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​Grants and Partners

Alaska Advocacy and Leadership Opportunities Guide ​

Grants​

Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) Grant

In collaboration with key agents of change, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development received a $10 million 5-year grant to implement an innovative model demonstration project to mitigate challenges faced by children and youth with disabilities in preparing for the workforce.

The systemic approach to successful transitions is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, equity, empowerment, and sustainable employment for these populations.

The overarching project goal is: Increase the number of Alaska youth and other individuals with disabilities who are competitively employed through innovative and collaborative programs involving key agencies and organizations.

The Grantees each will be working on the following programs in support of Alaska’s Youth transitioning from school to adulthood.

Grant Partnerships

  • Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education (GCDSE)
    • Project SEARCH
    • Peer Power (Youth Outreach)
  • Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
    • Youth Leadership Forum
    • Youth Aviation Academy
    • Youth Emergency Management Program
  • University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development (CHD)
    • DB101 School and Youth Calculator
    • Tapestry Expansion
    • Traditional Transitions Curriculum
    • Evaluation
  • Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL)
    • RecWORKS!

Living Well on the Last Frontier Grant

The overarching goal of this project is to increase community integration, health, safety, independence, and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities through realization of our DD vision: “Alaskans share a vision of a flexible system in which each person directs their own supports, based on their strengths and abilities, toward a meaningful life in their home, their job, and their community. Our vision includes supported families, professional staff and services available throughout the state now and into the future.”

Overarching Goal Measurable Outcome: Alaskans will share a common DD system vision with the core precepts being that each person directs their own supports, based on their strengths and abilities, toward a meaningful life in their home, their job, and their community. The system’s alignment with the shared DD vision will increase by 15% over the life of the grant and will be measured through annual statewide stakeholder survey feedback.

For more information regarding the realization of the DD Shared Vision, please visit the DD Shared Vision page.

Grant Partnerships

  • Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities & Special Education (lead)
  • Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities (AADD)
  • Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (the Trust)
  • Disability Law Center of Alaska (DLC)
  • Peer Power Alaska, Inc.
  • Key Coalition of Alaska
  • State of Alaska Senior & Disability Services (SDS)
  • Southeast Alaska Independent Living Center (SAIL)
  • Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
  • University of AlaskaAnchorage Center for Human Development (CHD)
  • Alaska DD Systems Collaborative

Partners

Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities (AADD)
The Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities (AADD) was founded over 30 years ago to unify the voice of providers to share, develop and advocate for individualized community-based services for people who experience developmental disabilities. AADD is the largest network of agencies serving community members who experience developmental disabilities in Alaska. We have formed strategic alliances between providers, national associations, the State of Alaska, the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, and the people we serve and their communities.

Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust)
The Council reports on the status and needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and makes recommendations for funding on their behalf to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (the "Trust"). The Governor's Council is one of four governor-appointed advisory boards that are responsible for planning services for Trust beneficiaries.

Trust beneficiaries are any Alaskans with:

  • Mental illness
  • Developmental disabilities
  • Chronic alcoholism and other substance-related disorders
  • Alzheimer's disease and related dementia
  • Traumatic brain injuries

For more information on the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, please visit their website:
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Website

Center for Human Development (CHD)
The Governor's Council partners with the Center for Human Development (CHD) at the University of Alaska Anchorage on a variety of projects, including Partners in Policymaking and Peer Power. The CHD is one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities in Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs) in the nation.

The CHD serves the entire state of Alaska in these major areas:

  • Interdisciplinary education
  • Community training and technical assistance
  • Research
  • Information dissemination

The Governor's Council also partners with CHD on the following employment projects:

For more information on the Center for Human Development, please visit their website:
Center for Human Development Website.

Complex Behavior Collaborative (CBC)
The Complex Behavior Collaborative (CBC) program helps providers meet the needs of Medicaid and Non-Medicaid clients with complex needs who are often aggressive, assaultive, and difficult to support. The CBC program offers consultation and training to providers and clients’ natural supports, including family members.

The goal is to help clients live as independently as possible, and avoid Alaska Psychiatric Institute, jail, emergency rooms or out-of-state care. Benefits include:

  • Better quality of life for Alaskans with complex needs
  • Cost savings for the state
  • Development of a robust, competent workforce in Alaska
  • Development of infrastructure for collaborative interventions and continuity of care

For more information on the Complex Behavior Collaborative program, please visit their website:
Complex Behavior Collaborative Website

Disability Law Center of Alaska (DLC)
The Disability Law Center of Alaska (DLC) is an independent, non-profit law firm providing protection and advocacy for people with disabilities throughout the state. The DLC prioritizes issues of abuse, housing, employment, education, discrimination, and community integration for individuals with disabilities.

The DLC does this in several ways, by providing:

  • Professional Assistance
  • Negotiation and Mediation
  • Administrative Remedies
  • Legal Remedies and Consultations
  • Class Action Lawsuits

The DLC also participates in conciliation proceedings, public hearings, and arbitration proceedings for people with disabilities. The Executive Director of the DLC sits on the Governor's Council and serves on several of our committees, providing advice and expertise on policy and legislation. The Governor's Council also partners with the DLC on special projects, such as Peer Power and the Alaska Integrated Employment Initiative.

To learn more, visit the Disability Law Center Website, or visit the DLC YouTube page.

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
The Governor’s Council partners with the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation on the Alaska Work Matters! Project and other employment related programs. Reviewing and analyzing existing policies, practices, and procedures, barriers, and workforce utilization data regarding the employment of people with disabilities in the State of Alaska.

Key Coalition of Alaska
Key Coalition of Alaska is a non-profit, statewide advocacy organization of people with disabilities, and their families, friends, and other supporters. The goal of the Key Coalition is to advocate for community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. Key Coalition advocates for independent living, equality and disability civil rights, and access to quality mental and physical health care services.

Peer Power Alaska
Peer Power Alaska is a statewide non-profit membership organization led by Alaskans with disabilities and is committed to people with disabilities being the keepers and leaders of Alaska’s Shared Vision. Peer Power’s Board of Directors is primarily comprised of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Peer Power receives ongoing support from the Governor’s Council, the Arc of Anchorage, and the Alaska Mental Health Trust along with many community partners, providers, and other stakeholders.

Its board members work to energize people by:

  • Organizing events, including an annual Summit.
  • Providing training and access to information.
  • Empowering people with disabilities.
  • Elevating the voices of people with disabilities across Alaska.

To learn more, please visit the Peer Power Website, or their Facebook page.

Senior & Disability Services (SDS)
Senior and Disabilities Services is the overarching Division of the Department of Health that the Governor’s Council operates out of. Their mission is to promote health, well-being, and safety for individuals with disabilities, seniors and vulnerable adults by facilitating access to quality services and supports that foster independence, personal choice and dignity.

Special Education Service Agency (SESA)
Members of the Council act as the governing board for the Special Education Service Agency (SESA). SESA is a statewide resource and referral service that includes a lending library for low-incidence disabilities services. Low-incidence disabilities include autism, hearing impairment, vision impairment, emotional disabilities, and multiple disabilities. SESA works with the Governor's Council on the Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC).

Southeast Alaska Independent Living Center (SAIL)
SAIL empowers seniors and people with disabilities by providing services and information to support you in making choices that will positively affect your independence and productivity in society. SAIL serves all seniors and people with disabilities of any race, religion, color, national ancestry, age, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or disability status.

Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
The SILC promotes the independent living philosophy statewide and provides support and technical assistance to the entire network of Centers for Independent Living (CILs). The Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska is committed to promoting a philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-determination, equal access, and individual and systems advocacy. We work with our partners to increase accessibility and the integration of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of society.

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