NEWS

Online Medicaid Waiver Survey

All interested stakeholders are invited to help define the design of future Medicaid Waivers for people with developmental disabilities in Indiana. One way to provide input is to complete the online Medicaid Waiver Survey, currently being conducted by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). This is part of the FSSA's commitment to soliciting broad-based input for the waiver renewal process.

How to Participate

If you are a person with a disability currently receiving waiver supports, on the waiting list, a family member, or a provider of waiver services, you are invited to submit your ideas to the conversation via the online survey. Visit the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community's website at http://www.iidc.indiana.edu to view a video explaining the waiver input process and take the survey. You'll find the link under the "Institute Spotlight" section.

The survey is also available in print form. Copies are available to download on the above website. For alternative formats, please email the Indiana Institute at beheard@indiana.edu or call (812) 855-6508.

Medicaid Waiver Conversations

This week, the second "Medicaid Waiver Conversation" is being held for New Albany area participants. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has asked the Indiana Institute to conduct these conversations to gather ideas about what Indiana's waivers could, or should, look like. Details for this week%u2019s "Conversation" are as follows:

New Albany - Holiday Inn Express, 411 West Spring Street

February 16, 7:00-9:00 p.m. for persons with disabilities and family members
February 17, 10:00 a.m. - Noon for service providers

The last of the "Medicaid Waiver Conversation" face-to-face meetings will occur next week for Fort Wayne area participants:

Fort Wayne - The League for the Blind, 5821 South Anthony Boulevard

February 23, 4:30-6:30 p.m. [note time change] for persons with disabilities and family members
February 24, 10:00 a.m. - Noon for service providers

If you are unable to attend any of these face-to-face meetings, you also have the opportunity of completing the Online Medicaid Conversation Survey at http://www.iidc.indiana.edu. See also the above article. For more information, contact Vicki Pappas or Joel Fosha at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at 812-855-6508 or via e-mail: beheard@indiana.edu.

Accessible University

On Wednesday, February 18th, IUB's Disability Roundtable will present a session entitled Universal Design for Learning to be held in the Oak Room of IU%u2019s Memorial Union from noon until 1:00 p.m. presented by Dr. Sherril York, Director of the National Center on  Accessibility.

York's presentation will illustrate how educators can design instruction/curricula to maximize learning for all students. Unintentional barriers to learning result from inflexible, one-size-fits-all curricula, where learners receive information in identical ways. Learners with disabilities are often the ones affected most in these environments. Universal design concepts applied to education seek to design course instruction and materials to meet the needs of the greatest number of learners.

The Accessible University series is a collaborative activity of IUB's Disability Roundtable, coordinated by Vicki Pappas of the Indiana Institute's Center on Planning and Policy Studies and Alice Voigt of the National Center on Accessibility. The purpose of the series is to educate the Bloomington campus community about accessibility issues and methodologies to create a more accessible university environment fully inclusive of students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities. For further information about the Accessible University series or the Roundtable, please feel free to contact Vicki (cpps@indiana.edu) or Alice (ajvoigt@indiana.edu).
 
If you plan to attend this session and require a sign language interpreter, real time captioning, assistive listening system, other auxiliary aid or information in alternate format, please contact Alice Voigt at the National Center on Accessibility, ajvoigt@indiana.edu, (812) 855-1091 (voice), or (812) 856-4421 (TTY).

Riley Child Development Center Learning Series

Mark your calendars for Monday March 16, 2009 and plan to attend a Learning Series on the Physical, Legal, and Academic issues of Youth with Special Needs sponsored by Riley Child Development Center. This day-long program, to be held at the IUPUI Campus Center in Indianapolis, is designed for parents, teachers, school psychologists, social workers, and other providers. Attendees will have access to exhibits representing vendors, providers, non-profit agencies, and government service organizations in Indiana. For more information, contact Rylin Rodgers at (317) 274-8167 or e-mail ryrodger@iupui.edu.

Community Forum for Careers in the Arts

Students, teachers, artists, and supporters of arts employment, Rauch Inc., the Carnegie Center for Art and History, and the Arts Council of Southern Indiana, are hosting a Community Forum for Careers in the Arts on Friday, March 6, 2009 at the Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana.

Events will include:

Feature Presentation: Tips, Tools, and Resources for Pursuing a Career in the Arts

Artists After Hours

Gallery Walk (Downtown New Albany)

There is no registration fee associated with this event. You must RSVP by March 3, 2009 if you are planning to attend. RSVP to Carnegie Center at (812) 944-7336. Special accommodations for the feature presentation can be arranged if notified by Wednesday, February 18, 2009. Visit http://www.artsworkindiana.org//index.php?pageId=138 for more information.

Call for Entries, A Career in the Arts for All

Rauch, Inc. of New Albany, Indiana invites entries for an exhibit to run for the months of March, April, and May of 2009. This exhibit, inspired by Disabilities Awareness Month traditionally held in March, allows the public a chance to view works designed and created by Hoosier artists. This exhibition is open to artists with or without disabilities. All work must be the original work of the accepted artist and cannot be made from kits or patterns. Media categories include: ceramics, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and wood. All work must be suitably prepared for installation and display. A digital photo is required for entry. Please send image to Tony Balzer at tbalzer@rauchinc.org. Please include your name, contact number, title of the piece, and estimate of value. There is no entry fee for this exhibition and the deadline for entries is February 26, 2009. For more information, contact Tony at (800) 757-5834 extension 236.

Funding for Local ADA Implementation Projects Announced

ADA-Indiana, in conjunction with Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, is pleased to announce that funding is available for the 2009 Keith Coros Community ADA Implementation Projects.

In keeping with the advocacy efforts of former ADA-Indiana member, Keith Coros (1946-2008), the purpose of this program is to promote increased implementation of the ADA in Indiana%u2019s local communities. Funding up to $1500.00 is available for projects submitted by social service agencies, local government entities, schools, businesses, or other community organizations interested in increasing implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Proposals are due Wednesday, February 25, 2009. The Request for Proposal is available at ADA-Indiana's website: http://www.adaindiana.org. To receive information on how to apply for the grants, contact Vicki Pappas, Fiscal Agent of ADA-Indiana, at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail at adainfo@indiana.edu.

This year, we are giving priority to proposals that result in specific and measurable Changes. Projects should target one or more of the Titles of the ADA. This may include training employers to increase their knowledge about the ADA and reasonable accommodations; working with local governments to make their programs, services, and activities accessible to people with disabilities; helping business and non-profits become more accessible; or making sure people with hearing and speech impairments have access to information. Visit http://www.adaindiana.org for more details. 

Library Corner

The following new materials may be borrowed by Indiana residents from the Center for Disability Information and Referral at the Institute. To check out materials, contact the library at 1-800-437-7924, send e-mail to cedir@indiana.edu, or visit us at 2853 East Tenth Street in Bloomington.

Coulter Video (Firm). (2008). Manners for the real world: Basic social skills. [Winston-Salem, NC]: Coulter Video.

Jennings, M. (2009). Before the special education referral: Leading intervention teams. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Richards, M. (2009). Caresharing: A reciprocal approach to caregiving and care receiving in the complexities of aging, illness or disability. Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths Pub.

Wehman, P., Smith, M. D., & Schall, C. (2009). Autism and the transition to adulthood: Success beyond the classroom. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub.