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FYI Newsletter January 26, 2009
Quick Scan:
- Citizen Advocacy Fundraiser - Death by Chocolate III: Love Writes a Deadly Verse
- Classroom Managment Regional Workshops
- Indiana License Plate to Support Autism
- Educational Accessibility for Students Learning at a Distance
- Library Corner
Citizen Advocacy Fundraiser - Death by Chocolate III: Love Writes a Deadly Verse
Often people with disabilities may be isolated, face difficult challenges, or be at risk. They need friendships and the willingness of other members of the community to help them navigate human services, the health system, and even the legal system, so that people with disabilities may become viable and active members of their community.
Monroe County is fortunate to have an organization called Citizen Advocacy of South-Central Indiana, Inc. (CASCI). The mission of this not-for-profit organization is to "facilitate the recognition, promotion, and protection of the rights and interests of people with disabilities. This is achieved through recruiting and supporting individuals (Advocates) from the local community, who are prepared to act voluntarily to make a positive difference to the life of a person with a disability (Partner)."
As part of Options' Week of Chocolate events, CASCI is having a fundraiser, a Death by Chocolate Interactive Murder Mystery Play, which will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 3800 East Third Street in Bloomington. The play will be presented by the Bloomington Playwrights Project and CASCI. A decadent chocolate dessert, provided by Lennie's of Bloomington, plus tea or coffee will be served.
Tickets may be purchased for $17.00 per person or two tickets for $30.00 from St. Thomas Lutheran Church or call Jo at 812-219-5566. Interested individuals are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets, as seating is limited. This event is recommended for teens and adults ages 13 and older.
Classroom Managment Regional Workshops
The Institute's Center on Education and Lifelong Learning, in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Education, is hosting an introductory regional workshop series with a focus on Classroom Management.
Research on effective disciplinary practices demonstrates that schools over-rely on reactive and punitive consequences to change behavior. Effective classroom management involves:
Clarifying and teaching procedures and rules;
Strong guidance and clear purpose, including effective instruction, high rates of student engagement, and adequate supports;
Balanced set of disciplinary interventions;
Teacher "stance" involving active supervision and a calm demeanor; and
Explicit teaching of responsibility and self-management.
Training dates and cities include:
January 29, 2009
Evansville, IN
March 12, 2009
Elkhart, IN
March 24, 2009
Indianapolis, IN
April 2, 2009
Indianapolis, IN
Classroom teachers, instructional assistants and paraprofessionals, and building administrators should plan to attend. There is no registration fee associated with these workshops. Those who attend will be eligible to enroll in the Classroom Management Summer Camp to be held in June/July. For more information, contact Trish Merida at (812) 855-8343 or e-mail pmerida@indiana.edu or visit http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cell/ to download a registration form.
Indiana License Plates to Support Autism
The Autism Society of Indiana (ASI) is attempting to bring special group license plates for autism in Indiana, similar to what Kentucky now has available. The monies raised by this initiative will go to ASI to fund projects for children, families and adults affected by autism spectrum disorders.
In order to initiate the process we must have a commitment of 500 names and have the plates pre-paid for. There is no chance of financial loss to those willing to make a pre-purchase commitment, as 100% of your money will be refunded if we do not get the support we need.
The Details
Regular Autism License Plates will be $25 each plus a $15 administrative fee from the BMV, for a total cost of $40 per plate (in addition to your regular license plate fee).
Vanity Autism License Plates will be $50 each plus a $15 administrative fee from the BMV, for a total of cost of $65 per plate (in addition to your regular license plate fee). As one of the first 100 people to register for this program you will have the option of choosing your own number (1 through 100). Please indicate your first, second and third choice below.
When we have reached our goal of 500 plate supporters, you will receive a voucher for the plate and details on how to proceed. Remember, you do not need to pay now. This is just a commitment to buy a plate if they are approved (in which case we will bill you).
All forms are due by February 14, 2009. In June 2009, we will be notifying everyone if the BMV has approved our application. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Arlington at angelae13@hotmail.com or call (317) 695-0252 to request a form.
Educational Accessibility for Students Learning at a Distance
The IU School of Continuing Studies (SCS) and Adaptive Technology Centers (ATC) have ad¬opted a formal agreement to provide adaptive technologies to special needs students learning at a distance. The agreement provides these technologies to IU SCS students at no cost to the student.
Adaptive Technology Centers are well-versed in providing cutting-edge technologies to students on each of IU's campuses. ATC is pleased to have the opportunity to expand services to IU students with many kinds of disabilities who are learning at a distance through SCS. The Center provides services for students who need assistance due to visual (blindness and low vision), mobility, hearing, and learning (dyslexia, ADHD, and others) disabilities.
"Advances in information and adaptive technology make it possible to support distance students with disabilities in the same way their peers are supported on any of the IU campuses," said Margaret Londergan, Manager of Adaptive Technology Centers. "We strive to provide all students with barrier-free access to all Indiana University academic offerings."
"We are so pleased that the Adaptive Technology Centers are willing to work with our distance education students who happen to have disabilities," said Eileen Balliet, Disabilities Coordinator for the IU School of Continuing Studies. "This allows us to provide our students with the same cutting-edge tools students on campus currently receive to equalize their access to education."
The School of Continuing Studies offers a wide variety of educational options to students with special needs, including self-paced online and correspondence courses, semester-based on-line courses, and an associate and bachelor's degree in general studies.
The extent to which these services are supplied is based on individual needs as supported by documentation and on the academic requirements of the courses. For more information, visit http://scs.indiana.edu/special_needs.html, or www.indiana.edu/~iuadapts.
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.
National Council on Disability (U.S.). (2007). Empowerment for Americans with disabilities: Breaking barriers to careers and full employment. Washington, DC: National Council on Disability.
United States. (2008). History, progress, transformation: Vision of the future. [Washington, D.C.?]: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Wehman, P., Kregel, J., & Brooke, V. (2008). Workplace supports and job retention: Promoting an employer driven approach to employment of people with disabilities. [Richmond, VA]: Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research & Training
Center on Workplace Supports & Job Retention.