The National Think Tank Participant List

Think Tank Summary

October 31st - November 1, 2007

The CHIRP Think Tank and the members of the state-level Incubator met together in Dallas to discuss the successes of the first round of CHIRP training and to focus on the content for the second round of training.

Prior to the next round of training, CHIRP staff will ask each training group to complete the Iowa Paths Collaboration Survey. The Iowa Paths Collaboration Survey was developed by the partners of the Iowa Systems Change Project* and is designed to capture each participant’s perspective of how the collaboration is working. Using the results of the survey, CHIRP staff will have an understanding of what each group considers their collaboration’s strengths and weaknesses. CHIRP facilitators can then lead each group in discovering ways to address areas of weakness and build on areas of strength.

All Think Tank and Incubator members recommended and endorsed this individualized approach. The group did expect that there would be some areas of concern common to most groups. In the spring of 2007, CHIRP staff had a teleconference with the pilot CILs and their VR partners to get their input on what they needed during the second round of training in order to enhance their collaboration and improve their effectiveness in supporting youth people with disabilities making the transition from school to adult roles. Topics identified by the pilot groups included resource development, gaining entry to the schools and connecting with the existing structures in Texas, defining roles and sustaining momentum.

Think Tank and Incubator members addressed each of these areas and suggested approaches and resources. CHIRP are using those recommendations to develop a curriculum for the second round of training, which will begin December 5 with the pilot CIL in Amarillo. Agendas for that training and subsequent pilot CIL trainings will be posted in the Pilot CIL section. Training for the pilot CILs will be completed by March 2008, and training for the other Texas CILs will be scheduled at that time.

The Think Tank welcomed some new participants at this meeting. Reva Guimont of Exceptional Parents Unlimited and Ileana Perez of the Center for Independent Living in Fresno, California, joined the Think Tank to provide input and assistance on connecting CILs and parent training and information centers. All of the centers in the first round of CHIRP training identified the need to make early contact with parents and get them involved early in planning for their child’s transition to independent living.

Naomi Ortiz and Rajiv Root of Kids as Self Advocates increased the youth representation on the Think Tank. All of the youth representatives re-emphasized to involve young people in the planning and implementation of programs and services that serve youth.

Think Tank and Incubators also reviewed the Reaching My Own Greatness self-direction curriculum developed by People First of Washington. CHIRP had suggested including an introduction to this curriculum as part of the second round of training. Many CILs had asked about where to start in developing a program for youth, and Reaching My Own Greatness would give CILs something to offer. Reaching My Own Greatness is designed to include young people with disabilities as trainers and facilitators, so this curriculum would also give CILs a way to begin to develop youth leaders and peer mentors.

The pilot CILs and other members of the Think Tank and Incubator groups recommended focusing on strengthening the collaboration between the CILs and VR and on progressing on the goals that each group has already established.

CHIRP staff is exploring other ways to make Reaching My Own Greatness (RMOG) available to the Texas CILs and will present a pilot RMOG training at the pilot CIL in Austin in March.

*The Iowa Systems Change Project was funded under grant H989A980009-02, Systems Change Project to Expand Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Mental or Physical Disabilities, or Both, Who Receive Public Support, from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Rehabilitation Services Administration. Partners included Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services; Iowa Department of Education; Iowa Workforce Development; Iowa Department of Human Services; Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Persons with Disabilities; Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council; Iowa Department for the Blind.

Halloween Think Tank Group 1 Photo
Think Tank at Work Photo

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