Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.
Employment Task Force
Quarterly Meeting Minutes
Homewood Suites
Tallahassee, Florida
June 27th, 2008

Members Present: Staff:
Ann Smith, Chair Antionette Williams, Program Manager
Pam Hinterlong Malloree Cleaver, Staff Assistant
Terry Millican
Amber Luke Guests Present:
J.B. Black Latarsha Williams
Sheila Gritz Allison Cruz-Mitchell
Enrique Escallon- via phone Doreen Stewart
Betsy Farmer- via phone Steve Howells
Karyn Kander- via phone Debra Duran
Steve Urquhart- via phone Debra Reed
Celeste Putnam
Members Absent: Shirley Kervin
Ronni Bianco

Meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. with introductions.

Minutes- Tab 1
Old minutes were reviewed and approved.
Motion By: Pam Hinterlong
Second By: Amber Luke
Motion Carried.

Budget Update-Tab 2
• Antionette reviewed the updated budget with the task force members. Ms. Williams reminded the task force members that they must commit remaining funds by September 08 ($162,032)

Antionette Williams informed the task force members that the task force was in need of two additional Resource members. Ms. Williams explained the process of selecting a new resource member. A discussion of possible candidates followed. The task force members agreed to Ms. Williams contacting the following possible candidates to ensure if they would be interested in filling the positions: Paula Evans- ESE Liaison, Dave Guido-VR Representative, Lisa Parlapiano-One Stop DPN, Frank Torano-Social Security Administration.

Antionette Williams informed the task force members of the SCIETT and the FYI Transition website project’s status. Ms. Williams stated that the Principal Investigator for the projects had been changed from Lewis Persons to Lise Fox, effective immediately. Therefore, both projects would proceed.

Ms. Williams directed the member’s attention to the list of suggestions/recommendations made by Shelia Gritz and Dale Dileo for the FYI Transition website’s third year. Shelia Gritz (monitor for the project) expressed her concerns regarding the website. After a detailed discussion, the members agreed that due to the extensiveness of the suggestions, that a meeting between the project Advisory Committee, Dale Dileo and Lise Fox would be scheduled. Antionette Williams informed the members that Dale Dileo would be out of the country for a while. The members requested that Ms. Williams proceed in scheduling the meeting within the next two weeks without Mr. Dileo.

Proposals- Tab 3

Both the CL/SC and Employment Task Force reviewed the Benefits Planning proposal as indicated below:
Benefits Planning Guide and Training Workshops for Families Task Force Project Ideas:
• Develop and Modify Web-Based planning guide for Self-Paced Learning with or with out
use of a computer.
• Develop a comprehensive benefits planning guide for individuals with developmental
disabilities, their families and their advocates.
• Plan and implement statewide training sessions for individuals interested in learning
more about benefits planning. The benefits guide will be utilized as a major component of the training sessions.

The Employment Task Force along with the Community Living and Service Coordination Task Force discussed ways of making this project most beneficial to its users.
• Self-Paced training
• Web-based as well as workbook, for persons without internet access
• Auditory
• Access 508 Compatibility
• Florida Specific Info
• Collaborate between Task Forces
• User friendly language

Pam Hinterlong suggested revising the proposal to reflect the mentioned ideas, prior to resubmitting it to both Task forces for approval and holding another discussion on July 18th, 2008.

The suggestion to include an alphabetical Resource Guide of contract information for further assistance with the training was also made.

Supported Employment Payment Incentive Study Recommendations- Tab 4

Celeste Putnam gave a presentation of the Supported Employment payment Incentive Study Final Report (Please see attachment #1). After the presentation, the task force discussed each recommendation and learned that VR and APD have fulfilled much of the recommendation already. Pam and JB agreed to provide Antionette with a report of what has already been addressed relative to the recommendations.

¬Farris vs. DCF Presentation
Presented by: Debra Duran and Debbie Reed

Debra Duran and Debbie Reed gave a Power point Presentation on this case (please see attachment #2).

Project Updates- Tab 5

Antionette Williams gave an update on the 2007-2008 Projects.

Scheduled interim-meeting calls
July 25, 2008

Meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.