Fifth Freedom News Alerts

Speakers: John L. Wodatch, Chief, Civil Rights Divison, U.S. Department of Justice and Sharon Rennert, Senior Attorney Advisor, Americans with Disabilities Act Division, Office of Legal Counsel, EEOC

Mark the 18th anniversary of the ADA by joining this audio conference as we listen to representatives of the Federal Agencies present an update on their litigation, technical assistance and enforcement efforts over the past year. Participants will have an opportunity to pose questions to the presenters regarding issues in their own workplace or community. No pre-registration is required. SHRM and CRCC continuing education credits are available. The session is free at the two locations sponsored by ADA-Indiana.

ADA-INDIANA SITE LOCATIONS:
BLOOMINGTON: Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Building L, 2853 East Tenth Street
INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana Government Center, Conference Room 1, 402 W. Washington Street

MORE INFORMATION:
For more information about these sessions or the 2007-2008 ADA Audio Conference Season, visit http://www.adaindiana.org , or call Matt Norris at 800-825-4733, or send e-mail to adainfo@indiana.edu.

Handouts and archives of past conferences are also available. The session will be audio recorded and a written transcript will be created. Both will be posted within two weeks of the program to the archives on http://www.ada-audio.org If you are not able to make it to one of ADA-Indiana’s sponsored sites, individuals and organizations can purchase access to the audio conference by visiting http://www.ada-audio.org.

People with developmental disabilities are living longer, healthier lives than at any point in history. Planning for this population has become very important. The Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Family and Social Services Administration, has identified a need to gain a deeper understanding of the range of possible supports that might enable parents and siblings to retain their adult family member with a developmental disability in the home environment, where such a goal is shared by all. In depth interviews with older parents and/or siblings are being conducted around Indiana by researchers from Indiana University. Specifically, interviews are sought with parents or siblings aged 50 and older who provide support in their home for an adult child, or children, with a developmental disability. Confidential interviews will be conducted with the individual seen as the “primary caregiver”, as determined by the participating family. Interviews will be conducted in the home or in another private location of the interviewee’s choice. The selection of interview participants will be partly determined by travel resources and schedules of the researchers. If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, please contact Lora Wagers for more information about the project by mail, phone, fax, or email:
Family Support Project
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
2853 East Tenth St.
Bloomington, IN 47408
Toll free phone:  1-800- 825-4733
Phone: 1-812-855-6508
Fax: 1-812-855-9630
Email: lwagers@indiana.edu

People with disabilities and their families have a unique opportunity to attend the largest gathering of self-advocates in the nation at the National Self Advocacy Conference, Indianapolis, September 4-7. 

SABE 2008: The conference will be here sooner than you think, and deadlines are quickly approaching. 
July 15 - Deadline for early bird registration rate of $350. Stipends are still available to Indiana residents to cover the cost of registration! To request a stipend, register on-line at: www.sabe2008.org. After July 15, the rate increases to $425, so be sure to register soon. Children aged 9 and under must register, but can attend at no cost. 

The conference will offer over 90 breakout sessions led by self-advocates from across the country!. For more conference information, visit http://www.sabe2008.org/.

Hotel rooms are filling up!  The conference hotel is already 50% booked. 
August 4 - Deadline to lock in special hotel rate of $149, plus tax. For hotel reservations, call: 877.640.7666
Indianapolis Marriot Downtown, 350 West Maryland Street. Reference group code SABE to get the special rate.

Special note: You can reserve an accessible hotel room when you register for the conference online.
Registration fee includes: All conference activities, Three nights of entertainment, Dinner on Thursday, September 4, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on September 5 and September 6, Breakfast on September 7

Registration fee does not include: Hotel Reservations , transportation, Optional tours or events

In October 2007, Easter Seals Crossroads was awarded a grant to provide the Assistive Technology Act services throughout the state of Indiana.  As part of that project, a FREE statewide conference will be held in downtown Indianapolis on Friday, September 26, 2008 at the Indiana Convention Center.  This years theme: Explore the Possibilities. There will be 300 full-conference tickets available to the general public.  In addition to full-conference tickets, up to 500 exhibit-hall-only passes will be available.  Attendees will include service providers, educators, assistive technology users, parents and funders. There will be four tracks to the conference: Assistive Technology in Employment, Education, Recreation and Independent Living.  At least 50 exhibitors will be present to demonstrate equipment and answer questions.  A keynote speaker will be presenting during lunch. 

For more information or to register go to www.eastersealstech.com
Feel free to contact Emily Abel, INDATA Education and Outreach Coordinator, Easter Seals Crossroads with any questions about the conference: 317.466.2013 office,

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced a buy-in option for the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). The Indiana Check-Up Plan that was approved by the Legislature in April 2007 includes a buy-in option for Hoosiers who do not qualify for the plan due to income. HIP has been open only to Hoosiers earning below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Now, the buy-in option provides an alternative for those who do not qualify for the subsidized plan because their income is above 200% of the FPL, which is approximately $40,000 for a family of four.  The buy-in option for HIP will include benefits similar to the original plan that rolled out January first of this year. HIP currently provides health insurance for uninsured Hoosiers between the ages of 19 and 65, who are below 200% FPL, do not have Medicare or Medicaid, have been uninsured for at least six months and are not eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage. Like the HIP plan, participants will have a $1,100 deductible. Once eligible expenses exceed $1,100, individuals have access to a basic personal health insurance policy, with no copays except for emergency room visits. At this time, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will be the only provider for the program. MDWise with Americhoice is expected to offer their version later this year. Cost of the plan will be based on age, sex and geographic region. There is no state or federal subsidization for the buy-in option. All applicants who are denied HIP coverage due to over income will receive a notice from FSSA about the alternative buy-in option. Hoosiers interested in purchasing the HIP buy-in product should contact Anthem at: 1-800-622-4075 or a licensed Anthem agent. For more information on the Healthy Indiana Plan, go to: www.hip.in.gov. For more information on FSSA, go to: www.in.gov/fssa.

ELECTION YEAR VOTING! We are asking individuals with disabilities, their family members, and advocates to lend their voices to this year’s Disability Poll on Voting and Civic Engagement! We need your experiences and ideas about voting and the elections in Indiana:  voter registration, polling places, and other election year activities!   We have written about this poll before. If you have already responded, thank you for your help. If not, please visit http://www.thepollingplace.org and fill out the poll today! We need 500 more responses!

For a print copy or an alternative format, contact Vicki Pappas at the Indiana Institute. Phone: 812-855-6508.  Email: cpps@indiana.edu.  The poll should take less than 10 minutes, and answers are anonymous. Make your voice heard by sharing your ideas about voting rights, accessibility of polling places, other barriers to voting, participating in campaigns and sources of candidate information. The Indiana Disability Poll is being jointly conducted by the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services. Please respond as soon as you can so we can issue our report this summer. Thanks for your help!

As you may know, the Colts are sponsoring this year’s posters and bookmarks, featuring the awareness month message, which will be distributed to hundreds of organizations across Indiana. They have also included information about the month on their website at: www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=community

The Voluntary Community Assistance Network, known as VCAN, is also available to help citizens with the application process and to manage benefits. An ombudsman (a person who investigates complaints and mediates fair settlements) is available for those who have problems with the system. Cheryl McNutt is the primary contact for those problems and she can be reached at Mental Health America of Indiana,(MHAI) 1-800-555-6424, ext 234, or 1-317-638-3501, ext. 234. She will be available during regular business hours. After hours, clients can leave a message and she or her backup will return a call within 24 hours, McNutt said.

There also is an Indiana Public Health and Assistance Helpline, 765-459-0309 The Helpline is available to all public assistance consumers with questions regarding cash assistance (TANF), food stamps and Medicaid. Appropriate questions range from where to apply, to checking the status of an application. The Helpline can also hear concerns about agency procedures and staff.

If you are having problems getting food stamps, call 1-800-403-0864 or go to the FSSA website at www.in.gov/fssa. Other helpful phone numbers: Family Help-Line 1-800-433-0746; Food Stamp Information/ Complaint Line 1-800-622-4932.—If you have a case number, be prepared to give it. Also have available your birth date, and the last four digits of your social security number.

Public Informational Forums Scheduled Statewide March 20-April 10
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) is making a major change, beginning July 1, 2008, in how Medicaid waiver services are funded and offered to consumers. The Arc of Indiana - a statewide, advocacy organization, founded by families of people with developmental disabilities in 1956 - has been working with FSSA and other organizations as these changes have been discussed and tested. Medicaid waivers allow Medicaid to fund supports and services for children and adults with disabilities. If you or your loved one receives services funded by a Medicaid waiver, it is important for you to have information about this change.

The change in how Medicaid wavier services are funded is called, “OASIS,” and stands for Objective Assessment System for Individual Supports. The goal of OASIS is to create a uniform way to fund Medicaid waiver services. Funding will be based on an individual assessment of each Medicaid waiver consumer called the Individual Client and Agency Planning (ICAP). This assessment and other factors will be used to determine the budget that will fund services to Medicaid waiver consumers. OASIS has been tested in one district of the Bureau of Developmental Disability Services (BDDS).

Beginning July 1, FSSA will begin phasing in OASIS to all Medicaid waiver consumers in Indiana, based on when their annual plan of services is scheduled to be reviewed. The first people who will be required to use OASIS will be those whose anniversary date to renew their plan of services falls in July. How will OASIS impact Medicaid waiver consumers and their families? It is possible that the assessment will determine that your budget for services should increase. It is also possible that the assessment will determine that your budget for services should decrease. It is important to know that you can appeal a decision that results from the OASIS process.

Public informational forums will be held throughout the state, March 20 - April 10, 2008, to provide information on the OASIS initiative. The forums will be conducted by staff from the Division of Disability & Rehabilitative Services (DDRS)/Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS).
 
Meetings will occur twice on each scheduled date; 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
printable flyer with specific information is available on The Arc of Indiana’s web site at: http://www.arcind.org/, scroll down to state and federal programs and click on: OASIS - Public Informational Forums March 20 - April 11, 2008

A series of webcasts will present preliminary findings of the Evaluation and Independent Audit of the First Steps Early Intervention System. The Early Childhood Center, IIDC is conducting the First Steps evaluation and will present tentative findings over a series of four webinars. For more information on this project, please go to our web site at http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/ecc/FSauditproject.htm

To access the web cast, you will need a broadband connection to the Internet. Before the webcast, please connect to this page (http://breeze.iu.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm) and the server will check to see that you have the appropriate software installed and a fast enough connection. Although you will be able to hear the webinar through your computer, it is recommended that you also call in to a toll free number for clearer audio reception. The toll free number for all four webinars is 1-800-940-6112 with a pass code of 000147#.

WEBINARS:
1. March 6, 2008, 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Eastern Time Webinar Link: http://breeze.iu.edu/firststeps1/
Tentative findings in response to these two evaluation questions: (after this date Webinars can be viewed at: www.iidc.indiana.edu/ecc/FSauditproject.htm)

a. Have recent policy changes had an effect on the referrals, intakes, evaluations, eligibility determinations, and initial IFSPs conducted by First Steps?

b.Have recent policy changes had an effect on the number of children and families served by First Steps?

2. March 20, 2008, 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Eastern Time Webinar Link: http://breeze.iu.edu/firststeps2/
Tentative findings in response to the two evaluation questions (same as on March 6)
 
3. March 27, 2008, 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Eastern Time Webinar Link: http://breeze.iu.edu/firststeps3/
Tentative findings in response to these two evaluation questions

a. How well are First Steps providers carrying out recent state policies concerning evaluation (ED Teams, AEPS)?

b. How can First Steps improve the quantity and quality of services available to all families?

4. April 17, 2008, 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Eastern Time Webinar Link: http://breeze.iu.edu/firststeps4/
Tentative findings in response to the major family survey conducted

No need to sign up! Please connect to the website approximately 5 minutes before the session so that you don’t miss any information. Each webcast will be recorded, and a link will be added to our website (http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/ecc/FSauditproject.htm) to view the webcast at any time. If you have any questions, please contact Betsy Traub @ 812-855-6508/etraub@indiana.edu

The Building Leadership Series project has begun recruitment for 20 new participants for the Fall 2008 Series. Self-Advocates are encouraged to apply. The 2008 Series consists of three two-day workshops over a three-month period at the Convention Center in Bloomington, Indiana. Selected participants will receive a stipend of $60.00 per workshop attended, meals and overnight lodging. Support staff, when needed, also receives compensation, meals and lodging. For a flyer: www.iidc.indiana.edu/cac/

The workshop topics are:
-Sept. 24-25: Choice: What choices am I really making? What are my rights and responsibilities?
-Oct.22-23: Self-determination/self-advocacy: I hear these words, what do they mean for me?
-Nov. 12-13: Person Centered Planning: What does it mean for me and what is a good plan?

The workshops are co-trained with staff from IIDC and persons with disabilities. There is a good mix of interactive activities, video, discussion, role play and lecture. Workbooks accompany each topical area. Past participants have commented on how much they learned and committed to personal action steps upon arriving back home. New friendships developed, and personal growth was evident for all participants.

Help us spread the word to potential participants and provider agencies for the 2008 Series. For more information and applications, contact Jennie Todd via email - jeptodd@indiana.edu - or by phone: 812-855-6508.

The MCCSC Parent Teacher Advisory Council for Special Education presents the Indiana premiere of the film “Including Samuel” in honor of Disability Awareness Month. “Including Samuel”, a documentary film by Dan Habib, examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. The film focuses on the efforts of Habib and his family to include Samuel, seven, in all facets of school and community. “Including Samuel” also features four additional families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers, young people, parents, and disability rights experts.

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2008
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Film and discussion
Place: Jackson Creek Middle School, 3980 South Sare Road, Bloomington.
This Indiana premiere is FREE and open to all.

Onsite child care available ($5/child or $10/family) with advance reservation by March 27 by contacting ParentTeacherAdvisoryCouncil-owner@yahoogroups.com

Tom Cooney, Executive Director of Independent Center of Eastern Indiana (Richmond) is retiring and we are actively pursuing a search for a new director. I am President of the board and heading up the search committee to find Tom’s replacement. Contact me ASAP for a complete job description or if you have questions: Mark W. Harris, 3464 Boston Twp. Line Road, Richmond IN 4737, (m) 765-277-1710, (h) 765- 962-3431: mark@harfam.org

For info about the Center: http://www.ilcein.org/

NOTE: Free audio transcripts and handouts related to this and all past ADA audio conferences can be found at: http://www.ada-audio.org

ADA-Indiana is hosting a free audio conference titled, “The Nature and Scope of Discrimination in Hiring under ADA’s Title I” in Bloomington and Indianapolis on Tuesday, March 18th. This 90-minute session will feature Dr. Brian T. McMahon, a Professor and Researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and the Director of the Coordination, Outreach and Research Center (CORC) for the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers. Dr. McMahon will discuss their recent findings on disability discrimination using data collected from the EEOC. Over 20,000 allegations of workplace discrimination specific to hiring have been investigated and closed by the EEOC through 2005. Dr. McMahon and his research team at VCU have uncovered some surprising facts about the nature and scope of hiring discrimination. The audio conference is on Tuesday, March 18th at 2:00- 3:30 p.m. (EDT) at two Indiana locations. It would be of special interest to employers, human resource professionals, state and local government officials, people with disabilities, and other interested community members. No pre-registration is required. SHRM and CRCC continuing education credits are available. The session is free at the locations sponsored by ADA-Indiana.

2:00 - 3:30 p.m. EDT- ADA-INDIANA SITE LOCATIONS:
BLOOMINGTON: Institute on Disability and Community, Building L, 2853 E Tenth St
INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana Government Center, Conference Room 1, 402 W. Washington Street

UPCOMING SESSIONS:
- April 15 - There are no IEP’s in College
- May 20 - Employer Best Practices: Recruitment and Hiring of People with Disabilities
- June 17 - Accommodating Employees with Psychiatric Disabilities in the Workplace

MORE INFORMATION:
If you are not able to make it to one of ADA-Indiana’s sponsored sites, individuals and organizations can purchase access to the audio conference by visiting http://www.ada-audio.org. The cost is $25.00 (for not-for-profits) and $40.00 (for-profit entities). For more information about this session or the 2007-2008 ADA Audio Conference Season, visit http://www.adaindiana.org, or call Matt Norris at 800-825-4733, or send e-mail to adainfo@indiana.edu.

The DSP Initiative is a 3 year project whose main goal is to help reduce the turnover of direct support staff by improving the education and training of those who enter the profession. Please take just a few moments to respond to a very short survey by clicking on the link below.

This survey is intended to find out what benefits people with disabilities or their families can see in the Direct Service Professional (DSP) Initiative. The research initiative is being lead by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC) and is funded through the Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS). To respond to the survey, go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zVFU6I8MmVNENgSs0Oe2bg_3d_3d

Please help more people respond to this survey by forwarding this message.

To: Partners in Policymaking Graduates

Whether you have served on a board, committee or commission for a number of years or you have been recently asked to become a member of a council or advisory group you are a person who expects results.
Do you wonder why some boards make a difference and others remain stagnant and unengaged? — Committed individuals operating as a team with a shared vision is the key.

If you want to learn how to improve your organization’s governance, be a better board or committee member, and truly make a difference, you may want to apply for the Council’s upcoming two part series of 1 ½ day workshops on “Board and Organizational Leadership”.
Where: Hilton North, Indianapolis
When:   April 4-5 and May 16-17 , 2008
Time:     Session begins at 12:30 on Friday and ends Saturday late afternoon

Target Audience:       
·25 people selected based on an application process
·Partners in Policy Making Academy Graduates and other selected people with disabilities/ family members of people with disabilities Requirements:
·Submit an application postmarked no later than February 29, 2008       
·Make a commitment to attend both sessions
·Currently serve on a board, commission, advisory committee or have prospects of serving
·Partner graduate or have had other advocacy training
·Complete homework assignments prior to and between the two sessions
·Payment of a $20 materials fee
·Must cover own mileage and childcare expenses
               
Topics to be covered:
·Organizational Development and Stages:  Where does my group fit?
·Board Duties and Expectations: What do I need to know?
·Servant Leadership: What do I have to offer?
·The Art of Diplomacy: Meeting etiquette, effective communication and negotiating
·Building and Sustaining Trust: Mentoring and other strategies to enhance leadership development
·Alliances and Partnerships: Being an effective team member
·Strategic Thinking: Understanding the bigger picture, setting aside personal agendas for the good of the whole.                         
Questions should be directed to:
        Ms. Christine Dahlberg, Associate Director
        Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
        (317) 232-7774
        cdahlberg@gpcpd.org
        http://www.in.gov/gpcpd                        

Alternative formats are available upon request.

The Council is currently recruiting applicants for the next Partners in Policymaking, class, which will begin in Oct 08. Partners is an advocacy training program for people with disabilit6es and parents that teaches participants how to work with policymakers and be effective disability advocates. Participants complete intensive training over eight weekends, from October through May, learning from national speakers and state leaders about advocacy topics such as the history of the disability rights movement and community inclusion. Other topics include legislation and lobbying, special education, social services, employment and community organizing.

Class size is limited, but those who are selected receive a stipend to cover travel, child care, lodging and related expenses. For copies of the new brochure to distribute, an application, or to arrange a group presentation, contact the Partners in Policymaking Academy at (317) 232-7771, or PIP@gpcpd.org. Or, visit www.in.gov/gpcpd and click on Projects. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, June 2, 2008.

The Arc of Indiana Legislative Alert #3 Thursday, January 31, 2008 (excerpt)
To get these alerts sign up at: http://capwiz.com/thearc/mlm/signup/

We have reached the halfway point in the 2008 Session and Legislators are back in their districts for a long weekend. They worked very late into the night every day this week to get bills passed out of their house of origin. Bills now move to the other Chamber to be assigned to committee. Committees in the second house will begin next week. We had considerable action on bills of interest to people with disabilities this week.

HB 1171 ­ Autism training for EMS personnel — Introduced by Representative Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) and Dennis Tyler (D-Muncie). The bill requires certified emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to successfully complete a course of education and training on autism. The bill passed the House unanimously and has been recommended to the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee.

HB 1266 ­ Eligibility Criteria for Priority Medicaid Waivers ­ introduced by Representative Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette). The bill requires the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning to set priorities in providing Waiver services so that families who are truly in need of emergency services will be able to get them. The bill was voted out of the House unanimously and has been recommended to the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee.

HB 1288 ­ Certification for Behavior Analysts. Introduced by Representative Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis). The bill requires anyone who claims to be a certified behavior analyst to be certified by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board. The bill passed unanimously out of the House and will be sponsored by Senator Gary Dillon (R-Pierceton) and Senator Connie Sipes (D-New Albany).

SB 171 ­ Crimes against persons with a disability — Introduced by Senator Tim Lanane (D-Anderson). Makes committing an offense against a person with a disability an aggravating circumstance for sentencing purposes. Indiana has closed its last state institution for people with disabilities so we now have a higher probability that people with developmental disabilities will fall victim to crimes. The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate and has been recommended to the Judiciary Committee.

HB 1318 Funding for spinal cord and brain injury fund and law enforcement continuing education program. Introduced by Rep Mays. Passed the House 91 to 5. Pat Miller is the Senate sponsor
HB 1245 Mass transit funding. Representative Terri Austin’s bill that would create a new source of funding for transit districts. Supported by the Indiana Transportation Associaiton and friends of public transit . Passed the House.

Want more information on Bills and the Indiana General Assembly?
Copy and Paste this address : www.in.gov/legislative/
Don’t Know Who Your Elected Officials Are?
Copy and Paste this address:
http://capwiz.com/thearc/sstate/main/?state=IN&view=myofficials#0

Indiana Care Select is hosting community presentations throughout Indiana for Medicaid members in the Aged, Blind and Disabled Categories. Representatives from the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) as well as representatives from Care Management Organizations (CMO) will describe the changes that will take place starting March 2008 that will improve how healthcare needs will be met for this group of Indiana residents.
For more information go to: http://www.in.gov/fssa/ompp/4161.htm
The following is the list of dates, times and locations for these community presentations:
February, 4, Jasper, Train Depot, 3:00 to 4:30 201 Mill Street
February, 5, Evansville, Ivy Tech - Room 107, 9:00-10:30 Bldg Entrance A, 3501 First Avenue
February, 5, Terre Haute, Ivy Tech ­Oakley Auditorium 3:30-5:00, 8000 S Education Dr
February, 7, Richmond, Ivy Tech - McDaniel Hall, 9:30-11:00, Auditorium, Room 1201, 2357 Chester Blvd
February, 7, Batesville, Ivy Tech ­Room 131, 2:00-3:30, 920 County Line Rd
February 11, Fort Wayne, Ivy Tech - Auditorium (Room 1200), 10:00-11:30,3800 N Anthony Blvd
February 11, Muncie, Ivy Tech - Room 532/534 (North Bldg), 3:00-4:30, 4301 S. Cowan Road
February 15, Sellersburg, Ivy Tech - Room B20, 2:00-3:30, 8204 Highway 311
February 18, Bloomington, Ivy Tech - Lamkin Hall (Room C131), 9:30-11:00, 200 Daniels Way
February 21, Peru, Ivy Tech - Room 102, 10:00-11:30, 425 W. Main Street
February 21, South Bend , Ivy Tech ­Room 1121/1122, 3:00-4:30, 220 Dean Johnson Blvd
February 22, East Chicago, St. Catherine’s Hospital, 9:00-10:30, Professional Office Bldg Conf Rm, 4321 Fir St
February 22, Lafayette, Ivy Tech ­Ivy Hall, Lilly Rm 1106/1112, 3:30-5:00(Use Parking Lot A or C Building Entrance) 3101 S Creasy Lane

Don’t miss the Indiana Autism Expo, presented by the Autism Society of Indiana. Our date is March 15, 2008 and this will be a FREE event for the autism community to enjoy. Mark your calendars- you don’t want to miss this event. Come and see all of the organizations and businesses that have all the goods and services you are looking for! There will be speakers, entertainment for a variety of ages, lots of great information to take home and a SURPRISE for every family who attends (details forthcoming). It will be a time for fellowship, learning and family fun. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in an exhibit spot. Not-for-profits organizations and support group organizations are invited to exhibit free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Other businesses are invited to participate for a small fee. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your organization’s services with our community. Speakers include Dr. Cathy Pratt of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, Easter Seals/Crossroads on customized employment and Dr. Mary Lou Hulseman on biomedical interventions. There’s something for everyone. We’ll have a clown, a face painter, and a musician (Scott Rocap) for the kids! This event will take place at the Gene B. Glick Junior Achievement Center on the northside of Indianapolis.
For more details, go to www.omalleytherapysolutions.com.

Sidewalk Videos A video series on accessible sidewalks is now available online
A series of videos on sidewalk accessibility previously available on DVD can now be viewed through the Access Board’s website. Accessible Sidewalks is a four-part video developed by the Board to illustrate issues and considerations in the design of sidewalks. The series covers access for pedestrians with mobility impairments, including those who use wheelchairs, and pedestrians who are blind or have low vision. The videos are open captioned and incorporate running descriptive audio. A recent version of the Flash player, which can be downloaded free from Adobe, is needed to view the videos.
Part I: Design Issues for Pedestrians who use Wheelchairs (10.00 minutes)
Part II: Design Issues for Pedestrians with Ambulatory Impairments (7.51 minutes)
Part III: Design Issues for Pedestrians with Low Vision (11.24 minutes)
Part IV: Design Issues for Pedestrians who are Blind (11.19 minutes)
To access these video’s go to:
http://www.access-board.gov/news/sidewalk-videos.htm

CONGRATULATIONS to all the advocates in NY for their hard work in insisting that NY state conform to HAVA.
 
The following excerpt is from Brad Williams of NY SILC regarding the court order:
After a substantial five year effort, which included efforts to provided technical assistance on voting access issues (testing accessible voting machines, evaluating polling place access, poll worker training), being actively engaged in systems advocacy (expressing our displeasure through protest and civil disobedience, defeating a state procedure to segregate the Ballot Marking Device locations for voters with disabilities, defeating an amendment to HR 811 that would have suspended voting access rights under HAVA for New Yorkers with disabilities until 2010), and pursuing various legal options (filing an Article 78 action against the State Board of Elections, jointly suing with multiple plaintiffs for intervention status in Federal District Court, compiling over 90 voting access complaints for Election Day 2006, submitting evidence and affidavits to US DOJ for their original lawsuit against New York State in March 2006, and filing an amicus brief to the supplemental remedial order issued by the Federal Judge), disability rights advocates in New York feel that they have collectively had an impact and finally witnessed what will lead to full voting access for people with disabilities in the State.

The US District Court for the Northern District of NY decision can be downloaded at http://www.nyvv.org/newdoc/doj/dojvnyorder011608.pdf

The consensus of the 150 people out of 400 who attended who completed an evaluation form was positive. If you attended and did not complete a form or filled out one of the forms that did not have our closing speaker listed, please drop a quick note to cdahlberg@gpcpd.org on two questions.

1.  From 1-5 with 5 the highest, how would you rate our closing speaker Richard Pimentel (add comments if desired)
2.  For those who have been to more than one Council conference. Do you like the Hyatt or the Westin better and why/why not

**** NOTE: If you attended the conference and didn’t complete an overall evaluation form and would like to be in the Grand Prize drawing,  Please let me know and I will send you  a copy by e-mail.  We will be selecting the winner from those who completed evaluation forms, by mid January. - Christine

The Council has started recruitment for a new class of Partners in Policymaking. People with disabilities and parents who are interested in learning about best practice disability issues and are dedicated to advocacy work, are encouraged to apply.  Participants come to Indianapolis for one session per month for 8 months beginning in Oct 08. Expenses including childcare are covered and on site attendant care is available. Homework and a community project are required. An application form and more information is available on our website at: www.in.gov/gpcpd/projects/#policy

****Please contract me if you would like some of our new four color brochures to distribute, or would like a graduate Partner to speak about the program to your group or to an individual who is interested. I have articles suitable for a newsletter as well. We can also provide print copies of the application form. PIP@gpcpd.org, 317-232-7771-Please help us spread the word. Thanks

Voting and civic engagement are the issues being addressed in Indiana’s Disability Poll for this year. People with disabilities and family members in Indiana are invited to share their experiences and ideas with regards to voting and participating in public policy and political activities. This poll is the same one that was available at the November Governor’s conference.

To take the poll, go to: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cpps/survey/

If you would like more information about the Indiana Disability Poll, you may email Vicki Pappas at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. You can also call her at 1-812 855-6508. If you need paper or other alternate formats or technical assistance, please contact Jeffrey Chait at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. You can also call him at 1-812 855-6508.

A representative of Family Voices has been working with the Office of Medicaid to share the unique needs of families with waivers. As a result, the state plans to institute an alternate plan. Once efforts to enroll a provider in Care Select have been exhausted, those affected families will be asked if they want to maintain their current primary care physician, even if that physician will not join Care Select as a PMP. In those cases, the Care Management component of Care Select will be orchestrated by OMPP behind the scenes for those families to ensure services are adequate. All of the final details are currently being worked out and the “enrollment date” for Care Select has been pushed back to February 1, 2008.  If your child’s primary physician has told you they will not enroll in Care Select and there is not an appropriate alternative in the program, please contact:
Katie Holeman Shipp 317 234 3804 katie.holemanshipp@fssa.in.gov or Jill Claypool 317 234 5551 jill.claypool@fssa.in.gov and explain your situation.  Please be prepared to share the name of the doctor you wish to keep. Family Voices will continue to update families on the status of Care Select as information becomes available.
 
NOTE: Family Voices of Indiana will share advocacy opportunities and updated information on issues that impact Indiana families of children with disabilities or special needs. If you would like to receive notices, please join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FVIndiana We’re also on the web at: http://fvindiana.blogspot.com/

Support for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Experiencing Extreme Behavioral or Psychiatric Issues
Statewide implementation of the Crisis Management Services Program by FSSA began as September 17, 2007. This program is designed for individuals with developmental disabilities who are experiencing severe behavioral or psychiatric issues which threaten their health and welfare, or that of others.  The program is designed to deliver supports in a timely and intensive manner to children and adults with developmental disabilities who are already receiving services, as well as those who are not currently receiving services but are likely to be found eligible according to state guidelines.

Specific Services Offered:  24 hour Crisis Hotline phone support;  In-home assessment, technical assistance and behavior intervention; Out of home intervention on a short term basis; and  Post crisis follow-along.

How to Access Crisis Management Services
Access is available to this program 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, by calling directly to the Crisis Management Services office in your region. Any parent, guardian or service provider may make a referral. The initial call to the hotline will be answered immediately or a message will receive a response within 30 minutes. The crisis specialist will determine whether immediate assessment at a local hospital is needed, if not, an appropriate in-home assessment will be made by the behavior consultant/crisis specialist within 24 hours. After the initial assessment is done and needs are determined, individualized referrals, assistance and resources will be offered.

Three regional offices, north, south and central, have been formed to facilitate availability and access to these statewide services. The 8 Dvelopmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) District Offices are grouped into three regional areas to facilitate access to Crisis Management Services.
 
The 24-hour phone numbers for the three Crisis Management Services Offices are as follows:
NORTH: BDDS Districts 1, 2 & 3 1-866-416-4774 staffed by Anthony Wayne Services
CENTRAL: BDDS Districts 5 & 6 1-866-920-3272 staffed by Meridian Services
SOUTH: BDDS Districts 4, 7 & 8 1-866-416-4774 staffed by Anthony Wayne Services
For a list of counties in each BDDS districts go to: https://myshare.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/BDDS1/BDDS%20Field%20Offices/BDDS%20District%20Offices.pdf

From AAPD: The U.S. Chamber “and friends” have been up to no good, faxing every Member of Congress with a message that ADA Restoration goes too far with civil rights - that it expands protections beyond what Congress ever intended and, in essence, that the ADA was only ever truly intended for the “severely disabled.” Their mischaracterizations of the legislation are not new (they’ve sent letters before and testified at hearings with these same claims), but the list of signatories on this particular communication has grown to include numerous others. When we’re all back from the holidays, expect renewed fervor and be ready to join us in the fight to see this bill passed into law and the promise of the ADA fulfilled in the New Year!

There are a few things we can all do over the holidays to show support of ADA Restoration:
1) Visits & Calls: If possible, arrange for visits with Members and/or their staff  Review talking points at http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/rights/ada/TPs_FINAL_bill.doc ( Thank Indiana co-sponsors of the bill who include, Rep Souder. Ellswoth, Hill, Visclosky and the late Julia Carson )
2) Opinions / Editorials: Local op/ed pieces written by advocates that highlight real life stories of discrimination to show the need for restoration of the ADA would also powerfully impact Members of Congress while they’re home. Review “real life stories” of discrimination for ideas of stories to highlight. http://www.c-c-d.org/task_forces/rights/ada/Real%20Case%20Stories_final.doc

MORE INFORMATION:
Visit the ADA Restoration blog for background materials, the text of the legislation, and more information on the need for ADA Restoration and actions you can take to help. http://www.adarestoration.blogspot.com/
If you are able to meet with Members or their staff or to get any op/ed piece published, please notify AAPD at aapdanne@earthlink.net so we can share this information with national coalition members.

NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities has published a new Evidence for Education brief, Assessment and Accommodations. If you are a parent of a child who needs accommodations or involved in teaching or assessing students with disabilities, then this publication is for you!

Assessment and Accommodations examines what the research has to say about providing students with disabilities with accommodations that support learning as well as their ability to show what they know and can do. There are multiple examples of accommodations, guidelines to help IEP teams decide what accommodations a student needs, connections to Federal guidance and requirements on this important topic, and links that will help identify what accommodation policies Indiana has adopted to guide participation of children with disabilities in large-scale assessments. Assessment and Accommodations is available online at: http://research.nichcy.org/accommodations1.asp

We hope you will find this new Evidence for Education helpful in your work or personal life. As always, please feel free to call or email us with your disability-related concerns, or visit our Web site, at: www.nichcy.org.
NICHCY, P.O. Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
1.800.695.0285 (V/TTY)

Indiana residents can express their opinions about draft healthcare reforms in Indiana during a Healthcare Reform Options Listening Tour. For more information including a schedule of the rest of the stops, or how to submit information your response on line go to: www.healthcarereform.iupui.edu

Among the draft reforms are:
– Hoosiers will take an active role in preserving their own health and well-being and work collaboratively with their healthcare providers to address health challenges.
– Hoosiers will have universal access
– Universal insurance coverage
– Effective access to all aspects of the healthcare system regardless of income class, cultural identity, or residence
– Disease prevention and health promotion will be the primary foci of both the delivery and public health systems
– All residents will have a medical/healthcare home which will be the source of primary care, disease management, and care coordination

Following the listening tour, which ends December 6, the experts will incorporate the comments from the listening tour and work with FSSA to develop a final set of reforms and a legislative plan to implement them.

Effective October 1, 2007, INSOURCE will not be administering the Family Involvement Fund (FIF).  Parents interested in applying for funds should contact Cathy Beard at the Early Childhood Center, 2853 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN  47408 for more information. She can also be reached by telephone at (800) 825-4733 or (812) 855-6508 or via email at fif@indiana.edu.

National: Ford Mobility Motoring Program—Rolling deadline:

On April 11, Ford also is circulating a guide for disabled vehicle users, which describes this program and also offers descriptions and contact information of other resources involving adaptive equipment and roadside assistance. http://www.mobilitymotoringprogram.com/programfaq.mob

The Consumer Guide to Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver has been revised! Formerly known as the green book the newly updated “yellow book” is the fourth edition of this booklet and will be distributed to area BDDS and AAA offices by mid April. In the meantime everyone attending one of the Arc workshops will receive a copy and single copies or small quantities can be ordered from the Governor’s Council: 150 West Market, #628 Indianapolis, IN 46204, 317-232-7770 (voice), 317-233-3712 (fax), BWade@gpcpd.org

The new guide should also be available for download from the publications section of our website in a few days: www.in.gov/gpcpd

Get your COAT! Today, a new coalition of disability organizations was launched to advocate for legislative and regulatory safeguards that will ensure full access by people with disabilities to evolving high speed broadband, wireless and other Internet protocol (IP) technologies. The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology, or “COAT,” consists of over 45 national, regional, and community-based organizations dedicated to making sure that as our nation migrates from legacy public switched-based telecommunications to more versatile and innovative IP-based and other communication technologies, people with disabilities will not be left behind.

Emerging digital and Internet-based technologies can provide people with disabilities with new opportunities for greater independence, integration, and privacy, but only if these are designed to be accessible. The guiding principle of this Coalition will be to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of daily living through accessible, affordable and usable communication technologies as these continue to evolve.

To read the rest of the public release, visit this website:  http://www.aapd-dc.org/index.php

Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI) is a collection of Internet accessible information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education. This collection exists in order to make on-line Special Education resources more easily and readily available in one location. This site will continually modify, update, and add additional informative links. http://seriweb.com/