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About the My Life:
Going F.A.R. Project
"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to
conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a
new order of things." — Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince (1532)
Some four hundred years later, the words of Machiavelli still ring true, and
especially so for Maryland as we move forward to implement personal and systems change
towards self-direction and empowerment for people with disabilities and their families. My
Life: Going FAR has made significant strides in realizing the goals of the project,
and yet, there is still much more to be done. The area of personal self-direction may take
the longest to implement, as it requires understanding and commitment from each individual
engaged in the process. Though the prospect of directing ones own destiny is appealing, it
can also be daunting. People at times overestimate the value of what they have—and
underestimate the value of what they may gain by moving in a new direction. Personal
progress once realized is, however, long lasting in its impact. We are encouraged by the
progress of the project, and optimistically looking forward to additional progress and
accomplishment in the upcoming years.
The purpose of this project is to foster the personal and collective empowerment
of individuals and family members in the state of Maryland, which will result in an
increase of expertise and ability to:
- exercise greater choice, control and responsibility for their services within
cost neutral standards by developing and implementing a personal plan and utilizing the
new Independence Plus
Medicaid Waiver Program;
- coach and mentor peers; and
- effect system wide change.
Project activities will result in the establishment of a powerful and
self-directed peer mentor network. As a result of this three year project up to 300
individuals and families will be trained on the principles of self-determination and the
Maryland New Directions Waiver. These indivuals and familes will design a personal
plan and have access to peer mentors to help them implement that plan.
Year One Strategies
- Hire a person with a disability to Co-Direct
the project.
- Establish the Steering Committee and Advisory Panel.
- Establish the mentoring teams, comprised of a paid parent trainer/mentor, a paid
self-advocate trainer/mentor, a DDA Regional office staff person, and a Resource
Coordinator in each region.
- Develop training curriculum and materials using principles of universal design to
ensure accessibility.
- Hold a statewide symposium to launch the initiative.
- Conduct one day Train-the-Trainer Course for peer trainers/coaches.
- Conduct 16 days of training (two, 2-Day sessions in each region) to assist waiver
enrollees in the development of a personal plan and in identifying resources to support
them in carrying out the plan.
- Conduct specific training modules (equal to approximately 8 hours of training per
region) on such topics as principles of self-determination, making self-determination a
reality; and mechanism for enlisting and sustaining home and community services.
- Establish an ongoing system of peer Technical Assistance and Mentoring in each
region.
Long Term Outcomes
- Control of services and supports will shift to people with disabilities and their
families through the design and implementation of quality, personalized supports and
services - thus putting self-determination principles and tools into practice in Maryland.
- Individuals and families will be active partners with DDA and providers.
- There will be an increase in satisfaction using individual budgets for services -
which will pressure typical services to respond and improve flexibility within existing
budget constraints.
- Planning within the system will begin to look beyond what is a currently
available, viewing each person in their entirety and creatively assisting them to find
needed resources in ways beyond just paid support
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