CAC Recruitment Survey FAQ

1. What is the Shriver Center Community Advisory Council (CAC)?
   
   The CAC is a group of people who give input to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center about their work. The CAC members are community members who have an interest in the lives of intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The members help the Shriver Center decide on the things that are the most important in their work and give input on the Center’s current work and projects.
2. What does the Shriver Center do?
   
   The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center’s does research, training, service, and clinical care to support, empower, and make sure people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) are included in the community.
3. How do I apply to be a member of the CAC?
   
   First, complete the interest survey found here. Then you will have a brief interview with one of the staff from the Shriver Center.
4. Why would I want to be a member of the CAC?
   
   The CAC gives an opportunity for members to give their opinions on the work we do and help us decide the things that are most important to do next.
5. Who exactly are you looking for?
   
   We welcome people with disabilities, their family members, and people whose work relates to disability. We are especially looking for more people who have an intellectual or developmental disability, who have autism, or who are from ethnic and racial minority groups.
6. What are your meetings like?
   
   We meet four times a year in a virtual setting (using a web camera and microphones on Zoom) for two hours. The things we discuss at each meeting are different. Often the meetings include discussions of Shriver Center projects to get input and opinions from CAC members. There is often time for members to bring up their own topics related to the work of the Shriver Center.
7. What if I need an accommodation (help) or support to be a CAC member?
   
   If you need help of any kind to be a CAC member, please note your needs in the survey and also in your interview.
8. If I sign up, will I automatically be accepted?
   
   No. We will review everyone that expresses interest and may interview them. We will then select new people to join the CAC based on their experience with disability and how well we think they will fit with the CAC.
9. How long is the sign up open?
   
   Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled
10. Is there a length of appointment?
    
    Now, people serve for as long as they would like but there may be a more set length of appointment in the future if needed.
11. How much will I get paid?
    
    $50-$75 for each meeting you attend.
12. Where does the Shriver Center get their funding?
    
    We are funded by the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL). This funding comes from the Developmental Disabilities Act and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act). The DD Act is a basic law that supports the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families and makes sure they are included in their communities. The goal of the act is to “assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life”.
    
    The Shriver Center is part of the nationwide UCEDD (University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities) network that includes 67 other centers across the country. The UCEDD funding for the Shriver Center supports the work we do and helps our staff get more external funding to support their projects and programs and form new projects and programs, all to benefit people with I/DD and their families.