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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Many Illinoisans with developmental disabilities
3encounter obstacles in their lives that can be overcome with
4technology; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Innovative supportive technology positively
6impacts the lives of Illinoisans with developmental
7disabilities at home and in their communities; and
 
8    WHEREAS, "Supportive technology" includes any product,
9device, or equipment that may be used to maintain, increase, or
10improve the functional capabilities of individuals with
11disabilities; and
 
12    WHEREAS, With continuing technological advancements,
13Illinoisans with developmental disabilities increasingly have
14more opportunities to access innovative supportive technology
15that lowers barriers that people with disabilities encounter in
16their daily lives and promotes their independence, confidence,
17and abilities; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Illinoisans recognize that supportive technology
19in the workplace can enable individuals with disabilities to
20perform jobs and tasks in order to seek or maintain employment
21to achieve independence; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The demand for direct support staff who assist
2people with developmental disabilities is projected to
3increase, and technology is one tool that can help supplement
4and assist those who do the important work of supporting
5individuals with disabilities; and
 
6    WHEREAS, While Illinois recognizes that human
7relationships are an essential part of all of our lives,
8supportive technology can connect people with disabilities
9with additional assistance to supplement and enhance the
10support they receive; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Illinois aims to ensure supportive technology
12solutions are considered when determining the appropriate
13services and supports to be provided for people with
14developmental disabilities; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Illinois should commit to a statewide initiative
16to expand access to supportive technology designed to improve
17the lives of people with developmental disabilities;
18therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21we urge the Governor and the State of Illinois to adopt the

 

 

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1principles of Technology First, a commitment that citizens with
2development disabilities be afforded opportunities to improve
3their lives through supportive technology and that supportive
4technology be prioritized when considering services and
5support needs; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Technology First Council is
7created to study ways to expand the use of supportive
8technology for Illinoisans with developmental disabilities;
9and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That the Council shall consist of the following
11members, who shall serve without compensation:
12        (1) The Director of the Illinois Department of Human
13    Services Division of Developmental Disabilities or his or
14    her designee, who shall serve as chair;
15        (2) The Director of the Illinois Council of
16    Developmental Disabilities or his or her designee; and
17        (3) The following members who shall be appointed by the
18    Director of the Illinois Department of Human Services
19    Division of Developmental Disabilities:
20            (a) One member who represents an organization that
21        works with or advocates on behalf of persons with
22        autism and related conditions;
23            (b) One member who represents an Independent
24        Service Coordination Agency in the State of Illinois;

 

 

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1            (c) Two members who represent an intellectual or
2        developmental disability advocacy organization;
3            (d) One member who is familiar with supportive
4        technology research and who represents an institute of
5        higher learning;
6            (e) Two members representing existing service
7        providers who have significant experience using
8        supportive technology to provide services to people
9        with developmental disabilities;
10            (f) One member who is the parent or guardian of an
11        individual with a developmental disability who has
12        significant experience with the use of supportive
13        technology; and
14            (g) One member who is a person with a developmental
15        disability and who has significant experience with the
16        use of supportive technology; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Human Services
18Division of Developmental Disabilities shall provide
19administrative support to the Council; and
 
20    RESOLVED, That the Council is charged with the following
21tasks:
22        (1) Develop state policy to encourage the use of
23    supportive technology and to align Illinois Administrative
24    Code waiver service rules with that policy;

 

 

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1        (2) Identify and address areas where sufficient
2    support is not currently available or where additional
3    options may be needed to assist those with developmental
4    disabilities to gain access to supportive technology;
5        (3) Identify best practices, effective partnerships,
6    and opportunities for shared services among existing
7    providers of developmental disabilities to increase
8    supportive technology opportunities for those with
9    developmental disabilities;
10        (4) Recommend ways to integrate supportive technology
11    into existing programs to move with school aged youth as
12    they transition into adult services;
13        (5) Develop recommendations on ways to expand the
14    Discovery and Personal Plan to include supportive
15    technology in the person-centered planning process; and
16        (6) Recommend system-level benchmarks for monitoring
17    use of supportive technology and person-centered outcomes
18    that demonstrate increased quality of life for persons with
19    developmental disabilities; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That the council shall submit its final report to
21the Governor and the Illinois General Assembly no later than
22January 1, 2021, and is dissolved upon the filing of its
23report; and be it further
 
24    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

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1delivered to the Director of the Illinois Department of Human
2Services Division of Developmental Disabilities and the
3Governor.