Sharing Information Loud and Clear

Fall 2022

In This Issue:

  • Message from the Chairperson
  • Save the Date!
  • October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
  • SILC 2nd Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest!
  • Remember to Vote this November!
  • Join the SILC SPIL Work Groups!
  • SILC Office Closure (Veterans Day)

photo description: Woman reading Braille, wheelchair user on beach facing away from camera with arms raised triumphantly, and two smiling women posing for photo

Message From The Chair

Photo description: Lisa Hayes, SILC Chairperson, smiling. Lisa is wearing a green, white, red and black shirt with geometric design and has medium length auburn hair.

Greetings Independent Living (IL) Network partners:

Please join us at the SILC as we say “Welcome fall!” Most of us are ready to enjoy some cooler temperatures across our state and are looking forward to the holiday season that is not as highly impacted by Coronavirus as we were in previous years. It’s hard to believe that 2022 is almost over already!

You will remember that while developing the 2021-2023 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL), members of the Independent Living Network worked together to prioritize several goals. These goals and the related objectives were written by work groups staffed by volunteers with input from stakeholders and the IL Network, and then approved by both the SILC SPIL Committee and the entire SILC. Three of the work groups have ongoing projects that need to be completed (see more further down in the newsletter).

We are hard at work on developing our next 2024-2026 SPIL, which is due in June 2023. Together with the Independent Living Network we are identifying priorities for our state and working to create SMART goals to include. SMART is an acronym which means they are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time oriented. We have reached out to the community through surveys to get started, but there is still a lot of work left to do. If you would like to get involved in writing the next SPIL, let us know! We have a variety of roles that you might fill on our SPIL writing team.

If you have questions or comments, the SILC is here for you. Feel free to reach out to us at SILC@calsilc.ca.gov or by contacting the SILC Executive Director, Carrie England, at Carrie@calsilc.ca.gov.

In Unity and Solidarity,

Lisa Hayes, SILC Chairperson

Save the Date!

Photo Description: SILC Logo. Reads “State Independent Living Council SILC California”

As 2022 comes to an end, we are planning our meetings for next year. Please save the following dates/times in your calendar for 2023 so that you don’t miss any! All meeting agendas and materials will be posted to our website at least 10 days in advance of the meeting.

  • December 6-7, 2022 meeting virtually using Zoom
  • March 7-8, 2023 meeting virtually using Zoom
  • April (dates tbd) SPIL hearings meeting virtually using Zoom
  • August 8-9, 2023 (in person location tbd)
  • December 5-6, 2023 meeting virtually using Zoom

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

Photo description: The poster is rectangular in shape with a black colored chalkboard background overlaid with mathematical equations. It features the 2022 NDEAM theme, “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” along with an equation composed of several graphics: a circular photo of a woman in a wheelchair working at a computer with colleagues, followed by a plus sign, followed by a square image of a woman who uses crutches viewing a document with a colleague, followed by an equal sign, followed by a light bulb icon. Across the top of the rectangle in small, white letters are the words National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

In recognition of the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce, the theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2022 will be “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.” Observed annually in October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices.

Led by its Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Department of Labor’s annual observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month acknowledges the contributions to the nation’s economy made by workers with disabilities, current and past. The commemoration also showcases supportive and inclusive policies and practices benefiting workers and employers.

The Biden-Harris administration has taken a whole-of-government approach to identify and eliminate barriers to helping historically underserved communities, including people with disabilities. On his first day in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” and directed all federal departments and agencies to examine their policies and programs.

In April 2022, the department published its Equity Action Plan to support marginalized, vulnerable and underserved communities, and outline its efforts to advance equity across the department.

The federal effort to recognize people with disabilities began in 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October to be “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” The word “physically” was dropped in 1962 to include individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week and christened the month of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

SILC 2nd Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest!

Photo Description: Jack-o-lanterns with candy strewn around the base.

Last year the SILC had a lot of fun with our Halloween Pumpkin decorating contest. We received many entries via our SILC Facebook page from very talented consumers and staff at the Independent Living Centers. We had so much fun, we’ve decided to do it again!

Show off your Halloween spirit this year and participate in our virtual D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) pumpkin decorating contest. We want you to get creative carving or otherwise decorating your pumpkins using items you already have around the house. You can use cardboard, newspaper, glue, tape, yarn, foil, paper bags, felt or fabric, markers, other vegetables, or anything else you already have on hand. Your imagination is your only limitation.

Winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!!!

How to submit:

  • Take a photo of your pumpkin. Email your submission to carrie@calsilc.ca.gov
  • Subject: Halloween Pumpkin Contest
  • Please include your name, an image description, and contact information (where can we send the gift card if you win?)
  • Deadline to submit is Friday, October 28, 2022 by 12 noon.

Rules:

  • Handmade/D.I.Y. pumpkins only.
  • Designs must be family-friendly, inoffensive, and appropriate for all ages.
  • 1 entry per person.
  • Participants agree to allow pumpkin pictures to be featured on the SILC social media and website.
  • Winner must be a California resident.
  • Open to all ages.

Selection Process & Prize:

  • Photos will be on social media for community judging. The photo with the most “likes” will win.
  • “Votes” will be tallied and the winner will be announced on Facebook on Monday, October 31, 2022 at 12 noon.
  • The winning pumpkin will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

Remember to Vote this November!

Photo description: Hands of people of a variety of colors (brown, black and white) holding letters that read “Remember to VOTE” in white text on blue background.

The last day to register to vote for the November 8, 2022, General Election is October 24, 2022. Same day registration is also available for eligible applicants from October 25- November 8.

To apply to register to vote, please visit RegisterToVote.ca.gov.

All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 8, General Election.

Your county elections office will begin mailing ballots no later than October 10, 2022.

Your General Election ballot will include:

  • 7 Ballot Propositions
  • Statewide candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, Member of State Board of Equalization, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • U.S. Representative in Congress, State Senator, State Assembly Member
  • Supreme Court Justices, as well as other local candidates and local measures.

Return your vote-by-mail ballot by mail with prepaid postage as long as it’s postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 15, 2022, or in-person to a secure ballot drop box, to a voting location or your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on November 8, 2022.

For more information on the candidates, or for frequently asked questions about voting accessibility or deadlines, visit the Secretary of State page.

SILC Seeking SPIL Work Group Members

Join us! Make an impact on IL in California!

While developing the 2021-2023 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL), members of the Independent Living Network worked together to prioritize several goals. These goals and the related objectives were written by work groups staffed by volunteers, and then approved by both the SILC SPIL Committee and the entire SILC. Three of the work groups have ongoing projects that need to be completed.

Funding Formula/Equity (FF/E)

  • The Funding Formula Equity Work Group meets on second (2nd) Wednesday of each month from 10:00am.
  • Goal: Develop new ILC base funding formula

Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)

  • The Long Term Services and Supports Work Group meets on first (1st) Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am.
  • Goal: Create Environmental Scan Survey and work to provide information and support to ILCs who may want to participate as an Aging and Disability Resource Connection

Meaningful Data

  • The Meaningful Data Work Group meets on the fourth (4th) Friday of the month from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
  • Goal: Look at existing ILC Data Collection and Tools; Use Data to tell the story of IL in California; Propose uniform ILC database systems

As a work group member you will be asked to attend meetings (1 to 2 per month), share your ideas and give feedback to other work group members, and complete occasional outside research or work on a volunteer basis. SILC Staff will attend all meetings to take notes and help on the administrative and technical side, but we expect these projects will be led by community members.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Danielle at (916) 263-7905 extension #1 or by email at SILC@calsilc.ca.gov.

Agenda and Zoom meeting information is shared ten (10) days in advance on the SILC Web Page under Agency Announcements.

Please feel free to share this announcement widely with anyone else who may be interested in serving.

You do not need to be a SILC member to participate.

Thank you for your commitment to furthering Independent Living in California!

Notice of SILC Office Closure (Veterans Day)

Photo: Soldiers walking with full gear superimposed over USA Flag. White text reads “The CA SILC will be closed on November 11th in observance of Veterans Day”