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FYI Newsletter

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FYI Newsletter May 31, 2010

Quick Scan:

• The ADA Survey: Have you responded yet?
• Webinar on Invisible Disabilities and the ADA
• When Actions Speak Louder than Words Workshop
• Organizational Change Forum
• Call for Research Study Participants
• Call for Volunteers
• CeDIR’s New Public Hours
• Library Corner

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ADA SURVEY



THE ADA SURVEY: HAVE YOU RESPONDED YET? Time is running out for you to SPEAK YOUR MIND about your community’s progress in implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act! How well do you think it’s doing? What still needs to be done?

The ADA Survey will be closing in early June. So if you haven’t gone to the ADA Survey yet to express your opinions, please do so very soon!


The results of the ADA Survey will be used to create a “Report Card” for Indiana, which will be a highlight of our state ADA Celebration in July. It will also be useful as a tool to educate policy makers, administrators and the public about what priorities need to be addressed so that Indiana communities meet the goals of the ADA.

To request the survey in an alternative format, or for additional information, contact Dr. Vicki Pappas by phone: 1-800-825-4733 or e-mail beheard@indiana.edu. The 2010 ADA Survey is being conducted by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, and Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services, in conjunction with the Great Lakes ADA Center in Chicago.

UPCOMING



WEBINAR ON INVISIBLE DISABILITIES AND THE ADA: When someone does not have a visible disability, such as diabetes, epilepsy, chemical sensitivity, asthma, mental illness and HIV/AIDS, it frequently can raise unique issues for both the employer and the employee.

This session will review the legal issues and court decisions when “invisible” disabilities are an issue, including pre-employment inquiries and medical examinations, workplace disclosure, reasonable accommodation issues (such as leave and modified schedules), and confidentiality.

This free webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2nd from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. eastern time.  Presenters include Barry Taylor, JD, Director of Legal Services and Alan Goldstein, JD, Senior Attorney, from Equip for Equality (Illinois Protection and Advocacy Program)
 
The webinar is free but registration is required to participate. There are a few Indiana organizations hosting the webinar for the public. Please visit the ADA-Indiana website if you are interested in attending at one of those locations.

 

WHEN ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS WORKSHOP: The Institute Indiana Resource Center for Autism in collaboration with the Early Childhood Center is hosting a one-day workshop titled When Actions Speak Louder than Words on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Bloomington.

The intent of the When Actions Speak Louder than Words is to build an understanding of how different behaviors are communicative, to understand what their messages might be and how to begin to interpret those messages, and to provide positive approaches for supporting behavior. Thinking about behavior as communication presents a different perspective to support our development of strategies that encourage positive behaviors. This is crucial information to consider so that when an individual “misbehaves” we can learn to pause and ask “What is this individual saying?”

This workshop is geared for early childhood education providers, preschool and day care providers, early elementary teachers (both special and general education), parents, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and developmental therapists.

Presenters are Kim Davis, Research Associate with the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and Susan D. Dixon, Speech and Language Pathologist who works with the Early Childhood Center and the Monroe County Community School Corporation supporting preschool and elementary-aged students.

Registration fee is $90.00 per person. Registration is limited to 30 attendees. For questions, contact Kim Davis (davisk@indiana.edu) or Sue Dixon (sudixon@indiana.edu) at (812) 855-6508.

Certificates of attendance will be provided free. CEUs (Continuing Education Units - general education) and CRUs (Certification Renewal Units) will be available on-site. An administrative fee of $15.00 made payable to Indiana University will be assessed.

For information on Consumer Investment Funds for family members or individuals with disabilities in Indiana, contact the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities at (317) 232-7770. Also, family members of Individuals birth through 5 years with disabilities in Indiana can contact the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at 1-800-825-4733, fif@indiana.edu, or Family Involvement Funds.



ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE FORUM: Mark your calendars for September 22-23, 2010 and plan to attend the 6th National Organizational Change Forum: Employment First! The Audacity of Change, to be held at the Hilton Hotel Downtown, Indianapolis.

Join us for this dynamic event focused on employment for individuals with disabilities. Hear from leaders who have aligned federal, state, and local systems and agencies to offer employment supports. We are pleased to announce that Lynnae Ruttledge, Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Education, will be the featured Keynote Speaker.

This Forum is designed to be interactive and action oriented. Concurrent session tracks will focus on Inclusive Employment/Best Practice, Leadership/Management , Policy/Systems Change, and  Transition/School to Career. Be a part of discussions to establish a National Agenda on Employment First and Organizational Change. We encourage State Teams to attend, including state Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Disabilities agency representatives, Behavioral Health Centers, local community providers, One Stop career center staff, local education agency staff, university faculty, self-advocates, and others.

Your organization can play a leadership role in sponsoring this dynamic event that stimulates systems and organizational change to expand employment for individuals with disabilities. Your organization’s contribution at a sponsorship level listed below is critical to the ongoing success of this national grassroots initiative.


To register your organization’s sponsorship, contact Joel Fosha at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail foshaj@indiana.edu.

Registration fee is $165.00 per person (Early Bird through August 24, 2010) and $195.00 per person after August 24th. Pre-registration closes on Sunday, September 19, 2010. On-site registration will be available beginning on Wednesday, September 22. For content information, contact Pat Rogan at (317) 274-6862 or e-mail progan@iupui.edu. For registration information, contact Joel Fosha at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail foshaj@indiana.edu. Click to register NOW for the conference and make hotel accommodations!

RESEARCH STUDY

CALL FOR RESEARCH STUDY PARTICIPANTS:  A doctoral student in the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Studies at Indiana University is conducting a research study to understand how parents adjust to the stress associated with caring for a child with a developmental disability. The major aim of this study is to investigate possible factors that may promote successful adaptation for these parents.

The hope is that the results of the present study will both help service agencies target families who may be at greater risk, as well as provide recommendations for developing programs that may better serve these parents.

In this project, the participants will be asked to complete an online survey, which will take about 20-25 minutes to complete. In appreciation for their time and effort, participants can opt to enter a drawing for one of 30 $50 Target gift cards upon the completion of the survey. This study invites an estimated 435 participants to complete the survey; therefore, the estimated odds of winning a gift card are one out of 15.

Individuals will be qualified for participation in the study if they are older than 18 and are a parent who provides care to a co-residential child (either a minor or an adult) who has been diagnosed with a developmental disability. If you know individuals who fit these criteria and who might be interested in participating in this study, please forward this information. The web survey will remain active from May to August. Parents who are interested in this study can access the survey here. If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact pehsieh@indiana.edu or (812) 391-3253.

AROUND THE STATE



CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership training. As we approach our 21st Annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference, we are thrilled to welcome over 1,000 high school and college students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities from around the world to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana on July 23-26, 2010. We are in need of over 100 volunteers to assist us in these four days of learning, leadership development, and FUN! Please contact Rebecca at rebeccascherpelz@bestbuddies.org or (317) 436-8440, extension 45 for more information.

LIBRARY CORNER

CEDIR’S NEW PUBLIC HOURS: The Institute’s Center for Disability Information and Referral new public hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.

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.

Ford, A., & Thompson, J.-R. (2010). A special mother: Getting through the early days of a child's
diagnosis of learning disabilities and related disorders. New York: Newmarket Press.

Hughes-Lynch, C. E. (2010). Children with high-functioning autism: A parent's guide. Waco, TX:
Prufrock Press.

Imber, M., & Van Geel, T. (2010). A teacher's guide to education law. New York: Routledge.

Shapiro, B. K., & Accardo, P. J. (2010). Neurogenetic syndromes: Behavioral issues and their
treatment. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Pub.

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