Official Request to ICOIL Council May 9, 2007

Official request to the Indiana SILC (ICOIL)  May 9, 2007

Indiana SILC Council,

	Below are a list of questions and concerns I have with regards to
HB 1001 and the recent allocation of state funds.  While I think it is
great the state allocated some funding, I have some concerns I hope the
council shares.  I officially request and appreciate the council answering
these questions, and addressing these concerns. 

1) Why did 2.5 million go directly to certain centers and not to the IL
program as a whole to be allocated out?  Does anyone on the council have a
problem with this? 

2) How can money be equally apportioned to nearly all centers, including
state centers (which are state centers because they have not met federal
guidelines) while two federally recognized centers in the statewide
network of centers are actively prohibited from even applying for funds? 
Thus negatively impacting people with disabilities in an entire region of
Indiana. 
 
3) Why couldn't all the money be equally allocated among all centers? Even
if one says that state centers deserve equal funding even though they are
not approved by the feds, that does not seem like a reasonable enough
reason to directly exclude to federal centers even if their advocacy style
is not liked.  Does anyone see it problematic that several members of this
council have conflict of interest because their centers directly benefit? 
 
4) Is there a legitimate legal reason for the exclusion of these centers? 
And if there is, or if the council is truly trying to change things and
council members are not trying further your own personal agenda then why
is it that everything was done privately behind closed doors so that
nobody who might be impacted could have input? 
 
5) What sort of assurances do people with disabilities, not just in NWI
have, that the named centers are going to use these funds in ways that
really help improve the situation in IN for people with disabilities? 

The money was allocated specifically to specific CIL's not to the program
as a whole...and there is nothing that says that those centers have to
actually do a good job in order to keep the money.  There are no real
protections for anything it is just the state giveth, which means the
state can take away. 
 
I would appreciate your could addressing my concerns,
 
Ramona M. Harvey
Resident of Indiana with a disability.