WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.000 the 2020 APRIL 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:11.000 visual conference, real world change, man I'm thrilled 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:15.000 that everything can join uses, we have folks popping 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:19.000 in at I'm looking at the participant 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:22.000 s growing and thank you for joining us this morning. And 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:25.000 I know it's incredibly early and for some of you it's 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.000 the middle of the day. Thank you all. What I want to 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.000 do right off the bat, We have our 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:34.000 housekeeping stuff that we need to take care of. Let me 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:39.000 get to that right off the bat. First 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:42.000 , when you scroll over the screen, a menu 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:45.000 bar will pop up. But depending on what service 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:48.000 or where you are at, you can find the menu bar at the 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.000 top or bottom of your screen. This is where you will find 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:55.000 the close captioning for today's session. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:58.000 You can view the captioning be 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.000 select the tab on the CC bar. If you are looking 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:04.000 for StreamText, and you can find 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:08.000 that in the chat bar am I'm certain that one of my staff is 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:11.000 putting that in as I speak. For 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:14.000 sign language interpretering, you can find the interpreter on 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:18.000 the main screen. If you do not see the interpreter, 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:21.000 make sure you are in gallery view. That will allow you to see 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:24.000 more than one person at a time. To join 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.000 in the chat, please find the word bubble and 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.000 that same menu bar, 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:34.000 once that is selected you will be able to 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:38.000 find with the chat or add in your own comments. So 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:41.000 thank you and good morning to everyone. Let me 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:45.000 read today, what is on the screen that 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:48.000 you are for captions for today's event 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.000 , select the cr.d C button within the menu bar 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:54.000 , if you do not see your interpreter, make sure you are 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:58.000 in gallery view. There's also the 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:01.000 April conference logo 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:05.000 which says 2020 April conference. I have 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:08.000 to get, building the next generation of IL 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.000 . Virtual conference. Real world change 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:15.000 . And in the bottom right hand corner is it 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:18.000 says, keep moving forward 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:22.000 . 2020 April youth conversation 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.000 . That concludes my remarks, what I want to 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:28.000 do now, I'm absolutely thrilled 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:31.000 to introduce to you this morning, we're fortunate 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:35.000 to have John Bird with us. Not only 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.000 to do our Native American blessing which is 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:41.000 a tradition, and April we have been doing this 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.000 for as long as, I can remember, this is 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.000 26 years for me. But also assist 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:53.000 in slitting Indigenous People's Day. John 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.000 he was born and raiched on the 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:59.000 Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Has a Master's Degree 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:02.000 in mental health counseling from Montana State University 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:06.000 , has been community healthy for 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:09.000 over 30 years. He's also 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:12.000 , uncle of a long time supporter for us 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.000 and that is Michael beers, so 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:19.000 uncle John. Take it away, sir. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:22.000 >>>: Okay. Thank you. Billy. Can you hear me? 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:25.000 >>>: I have got the you, thank you. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:28.000 >>>: So, I would like to welcome 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:32.000 everybody here to the conference. And 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:35.000 thank you to Billy for acknowledging my end of 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:43.000 end of Jew 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:46.000 Michigan 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:49.000 my nephew to help 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:53.000 especially the conference. I want to introduce myself 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:56.000 and in limited black feet, 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:59.000 but I continue to expand my 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:03.000 black feet vocabulary. So 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.000 , (blessing 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.000 blessing in Native American 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:16.000 ) 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:19.000 . >>>: So, just saying that, 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:23.000 you know, my black foot name 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.000 is elk child. And that 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:30.000 , happy to be here. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.000 (blessing). >>>: That's one of the way that we 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:38.000 say good morning in black foot. It really 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:41.000 means happy new day. Happy 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:45.000 new dawn. It's the greet 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:48.000 ing traditionally we're taught 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.000 to take 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:55.000 our sweet grass or our pipe 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:58.000 or our, you know, the black feet preferred 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.000 to use all the tribe 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.000 s different kinds of natural medicines 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.000 that groa on the ethernet. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:11.000 grow on the earth 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:15.000 . The other one, they call it sweet pine, 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.000 it smells wonderful. Makes your house smell so 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:21.000 good. It also, reminds me 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:24.000 of years 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.000 that I spent hanging around elders 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:31.000 . Their house smelt like that. It brings back 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.000 the old memories. This morning 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.000 , I light my sweet grass 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:41.000 . For all of you. Out there, 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:44.000 and virtual land. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.000 Wherever you are. Ask for, blessings 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:51.000 upon you today. And on your families and your 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:54.000 loved ones. These are trying time 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:57.000 s with 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:01.000 the virus that's going around and the black feet are 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:04.000 being hit particularly hard right now. I lost 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:07.000 one of my first cousins about ten daze 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:11.000 days ago 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.000 . My family has not yet been 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.000 able to bury them. There is no activities like 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:21.000 that are allowed. It's really hard 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:24.000 . We're people that when we have 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.000 a death in our family, we go to them or 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:30.000 comfort them. We take care of them. We 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.000 can't do that now. It's hard. Makes it really hard. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:37.000 I also have you know several relative 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:40.000 s that are in the hospital with Covid 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:44.000 . One of them is struggling 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:47.000 for her life today. So I always think about 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:51.000 her and about all of those people are 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:54.000 in the hospital right now, that are struggling to breathe 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.000 breathe. But, 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:00.000 we have a wonderful day, a beautiful day also 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.000 . I went out this morning and pray 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.000 ed and greeted the sun. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:10.000 That's another thing that we're taught, the best times to pray 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.000 are at sunrise and sunset. That that's 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.000 the time when so we 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:20.000 take our sweet grass, this morning, I 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:24.000 use 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:27.000 used tobacco and put that 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:31.000 back on the ground. I have been doing lots of praying 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:35.000 lately. Just for the things that are going on 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:38.000 with all of us. But with the black feet people 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:42.000 . I know it's something that's impacting 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.000 the whole world. It's hard when it starts 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:48.000 hitting your family and causing people in your family to die 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:51.000 . It's very hard. I asked for 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:56.000 , I continue to ask for blessings, 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.000 for mercy. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:03.000 In the black foot way, we call that is pity. We 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:06.000 ask the creator 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:10.000 . That the literal translation of that word 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.000 is, the source of life. You might 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.000 call it the universal intelligence, 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:20.000 the universal source of energy 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.000 and intelligence. So 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:26.000 , that's kind of one of the words that we use in 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:31.000 one of the concepts that we use. We also 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.000 call in the sun, our belief is 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:37.000 the universal energy kind of gets transmitted 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:41.000 to earth through the sun. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:44.000 Which makes a lot of sense. If it weren't for 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:49.000 the sun nothing would grow and 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:52.000 we wouldn't be here, we call them the sun, the old man. Then 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.000 we call on the old lady. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:00.000 That's also what we, that's what we call the moon 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:03.000 , (Native American language) 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.000 language). >>>: So, then we, if 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.000 you ever many of you have probably 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:13.000 been to the North 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:16.000 American Indian days where you see black foot tepee 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.000 s, but some of them are paint 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:23.000 ed and they use a 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:26.000 standard design, that represents the mountains and 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:29.000 the hills and the valleys and things like that. But on 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.000 the top of the tepee on the tepee flaps, 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.000 one of them they have the sun and the moon. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:39.000 On the other one, they have stars 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.000 . There is the cluster play it tee 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.000 s, we call that the seven blowers 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.000 brothers. We have the mourning star 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:52.000 and evening star. So these are 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:56.000 significant entities in the traditional stories. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:59.000 So there are things that, 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:02.000 that people acknowledge in their prayers 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:06.000 as well. I call a lot 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:10.000 on the star people. Then 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:15.000 all the we call them 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:18.000 -- [INAUDIBLE] earth spirits. All the spirits 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:21.000 of the earth. All the things that we use to help 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:25.000 us. We might call them the bare. We might 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.000 call them the eagle. But we are calling 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.000 those spirits. Our 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:34.000 belief, is that all of those things that have a physical 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:37.000 presence here, also have a 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:44.000 spiritual prerns are prerns 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:48.000 spirit presence, you will hear people, 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:53.000 (Native American). >>>: The blissly bare. And I 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:57.000 bliss bare. And I have 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:00.000 a cabin on St. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.000 Mary's lake. And I never had a problem 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:07.000 with the bare. Last July, 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:10.000 I went running and I was running along, 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.000 like 20 yards in front of me 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.000 a mama grizzly 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.000 bare with cubs and I knew my life was 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:23.000 in danger. So I look around and 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:26.000 I and on thed a tree, and I broke and ran for the 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:29.000 tree. The minute I did, she charged at me, 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:33.000 and we had a foot race to the tree. I'm 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:36.000 66 years old, and I haven't climbed 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.000 a tree for 55 years. I was 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:42.000 on the top of that big pine tree in three seconds. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:45.000 The bare didn't follow me. So I made it 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.000 out alive. In our culture, that's what 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.000 we would call a ACOUOstory 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:56.000 ACU 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.000 O story. We got around it and we 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:03.000 made it through it. We found a solution 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:06.000 . And so we say, I offer that 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:10.000 story to you. The good luck that I have 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:13.000 in surviving that. I give that to all 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.000 of you. So I want to give that 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:19.000 to all of you this morning. That good luck 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:22.000 that comes from, that we all 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:26.000 had those good luck stories. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.000 Sometimes when we share them, we are sharing that 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:32.000 good for Christian with 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:36.000 for things 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.000 with other people. I want to share the good luck 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:43.000 that I had from my experience 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:46.000 with our brother the grizzly 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.000 bare. Very scary 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:52.000 ,. [LAUGHTER]. I was very frightened and I made 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:55.000 it out alive. Now I have a 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.000 story that I tell people and I share that goodness 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.000 of boat the grizzly bare. I went back 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:05.000 and put some tobacco under the tree. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.000 And I thank the tree. It seemed like it was 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.000 there to save my life at that moment. It was a 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:15.000 perfectly tree. So 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:19.000 I went back and I put some tobacco down and 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:26.000 gave thanks to the tree and I acknowledged the 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:29.000 grizzly bare. They 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:32.000 do that when they are threatened. That helped me to 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:35.000 save my life, too. I know what they'll do if 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:40.000 you get in a situation like that. I want 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:43.000 to share all of that with you. The good luck, and 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:51.000 the good the builds 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:54.000 blessings and I have a blessings 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:57.000 song and I will sing two verses of that 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:03.000 for you. Then I'm going to end. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:10.000 (singing a blessing song) 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:14.000 song) 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:44.000 . >>>: 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:35.000 I will teach you one more of our 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:38.000 traditions. If you put your hands like this. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:41.000 When somebody gives us a blessing, they pray for us 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:45.000 and or sing for us. One of 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:48.000 highest blessings and they paint 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.000 your face and they pray for you. We 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:55.000 take those into our hands. We put that 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:58.000 in our heart. That means I take your 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:02.000 word I take your song I take your blessing 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.000 and I take your prayers and put them in my 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:11.000 heart. Thank you. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:16.000 Team uncle John, thank you so much. I appreciate it. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.000 >>>: Take it to my heart. Thank you. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:22.000 Great. One of the things that I want to do next, I want 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.000 to get Scott up here in one second. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.000 But I want to thaj 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:32.000 some conference sponsors. How do 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:35.000 we do this without the responsers. I want to 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:38.000 thank a tremendous thank you to 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.000 Centene, and to anthem 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.000 . To the ADA National Network. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:48.000 And Ability 360. I want to give 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.000 a give quick shout out. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:55.000 Let me read this. Thank you to 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.000 theories responser, Centene corporation. Ability 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:02.000 3650, the ADA National Network. And information 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.000 , guidance and let 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:09.000 me get that out of my way so that I can read. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:12.000 All right. Something. The ADA national 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.000 information and guidance and training on the Americans with 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:19.000 disabilities act. And also on the left-hand side, there is 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:22.000 a photograph of a young couple 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.000 sitting on a sofa and the person closer 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:28.000 to me, may have the process thet 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.000 ic limb. But my vision is not that good this morning 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:34.000 , working with you and the next generation of independent 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:39.000 living. Proud to support the 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:42.000 2020 April conference from answer them. Thank you again, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.000 also want to look at thanking our 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.000 advertising sponsors, this is the 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.000 HHI hub. The rural 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.000 health information hub. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:59.000 Okay. We have disdisability link 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:02.000 . The center for rights and resources. And we have 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:06.000 the Arizona State In the meantime, living 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.000 council and inclusion and choice. And be 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:13.000 special thanks to our in kind donor 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:16.000 for this years youth conversation. This is a whole 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:19.000 new ball game. As we learn, you 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:24.000 learn and we will share everything that we know with you 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.000 . Next up, I'm going to ask our 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.000 board chair, Mr. Scott 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.000 Burlingame to have a few momentings 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:37.000 momentingses to speak to us. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:40.000 >>>: Well thank you Billy. And I have the honor 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.000 of kind of welcoming everybody this morning. I'm 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:47.000 coming to you this from 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:51.000 minute note North Dakota. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:54.000 And it dawns on me, as we gather today 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:57.000 , we are spread out amongst four different 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:01.000 time zones, maybe five, depending on how far West 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:04.000 we go. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.000 We have so many different people coming to us. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:11.000 People coming to us for the first time. Maybe 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:14.000 coming to us for the 15th time. Perhaps, 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.000 if you are so inclined to just drop 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:20.000 into the comment bar, is this your first conference? 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:23.000 How many have you been to? The beautiful 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:26.000 thing, this conference is unlike any other 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:30.000 one that we have done before. As we begin 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:33.000 to do this, the reality is, that none of this 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.000 could have happened without a whole lot of hard work. I would 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:40.000 like to tip my hat as I begin to the 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:43.000 staff at APRIL. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:46.000 They had to put something together that they 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:49.000 never wanted to do. I can I can speak 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:52.000 to us, that have been to a few conferences, 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.000 there is fun and interesting about being able to get together and have 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.000 that face-to-face contact with people from 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:02.000 around the country. You can't do this this 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:05.000 year, the staff of APRIL made this happen. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.000 That's fantastic. So thank you so much to all of 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:12.000 you for doing that. I also think that it's 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:15.000 important as we begin to talk, the reality, this time is 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.000 unlike any other time that we've lived in before 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:23.000 . So much hang around the country. Around the world 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:26.000 . And so much of that is effecting the life 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.000 ves of people with disabilitieses. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:32.000 We heard John had a relative recently 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.000 that halved, I'm guessing most of us 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.000 have been affected with the Covid 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:42.000 pandemic. And unfortunately 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:45.000 , many of the people who are dying, are our brothers 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.000 and sisters with disabilitieses. So 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.000 disabilitieses. You could 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:55.000 allow me, let's take a quick moment of 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:58.000 silence to all of those lives that have 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:01.000 been lost in the last year. (moment 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:05.000 of silence) 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:09.000 . >>>: 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:12.000 Thank you. I think 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:16.000 that one of the things that we want to remember is 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.000 , the Covid pandemic has taught 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:23.000 us in the independent living world, about the importance of 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:27.000 being creativity and to find 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:30.000 new ways to serve people. I'm willing to bet 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.000 bet, out of the hundreds of SILCs a that are valid in 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:37.000 this covers, that is going to be many different stories 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:40.000 about how people have been innovative 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:43.000 and creative in serving people. Perhaps 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:47.000 you have served more people with 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.000 Zoom and perhaps you have armed yourself with all the 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:53.000 latest protective equipment and met with 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:57.000 somebody on a one-on-one basis. Perhaps you 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:00.000 found ways to do different things to serve people 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.000 . Now more than ever, the value independent 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:06.000 living and us in the independent living 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.000 field is so need. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:13.000 I spent my entire 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:16.000 career to be care of the everything, as 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:19.000 of late, I have been telling people, stay home, 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:22.000 stay safe. Let us figure out how to bring 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:25.000 stuff to you, and let us figure out the ho keep 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:29.000 your rent paid and all of that stuff. That's been difficult. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:32.000 And those of you in the world, that's been a massive 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:35.000 change. Perhaps now more than 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:38.000 ever before, the roles that we leaderrings play in 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:41.000 this field is to bond people together, to create 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:44.000 that sense of community. Because that sense of community 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.000 is something that we do well in rural independent living 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:51.000 . Those of you that come from towns of 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:54.000 , 50,000, 20,000, 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:58.000 500, we know the importance of community. We know 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:01.000 the importance of getting together and making things happen 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.000 . Those of you in the disability community, we've known for 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:07.000 a long time how to create things, how 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:10.000 to make things happen. So as we gather 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.000 together, let's share that experiences 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:17.000 , let's share those opportunities. Let's learn from each 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:20.000 other. Because the reality is, independent 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:23.000 living is going to come out on the other side of this. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:27.000 We're going to be better to serve the people. We are going 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:30.000 to be better as advocates, and we are 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:33.000 going to be better as leaders and we are going to 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:36.000 continue to serve people with disabilities so 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:39.000 that their lives and their hopes and dreams can be 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:42.000 achieved. So thank you for joining us today 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:47.000 . I'm extraordinarily blessed to be part of this 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:50.000 . We are going to learn, we're going 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.000 to adapt and live. So thank you very much and I will turn that 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:56.000 back over to Billy again here. I 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:59.000 hope everybody gets a lot of out of this conference 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:02.000 and we are going to get through this together. And thank you 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:06.000 all so much. >>>: Thank you 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:09.000 , Scott. I appreciate it. In that line 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:12.000 of saying thank you, I had the opportunity to moment ago, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.000 that I thank 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:19.000 all of our response expers anybody that 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:22.000 help put this conference together 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:25.000 . And I want to thank another group, 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:29.000 everything comes out much better by song. So 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:32.000 , I want to dedicate this song to all 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:37.000 of you out there. So bare with me. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:40.000 (song). >>>: Thank you for being a friend. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:43.000 Traveled down a road and back again. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:46.000 Your heart is true, you're a pal and 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:49.000 a confine if a 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:52.000 confidante 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:56.000 . I'm not 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:59.000 ashamed to say, I hope it always 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:02.000 stays this way. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:05.000 And won't you stand up and take a bow. 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:08.000 And if you threw a party, invited 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:11.000 everyone you knew, well 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:15.000 you would see the biggest gift 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:18.000 would be from me. And the card attached 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:21.000 would say, thank you for being a friend 4X 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:29.000 . 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:32.000 Thank you for being a friend. Thank you for 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:36.000 being a friend. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Thank you for being a friend. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:48.000 Thank you all for being a friend. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.000 I could not do this without you, I mean that 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:56.000 on behalf of all of my friends, family here at the office 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:59.000 . Mary, Alissa and the 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:02.000 entire board. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. To 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:06.000 everyone. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:09.000 One of the things too, since I have you as a 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:12.000 pseudo captive audience, normally at the conversation, 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.000 I can see you if you get up and leave. This time, I'm 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:18.000 just going to have to truses that you are sticking with me 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:22.000 . But I know a lot of you have been like 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:25.000 me. 2020 has been one of the 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:31.000 most incredible years. You can look 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:35.000 at from many point of views, I try to find 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:38.000 some of the good stuff in everything. I know that 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:41.000 one of the things that we have found 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:45.000 from being a little bit in quarantine 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:48.000 . Some of the folks who experience a lot of 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:51.000 our chemical sensitivities that may not 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:54.000 have ever dartedded the doors of a center 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:58.000 or SILCing solely because of 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:01.000 those sensitivity. Are now 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:04.000 because they are doing it from the pleasure and comfort 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:08.000 of their own homes now. So I'm 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:11.000 thrilled about that. But the other day, 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:14.000 me, I'm always listening to music and 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:17.000 something. But I heard a song, and it was a 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:20.000 old tune. Of a the first line 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:23.000 of it said, well, everybody is going out the 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:27.000 and having fun. I thought, 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:30.000 well darn, that's not 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:33.000 exactly what we're doing at the moment. I thought I 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:36.000 need to put some new lyrics to the song and 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:40.000 give it a new spin. I'm going 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:43.000 to tore 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:46.000 torture you with another song. Here's a little 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:49.000 tune, I call oh, 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:52.000 COVID-19. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:56.000 Ain't nobody going out and having fun. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:59.000 We're stuck at home, 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:02.000 bored as hell and having none. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:05.000 There ain't even nothing on TV. Oh, 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:11.000 Covid COVID-19. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:14.000 There must be some 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:17.000 way that I can shake these Covid blues 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:21.000 blues. Get out of the house and cut loose like 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:27.000 we used to do. I can't get over 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:32.000 quarantined. Oh, COVID-19. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:35.000 >>>: I will bet you're just like me, excited 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:38.000 as can be. To see 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:42.000 each other in person once again. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:45.000 But when we get to go, it's gonna be a 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:48.000 brand new show. And I can't wait 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:51.000 to see all of you again. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:55.000 There must be some way that I can shake these 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:58.000 Covid blues. Get out of the house and cut 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:01.000 loose like we used to do. I can't 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:06.000 get over being quarantined 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:10.000 , oh, COVID-19. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:14.000 (song). >>>: I can't get over 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:23.000 being quarantined, oh, COVID-19. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:32.000 Oh, COVID-19. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:36.000 Yeah. Well thank you very much. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:39.000 I hadn't heard that one on your radio into while. But 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:42.000 again, thank you thank you all for joining us today 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:46.000 . And what I would like to do is 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:50.000 , I just saw an applause sign. Awesome. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:53.000 Thank you. 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:57.000 I want to keep our program moving on 00:29:57.000 --> 00:30:00.000 a little bit. We have other folks that want to speak. If 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.000 we have time, I can always speak again, 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:07.000 because I'm full of it sometimes. What I would like 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:10.000 to do next, turn it back over to Mary 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:13.000 and Sierra. So tell us about 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:16.000 what they can expect and what you can expect. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:20.000 Going forward with all of the workshops and stuff 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:26.000 . Okay. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:30.000 >>>: Mary and Sierra. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:36.000 >>>: All right. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:39.000 >>>: Thank you, Billy, you caught me. I was 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:44.000 up making last minute websites as we go. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:48.000 Thank you everybody so much for joining us. I tell you 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:51.000 what? I miss you all. I can't 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:55.000 wait for fingers crossed hopefully 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:58.000 next year seeing you in person. But for this year 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:01.000 , we get to do justing 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:05.000 amazing virtual conference. So, I wanted 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:09.000 to really quick show you guys through the website 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:12.000 , just to kind of help you family 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:15.000 familiar 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:19.000 ize yourself. One moment here. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:22.000 Wonderful. So I pulled 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:27.000 up our website and again, it is, 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:30.000 www. cop April rural 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:34.000 .org. And backslash 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:38.000 coverages. If you have 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:42.000 colleagues that have yet been able to log in, 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:45.000 feel free to have them reach out to Alissa 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:48.000 Ellis and she can help get them set up 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:51.000 . First check your 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:55.000 expam folder. For many of you, that's where 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:58.000 our credentials ended up going 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:01.000 . But again, you can contact Alissa 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:05.000 and sheal help walk you through that. So you will see 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:08.000 here, the first tab will be the homepage 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:12.000 . That's where you can see our 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:15.000 traditional letters from the board President, 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:18.000 and the welcome from our be Executive Director 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:22.000 . We also again, have all of our sponsors 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:25.000 that we are so gradeful to have with us today 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:29.000 . When you move to the second tab, 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:32.000 you will see each of the agenda. You will have 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:35.000 Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:39.000 We'll be closing ought on Friday. If you click 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:42.000 the agenda, you can go to each 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:46.000 of those different days. And 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:49.000 find all of the wonderful information that brought you here 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:53.000 . So when you open up each different session 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.000 , what you will see is, an agenda that 00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:00.000 takes you through or description. You will find 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:03.000 all the connection instructionses 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:06.000 . We have the option of the Zoom webinar 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:10.000 , which we really recommended to 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:13.000 access all the wonderful CART and interpreters and 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:16.000 materials. But we also 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:19.000 , have the option of just calling in by telephone. And 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:23.000 then you can use our StreamText link, 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:26.000 if you would like closed-captioned. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:29.000 For each session, if there are materials that will be in the 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:32.000 materials for this presentation section. And all of 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:35.000 those are accessible pefs. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:39.000 If anybody has trouble any 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:42.000 of those however, you can email me 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:46.000 at mole son 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:50.000 cop APRIL at Gmail.com. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:53.000 I forgot my email address, you guys. Laugh 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:56.000 . But, so if any 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:59.000 of those presentations are not working for you right, you can 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:03.000 let me know that. We also 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:06.000 have information about each of our presenters, later 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:09.000 on, we'll have Julie Hock 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:13.000 er speaking. Then 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:17.000 return back to the page. Also 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:20.000 , exciting we're going to have all the recordings from 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:24.000 this conversation will be in each of those 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:27.000 sections as well. When you go to the back to the material 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.000 s section, you will find the recordings following 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:33.000 each of these. And we're going to go ahead and leave 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:36.000 those up at least until the first of the 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:40.000 year in January. Then after that 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:43.000 , we'll kind of see what we're going to do from 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:46.000 there. We might end 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:50.000 up making the presentations public. But 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:54.000 we'll definitely have this website up until January. 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:58.000 Then, you move along in the tabs 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:01.000 the third tab is vendor booths. We are fortunate this 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:04.000 year to have some folks willing to 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:08.000 give virtual vendorrering a try. This year, 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:11.000 we have the RT C., 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:16.000 University of Kansas. And ILRU and 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:19.000 and Christopher and dean in a REEVE foundation 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:23.000 and be mobility international USA. And the 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:27.000 RTC rural university of Montana. 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:30.000 And healthy community living 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:33.000 . So this year, we actually are 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:36.000 having virtual vendor boolts. When 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:40.000 you click on these pages you will see information 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:43.000 about this vendor. As well as 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:46.000 a virtual Zoom room and the times 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:49.000 that they are available. So you will be able to 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:52.000 pop into the room and ask them questions about their services 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:55.000 , see what resources they have available. 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:58.000 And if you aren't able to make any of those times 00:35:58.000 --> 00:36:02.000 , you can contact their contact person and try to 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:05.000 make an appointment to learn more information. 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:08.000 Then, of course we have on the fourth tab 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:11.000 , technical assistance. So, 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:15.000 if at any point in time, you have some weird issue 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:18.000 going on, first check our FAQ, 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:21.000 frequently asked questions page. Then, 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:25.000 we also have a contact tabs beneath 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:28.000 the that, that has all the information that you will need on 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:31.000 who to call with what issue you are having. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:34.000 This year, Elissa Ellis and brook 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:37.000 Wilson, who is our coverages chair will be help 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:41.000 ing with any kind of general issues that you or 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:44.000 your colleagues will have. If you have issues with your technology 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:48.000 , we're fortunate to have 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:51.000 E Harris and, 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:54.000 Whitney Harris, who will help you with that 00:36:54.000 --> 00:37:01.000 that. Then our youth conversation chair, 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:04.000 Mels Felton, put together and to talk with 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:07.000 each other, called discord, which is a chat room. 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:11.000 I will let you know that I'm definitely getting older, 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:14.000 because I am not quite as great 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:17.000 as the youth are. But I'm willing to learn it if 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:20.000 you guys are. If you have any questions, 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:24.000 you can contact me in my email is there. 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:27.000 We also are fortunate that one of our partners this year 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:30.000 , put together an entire 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:34.000 Zoom key stroke list. So that is the 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:37.000 third tab underneath technical assistance 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:40.000 . And they have all the 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:43.000 key strokes that you might need too use, if you are 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:47.000 somebody using Zoom, if you are 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:51.000 using those visual menu bars 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:55.000 . Then of course 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:58.000 , it wouldn't be a conference, if we didn't 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:01.000 have evaluations. On your fifth tab over, 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:05.000 we have the evaluation section. So there is 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:08.000 a of course the workshop evaluations and then the 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:11.000 general overall conversation evaluation. Please do 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:14.000 fill them out. Even though this is way different than 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:18.000 the ones that we have done before, we want to know how 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:22.000 we can do it better, in case we ever do it again 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:25.000 . The APRIL conference, 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:29.000 we have t-shirts. We are fortunate to be working 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:32.000 with engine World Trade Center this year, many of you 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:35.000 know him as our conference 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:38.000 photographer, he has offered to do the t-shirt 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:41.000 s for us, and he's going to make them on 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:44.000 demanded. He might not get your 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:47.000 t-shirt maybe until November, but you will get it 00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:51.000 . He's going to take care of making those and any size 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:54.000 that you want. And also, he's going to ship them for 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:57.000 us. So We have we have a gray 00:38:57.000 --> 00:39:00.000 t-shirt with the 2020 APRIL conference 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:04.000 logo, which is an old PC with virtual 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:07.000 coverages real world change. Then we have the 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:11.000 youth conversation t-shirt, which is black. With the red 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:14.000 circle that says, keep moving forward. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:17.000 You can click you can select the link 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:20.000 and it will take you right to our 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:24.000 partnered John wicks website where 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:28.000 you can order those t-shirts. 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:31.000 Sorry. I'm trying to run too much. 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:34.000 So mine didn't load. It will take you right there and you can 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:38.000 order those t-shirts on demand. Then next of course 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:41.000 , we have our awards and honors, so we're 00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:44.000 still doing the Linda 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:47.000 Gonzales award and we'll learn more 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:51.000 about them and we have the easterly 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:54.000 wall den award. We have an 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:58.000 attendees section, the chat room where we can 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:01.000 all get together and socialize together. We're 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:04.000 going to be doing that. Then also Tuesday evening, we're going 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:07.000 to have a social hour. 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:10.000 Where we're going to have a Zoom meeting and you can pop in and 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:14.000 we'll, you can break into break outs. And meet with 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.000 your friends. Bring your beverages of 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:20.000 choice and your snacks and we'll do that virtual will I. 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:23.000 Thursday evening, for socializing, 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:26.000 we have a sing along with Mr. Foreman 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:29.000 Billy again. So please, freel to pop 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:32.000 in there. We are going 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:35.000 to have on the attendees tab 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:39.000 , we're going to put a download 00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:43.000 able attendees contact list with people name organization 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:46.000 and email. I'm just putting finish 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:49.000 ing touches on that there. Then last, 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:52.000 but not the least, we have our advertising sponsors 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:56.000 that Billy mentioned this morning. And 00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:59.000 our many thanks. You know, we're going 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:02.000 to talk about this again, but I want to say, it 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:05.000 takes a village, a family, a group of people, whatever you want to 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:08.000 call it. That's what it took to make this 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:11.000 happen. I want to thank you for joining us and everybody 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:15.000 who helps make it happen. Billy, 00:41:15.000 --> 00:41:19.000 that's all I've got. 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:25.000 >>>: Okay. 00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:28.000 >>>: Hello. I'm back. All right. Well, 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:31.000 up next, it wouldn't 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:35.000 be an APRIL conference too, without some 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:38.000 youth perspective. This morning, we have Mels 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:41.000 Felton and 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:45.000 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:49.000 fantasy bias and give 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:52.000 us an update. Turn the floor over to 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:55.000 Mels, are you going first? >>>: Sure 00:41:55.000 --> 00:42:00.000 thing. >>>: My name is Mels Felton and 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:03.000 I use they, them pronoun. It's early for me. 00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:06.000 It's still 10:00 a.m. 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:09.000 from Spokane Washington and I'm 00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:13.000 I'm a white 00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:16.000 binary person, the longer my 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:19.000 hair gets, it shows how long I have been going 00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:23.000 to the April conference. The first year, it was 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:27.000 2-inches long. It's grown, ass an update from 00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:30.000 grown, just 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:33.000 as an update. >>>: Good morning, as well. I'm 00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:37.000 on Pacific time. It's early for me 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:40.000 . I'm drinking a red bull 00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:43.000 . I should do that. I'm 20 years 00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:47.000 old and I go to the university of San Diego 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:50.000 and so I'm out here in San Diego 00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:54.000 today. I'm from Idaho. That's 00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:57.000 where my heart is, but I'm out here 00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:01.000 studying and I'm the advice chair 00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:04.000 on the youth committee. I'm excited to show you all. So 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:07.000 you can experience this. I am a mixed 00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:10.000 woman of color. Light skinned, 00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:14.000 I'm wearing a blue shirt that 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:17.000 says advocacy. And I have a messy room 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:20.000 in the back, so sorry for that. But I'm 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:23.000 cited to be here and let you know what we have for 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:26.000 you this week. >>>: So 00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:30.000 I want to go over 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:33.000 , we have the t-shirts with the keep 00:43:33.000 --> 00:43:36.000 move forward, I want to go further into that theme and 00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:39.000 why we chose it. Originally, 00:43:39.000 --> 00:43:43.000 in the old days, before Covid happened 00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:46.000 , we were planning on being 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:49.000 in, in Orlando this year. Fingers crossed 00:43:49.000 --> 00:43:52.000 for next year. With the idea of Orlando, 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:56.000 let's do something like a Disney theme 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:59.000 . I think, my favorite Disney 00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:02.000 movie is meet the Robinsons. At the 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:06.000 end of the movie, there is a quote 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:09.000 , from Walt Disney, that's around here, however 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:12.000 , we don't look backwards for very 00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:15.000 long, we keep moving forward, opening up 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:19.000 new doors and dying new things because 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:22.000 we are curious and 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:25.000 curiosity keeps leading us through you 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:28.000 new paths. When this was chosen, I don't think any of 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:32.000 us on the iewt 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:35.000 youth steering committee knew how relevant 00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:38.000 it would be to this year, we went from 00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:41.000 planning a in person conference to the potential of, 00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:45.000 with hybrid conference look like? Then this is 00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:48.000 going to be a completely digital conference. But it is 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:51.000 , through all of it, we have 00:44:51.000 --> 00:44:55.000 , we keep moving forward. We 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:58.000 have passed the 30th anniversary of the 00:44:58.000 --> 00:45:01.000 ADA. We see all the works that's 00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:04.000 been done through that advocacy, through APRIL 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:07.000 , then as youth, we have a very long future ahead 00:45:07.000 --> 00:45:11.000 of us. So we are, just reminder 00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:14.000 ring ourselves and bringing that youth spirit to all of APRIL 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:17.000 . We're going to keep moving forward 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:21.000 . >>>: Absolutely. I would just echo and say, 00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:24.000 that curiosity is so important. Every day 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:28.000 , it's important, but the times that we have been 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:31.000 in : it's okay to ask questions and to grow 00:45:31.000 --> 00:45:34.000 up with things that may 00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:37.000 seem a problem, or maybe it's kind of evolved out 00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:41.000 . It's okay to be unacknowledge 00:45:41.000 --> 00:45:45.000 able 00:45:45.000 --> 00:45:49.000 acknowledgable unaware. As youths things are changing 00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:52.000 and dramatically, and only folks can 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:56.000 understand, we're trying to make sure that everyone 00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:59.000 feels comfortablable. So we're going to talk 00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:02.000 about just the intersections of our 00:46:02.000 --> 00:46:05.000 identity and certain topics today, whether that's Covid 00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:09.000 or Black Lives Matter or any other movement 00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:12.000 that you want to add in. Most likely, there is 00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:16.000 disabled people involved, and we are proud of our 00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:20.000 identity. So, please feel free to ask questions, 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:23.000 to engage with us, we're a very open committee 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:26.000 . So expr glad about that. This 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:29.000 committee that we have, even the youth in general, this is 00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:32.000 my second year at the comps and I think it's 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:35.000 as important. I'll glad that we didn't shut that down 00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:39.000 and postpone it. We're trying to get the education 00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:42.000 out there and the community out there. Community 00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:46.000 is so important. So, yes, I wanted to add 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:49.000 that. >>>: Thank you. Yeah. 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:53.000 I know for me, this will be my third APRIL 00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:56.000 . An autistic person 00:46:56.000 --> 00:47:00.000 with a psychiatric disability. I have never really fit 00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:03.000 in anywhere, and then I walked into 00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:06.000 my first APRIL youth conversation. I have never 00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:10.000 felt so immediately at home anywhere 00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:13.000 . I know this year is different. But 00:47:13.000 --> 00:47:16.000 through our panels and our discussions 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:19.000 and our peer sessions and through the discord, 00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:22.000 which I will talk more about 00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:25.000 in just a moment. I want us to 00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:29.000 build that home. I want you to have this 00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:32.000 week to feel at home with each other. Have 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:35.000 a place where we can ask questions, and 00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:38.000 get answers. And just discuss. 00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:41.000 On that topic, just going over a quick review of 00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:44.000 what the youth conversation is going to look like traditionally 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:48.000 . It is all in one day, before the main conference 00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:51.000 . This year, it is going to be spread 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:54.000 out the throughout the week. It will be in the 00:47:54.000 --> 00:48:00.000 last session of the day, that is 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:04.000 1:30 Pacific time 00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:07.000 4:30 eastern time. And our first 00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:10.000 day we are going to be having a peer session, so 00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:13.000 we get to have that, let's talk to each other 00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:18.000 . Second day, we'll be having a speaker coming 00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:21.000 in countries tee 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:24.000 Kristin and the third day, 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:27.000 I will be talking about independent living and voting. Get 00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:31.000 ready to rock the boat. We're going 00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:34.000 to advocate and I will talk about also, representation 00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:37.000 in office. And how you can represent your communities 00:48:37.000 --> 00:48:41.000 . And, then 00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:46.000 our that would be Thursday, I can count 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:49.000 , on Thursday, we are going to be having some break-out 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:52.000 sessions where we'll be able to talk in smaller group 00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:56.000 s about some discussions we've had 00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:59.000 in the peer session today. And then on Friday, we're going 00:48:59.000 --> 00:49:03.000 to end with a peer advocate panel, where 00:49:03.000 --> 00:49:06.000 we have brought together some peers from across the 00:49:06.000 --> 00:49:09.000 country. To talk about the voakdz 00:49:09.000 --> 00:49:12.000 that they've done and how they are involved 00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:15.000 in the community. For anybody who is either at the very 00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:18.000 beginning of their voakdz 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:22.000 voakdz journey 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:25.000 voakdz journey 00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:28.000 , this is a place to ask questions. Part of 00:49:28.000 --> 00:49:31.000 that is going to be 00:49:31.000 --> 00:49:35.000 talk on discord. Our discord link 00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:38.000 as Mary pointed out is going to be on the website 00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:41.000 . Click that link, make an accounted and if you have 00:49:41.000 --> 00:49:45.000 an account, it will bring you to your broughter 00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:48.000 . And, we'll talk, we'll have some fun 00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:51.000 , there is a specific section for 00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:54.000 youth to talk. But, don't feel like, if you are a 00:49:54.000 --> 00:49:58.000 youth, you only have to talk there. This 00:49:58.000 --> 00:50:01.000 conference is for all of y'all too, make sure that 00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:05.000 you are getting whatever you want out of the conversation. 00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:09.000 conversation. 00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:12.000 coorches. 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:15.000 conference. >>>: We're going 00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:18.000 to be as transparent as possible with the infers 00:50:18.000 --> 00:50:21.000 that we are presenting, if you want to engage in anyway, 00:50:21.000 --> 00:50:26.000 we're very open to that. I wanted to let you know, you can 00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:29.000 definitely I think email might be the best way to reach out to us 00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:33.000 . Whether you are a youth or anyone in the r at the conference 00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:36.000 , you can drop our emails in the chat. 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:40.000 I check my email like it's text, because I know 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:44.000 like many people are on it. I will be as dispobl 00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:47.000 as possible. Someone said @ schat, 00:50:47.000 --> 00:50:50.000 the college life, it's going to be 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:53.000 hectic, but I'm passionate about this conference. 00:50:53.000 --> 00:50:57.000 My mind is definitely focused on 00:50:57.000 --> 00:51:00.000 this this week, I'm excited for the 00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:03.000 intergenerational collaboration, and it's important to have 00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:06.000 youth in these. And I'm so glad 00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:09.000 the APRIL board is giving us 00:51:09.000 --> 00:51:12.000 a flat form to do this. It's so important, 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:15.000 we know that disability is across all and any ages. So 00:51:15.000 --> 00:51:19.000 it's important that we stick together as communities. So again, 00:51:19.000 --> 00:51:23.000 feel free to reach out to us. 00:51:23.000 --> 00:51:27.000 I got this advocacy t-shirt from 00:51:27.000 --> 00:51:30.000 my unit. But maybe, potentially, 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:33.000 we could come up up with another shirt. 00:51:33.000 --> 00:51:36.000 Thank you y'all so much and we're excited to have 00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:39.000 you here and feel free to reach out. 00:51:39.000 --> 00:51:43.000 So I will Nasa on. >>>: This is Sierra 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:46.000 , the youth programs coordinator. If 00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:50.000 you are looking for the youth conference 00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:53.000 i 00:51:53.000 --> 00:52:00.000 information, and you will find the utilize 00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:04.000 youth logo, 00:52:04.000 --> 00:52:07.000 it is ALT text on there, as well. 00:52:07.000 --> 00:52:10.000 Your screen reader should be picking 00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:13.000 that up as well. Check that out, too. >>>: Awesome 00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:16.000 . Thank you very much and thank you Mels 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:20.000 and fancy. That was a great presentation 00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:23.000 . I wanted to talk really quickly about a can you 00:52:23.000 --> 00:52:26.000 couple of things they mentioned. One of them was, 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:29.000 wow, where did time go to 00:52:29.000 --> 00:52:33.000 ? We have the 00:52:33.000 --> 00:52:36.000 30 anniversary of the ADA. I don't feel 30. 00:52:36.000 --> 00:52:39.000 How did that happen? We have 30 years. Also 00:52:39.000 --> 00:52:42.000 , something that's incredibly important 00:52:42.000 --> 00:52:47.000 and I think you might have seen that in the news 00:52:47.000 --> 00:52:50.000 , but we have an election coming up, November 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:53.000 3rd. Vote. That's 00:52:53.000 --> 00:52:57.000 all I'm going to tell you. Do it, do it, do it. 00:52:57.000 --> 00:53:01.000 And one thing that I wanted to mention before I 00:53:01.000 --> 00:53:05.000 invite Commissioner Hocker 00:53:05.000 --> 00:53:08.000 to talk to us. This year 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:12.000 , we have learned 00:53:12.000 --> 00:53:15.000 so much about independent living and how we provide 00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:18.000 services and being Coronavirus with stuff. 00:53:18.000 --> 00:53:21.000 creative 00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:24.000 with stuff. We have been experts our 00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:27.000 own staff here in April I APRIL, 00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:31.000 we are independent living specialist, and 00:53:31.000 --> 00:53:34.000 then April we were IT specialist 00:53:34.000 --> 00:53:37.000 . We ran Zoom calls. How to do 00:53:37.000 --> 00:53:41.000 all kinds of things electronically that we never felt 00:53:41.000 --> 00:53:44.000 we would be doing. We did add another tool in 00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:47.000 our toolbox. Hate it that we had to do it 00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:50.000 this way, it has been a great tool for us to use 00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:54.000 . So, next up, I have 00:53:54.000 --> 00:53:57.000 the absolute pleasure of introducing Commissioner Hock 00:53:57.000 --> 00:54:05.000 er to join us. 00:54:05.000 --> 00:54:09.000 She joined on October 1, 2018, 00:54:09.000 --> 00:54:13.000 and it was just yesterday. She brings to the role 00:54:13.000 --> 00:54:16.000 , experience in operational process involvement, and risk 00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:19.000 management and effectiveness assessment. And she as 00:54:19.000 --> 00:54:22.000 a tremendous bioand 00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:26.000 I would encourage to read that later. Today, we're going to do 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:29.000 a presentation of, we had 00:54:29.000 --> 00:54:32.000 talked about how to did a Q&A, but 00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:36.000 we can't get that 00:54:36.000 --> 00:54:39.000 that to work. What we are going to 00:54:39.000 --> 00:54:42.000 dorks next month, 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:46.000 to do 00:54:46.000 --> 00:54:49.000 , next month, we'll do a "brown bag"ger as 00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:52.000 a follow up to do some Q&A. So 00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:56.000 , keep an eye out on that it will 00:54:56.000 --> 00:54:59.000 be typical APRIL inform 00:54:59.000 --> 00:55:02.000 conversation style. So, without 00:55:02.000 --> 00:55:05.000 further adieu, I would like to introduce you 00:55:05.000 --> 00:55:09.000 to Commissioner Hocker. 00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:13.000 >>>: Hey, good afternoon for most of us 00:55:13.000 --> 00:55:17.000 , here in Washington 00:55:17.000 --> 00:55:21.000 , good afternoon. To all of you. Wherever 00:55:21.000 --> 00:55:24.000 you are joining us from. And Billy, thank you so much fore 00:55:24.000 --> 00:55:28.000 the introduction. And for inviting me to speak 00:55:28.000 --> 00:55:31.000 this morning. It is a great pleasure to 00:55:31.000 --> 00:55:34.000 be back with you all. Yet again for your 00:55:34.000 --> 00:55:37.000 annual conference. It was 11 short 00:55:37.000 --> 00:55:41.000 month that we were in Michigan together. But 00:55:41.000 --> 00:55:44.000 my has the word changed. As many of you 00:55:44.000 --> 00:55:47.000 have already reflected on today. And it's 00:55:47.000 --> 00:55:50.000 just my honor to join us 00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:54.000 all in this virtual environment. And I want to 00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:57.000 thank you for all of this the work that you have done since 00:55:57.000 --> 00:56:00.000 the last time that we met. Last 00:56:00.000 --> 00:56:04.000 year in Michigan. I also, want 00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:07.000 to thank Billy and you your team 00:56:07.000 --> 00:56:10.000 . You are IT experts overnight. 00:56:10.000 --> 00:56:14.000 But thank you for putting on 00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:18.000 another great cofertion, 00:56:18.000 --> 00:56:21.000 conference. And today I'm going to 00:56:21.000 --> 00:56:24.000 join you this afternoon for two main reasons 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:27.000 , one is to provide you with critical updates from 00:56:27.000 --> 00:56:31.000 the administration for community living. Then also to 00:56:31.000 --> 00:56:34.000 look ahead with you all. As part of your conference 00:56:34.000 --> 00:56:38.000 theme as we look ahead to the coming months and years 00:56:38.000 --> 00:56:41.000 . You know the last several months have been filled 00:56:41.000 --> 00:56:45.000 with really long days. Really hard decisions 00:56:45.000 --> 00:56:48.000 and some tough news. We already reflected 00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:51.000 on that today. But in the midst 00:56:51.000 --> 00:56:55.000 of these long days, we have found new ways 00:56:55.000 --> 00:56:58.000 to get the the job done. We've connected 00:56:58.000 --> 00:57:01.000 and supported consumers. We have cared for 00:57:01.000 --> 00:57:04.000 and enabled your staff. And you have worked 00:57:04.000 --> 00:57:07.000 with partners in your communities in brand new 00:57:07.000 --> 00:57:10.000 ways. At ACL, we 00:57:10.000 --> 00:57:14.000 call this staying healthy, staying safe 00:57:14.000 --> 00:57:17.000 and staying connected. Whether you are partnering within 00:57:17.000 --> 00:57:20.000 your state to ensure individual with disabilities 00:57:20.000 --> 00:57:24.000 es coo access the care that they needed forming 00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:27.000 new partnerships and PPE and food delivered to 00:57:27.000 --> 00:57:30.000 those staying home are learning to navigate these 00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:34.000 virtual flat forms that that he have 00:57:34.000 --> 00:57:37.000 kept us together. You have remained strong and 00:57:37.000 --> 00:57:42.000 resilient. In Georgia 00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:45.000 , you had online 00:57:45.000 --> 00:57:48.000 lessons so that teens wouldn't 00:57:48.000 --> 00:57:52.000 miss a beet when it came to peer support and advocacy 00:57:52.000 --> 00:57:55.000 and life skills. And in Delaware 00:57:55.000 --> 00:57:58.000 rs. Freedom center for independent 00:57:58.000 --> 00:58:01.000 living recognized the danger rs. And the 00:58:01.000 --> 00:58:04.000 freedom center provided tablets for people with 00:58:04.000 --> 00:58:07.000 IDD who had not left their home 00:58:07.000 --> 00:58:11.000 . Thanks to this works, 00:58:11.000 --> 00:58:14.000 these individuals could see and hear the voices of their 00:58:14.000 --> 00:58:17.000 family and friends. There are 00:58:17.000 --> 00:58:20.000 many many more stories just like these. But I 00:58:20.000 --> 00:58:23.000 only have a few minutes with you today. So I wanted to 00:58:23.000 --> 00:58:27.000 remind you that as you hear these stories, 00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:30.000 remember that is as much of this pandemic 00:58:30.000 --> 00:58:33.000 has merely become a new temporary normal, many 00:58:33.000 --> 00:58:36.000 are still in need of your help, your services 00:58:36.000 --> 00:58:39.000 and your support. And I also want 00:58:39.000 --> 00:58:43.000 it remind you that shorter days and colder 00:58:43.000 --> 00:58:46.000 nights ahead, we can't stop now. I urge 00:58:46.000 --> 00:58:49.000 you today, to ensure that you are ready for the 00:58:49.000 --> 00:58:53.000 coming weeks. Support your staff and 00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:56.000 your consumers and in making sure that 00:58:56.000 --> 00:58:59.000 they can access the flu vaccine. This 00:58:59.000 --> 00:59:06.000 year it is important that we get vaccination night 00:59:06.000 --> 00:59:09.000 . Also consider how meeting 00:59:09.000 --> 00:59:12.000 the needs of consumerrers might change in the 00:59:12.000 --> 00:59:15.000 late fall and winter months. How will 00:59:15.000 --> 00:59:18.000 PPE and personal care items get to consumers 00:59:18.000 --> 00:59:21.000 in the cold and the scenario? How will 00:59:21.000 --> 00:59:25.000 health services and professionals help 00:59:25.000 --> 00:59:29.000 consumers? Whob consumers who struggle to 00:59:29.000 --> 00:59:33.000 stay warm and safe in the winter? As options 00:59:33.000 --> 00:59:36.000 become fewer, how do we stay connected? Particularly 00:59:36.000 --> 00:59:40.000 to those that live alone and have fractured 00:59:40.000 --> 00:59:43.000 support systems? It takes the shared commitment 00:59:43.000 --> 00:59:47.000 and hard work to find solutions. But, 00:59:47.000 --> 00:59:50.000 innovation, problem solving and while just 00:59:50.000 --> 00:59:53.000 knocking down what's in our way, it's 00:59:53.000 --> 00:59:56.000 in the DNA of this network. And so today 00:59:56.000 --> 01:00:00.000 , I also want to talk to you about another part of 01:00:00.000 --> 01:00:03.000 independent living that needs our innovation, our 01:00:03.000 --> 01:00:06.000 problem solving and yes, our sheer 01:00:06.000 --> 01:00:10.000 and unrelenting determination 01:00:10.000 --> 01:00:13.000 . Many of you 01:00:13.000 --> 01:00:16.000 joined us in July when mark 01:00:16.000 --> 01:00:20.000 shuls of the office and rehabilitation services and 01:00:20.000 --> 01:00:23.000 I announced a new collaboration. A new vision 01:00:23.000 --> 01:00:26.000 for our way forward together. All of us have a 01:00:26.000 --> 01:00:29.000 role to play ensuring that the youth with 01:00:29.000 --> 01:00:32.000 disabilities have the support services and resource 01:00:32.000 --> 01:00:36.000 s they need to successfully transition to 01:00:36.000 --> 01:00:39.000 their post secondary life 01:00:39.000 --> 01:00:43.000 . Since July, APRIL has 01:00:43.000 --> 01:00:46.000 joined mark and me from other groups to take this idea, 01:00:46.000 --> 01:00:50.000 this shared goal and drive forward. We call this 01:00:50.000 --> 01:00:57.000 initiative pathways to partnership. We shall building 01:00:57.000 --> 01:01:01.000 At the federal level, we influence them to get the stronger 01:01:01.000 --> 01:01:05.000 at the state level. And we make life changing 01:01:05.000 --> 01:01:08.000 impact possible at the community level. 01:01:08.000 --> 01:01:11.000 These partnerships recognize that across 01:01:11.000 --> 01:01:14.000 independent living, advocates Al rehabilitation 01:01:14.000 --> 01:01:18.000 and special education, there are many critical services 01:01:18.000 --> 01:01:21.000 and supports. An importantly, many 01:01:21.000 --> 01:01:25.000 overlapping goals. Among shared goal is one 01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:28.000 that stands out strong, to ensure that youth 01:01:28.000 --> 01:01:32.000 s to successful competitive 01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:35.000 . Q Grated employment as they transition to adulthood 01:01:35.000 --> 01:01:39.000 . >>>: As ACL, we know 01:01:39.000 --> 01:01:42.000 that CIL 01:01:42.000 --> 01:01:45.000 support youth as they achieve for 01:01:45.000 --> 01:01:48.000 independence as adults. We know that it's easier and 01:01:48.000 --> 01:01:52.000 more sustainable to work when we have the stable housing 01:01:52.000 --> 01:01:55.000 and rebe liable transportation and access to 01:01:55.000 --> 01:01:59.000 care and peer support. 01:01:59.000 --> 01:02:03.000 01:02:03.000 --> 01:02:07.000 01:02:07.000 --> 01:02:12.000 as a result of CILA services nearly 01:02:12.000 --> 01:02:15.000 12,000 01:02:15.000 --> 01:02:23.000 12 Provost Kenneth (Chris) Holford 01:02:23.000 --> 01:02:26.000 CIL. We know you're on to something 01:02:26.000 --> 01:02:29.000 . Our idea is this, we shouldn't make 01:02:29.000 --> 01:02:34.000 our transition out of high school plan one day, our 01:02:34.000 --> 01:02:37.000 vocational plan, and then on the third day 01:02:37.000 --> 01:02:40.000 , lay down our independent 01:02:40.000 --> 01:02:44.000 living goals. We need to 01:02:44.000 --> 01:02:47.000 see one in each to see how the most of 01:02:47.000 --> 01:02:50.000 moving pieces move together, not separately 01:02:50.000 --> 01:02:54.000 . When young people build on their 01:02:54.000 --> 01:02:57.000 early successes in school and they begin to truly 01:02:57.000 --> 01:03:01.000 imagine what citing and rewarding 01:03:01.000 --> 01:03:05.000 future awaits. When young people 01:03:05.000 --> 01:03:08.000 earn real wages in integrated settings and 01:03:08.000 --> 01:03:12.000 when valued by their team 01:03:12.000 --> 01:03:16.000 s they are more likely to pursue a lifetime 01:03:16.000 --> 01:03:19.000 of work and independence. This 01:03:19.000 --> 01:03:22.000 reminds me of my own teenager and say some of you have 01:03:22.000 --> 01:03:26.000 heard some stoarsz from those early work experiences that 01:03:26.000 --> 01:03:29.000 I was fortunate to have. When I was 14, I was not 01:03:29.000 --> 01:03:33.000 the youth that we often scieb 01:03:33.000 --> 01:03:36.000 describe. I worried a lot. I struggle 01:03:36.000 --> 01:03:39.000 ed to see what success could look like. I struggled 01:03:39.000 --> 01:03:42.000 to see a future on living on my own 01:03:42.000 --> 01:03:46.000 and getting to work on time and managing a wage 01:03:46.000 --> 01:03:49.000 that would support my independence and my dreams. 01:03:49.000 --> 01:03:52.000 This past summer, 01:03:52.000 --> 01:03:55.000 we calculated the 30th anniversary of the 01:03:55.000 --> 01:03:59.000 ADA. As a child of that landmark law, 01:03:59.000 --> 01:04:02.000 as many worries as I have had, 01:04:02.000 --> 01:04:06.000 I have had had far fewer obstacles 01:04:06.000 --> 01:04:09.000 than many of you came 01:04:09.000 --> 01:04:12.000 a decade or two before me. It is a shared 01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:15.000 honor that we have to ensure that 01:04:15.000 --> 01:04:18.000 the promises and rights guaranteed to all of 01:04:18.000 --> 01:04:21.000 us by the ADA are a reality for 01:04:21.000 --> 01:04:24.000 each one of us. During the challenging time, 01:04:24.000 --> 01:04:27.000 like you are seeing today, it's more important that we commit 01:04:27.000 --> 01:04:31.000 to do more for people who have the 01:04:31.000 --> 01:04:34.000 critical juncture of transitioning from school to 01:04:34.000 --> 01:04:38.000 higherrer education to work. Our commitment 01:04:38.000 --> 01:04:43.000 is to model the change that we want to see at the 01:04:43.000 --> 01:04:46.000 state level. Earlier this year, ill built a 01:04:46.000 --> 01:04:49.000 team at ACL, to have a 01:04:49.000 --> 01:04:53.000 plan to ensure, and the programs that we 01:04:53.000 --> 01:04:56.000 lead are strengthening and increasing the opportunities 01:04:56.000 --> 01:04:59.000 for everyone with a disability particularly youth 01:04:59.000 --> 01:05:02.000 . To find and sustain competitive 01:05:02.000 --> 01:05:05.000 integrated employment and communities all across our 01:05:05.000 --> 01:05:08.000 nation. We can all agree if 01:05:08.000 --> 01:05:11.000 students and youth with disabilitieses should have the 01:05:11.000 --> 01:05:15.000 same units to pursue higher education and 01:05:15.000 --> 01:05:18.000 training and careers, just as our peers 01:05:18.000 --> 01:05:21.000 without disabilities do. When we find job 01:05:21.000 --> 01:05:25.000 bees, we should have the same opportunity to earn 01:05:25.000 --> 01:05:28.000 a competitive wage for our work. Our employment team 01:05:28.000 --> 01:05:31.000 is supporting demonstration 01:05:31.000 --> 01:05:35.000 that focused on it's home and community based support 01:05:35.000 --> 01:05:38.000 s young people need to get to work every day. We are 01:05:38.000 --> 01:05:42.000 a 01:05:42.000 --> 01:05:46.000 we startedded with near 60 businesses there across 01:05:46.000 --> 01:05:49.000 the units all of whom had 01:05:49.000 --> 01:05:52.000 nonprofit and public sector partnerships. 01:05:52.000 --> 01:05:56.000 We're ready to develop new programs within our companies 01:05:56.000 --> 01:05:59.000 to expand opportunities for workers with 01:05:59.000 --> 01:06:02.000 disabilitieses so we can be hired and trained 01:06:02.000 --> 01:06:06.000 and promoted. We are down to five 01:06:06.000 --> 01:06:09.000 businesses who are piloting their internship 01:06:09.000 --> 01:06:12.000 in the apprenticeship 01:06:12.000 --> 01:06:15.000 programs. Later this week, it will be hosted 01:06:15.000 --> 01:06:19.000 by Project SEARCH and it will 01:06:19.000 --> 01:06:22.000 be successful scalable and replicate 01:06:22.000 --> 01:06:25.000 ing programs. We will announce 01:06:25.000 --> 01:06:28.000 two finalist in this competition in 01:06:28.000 --> 01:06:32.000 early 2021. Our employment team is 01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:35.000 also supporting our work. They are supporting the work 01:06:35.000 --> 01:06:38.000 we are doing with independent living. One could say 01:06:38.000 --> 01:06:41.000 that our partnership with the office of 01:06:41.000 --> 01:06:44.000 rehab services is overdue or as 01:06:44.000 --> 01:06:48.000 many of you know, them by 01:06:48.000 --> 01:06:51.000 OCEP and RSA. Now, and together 01:06:51.000 --> 01:06:55.000 , we are tackling service delivery 01:06:55.000 --> 01:06:58.000 ings issue and breaking down the silos 01:06:58.000 --> 01:07:02.000 that create barriers to success. We will be conduct 01:07:02.000 --> 01:07:05.000 ing planning and training sessions and providing technical 01:07:05.000 --> 01:07:09.000 assistance to help agencies 01:07:09.000 --> 01:07:13.000 collaborate across transition assessment and 01:07:13.000 --> 01:07:16.000 . Independent living and 01:07:16.000 --> 01:07:19.000 seakd dear education. We want to 01:07:19.000 --> 01:07:23.000 hear from you, and showcasing the 01:07:23.000 --> 01:07:26.000 things that are happening. In Alabama, 01:07:26.000 --> 01:07:29.000 disability rights and resources stepped up to address the loss of a 01:07:29.000 --> 01:07:32.000 job by a consumer. Despite the loss of 01:07:32.000 --> 01:07:36.000 his job during the pandemic, he refused to give 01:07:36.000 --> 01:07:39.000 up. The attendance of technology, this consumer 01:07:39.000 --> 01:07:44.000 is working again, remotely and remaining independent at home 01:07:44.000 --> 01:07:47.000 . Earlier this month, we 01:07:47.000 --> 01:07:51.000 held to have discussions with key stake hold 01:07:51.000 --> 01:07:54.000 holders across the partnership 01:07:54.000 --> 01:07:57.000 . This has helped to us determine what we need to do next 01:07:57.000 --> 01:08:00.000 . Where are our knowledge gaps? Where are the 01:08:00.000 --> 01:08:03.000 partnership opportunities? How can we all 01:08:03.000 --> 01:08:06.000 work together to ensure the greatest access to 01:08:06.000 --> 01:08:09.000 integrated employment? These answers are 01:08:09.000 --> 01:08:12.000 coming from the net work, from all of you 01:08:12.000 --> 01:08:16.000 doing on the ground work. We are in the early stages of a 01:08:16.000 --> 01:08:19.000 long-term plan 01:08:19.000 --> 01:08:22.000 sustaining these partnerships. We are excited about 01:08:22.000 --> 01:08:26.000 this work and providing each of you with the tools needed to 01:08:26.000 --> 01:08:29.000 expand these efforts in your community. In the coming 01:08:29.000 --> 01:08:32.000 weeks, we'll be setting up a blog on 01:08:32.000 --> 01:08:35.000 our website to highlight success and say practice s and 01:08:35.000 --> 01:08:38.000 more. So stay tuned. Also in the coming weeks, 01:08:38.000 --> 01:08:41.000 you will be hearing more about a brand new center, we 01:08:41.000 --> 01:08:46.000 announced at the end of September. The national technical assistance 01:08:46.000 --> 01:08:49.000 center for employment. This center will support programs 01:08:49.000 --> 01:08:53.000 across A OD that promote system change 01:08:53.000 --> 01:08:56.000 and proom delivery and direct services 01:08:56.000 --> 01:08:59.000 for people with disabilities. The center will collaborate 01:08:59.000 --> 01:09:03.000 with existing technical assistance centers that are programmed 01:09:03.000 --> 01:09:06.000 focused to ensure that AOD 01:09:06.000 --> 01:09:10.000 , continues to support training and technical assistance, 01:09:10.000 --> 01:09:13.000 but we continue to lead efforts that 01:09:13.000 --> 01:09:16.000 ensure that local and state work ition making the 01:09:16.000 --> 01:09:19.000 most of every resource and partnership available 01:09:19.000 --> 01:09:23.000 . As we take these 01:09:23.000 --> 01:09:26.000 critical steps for individuals, we can't take our 01:09:26.000 --> 01:09:29.000 eye off of another critical issue. Health 01:09:29.000 --> 01:09:32.000 disparities. 01:09:32.000 --> 01:09:35.000 While Covid has shined new light, 01:09:35.000 --> 01:09:39.000 the barriers we have confronted 01:09:39.000 --> 01:09:42.000 are not new. We know that people with disabilities 01:09:42.000 --> 01:09:46.000 have lower life expectancies. We are 01:09:46.000 --> 01:09:50.000 more likely to have serious underlying 01:09:50.000 --> 01:09:53.000 health conditions. For many of us, we still 01:09:53.000 --> 01:09:56.000 face real fear when seeking care. At 01:09:56.000 --> 01:09:59.000 ACL, we are working every day to ensure that disparity 01:09:59.000 --> 01:10:03.000 disparities and fears become a thing of the past. 01:10:03.000 --> 01:10:06.000 Early in your national response to COVID-19, we were 01:10:06.000 --> 01:10:09.000 to cross the disabilities networks, with 01:10:09.000 --> 01:10:12.000 our colleagues n.d office of 01:10:12.000 --> 01:10:15.000 civil rights to access to care. Many of you were 01:10:15.000 --> 01:10:19.000 at the front line with us, identify 01:10:19.000 --> 01:10:22.000 ing countries curriculumtory practices. Today 01:10:22.000 --> 01:10:25.000 , I want to remind you, this pandemic maybe 01:10:25.000 --> 01:10:28.000 a temporary new normal. But a person with a disability 01:10:28.000 --> 01:10:32.000 , being denied testing or care because of 01:10:32.000 --> 01:10:35.000 their disability will never be normal and it will 01:10:35.000 --> 01:10:38.000 never be okay. You have count lings leaders here 01:10:38.000 --> 01:10:41.000 in Washington continuing to work for you 01:10:41.000 --> 01:10:45.000 . Earlier this work, asm CL partnered 01:10:45.000 --> 01:10:48.000 our office, ensure the rights and protections guaranteed to 01:10:48.000 --> 01:10:52.000 us under the ADA, the rehab act and 01:10:52.000 --> 01:10:55.000 other laws were not sidelined by the pandemic, but 01:10:55.000 --> 01:10:58.000 were held up. OCR, issue 01:10:58.000 --> 01:11:01.000 ed a bulletin to remind states of their 01:11:01.000 --> 01:11:05.000 obligations and as you come forward 01:11:05.000 --> 01:11:08.000 with complaints, OCR continues to work 01:11:08.000 --> 01:11:11.000 quickly towards resolution. I encourage you to continue to work 01:11:11.000 --> 01:11:14.000 with your colleagues and leaders in your state 01:11:14.000 --> 01:11:18.000 . And learn about this critical 01:11:18.000 --> 01:11:33.000 work and HHS 01:11:33.000 --> 01:11:36.000 gov. We'll also advance our work 01:11:36.000 --> 01:11:40.000 across HH s.d to approve data surveillance 01:11:40.000 --> 01:11:43.000 to tele-health and telemedicine sfers 01:11:43.000 --> 01:11:47.000 tell 01:11:47.000 --> 01:11:50.000 medicine services. We have medical professionals 01:11:50.000 --> 01:11:54.000 across the nation. Some of these are projects, are quieted 01:11:54.000 --> 01:11:57.000 new. Days old, so I encourage to stay 01:11:57.000 --> 01:12:00.000 connected through ACL gov to see how 01:12:00.000 --> 01:12:03.000 the work is taking off across the next year, you 01:12:03.000 --> 01:12:07.000 may recognize opportunities to better serve 01:12:07.000 --> 01:12:10.000 consumer 01:12:10.000 --> 01:12:14.000 s as well. To tackle the challenges 01:12:14.000 --> 01:12:17.000 challenges of seeking care, for our physical and 01:12:17.000 --> 01:12:20.000 our emotional held. Take for example, the work 01:12:20.000 --> 01:12:24.000 at services for independent living in Ohio, 01:12:24.000 --> 01:12:28.000 . The staffer implemented 01:12:28.000 --> 01:12:36.000 Covid wellness checks with individual program 01:12:36.000 --> 01:12:39.000 participants. 01:12:39.000 --> 01:12:43.000 They had PPE items to 01:12:43.000 --> 01:12:46.000 active program participants. In, in Wisconsin 01:12:46.000 --> 01:12:49.000 , independent first, consumerrers with psm 01:12:49.000 --> 01:12:53.000 ing computers and access 01:12:53.000 --> 01:12:56.000 to healthcare providers. 01:12:56.000 --> 01:12:59.000 Independence first also purchased 01:12:59.000 --> 01:13:03.000 assistive device to 01:13:03.000 --> 01:13:06.000 s. The work that you do every single day, 01:13:06.000 --> 01:13:13.000 the work we do here in woosh Washington 01:13:13.000 --> 01:13:16.000 in Washington and it is operational excellence. As 01:13:16.000 --> 01:13:20.000 you know, we have invested significantly over 01:13:20.000 --> 01:13:23.000 the last year and a half to approve this foundation. 01:13:23.000 --> 01:13:26.000 A year ago, we launch 01:13:26.000 --> 01:13:30.000 the monitoring protocal and we conducted 01:13:30.000 --> 01:13:34.000 three on-site reviews prior to do the pandemic. We began quarters 01:13:34.000 --> 01:13:37.000 ly connection calls. We began 01:13:37.000 --> 01:13:40.000 issuing the annual report for the program as required by 01:13:40.000 --> 01:13:43.000 statute. We have also challenged ourselves to 01:13:43.000 --> 01:13:47.000 do better. And when we did that, 01:13:47.000 --> 01:13:50.000 to imagine training and attack assistance. 01:13:50.000 --> 01:13:54.000 technical assistance. A center 01:13:54.000 --> 01:13:58.000 dedicatedded in advancing our work across 01:13:58.000 --> 01:14:01.000 ACL to improve employment outcomes. 01:14:01.000 --> 01:14:05.000 We have relaunched owsh technical assistance for 01:14:05.000 --> 01:14:08.000 CILA. We are very excited about 01:14:08.000 --> 01:14:12.000 the reimagined training and attack assistance 01:14:12.000 --> 01:14:15.000 that is under development. I look forward to meeting with 01:14:15.000 --> 01:14:18.000 the team at IOR 01:14:18.000 --> 01:14:21.000 U to talk about the 01:14:21.000 --> 01:14:24.000 bold for the 01:14:24.000 --> 01:14:28.000 future. Going forward, the TA 01:14:28.000 --> 01:14:32.000 you received 01:14:32.000 --> 01:14:35.000 ILRU, you will achieve and maintain compliance 01:14:35.000 --> 01:14:38.000 and excellence. Through new and innovative 01:14:38.000 --> 01:14:42.000 approaches that are focused on new and 01:14:42.000 --> 01:14:46.000 improved outcomes, we will meet your needs better than 01:14:46.000 --> 01:14:49.000 ever before. This is critical, there is a direct 01:14:49.000 --> 01:14:52.000 connection between the core services that you 01:14:52.000 --> 01:14:55.000 deliver every day and the health and well-being 01:14:55.000 --> 01:14:59.000 and the advise brantdcy of the communities we 01:14:59.000 --> 01:15:04.000 vibrant 01:15:04.000 --> 01:15:08.000 cy that we do every day. 01:15:08.000 --> 01:15:11.000 ILRU, will work with three other centers, 01:15:11.000 --> 01:15:14.000 I mentioned the employment center, the other 01:15:14.000 --> 01:15:17.000 two will be TESTIMONY A centers funded 01:15:17.000 --> 01:15:20.000 across ACL, that will address for 01:15:20.000 --> 01:15:24.000 the veteran directed care program and one afford 01:15:24.000 --> 01:15:27.000 able accessible housing. At the 01:15:27.000 --> 01:15:30.000 federal level, you will be supporting 01:15:30.000 --> 01:15:34.000 CIL through annual grants and CARES Act funding 01:15:34.000 --> 01:15:37.000 and we'll continue to improve the monitoring 01:15:37.000 --> 01:15:40.000 activities. In quarter one and two of this 01:15:40.000 --> 01:15:43.000 fiscal year, we'll conduct several more reviews. 01:15:43.000 --> 01:15:47.000 Right now, we are 01:15:47.000 --> 01:15:50.000 hopeful that we've have on-site reviews 01:15:50.000 --> 01:15:54.000 in early spring next year 01:15:54.000 --> 01:15:57.000 . We'll 01:15:57.000 --> 01:16:01.000 be releasing a knew updates 01:16:01.000 --> 01:16:04.000 to the compliance and outcome 01:16:04.000 --> 01:16:07.000 in the next few months. I know, 01:16:07.000 --> 01:16:10.000 that the last few months have been unprecedent 01:16:10.000 --> 01:16:14.000 ed challenging and exhausting 01:16:14.000 --> 01:16:17.000 . But it is has been a time 01:16:17.000 --> 01:16:21.000 of unexpected opportunities and break through 01:16:21.000 --> 01:16:24.000 . As we look to building the next generation 01:16:24.000 --> 01:16:27.000 of independent living, I 01:16:27.000 --> 01:16:31.000 challenge each of you keep pressing Ford 01:16:31.000 --> 01:16:34.000 . 01:16:34.000 --> 01:16:37.000 forward. Stay healthy and stay 01:16:37.000 --> 01:16:41.000 connected. You must take 01:16:41.000 --> 01:16:44.000 area ourselves, even as our good work 01:16:44.000 --> 01:16:47.000 requires extra effort. I want to thank you 01:16:47.000 --> 01:16:50.000 for helping America find its way through 01:16:50.000 --> 01:16:54.000 this challenging time. I want to thank you for 01:16:54.000 --> 01:16:57.000 your relent lings efforts to support the members of 01:16:57.000 --> 01:17:00.000 your communities people with disabilities. I want 01:17:00.000 --> 01:17:04.000 to wish you a great conference. I hope that you 01:17:04.000 --> 01:17:08.000 enjoy connecting and learning not just from 01:17:08.000 --> 01:17:11.000 your centers but from each other. I 01:17:11.000 --> 01:17:15.000 hope that we'll be together in person soon. But 01:17:15.000 --> 01:17:18.000 for now, please remember that all of us, 01:17:18.000 --> 01:17:21.000 members of your comiewntsd and our 01:17:21.000 --> 01:17:24.000 great nation, we need you. You continue 01:17:24.000 --> 01:17:27.000 to show up and I encourage you 01:17:27.000 --> 01:17:30.000 in the months ahead. Thank you 01:17:30.000 --> 01:17:35.000 so much. >>>: Thank you, Commissioner Hocker. And I appreciate 01:17:35.000 --> 01:17:38.000 that. Great remarks. I had a couple of things and 01:17:38.000 --> 01:17:41.000 I wanted to follow up before we move on to the workshops 01:17:41.000 --> 01:17:44.000 . But thank you, I'm looking forward, we get to keep 01:17:44.000 --> 01:17:47.000 the band together. That's 01:17:47.000 --> 01:17:50.000 a great thing. One of the things that 01:17:50.000 --> 01:17:54.000 we are talking about, as you were nexting partnership and say 01:17:54.000 --> 01:17:57.000 working with the different groups. I wanted to 01:17:57.000 --> 01:18:00.000 remind folks when we were talking about partnerships 01:18:00.000 --> 01:18:03.000 , is that a lot of these are built on relationships 01:18:03.000 --> 01:18:07.000 . Relationships go both directions. I encourage 01:18:07.000 --> 01:18:10.000 you all of us to reach out to 01:18:10.000 --> 01:18:14.000 our counterparts and rehabilitation and 01:18:14.000 --> 01:18:17.000 other special education groups and introduce ourselves. 01:18:17.000 --> 01:18:20.000 Everything doesn't have to be about work or a 01:18:20.000 --> 01:18:23.000 competition. We all want the best for people 01:18:23.000 --> 01:18:27.000 with disabilities to live independently. So figuring out 01:18:27.000 --> 01:18:30.000 ways that we can build those rips 01:18:30.000 --> 01:18:34.000 relationships. Over the course of 01:18:34.000 --> 01:18:37.000 couple of years, 01:18:37.000 --> 01:18:41.000 the more we're around each other, the more we 01:18:41.000 --> 01:18:44.000 realize we have so much in common, that we become 01:18:44.000 --> 01:18:47.000 friends even unwittingly sometimes, that we 01:18:47.000 --> 01:18:51.000 didn't realize how much we have in common 01:18:51.000 --> 01:18:54.000 with each other. We're all old 01:18:54.000 --> 01:18:57.000 friends. One other thing before I let you 01:18:57.000 --> 01:19:01.000 guys go and we get to the meetings. Again, 01:19:01.000 --> 01:19:04.000 it's election time. Vote. I know this is 01:19:04.000 --> 01:19:07.000 a presidential election this year, so it has a 01:19:07.000 --> 01:19:10.000 little more excitement to it 01:19:10.000 --> 01:19:13.000 . I want you to be civic mind 01:19:13.000 --> 01:19:16.000 ed. There is also elections in 01:19:16.000 --> 01:19:19.000 my community. I vote on school Board Members, if 01:19:19.000 --> 01:19:23.000 there is an opportunity to vote, I go vote 01:19:23.000 --> 01:19:27.000 . I don't have children, and people, why do you 01:19:27.000 --> 01:19:30.000 care who is on the school board? At some point 01:19:30.000 --> 01:19:33.000 , those young people are going to be running our country. 01:19:33.000 --> 01:19:36.000 I would like to know that that he have had a pretty good 01:19:36.000 --> 01:19:40.000 education. Yeah, it is important to me. So I 01:19:40.000 --> 01:19:43.000 encourage you to be civic minded all the 01:19:43.000 --> 01:19:46.000 time. One more time, 01:19:46.000 --> 01:19:50.000 all the time. Not just on presidential elections 01:19:50.000 --> 01:19:53.000 . Having said all of that, I want to thank you 01:19:53.000 --> 01:19:57.000 again for joining us. Sierra, do you have 01:19:57.000 --> 01:20:00.000 any words of wisdom that you want to provide? >>>: Yeah 01:20:00.000 --> 01:20:03.000 , I want to let everybody know that 01:20:03.000 --> 01:20:05.000 when you go, when we finish up here, go back 01:20:05.000 --> 01:20:09.000 to the coverages website and then you are going to select your break-out 01:20:09.000 --> 01:20:11.000 session. So it is not the same room, 01:20:11.000 --> 01:20:15.000 it will be a different room every time. You 01:20:15.000 --> 01:20:22.000 go back to the conversation website 01:20:22.000 --> 01:20:26.000 back to do the conference website 01:20:26.000 --> 01:20:30.000 . Go back check that out and then jump 01:20:30.000 --> 01:20:33.000 on when this gets started. >>>: Perfect. Thank you 01:20:33.000 --> 01:20:36.000 . >>>: And I just saw one of my favorite 01:20:36.000 --> 01:20:40.000 ever. If you don't vote, you can't complain. 01:20:40.000 --> 01:20:43.000 Thank you very much. 01:20:43.000 --> 01:20:50.000 That's Steven strick land. Thank you. Pch. 01:20:50.000 --> 01:20:53.000 all right. I'm going to allow you to disperse. 01:20:53.000 --> 01:20:56.000 Get a ghas of water, new cup of coffee. Something 01:20:56.000 --> 01:21:00.000 to eat. And 01:21:00.000 --> 01:21:03.000 we'll reconvene, I will see you when I 01:21:03.000 --> 01:21:06.000 see you. Bye 01:21:06.000 --> 01:21:06.000 , folk s