MEETINGS . . .

The Area 1 FCC meets the third Thursday of the month, and we welcome anyone who would like to attend our meetings!

Mandated by the Florida State Legislature in 1993, the FCC advises the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) on the needs of people with developmental disabilities. Anyone who is currently receiving services from the APD, qualifies for services (i.e., on the Wait List for services), or has an immediate family member either receiving services or on the Wait List, is eligible to apply for a seat on the Council.

2010 Family Care Council Schedule

Asterisk Indicates Spider Phone Availability. Meetings 3^rd

Thursday of the Month, 6pm-8pm at ARC Meeting Room

April 15

Recreational and Other Community Resources

Fred Woods: Special Olympics

Robin Heller: SeaStars Aquatics, Special Needs Swimming, Special Needs Swim Lessons

Bob Fisher: Circle Handicappers Bowling League, Miracle League, and other Community Resources

May 20*

Work Transition Services

Melinda Poe:   Transition Specialist, Escambia County School District

Special Education Transition Services/Occupational Preparation

June 17 & December 16

FCC Business Meetings

Budget & Goal Planning for 2010-2011 Fiscal Year. Public invited to attend, No Speaker

July 15*

Social Security Benefits, Work Incentives Planning & Assistance

Josh Sharpe: Assistant District Manager SSI, SSI Benefits and Eligibility

Lisa Bloodworth: Manager, Southeastern Vocational Services, A Program of Lakeview Center, Inc.

August 19

Transportation Services and Resources

Tricia Johnson: Pensacola Bay Transportion                                             Nancy Lohr: ECAT

Julia Pearsall: West FL Regional Planning Council                        Melva Weaver: APD

September 16*

Legal Issues

Steven E. Quinnell, Attorney at Law
Chase, Quinnell & Jackson, P.A.

Special Needs Trusts for disabled children and adults; Protecting Medicaid and SSI benefits; Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, joint bank accounts, guardianship, etc.; How nursing-home Medicaid works; Probate

October 21

Guardianship

Tracy Strom, Attorney at Law

Guardianship and Related Legal Issues                   Note: Meeting Location is Ft. Walton

November 18*

Local Support Groups

Susan Byram:   Autism Pensacola, Support & Awareness group for Autism

Fred Gilliard: UpSide2Downs, Support & Awareness group for Downs Syndrome

Gil Chase: Civitan Club, A Service Organization helping those with disabilities

For more information, email FCC1-info@fcc-area1.org.

FREE WORKSHOP IN PENSACOLA

Lighting the Way To Guardianship and Other Decision-making Alternatives

The workshop is entitled Lighting the Way to Guardianship and Other
Decision-making Alternatives and is scheduled for July 10 in Pensacola. It
is FREE to individuals with disabilities and their families. However, each
location has limited seating. Financial Assistance is available on a
limited basis for travel reimbursements of individuals and families who
incur travel costs to attend one of these training workshops. In order to
qualify, participants must reside in the state of Florida and have traveled
at least fifty (50) miles (one-way) or more. (See Financial Assistance
Guidelines on registration form for specific requirements.)

The workshop is a collaborative effort by the Advocacy Center, the Agency
for Persons with Disabilities, Big Bend Office of the Public Guardian and
the Statewide Office of the Public Guardian. It is grant funded by the
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.

People may register either on line (
http://www.guardianshiptraining.com/2010-FamilyRegistration.cfm) or by
completing the attached registration form and faxing it to 1-850-922-2986.
Have questions call tollfree 1-866-615-0284 x 107 or go email questions to
helpis@guardianshiptraining.com

The Family Care Councils work to advocate, educate, and empower individuals and their families. The councils partner with APD to ensure quality services for people with developmental disabilities.

For more details, visit http://www.fcc-area1.org/.

For general information, contact Danny via email at FCC1-info@fcc-area1.org.

____________________________________________________________