person with a disability,” explained Georgia Microboards Association (GAMBA) President Jayme Sickert. The board is formed by the person with the disability along with members of his or her community. The purpose is to identify and plan for the support needs of the individual using person-centered planning ideals. In Georgia, microboards use the Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) planning tool to identify the person’s needs and create an implementation plan for meeting them. “I think my board is awesome,” Carmine Vara said. “The meetings are all about me.” His mother agreed. “We were worried about what would happen once mom and dad were gone,” she said. “We have a life insurance policy that would pay a provider for services, but the provider wouldn’t take care of Carmine’s emotional needs, or take into account his family background or roots. Now we have seven people at the table who say they’ll help. They’ve been to our home, they know who we are. They’re aware of Carmine’s needs and what to expect from his staff. They will support what he wants, not what the agency wants.” When forming the “All About Carmine” microboard, Nancy Vara turned to Dr. Ruthie Beckwith, who formed the Tennessee Microboards Association and has been instrumental in helping to set up GAMBA, as well. “We invited 20 people who might be interested in being on his board to our house. Ruthie facilitated the meeting,” Nancy Vara explained. “It’s taking a friendship and taking it one step further. Board members are saying I’ll commit to Carmine’s life and well-being.” From that meeting, seven members were appointed to the board. “We each have a role. Carmine is the president,
and he has a vice president, two administrative assistants and a financial officer,” she explained. In addition to Nancy and Carmine Vara, his sister Andrea serves on the board, as well as four members of his community. Valerie L. Smith Chris *, who serves as the board’s financial officer, has known Carmine Vara since 1997, when they met at an equestrian riding school. He said he volunteered because “I wanted to help out a friend. “I handle all of Carmine’s financial stuff. His mother and I have access to a bank account for him. I handle both his personal funds and any money he receives from state or federal organizations,” Chris explained. According to Sickert, microboards generally follow one of two models. “In some cases, the microboard becomes a licensed provider in the state for services for the person they support. This is a difficult, very labor-intensive process, with a big application. Once approved, the board becomes a licensed provider and receives waiver funds to directly hire staff and pay for services. “The other model is one that simply uses board members as a natural circle of support for the individual with a disability. Another licensed provider provides the services,” he said. The All About Carmine board decided it would apply to become a licensed provider to assure he was receiving the individualized services he requires. “We have petitioned the state for a waiver to become a personal care provider. Once it’s approved, we can hire staff and pay Carmine’s bills on our own. We’ll be able to contract with who will be the best fit for Carmine. We’ll conduct the hiring and firing process and training. We have a policy and procedures manual that details everything,” Chris said. In addition to training to learn how to properly support
Disability Day to be named Georgia’s Advocate of the Year. I’ve been working in the disability movement about 15 years, and it’s been my objective to advocate on the state and local level for issues surrounding independent living. I want my community to have fair housing and accessible transportation like Atlanta, so I serve on a local housing task force and transportation committee. I also organize political forums in my town so our legislators know what issues are important to people with disabilities. I’m involved in advocacy on the state level by serving on the board for Georgia’s Statewide Independent Living Council. It takes a lot of long hours, and I don’t always see change for a year or two, but at least I know we’re working on it. In my community, I started BAIN (Bainbridge Advocacy Individual Network), which is our area’s independent living center. Before BAIN, we had no agency advocating for services for people with disabilities in Bainbridge. We didn’t have a voice. So I pulled together as many people with disabilities as I could on the local level so we could start doing changing that. I love the country and don’t want to move. I think we can make a change in Bainbridge, when we work together. Going to Disability Day at the Capitol helps keep us fired up. It gives people in Bainbridge the opportunity to come together with people across the state to celebrate our rights and feel united in our common cause. Once you experience Disability Day once, you always want to come back. I get excited and want to bring the passion and advocacy spirit back to my local community. Virginia Harris is the founder and executive director of BAIN, an independent living center in Bainbridge, Georgia, run by