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Next SILC Meeting
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The next full SILC meeting will be September 8, 2010 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The meeting will be held in Room 100 in the Walker Building, 21 S. Fruit Street in Concord, NH. For more information, please contact Paula Ninivaggi at 603-271-0476.
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Last Updated
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July 21, 2010 |
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Frequently Asked Questions about the SILC
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What does SILC stand for?
Answer: SILC stands for Statewide Independent Living Council.
What is a SILC?
Answer: The SILC is an independent cross disability Council. SILCs represent the independent living needs of persons with significant disabilities across the entire state.
What is the mission the New Hampshire SILC?
Answer: The mission of the New Hampshire SILC is to provide leadership and advocacy in support of the independent living philosophy for persons with significant disabilities.
What does the New Hampshire SILC do?
Answer: The purpose of the New Hampshire SILC is to:
1. Promote an independent living philosophy in New Hampshire, for persons with disabilities while advocating for access, full participation, and self-determination.
2. Collaborate with appropriate agencies, councils and organizations statewide to promote the independent living philosophy.
3. Advocate for housing, transportation, and recreational services that enhance and enable individuals to live independently.
4. Gather information on an annual basis to improve independent living services.
5. Advise the Governor and state agencies regarding independent living issues.
Does the SILC only represent persons with physical disabilities?
Answer: No, the SILC represents persons with all types of disabilities. The SILC represents persons with all types of disabilities including: brain injury, blind and visual impairments, cognitive impairments, deaf and auditory impairments, mental health issues, physical disabilities, spinal cord injury, etc. This is why it is important for members to have a cross disability perspective.
What does the Independent Living Philosophy mean?
Answer: The philosophy of Independent Living includes: consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, individual advocacy, and systems advocacy. This is all designed to promote: empowerment, independence, leadership, and productivity of persons with disabilities.
Does the SILC provide services?
Answer: No, the SILC does not provide services. The SILC contracts out for services through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
Does the SILC get involved in individual issues?
Answer: The SILC looks at broad systems issues, NOT individual issues. Calls on individual issues are referred out.
Is the SILC the same as Granite State Independent Living (GSIL)?
Answer: No, however the SILC contracts with GSIL to provide Independent Living services. A person from GSIL serves on the SILC.
Is the SILC the same as Voc Rehab?
Answer: The SILC is NOT the same as Voc Rehab. The SILC does collaborate with Voc Rehab to develop the State Plan for Independent Living.
What does DSU stand for?
Answer: DSU stands for Designated State Unit.
What is the DSU for New Hampshire?
Answer: Voc Rehab is the Designated State Unit in New Hampshire. The DSU is on the SILC.
Who can serve on the SILC?
Answer: The majority of SILC members must be persons with disabilities.
Other members include:
Parents and legal guardians of individuals with disabilities;
Advocates of and for individuals with disabilities;
Persons from organizations that provide services for individuals with disabilities;
A representative from the Division of Adult Learning and Rehabilitation;
Representatives from other state agencies providing services to people with disabilities;
Representative of centers for independent living;
Persons from private business.
How does a person join the SILC?
Answer: Interested persons send an application and resume. The application and resume is vetted. The SILC chairperson forwards individual names to the Governor’s office. The Governor of New Hampshire appoints members to the SILC.
How can I obtain a copy of the application?
Answer: To request an application please contact:
Paula Ninivaggi
c/o Governor’s Commission on Disability
57 Regional Dr
Concord, NH 03301
PHONE: 1-800-852-3405 V/TTY or (603) 271-0476
FAX: 603-271-2837
Paula.ninivaggi@nh.gov
Or info@silcnh.org
How long can a person serve on the SILC?
Answer: Members serve for a term of 3 years with a two 3-year term maximum.
How many persons from one organization can serve on the SILC?
Answer: No organization may have more than 2 employees serve on the SILC at the same time.
Does a person get paid for serving on the SILC?
Answer: No, members do not receive pay from the SILC for serving.
What is the State Plan for Independent Living?
Answer:The purpose of the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) is to describe how the state’s network of independent living (IL) programs and services will meet the independent living needs of persons with disabilities in the state. The plan must address how federal, state and other funds will be used within the state to develop and maintain IL programs.
Who creates the State Plan for Independent Living?
Answer: The State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency develops the State Plan in collaboration with the SILC.
How can I get a copy of the State Plan?
Answer: The State Plan is on the SILC website. Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the SILC at 603-271-0476 (voice or TTY), or SILC, c/o Governor’s Commission on Disability, 57 Regional Drive, Concord, NH 03301 or email at info@silcnh.org or paula.ninivaggi@nh.gov.
What is the Rehab Act and why is it important to the SILC?
Answer: The Rehab Act as Amended is a landmark federal disability legislation. The Rehab Act predated the Americans with Disabilities Act by decades. The Rehab Act established funding for, among other programs, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Centers for Independent Living, the Independent Living program, and the SILCs. More information on the SILC and the Rehab is described below.
How can I learn more about the New Hampshire Statewide Independent Living Council?
Answer: You can contact the SILC at: Statewide Independent Living Council, c/o Governor’s Commission on Disability, 57 Regional Drive, Concord, NH 03301, 603-271-0476, 1-800-852-3405 ext. 0476,Fax 603-271-2837
paula.ninivaggi@nh.gov
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Rehab Act SILC Information
From the
Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
TITLE VII INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES
AND CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
Sec. 705. Statewide Independent Living Council
(a) Establishment
To be eligible to receive financial assistance under this chapter, each State shall establish a Statewide Independent Living Council (referred to in this section as the "Council"). The Council shall not be established as an entity within a State agency.
(b) Composition and Appointment
(1) Appointment
Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Governor or, in the case of a State that, under State law, vests authority for the administration of the activities carried out under this Act in an entity other than the Governor (such as one or more houses of the State legislature or an independent board), the chief officer of that entity. The appointing authority shall select members after soliciting recommendations from representatives of organizations representing a broad range of individuals with disabilities and organizations interested in individuals with disabilities.
(2) Composition
The Council shall include
(A) at least one director of a center for independent living chosen by the directors of centers for independent living within the State;
(B) as ex officio, nonvoting members
(i) a representative from the designated State unit; and
(ii) representatives from other State agencies that provide services for individuals with disabilities; and
(C) in a State in which 1 or more projects are carried out under section 121, at least 1 representative of the directors of the projects.
(3) Additional members
The Council may include
(A) other representatives from centers for independent living;
(B) parents and guardians of individuals with disabilities;
(C) advocates of and for individuals with disabilities;
(D) representatives from private businesses;
(E) representatives from organizations that provide services for individuals with disabilities; and
(F) other appropriate individuals.
(4) Qualifications
(A) In general
The Council shall be composed of members
(i) who provide statewide representation;
(ii) who represent a broad range of individuals with disabilities from diverse backgrounds;
(iii) who are knowledgeable about centers for independent living and independent living services; and
(iv) a majority of whom are persons who are
(I) individuals with disabilities described in section 7(20)(B); and
(II) not employed by any State agency or center for independent living.
(B) Voting members
A majority of the voting members of the Council shall be
(i) individuals with disabilities described in section 7(20)(B); and
(ii) not employed by any State agency or center for independent living.
(5) Chairperson
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Council shall select a chairperson from among the voting membership of the Council.
(B) Designation by chief executive officer
In States in which the Governor does not have veto power pursuant to State law, the appointing authority described in paragraph (1) shall designate a voting member of the Council to serve as the chairperson of the Council or shall require the Council to so designate such a voting member.
(6) Terms of appointment
(A) Length of term
Each member of the Council shall serve for a term of 3 years, except that
(i) a member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which a predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed for the remainder of such term; and
(ii) the terms of service of the members initially appointed shall be (as specified by the appointing authority described in paragraph (1)) for such fewer number of years as will provide for the expiration of terms on a staggered basis.
(B) Number of terms
No member of the Council may serve more than two consecutive full terms.
(7) Vacancies
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the Council.
(B) Delegation
The appointing authority described in paragraph (1) may delegate the authority to fill such a vacancy to the remaining voting members of the Council after making the original appointment.
(c) Duties
The Council shall
(1) jointly develop and sign (in conjunction with the designated State unit) the State plan required in section 704;
(2) monitor, review, and evaluate the implementation of the State plan;
(3) coordinate activities with the State Rehabilitation Council established under section 105, if the State has such a Council, or the commission described in section 101(a)(21)(A), if the State has such a commission, and councils that address the needs of specific disability populations and issues under other Federal law;
(4) ensure that all regularly scheduled meetings of the Statewide Independent Living Council are open to the public and sufficient advance notice is provided; and
(5) submit to the Commissioner such periodic reports as the Commissioner may reasonably request, and keep such records, and afford such access to such records, as the Commissioner finds necessary to verify such reports.
(d) Hearings and Forums
The Council is authorized to hold such hearings and forums as the Council may determine to be necessary to carry out the duties of the Council.
e) Plan
The Council shall prepare, in conjunction with the designated State unit, a plan for the provision of such resources, including such staff and personnel, as may be necessary and sufficient to carry out the functions of the Council under this section, with funds made available under this chapter, and under section 110 (consistent with section 101(a)(18)), and from other public and private sources. The resource plan shall, to the maximum extent possible, rely on the use of resources in existence during the period of implementation of the plan.
(2) Supervision and evaluation
Each Council shall, consistent with State law, supervise and evaluate such staff and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council under this section.
(3) Conflict of interest
While assisting the Council in carrying out its duties, staff and other personnel shall not be assigned duties by the designated State agency or any other agency or office of the State, that would create a conflict of interest.
(f) Compensation and Expenses
The Council may use such resources to reimburse members of the Council for reasonable and necessary expenses of attending Council meetings and performing Council duties (including child care and personal assistance services), and to pay compensation to a member of the Council, if such member is not employed or must forfeit wages from other employment, for each day the member is engaged in performing Council duties.
A link to the Rehab Act can be found in the Helpful Links section of this website under Federal Government. | |
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