News and Updates from the Community Advisory Committee

In late fall, the CCIDS Community Advisory Committee (CAC) held its first meeting of the 2019-2020 grant year. The purpose of the CAC is to advise the CCIDS Director in a manner that supports the Center in meeting its responsibilities in accordance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act):

For the first time, CAC members had the option to participate in the meeting from either the CCIDS outreach office in Augusta or the University of Maine in Orono, with both locations connected by Zoom video conference. The two-location meeting format, with one CAC Co-Chair and CCIDS leadership in each location, was well-received and will be used again at the next meeting on June 3, 2020.

Community Advisory Committee members serve three-year terms and in accordance with the bylaws, these terms are staggered so that approximately one-third of the membership is selected each year. A majority of the members must be individuals with developmental disabilities and family members of such individuals. CAC representatives from relevant state agencies are not elected by the CAC, but are appointed by their respective agencies.

CAC Co-Chairs Maryann Preble and Kile Pelletier served as an ad hoc nominating committee last fall to address the transitions in membership. Their responsibilities included recruiting and recommending candidates for membership to the full CAC. They also offered their recommendations on any requests for reappointment by members whose terms had expired.

The CAC Membership Election was completed before the Fall 2019 meeting and those results are reported below.

Family member Tracie Flagg-Tynes completed her term of service and did not seek renomination for another term. With gratitude, the full CAC acknowledged Tracie for her years of service to the committee.

Family member candidate Lisa Richmond, a stepparent of a young adult with autism spectrum disorder, was elected to a three-year term (2020-2023) by the full CAC.

Individual member Avery Olmstead completed his term of service and was reappointed to a new three-year term (2020-2023) by the full CAC.

Provider representative Gail Fanjoy (pictured above on the right), informed the CAC of her intention to retire in April 2020. Her successor, Barbara Beaulieu (pictured above on the left), KFI’s current Vice President of Operations and the incoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO), was elected to a three-year term (2020-2023) by the full CAC. With gratitude, the full CAC acknowledged Gail for her many years of service to the committee.

State agency representative Dr. Roberta Lucas, Federal Program Coordinator for the Maine Department of Education, Special Services; was appointed by the department to a three-year term (2020-2023).

The focus of the Fall 2019 CAC meeting was members’ review and discussion of the CCIDS’ work plan for year two of its five-year work plan. The four goals were divided between the locations for small group discussions. CAC members and CCIDS staff in the Augusta location reviewed Goal 2: Community Education/Technical Assistance; and Goal 4: Information Dissemination. CAC members and CCIDS staff in the Orono location reviewed Goal 1: Interdisciplinary Education; and Goal 3: Research and Policy.

The next CAC Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More details will follow.

Photo credit: Photo of Barbara Beaulieu and Gail Fanjoy courtesy of KFI.