The ICVS Accessibility Team (A-Team)

Mission

The mission of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service Accessibility Team is to promote and support full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of national service programs through collaborations between individuals with disabilities; disability advocacy and service organizations; and the programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in Iowa.

Values

For the national service programs in Iowa, the ICVS Accessibility Team values:

• The unique talents and abilities that each person brings to volunteerism and the programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service in Iowa;
• A culture of inclusion at all organizational levels;
• Local, state, and federal policies and resources that facilitate full participation of people with disabilities;
• Effective strategies for recruiting and supporting people with disabilities;
• Partnerships that facilitate choice and full participation for people with disabilities.

What is the the A-Team and what can they do for you?

Excellence in disability inclusion in AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn & Serve programs is a priority of ICVS and the Corporation for National and Community Service.  State Service Commissions are encouraged to convene experts from the disability community in order to advise ICVS programs and staff on best practices in inclusive volunteering and strategize the annual disability inclusion program plan.  Currently, 16 members voluntarily serve on the ICVS Accessibility Team (A-Team) who represent people with and without disabilities that have experience in the national service and/or disability services and advocacy fields. 

The A-Team combines the expertise of many champions for disability inclusion in Iowa.  Select members are able to provide assistance upon request in some of the following capacities:

• Phone, e-mail and/or on-site technical assistance
• Webinar and/or on-site training
• Speaking engagements and/or outreach events

In some cases, requested services may require a small contractual fee.

Building inclusive practices in your organization takes time, but is actually pretty easy—and makes your organization a stronger and more representative of your community.  Eventually, inclusion will become incorporated into all organizational practices, but if you’re just beginning to shape your intentional inclusion plans, we’d recommend starting with a disability etiquette and sensitivity training with a representative from the A-Team.  From that point, you may be ready for assistance in any of the following sub-topics in inclusion: adult education, aging, alternative formats, assistive technology, attention/concentration related disabilities, benefits and assistance programs, disaster preparedness, funding, interviewing, position/job descriptions, marketing strategy, learning disabilities, legal requirements, mental health, partnerships/collaborations, outreach/recruitment, programmatic and/or site accessibility, reasonable accommodations, youth transition and Veterans reentry/rehabilitation.

Featured members of the A-Team

Jancy LaFollette is a staff member at the Iowa State Office for the Corporation for National and Community Service.  Her expertise includes the VISTA and Senior Corps national service programs.  Jancy can help your organization incorporate volunteers with disabilities in your State and National Days of Service projects. 

John Mikelson is a Veterans Advisor for the University of Iowa Veterans Center.  His expertise includes Veterans education, benefits and reentry.  John knows American Sign Language.  John can help your organization harness the leadership capabilities of Veterans and Veterans with disabilities. 

E.B. DeBruin is the Marketing and Development Manager for VSA Iowa, and an AmeriCorps*VISTA alum.  Her expertise includes art education, event planning, capacity building and community partnerships.  E.B. can help national service programs and organizations that serve and advocate for people with disabilities get connected and begin a mutually rewarding partnership. 

Mike Williams is a staff member of the Iowa Department of Human Rights.  His expertise includes reasonable accommodations and design for programmatic and site accessibility.  Mike coordinates the Youth Leadership and College Leadership Forums each summer, which help high school and college youth with disabilities transition into higher education or the work force.  Mike is happy to provide your organization with his expert assistance in these areas.

Mike Hoenig is a staff member at the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development, specializing in state and community projects.  Mike’s expertise includes etiquette for communicating with people with disabilities, testing websites for accessibility, assistive technology for people who are blind or have low vision—including alternative formats.  Mike can also speak a little Spanish.  He would be happy to lend his expertise to your agency.

Amy Desenberg-Wines operates a business called Disability Consulting, LC and is the Iowa coordinator for the Great Plains ADA Center.  Amy is an expert in all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other important disability related laws.  She can provide assistance to your program when it comes to legal qualifications for interviews and accessibility regarding persons with physical or psychological disabilities.  Amy also wrote this guide for including people with disabilities in national service programs.

Barb McClannahan is a staff member at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services.  IVRS has had notable success partnering with national service programs to refer or place people with disabilities in order to help them develop workforce skills.  She would be glad to help you leverage regional and state partnerships to build sustainable inclusive practices.

Tom Counters currently serves as the Disability Coordinator for Luther College in Decorah.  Tom is also a Commissioner on the Iowa Commission of Volunteer Service.  He is a retired administrator in the area of disabilities working with several programs in the Midwest.  He would be happy to talk with you about a variety of disability areas as well as transitioning students with disabilities from high school to post secondary programs. 

Phyllis McGowan is a staff member at Statewide Vision Services, housed in Vinton at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.  She’s an expert in the inclusion of students with blindness or low vision in school, social and recreational activities.  She’d be happy to lend her knowledge to your organization.

Karin Ford is a disability consultant at the Iowa Department of Public Health.  Karin has worked extensively with county Emergency Managers, planners and other stakeholders on inclusive planning for accessible shelters, transportation, communication and community support for people with disabilities during times of disaster.  She would be happy to help your community organizations becomes familiar with these practices, as well as ADA compliance.

Not sure if you’ve found the help you need?  There are more members of the A-Team based throughout Iowa that can assist you.  For more options, please contact the ICVS Inclusion Coordinator.

Are you interested in joining the A-Team?

A-Team members serve voluntarily as much and for however long they prefer.  The A-Team is seeking more representative ethnic diversity, geographic location (particularly in Western Iowa) and is particularly interested in candidates from the Deaf and hard of hearing community and/or the mental health community. 

While A-Team members vary in their individual involvement, the typical commitment would include:

• Quarterly half-day meetings on a week day in Des Moines or at the site of a current A-Team member (mileage reimbursement provided) – Meetings are always available via webinar and/or conference call
• Rotating sub-committee to review and approve proposals quarterly for Inclusive Service Project Mini Grants
• A planning committee and/or volunteering at the annual Serve Iowa: Empower your future through volunteerism mini conference
• Getting connected and familiar with local national service programs (which may foster beneficial opportunities for engagement like trainings, service projects, etc.)
• Individual opportunities to provide training and technical assistance when necessary and/or requested

Please contact the ICVS Inclusion Coordinator if you are interested in joining or learning more!