In the first issue of ODLC=s newsletter, the general structure of the agency was explained. In this issue the primary focus is priorities and objectives and further explanation of significant relationships. In order to fulfill its mission, the Board of Directors in conjunction with its Advisory Councils and public comment, formulate priorities and objectives.

http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/IDEA This is the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. It has the full text, summary, an overview and questions and answers about the new law.

http://www.nichcy.org/ This is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators and other professionals.

http://www.lrp.com/ed/ This is largely a fee based service, but has a number of valuable free resources related to IDEA.

http://www.fcsn.org/home.htm The Federation for Children with Special Needs has the text of the IDEA bill and an outline of major changes.

http://www.cec.sped.org/home.htm The Council for Exceptional Children, Public Policy and Legislative Information section is a good resource for updates on IDEA and commentary regarding policy information.

http://www.access.digex.net/~edlawinc/ EDLAW, Inc. provides a starting point for basic legal information of use to special educators and families and includes public information including texts of statutes and regulations.

http://www.icdi.wvu.edu/tech/ADA.HTM ADA Technical Assistance Program. Can also be reached through 1-800-949-4232.

http://www.icdi.wvu.edu/tech/fedcont.htm Federal contacts for ADA information

http://www.ilru.org/ilru-swdbtac.html One of ten regional technical assistance centers, serving Oklahoma.

http://access-board.gov U. S. Access Board homepage

http://usdoj.gov/crt/ada/agency.htm ADA Information Services

For several months now, PRO has been handling the initial intakes for educational problems in the school districts. ODLC has then been teaming up with PRO to achieve results which are consistent with the educational statutes and regulations. ODLC and PRO have conducted, and are planning to conduct, training sessions for the newly reauthorized IDEA-97. Let us know if you need a copy of PRO=s ABasic Rights@ Handbook and ODLC=s AProcedural Safeguards@ Handbook.

We need your input! We need to know your suggestions for improving our (ODLC and PRO, that is) working relationship for the advantage of students with disabilities. PRO-OKLAHOMA=s web page is http://ucp.org/probase.htm/. ODLC=s web page is http://www.flash.net/~odlcokc/.

• to coordinate the Redlands Partner activities and calendar
• to collaborate on a shared Redlands Partner programmatic agenda for Oklahoma
• to structure Redlands Partner collective input into the regional/national agenda based on shared perspectives about Alessons-learned@ and gaps to be filled through our individual work in the developmental disabilities field through education, innovation and advocacy
• to work with the federal regional office of the Administration for Children and Families to solicit up-to-date policy and programmatic developments regarding areas of shared agenda, technical assistance and to provide information and a demonstration site for initiatives of mutual interest to the partners, the State and the Region.

ODLC=s leadership role in the Oklahoma Managed Care Coalition is focused on consumer-oriented issues consistent with its federal statutory obligation of providing protection and advocacy for persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities and mental illness. In this regard, a host of consumer-oriented organizations and individuals have come together, each retaining their own separate identities and missions. ODLC believes that early mediation and collaboration on significant issues for Oklahomans with disabilities can result in improved benefits for the people ODLC serves and reduce the burden of litigation costs in the long run.

ODLC=s role includes:

In a speech before the American Federal for the Blind and the American Council for the Blind=s Leadership Institute on March 8, 1998, William E. Kennard, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, emphasized the importance of assistive technology. In part, he said,

If you wish to provide comment to ODLC on these priorities and objectives, or any other issue, please feel free to do so by writing the director at her e-mail address, kbower1@flash.net. You may also send comments in writing or tape recording to the law center at 2915 Classen Blvd., Suite 300, Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Or, you may fax your comments to 405-525-7759.

This statement sets forth both casework and administrative priorities that are central to implementation of the PADD, PAIMI and PAIR programs in a client-directed manner. These priorities and objectives may be read in a historical context with the initial priorities for the period October 1, 1994 through September 30, 1995. The current priorities initially grew out of a consensus of consumer advocates which culminated in a meeting in Stroud, Oklahoma during FY 96. Public comment elicited during FY 97 indicated a strong interest in many of the same problems, but included noticeable additions such as managed care, SED educational issues, and coordination of PAIR with both PADD and PAIMI. Public comment was elicited during the year at ODLC=s webpage, http://www.flash.net/~odlcokc, in conjunction with DD Council public comment periods, from PAIMI Advisory Council solicitations and from a host of individuals and organizations who meet with ODLC throughout the year individually and at statewide consumer-related conferences. ODLC must continue to refine the issues which it confronts in the educational area so that the impact on the system will be beneficial to a greater number of students with disabilities and their families. Beginning in FY 98, ODLC will coordinate its activities with PRO-OKLAHOMA, this state=s parent training organization, consistent with the 1997 Amendments to IDEA.

Historically, society has tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities, and, despite some improvements, such forms of discrimination against individuals with disabilities continue to be a serious and pervasive social problem. Individuals with disabilities continually encounter various forms of discrimination, including outright intentional exclusion, the discriminatory effects of various barriers, overprotective rules and policies, failure to make modifications to facilities and practices, exclusionary qualification standards, segregation and relegation to lesser opportunities. The nation's proper goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals. The continuing existence of unfair and unnecessary discrimination and prejudice denies people with disabilities the opportunity to compete on an equal basis and pursue those opportunities for which our free society is justifiably famous. Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. ' 12101. These are among the driving forces which generated the following objectives and priorities of ODLC in its effort to be part of the federal government's central role in enforcing standards established in anti-discrimination statutes.

These priorities and objectives represent a modification of the initial priorities and objectives for the primary purpose of simplifying the areas of focus in response to consumers and consumer organizations. The initial priorities (10/1/94 - 9/30/95) should not be viewed as discarded but rather an important historical resource to understand the present priorities and objectives. Primarily, the consumers and consumer organizations were interested in basic life necessities (whether living independently or within a facility) and those providers or governmental entities who refused to follow existing laws so that the basic life necessities were available to persons with disabilities. Also, they were interested in ODLC's ability and willingness to respond in a timely manner to new and important issues as they may arise throughout the fiscal year. During FY 97 public comment indicated a continued need for representation on educational issues, resulting in cooperative efforts with Oklahoma=s parent training organization during the upcoming FY 98. With the benefit of ADD=s Region VI technical assistance received by ODLC=s board and staff, the new priorities reflect the beginning of developing outcome based measures for ODLC=s performance.

• Institutional abuse and neglect in facilities
• Identify facilities throughout the state and gather information from any sources regarding quality of care, incidents of abuse, complaints and other reports at each institution, including Title XIX Reports.
• Identify agencies or entities throughout the state who currently monitor or otherwise gather or may obtain information about the identified facilities.
• Check agendas of various governmental commissions for discussion of policy changes involving abuse, neglect, or other issues directly related to ODLC=s priorities and objectives. Attend meetings and inform ODLC=s constituents and partner or network organizations of such agenda items to insure opportunity to be heard by consumers affected or others interested in policy change.
• Check with appropriate sources to determine when state and federal agencies propose administrative rule changes which would affect people served by ODLC. Monitor the rule-making process to insure that potential ODLC constituents are afforded the opportunity to provide input to agency governing boards prior to adoption of rules.
• Continue pending litigation and initiate litigation where appropriate.
• Managed Care
• Identify resources for obtaining information and technical assistance.
• Identify advocacy issues, partners and strategies.
• Train ODLC staff on managed care systems and issues.
• Build consumer-oriented coalition.
• Train coalition members on managed care systems and issues.
• Develop self-advocacy program with supporting literature.
• Evaluate managed care contracts.
• Provide advice on how proposed legislation and rules will impact people with disabilities.
• ADA Enforcement B Title II and Title III
• Inform individuals with developmental disabilities of their rights and empower them to enforce the provisions of Title II (state and local government) and Title III (places of public accommodation) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, so that people with disabilities are free from discrimination based on their disability.
• Inform service providers and the general public about their responsibilities and the rights of people with disabilities under Title II and Title III of the ADA.
• Pursue appropriate litigation to enforce ADA Titles II and III
• Special Education
• Coordinate with PRO-Oklahoma in procedures for handling complaints, parent and consumer training and sharing resources to assure consumers have knowledge of their rights and access to due process remedies.
• Implement the amended IDEA.
• Pursue appropriate litigation to enforce educational rights.
• Participate in Region VI educational project.
• Advice and Counsel/Referral for Housing, Employment (ADA Title I), Guardianship, Medical Care
• Provide telephone counseling (answering general questions, identifying legal issues) to people with disabilities to increase their knowledge of their rights and remedies concerning housing, employment, guardianship and medical care.
• Maintain a resource directory for clients, including the State Supreme Court Guardianship Mediation Program, TARC Volunteer Guardian and Advocate Program, Adult Protective Services and any other guardianship resources.
• Provide current, user-friendly, accurate and easy-to-read information packets on housing, employment, guardianship and medical care.
• Initiate and maintain partnerships or networks with other identified agencies or entities for coordination of services, referral or additional resources for problems in housing, employment, guardianship and medical care.
• DD Sibling Partnership-Redlands Partners
• Attend network meetings.
• Develop network projects.
• Implement network projects.
• MR Advisory Council
• Attend council meetings.
• Review and revise proposed rule changes and policy recommendations.

• Institutional abuse and neglect in facilities
• Identify facilities throughout the state and gather information from any sources regarding quality of care, incidents of abuse, complaints and other reports at each institution, including Title XIX Reports.
• Identify agencies or entities throughout the state who currently monitor or otherwise gather or may obtain information about the identified facilities.
• Check agendas of various governmental commissions for discussion of policy changes involving abuse, neglect, or other issues directly related to ODLC=s priorities and objectives. Attend meetings and inform ODLC=s constituents and partner or network organizations of such agenda items to insure opportunity to be heard by consumers affected or others interested in policy change.
• Check with appropriate sources to determine when state and federal agencies propose administrative rule changes which would affect people served by ODLC. Monitor the rule-making process to insure that potential ODLC constituents are afforded the opportunity to provide input to agency governing boards prior to adoption of rules.
• Continue pending litigation and initiate litigation where appropriate.
• Managed Care
• Identify resources for obtaining information and technical assistance.
• Identify advocacy issues, partners and strategies.
• Train ODLC staff on managed care systems and issues.
• Build consumer-oriented coalition.
• Train coalition members on managed care systems and issues.
• Develop self-advocacy program with supporting literature.
• Evaluate managed care contracts.
• Provide advice on how proposed legislation and rules will impact people with disabilities.
• ADA Enforcement B Title II and Title III
• Inform individuals with developmental disabilities of their rights and empower them to enforce the provisions of Title II (state and local government) and Title III (places of public accommodation) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, so that people with disabilities are free from discrimination based on their disability.
• Inform service providers and the general public about their responsibilities and the rights of people with disabilities under Title II and Title III of the ADA.
• Pursue appropriate litigation to enforce ADA Titles II and III
• Special Education
• Coordinate with PRO-Oklahoma in procedures for handling complaints, parent and consumer training and sharing resources to assure consumers have knowledge of their rights and access to due process remedies.
• Implement the amended IDEA.
• Pursue appropriate litigation to enforce educational rights.
• Advice and Counsel/Referral for Housing, Employment (ADA Title I), Guardianship, Medical Care
• Provide telephone counseling (answering general questions, identifying legal issues) to people with disabilities to increase their knowledge of their rights and remedies concerning housing, employment, guardianship and medical care.
• Maintain a resource directory for clients, including the State Supreme Court Guardianship Mediation Program, Adult Protective Services and any other guardianship resources.
• Provide current, user-friendly, accurate and easy-to-read information packets on housing, employment, guardianship and medical care.
• Initiate and maintain partnerships or networks with other identified agencies or entities for coordination of services, referral or additional resources for problems in housing, employment, guardianship and medical care.
• PAIMI Partners
• Identify organizations and individuals to become partners.
• Provide appropriate legal support to partners.

• Monitor facilities, state agencies and other service providers that provide or supervise services for those persons with disabilities to eliminate abuse, neglect and improve access to and quality of appropriate services.

• Enforce service provider compliance with laws and regulations.

• Respond to issues and needs identified by groups who advocate on behalf of consumers.

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