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FYI Newsletter April 19, 2010
Quick Scan:
- ADA-Indiana Audio Conference on Conducting Accessibility Surveys
- Accessible University Series
- Indiana Family to Family Free Webinars for April and May
- Summer Institute on Evidence-Based Practices in Autism
- Doings in D.C.
- Public Comment Opportunity
- Library Corner
UPCOMING
ADA-INDIANA AUDIO CONFERENCE ON CONDUCTING ACCESSIBILITY SURVEYS: Are you interested in learning more about conducting accessibility surveys under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? If so, plan to participate in Measuring the ADA - Conducting Effective Accessibility Surveys, scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at twelve Indiana locations (Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Merrillville, Muncie, Terre Haute, Vincennes, and West Lafayette).
When conducting effective accessibility surveys, the most commonly asked questions tend to be: What to measure? How to measure? Who is qualified to do a survey? What tools are available to conduct the survey? In this session, expert panelists will focus on the needs and challenges in conducting surveying in the external environment, such as parking lots, trails, sidewalks, curb cuts, pedestrian rights of way, and other outside locations. Expert panelists will share their "lessons learned" and tricks of the trade.
For further information, please contact Matt Norris at (812) 855-6508 or email adainfo@indiana.edu. ADA audio conferences are co-sponsored by ADA-Indiana, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities. For more information about this session and other monthly offerings, please visit http://www.adaindiana.org.
ACCESSIBLE UNIVERSITY SERIES: If you’ve wondered about the kinds of services and supports that IU's Office of Disability Services for Students provides, you might consider attending this Wednesday’s Accessible University session scheduled for noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Oak Room, Indiana University Memorial Union.
Whitney Manchester (Learning Disability Coordinator) and Dorothy Lenard (Support Services Coordinator) from the Office of Disability Services for Students will offer a presentation that demystifies the actual process by which DSS works with IU students to develop and implement reasonable and appropriate accommodations.
They will show the connection between student limitations and the kinds of accommodations developed to offset them. The session will be interactive and informative - starting with a "Pop Quiz” where the myths are represented by a dragon and reality, by an alligator. Be ready to sharpen your pencils and ACE the pop quiz … You’ll know the difference between the “dragon and the alligator” by the end of the session. Bring your questions and join us for this timely and relevant discussion! Please also share this information with others who may be interested.
If you plan to attend this session and require a sign language interpreter, real time captioning, assistive listening system, another auxiliary aid or information in alternate format, please contact Alice Voigt, Accessibility Specialist, at the National Center on Accessibility, ajvoigt@indiana.edu, (812) 856-4422 (voice) or (812) 856-4421 (TTY).
Accessible University is a monthly series of presentations sponsored by the IUB Disability Roundtable. The purpose of the series is to educate the university community about accessibility issues and methodologies to create a more accessible university environment fully inclusive of students, faculty, staff, and visitors with disabilities.
The Accessible University series is a collaborative activity of IUB’s Disability Roundtable, coordinated by Vicki Pappas of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community and Alice Voigt of the National Center on Accessibility. For further information about the Accessible University series or the Disability Roundtable, please feel free to contact Vicki (cpps@indiana.edu) or Alice (ajvoigt@indiana.edu).
INDIANA FAMILY TO FAMILY FREE WEBINARS FOR APRIL AND MAY: The Institute’s Early Childhood Center’s Family to Family Project offers a series of free interactive webinars related to building skills to support young children with disabilities, developmental delays, or special health care needs, and their families. Register online to receive access information and how to actively participate. Check below for the dates/times that are convenient for you! Completed webinars will also be available on the F2F website following the sessions.
Upcoming webinars for April and May include:
Wednesday, April 28: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Advocacy is NOT a Bad Word: Developing Effective Parent-Provider Relationships Using Positive Advocacy. Advocacy is a tool for families as they seek solutions and resources for their children with disabilities. While people often associate advocacy with negativity, advocacy can and should be approached positively. This training focuses on three components of advocacy: knowledge, skills, and confidence.
Wednesday, May 6: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Introduction to Special Education: What happens after your child leaves First Steps and still needs support to make educational progress? This session is designed to help answer common questions parent and family members may have about the special education process, including case conference participation and writing the Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Visit www.INF2F.org and complete the registration form on-line. An e-mail will be sent to those who have registered with more detailed instructions on how to connect. For more information, contact Betsy Traub at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail etraub@indiana.edu.
SUMMER INSTITUTE ON EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN AUTISM: The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism will host a week-long summer Institute, June 7-11, 2010, focusing on evidence-based practices in autism spectrum disorders. Participants will learn tools to evaluate classrooms, validate outcomes of programming, and learn how to implement evidence-based practices.
Registration fee is $400.00 per person. Three hours of Indiana University graduate credit will be offered to attendees. Graduate course enrollment will take place on the first day. Graduate credit fees are determined by Indiana University. To register, contact Donna Beasley at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail dbeasley@indiana.edu. For content inquiries, contact Cathy Pratt at prattc@indiana.edu or visit http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/conferences/SummerInstitute.html.
ACROSS THE COURTYARD
DOINGS IN D.C. Cathy Pratt, Board Chair of the Autism Society and Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the Indiana Institute, recently attended a meeting hosted by the White House to discuss the Obama Administration's efforts on autism research and to express support of families and individuals affected by autism. The meeting took place April 2, in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day and National Autism Awareness Month, and included representatives of other national advocacy organizations and service agencies.
Pratt thanked the administration for its investment in research through federal stimulus funds, and asked government officials to address the crisis needs of families with autism, including respite care, employment, navigation of service systems and training of professionals.
Melody Barnes, Director of President Barack Obama's Domestic Policy Council, opened the meeting, expressing the administration's commitment to serving autism through collaboration on research and programs across all agencies. Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, and Jeff Crowley, Senior Adviser on Disability Policy, discussed the commitment of the administration to the special and complex needs of people with disabilities as part of the implementation of the recently passed health care reform legislation.
Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services, discussed his agency's "Healthy People Response" effort, which aims to gain greater understanding of cause and treatments of autism but also create better systems of care to address the fact that "families have difficulty navigating the non-systems we have" to address autism.
Also in attendance were Dr. Peter Van Dyck, Associate Administrator for Maternal and Child Health, and Dr. Thomas R. Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health.
ACROSS THE STATE
PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), a program of the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, invites the public to share comments regarding revisions of the new three-year State Plan for Independent Living. One public hearing will be held:
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
1:00 -3:00 p.m. (EST)
Indiana Government Center South
Conference Center, Room A
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46207
Comments must be received by Monday, May 3, 2010. Individuals interested in providing feedback should prepare their comments in writing, if possible. The final State Plan will be prepared following the comment due date. Anyone needing an alternate document format or those unable to attend the public hearing may contact Nancy.Young@fssa.IN.gov for assistance, or by mail to:
Nancy Young, IL Program Director
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
P.O. Box 7083 MS #20
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7083
Comments may also be sent via FAX: (317) 232-6478
The draft State Plan for public comment may be accessed online at http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/3921.htm.
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.
Flick, G. L. (2010). Managing ADHD in the K-8 classroom: A teacher's guide. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Corwin.McWilliam, R. A. (2010). Working with families of young children with special needs. New York: Guilford Press.
Snodgrass, C. S. (2004). Super silly sayings that are over your head: A children's illustrated book of idioms. Higganum, CT: Starfish Specialty Press.