NEWS

To register, contact June White at (1-888-466-1314 (toll-free) or e-mail jwhite@eastersealscrossroads.org. You may register on-line at http://www.eastersealstech.com.

EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST TRAINING (EST) WORKSHOPS: The Indiana Supported Employment Training Team (ISETT) invites you to attend one of its three remaining Employment Specialist Training Workshops for 2009! EST is designed to provide basic skills training to service providers who have worked as employment specialists for less than one year. To date, EST has certified over 2,500 employment specialists in Indiana.

What do folks have to say about EST... "Speakers were very informative and easy to understand! They gave creative solutions to underlying issues we confront daily in this business." "The materials provide excellent resources for me to use in doing my job. I am so excited to go home and implement everything I've learned." And finally, "Hands down the best training and most practical program I've ever attended!"

Attendees learn best practice in job and career development, employment support planning, ecological analysis, follow-along, and emerging industry trends. EST is a six-day training split into two sessions which are held one month apart. An exit test is required for participants seeking certification. Individuals who attend all days of both sessions and successfully complete the exit test, receive a competency-based certificate from Indiana University. CEUs and CRUs are available.

Training dates and locations include:

May 5-7 and June 2-4, 2009
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
Bloomington, IN

August 4-6 and September 8-10, 2009
Easterseals Crossroads
Indianapolis, IN

November 3-5 and December 1-3, 2009
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
Bloomington, IN

Act now and receive a $200.00 per participant discount toward the $300.00 registration fee. For more information or to register, contact Kay Moore at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail moorel@indiana.edu.

COMING SOON . . . MEDICAL PASSPORT FOR INDIANA KIDS: The Indiana State Department of Health, Maternal, and Children's Special Health Care Services Sunny Start Program, in conjunction with the Institute's Early Childhood Center, will make available in May a Medical Passport... a tool designed to assist families to track medical information about their child and share it easily with their medical providers. For children with additional medical/special needs, the Medical Passport solves the problem of providing the same information to multiple providers, quickly, easily, and accurately. 

The Medial Passport will be made available in May as a free download from the Early Childhood Meeting Place website, on a flash drive, or in print format. Visit http://earlychildhoodmeetingplace.indiana.edu and click on the Family Information and Resources page!

KUDOS

ALDERBROOK 2007: The Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation has published a forward looking commentary penned by David Mank, Director of the Indiana Institute, titled Alderbrook 2007. Mank's observations focus on the leadership role the state of Washington has played in the employment of people with developmental disabilities since the 1970s regarding the demonstration and implementation of innovative ways of addressing both access to employment and raising standards to what is considered quality employment.

AROUND THE STATE

HANGING AT INARF: The Indiana Institute was pleased to exhibit at INARF's state-wide conference designed for rehabilitation, employment services, community support, and other industry professionals on Thursday of last week at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites. Each year, this conference attracts over 500 attendees from across Indiana and this year was no exception. Additionally, over 29 exhibitors were in attendance.

INARF is the principal membership organization in Indiana representing providers of services to people with disabilities. For 34 years, INARF has maintained relationships with governmental agencies responsible for human service programs, promoted networking opportunities for members, coordinated quality professional development programs, and provided leadership and support in the promotion of quality programs for persons with disabilities. Visit the Indiana Institute's website under "Institute Spotlight" at http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/ for visuals from this year's exhibitors area!



LIBRARY CORNER

NEW ITEMS: 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.

Carter, C. (2007). Gifts & talents for teenagers: Discovering your unique strengths. Denver, CO: LifeBound.

Carter, C. (2006). People smarts for teenagers: Becoming emotionally intelligent. Denver, CO: LifeBound.

Carter, C. (2004). Stop parenting & start coaching: How to motivate, inspire, and connect with your teenager. Denver, CO: LifeBound.