CDD: Enriching lives in the CNMI community

On Feb. 27, 2009, a proclamation was signed by acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez declaring the month of March as Developmental Disabilities and Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month.

The CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities, as mandated in the DD Act and state law, shall pursue to promote and guide public policy changes and create appropriate opportunities for new approaches in our service delivery systems islandwide.

CNMI CDD is proud to have enriched the lives of individuals with developmental and other disabilities by investing in grant projects that have created change in the areas of education, employment, housing, early intervention, transportation, recreation, and community integration.

CNMI CDD works with many public and private groups to identify best practices, new approaches, and collaborative ventures that assists, facilitate and increase the independence, productivity, and integration of people with disabilities in the CNMI.

We, the Council members and Council on Developmental Disabilities staff, are pleased to update the members of the community of our accomplishments to date.

[B]DD BASIC GRANT FUNDING: [/B]

-Program Performance Report for FY 2007 due as of December 31, 2007 (completed and submitted by the Acting Executive Director and Council Staff on December 31, 2008 before January 1, 2009 deadline given by ADD-ACF.

-Program Performance Report for FY 2008 completed and submitted on December 31, 2008 before the deadline of January 1, 2009 by Acting ED and Council Staff.

-State Plan Amendments due on August 31, 2008 completed and submitted by the Acting ED and Council Staff.

-Revamped Data Collection and Financial set up system with Federal Sections to meet objectives and consistencies with administrative compliance under the ADD.

-As of December 2008, the Acting Executive contracted a private company to revamp the CDD website to incorporate accessibility features that will better serve individuals with print disabilities. The CDD website will officially launch on March 26, 2009

-CDD has restructured staff positions and hired Mr. Raymond Diaz as the Program Officer under CDD.

-Re-structured staff position Administrative Manager for Ruth Pangelinan

-Re-structured staff position Assistive Technology Program Coordinator for Christie Sablan

-In the process of hiring a new staff for CDD and AT.

[B]ACCOMPLISHMENTS[/B]

Priority Areas or Areas of Emphasis/Target Goals, Objectives and Activities:

[B]EDUCATION AND EARLY INTERVENTION:[/B]

Students reach their educational potential and infant and young children reach their developmental potential.

-The Council and partnering entities collaborated to provide Crick Software Training to 22 participants, an AT Fair that serviced 59 participants, and JIT training for all PSS SpEd personnel.

-The Council cosponsored a Family Forum and CNMI Service Provider Exhibits held on March 26, 2008. Eighty-three participants that consist of parents and families with children with DD, individuals with DD and individuals with disabilities, and twenty nine CNMI Service Providers attended. Data gathered will be used to identify three (3) barriers that prevent individuals with developmental disabilities and their families from participating in surveys and interviews and will be incorporated into the development of a reporting system that will best serve people with developmental disabilities. Ongoing goals and activity.

[B]HOUSING:[/B]

Adults with developmental disabilities choose where and with whom they live.

-The Council and partnering entities continued to advocate to NMHC on improvement of housing policies that would increase the benefits for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. Policy review was conducted with Mr. Kimo Rosario and Josh Sasamoto of NMHC. On December 3, 2008, the Acting Executive Director met with Mr. Sasamoto of NMHC to follow up on NMHC Program Brochures and information needed to incorporate into informational pamphlets that will inform people with developmental disabilities about available housing options. NMHC Program information was received electronically via email and thus will be incorporated into informational pamphlets that will be available in accessible formats on the CDD website. Ongoing goals and activity.

-The Council and partnering entities will provide training on developmental disabilities for NMHC personnel, private realtors and landlords during 2009 March DD Awareness Month. Training materials are currently being developed. Ongoing goals and activity.

[B]TRANSPORTATION:[/B]

People with developmental disabilities have reasonable transportation services in the community.

-The Council continues to oversee the Call-A-Ride (CAR) Program. CAR is the only accessible transportation service in the CNMI. The CAFD is the contracted implementer of the program for FY08. In addition, the CAR Program received an increase in funding in FY08 from 90K to 121K as well as two new buses, which will be available for use in 2009. The Council’s draft of CAR rider guidelines is under review and pending approval of Council EC or program advisory committee. The guidelines are currently being tested through the CAR program.

-The Council in collaboration with partnering agencies facilitated Sensitivity Training for members of the Community and Transportation Service Providers of Individuals with DD during March 2008 DD Awareness Month for the Islands of Tinian and Rota. The Council partnered with NMPASI on October 23, 2008 to provide training for twenty (20) participants from the Saipan City Taxi Association.

[B]QUALITY ASSURANCE:[/B]

Quality assurance systems contribute to and protect self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in facets of community life.

-The Council partnered with NMPASI to provide Self-Advocacy Training CNMI-Wide for 192 participants during March 2008 DD Awareness Month.

-The Council continues to educate CNMI citizens and CNMI legislators regarding current developmental disability-related issues by providing Resiliency Training to 105 participants; providing training on Parenting Issues/Common Childhood Disorders to 71 participants; providing Child Care & Licensing Program to 34 participants; and sponsoring Interagency Training for 117 participants. Ongoing goals and activity.

A system of care is currently being explored by the DD Network Partners (CDD, NMC-UCEDD, and NMPASI). The Council will be the primary source for policy development for legislation addressing the needs of children with Autism and their families. Collaboration between the DD Network and the Autism Society has been excellent. Technical Assistance may be needed in the areas of policy development and legislative resources. The efforts of the Autism Society of the CNMI (ASCNMI) has brought forth many other populations of individuals with various disabilities to voice out their needs for a system of care or improved services. The needs of Individuals with Disabilities and their families are starting to be listened to due to the collaborative efforts of the DD Network and the ASCNMI.

[B]Assistive Technology Program[/B]

September 2008 through present:

-Assistive Technology Program Coordinator, Christie Sablan
-The Executive Director and Program Coordinator for the Assistive Technology Program is currently working on submitted the new 3-Year Assistive Technology State Plan.
-On February 11 to 13, 2009, the ED and AT Program Coordinator met with the Guam System on Assistive Technology for technical assistance on revamping the Trankilu AFP in the CNMI.
-CDD has entered into an MOA with the Northern Marianas College – Community Developmental Institute who will serve as the community based organization (CBO) that will administer the Trankilu Alternative Financing Loan Program
-CDD has extensively provided assistance through a short term and long term loans of AT devices to Consumers, Service Providers, and Public School System. Such At devices are as follows; UbiDuo Communication Device, Bariatric Wheelchair, Manual Wheelchair, Adult Walker, Laptop computer with specialized software, Portable ramp, Crutches, and Power Scooters.

[B]Call-A-Ride Program:[/B]

The CNMI Council on DD temporarily took over the Call-a-Ride Program from the previous contractor who terminated the MOU to operate the program as of September 12, 2008. In November of 2008, PSS notified the Council of errors found in the monthly reports that were submitted to PSS from September 30, 2007 to August 2008. In addition, PSS notified the Council that the FY 2009 funding from the Federal USDOT-FTA grant that is sub-granted to the Council for Call-a-Ride Program will not be released until the resubmitted reports have been reviewed by the Commissioner of Education. The Council was given a two and half month deadline to make the necessary changes.

Council staff was assigned to make the necessary corrections to the monthly reports that will be resubmitted on or before the deadline set by PSS.
-On February 3, 2009 the Council resubmitted revised reports from September 30, 2007 to August 2007 to PSS Commissioner before deadline.
-Mrs. Rita A. Sablan, PSS Commissioner of Education is currently reviewing submitted reports.
-The Council is in the currently working on an RFP to bid out the Call-a-Ride Program.
-Continuously providing services through the Call –a-ride Program.
FS-360 Grant:

A majority of the members of the Council decided by unanimous vote of those members present at the October 3, 2008 meeting to award a sub-grant of the Family Support 360 project to the Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc. (NMPASI), a non-profit entity organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). In doing so, the council opted not to renew its MOA / sub-grant award to CAFD. As of December 2008, the Family Hope Center is operational and Systems Navigators are available to assist clients.

As Chairperson of the Council, Marissa F. Guerrero, I would like to thank the Council on Developmental Disabilities and its staff for their commitment and dedication to individuals with developmental disabilities.

To our partners of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy System, thank you for your continued support and dedication in advocating and promoting independence, productivity, self-determination, integration and inclusion of individuals of developmental disabilities throughout the CNMI.

And to the members of the Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability Policy and Programs Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Thomas Camacho, the parents, children, and adults with developmental disabilities, and organizations, we are prepared and look forward to working with you on the important issues and challenges ahead.

[I]The American Dream belongs to everyone![/I]