Presented by Shari Coatney, President and CEO of Southeast Kansas IL Resource Center. Community living is a hallmark of Independent Living. But so many CIL consumers face waiting lists and other barriers that threaten to put them in nursing homes or prevent them getting out and going back to their own homes. When waiting lists were implemented in Kansas, advocates organized to overwhelm the US Department of Health & Human Services and the US Department of Justice with Olmstead complaints to draw attention to the issue and highlight the damage waiting lists can cause in people’s lives. Upon completion of this teleconference and webinar, participants will have knowledge and resources which will enable them to: --Explain the background of the Olmstead decision and the role that CILs and center staff have in educating, assisting, and supporting consumers to advocate for themselves. --Describe steps centers can take to advance Olmstead implementation and enforcement, especially by promoting consumer empowerment through assisting them with filing complaints. --Identify strategies to form a unified effort for achieving systems change through effective networking and organizing with other CILs, SILCs and relevant organizations.