Technical Assistance to CMS 2005 Grantees (CMS/TA)

Project Details

Project Context:
Youth with disabilities often do not have the opportunity to fully participate in important systems decisions. Consumer participation in guiding systems change is a core concept of the New Freedom Initiative, an initiative put into place February 1, 2001 by President Bush. This initiative is part of a nationwide effort to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives and participate fully in community life. The Technical Assistance to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS/TA) project will support and prepare youth with disabilities to participate in advisory councils and other leadership groups that focus on systems changes.

Project Focus:
The purpose of this project is to educate the CMS 2005 grantees and state agencies on the importance of building strong inclusive youth and young adult leadership, preparing them to participate in current and future systems change projects. CMS/TA will provide an opportunity for young adults with disabilities to share their experiences, evaluations, and recommendations on programs and policies that directly impact their quality of life, independence, and full participation in all aspects of society. The outcome of this project is to further improve, strengthen and sustain inclusive CMS programs and policies.

Project Services:
The Development Team for this project consists of a core of youth/young adults with disabilities who have experience within the service system, Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) partners, staff, and technical providers. This team will produce a toolkit, the Consumer Youth Leadership Advocacy Toolkit, which will provide a means for their voices to be heard regarding key components of living independently in the community. States, families, and youth/young adults will benefit from hearing the human stories behind the policies, as well as common frustrations, positive experiences, and recommendations.

The Toolkit will include a DVD with clips and a program, podcasts, an introductory webcast, and an orientation booklet that will provide a rational for why youth with disabilities should be included in leadership groups. It will include examples of the strengths, assets, energy and knowledge that youth with disabilities bring to the table and prepare them to seek out opportunities to participate actively in bringing about systems change.

FY '08-09 Focus:
This project will be completed within a six months timeframe with the following focuses:
Month 1: 1)Development and approval of topics and detailed outline, 2)
Selection of youth/young adults with disabilities to be interviewed.

Months 2/3: 1) Interviews of youth/young adults with disabilities in Utah, Nevada, & Washington DC.

Months 4/5: 1) Editing of podcast and DVD, 2) Draft of orientation booklet.

Month 6: 1) Draft DVD, podcasts, and booklet submitted for review, 2) Revisions complete and final draft submitted, and 3) Introductory webcast broadcast.