DDS sponsored World Cafe Conference on Autism DDS sponsored conference held for providers, DDS staff and Conquering the families Public Partnership Limited (PPL)/DDS statewide Feedback Events for individuals · and families ADVOCACY •!• LEADERSHIP Self-advocate involvement on the Self-Determination Advisory Board has provided significant contributions in this past year. In addition to providing regular reports on statewide Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) activities and important positions and insights to the topic discussions held at the meetings, advocate board members worked to promote self-direction as follows: Concerns were raised regarding the need for more service coordinator and • support broker training so these staff could better assist individuals interested in and participating in self-direction. This discussion lead to strengthening content and requirements for training already underway and others in development. . As a result of a discussion communication at Individual Service Plan • Nr (ISP) meetings, the was distributed to area offices is for INDIVIDUAL Guide and to the board members and is sent to individuals in advance of their ISP meeting. The self-advocates identified the need for to help them in self-direction. • A committee of self-advocates and DDS managers was formed and worked over several months to create a more self-advocate user friendly version of the brochure and to Choosing Which Service Model is Best for You develop a Both have been completed Guide for Self-Directing Services in DDS. and distributed to MASS and DDS staff. DDS funded the development of the MASS self-advocate training titled Choice • To date have been eight (8) trainings presented by and Control. advocates across the state. At the statewide MASS Advocates Standing Strong Annual Conference, direction as a model for services was discussed throughout the conference. The related workshops included and Self-Determination and Choice, Directed
DDS sponsored World Cafe Conference on Autism DDS sponsored Conquering the conference held for providers, DDS staff and families Public Partnership Limited (PPL)/DDS statewide Feedback Events for individuals · and families •!• ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP Self-advocate involvement on the Self-Determination Advisory Board has provided significant contributions in this past year. In addition to providing regular reports on statewide Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) activities and important positions and insights to the topic discussions held at the meetings, advocate board members worked to promote self-direction as follows: • Concerns were raised regarding the need for more service coordinator and support broker training so these staff could better assist individuals interested in and participating in self-direction. This discussion lead to strengthening content and requirements for training already underway and others in development. . • As a result of a discussion communication at Individual Service Plan (ISP) meetings, the Nr is for INDIVIDUAL Guide was distributed to area offices and to the board members and is sent to individuals in advance of their ISP meeting. • The self-advocates identified the need for to help them in self-direction. A committee of self-advocates and DDS managers was formed and worked over several months to create a more self-advocate user friendly version of the Choosing Which Service Model is Best for You brochure and to develop a Guide for Self-Directing Services in DDS. Both have been completed and distributed to MASS and DDS staff. • DDS funded the development of the MASS self-advocate training titled Choice and Control. To date have been eight (8) trainings presented by advocates across the state. At the statewide MASS Advocates Standing Strong Annual Conference, direction as a model for services was discussed throughout the conference. The related workshops included Self-Determination and Choice, and Directed
real-lives-report-sept2016.docx