December 2009
Pop Quiz: Who Advises ICI?
Here’s your chance to test your knowledge about the Institute on Community Integration (ICI). But it’s the Holiday Season so this quiz will be easy. We ask three questions for you to ponder for a few seconds (you could even quiz your office/cube mates), and then supply the answers. Ready… Set… Go!
Q: What is the name of the ICI-wide advisory group comprised of people from "the community"?
A: The Community Advisory Council (CAC for short).
Q: What does the CAC do?
A: The CAC is a funnel through which community input flows into ICI activities. The CAC meets five times a year with a designated set of topics of discussion for each meeting, during which members offer their observations, information about trends and needs, best practices, and concerns related to each topic. ICI leadership then incorporate their input into our work. For example, CAC input led to expansion of ICI research and evaluation efforts in the area of employment and people with disabilities. In another example, the CAC influenced Direct Support training by suggesting several topics that are now courses offered by our College of Direct Support, such as autism. In 2010, the Council will review ICI’s approach to early childhood services and intervention, special education, and self-directed services.
Q: How many people are on the CAC and who are they?
A: There are 22 CAC members chosen based on their unique experiences with directing or using disability-related services. As the list shows, they come from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives: Barbara Case (Minnesota Department of Education, family member); Shelly Christensen (Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, parent); Pattianne Demaray (parent); Anonietta Giovanni (graduate of “Partners in Policymaking,” parent); Marge Goldberg (ICI Consultant, parent); Brenda Goral (Opportunity Partners); Sherry Gray (University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, family member); Richard Grimm III (self-advocate); Heidi Hamilton (Minnesota Department of Human Services, Aging and Disability Services Division); David Hancox (Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, family member); Donna Johnson (University of Minnesota Office of Disability Services); Kim Keprios (Arc Greater Twin Cities, family member); Darren Kermes (Minnesota River Valley, Special Education Cooperative); Julianne Leerssen (Jordan New Life Hub); Annis Lorenzo-Clark (parent); Todd Monson (Hennepin County Human Services); Bob Niemiec (Minnesota Employment Training & Technical Assistance Center, Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC); Bud Rosenfield (Minnesota Disability Law Center); Robin Sommer (Olmsted County Developmental Disabilities); Barb Sorum (Minnetonka Public Schools, parent); Jesus Villasenor (PACER); Katie Villasenor (Minneapolis Public Schools); and Andrea Zuber (Ramsey County Human Services).
Q: Who are the ICI staff that coordinate the CAC's work, and how can I learn more?
A: They are Amy Hewitt, Beth Fondell, and Carol Ely. FFI about the CAC contact Beth at fond0030@umn.edu or 612-624-6830.