2002 Reinventing Quality Conference
The Holiday Inn Chicago - Mart Plaza
Chicago, Illinois

July 29 - 31, 2002

Balancing Freedom and Safety:
Quality Supports Lead to a Quality Life

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Program Theme
Meeting Objectives
Meeting Format
Preliminary Schedule
Hotel Information
Transportation Information
Registration Information

Program Theme

People with disabilities, like all citizens, have a right to live in the community of their choice, close to families, friends, and others who care about their welfare. For those whose needs for support, training, and assistance extend throughout their lifetimes, the quality of the services they receive has a significant influence over the quality of life they are able to enjoy. In contrast to past preferences for group living and specialized, center-based treatment programs, more people are currently choosing to live and to receive support in local communities, neighborhoods, and towns. The clear choice of people with disabilities for supported living is mirrored by activities at the state and federal levels that have been initiated in response to lawsuits focused on static or growing waiting lists and compliance with the Supreme Court's ruling in L.C. vs Olmstead.

Living in the community presents challenges not faced by traditional center-based programs and requires increased flexibility on the part of those providing support, as well as the development of new approaches to funding and quality monitoring and program review. Last summer a national workshop, entitled "Quality - It's Everyone's Business," was held in Chicago to showcase "best practices" in promoting and maintaining high quality, person-centered supports. The conference presentations provided a wealth of information on twenty-four distinct best and promising quality management/quality improvement practices used by states and other organizations throughout the country. Workshop attendees had an opportunity to interact with presenters during the sessions and to take part in what turned out to be a very active, participatory learning experience for all of the 350 conference participants. The workshop was timely and responded to the need expressed by people with disabilities, their families, state staff and service providers alike for specific information related to the assessment of service quality in person-centered, individually controlled environments.

The 2002 Reinventing Quality Workshop, which is scheduled to be held in Chicago on July 29 - 31, 2002, will follow up on the issues that were the focus of the 2001 meeting and incorporates many of the suggestions and recommendations offered by participants, emphasizing practical, hands-on tools that can be readily used to improve the quality of personal supports. This year's theme examines the relationship between a system's ability to effectively balance the need to respect personal freedom and autonomy while protecting the individual from harm, with the need to have a skilled, sensitive, and responsive direct support staff. In this context the concept of freedom has two implications: freedom from abuse, neglect and maltreatment, and; freedom to determine the course of one's life. An effective system of quality assessment and improvement must protect the person against the provision of too little support, increasing the risk of being neglected, and the provision of too much support, where the service system takes over the life of the individual.

Meeting Objectives

The objectives of this meeting are the following:

Organizational Format

The conference will begin with a panel of individuals who receive services, including people with disabilities, family members, and others discussing the relationship between quality lifestyles and quality supports. This presentation will contribute to the overall theme of the meeting by identifying some of the key issues that will be discussed in the subsequent workshops. The keynote address will be presented by a representative of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Keynote will offer a federal perspective on the capacity of Medicaid-funded services to support personal choice and decision making, protect people from harm and strengthen the quality and training of direct support staff. Additional issues to be covered include federal activities in support of self-directed service models and future directions of CMS and new initiatives.

The afternoon will include several breakout sessions that address the challenging issues being faced by states at this time. These presentations focus on three basic themes, including: (a) the relationship between the quality of support an individual receives and the quality of life he or she is able to access; (b) specific issues or situations that challenge the ability of the system to achieve its quality goals, and; (c) approaches to balancing individual freedom and personal safety.

Within the general themes identified above individual presentations will focus on:

The second day of the Workshop will begin with an in-depth discussion of the training needs of direct support professionals, the relationship between the capabilities of staff and service quality, and the potential of the College of Direct Support as an easily accessible training opportunity. Late morning sessions will address some of the topics identified above and will provide time for people to compare notes and discuss areas of mutual interest.

At times some of the most fascinating discussions take place in the hallway, over a meal, or as people walk from one presentation to another. Participants at the last year's conference requested that there be more opportunities for people to discuss what they are hearing and to talk to other states about the way they handle the various topics under discussion. The 2002 Reinventing Quality Workshop is designed to present multiple opportunities to access information, compare ideas, and discuss issues. Unstructured, "talk time" is scheduled into the conference during the reception, during breaks and in the evening. Two semi-structured activities are included to focus and highlight the issues under discussion during breakfast on the second day and throughout the entire workshop.

Investigator Reports: In an attempt to identify the key topics being discussed by workshop participants informally, outside of the structured presentations, a small team of investigators will be asked to circulate among the attendees and record their opinions regarding the issues under discussion. Throughout the workshop, four to six investigators will interview participants to document their perspectives regarding, for example, the roles and requirements of support staff, difficult questions regarding the balance of freedom and safety, self advocate involvement in quality assessment protocols and a host of other topics. Investigators will meet on the second day of the workshop to reconcile their findings and report to the full group on the questions people are asking, the topics of primary interest among conference participants, areas of particular concern, interest or satisfaction. The investigators will complete a report of their conclusions that includes recommendations for further action or study. This report and any relevant supporting data will be posted on the Quality Mall Web site as well as the site operated by NASDDDS.

Casual Breakfast Discussions: In addition to the report of the investigators, three to five informal discussion groups will be organized during breakfast on the second day. Leaders will be identified to facilitate roundtable discussions of issues chosen by the participants. Sample topics include:

• What works? Improving life quality;

• Effective methods of supporting freedom and safety;

• Updates on last year's presentations - did things change as intended?

• Involving self advocates in the quality assessment process;

• New ideas and experimental practices - presentations of new demonstrations, new funding approaches and/or other innovative initiatives that are being tested.
  

Preliminary Schedule

Hotel Information

Location: Holiday Inn Chicago - Mart Plaza, 350 North Orleans Street, Chicago Illinois is located in downtown Chicago on the Chicago River In the River North entertainment district. The hotel sits atop the Chicago Apparel Center starting on the 14th floor, a skywalk connects the hotel to the Merchandise Mart on the 2nd floor. Over 15 attractions are within walking distance or cab fares of $5-10. The hotel has a fully equipped fitness center and indoor lap pool. For reservations telephone (312) 836-5000. Hotel Information including directions, maps can be obtained via the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza Web site http://www.holidayinnchicago.com.

Hotel Rate: The conference group rate is $144 plus sales tax of 14.9%. The group rate is available between July 27 - July 31, 2002. To obtain the group rate you must identify yourself as being with the Reinventing Quality Conference.

Reservation Deadline: The cutoff date for the Reinventing Quality Conference rate is Monday, July 15, 2002.

Transportation Information

The Holiday Inn Chicago - Mart Plaza is just 45 minutes from O'Hare and Midway airports.

An airport shuttle stops at the hotel twice per hour (15 minutes past the hour and 15 minutes to the hour) beginning at 5:15 am until 10:15 PM.

Attached parking garage is provided (space is on an availability basis), subject to an $18 charge, with in and out privileges. Additional self-parking lots are within a short walk.

The hotel is very close to commuter trains.

Registration Information

The registration fee is $250 for all meeting attendees. Click HERE* for a conference registration form (PDF). If you are unable to access the registration form or if you need additional information, please contact the NASDDDS staff at 703-683-4202.

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