1INPUT SURVEY The Disability Rights Center of Kansas Wants YOUR Input on our Proposed 2008 Priorities The Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Inc. (DRC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides disability rights advocacy for Kansans with disabilities. DRC was previously known as Kansas Advocacy and Protective Services (KAPS). DRC is independent of state government and disability service providers, so that our focus is always on people with disabilities. DRC is the officially designated protection and advocacy system for Kansans with disabilities. Due to limited resources, each year DRC is required by our federal funders to establish case service priorities for the provision of legal and advocacy services. If you fill out this paper survey, please drop it in the mail to DRC in the enclosed postage paid envelope by no later than October 16, 2007, so it arrives in the DRC office by no later than October 19, 2007. This survey is available in alternative formats. You can submit your responses electronically to info@drckansas.org. All surveys need to be in the DRC offices (electronically or paper) by October 19, 2007. The survey results will be provided to the DRC Board of Directors during their next regular Board meeting. If you are interested in providing public testimony on the proposed DRC service priorities, please email info@drckansas.org or call us at 877-776-1541 to get on the public input agenda. However, you can also submit your ideas and input directly through this survey in writing. DRC Priority Development SurveyPlease identify the disability community you identify most closely with (persons with developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury, etc.): __________________ ______ What emerging disability issues do you think DRC should address? (attach additional pages as necessary) _______ ______ _______ ________________________ 2008 Proposed Case Priorities SURVEY The Disability Rights Center of Kansas Wants YOUR Input on our Proposed 2008 Priorities The Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Inc. (DRC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides disability rights advocacy for Kansans with disabilities. DRC was previously known as Kansas Advocacy Protective Services (KAPS). DRC is independent of state government and disability service providers, so that focus is always on people with disabilities. DRC is the officially designated protection and advocacy system Kansans with disabilities. Due to limited resources, each year DRC is required by our federal funders to establish case service priorities for the provision of legal and advocacy services. If you fill out this paper survey, please drop it in the mail to DRC in the enclosed postage paid envelope by no later than October 16, 2007, so it arrives the DRC office by no later than October 19, 2007. This survey is available in alternative formats. You can submit your responses electronically to info@drckansas.org. All surveys need to be in the DRC offices (electronically paper) by October 19, 2007. The survey results will be provided to the DRC Board of Directors during their next regular Board meeting. If are interested in providing public testimony on the proposed DRC service priorities, please info@drckansas.org or call us at 877-776-1541 to get on the public input agenda. However, you can also submit your ideas and input directly through this survey in writing. DRC Priority Development SurveyPlease identify the disability community you identify most closely with (persons with developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities, traumatic brain injury, etc.): __________________ ______ What emerging disability issues do you think DRC should address? (attach additional pages as necessary) _______ ______ _______ ________________________ 2008 Proposed Case Priorities 30YEARS .. (over) 2Disability Rights Center of Kansas Under each broad priority statement are bullet point(s) that detail the area(s) of special focus for DRC’s legally- based advocacy services. These are areas where DRC wants to focus on cases and services that will have a larger or systemic impact. This shows both the “big picture” priority and area where DRC will give special focus. Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation - DRC will provide disability rights advocacy, including monitoring and investigations, for individuals who are at risk of, or have experienced serious abuse, neglect or exploitation. • Investigation and civil prosecution ofproviders of disability services (public and private) who have abused or neglected people with disabilities. Guardianship – DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for individuals to pursue alternatives to guardianship / conservatorship or to end guardianship / conservatorship when no longer necessary. • People with disabilities who have been abused or neglected by their guardians/conservators. Community Services & Health Care - DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for consumer access to community-based services (Medicaid, Medicare, mental health services, long-term care, and home and community based services).• Children & youth who have been improperly denied Medicaid services under EPSDT.• Kansans improperly forced on the HCBS Waiting List or who have been underserved in violation of federal law. Community Integration - DRC will provide disability rights advocacy to assist individuals residing in institutions and other restrictive settings to defend their right to access appropriate services and supports in the most integrated setting. • Assisting people with disabilities with getting out of dangerous or harmful institutional settings and into safe and appropriate community based care. Accessibility – DRC will provide disability rights advocacy to remove barriers which prevent access to state/local government services and places of public accommodation. • Denial of access to state, county or municipal programs, services and activities. • Public transportation accessibility, like bus service. Special Education - DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for students with disabilities to enforce and protect their rights to special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), through mediation, due process and collaboration with other special education advocacy organizations.• Advocating to reduce & eliminate the use of seclusion and restraint in Kansas Schools • Segregated settings / least restrictive environment Fair Housing - DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for individuals whose rights under the Fair Housing Amendments Act or the Rehabilitation Act have been violated. • Refusal to rent because of disability • Failure to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities Assistive Technology – DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for individuals to acquire or maintain devices or services that empower them to be successful in employment, education, community life and independent living. • Improper denial of durable medical equipment (like wheel chairs, etc.) under Medicaid or MedicareEmployment - DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for beneficiaries of SSDI or recipients of SSI who are experiencing barriers to employment. • Employment Discrimination for termination or failure to reasonably accommodate under ADA Title I or II • Improper denial of other services or support that creates a barrier to employment. Rehabilitation Act – DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for people with disabilities who have a right to services under the federal Rehabilitation Act (Vocational Rehabilitation, Independent Living, etc.) • Improper denial of rights or services afforded to people with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act 3Voting Rights – DRC will educate and advocate for Kansans with disabilities to help them register and vote. .. This is an education and policy priority, and does not include legal representation. Prevent the Criminalization of Disability - DRC will provide public policy advocacy and education for law enforcement, the courts, criminal justice professionals, schools, etc., to prevent the criminalization of disability. Promote use of Individual Justice Plans for youth and adult offenders, which focus on providing proper services and supports to prevent persons with disabilities from ending up in jails, prisons, juvenile detention facilities, etc. However, DRC is prohibited from providing criminal representation. .. This is an education and policy priority, and does not include legal representation. Given the Previous Descriptions, Provide Your Input on DRC’s Priorities Instructions: To complete this survey, in the table below, first, in the left hand column rank the 12 Priorities by order of importance (list in rank order from # 1, the most important, through # 12 the least important). Second, in the right hand column please individually rate each of the 12 Priorities by how important each is to you or the community you represent (high, moderate or low importance). Rank the Core Services: Direct Representation, Impacting Public Policy & EducationPlease rank #1, #2 or #3 how you think DRC should spend its limited resources on these three Core Service areas (#1 = highest priority, #2 = middle priority, and #3 = lowest priority): Rank #1, #2 or #3 (highest to lowest) Core Disability Rights Service of DRC Direct Advocacy Representation (legal and advocacy representation for the disability rights needs of Kansans with disabilities, self-advocacy advice, etc.) Impacting Public Policy (testifying before legislative committees, educating policymakers and state agencies on needed policy or law changes, etc.) Trainings(educating persons with disabilities of their rights, specialized trainings on different topic areas, etc.) Rank from 1 to 12(1 = highest priority, 12 = lowest priority) Proposed 2008 Priorities for DRC Please circle or mark the level of importance of the Priority to you. H - High importanceM - Moderate importanceL - Low importance ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation GuardianshipCommunity Services & Health Care Community Integration AccessibilitySpecial Education Fair Housing Assistive Technology Employment Rehabilitation Act Voting Rights Prevent the Criminalization of Disability H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L H M L (over) 4Rank Litigation Priority: Systems Change vs. Individual Case On average, for every 10 requests for litigation & legal services that DRC receives, we can only accept approximately 1 case. This is because of limited funding and staff time. Put a #1 by the type of cases you think should be a higher priority and #2 by what you believe to be the lower priority for DRC. Rank #1 = higher priority #2 = lower priority Types of Litigation Case DRC Should Accept (Please rank each as EITHER a #1 or #2) Impact Litigation to Create Systems Change (litigation cases that can have a larger impact on the overall system, in addition to helping the individual or individuals involved. These are individual or group cases that can have a systemic impact) Individual Litigation (litigation case that has a large impact for one person, and obtains an important remedy for that individual, but will not have a larger impact on the overall system) Please list any other disability rights advocacy initiatives or priorities that you believe DRC should focus on during 2008 (attach additional sheets if needed): How can DRC improve? Other comments? (attach more sheets if needed):