Family Care Council

District 12

 

October 13, 2005

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                  STAFF & GUEST PRESENT:

Edith Kegle                                         Cliff Robertson, APD

Linda Peterson                                    Philip Pearson, parent advocate

Kamal Samar                                       Susan Tanner, FLAC

                                                            Jimmy Perrin, son of Susan Tanner

MEMBERS ABSENT:                    John Redigan, ARC

Marybeth Muldowney                                    Lois Saunders, parent advocate

Sandy LaCour                                     Shawna Retallack, Secretary FCC

                                                            Regine Beauboeuf, WORC Inc.

                                                            Kelly Johanessen, WORC/UCP of East Central FL

                                                           

I.                   ROLL CALL:

 

The meeting was called to order at 3:05 PM.  Roll call established a quorum.

 

II.                APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

Member Samar made a motion to accept the minutes of the August 11, 2005 meeting as written.  Member Peterson seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

III.             AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES UPDATE:

 

Cliff Robertson gave an update concerning the transitioning of clients to Med Waiver.  He stated that 6,000 people are in progress of being transitioned since the previous month.  Of the 6,000 people there are 208 people from district 12 being transitioned.  Cliff also stated that the APD is using their 56 million dollar surplus to complete the transition process.  Member Kegle inquired why some people are not signing up for Med Waiver.  Cliff replied that some services persons with developmental disabilities require are not covered under the Med Waiver.  He added that qualifying for the Mini Waiver does not mean you can’t receive the bigger waiver.

 

IV.             NEW BUSINESS: 

 

Member Kegle asked for suggestions from the audience on how to get the community more involved in FCC meetings.  Kelly Johanessen suggested conducting a survey, which asked them what would help them get involved.

 

Member Kegle asked for suggestions concerning equipment receipts.  Member Kegle does not want to be responsible for equipment purchased with the FCC budget.  Regine Beauboeuf suggested that the FCC create a policy in which a person would be in receipt for FCC equipment.

 

Member Kegle stated that she would be attending the Transition Fair at Atlantic High School as well as Member Samar and the ARC among many others. Member Kegle explained that the Transition Fair is held every year and its goal is to bring agencies together in order to give information to parents and children about the resources and services that are available to them. This fair provides information to student's ESE teachers that are transitioning from school to work or from high school to college.

 

Member Kegle requested that a motion be made to reimburse her for the Internet service provider, Road Runner High-Speed, which she is currently using to facilitate her volunteer service as the FCC chairperson. Member Kegle stated that she researched and learned that in the past other FCC members have been reimbursed for such expenses. She stated that she would no longer be able to effectively serve in the FCC if she no longer had Internet access at her residence. Member Samar suggested that she use the computer, which has Internet access, located at the FCC office in the Easter Seals building on 1219 Dunn Avenue, Daytona Beach. Member Kegle stated that she lived in Ormond Beach and does FCC business at her home. Member Kegle also stated that she does not have time to wait for slow dial-up because there is a lot of FCC e-mail to process and that she has phone line problems at her home. She stated that it would not be cost effective for the FCC to reimburse her for mileage accrued from her residence to Easter Seals because she would have to make frequent trips. Member Samar suggested that Member Kegle research projected costs from several Internet service providers before a vote be taken. Member Kegle stated that fast service and quality is a necessity because she was trying to do FCC business on her own computer with dial-up; it was slow and the computer caught a computer virus that is still in need of more repair. Member Samar made a motion to give all expense reports for FCC high-speed Internet business to APD for reimbursement to chairperson Edith Kegle. Member Peterson seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

Susan Tanner gave a presentation regarding her attendance at a steering committee on September 22nd, 2005.  The committee was headed by Michelle Beauregard, Liaison for the APD.  The purpose of the committee was to brainstorm ways to educate the community about the need for persons with disabilities to have appropriate affordable housing, the need for transportation regarding recreational purposes and the need for persons to be gainfully employed so they can live independently.   The need for a single access point to apply for all social service agencies within the school system to streamline access to services was identified as a crucial necessity to better advocate for children with disabilities.  Requiring families to attend orientation when they access services so they understand what is available to them and how to exercise their rights was also identified as crucial to effectively help persons with disabilities.

 

V.                ADJOURNMENT:

 

With no further business to come before the council the meeting adjourned at 5:00       PM.