation Box outside the doors.

Safe Travels, and See You Next Year in Denver, Colorado!

Celebrate, Honor, and Remember Our Colleagues

Linda Gonzales Award
Linda Gonzales was the first Executive Director of APRIL for more than 20 years, and truly was a visionary when it came to including youth with disabilities as leaders in the rural Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement and more specifically the APRIL youth movement. We are proud to announce this year’s Linda Gonzales Award for outstanding Rural Youth:

Emily Robinson
Emily Robinson is an up and comer in the IL Youth movement. She began as a new member of the West Virginia SILC, and since has gotten involved with her university as President of the West Virginia State University Student Access Advocates program, has been a volunteer at the Mountaineers Summer Camps, a part of the NCIL Youth Caucus, the APRIL youth committees, and has been a Peer Educator at WVSU. Emily volunteers for Community Gardens of the Girl Scouts Black Diamond Council, and still finds time to be a full time student and live independently while attaining her degree in Special Education. 
Emily helped develop the Day of Activities About Inclusion and Respect at WVSU, which included activities and presentations as a collaboration between Student Access Advocates, Disability Services, SILC, and the Fair Shake Network to promote inclusion and awareness of people with disabilities. Emily has presented at the APRIL Conference for two years now, and also presented at the Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education Conference. She is currently working on creating a course at WVSU Steps 2 Success to ensure students with disabilities have access and success inside and outside the classroom.
Emily Robinson has a soft spot in our hearts, as she always has a thoughtful comment, a smile, and a helping hand, no matter where you meet her. It has been an honor for us to watch her grow these last few years, and a privilege to continue to watch her grow into an advocate to be reckoned with.

Earl Walden Award 
In the early days of APRIL, Earl was a great friend and supporter of our new organization. As a colleague who worked at ILRU (Independent Living Research Utilization) in Houston, Earl had a heart as big as Texas and a gift for finding resources or solutions to problems. He took APRIL under his wing when we needed an advocate on our side. It is our honor to announce this year’s Earl Walden Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Advocacy:
Mike Mayer
Mike Mayer is the Executive Director for Summit Independent Living Center in Missoula, MT. He was one of the original APRIL members and President of APRIL from 1991-1997.  Mike has remained an APRIL member through Summit since that time.  Mike started his Summit career in 1985 and has been Executive Director since 1988.  
Mike has promoted the IL mission of advancing independence and civil rights of people with disabilities for over 32 years. He started working at Summit in Missoula’s main office and maintains three rural county offices in Flathead, Lake and Ravalli Counties.  One of his favorite IL philosophy principles is the balance of rights and responsibilities.  He believes that each individual’s choice and accountability will make their collective community’s better and stronger in the future. 
Mike has lead the way for a variety partnerships to develop locally, in Montana as well as nationally.  He continues to advocate and improve access both physically and programmatically.  He demonstrates pride and leadership at the Montana Legislative Sessions and Rallies that support the IL history, movement, and cultural needs such as the ADA and ACA.  He continues to speak out about the attacks on these important civil and human rights laws.
It would be impossible to name all the accomplishments Mike has achieved or the people he has mentored over the years. He has been instrumental in creative transportation solutions in rural areas, sat on countless councils to bring the voice of the disability community, and has been and continues to be a leader and visionary in the Montana IL network.  Mike is innovative and looking for new ideas to support and grow. For example, he partnered with Glen White of the Kansas RTC/IL and Tom Seekins of the University of Montana Rural Institute by using the consumer assessment and satisfaction tool that they developed to determine the major needs for people with disabilities.  Over the years Mike has used a version of this tool in Summit’s rural counties to gain insight, problem solve and set annual goals.
Mike is a believer in the strength of the disability community, and the idea that helping a CIL across the country can only mean a stronger CIL at home in Missoula. Summit’s support of programs such as APRIL youth mentoring have led to dozens of CILS gaining help starting programs for youth with disabilities.  
Inclusion of the youth movement into IL and Disability Rights has always been a goal of Mike’s. Under his leadership, staff have been able to start and maintain creative youth programs such as BALLS (Building Advocacy and Learning Leadership Skills) a youth based curriculum to aid in leadership and transition and BASE, a community center for youth with and without disabilities, and many more. 
Whether he is tirelessly advocating at home for access to programs like personal care assistance, or working with CILS across the country to grow their programs, Mike whole-heartedly encompasses the spirt of the Earl Walden award and is truly an Outstanding Advocate  

Honoring Tom Seekins
“Dr. Tom Seekins was one of the very first people I met when I began my work with APRIL.  I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.  He, along with Dr. Devva Kasnitz and Linda Gonzales wrote our Rural Transportation Demonstration grant through the Department of Education which allowed APRIL to finally hire staff i.e. me!!  Tom is such a genuine and gentle soul.  His soft spoken manner and kind face represent home to many of us.  He is not only a steadfast supporter of APRIL but a trusted and respected voice and scholar in the Rural Independent Living field and for People with Disabilities as a whole.  His dedicated life’s work has helped us all understand the distribution of people with disabilities throughout our country and our communities and also highlights the continuing struggles that people with disabilities in Rural America deal with in trying to access services.  His contributions are invaluable.
Tom Seekins is the kind of person you would want around in a crisis.  He has a calming effect and a grounding energy that is so valuable and rare.  It has been my sincere honor to have worked with him for 17 years.  I am a better, more thoughtful person because of it.” Elissa Ellis, Director Operations, APRIL  
“The impact of Dr. Seekins’ career has been felt by many, most of whom do not know his name. Over the past four decades, people with disabilities who would have been isolated at home have gotten out using a Transportation Voucher system developed by Dr. Seekins. They have started small businesses based on vocational rehabilitation policy and training programs developed by Dr. Seekins and they have avoided serious illness due to health promotion programs they learned from programs he developed. Every day, thousands of rural adults with disabilities receive services from agencies that recognize the importance and uniqueness of rural environments thanks to their membership in the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, an organization Dr. Seekins was instrumental in developing. The lives of these people would be very different were it not for the career of Dr. Tom Seekins. Few people have the opportunity to see science in action making the world a better place as I have over these past 28 years.” Dr. Craig Ravesloot
“It was one of my first conferences at the CDC and the retiring director of the CDC’s Disability and Health Branch, Larry, was getting ready to give his farewell presentation to a packed room. He had painstakingly put together tons of photos of funded states, projects, colleagues, and community partners from over the years to share with everyone. Pulling this type of PPT together was quite a feat 15 years ago, and of course, there were technical issues when the time came to project the slides. There was a lot of build up to this retirement presentation so when the technology failed, it felt like, ‘now what’? Everyone just looked at Larry with blank faces; the silent response to his request for help was palpable. Then Tom gets up and walks to the front quietly and in his suit and cowboy boots proceeds to crawl under the table to work on the computer/projector set up. Not a word seemed to pass between the two. I remember a silent exchange of trust and appreciation.  Larry visibly relaxed as Tom approached. Larry told marvelous stories about his tenure with the program while Tom worked silently under the table to reconnect cords and get the PPT working.  As Tom walked quietly back to his seat, I thought of my German teacher’s explanation of the word, ‘mensch’— a simple translation is ‘person’ but there is no simple translation for when someone is purposefully called a ‘mensch’. It is about recognizing someone to admire, someone with a rare blend of honor, integrity, dependability, and realness —someone who is striving to fulfill the potential of being human-- ‘you’ll know a mensch when you see one’, my teacher had said. In that moment, I understood.  Since then, there are countless memories I have like this, and I may even be beginning to understand the moral foundation from which he operates—but above all, Tom is incredibly kind and supportive—and always, if he can, will have your back.  He’s a real mensch”. Meg Ann Traci, PhD
We hope that this next chapter in your life is surrounded by family and full of joy and love.  You will always be an intricate part of the APRIL fabric and our history.  We will miss working with you tremendously, Tom.  Best of luck to you in your retirement!  Thanks for all you have done.  Join us at the Awards Banquet in honoring Tom Seekins work, wishing him well, and sharing your favorite Tom Story. ~The APRIL Family

Happy Retirement Dawn Heinsohn

Most of you likely have spoken to her on the phone, or received an email from her, or way back in the day, faxed Dawn Heinsohn at least once! She is a treasure trove of information and resources on the latest happenings with the IL-NET. Dawn has maintained the directory of CILs and SILCs since 1989, and remembers when corrections were made and printed in ILRU Insights. She was part of the team that received hard copies of the 704 reports and was in charge of compiling that data! She has been a part of the publication teams with Bob Michaels, Patricia Yeager, June Kailes and Steve Brown. Dawn was involved in the team that pulled together the first SILC Congress in Houston, Texas. She worked alongside Marilyn Golden on the ADA Handbook of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) back in 1992. She maintains volumes of participant information for all the online courses, and supports all the technical assistance requests and correspondence that comes to ILRU via ilru@ilru.org.
 
Richard Petty said, "Her friendly countenance and dedication to the promotion of the services ILRU offers has enhanced ILRU's reputation and opened the doors to many productive relationships. Dawn is truly committed to ensuring ILRU offers useful products and supports to the organizations ILRU serves...Dawn's dry sense of humor buoys the spirits of her team and other colleagues. She has always been there for her ILRU friends and partners."
 
Dawn has been a staple at ILRU and as a part of the IL-NET team for 27 years.  The APRIL family wishes her health, happiness, and relaxation in her retirement years. 

In Memory of Brian Atwel

Brian Mark Atwell, 56, Hays, died Friday, September 1, 2017 at his brother and sister-in-law’s home in Hays.
He was born May 15, 1961 in Ransom, Kansas the son of Merritt Charles and Thelma Janice (Stutz) Atwell. He attended elementary and middle schools in Utica and graduated from Utica High School in 1979. He received his Associate’s Degree in Business from Garden City Community College and his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Fort Hays State University. 
Brian was the Director of Living Independently in Northwest Kansas (LINK, Inc.) for twenty-seven years and was on State and National Advocacy Committees for improving the lives of those with disabilities. He has advocated with the Kansas Legislators in Washington, D.C., the Kansas Legislature, Hays Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other groups for changes in policy impacting the lives of individuals with disabilities. Growing up on the farm led him to a great work ethic and compassion for others. 
Brian was an important part of APRIL. It is difficult to track down exactly when he first started with APRIL, but in 2000 when APRIL received a Department of Education grant to start a transportation voucher program for people with disabilities in Rural America (and hire staff), LINK handled our Payroll.  Brian also served on the APRIL Board for 3 terms from 2007 – 2012.  
Brian attended nearly every APRIL Conference.  Our registrations show he registered for Conferences between 2003 – 2015!  He was a constant and ardent supporter of APRIL and his face at the APRIL Conferences was a constant and familiar one.  He was a wonderful, kind and level headed guy.  He will be missed by the APRIL family.  
The family encourages donations in Brian’s memory to the Brian Atwell Memorial Scholarship for youth endeavors, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street. He liked to “pay it forward” to better his community and America. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com 

About our Presenters
Keynotes:
Bob Williams 
Sarah Triano is the Director of LTSS Policy and Innovation for Centene Corporation. Prior to joining Centene, Triano served in California Governor Jerry Brown’s administration as a disability policy advisor to the Secretaries of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Health and Human Services Agency. 
Triano was a student participant at the first annual California Youth Leadership Forum for High School Students with Disabilities in 1992, and from there went on to become the Program Director at Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago and the Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center. She co-founded the nation’s first annual Disability Pride Parade in Chicago and has spoken before the United Nations Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Triano earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and participated in the PhD Program in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

Dustin Gibson is a Black Disabled community builder that works to undo ableism and racism by operating through a framework of Disability Justice. He currently serves as the Director of Independent Living Services at the Center for Independent Living of South Central Pennsylvania. Dustin is a co-founder of the disability-led organization, Disability Advocates for Rights and Transition (DART) that works on issues "for the people, by the people". He also serves on the board of directors for the National Council on Independent Living, constructs curriculum with the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) and has worked as a consultant with the National Center on Disability and Aging. He provides peer mentoring services as an adviser to APRIL's Youth Peer-to-Peer mentoring program and is a member of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania's Crisis Team and Community Police Relations Group. He provides political education by developing workshops, webinars, discussions and presentations. He also works alongside several community members and grassroots organizations to eliminate police brutality, support students with disabilities and disrupt the school to prison pipeline.
 
Vilissa Thompson LMSW is the founder and CEO of Ramp Your Voice!, an organization that promotes self-advocacy and empowerment among people with disabilities.  Vilissa is a Licensed Master Social Worker from Winnsboro, SC.  As a disability rights consultant, writer, and advocate, Vilissa is a prominent leader and expert in addressing and educating the public and political figures about the plight of people with disabilities, especially women of color with disabilities.  She has been featured in the Huffington Post, NY Times, Buzzfeed, Bitch Media, Upworthy, Black Girl Nerds, and The Atlantic, among others.  Vilissa created the #DisabilityTooWhite viral hashtag that addressed the lack of diversity within the disability community and how a lack of representation impacts disabled people of color and their ability to feel fully included and accepted within the community.  She also established the Black Disabled Woman Syllabus, a resource that has garnered much attention and praise from those within academia and the disabled community for its focus on the experiences of a very underrepresented group.  Vilissa is the co-host of the Wheelin' & Dealin' podcast, which dissects politics from an intersectional lens.  
In addition to her advocacy work, she is the Digital Manager for Rooted in Rights, where she assists the creative production team in developing content that hones in on the issues that are pertinent to the disability community. In 2017, she was elected to the NCIL Board as a Member-At-Large, and she is co-partner of DisabledWriters.com, a resource that helps editors connect with disabled writers and journalists.  
Website:  http://rampyourvoice.com
Twitter:  @VilissaThompson, @RampYourVoice, & @WheelDealPod

About our Workshop Presenters:

Heather Bahme currently serves as the TBI Outreach Field Coordinator for the entire Eastern Washington area. She also works in the position of the North Eastern Regional Coordinator with the VetCorps/Veterans Conservation Program both under the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. Heather, a US Army Veteran (retired) with 20 + years of service, is also a wife and a mom.   Her husband is a TBI survivor and a Combat Veteran who was medically retired from the Army in 2012 after 13 years due to his injuries incurred during service in the US Army. She and her husband have 5 amazing children ranging from 15 to 5 who keep her quite busy. Heather is able to bring a wealth of experience backed by solid knowledge fueled by a passion for what those she works for and with.
Barry 	Fox-Quamme
Mike Beers
Amanda Blake
Lillian Burch has been the Executive Director, at the Disability Resource Center, Knoxville, Tennessee from 2001 to present and Executive Director of the Disability Resource Center, Hazard, KY..  She has been responsible for daily administration, management, direction, and operation of the organization's programs, services, facilities, and personnel.  Operational responsibilities include organizational management, fiscal controls and establishing quality assurance measures and compliance review.  Ms. Burch provides representation and advocacy at the local community, state and federal government.  She has experience in the writing of grants, reports, proposals, newsletters and brochures.  Under Lillian Burch’s direction, new programs created were Spirit of ADA Awards Celebration, Xtreme Challenge, Live Out Loud (LL) Academy,  dRC services in ,  Employment Services for TN RSA, Personal Attendant Programs, and Employment Community First via our State TennCare and MCOs,  etc.  Lillian attributes the success of dRC programs to a strong, well trained and motivated staff.  After staff concerns about the bullying of children with disabilities, and the community concerns about the safety of children and the need for more community activities for children, Lillian created the idea of the Be a Friend Festival (BFF).  

Hayley Burghart is the research project coordinator at the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas. She received her M.S.E. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Development and Learning from the University of Kansas in 2017. She is currently working on the RTC for Promoting Interventions for Community Living which focuses on addressing home usability and community participation barriers for persons with disabilities. Her research interests include translating research into practice, growth trajectories and inequalities in early childhood education, and individualized interventions for improving community engagement.  
Scott Burlingame is the Executive Director of Independence Inc., a Resource Center for Independent Living in Minot, North Dakota.  Scott has worked in the Disability Rights movement for 17 years, and has worked serving people with disabilities in various roles for over 23 years. Scott has been appointed by the Governor to serve on the State Independent Living Council and the State Rehabilitation Council. He has served on many local and statewide councils and boards. He has also been elected by his peers from around the country to serve three terms on the board of directors for Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living (APRIL). Scott has developed a system of service delivery that encourages community participation, leadership development, and personal empowerment to create systems change. Scott was awarded the Earl Walden Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Advocacy by APRIL in 2015.  Scott is married with two sons.
Susan Cervellera, a 2013 Detroit Wayne State University graduate with a Masters in Social Work.  Currently employed at the Blue Water Center for Independent living, in Port Huron Michigan.  Along with every day information and referral; she works hand-in-hand with the local high schools, assisting students with disabilities to live independently in the community by providing transition education addressing employment, post secondary education, finances and independent living. This education helps prepare youth for their next step.  Along with transition education, Susan assists with the coordination and facilitation of the ‘Achieving Maximum Potential’ (AMP) Program. This program engages younger students in high school with pre-transition skills that heavily revolve around disability pride, communication, history, networking and advocacy.  She is also competent and certified as a Certified Work Incentive Counselor-Community Partner (CWIC); providing Social Security Benefits planning for individuals who are interested in employment opportunities and incentives.  A true advocate for alleviating the stigma associated with employment and Social Security benefits as well as, exposing opportunities for the youth to lead and advocate for the independence of everyone.  
Dr. Rene Cummins is a Researcher with the Southeast ADA Center in Atlanta, Georgia.  Dr. Cummins earned a PhD in Psychology in the Public Interest with Minors in Counseling and Behavioral Medicine, an MA in Developmental Psychology and Educational Research & Evaluation, and a BA in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. Dr. Cummins founded Alliance of Disability Advocates, Center for Independent Living, in the capital city of Raleigh, NC, and served for 12 years as its first Executive Director.  During this 12-year period, the Center staff and consumers participated in numerous disability-related research initiatives, including Participatory Action Research studies.  In her capacity as Executive Director, Dr. Cummins supervised the development of the Center’s youth programs and the creation of the NC Youth Leadership Forum. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of Alliance, Dr. Cummins was the Access Specialist at the NC Office on Disability and Health, and she served as an access consultant on all of the projects through that office.  For more than 15 years, Dr. Cummins has been a trainer for the Southeast ADA Center, and has provided training on the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as various other disability rights laws.
Vicky Dalton has served as the Spokane County Auditor for the past 18 years. The Auditor’s Office is one of the most diverse offices in the county.  It is responsible for administering elections; recording property and personal records, such as deeds, mortgages and marriage licenses; issuing vehicle titles, plates and tabs; and performing the accounting for the county, including payroll, vendor payments and the annual financial report.  Vicky grew up in Priest River, Idaho and attended Idaho State University, obtaining two degrees – one in accounting and one in computers.  She is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Finance Manager. Vicky has served on the boards of several local organizations, including the American Cancer Society, CampFire Council and, most recently, SNAP. When time allows, Vicky sews, weaves and knits.  She particularly enjoys restoring equipment, such as antique circular sock knitting machines manufactured in the early 1900’s.
Jami Davis is with the Idaho State Independent Living Council, where she works as a youth coordinator for transitioning youth to young adults.  She had the opportunity to attend the Arizona Youth Leadership Forum this year as part of the Youth Leadership Forum Peer to Peer mentoring program by APRIL and is looking forward to bringing a Youth Leadership Forum back to Idaho in 2018. For the past 18 years, she has worked in a number of state agencies that serve people with disabilities, and has enjoyed each one of those jobs.  She is currently attending Western New Mexico University and working towards her degree in social work.  
Doug Defoe is an Independent Living Specialist for the Native American Grant at North Country Independent Living in Superior, WI.  Doug joined North Country Independent Living in February 2017 after serving as the Red Cliff Tribal Human Resources Director. Doug is an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  Doug received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northland College in Ashland WI in 2007.   Doug also pursued his Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling at San Diego State University; he has 1 more year to complete his studies. Doug is married and is a father of 5 wonderful children. Doug enjoys basketball, golfing and tennis. 
Matt Droscher is the executive director for the Umpqua Valley disAbilities Network.  He has an extensive background in the nonprofit management and is currently pursuing a Masters in Special Education. 
Justice Ender is the Communications Associate for Healthy Community Living at the Rural Institute of the University of Montana. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Montana, and has spent years working in public relations, disability advocacy and journalism with a variety of organizations.  He is proud to be a Montanan and person with a disability. 
Ian Engle After growing up in northern Michigan (yes a Yooper), while wrestling for Michigan State University, Mr. Ian Engle sustained a spinal cord injury in a 40 foot fall from a tree October 1st, 1994.  Shortly thereafter, Ian began participation in the Center for Disability Leadership (CDL) at Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. (MPAS).  In 2008, Ian moved to Durango to take the position as Executive Director at the Southwest Center for Independence.  In February of 2010, Ian moved to Boulder to assume the Executive Director position at the Center for People with Disabilities.  As of July 2013, Ian is in Steamboat Springs serving as Executive Director for the NorthWest Colorado Center for Independence.  Ian appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders in the communities where he lives and works to realize a more inclusive and healthy environment for everyone. Ian enjoys spending time in the mountains and any beautiful secluded spot out-of-doors. Ian also loves skiing, hand-cycling and any outdoor physical activity.  Living in Colorado has brought new friends and wonderful opportunities to enjoy life. 
Fugate Kevin
Sharon Fuller has over thirty years personal experience using a wheelchair after a spinal cord injury and takes pride in her life-long role in the Independent Living Movement for all of that time. Currently she is the Social Media Coordinator at DAC Northwest , and manages multiple pages for several agencies. Adept in technology and providing peer support, she advocates for Independent Living by providing content to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blog, and Website. She enjoys educating the general public on all things disability related and currently works from her home in Idaho.
Chris Gagnon has worked for the Department of Commerce since 2006. She currently works as a project manager for the department’s Community Services and Housing Division, in the new Disability Workgroup.  The workgroup manages the governing boards for the Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust Fund and the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, and oversees the new Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds. 
Moriah Grace On January 29th, 1986 an epic event happened, Moriah Grace came into this world. Moriah is an Independent Living Specialist at Access to Independence in Madison, WI. Moriah works as the youth lead and helps develop and facilitate classes for youth. In her free time she likes to travel to far off lands and have adventures. She most recently spent a month in China and will be heading to live in Tanzania for 2 years starting in February 2018. Moriah is passionate about social justice and disability issues. She identifies as someone with the lived experience of mental illness and works on a daily basis to break down the barriers of stigma around mental illness. She currently is living with her best friend Maggie, a Boston terrier and black lab mix. Her favorite quote is “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Lillie Greiman is a research associate at the Research and Training Center on Rural Communities at the University of Montana. She received her M.A. in Geography in 2012 from the University in Montana after conducting research in Morocco. She is currently involved in several projects at the RTC: Rural in the realms of housing, health promotion, community participation and geospatial data analysis. 
Diane Groff of Longmont, Colorado has 33 years of working at Center for People with Disabilities in a variety of settings. Diane has a Master’s in Experiential Education, is a Strength Based Peer Educator in Boulder County, Disability Advocate for Affordable Housing and Self Advocacy Skills. Diane is a Peer Supporter in the Cancer Survivor Community, locally and nationally. Diane’s strengths include; Empathy, Connectedness, Activator, and Strategist.
Jamie Hardt is the Program Director at Independence, Inc. in Minot, North Dakota. She is originally from Attleboro, MA where she earned her BFA in Art Education from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.  Previously, Jamie has worked at North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University.  She was a Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for Texas Department of Rehab Services in Midland/Odessa, TX. Before becoming Program Director at Independence, Inc. Jamie was the Youth Transition Specialist and facilitated the Building and Encouraging Youth Opportunities in North Dakota (BEYOND) program in area high schools and the Youth Ambassadors for Disability Awareness (YADA) youth group. Jamie has collaborated with a number of community organizations to facilitate Independent Living Skill classes throughout her centers service area.

Tannis Hargrove has worked at the RTC: Rural since 2012 as a Research Associate. She has a B.S. in Sociology from Montana State University and an M.S. in Health Promotion from the University of Montana. Prior to her work at RTC, Tannis was an Employment Specialist at the Missoula Job Service and the Volunteer Coordinator and Grassroots Organizer at Planned Parenthood of Montana. She has also worked at the University of Montana, School of Business Administration.
Alexandrea Hatcher, is with the Washington State Independent Living Council (SILC). She is the Disability Integration Manager for the Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning Program (CIEP) a State Wide Disability Advisory Group and Program. 
Alex has been working in Disability and in the Independent Living field for seven (7) plus years. She has worked as a disability and emergency preparedness advocate, educator and coordinator, working directly with the consumers and the community. 
Presently in her current position Alex is able to provide and provides direct technical assistance to Emergency Management and the Department of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response on Effective Communication, Physical and Programmatic Access. She Manages the Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning (CIEP) and assists in the connecting of CIEP members to local and state Emergency Management, Public Health to build relationships and assist with technical assistance in planning response and recovery efforts
Grant Heffelfinger
“It has been a passion of mine to assist individuals with disabilities in becoming more independent and increasing visibility of all ability levels in the community.  I have lived in Milwaukee for 9 years now and have assisted individuals of all ages and disabilities.  As a Youth Leadership Coordinator at IndependenceFirst, I am in charge of providing services and programs to the youth with disabilities in the greater Milwaukee area and surrounding counties.  I have the privilege of working in both rural and urban areas and bring sexuality education, relationship and community safety, and IL Skills workshops to those communities.  I also serve as the Social Media Liaison on the APRIL Youth Executive Committee and have been appointed my community’s local Disability Mentoring Day Coordinator.  Outside of my role in the IL Movement, I am a fitness trainer for people with disabilities and chronic conditions and a member of the cheer and dance team for Milwaukee’s Roller Derby league, the Brew City Bruisers.”

Brittany Hepler is currently the Operations Manager for Dayle McIntosh Center in Orange County, California.  She possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a focus on Child Welfare from California State University of San Bernardino. Brittany has over six years’ experience working in the non-profit sector with at-risk foster youth, homeless families, and people with all types of disabilities. As the Operations Manager, she is responsible for the day to day operations of the agency, contracts, data administration, data analysis, oversight of administrative staff, the Youth Transition Program and the Interpreting Services Department. Additionally, she is responsible for Human Resources, in-house staff training, and ongoing staff support.

Danny Housley is the Assistive Technology Funding and Resource Specialist with Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program. He finds funding solutions and resources for people with disabilities to increase or maintain their independence, and manages the state’s alternative financing program, Credit-Able. Previously, Danny has worked as the Social Media and Assistive Technology Specialist at the Center for Independent Living in Atlanta, disABILITY LINK. Danny is also active in the advocacy world, he is an executive board member for the Atlanta chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, is active with Georgia and National ADAPT and sits on several councils and committees for increased access to funding and assistive technology. 
Rosemary B. Hughes, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Scientist at the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities and Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Montana.  A licensed psychologist, she holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Houston. For the past 19 years, Rosemary has conducted several research investigations addressing interpersonal violence against people with diverse disabilities. She recently served as the principal investigator of The Safety Project, a national study involving the development and evaluation of an abuse prevention program for men and women with intellectual disabilities. She also led a large survey study investigating violence against men and women with developmental disabilities in rural Montana and an urban area in Oregon. Additionally, she conducted the ASAP for Women national study on a safety awareness intervention program for women with diverse disabilities. In these studies and many other health- and disability-related studies, she has partnered closely with disability partners and centers for independent living. Rosemary has published multiple articles and delivered many presentations at the local, state, national, and international levels on issues related to interpersonal violence in the context of disability. 
Dr. Catherine Ipsen has worked at the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (RIIC) since 1992.  She currently serves as the Associate Director for RIIC and Director of Rural Employment Research for the RTC: Rural. She holds a Ph.D. in Multidisciplinary Studies and an M.A. in Economics, both from the University of Montana.  Dr. Ipsen has over 20 years of experience in disability research and evaluation, with funding through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and U.S. Department of Education. Her research interests focus on service delivery strategies to support rural consumers in securing and maintaining employment. 
Paul Jones is manager of the National AgrAbility Project, a USDA-funded program for agricultural workers with disabilities which is administered through the Breaking New Ground Resource Center at Purdue University. He has been a member of the Purdue Agricultural Safety and Health Program staff since 1998 and specializes in resource development, including print, electronic, and audiovisual materials
Dr. Jae Kennedy (PI) chairs the Department of Health Policy and Administration at Washington State University. He began studying disability policy at the World Institute on Disability (WID) in 1989, and completed his doctorate in Health Services and Policy Analysis at UC Berkeley in 1996. His research focuses on understanding the health and employment disparities experienced by people with chronic illness and disability, and on developing effective programs and policies to lessen those disparities. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, and received the Switzer Distinguished Research Fellowship from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research in 2000.
Joan LaBelle is currently the Executive Director of Disabled Resource Services in Fort Collins, Colorado. Joan has lived with her disability since age 5 and credits her advocacy skills to her mother, who was an advocate extraordinaire. Joan has more than 25 years of executive management experience within Centers for Independent Living (CILs) across the country, providing oversight of programs for two different CILs with multi-state locations. She is an expert in CIL Standards and Assurances, and has conducted trainings to other CILs on the components of the annual 704 report as well as numerous other independent living topics. Joan has served as a Board Member for the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living for 5 years.
Maggie Lawrence is a Training Associate at RTC:Rural. She holds a BA in Women’s & Gender Studies from UC Santa Cruz and an MA in Library & Information Science from San Jose State University. Maggie has worked as an editor, a community information and referral specialist, a reference librarian, and has experience in women’s and LGBTIQ rights advocacy. 
Mark Leeper, the DAC Executive Director, has dealt with depression and anxiety for most of his adult life. He formed Disability Action Center NW in 1990 from a prior disability project he worked on. He has a long career as an advocate, activist, speaker, writer, and peer counselor on the Independent Living philosophy and has extensive training in the Americans with Disabilities Act. He knows that it’s the relationships and friendships that make all the difference.
Vicki Leeper is the Marketing Specialist for all three Disability Action Center NW offices, she uses her 10 years of marketing experience to get the word out about DAC and all they do. Originally not computer savvy, she finds anyone can learn to use social media to make information accessible to the disability community.
Sunshine Lemieux, J.D., is the Program Coordinator for the Native American Grant at North Country Independent Living in Superior, WI.  Sunshine joined North Country Independent Living in February 2017 after 12 years of serving tribal communities as a staff attorney in the Indian Law Office of Wisconsin Judicare.
Sunshine Lemieux is an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.   A 2005 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Sunshine received her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2000.   She is married and has three children Kyler, Jackson and Emma and one grandchild Carsen.
COMMISSIONER MATTHEW MASTERSON
Matthew Masterson was nominated by President Barack H. Obama and confirmed by unanimous consent of the United States Senate on December 16, 2014 to serve on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Prior to his appointment with EAC, Commissioner Masterson served as Interim Chief of Staff for the Ohio Secretary of State, a position he held since November 2014, he previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Information Officer from 2013 to 2014, as well as Deputy Director of Elections from 2011 to 2013. In these roles Mr. Masterson was responsible for voting system certification efforts by the Secretary of State’s office including being the liaison to the Ohio Board of Voting Machine Examiners. Additionally, Mr. Masterson was in charge of Ohio’s effort to develop an online voter registration database and online ballot delivery for military and overseas voters. He is widely regarded as an expert on elections administration throughout Ohio and the country. Prior to joining the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, Mr. Masterson held multiple roles at the Election Assistance Commission from 2006 to 2011. Mr. Masterson was Deputy Director for the EAC’s Voting System Testing and Certification Program. In this role Mr. Masterson’s primary responsibility was the creation of the next iteration of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG). Mr. Masterson worked with the EAC’s Technical Guidelines Development Committee (TGDC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the creation of the TGDC’s recommended Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. In addition to these responsibilities, Mr. Masterson managed the day to day business of the EAC’s laboratory accreditation program including the creation of the EAC’s Voting System Test Laboratory Program Manual. Prior to this position Mr. Masterson joined the EAC in 2006 as a Special Assistant/Counsel to Chairman Paul DeGregorio. Mr. Masterson was admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio in November of 2006. Mr. Masterson graduated from The University of Dayton School of Law in May 2006. At the University of Dayton Mr. Masterson served as the Chief Justice of the Moot Court program and Student Bar Association Vice President. Prior to law school Mr. Masterson received BS and BA degrees from Miami University in Oxford, OH.
Clark Matthews joined the team as Rooted in Rights’ first Creative Production Assistant in 2016. Providing support throughout the production process from development to distribution allows Clark to combine two of his biggest passions: filmmaking and disability rights. Clark’s media collaborations with artists and activists of mixed abilities have played at film festivals around the globe. His work in disability justice has led to involvement with organizationslike National ADAPT, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Not Dead Yet, the International Society for Disability Studies and more. Clark graduated from Temple University with a degree in Film and Media Arts.
Commissioner Christy McCormick was nominated by President Barack H. Obama and confirmed by unanimous consent of the United States Senate on December 16, 2014 to serve on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Prior to her appointment with EAC, Commissioner McCormick served as a Senior Trial Attorney in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, a position she held from 2006 until joining the Commission. In that role, Ms. McCormick was responsible for investigating and prosecuting violations of federal voting statutes, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE). Additionally, Ms. McCormick worked with election officials to monitor compliance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE), the Voting Rights Act minority language requirements, and administration of elections. She has observed numerous elections, mentored and worked with election officials all across America.  Ms. McCormick was detailed by the Deputy Attorney General to be Senior Attorney Advisor and Acting Deputy Rule of Law Coordinator in the Office of the Rule of Law Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq from 2009 to 2010, where she worked on the Iraq national elections and on rule of law matters. Ms. McCormick was a U.S. elections expert in Iraq observing and monitoring the 2010 Iraq National elections, providing assistance and advice to the Independent High Electoral Commission and witnessing an extensive 12-day election re-count. She was a rule of law liaison to the Kurdish Regional Government and a liaison to rule of law advisors at the Provincial Reconstruction Teams. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Ms. McCormick served as a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Elizabeth A. McClanahan in the Court of Appeals of Virginia from 2003 to 2006. Ms. McCormick was an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant to the Solicitor General in the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia from 2001 to 2003. She was a Judicial Law Clerk in Virginia’s Seventh Judicial Circuit Court from 1999 to 2001. Ms. McCormick received her B.A. from the University of Buffalo, a J.D. with honors from the George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School), and also attended the William & Mary School of Law.
Paula McElwee has worked in IL since 1978, not including additional years spent on the board of the CIL in Fresno, CA and on the SILC of Kansas. She currently is the Technical Assistance Coordinator for ILRU where she coordinates and provides individualized and group technical assistance to CIL and SILCs across the country. She was the first director of LINK in Hays, Kansas in 1978, and spent time as Interim Executive Director at four other CILS after moving to California in 2000.  Paula has a Master’s in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco and currently lives in Fresno, California where she grows the BEST grapefruits you will ever taste.
Andrew Myers began his career at RTC: Rural in 2011 as a graduate student interested in human-environment interactions. After earning his MA in geography, he was hired as a full time research associate. Andrew’s work with the RTC focuses on community participation, housing, geography, transportation, and ecological models of disability.  He currently directs the day-to-day operations of the Ecology of Rural Disability and the Effort Capacity & Choice projects. He grew up in Bakersfield, California and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from California Polytechnic State University.
Kerry Morse is the Communications Associate at RTC:Rural where she manages electronic media and creates communications strategies and products to reach diverse audiences.  Kerry has over a decade of experience leading cause-driven outreach, education, communications and project management in rural areas. Prior to joining the Rural Institute, she conducted outreach to ranchers in the remote Big Hole valley of southwest Montana, and led communications for a nonprofit serving California’s rural Sierra Nevada region.
John Nousaine is the director of North Country Independent Living.  Johns IL career began in 1988 as a line staff at a Minnesota ILC.  He has been at North Country since 1991.  He holds degrees in therapeutic recreation and geography.  North Country serves 8 counties in NW WI including the Bad River, Red Cliff, Lac Courte Oreilles and St Croix reservations.  John has served on APRIL’s board, APRILs peer to peer mentor program, NCIL’s AT subcommittee and various IL related task forces.  John is avid in outdoor pursuits such as scuba, skiing and fishing.  
Curtis Raines has been a resident of Klamath Falls, Oregon since 1995.  Since January of 2015, Curtis has been the Executive Director of SPOKES Unlimited, a Center for Independent Living, providing resources for people with disabilities to live as independently as they choose.  Before this, Curtis worked 10 years for the Klamath Tribes as the Transportation Manager and built their transportation system to what it is today.  During the end of his time Curtis spent one year on PTAC (Public Transportation Advisory Committee for the state of Oregon) and OTA (Oregon Transportation Association) as the Tribal Transportation Representative. While the above is great, the real expectance that I have is life, living with a disability and facing the challenges that it brought me, overcoming obstacles and choosing to live life to its fullest.  That is my true BIO.

Michael Richardson is the Director of the Northwest ADA Center and is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Technical Assistance Unit. He provides technical assistance, training, continuing education, and technical consultation services related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other Federal and State disability laws.
Jerry Riener is an Idaho native. He received his undergraduate degree in Sociology and his Graduate degree in Communications from Idaho State University. Between his degree programs, he served in Zambia with the Peace Corps.  He currently works for the Idaho State Independent Living Council as an Emergency Preparedness/ABLE Technical Assistance Program Manager. He loves to be involved in the outdoors and will do almost anything to be out on the river.
Emily Robinson is a member of WV Statewide Independent Living Council and President of a student organization at West Virginia State University called Student Access Advocates. She got into IL because the WVSILC Executive Director Ann McDaniel did a presentation at at her school and it intrigued her. Ann said that Emily should apply to be on the council. Now, Emily says, “I have stayed involved with IL because it is my passion. WVSU motto is to find your passion, and I have found mine with IL. Something quirky about me is my gait. I am my own kind of normal”. 
Rayna Sage is a Rural Sociologist with the University of Montana’s RTC: Rural. She earned her PhD from Washington State University in 2012. Her past experiences include 4 years as a home visiting social worker, 3 years as an internship coordinator for human services, and teaching a variety of course related to human development, family, and inequality. Rayna uses a variety of methods to study disability, gender, and economic inequality, focusing on ways to enhance the vitality of rural labor markets and community support systems. Her most recent project explores the importance of rural community events in the lives of people with disabilities and ways to improve access and participation.
Randy Samuelson is the executive director for Handicap Awareness and Support League (HASL).  Randy was awarded his BS, Degree, History from Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon. He has an extensive background in employment, transportation, personal attendant services.  Randy has served as a council member of the Oregon State Independent Living Council and Oregon Disabilities Commission.

Melissa Ann Santora is the Director of Administration and Youth Initiatives at Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council, where she coordinates the Arizona Youth Leadership Forum (AZYLF) for Students and Transitioning Young Adults Who Have Disabilities, Arizona Youth Engagement Academy, and AZYLF Alumni Association. For more than 25 years, Melissa has served people who have disabilities in a myriad of capacities, and is highly regarded for establishing innovative practices and programs in the field of disability, particularly for youth. For a decade, Melissa served as the Founding Executive Director of Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Company, a disabilities awareness, advocacy, and empowerment troupe that has performed in Montana, Texas, New York, Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, and in Canada. Melissa’s career also includes positions in corrections, addiction treatment, child protection, early intervention, child and family education, medical case management, strategic planning and results oriented meeting facilitation, domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy, rural services development, poverty alleviation, affordable housing, and veteran services. 
Tim J. Sheehan is Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin, current President of the Governing Board of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), Chair of the National Advocacy Committee, the past Region 5 Representative to the NCIL Governing Board, 4- year Chair of the Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers and a three time member of the Wisconsin SILC. For nearly 30 years, Tim has been an active advocate, promoting the rights of people with disabilities to live independently and to be active participants in community life. He is a founding member of the Western Wisconsin Area Consortium on Transportation now known as the Western Wisconsin Transportation Coordination Committee. 
Lauren Smith is a Knowledge Translation and Research Associate for the RTC:Rural, and works on both Knowledge Translation and Employment projects. She has a B.A. in both English and zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University, and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Studies with a writing focus from the University of Montana. Lauren has worked on a variety of projects with the RTC:Rural, including the Advocacy Skill Building Toolkit and the VR Self-Employment Guide. She regularly produces written and multi-media content about all of the RTC:Rural research projects. Before she joined the RTC:Rural she worked as a field biologist studying birds, and has handled birds ranging in size from hummingbirds to swans. She doesn’t have a favorite bird, but thinks saw-whet owls are pretty darn cute.   
 Molly Spence is a 25 year old blogger and writer from Hurricane, West Virginia. She has been a writer for a little over two years, and most recently was appointed to the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council in July 2017. Molly's experience at the APRIL conference is her first as part of the council and she is looking forward to the conference and beginning her journey in youth advocacy for those with disabilities. 
Greg Sublett has lived in Bend Oregon for sixteen years.  Since 2013, Greg has been the Director of Independent Living at Abilitree, helping individuals grow abilities towards independence. Before working at Abilitree, Greg worked ten years for Bend LaPine School District serving as a Special Education Life Skills Teacher, and Educational Support Staff for Students with disabilities.  It was an honor for Greg to work with students through the IEP process as he clearly remembered himself who experiences a disability, sitting in many IEP meetings, working through how best to succeed in school.  It was this experience that steered Greg toward a peer based model, which is expressed in Independent Living services.  As an individual who has a disability the Independent Living philosophy has been a powerful concept to Greg and to the lives he sees at Abilitree.  To see individuals who come to Abilitree, sometimes in crises, become empowered to live life and give back to others as peers has been one of the most rewarding parts of his job. 
Sheila Thomas has been Executive Director of Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA) since 2008, joining as Assistant Director in 2007.  After obtaining a Master’s Degree in Gerontology, she spent time as Director of an Adult Protective Services program in Illinois, before moving to Eugene to be close to family.  Sheila is Vice President of the Association of Oregon Centers for Independent Living (AOCIL) and a member of the Oregon State Independent Living Council.  
Kimberly Tissot is the Executive Director of Able SC where she guides staff in applying the Independent Living Philosophy to real situations. Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from the Wheelock College in Boston, MA and a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Kimberly has developed several innovative independent living programs to reach all populations as well as developed an international program to promote disability rights. Kimberly is committed to disability rights advocacy and most recently ABLE SC’s efforts resulted in the passing of progressive legislation in South Carolina, “Persons with Disabilities Right to Parent Act”. Oh, and Kimberly is also a proud parent with a disability!
W. Kirt Toombs is the cofounder and Chief Executive Officer for Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL).  Kirt is also the founder of the Institute for Disability Studies and Policy.  Kirt is one of the original founders, and currently serves on the board of directors, of the Association of Oregon Centers for Independent Living (AOCIL).  Kirt is an alumnus of the University of San Francisco (USF) where he earned his Master of Management and Disability Services.  Kirt has also studied at numerous universities including the University of Ireland International Disability Law and Policy.
Meg Ann Traci is a senior scientist at the University of Montana Rural Institute with expertise in both early childhood and life-span development. Her research has been committed to improving the health of persons with disabilities. She has extensive experience in grant writing, having developed and sustained a productive program of research, development, and systems change in health promotion for over 20 years.  
Charlie Walters is the Director of Transition Programs at Able South Carolina, a Center for Independent Living. Charlie began his career in museum education and moved from there to working in outdoor education, including adaptive rock climbing. Before coming to Able SC, he served as the Employment Specialist for a college-based program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Charlie holds a Master’s of Special Education with an emphasis in transition from the University of South Carolina. At the center of his work is his conviction that all of the supports in the world mean nothing to a person if they are not empowered to step into the driver’s seat in directing their lives.
Denise Wardle, Executive Director for T.A.R.P. Center for Independent Living is dedicated to the IL philosophy. She succeeded her brother Bob Leonard as Executive Director, who started T.A.R.P. with the dream of advancing the IL philosophy to West Tennessee. Denise has taken what her brother has started and continued to grow in her communities and has developed many lasting affiliations and networking possibilities with numerous organizations. She never stops trying to advance out ways to serve our incredible community. Her catch phrase is, “I’ve been thinking.”
Dora Warman, Programs Director for T.A.R.P. Center for Independent Living came from a supported living background, but always believed a person should be what they dream themselves to be. Dora has been with T.A.R.P. just less than two years and thoroughly enjoys being an advocate, and teaching self-advocacy. She is a vivid speaker and teacher, and is passionate about what she speaks.
Jim Whalen-Executive Director Blue Water CIL of “The Thumb” Born at a relatively young age, and captured by a herd of Catholic Sisters of “Mercy”, I learned quickly that one should not take one’s accomplishments or failings too seriously. Achieving a B.A. an MS and an Ed.S degree in communications, rehabilitation counseling, higher ed. admin. and personnel management I have followed an educational path of learning more and more about less and less content -eventually I will know everything about nothing at all. Seriously, I have 35 years experience as a civil rights and disability culture advocate. Along the way I have learned a great  deal about organizational leadership, program evaluation, and building youth services.  However many titles I have acquired my job is to listen, learn, apply sarcasm and wisdom when possible to support the efforts of all people creating real choices that build communities that work so that people with disabilities can lead full and exciting lives. 
Glen W. White, Ph.D., has been involved in the rehabilitation and independent living field for over 30 years.  He currently directs the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas and serves as Principal Investigator of the NIDILRR-funded Research and Training Center on Community Living. Dr. White has had numerous opportunities to work with consumers with disabilities in identifying, developing and shaping on-going disability research. For the past several years he has been developing a systematic line of research in the area community participation of people with disabilities.  Other research interests include prevention of secondary health conditions, and disaster planning and emergency response for people with disabilities.  On an international level, Dr. White has conducted research and training activities in Korea, Japan and Vietnam, and prevention of secondary health conditions in Perú.  He is past president of the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, past chair of the American Public Health Association’s Section on Disability, and currently serves as Secretary of the United States International Council on Disability. Dr. White is a Professor in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science and directs the Research Group on Rehabilitation and Independent Living at the University of Kansas.
Rebecca Williams is the Information Specialist for the Southeast ADA Center, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute of Syracuse University. She has been employed there since 2011. She provides technical assistance and resources/referrals to callers from eight southeastern states on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other disability related inquiries.  Rebecca has over 30 years of experience working with children and adults with disabilities in a variety of different settings. Rebecca has developed and presented numerous workshops and trainings on the ADA and other disability rights issues to a wide variety of audiences both locally and nationally. She continues to expand her knowledge by participating in webinars addressing disability issues. Rebecca completed the ADA Coordinator Certification Program offered through the University of Missouri - College of Human and Environmental Sciences, School of Architectural Studies and the Great Plains ADA Center. Rebecca serves on the United Disability Services Foundation (UDSF) Development Committee, is a Board member for the USDF Accessing Independence program, is a member of the Lancaster Lions, and is a member of the Millersville University Disability Arts Advisory Council.  Rebecca is also a past board member of APRIL Rebecca provides audio description services for live theater for patrons with visual impairments for the Fulton Theatre and Millersville University. 
Liz Wood is a research scientist for the Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living on the Washington State University research team. She is currently completing her doctorate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to her graduate work, she served as the administrative coordinator for the Washington Rural Health Association, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Tom Younkman is an AgrAbility specialist in Vermont.  He’s a lifetime agriculture person.  He joined the Vermont Center for Independent Living as an AgrAbility specialist in 2009 and is also a veteran.  He also has a working farm with his wife raising meat goats. 

APRIL and the IL-NET Partnership Refunded!

We are pleased to announce that the IL-NET has been refunded.  The IL-NET national training and technical assistance project for centers for independent living (CIL-NET) and statewide independent living councils (SILC-NET) is operated by the Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), and Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities. 
APRIL operates the IL Conversations, a free series of training teleconferences for those in IL, as well as the mentoring programs, and information and referrals for those in the IL field.  The Peer to Peer Mentoring program is an opportunity for SILCs and CILS to receive good old fashion peer support from other professionals in the field. New this funding cycle we are adding a Youth Mentoring component as well as the opportunity for offsite mentoring, where the CIL or SILC seeking support can travel to the mentor’s site for training if it aligns with their goals better than having the mentor travel to their site. All of these opportunities have both full scholarship opportunities through the IL-NET grant and fee for service. For more information, contact Mary Olson mary.olson@mso.umt.edu.

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