NEWS
FYI Newsletter
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FYI Newsletter October 17, 2011
Quick Scan:
- Promoting School Readiness Workshops
- Employment Specialist Training
- FACTER Training Program
- U.S. – Nordic Conference
- Grossi Presents to Indiana Commission on Developmental Disabilities
- Pappas to Receive Arc of Indiana Award
- Arc Conference
- Annual Governor’s Council Disability Conference
- Library Corner
Promoting School Readiness Workshops: The Institute’s Early Childhood Center will host a series of regional workshops on promoting school readiness in October through January 2012.
Workshop 1: Reexamining the Classroom Day to Promote School Readiness
As we learn more about what constitutes the design of an effective preschool classroom, we are asked to reexamine our practices surrounding how we help children prepare for kindergarten. Participants will learn how they can create effective classroom routines that increase learning opportunities for preschool children. They will have the opportunity to look at their current preschool routines and develop individual plans for creating productive learning times for their children.
Workshop 2: Using Objectives from the Foundations: Teaching What Children Need to Learn
It is not enough to plan your instruction by writing down the name of your theme (transportation) and the topic of the day (cars). Jotting down the name of a book or an activity isn’t enough to tell your assistant, director, and parents what you are teaching the children. This workshop centers on using learning objectives to focus your instruction and increase children’s learning. We’ll use the Foundations to the Indiana Academic Standards for Young Children and ISTAR-KR to identify objectives for instruction. Then we’ll find ways to teach the objectives in themes and projects and extend learning across the day.
Workshop 3: Rethinking Free Play - School Readiness Research to Practice
Free Choice. Free Play. Centers. Whatever we call these times, children in early care and education programs spend a large part of their day in them. They are classroom routines when children are free to choose from multiple "centers" and direct their own play and actions. They are guided by a common belief that young children learn best when activities are more child-directed and play-based.
Recent work on children’s learning and effective early education practices present major implications for how we design free play times. Research on effective teaching strategies, the importance of intentional teaching, and an examination of Indiana kindergartens and beginning expectations for children are causing us to rethink free play. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about this recent work and apply it to the design of free play times as important learning times for young children.
Registration fee is $50.00 per person. For registration questions, contact Darra Ellis at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail dmellis@indiana.edu. For content questions, contact Michael Conn-Powers at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail eccenter@indiana.edu.
Employment Specialist Training: The next Employment Specialist Training will be held in November and December (Nov. 1, 2, 3, 29, 30 and December 1, 2011) at Easter Seals Crossroads in Indianapolis.
Participants are required to complete an exit test and attend all sessions to receive a competency-based certificate from Indiana University. CEUs, CRUs, and PGPs (Professional Growth Points) are available.
The first session (Nov. 1-3) will address laws and policy, values, Vocational Rehabilitation, person-centered planning, strategic plan development, job development, marketing, matching supports to needs, and more. Second session (Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1) will focus on worksite analysis, resource mapping, teaching strategies, task analysis, assistive technology, and job supports.
Registration fee is $300.00 per person. Registration deadline is Friday, October 21, 2011. For questions, contact Jackie Tijerina at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail jtijerin@indiana.edu.
FACTER Training Program: The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism will host a one day training, November 11, 2011, focusing on how to assess and implement the teaching of functional life skills through daily routines to increase independence.
This workshop is geared for parents, early childhood staff, general and special education teachers, administrators, autism consultants, speech therapists, psychologists, and any other professionals working with individuals with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder. Registration fee is $150.00.
If you experience any difficulty with the online registration process, please contact Indiana University Conferences at 800-933-9330, Melissa at iuconfs@indiana.edu, or Ginger at gscott@indiana.edu. If you have questions about the workshop content, please contact Kim Davis (davisk@indiana.edu) at (812) 855-6508. All other questions should be directed to Donna Beasley (dbeasley@indiana.edu) at (812) 855-6508.
Comings and Goings
U.S. – Nordic Conference: David Mank, Indiana Institute Director, was a featured speaker at the U.S. – Nordic International Conference, held on October 2-4, 2011 at Minot State University, North Dakota.
The employment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is a mix of high quality employment with good wage and integration outcomes, along with systemic difficulties of widespread implementation. Mank’s presentation focused on employment outcomes to date, the difficulties in expansion, and the possibilities for the future.
Grossi Presents to Indiana Commission on Developmental Disabilities: On October 5th, Indiana’s legislative Commission on Developmental Disabilities heard testimony from Center on Community Living and Careers Director Teresa Grossi and from Julia Holloway, Director of Indiana’s Division on Developmental and Rehabilitative Services, and staff from Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Bureau of Developmental Disabilities.
Grossi updated commission members on employment outcomes and shared data (2011 Indiana Day and Employment Outcomes System (DEOS) report) on existing challenges that confront people with disabilities throughout the state. Commission members heard about the successes of a number of employment initiatives.
Kudos
Pappas to Receive Arc of Indiana Award: Vicki Pappas, former Center Director of the Institute’s Center for Planning and Policy Studies, will be the recipient of The Arc of Indiana’s Outstanding Professional Achievement Award.
This award recognizes an administrative or executive level professional for their outstanding contribution to the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Criteria for nomination includes demonstrated career accomplishments that have embraced and strengthened The Arc’s mission as well as visionary leadership resulting in significant improvement in services for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
The award presentation will be made at The Arc of Indiana’s 2011 Conference Appreciation Luncheon and Annual Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 at the Fountains Banquet and Conference Center in Carmel, Indiana. Congratulations Vicki!
Across Indiana
Arc Conference: Mark your calendars and plan to attend The Arc of Indiana’s 2011 Conference on November 1, 2011, at the Fountains Banquet and Conference Center, Carmel, Indiana.
Last year, The Arc of Indiana embarked on a campaign, Building Pathways to Empowerment, to take a fresh look at Indiana's system of programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Months of hard work from national experts, families, self-advocates, and Indiana leaders has led to the creation of a dynamic and some may say controversial plan, a Blueprint for Change, that provides a pathway to begin making transformational change - today.
At the 2011 Conference, the Blueprint for Change will be explored and information will be shared on how key principles of the Blueprint are already taking place. The Appreciation Luncheon will celebrate those individuals, businesses, and organizations who make a difference in the lives of people with I/DD and their families every day. Finally, the day will close with an exciting Call to Action by an outstanding leader, Tim Shriver, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Special Olympics, who, along with Hoosier families and self-advocates, will call on you to "be the change" by embracing and creating the cultural and structural change that must take place for true reform to happen.
Annual Governor’s Council Disability Conference: Join fellow disability advocates at the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities' 17th Annual Conference! This year's conference, themed Celebrating Community, will be held on November 29th and 30th at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis.
Dates to remember:
- Registration deadline: Friday, November 18
- Scholarship Applications due: October 21
Overnight reservations at the Westin must be made by 5 p.m. November 7 and are only $89 plus 17% tax for a single or a double. NOTE: If you apply for a scholarship that includes overnight lodging, your reservation will be made by the conference coordinator.
Bring a friend or a carload. Please encourage others in your community to attend. Additional registration booklets are available upon request. Call (317) 232-7770 or e-mail bwade@gpcpd.org.
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, visit us at 2853 East Tenth Street in Bloomington.
The fall edition of the CeDIR Citings Newsletter is available on-line. In this issue, resources are highlighted that focus on nutrition.
Braddock, D. L. (et al.). (2011). The state of the states in developmental disabilities 2011. Boulder: Dept. of Psychiatry and Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, University of Colorado. (Call Number: 55 .S73 2011)
International Code Council, & American National Standards Institute. (2010). Accessible and usable buildings and facilities: ICC A117.1-2009: American National Standard. Washington, DC: International Code Council. (Call Number: 50.2 .A332)
United States. (2010). Social security: Why action should be taken soon. Washington, D.C. (400 Va. Ave., SW, Suite 625, Washington 20024): Social Security Advisory Board. (Call Number: 50.2 .S5)