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July 23, 2012 |
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2012 Needs Assessment Survey – Deadline July 31, 2012
Every three years, the Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism is legislatively mandated to conduct a Needs Assessment Survey. While state legislation does not specify what population needs to be surveyed, IRCA has opted to gather information from families. This is done as part of the Center’s commitment to enhancing quality services and options for families and individuals across the autism spectrum.
The purpose of the survey is to allow families of individuals on the autism spectrum to discuss issues that are relevant to the care of their child, including quality educational programming, employment, Medicaid Waivers, insurance coverage, and other topics. Results of the survey are presented to the Indiana Legislative Commission on Autism and used for research purposes by the IRCA. The feedback you provide assists the Commission in evaluating the effectiveness of the current system and in developing additional policy and legislation.
While the survey is somewhat lengthy, we wanted to make sure to cover a range of topics that are relevant to families and individuals on the autism spectrum. Unfortunately, because of urgency in gathering this information, online surveys must be completed no later than July 31, 2012. All information will not be linked back to you or your child and family. Your participation in this research survey is strictly voluntary. If you have any questions about the survey, contact Scott Bellini via email at sbellini@indiana.edu.
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IRCA Staff to Present at ASA Conference
Staff from the Indiana Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism will be a part of the conference program at the 2012 Autism Society National Conference and Exposition to be held July 25-28, 2012 in San Diego, California.
Cathy Pratt, Director of the IRCA, will co-present with Kristie Lofland, Research Associate, a session titled Implementing Evidence-Based Practices and School-Wide Impact . The session will focus on how evidence-based practices embedded into school settings universally to benefit all students. Case studies and rich examples will be used to illustrate content. Strategies adopted are related to behavior, visual supports, social skills instruction, and instruction. Examples will be used from various grade levels and for those across the spectrum.
Staff members Melissa Dubie and Catherine Davies, both Research Associates with the Center, will present a session titled Teaching Intimate Relationships to Adolescents and Adults with High Functioning Autism. Davies and Dubie, co-authors of the recently released book, Intimate Relationships and Sexual Health, will give an overview of the curriculum including lessons that professionals and parents can utilize to teach the complex topics of both sex education and relationships.
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COMMUNICATING THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTE
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Institute Blogs and Podcasts
Communicating the work of the Centers, research findings, and related publications, across a wide range of dissemination platforms is a priority of the Institute. Take some time to read or take a listen to the following:
The Center for Disability Information and Referral’s Blog provides readers with disability-related information including current events, news, book reviews, bibliographies, and more
The Indiana Resource Center for Autism’s Blog provides the latest autism-related resources and materials including books, videos, websites, and training events
Phil’s Adventures in Elderburbia focuses on the “elderfriendly community movement," which shifts the focus on aging away from the individual “needs” of elders to the community context in which the aging experience is embedded. Adventures in Elderburbia is produced at the Center on Aging and Community.
The Center on Education and Lifelong Learning’s Podcast focuses on teaching in the public schools. Topics such as classroom management, standardized assessments, revamping of No Child Left Behind, and teacher evaluations are discussed.
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Meet Artist Paul Neufelder - You've Got to Make a Personal Connection
When Columbus visual artist Paul Neufelder met Lois Templeton at a “pretty generic, middle-of-the-road” art fair in the late ‘80’s, he wasn’t expecting to find a life-changing mentor. “She looked like my grandma.” As it turned out, she was “an absolute ball of fire.
She was all about what I was doing: talking about color, and being bold and being out there, and having your own voice.” Neufelder’s friendship with Lois brought him kindness, assistance, and encouragement. After seeing a show of her work in Louisville impressed him tremendously, he took her opinions more seriously. “I realized that her compliments are not hollow.”
Lois is one of a series of mentors whom Neufelder credits as having been supportive and influential in his work over the past two decades as a painter, installation and scenic artist, teacher, and administrator. "This is a tough profession," he emphasizes. "These bonds are critical."
Paul Neufelder might have had a very different career. At age 14, he envisioned himself in adulthood as a forester. That’s when he broke his neck in a diving accident. "I found out I was better at art after my accident than before. That was the first time I found that I could really excel."
Read the complete story by visiting the Artswork Indiana Featured Artists pages. Artswork Indiana is an informal, statewide group of individuals and organizations who seek to increase arts related professional opportunities for people with disabilities. Artswork’s mission is to facilitate access to careers in the arts for people with disabilities through awareness, education, and encouragement.
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Developmental Disabilities Commission Announces Summer/Fall Meeting Schedule
The Commission on Developmental Disabilities will hold their first meeting on August 7, 2012, 10:00 a.m., State House Room 404, 200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis.
The commission will receive updates from the Division of Disabilities and Rehabilitative Services, The Arc of Indiana, and INARF. Meetings will also be held September 11 and October 9, 2012 starting at 10:00 a.m. (State House Room 404). Meetings will be broadcast via the Internet. Select the video stream from the drop down list to watch the webcast.
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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.
Brown, J. T. (2012). The parent's guide to college for students on the autism spectrum. Shawnee Mission, KS: AAPC Pub. (Call Number: 35 .B7)
Coplan, J. (2010). Making sense of autistic spectrum disorders: Create the brightest future for your child with the best treatment options. New York: Bantam Books. (Call Number: 20.3 .C657)
Leiter, V. (2012). Their time has come: Youth with disabilities entering adulthood. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. (Call Number: 35 .L4)
Warshowsky, J. H. (2012). How behavioral optometry can unlock your child's potential: Identifying and overcoming blocks to concentration, self-esteem and school success with vision therapy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. (Call Number: 40.52 .W3)
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