COCA

The

COCA Leadership Opportunities

There are 15 different leadership positions available on the COCA, including:
Person with a Disability (PWD) Co-Chair: any COCA member with a developmental or lifelong disability is eligible to be elected to this position. Family Member with a Disability (FMWD) Co-Chair: any COCA member with a direct family member who has a disability is eligible to be elected to this position.
The COCA Co-Chairs are responsible for the overall function of COCA throughout the year. They co-facilitate quarterly full COCA conference calls, the 8 yearly Steering Committee calls, as well as the COCA Annual meeting. They must keep COCA members up to date on the activities of the Steering Committee. The Co-Chairs also serve on the AUCD Board of Directors representing COCA. They attend AUCD Board meetings throughout the year, and participate in the Board conference calls.

COCA Steering Committees, Standing Committees and Members at Large Positions

Standing Committees (each has two Co-Chairs):
Legislative Committee: This committee will identify issues of particular interest to COCA members, and work with the AUCD Legislative Affairs Committee to build a unified agenda to be addressed. Planning Committee: The Planning committee assists the AUCD Conference Chair, Board, and staff in planning the annual meeting, which includes identifying needed accommodations. Committee members also participate in reviewing the proposals presented to AUCD for the annual meeting. Nominating Committee: This committee identifies candidates for office, and facilitates the officer voting process. The committee also solicits nominations and facilitates the voting process for the annual AUCD COCA award.

ExPERIENCE

A Framework for Leadership and Advocacy within the AUCD Network for Persons with Disabilities and Family Members

Secretary: any COCA member is eligible to be elected to serve in this position. Assistant Secretary: any COCA member is eligible to be elected to serve in this position.
The secretary and assistant secretary are responsible for recording the minutes for the COCA Annual meeting, Steering Committee meetings, and full COCA meetings. Secretaries then forward the minutes on to the COCA membership or Steering Committee.

COCA Activities
PAST:
SOCIAL SECURITY LETTER: COCA, in collaboration with the AUCD Board sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration outlining the consequences of a potential withholding of Social Security Payments to recipients with disabilities. By withholding these payments, recipients might be placed in the position of being unable to meet their monthly financial obligations.

Ad Hoc Committees
The COCA Co-Chairs can form ad hoc committees as deemed necessary to conduct business.

Past Person with a Disability (PWD) Co-Chair Past Family Member with a Disability (FMWD) Co-Chair
The past co-chairs serve in an advisory capacity on the COCA Steering Committee, and bring their wealth of experience to the COCA membership. As past COCA Co-Chairs, as well as past officers for other Steering Committee positions, they are an important element in the continuity of COCA.

PRESENT:
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: COCA, working with the US International Commission on Disabilities, and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, drafted a letter with AUCD Board Support, urging members of the Senate to ratify the CRPD. UNIVERSAL ID FOR PARATRANSIT USAGE: COCA is conducting research on use of a Universal Identification Card for people who use paratransit services. This will allow people to use paratransit services when they travel without needing to re-qualify when they go to a new location.

Members at Large:
COCA Steering Committee Members at Large develop contacts with a person from each UCEDD within their region to serve as a COCA liaison.
WESTERN CENTRAL EASTERN

COCA STEERING COMMITTEE Dawn Olson Shannon Caldwell Deborah Unruh Luz Cantres Mitchell Levitz Deborah Unruh Carl Durocher Joe Basey Gordon Richins Sharon Jodock-King Karen Irick Mark Smith Santa Perez Gordon Richins Kendall Corbett *Kristina Majewski *Liz Weintraub

2011 2012 POSITION(S) ON COMMITTEE Person with a Disability (PWD) Co-chair Family Member with a Disability (FMWD) Co-chair Secretary Assistant Secretary Planning Committee Co-chair Planning Committee Co-chair Legislative Committee Co-chair Legislative Committee Co-chair Nominating Committee Co-chair Nominating Committee Co-chair Member at Large, Eastern Region Member at Large, Central Region Member at Large, Western Region Past Person with a Disability (PWD) Co-chair Past Family Member with a Disability (FMWD) Co-chair AUCD Central Office, COCA Co-liaison AUCD Central Office, COCA Co-liaison

OFFICER TERMS 2010 2013 (3 year term elected every 3rd year) 2011 2014 (3 year term elected every 3rd year) 2010 2012 (2 year term elected even years) 2011 2013 (2 year term elected odd years) 2010 2012 (2 year term elected even years) 2011 2012 (2 year term elected even years) 2010 2012 (2 year term elected even years) 2011 2012 (2 year term elected even years) 2010 2012 (2 year term elected even years) 2010 2012 (2 year term elected even years) 2009 2012 (3 year term elected every 3rd year) 2010 2013 (3 year term elected every 3rd year) 2011 2014 (3 year term elected every 3rd year) 2010 2013 (Ex-Officio Member) 2011 2014 (Ex-Officio Member) *Representative from AUCD, not a Steering Committee Member *Representative from AUCD, not a Steering Committee Member

FUTURE:
EMPLOYMENT DISPARITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: The general unemployment rate at the design of this poster is 7.9%, while the rate for people with disabilities who are actively seeking employment is at approximately 15%. This does not include people with disabilities who are not actively seeking work. COCA has formed an Ad Hoc Committee to explore the causes of this higher rate of unemployment, and to find ways to encourage more full employment for people with disabilities.

COCA Member at Large Regions