Conference Program at a Glance
Follow the links for session descriptions. (Program subject to change)

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Tuesday Pre-Conference Concurrent Sessions
9:00am - 4:00pm 

Pre-Conference Session #1
Income and Asset Development 
In-depth forum on critical elements of helping people, regardless of their disability, to have viable opportunities to earn income and build financial assets.  Highlights: Creating alliances to give people the tools for a better life; government and community endeavors that support people to gain freedom through financial security.
Moderator: Jack Hillyard, Employment Policy Group, University of Iowa

Pre-Conference Session #2
International Communication and Information Sharing
Forum for hearing what is going on around the world in self-determination and finding ways to create effective international information sharing and communication.  Highlights: speakers from around the world; opportunities to develop ways to keep informed of what is happening in other places; making sure information sharing is accessible to all who need it.
Moderators: Barbara Leroy Ph.D., The Developmental Disabilities Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit; Brian Salisbury and Doug Wollard, Community Living British Columbia; Colleen Wieck Ph.D., Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities and Dan Fisher, The Empowerment Center, MA

 PDF - Details of pre-conference sessions
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Wednesday Morning Concurrent Sessions
10:00am - 11:30am 

Session 1A
Systems Change: Changing the Agenda for Human Services and the Control of Public Funding in the United States
This topic will be covered in two sessions-- morning and afternoon.  It will be a cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services in the United States.  The session will address critical elements of the movement to shift the agenda of human services and the control of funding in service systems.
Moderators: Rebecca Shuman, The Arc of New Mexico and Bob Kafka, ADAPT

Session 1B
Systems Change: Changing the Agenda for Human Services and the Control of Public Funding—An International Perspective
This topic will be covered in two sessions-- morning and afternoon.  It will be also a cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services.  However, this session will have panel members from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe.  The session will address the same critical elements of the movement to shift the agenda of human services and the control of funding in service systems as the above session only from an international perspective.
Moderator: Steve Dowson, National Development Team, UK 

Session 1C
Structural Change:  Budgets, Allocation Strategies; Fiscal Management; Planning, Brokering, Peer Supports, Coordination
This topic will be covered in two sessions-- morning and afternoon.  It will be also a cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services.  The speakers and panel members will be leaders in the self-determination movement who are actively working in systems to change the basic elements of how supports are created and organized.  Panel members will discuss their successes and challenges in using the tools of self-determination (individual budgets, independent planning/support coordination/brokering/ peer supports and independent financial management.)
Moderator: Jim Dehem, Community Living Services, MI 

Session 1D
Advocacy and Leadership- Strengthening the Movement
This topic will be covered in two sessions and continued in a Roundtable Discussion on Wednesday evening.  Highlights: Cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services; in depth discussion and planning with leaders in the self-determination movement who are interested in creating a powerful coalition across disability and gaining a greater voice for people who experience disability; focus on creating a written agenda and commitments to build a cross disability coalition, across the United States and internationally. Participants will present their findings at the closing session of the conference.
Moderators: Dan Fisher,The National Empowerment Center; Marsha Rose Katz, ADAPT, Rural Institute, MT and Bob Liston, ADAPT, Montana Fair Housing 

Session 1E
Work Imperative: People Taking Charge of Their Economic Futures With Self-Determination
This topic will be covered in two sessions.  Highlights: Speakers and panel members will be leaders in the efforts to create more opportunities for people who experience disability to earn adequate income and create economic security for themselves efforts to reverse the forced poverty of people who rely on publicly funded support and have the freedom and quality of life that other people in society take for granted; creating a focus of meaningful work with real income and career opportunities; self employment/microenterprise, creative job development and support, building and utilizing social capital and other approaches.
Moderators: David Hammis and Cary Griffin, Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC 

Session 1F
Workforce Issues
This topic will be covered in two sessions.  Highlights: Presentation of Michigan’s projects to partner with unions and labor organizations (SEIU and PHI) to turn proposed funding cuts into increased wages for support people; Michigan and SEIU’s contract template guaranteeing consumers unrestricted control of recruiting, hiring, firing, training, directing, setting work expectations for support people.  The panel members will be people who are actively engaged in issues related to the workforce to support the plans and goals of people who have self-determination budgets.  Discussion of how to assure that individuals with disabilities will have sufficient numbers of qualified and trained people who can provide the paid support that they need in order to pursue the lives desire.
Moderator: Dohn Hoyle, The Arc of Michigan 

Session 1G
StoryCorps Interviews and The Power of Your Story
StoryCorps, in partnership with National Public Radio and the American Folklife Center of the U.S. Library of Congress, instructs and inspires people to record another’s stories in sound. As an innovation oral history, using a citizen interview model, Story Corp records the voices of everyday people and from populations traditionally underrepresented.  In this strand of sessions,  StoryCorp interviews will be held in concert with a serious of mini-workshops and roundtable discussions about “The Power of Your Story.”
Moderators: Pat Carver, Community Drive, Inc; Angela Martin, the Developmental Disability Institute, Wayne State University; Ray Schuholz, Community Living Services, Inc and Ann Thomas, The Council on Quality 

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Wednesday Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
2:00pm - 3:30pm 

Session 2A (continuation)
Systems Change: Changing the Agenda for Human Services and the Control of Public Funding in the United States
This topic will be covered in two sessions - morning and afternoon.  It will be a cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services in the United States.  The session will address critical elements of the movement to shift the agenda of human services and the control of funding in service systems.
Moderators: Rebecca Shuman, The Arc of New Mexico and Bob Kafka, ADAPT

Session 2B (continuation)
Systems Change: Changing the Agenda for Human Services and the Control of Public Funding—An International Perspective
This topic will be covered in two sessions - morning and afternoon.  It will be also a cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services.  However, this session will have panel members from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe.  The session will address the same critical elements of the movement to shift the agenda of human services and the control of funding in service systems as the above session only from an international perspective.
Moderator: Steve Dowson, National Development Team, UK

Session 2C: (continuation)
Structural Change:  Budgets, Allocation Strategies; Fiscal Management; Planning, Brokering, Peer Supports, Coordination
This topic will be covered in two sessions - morning and afternoon.  It will be also a cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services.  The speakers and panel members will be leaders in the self-determination movement who are actively working in systems to change the basic elements of how supports are created and organized.  Panel members will discuss their successes and challenges in using the tools of self-determination (individual budgets, independent planning/support coordination/brokering/ peer supports and independent financial management.)
Moderator: Jim Dehem, Community Living Services, MI 

Session 2D (continuation)
Advocacy and Leadership- Strengthening the Movement
This topic will be covered in two sessions and continued in a Roundtable Discussion on Wednesday evening.  Highlights: Cross disability panel with representatives of self-determination efforts in mental health services, the independent living movement, elder services and developmental disabilities services; in depth discussion and planning with leaders in the self-determination movement who are interested in creating a powerful coalition across disability and gaining a greater voice for people who experience disability; focus on creating a written agenda and commitments to build a cross disability coalition, across the United States and internationally. Participants will present their findings at the closing session of the conference.
Moderators: Dan Fisher,The National Empowerment Center; Marsha Rose Katz, ADAPT, Rural Institute, MT and Bob Liston, ADAPT, Montana Fair Housing

Session 2E (continuation)
Work Imperative
This topic will be covered in two sessions.  Highlights: Speakers and panel members will be leaders in the efforts to create more opportunities for people who experience disability to earn adequate income and create economic security for themselves efforts to reverse the forced poverty of people who rely on publicly funded support and have the freedom and quality of life that other people in society take for granted; creating a focus of meaningful work with real income and career opportunities; self employment/microenterprise, creative job development and support, building and utilizing social capital and other approaches.
Moderators: David Hammis and Cary Griffin, Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC 

Session 3B
Roundtable - Creating an Agenda for Cross Disability Policy Change 
This roundtable will continue the theme of bringing people together to form a more powerful movement by joining the efforts of people committed to self-determination in the various disability groups.  The roundtable will add to the document that will be the result of the work of this group throughout the conference which will be presented at the final presentation on the last day of the conference.
Moderators: Dan Fisher, The National Empowerment Center; Marsha Katz, ADAPT and Bob Liston, ADAPT 

Session 3C
Roundtable - Creating the Structure to Support Self-Determination 
This roundtable will continue the discussion about creating the basic elements of a system based on the principles and tools of self-determination.  The group will give examples of where we are seeing the tools of self-determination ((individual budgets, independent planning and support coordination/brokering/peer supports and independent financial management) working well and discussing the challenges of keeping true to the principles of self-determination as we try to convert traditional systems of support.
Moderators: Beth Durkee, Allegan County Community Mental Health and Lori Owen, Genesee County Community Mental Health, MI 

Session 3D
Roundtable - A New View of Competency: Legal and Ethical Issues,
Alternatives to Guardianship 
This roundtable will have panel members leading a discussion of how legal and ethical approaches essentially denigrate individuals with disabilities to second class citizenship which strips away their fundamental rights.  The group will explore new ways of looking at the paternalism in various support systems and finding alternatives to things such as guardianship and conservatorship that work to support people with decision making while preserving fundamental rights and responsibilities.  
Moderators: Dohn Hoyle, The Arc of Michigan and Michael Bleasdale, People with Disability Australia

Session 3E
Roundtable - Research and Data:  What can numbers tell us? 
This roundtable will provide an opportunity for participants to talk with people involved in research and data in self-determination projects. The session will provide an opportunity to discuss how to use data and research to support best practices as well as the role that research and data can play in systems change efforts.  The group will explore how to keep systems change endeavors person centered in a research environment.  The session will also explore how data and research efforts could be shared and coordinated around the world to bring a more powerful message through scientific evidence.
Moderators: Jim Conroy, The Center for Outcome Analysis and Josh Wiener 

Session 3F
Roundtable - Families’ roles in supporting economic futures for their family members with disabilities 
This roundtable will have panel members leading a discussion of the roles of families can play in assisting individuals with disabilities in their family to earn a good living; build assets; manage their benefits; and other economic issues.  The group will explore what can families do to assist their family members with disabilities to find better ways to earn income through better job opportunities; starting their own businesses or other endeavors.  It will also look at issues such as what roles do people with disabilities want their families to play in their economic futures; how can families work to balance their financial support of individuals while managing public benefits; how can families help the system think and work differently to support better economic futures for people with disabilities?
Moderators: Jackie Golden, parent, MD and Glenna Taylor, parent, KY

Session 3G
Roundtable - Assuring Quality: Moving from satisfaction to quality lives 
This roundtable will have panel members leading a discussion of new ways of looking at quality in all systems of support for people with disabilities.  The group will look at efforts to move beyond looking at the quality of services to a system that measures and supports true quality lives.  There will be a discussion of how to use universal human aspirations as the standard for people with disabilities as it is for others in society.  The discussion will address issues such as:  Can future quality assurance systems be normed on universal human aspirations for relationships, community membership, living and working where and how everyone else does?  How can we develop systems that address quality in these terms?  Should we have a standard set of quality indices across all disability and age groups?  How do we assist individuals to maintain the quality of their own life?
Moderators: Kathleen Kovach, Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, MI and Vickie Vining, CA 

StoryCorps Room Open for Networking 
Opportunities to meet people and share stories.

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Thursday Morning Concurrent Sessions
9:30am - 11:30am

Session 4A
Self-Determination in Developmental Disabilities Supports in the U. S.
This session will focus on the self-determination movement in the United States for people with developmental disabilities.  It will feature a panel of people involved in the self-determination movement in various states and systems for people with developmental disabilities.  The purpose of the session is to foster an in depth discussion of what is working and what is not working in bringing self-determination options to people with developmental disabilities.  The session will discuss the role of people with developmental disabilities and their families in creating a more responsive system of supports that provides opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to be in control of their future and the support they need to pursue a meaningful and productive life.
Moderator: Colleen Wieck Ph.D.,  Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

Session 4B
Self-Determination in Developmental Disabilities Supports—An International Perspective 
This session will focus on the self-determination movement for people with developmental disabilities in others of the world such as Canada, Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Thailand and other countries.  It will feature a panel of people involved in the self-determination movement in various countries and systems for people with developmental disabilities.  The purpose of the session is to foster an in depth discussion of what is working and what is not working in bringing self-determination options to people with developmental disabilities around the world.  The session will discuss the role of people with developmental disabilities and their families in creating a more responsive system of supports that provides opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to be in control of the direction of their future and the support they need to pursue a meaningful and productive life.
Moderators: Diane Richler, Inclusion International, United Kingdom and Michael Bleasdale, People with Disability Australia 

Session 4C
Self-Determination in Mental Health Supports
This session will focus on the self-determination movement for people who are living with or recovered from mental illness.  It will feature a panel of people involved in the self-determination movement for people relying on mental health systems in various parts of the United States and other countries.  The purpose of the session is to foster an in depth discussion of what is working and what is not working in bringing self-determination options to people with mental illness around the world.  The session will discuss the role of people living with and recovered from mental illness in creating a more responsive system of supports that provides opportunities for people to be in control of their recovery and the support they need to pursue a meaningful and productive life.  The session will also focus on efforts of people with mental illness to take charge of designing and operating the system which supports people to cope with and recover from mental illness.
Moderator: Dan Fisher, The National Empowerment Center, MA

Session 4D
Self-Determination in the Independent Living Movement
This session will focus on the self-determination movement for people who are involved in the independent living movement around the world.  It will feature a panel of people involved in the self-determination movement for people relying on and operating independent living centers in various parts of the United States and other countries.  The purpose of the session is to foster an in depth discussion of what is working and what is not working in bringing self-determination options to people with physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, developmental disabilities and others who utilize the supports of independent living centers.  The session will discuss the role of people living with physical and cognitive disabilities in creating a more responsive system of supports that provides opportunities for people to be in control of their futures and the support they need to pursue a meaningful and productive life.  The session will also focus on efforts of people in the independent living movement to take charge of designing and operating their support system.
Moderator: Mike Oxford, Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, KS 

Session 4E
Self-Determination in Elder Supports
This session will focus on the self-determination movement for elders who rely on publicly funded supports.  It will feature a panel of people involved in the self-determination movement for elders in various parts of the United States and other countries.  The purpose of the session is to foster an in depth discussion of what is working and what is not working in bringing self-determination options to elders.  The session will discuss the role of elders in creating a more responsive system of supports that provides opportunities for people to be in control of their lives and the support they need to have a meaningful life. 
Moderators: Dennis Harkins, A Simpler Way, WI; Elias Cohen, Community Services System, PA and Terry Lynch, Strategies for Independent Aging, WI 

StoryCorps Room Open for Networking 
Opportunities to meet people and share stories.

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Thursday Luncheon and Closing Plenary Wrap Up from Sessions
12:00 noon - 3:00pm

Where do we go from here to make it happen?

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For information, email info.icsd@gmail.com

This conference with important international perspectives is being presented by the Center for Self-Determination.