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FYI Newsletter
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FYI Newsletter March 26, 2012
QUICK SCAN:
- For Professionals and Caregivers: Teaching Intimate Relationships and Sexual Health to Individuals with ASD Workshop
- Indianapolis ADA Symposium
- Webinar on Student-Led Transition IEPs Now Online
- Congratulations to Dr. Timberly Baker and Dr. Becky Pérez
- IRCA Staff Present at INARF
- ArtsWORK Meeting for March
- Coalition for Access and Mobility Created
- Web Survey on Critical Barriers
- Indiana Family Helpline has New Number
- Library Corner
FOR PROFESSIONALS AND CAREGIVERS: TEACHING INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUAL HEALTH TO INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD WORKSHOP: Communication and social interaction are particularly difficult for adolescents and adults with high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other social challenges entering into intimate relationships. While teaching sex education may seem like a formidable task, empowering them to make informed choices and decisions regarding their bodies and their relationships is crucial for lifelong health and well-being.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism’s workshop on Teaching Intimate Relationships and Sexual Health to Individuals with ASD scheduled for April 18, 2012 in Bloomington at the Indiana Institute. This workshop can be successfully utilized by instructors from a variety of backgrounds including teachers, social workers, group home providers, psychologists, parents, and therapists. Anyone working or living with highly verbal individuals with ASD or social challenges will benefit from this training.
Registration fee is $95.00 per person. Registrations and payments for workshops are done online through Indiana University (IU) Conferences. Payment may be made by credit card or purchase order only. If you have questions about the workshop content, contact Catherine Davies (daviesc@indiana.edu) or Melissa Dubie (mdubie@indiana.edu) at (812) 855-6508. All other questions regarding registration should be directed to Donna Beasley (dbeasley@indiana.edu) or (812) 855-6508.
INDIANAPOLIS ADA SYMPOSIUM: Time is running out for the early registration discount! The Great Lakes ADA Center and the Great Plains ADA Center are hosting the ADA Symposium in Indianapolis on May 30th through June 1st at the Hyatt Regency. The three-day Symposium will feature national experts from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Access Board, and other organizations. Indiana's own National Center on Accessibility (NCA) at Indiana University will host a series of sessions designed for recreation and park professionals.
ACROSS THE COURTYARD
WEBINAR ON STUDENT-LED TRANSITION IEPS NOW ONLINE: The new webinar Self-determination: Involving Students in Transition Planning is now recorded and available on the Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center (INSTRC). The webinar, as well as accompanying presentation materials and handouts, is listed in the What’s New box on the new INSTRC home page.
INSTRC, in collaboration with the East Cadre of Transition Leaders, presented the webinar Monday, March 19. Presenters Liza Bates, the Special Education Director of East Central Indiana Special Services, and teachers Alexandria Monroe and Mandi Walker, explained how to teach self-determination skills, write self-determination goals, and support students as they actively participate and/or lead their transition case conferences. The handouts and presentations include a number of practical suggestions, parent training information, links to websites and copies of assessment forms.
KUDOS
CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. TIMBERLY BAKER AND DR. BECKY PÉREZ: The Indiana Institute extends our congratulations to the Institute’s Center on Education and Lifelong Learning’s Timberly Baker and Becky Pérez on receiving their Doctorate’s this winter and spring. Baker, who is a Research Associate with the Center, received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies through IU’s School of Education. Pérez, also a Research Associate with CELL, received her Doctorate in School Psychology.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
IRCA STAFF PRESENT AT INARF: Last week, our friends at INARF held their Annual Conference in Indianapolis, titled Tomorrow’s Kitchen: Creating a New Recipe. Kim Davis, Research Associate, Indiana Resource Center for Autism, presented a session titled A Challenge to Reframe Our Thinking: Movement Difference and Its Impact on People with Autism. Kristie Lofland, Educational Consultant with the IRCA, presented a session entitled Autism and Communication Disorders providing attendees with an overview of communication language issues in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The Indiana Institute was also represented in the Exhibitors Hall.
IN BLOOMINGTON
ARTSWORK MEETING FOR MARCH: Come join South Central ArtsWORK Indiana (SCAI) monthly meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 27, 2012 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Bloomington City Hall, McCloskey Conference Room, 1st floor. The meeting space is fully accessible and parking is free.
This month’s guest will be Michael Simmons, who will discuss performance, exhibition, teaching, and learning opportunities for artists and performers through City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department. Event details and minutes from previous meetings are always posted on the ArtsWORK Indiana website.
COALITION FOR ACCESS AND MOBILITY CREATED: The Monroe County Coalition for Access and Mobility (MCCAM) has been formed and efforts are under way to improve access to public transportation for people with disabilities in Monroe County.
MCCAM members link the interests of transit and disability and include individuals from the Metropolitan Planning Organization, (MPO), Bloomington Transit, IU Campus Bus, Rural Transit and E2 Taxi, and a number of human services agencies including Area 10 Agency on Aging, Life Designs, Stone Belt, SICIL, IU Disability Services, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and people from the community with disabilities.
Bloomington/Monroe County was among 10 communities from throughout the U.S. who participated in the Accessible Transportation Coalitions Initiative offered by Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA). Bloomington was selected through a competitive application process in which a commitment to improving accessibility had to be expressed. A two day retreat in October, 2011 brought the members of this coalition together to identify areas of focus in order to improve transportation services for people with disabilities and older adults in our community. The group is currently working together to compile a list of existing transportation resources, identify unmet needs, and promote ways to educate and inform community members and agencies to be involved in the accessible transportation planning process.
MCCAM’s vision statement, “To become a community where all people can move about freely with safety and convenience regardless of ability is our ultimate goal” said MCCAM’s co-chair, Barbara Salisbury. For more information contact the group at mccaccess@live.com or visit us at our Facebook page.
IN INDIANA
WEB SURVEY ON CRITICAL BARRIERS: Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services (IPAS) is seeking your input on the critical barriers facing Hoosiers with disabilities. Take a few minutes to complete this web survey hosted by the Center for Planning and Policy Studies at the Indiana Institute. Your participation in this survey will help identify the major disability rights barriers that may interfere with people with disabilities achieving full community participation in Indiana.
Your input will also help IPAS make decisions about how their resources will be used to address these barriers in the coming year. The goal is to gather input from all 92 Indiana counties.
INDIANA FAMILY HELPLINE HAS NEW NUMBER: The Indiana Family Helpline (IFHL) has a new number, but still offers callers the same referral assistance and supports. Hoosiers with questions about anything from prenatal care to emergency shelters to dental care services can now reach IFHL at 1-855-HELP-1ST (1-855-435-7178) or TTY at 1-866-275-1274.
IFHL is a service of the Indiana State Department of Health. IFHL offers callers information, referrals and consumer education about social service needs Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am to 5:00 p.m. You can also call the Indiana State Department of Health at (317) 233-1325.
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.
Couwenhoven, T. (2011). The girls' guide to growing up: Choices & changes in the tween years. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. (Call Number: 7 .C6)Davies, C., Dubie, M., & Mesibov, G. B. (2012). Intimate relationships and sexual health: A curriculum for teaching adolescents/adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and other social challenges. Shawnee Mission, KS: AAPC Pub. (Call Number: 47 .D3)
Scherer, M. J. (2012). Assistive technologies and other supports for people with brain impairment. New York: Springer Pub. (Call Number: 36 .S36)