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RESOURCES

Family and Individual Resource and Support Team (FIRST)

"A Family is Any and All Individuals Who are the Constant in a Person's Life"

FIRST Logo

Mission Statement

The Indiana Institute's Family and Individual Resource and Support Team (FIRST) promotes and enhances the perspectives of families and persons with disabilities throughout the Indiana Institute and serves as a resource to communities in Indiana.

FIRST membership includes Institute employees with a strong interest in ensuring that the voice of individuals with disabilities and their families is heard both within the Indiana Institute and across the state. The majority of FIRST members are parents, family members, or individuals with disabilities. Family members calling the Indiana Institute for assistance are paired with a FIRST member that most closely matches the expressed area of interest or concern. An interdisciplinary life span approach is embraced by the team, with representation from each of the seven centers at the Institute. Members bring a unique blend of personal and professional disability-related expertise to the team process and activities. 

FIRST members...

  • Provide parent-to-parent support, information, and referrals for families who contact The Institute for information;
  • Assist in procedures for disseminating information on a regular and timely basis to individuals with disabilities and families; and
  • Ensure that individuals with disabilities and their families enhance their knowledge of disability issues by providing opportunities to obtain written products available from the Indiana Institute, provide access to Training Funds, and conduct trainings/workshops for families and individuals with disabilities.
  • Respond to state-wide presentation requests on disability issues from parent groups, public/private schools, community organizations, and institutions of higher education on disability issues affecting family members and individuals with disabilities.

FIRST Brochure

Products developed by FIRST

Tips to Promote Positive Partnerships Between Families and Schools

Tips Folder Between Parents and Schools

This folder was designed to help promote positive partnerships between school personnel and families of children with disabilities. The increased frustration over the years, felt by both parties, prompted a statewide survey of families and school personnel. Survey results led to a forum to discuss issues raised. The Family and School Partnership Forum was held in June 2003, where participants were asked to brainstorm ideas that would promote positive partnerships between families and school personnel. Their ideas prompted the development of this folder.

Tips folders are $1.00 each, plus S&H. Bulk prices are available. To order, contact the Publications Department, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, 2853 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47408-2696, call (812) 855-6508 or e-mail cedir@indiana.edu.

Tips to Promote Working Partnerships between Families and Medicaid Case Managers

Case Managers Tips Folder Cover

This folder was designed as a tool to help individuals with disabilities and their families in the interview process of hiring a new case manager. Checklists are provided to assist families and case managers in their communication and responsibilities. The content of this product was designed to fit onto a file folder, so families and case managers can keep important papers organized.

Tips folders are $1.00 each, plus S&H. Bulk prices are available. To order, contact the Publications Department, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, 2853 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47408-2696, call (812) 855-6508 or e-mail cedir@indiana.edu.

Tips on Emergency Preparedness for Families and Direct Support Staff

Tips on Emergency Preparedness Folder

This folder is designed to provide information that does not focus on the scary aspects of emergencies. It offers the family and support staff suggestions on how to prepare in the event that an emergency does arise. The reader is encouraged to think of emergency preparedness as a project rather than a reaction to an unexpected and frightening event. The content of this product was also designed to fit onto a file folder, so families can keep emergency preparedness materials organized.

Tips folders are $1.00 each, plus S&H. Bulk prices are available. To order, contact the Publications Department, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, 2853 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47408-2696, call (812) 855-6508 or e-mail cedir@indiana.edu.

Tips to Promote Working Partnerships between Families and Service Providers

Tips Folder for Service Providers

This folder is designed as a  tool to help individuals with disabilities and their families in the interview process of hiring a service provider/agency. Checklists are provided to assist families and service providers in their communication and responsibilities. The content of this product was designed to fit onto a file folder, so families and service providers can keep important papers organized.

Tips folders are $1.00 each, plus S&H. Bulk prices are available. To order, contact the Publications Department, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, 2853 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47408-2696, call (812) 855-6508 or e-mail cedir@indiana.edu.

For more information on FIRST, contact Sharon Hauss, FIRST Committee Chair, at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail sahauss@indiana.edu.