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FYI Newsletter July 30, 2007
Quick Scan:
- ADA-Indiana Audio Conference
- Futures Planning Conference
- ADA Community Implementation Grants
- Preparing Young Children for the First Day of School
- Hanging with the Bovine
- Library Corner
ADA-Indiana Audio Conference
ADA-Indiana's August Audio Conference will feature speakers from the National Council on Disability who will discuss the findings from their study on the implementation and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A series of reports from the study were released on the 17th Anniversary of the ADA. It has been nearly 17 years since the passage of the ADA and these reports identify what has worked and what hasn't with recommendations for furthering the promise of the ADA at all levels. Join this session to learn more about the findings in these reports and what they will mean to the future of the ADA.
This audio conference will be held on Tuesday, August 7th, 2007 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. (EDT) in five different Indiana locations. No pre-registration is required. CRC continuing education will be available. Session at sites sponsored by ADA-Indiana listed below, are free and will be of interest to employers, local and state government officials, business owners, advocates, and other interested community members.
ADA-Indiana site locations include:
Bloomington, IN (2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT)
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Building L
2853 East Tenth Street
Evansville, IN (1:00-2:30 p.m. Central)
University of Southern Indiana Campus
Science Center, Room 1212 (SC 1212)
Indianapolis, IN (2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT)
Indiana Government Center, Conference Room 12
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN (2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT)
Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services
4701 North Keystone Avenue, Suite 222
West Lafayette, IN (2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT)
Purdue University - West Lafayette Campus
Stewart Center, Room 318
If you are not unable to participate at one of ADA-Indiana's sponsored sites, individuals and organizations can purchase access to the audio conference by visiting http://www.ada-audio.org. The cost is $25.00 (for not-for-profits) and $40.00 (for-profit entities). For more information visit http://www.adaindiana.org, or contact Matt Norris at 1-800-825-4733 or e-mail adainfo@indiana.edu.
Futures Planning Conference
If you are a parent of a middle or high schooler with a disability, mark your calendar and plan to attend with the whole family, a one-day conference focusing on developing a "game plan" for life!
Champion Your Future, A Game Plan for Life will be held on Saturday, August 18, at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana. Over the past several months, parents, in conjunction with The Arc of Indiana and a planning committee, have put together a conference that will feed your need for information as a parent, and begin to open your child's mind to possibilities for their future. Keynote speakers will appeal to the entire family and breakout sessions are geared for parents and students. This is a unique opportunity for your child to hear directly from their peers and others who can help them think about the possibilities for their game plan for life!
Registration fee is $15.00 per person or no more that $60.00 per family. Pre-registration is required and must be returned by Friday, August 10, 2007. Visit http://www.arcind.org for complete conference and registration information (click on "Upcoming Events").
ADA Community Implementation Grants
As part of recognizing the 17th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA-Indiana is pleased to announce that it will again provide funding to organizations in Indiana to carry out Community ADA Implementation Projects during 2007-08. The purpose of the projects is to promote increased implementation of the ADA in Indiana's local communities.
Who Is Eligible?
Community organizations, businesses, local government entities, schools, institutions of higher education, Centers for Independent Living, advocacy organizations, and/or state and regional organizations are eligible to apply for funding.
Important Dates
Proposals will be considered twice a year. First round proposals must be received or postmarked no later than Wednesday, August 15, 2007. If funds permit, second round proposals must be received or postmarked no later than Monday, October 15, 2007.
2007-2008 Priorities
This year's priorities are based on the results of ADA-Indiana's 2006 ADA Report Card, described below. We are most interested in projects that will show real impact and specific changes. We are NOT interested in projects that focus only on awareness building. Projects that have potential for replication in other communities are also encouraged.
Priority Area 1: Employment of people with disabilities - especially training employers to increase their knowledge about hiring practices and reasonable accommodations. Targeted audiences might include community business owners, non- profit agencies, human resource personnel, government employers, etc.
Priority Area 2: Removal of physical barriers - helping businesses do self- assessments, identifying and removing barriers, accessible parking, etc. [Please note that grant monies cannot be used to purchase equipment or pay for modifications.]
Priority Area 3: Helping people with disabilities learn more about their ADA rights and responsibilities - including training about discrimination and rights protected by the ADA, how to file a complaint, responsibilities under the ADA, etc.
Priority Area 4: Accessible transportation - including increasing routes and hours, accessible bus stops, materials in alternative formats, etc.
Priority Area 5: Improving access to local government programs and services - working with local governments to make their programs, services, and activities accessible to people with disabilities. For example, the court, public meetings and hearings, city websites, use of alternative formats, etc.
The Request for Proposals is available in PDF format and Word (There are free PDF viewers available for download at Adobe Software and Foxit Software ). Visit http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cpps/ada/grants/ for more information or contact Vicki Pappas, Fiscal Agent, at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail adainfo@indiana.edu.
Preparing Young Children for the First Day of School
"Gettingxready for school is an event that parents face with mixed emotions - a sense of xexcitement about our children's development and new experiences to come; a sense of loss because our children are growing up; a sense of helplessness because we are no longer in control; perhaps apprehension because we will not be there to protect them," said Cathy Beard, family support specialist with the Early Childhood Center at the Indiana Institute for Disability and Community at Indiana University. For parents of children with disabilities, these feelings may be even more intense. "Planning now for that transition will help restore a measure of control, and will alleviate some of the anxiety we may feel the day our children go off to school," she said.
Build Up the Big Day. "Always talk about school in a positive way," Beard said. Reading books about going to school and making new friends, circling the date on the calendar, and planning a special family outing to celebrate going to school can help build enthusiasm, she said.
Practice, Practice, Practice. Beard suggests taking a bus ride and talking about bus rules, visiting the new school and playing on the grounds, carrying a backpack with a book or two inside, and packing lunchbox picnics throughout the summer.
Assess Self-Help Skills. Things like putting on and taking off outerwear, tying shoes and using table manners are essential skills for an independent school day, Beard said. Also make sure your child has experience using public restrooms.
Establish a Sleep Schedule You can Follow During the School Year. Remember to allow extra time in the morning for everyone to get ready, Beard said. Gradually moving toward the bedtime you'll use during the school year will help your child adjust. "Do this early so it is not viewed by your child as a drawback to going to school," she said.
For additional information, contact Cathy Beard at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail beardc@indiana.edu. Additional information is available from the Early Childhood Meeting Place. Visit http://earlychildhoodmeetingplace.indiana.edu/. Thanks to Elisabeth Andrews of Media Relations at Indiana University for her assistance with this feature.
Hanging with the Bovine
A note of special thanks to the staff of the Institute's Center for Disability Information and Referral for their assistance with providing a week-long presence by the Indiana Institute at the Monroe County Fair. Many important contacts with residence of local and surrounding counties were made furthering the Institute's mission of supporting the meaningful participation of people of all ages and abilities through research, education, and service.
Library Corner
New Items: The following new materials may be borrowed by Indiana residents from 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.
Bock, K., Stauth, C., & Fink, K. (2007). Healing the new childhood epidemics: Autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies: The groundbreaking program for the 4-A disorders. New York: Ballantine Books.
Eisen, A.R., & Engler, L.B. (2007). Helping your socially vulnerable child: What to do when your child is shy, socially anxious, withdrawn, or bullied. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Lerner, C., & Parlakian, R. (2007). Learning happens [DVD recording]. Washington, DC: Zero to Three.