Quick Scan:
The Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services has asked the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at the Indiana Institute to conduct an independent evaluation and audit of the Indiana First Steps Early Intervention System. The audit/evaluation is intended to assess the impact of recent changes to First Steps and generate information that will be considered in implementing improving early intervention services for future children and families in Indiana.
As part of the audit, all families not currently receiving First Steps, but who have had contact with the program in the past 10 years are asked to participate. These families are invited to complete an on-line survey that should take only 15-30 minutes to complete. Results of the survey will provide valuable insight into Indiana's EI system. The survey is available online at: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/ecc/fsfamily.htm. All individual responses and identifying information will be kept confidential. If a family would like to complete the survey over the phone, or have the survey mailed to them, please contact Jackie Dutkowski at 1-800-825-4733 or e-mail eccenter@indiana.edu.
The 2008 Indiana Disability Poll, conducted by the Indiana Institute's Center for Planning and Policy Studies, is focusing on the timely topics of voting and civic participation this year. We want to hear from people with disabilities and their family members about important topics such as voting, barriers to voting, the accessibility of polling places, volunteering for political parties, and participation in other community policymaking activities. Once all the responses are collected, they will be summarized and used to assure that the voices of people with disabilities are heard during the fall elections and that their vote counts!
Please go online and respond to this year's Disability Poll: A Survey on Voting and Civic Engagement at http://www.thepollingplace.org. If you would prefer a paper-and-pencil version of the Disability Poll or one in alternative formats, please contact Vicki Pappas at cpps@indiana.edu or by calling (812) 855-6508.
New Items: The following new materials may be borrowed by Indiana residents from the Center for Disability Information and Referral (CeDIR) 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.
Brodey, D. (2008). The elephant in the playroom: Ordinary parents write intimately and honestly about the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of raising kids with special needs. New York: Plume.
Curtis, S.E. (2008). Understanding your child's puzzling behavior: A guide for parents of children with behavioral, social, and learning challenges. Bainbridge Island, WA: Lifespan Press.
Hart, Y.M., & Sander, J.W. (2008). Epilepsy: Questions and answers (2nd ed.). Jupiter, FL: Merit Pub. International.
Ramey, E.M., & Ramey, J.J. (2008). Autistics' guide to dating: Autobiographical approaches to "common sense wisdom. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley.
Reid, G., & Green, S. (2007). The teaching assistant's guide to dyslexia. New York: Continuum.