From the Desk of Karen Lee, CEO

Transforming Lives, One Community at a Time: SEEC's Disability Pride Month?

This July, as we celebrate Disability Pride Month and the 25th anniversary of the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court ruling, SEEC reflects on the remarkable way in how the people we support are leading their lives. Being a member of their community has reshaped our shared experiences: the people we support are homeowners, co-workers, and friends.?

?Alison Barkoff, performing the duties of ACL (Administration for Community Living) Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, aptly summarized this transformation: "Over the last 25 years, we have changed expectations about what it means to be disabled. Community living is increasingly the rule, rather than the exception."?

?While significant strides have been made, access to opportunities still varies depending on location. We are fortunate to live in a state with a cabinet-level department focused on cross-disability policy, where the Secretary of Disabilities reports directly to the Governor. This structure has positively impacted outcomes for the people we support, particularly in employment, where our state's employment rate for people with disabilities is twice the national average (40%).?

Recently, SEEC welcomed the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and an important national and international delegation, providing us with an opportunity to highlight SEEC’s values in ensuring everyone lives as they choose in the community they choose. The visitors met with Amanda, her mother and DSP at her apartment. Amanda’s mother shared an empowering testimonial: "She's living a life far bigger and broader than I ever imagined, and I'm very appreciative of all the hard work that goes into providing her with so many opportunities and experiences."? As we enter a new fiscal year, this experience has reinforced our commitment to launching innovative initiatives. Echoing Alison Barkoff's words, "The rights affirmed by Olmstead can only be exercised if we have a robust infrastructure to support community living." At SEEC, we are excited to focus on:?

• Deepening our person-driven approach
• Exploring additional economic opportunities through self-entrepreneurship?for the people we support?
• Promoting diversity and inclusion by hiring a self-advocate trainer with lived experience to develop training and provide feedback on our services?

Being selected to share our community living support practices at an international level this Disability Pride Month was an exceptional honor for SEEC. While we recognize there is still much work ahead, our new initiatives represent a renewed commitment to improving our partnership with the individuals we support.?

We believe that together, we can build a future where the people we support, regardless of disability, can live, work, and thrive in their communities. Let us continue to honor the legacy of Olmstead and strive for a world where everyone truly belongs.?

Cheers,

Karen Lee, CEO

Top Things to Know at SEEC for July

• SEEC is organizing its first Inclusive Tech Event to showcase assistive tech tools and present the person-driven tech program on August 7th from 10-3 at the SEEC office. Families, DSPs and people we support are encouraged to attend!
• SEEC's Footgolf is happening again this year on September 21st from 4-7p. Learn more and register!?
• Great news! Having already passed in the Senate, The Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act, H.R. 2941, has successfully passed the House Education and Workforce Committee with unanimous support! This achievement is a testament to the advocacy efforts of the SEEC community and providers nationwide. It is a bipartisan recognition of the crucial role Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Learn more on ANCOR'S website.
• James Williams, Project SEARCH Employment Consultant, recently represented SEEC with other members of the Project SEARCH team at the Project SEARCH National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they were presented with the Excellent Employment Outcomes Award in honor of the outcomes achieved for SEEC's 2022-23 cohort of interns at Embassy Suites and Capitol Hilton, WASHINGTON, DC. This award means that 70% or more of interns achieved competitive, integrated employment, meeting all the Project SEARCH criteria.