Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel
Quarterly Public Meeting

Hyatt Regency Hotel
Bethesda, MD
May 18-20, 2004

Tuesday May 18, 2004 - Day One

Carol Brenner, Designated Federal Officer, called the meeting to order at approximately 9:30 a.m. and turned the meeting over to Chair, Sarah Wiggins Mitchell.

Presiding: Sarah Wiggins Mitchell
Welcome, Introductions and Review of Agenda

Attendees
Advisory Panel Members
Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, Mary Katie Beckett, Libby Child, Berthy De La Rose-Aponte, Thomas Golden, Andy Imparato, Jerome Kleckley, Bryon MacDonald, David Miller, Stephen Start, and Torrey Westrom.

Advisory Panel Staff
Marie Strahan, Executive Director, Kristen Breland, Lisa Ekman, Monique Fisher, Bernard Wixon, and Jim Wiegel

Designated Federal Officer
Carol Brenner

Presenters
Marianne Daley, Mary Ellen Kyle, Ernestine Braswell, Social Security Administration; Mary Satterfield, Maximus, Inc,; Beverlee Stafford, Rehabilitation Services Administration; Steve Knapp, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Robert Silverstein, SSA-Disability Research Institute AOI Work Group (ODISP); Larry Abramson, St. Luke's House, Inc.; Dan Fisher, National Empowerment Center; Dennis Grey, University of Illinois at Chicago; Kris Flaten, Initiatives; LaDrene Coyne, Medtronics Physio-Control; Tamara Allen, The Capstone Group; Freida Sennet, SSDI Program Beneficiary; Deborah Mathews, Employment Network; Michael Winter and John Benison, U.S. Department of Transportation; Bennie Howard, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Sylvia Brennan, National Housing Law Project.

Members of the Public
Joe Hickman, Fran Hisler, Deborah Cotter, Cheryl Bates-Harris, Randall Bosin, Joan Brzostowski, Rebecca Dodge-Katz, Judi Drew, Kara Freeburg, Andrea Harles, Lisa Kinard, Marilyn McPherson, Susan Mitchell, Carol Petersen, Susan Prokop, Jennifer Rayburn, Annette Reichman, Sallie Rhodes, Beverly Rollins, Brigit Rutledge, Regina Sajauskas, Sara Salley, Nancy Sciabarrasi, Carole Schauer, Felix Stump, Craig Thornton, Brad Turner, Ahmeed Turner, Dianne Whiteman-Miner, and Miriam Yarmolinsky.

Social Security Administration Updates
Presenter: Marianne Daley, Acting Associate Commissioner, Office of Employment Support Programs
Topic: Progress of the Ticket to Work Program

Presenter: Mary Ellen Kyle, Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Program Development and Research
Topics: CDR regulations, expedited reinstatement, ticket evaluation, homeless outreach and the benefit offset.

Presenter: Mary Satterfield, Project Director, MAXIMUS, Inc.
Topic: Roll-out of the Ticket to Work Program

Presenter: Ernestine Braswell, Senior Program Analyst, Deputy Commissioners Office, Division of Program Policy and Operations Disability Analysis Branch
Topic: Area Work Incentive Coordinators

Presenter: Craig Thornton, Mathematica Policy Research
Topic: Participation by Beneficiaries and Employment Networks

Presenter: Susan Mitchell, Mathematica Policy Research
Topic: The National Beneficiaries Survey

Rehabilitation Services Administration
Presenter: Beverlee Stafford, Director, Program Administration
Topic: Guidance on VR/EN agreements, issue of comparable benefits and preliminary results of monitoring of the cooperative agreement

Lunch Break

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Presenter: Steve Knapp, Technical Advisor, Data Analysis
Topic: CMS Progress in Expanding Health Care Benefits Authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999

SSA - Disability Research Institute AOI Work Group (ODISP)
Presenter: Robert Silverstein, Member of AOI Work Group and Director, Center for Advancement of Disability Policy
Topic: Partnership Plus

Experts Panel on Mental Health Issues
Presenter: Dan Fisher, MD., PhD., Executive Director, National Empowerment Center, Lawrence MA
Topic: Return-to-work and labor force participation of people with psychiatric disabilities

Presenter: Kris Flaten, Consultant, Service Provider, Initiatives, St. Paul, MN
Topic: Employment and Persons with Mental Illness

Presenter: Larry Abramson, Vocational Director, St. Luke's House, Inc., Bethesda, MD.
Topic: Supported employment services to people with serious persistent mental

Presenter: Dennis Grey, Project Director/Senior Data Analyst, Center for Mental Health Services Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Topic: Evidence-Based Practices in Supported Employment for Individuals with Severe Mental Illness: Results from the Employment Intervention Demonstration Program

Presenter: LaDrene Coyne, Senior Diversity Consultant, Medtronics Physio-Control, Redman, VA
Topic: People with disabilities in the workplace

Public Comment
Presenter: Susan Prokop, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Washington, DC
Topic: CCD task force on work incentives implementation

Presenter: Andrea Harles, I-NABIR, Washington, D.C.
Topic: The Ticket to Work from a provider perspective

Presenter: Susan Webb, ABIL, Phoeniz, AZ
Topic: Marketing the Ticket to Work program

Presenter: Randall Bosin, Chevy Chase, MD
Topic: Experience with the Ticket to Work program

Presenter: Miriam L. Yarmolinsky
Topic: Considerations for the Ticket to Work program

Committee Meetings
Program and Legal Policy Committee, David Miller, Chair

Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation Committee, Bryon MacDonald, Chair

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Wednesday May 19, 2004 - Day Two

The meeting reconvened at 9:30 a.m. with Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, presiding.

Consumer Panel - Delaware, Virginia, Maryland
Facilitator: Tamara Allen, The Capstone Group
Topics: How Do We Improve the Information Pipeline Between the Consumer Receiving the Ticket to Work, the Employment Network Program and Permanent Employment.

Presenter: Mrs. Freida Sennnet, SSDI Program Beneficiary Delaware, MD & Ms. Deborah Matthews, Employment Network Delaware, MD
Topics: How Do We Clarify the Process of Returning to Work and a Person's Benefits Status Once Returning to Work

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to schedule a Panel meeting in July 2004 (tentatively July 22 & 23, 2004) to discuss re-staffing, pending actions items/ recommendations that are stagnant and committee next steps, notably, new federal regulations and marketing strategies.

Break

Public Transportation and ADA Experts Panel
Presenter: John Benison, Senior Disability Policy Advisor Departmental Office of Civil Rights U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Topics: DOT Promotion of the Employment of People with Disabilities: Accessibility in Transportation (Air, Land And Sea) and How Important this Component is to Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities

Action: The Panel organized a committee to establish a partnership between Ticket to Work and DOT that will be tasked with developing innovating strategies to market and promote opportunities and recent advancements in the field of disabilities to individuals with disabilities.

Action: DOT will research the accessibility of the DOT 511 number for deaf and hard of hearing users

Action: DOT will provide more information to the Panel on the "Make it Inoperative" National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), regulation 49 CFR Part 595(c)

Action: DOT will make accessible statistics from the report on the President's New Freedom Initiative on access barriers and gaps in transportation for individuals with disabilities to the Panel.

Presenter: Michael Winter, Office of Civil Rights Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation
Topics: FTA Activities that are Ensuring that Individuals with Disabilities are Gaining Access to Employment Opportunities: Increased Outreach to the Disability Community and Transit Community by Organizing National Dialogues

Lunch

Business Meeting
Meeting Minutes: January 22, 2004, March 15, 2004, and February 10-12, 2004

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to accept the minutes as prepared for the February 10-12, 2004 quarterly public meeting and the January 22, 2004 and March 15, 2004 teleconferences.

Committee Reports

Presenter: Bryon MacDonald
Committee: Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation Committee, including SSA actions on Panel Recommendations

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to support, "The Partnership Plus - State Vocational Rehabilitation Cost Reimbursement and Employment Network Outcome Payment Option" proposal. The Panel also supports a recommendation to write the Commissioner of Social Security as soon as possible asking for support of the motion and proposal.

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to allow the Post-Entitlement Work Group of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel to host a one day expert's seminar on "Social Security Post-Entitlement Workloads, Progress, and Issues." The seminar will require contracting the services of necessary personnel to provide technical assistance. The seminar will be hosted in conjunction with the November 2004 quarterly meeting as opposed to October 2004 as originally proposed.

Action: The Panel agreed that in light of possible committee restructuring, a Co-Team Leader should be elected to assist Bryon MacDonald plan for the upcoming consortium.

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to ask Beverlee Stafford, Director of the Program Administration Division for Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to submit the printed guide of RSA's VR EN policies as presented in Day One of the quarterly meeting.

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to have a SSA Briefing on the RFP for the State and National Demonstrations on the $1 for $2 benefit offset.

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to support the PDIE Committee's need for more expert advice as needed and facilitate their request for additional information. This will allow the committee to request expert advice and consultation.

Presenter: David Miller
Committee: Program and Legal Policy Committee, including Report on Mental Illness; and health care access

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to explore what resources are available for individuals with mental health to improve the employment options and opportunities with the Ticket to Work program and to hire a consultant to prepare and present the paper to the Panel.

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to move dispute resolutions with EN from a tracking item to an action item.

Panel Administration/Operations Update

Presenter: Marie Strahan
Topics: Administrative Updates and Briefing on Staff Meeting on Time/Strategy held by CSAVR

EN Presentation on Ticket Program

Presenter: Steve Start, SL Start and Associates
Topics: Update on status of ENs/Ticket Program Model

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to have SL Start and Associates prepare a report that will assess the following program variables: How much money will SSA need to fund the project? Is there a cost benefit to the EN/Ticket Program? How long will it be before the program pays for itself? If a provider is to adapt the program what is the profit margin?

Public Housing Experts Panel
Presenter: Bennie Howard
Director of the Office of Disability Policy
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Topic: Update on HUD Advancement and Improved Housing Opportunities in the Arena of Disabilities and Disability Rights; The Benefits of the Section 8 Voucher Program; Section 8 Voucher Homeownership Program

Presenter: Sylvia Brennan, Esq, Director of Government Relations, National Housing Law Project, Washington, D.C.
Topic: The Purpose of the National Housing Law Project

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:23 p.m.

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Thursday May 20, 2004 - Day Three

The meeting reconvened at 9:00 a.m. with Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, presiding.

Public Comment
Presenter: Kris Flaten, Initiatives, St. Paul, MN
Topic: Interactions with SSA and the Ticket to Work Program

Presenter: Sallie Rhodes
Topic: Interactions with SSA and the Ticket to Work Program

Public Roundtable Discussion
Topic: Next Steps - Policy and Strategy

a. Current Issues:
Transitional period for the Panel and the Ticket to Work program-- the change in the panel membership due to the 2004 General Elections; Many old issues have not been addressed and actions are pending; There is a dire need to improve the marketing and public education of the program and send out the program evaluations and regulations/recommendations; There is the need for more open discussion and an open process; Increase the coordination of the program with Federal Agencies; Reduce the administrative burden of the ENs, which will no longer hinder them from receiving payment; Reduce the "administrative drag" of benefit recipients; Train and provide Technical Assistance for EN and Social Security Workers

b. What problems are a priority:

1. Implement and issue the program regulations
2. Strengthen the marketing strategy of the program
3. Technical services and training

c. Actions:

1. Increase public awareness and opinion-- be more proactive (both panel members and local community need to strengthen advocacy roles)
2. To improve the flow of information to federal agencies, recruit a coordinator from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
3. Improve the marketing of the Program, which will need to be comprehensive and run concurrent with the implementation and distribution of the program regulations
4. Use the meeting with the SSA Commissioner as an active forum to discuss the proposed issues
5. Open an office of "Recipient Benefits Affairs" to help beneficiaries with the answers to their questions
6. Decrease the burdens for the ENs so that they make provisions for beneficiaries

d. Who will provide the leadership and implement the actions:

1. Create a Sub-Advisory Committee of beneficiaries to provide feedback to the panel
2. Strengthen Local Partnerships - encourage coordination with local community activist and advocates on disabilities to improve the outcome of decisions made during the meeting
3. Solicit feedback from individuals who were turned-down by ENs to supply the feedback to Congress
4. CCD should organize a task force to improve the payment process for ENs
5. Representative Shaw should craft legislation to enforce the issues discussed and provide recommendations
6. The panel should develop a strategy to meet with:
1. SSA Commissioner - move the panel out of the OESP Office and elevate it to the Office of the Commissioner
2. The House Ways and Means Committee
3. Senate Finance Majority Staff
4. White house Domestic Policy Council
5. The Press/Roll-Call - to rally policymakers

Break

Panel Discussion/Deliberations (continued)

Strategizing Next Steps:
Priority items will be resolved from now through July 2004 and secondary items will be resolved during the drafting of the strategic plan in August 2004.

• Priority Items:
• Meet with the SSA Commissioner
• Discuss Press Strategy to Rally Support/Organize a coordinated effort with Advocacy Groups and Congressional Members
• Develop Marketing Strategy
• Distribution of Program Regulations
• Institute Sub-Advisory Panel to TTW Advisory Panel
• Review the Program Evaluation/Use the Information to Develop Policy
• Secondary Items:
• Minimize "administrative drag"
• Open Office of "Beneficiary Affairs"

Quarterly Meeting & Panel Decisions

Action: The Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation Committee elected Berthy De La Rose Aponte as Co-Chairperson for the PE Workgroup

Action: Assign the Program and Legal Policy Committee with the task of conducting a study of the relationship between housing/transportation problems discussed by HUD/DOT and their impact on work incentives and the TTW Program. The Panel should also provide the Committee with recommendations

Action: Develop EN Training Strategy and use existing ENs to help develop recommendations for a creditable program

Action: Conduct another target mailing to revive the referral process

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to send a letter to SSA recommending that they move the upper age limit threshold on Medicaid buy-in as a technical amendment

Congressional Briefing

The briefing will be rescheduled, additional details will be forthcoming.

The following panel members will participate in the meeting:

• Sarah Wiggins Mitchell
• Andrew Imparato
• Thomas Golden
• Libby Childs

Congressional Briefing Agenda :

• Medicaid Agreement
• HUD/DOT Participation at Quarterly Meeting
• EWORK Funding and Roll-out
• Lack of Representation from Senior Level Management at SSA
• Public Roundtable
• Mental Health
• Internal Corps of Work Incentive Specialist Evaluations
• Public Comments/Testimony
• Program Interaction (for e.g.: Section 8)

Motion: The Panel passed a motion to have Panel members meet with White House Staff and Congressional Members in an effort to promote the strategies outlined as the Panel's next steps through July 2004.

Action: The PPO Committee will assume the responsibility of developing meeting agendas and action plans for meetings with White House and Congressional staffs.

Special recognition was given to Marie Strahan, her staff and Robin Toliver of CESSI for the coordination of the Panel meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:39 PM.