Legislative Roundtable 2021 for Regions 1 and 10

From Nicole Williams, former LaCAN Leader of Regions 1 and 10 and currently with Families Helping Families NOLA:

Our Annual Legislative Round Table is almost here and I am so excited!  I want to take this time to encourage and ask that you please reach out to other people, other families that may be interested in attending this event to hear about legislation as it relates to the disability community and voice their concerns to their legislators. Every year we set a goal to fill the space so that as many people as possible are able to take part in this event.

This year so far 10 legislators have RSVD’d. That’s awesome! I need your help to make this event a complete success. Please make sure to attend and bring someone with you, a parent of a child with a disability, an adult with a disability, a professional that works with persons with a disability, a neighbor, church member…..anyone that is interested in the disability community in Orleans, Plaquemine, St. Bernard and Jefferson Parish is welcome to attend. The link to register  is below, and I have attached the flyer to this email.

Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In closing, we will have a wrap up meeting after the Round Table to discuss things. Please respond back with the best DAY and TIME for you so that I schedule the meeting to accommodate the majority of our group. I want ALL of you to be able to participate in the wrap up meeting.

If you should have any questions I can be reached at (504)478-8469 or via email at . Thank you so much for your time and thank you for your commitment to making the disability community better.

About Families Helping Families NOLA

Families Helping Families NOLA’s (FHF NOLA) mission is to educate and empower individuals with disabilities, their families, and the community by providing programming, resources, training, and family-to-family support.

About LaCAN

LaCAN (Louisiana Council’s Advocacy Network) is the grassroots arm of the Louisiana Deveopmental Disabilities Council. LaCAN furthers the Council’s mission by advocating for policies and systems that support inclusion everywhere people learn, work, live, and play.  LaCAN advocates for service systems that support children and adults with disabilities to live in their own homes and be fully-included and participating members of their local schools and communities.

LaCAN provides information and support to individuals wishing to effectively advocate for systems change in the areas of home and community-based services, education, and employment.  Regional LaCAN teams include individuals with disabilities, their family members, and professionals.  These members are notified by email or phone when communication with state agency officials, legislators or the Governor is necessary.

About the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council

The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council is made up of people from every region of the state who are appointed by the Governor to develop and implement a five year plan to address needed changes in the service delivery system for persons with developmental disabilities. Membership includes persons with developmental disabilities, parents, advocates, and representatives from public and private agencies. Several members rotate off the Council each year and applications for new members are always welcomed.

Developmental Disabilities Councils were founded in 1970 as a result of the passage of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. The Louisiana Council was established in 1971.  Councils were created to engage in advocacy, capacity building and systems change activities and contribute to a coordinated, consumer- and family-centered, and consumer- and family-directed comprehensive system of community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that enable individuals with developmental disabilities to exercise self-determination, be independent, productive, and integrated and included in all facets of community life.

Council’s Mission

The Council’s mission is to increase independence, self-determination, productivity, integration, and inclusion for Louisianans with developmental disabilities by engaging in advocacy, capacity building, and systems change.

Benefits Planners in HDC’s West South Central Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WSC WIPA) project can assist SSA beneficiaries with disabilities in making informed choices about work.