1. Maximizing the use of CNCS Disability Grant Funds Presented by: Terri Jutzi Program Officer & Disability Coordinator Colorado Governor's Commission on Community Service Disability Coordinator Affinity Group Wednesday, August 4, 2010

9. Sample Disability Funds Request for the Mini-grant (broken down for better viewing on the following slides)

10. Request for Colorado State Disability “Mini-Grants” Governor’s Commission on Community Service 225 E. 16th Ave Suite B-52 Denver, CO 80203 303-866-2572 (office) 303-866-2525 (fax) Mini-grants totaling $15,000 are available for the placement, reasonable accommodation, and auxiliary services for members and potential members with disabilities. Programs may request disability technical assistance for training or funds for securing reasonable accommodations. Applications are due to the Commission by November 30, 2009.

12. Request for Colorado State Disability Funds Describe the project, training, or outreach you are proposing: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Potential Utilization for AmeriCorps Members with Disabilities Please describe how Colorado AmeriCorps members may benefit from this plan. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Outreach materials needed for project Describe the Outreach Materials and their Desired Format ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Estimated Cost: please itemize expected expenditures

14. After completing this form, make and keep one copy for your files and forward the original request to: Governor’s Commission on Community Service 225 E. 16 th Ave Suite B-52 Denver, CO 80203 Fax: 303-866-2555 Once this form has been received, it will be reviewed for approval. We will contact the person listed on the top of this request to make arrangement as necessary. If you have any questions about disability related issues, please contact: Terri Jutzi, State Disability Coordinator Governor’s Commission on Community Service 303/866-2572 terri.jutzi@state.co.us What Next?

15. Sample “Mini-Grants” Score Sheet

16. Sample Award Letter

17. Sampling of Mini-Grant Recipients 2009

18. Bayaud Enterprises, Inc. Educational Series (Navigating Community Resources -- Increasing participation of Individuals with Disabilities) The mission of Bayaud Enterprises is to create hope, opportunity and choice, with work (and national or community service) as the means through which people with disabilities and other barriers to employment (and service) can more fully participate in the mainstream of life. This group believes that participation rates of individuals with disabilities with AmeriCorps State and National Programs is realistic and achievable. This project will train members of the commission staff, site supervisors, AmeriCorps Members, AmeriCorps program staff and various community partners in ways that will advance the Commissions goal to increase the participation and success of individuals with disabilities in Colorado Community Service Programs. Bayaud Enterprises proposes a basic, cost effective outreach plan that will feature internet communication, online conferencing and shared website education. Our project will be green and have minimal hard cop. Participant Outreach will be accomplished online using State AmeriCorps and Program databases as well as Bayaud Enterprises' Community Partnerships. Subsequent and ongoing communication will be electronic. Educational Programs will be hosted at Bayaud Enterprises' centrally-located facility in Denver. Program webcasting will be available in real time to AmeriCorps Members, Program Staff and other persons associated with the GCCS's. Recorded webcasts will also be available online for persons unable to participate or log-on the day of the program. All materials used as part of the Educational Program will be distributed online and will be available to current AmeriCorps Members with disabilities as well as future AmeriCorps recruits.

19. Center for People With Disabilities (CPWD) CPWD is proposing to benefit people with disabilities and potential employers by outreaching into local communities. The outreach would enhance understanding of the dynamics of placing a person with a disability in the workforce. Another goal would be to strategize shifting the workplace into a continuum where there is a new generation of continuous learning and development of careers for people with disabilities. Part of this grant would be used to hire a person who would assist in helping members and others understand systems, reasonable accommodations, working with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Disability Program Navigators at Workforce Centers, accessing on the job training and giving vital information and referrals. AmeriCorps members would have an opportunity to gain knowledge in techniques of how people with disabilities can become successful in the workplace. They would learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act, strategies, for hiring, retaining, and promoting people with disabilities, where to find and recruit people with disabilities, how to communicate with people with disabilities, how to provide reasonable accommodations and practical solutions that a qualified applicant requests to perform a job, obtain information and referrals about self-employment and small business ownership opportunities for people with disabilities, develop procedures to retain and maintain employment. Marketing efforts would include both CPWD's logo and AmeriCorps logo on the website, in their flyers and brochures. Agency fairs, job fairs, workshops and seminars will be additional venues of outreach for this important project.

20. Kindred Spirits Art Class at Southwest Center for Independence Kindred Spirits Art Classes meet weekly and serve a variety of community members with disabilities. They are fully accessible and serve members with a variety of challenges including; autism, blindness, developmental disability and physical impairment. Participants have submitted art work to shows all over the area, including the Icon Art Show at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Coming to the art class also serves to lift the isolation which can be an additional hardship for folks with disability who live alone. As anyone is welcome to attend for free, the class also serves to make people aware of other groups and services we provide. AmeriCorps members will be welcomed to attend any class sessions, opt to teach a class, or observe a class. This class encompasses a variety of disabilities that a teacher might encounter or that a volunteer might benefit from learning to address. The complete accessibility of the program, coupled with the other resources they offer to help accommodate special needs and the inspiring mix of people that staff the Center, will act to encourage disabled volunteers to consider AmeriCorps service. The funding will also be used to add valuable links to AmeriCorps and create a tri-fold brochure for mailing to other advocacy groups in Colorado.

21. Metro Volunteers Metro Volunteers is developing a new training program in 2010 for nonprofit agencies, schools and the faith-based community to learn how to engage volunteers with mental and physical disabilities effectively. This training will give course students the tools too: create an inclusive environment, have a general awareness of disability etiquette and sensitivity to this community, create an accessible space, and more. Funds will be used to develop the curricula, print materials, and train and recognize volunteers. This training will help the community to be better equipped to recruit and engage persons with disabilities. In addition there will be an increased number of people with disabilities provided a meaningful volunteer experience. The expertise of the underutilized community will be available to programs and recognized for the asset that it is. This training would be offered to all AmeriCorps members serving the State of Colorado. It will be arranged for a class exclusively for the AmeriCorps members and/ or supervisors. The training would benefit from the feedback given by AmeriCorps members, especially those with disabilities.

22. Questions…