http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/rss/newsXML.phpNews XML Feedhttp://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=113http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=113View the Indiana University Media Release (February 9, 2009)BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- All interested stakeholders are invited to help define the design of future Medicaid Waivers for people with developmental disabilities in Indiana. One way to provide input is to complete the online Medicaid Waiver Survey, currently being conducted by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). This is part of the FSSA's commitment to soliciting broad-based input for the waiver renewal process. Medicaid waivers provide individualized services, paid for through the government's Medicaid program, that enable people to live at home rather than in institutions. How to participate If you are a person with a disability currently receiving waiver supports or are on the waiting list, a family member, or a provider of waiver services, you are invited to submit your ideas to the conversation via the online survey. Visit the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community's Web site at www.iidc.indiana.edu to view a video explaining the waiver input process and take the survey. You'll find the link under the "Institute Spotlight" section. The survey is also available in print form. Copies are available to download on the above Web site. For alternative formats, please email the Indiana Institute at beheard@indiana.edu or call 812-855-6508. http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=110http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=110View the Indiana University Media Release (Wednesday, February 18, 2009) BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has asked the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community to host a series of community discussions to gather public opinions that will guide the development of Medicaid waivers administered by the FSSA. The discussions will specifically address the Developmental Disabilities waiver, which is up for renewal in April, and also the Autism and Support Services waivers. Medicaid waivers provide individualized services, paid for through the government's Medicaid program, that enable people to live at home rather than in institutions. FSSA wants to hear from stakeholders -- that is, community service providers, case managers, people with disabilities, family members, advocates and others -- anyone who has ideas about how to make Indiana's waivers the best that they can be. There will be multiple ways to provide input during the next several months. The first is a series of community waiver conversations, to be held during February. If you are a current waiver recipient, on the waiting list, a person with a disability or a family member, or a provider of waiver services, you are invited to be part of one of three upcoming Community Waiver Conversations, to be held at the following locations: Indianapolis -- Junior Achievement Center at 74th and Keystone Ave. Feb. 2, 7-9 p.m. for persons with disabilities and family members Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-noon for service providers New Albany -- Holiday Inn Express at 411 W. Spring St. Feb. 16, 7-9 p.m. for persons with disabilities and family members Feb. 17, 10 a.m.-noon for service providers Fort Wayne -- The League for the Blind at 5821 S. Anthony Blvd. Feb. 23, 7-9 p.m. for persons with disabilities and family members Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-noon for service providers If you cannot attend the community waiver conversations, an online survey will also be available to provide input in early February. The Indiana Institute will also be conducting targeted focus groups of consumers and providers toward the end of February. For more information, contact Vicki Pappas or Joel Fosha at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at 812-855-6508 or via e-mail at beheard@indiana.edu. The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community is a research, education and service center affiliated with Indiana University Bloomington. Its mission is to work with communities to welcome, value and support the meaningful participation of people of all ages and abilities through research, education and service. http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=44http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=44IU recognized for employment of people with disabilitiesBLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Stone Belt will recognize 10 local businesses and organizations, five of them Indiana University affiliated, at its annual Business Recognition Ceremony on March 4 (Tuesday). The event will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Bloomington Convention Center Olcott Young Room. The awards are presented during National Disabilities Awareness Month to recognize outstanding contributions in promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Mayor Mark Kruzan will attend the event to read a proclamation declaring March 4 as Disability Awareness Day for the City of Bloomington. Stone Belt CEO Leslie Green will lead the event and Stone Belt staff, clients and award recipients will discuss their employment experiences. The following employers will be recognized: Cook Pharmica Goody's Family Clothing Indiana Institute for Disability and Community Early Childhood Center Indiana Memorial Union Hotel Housekeeping and Laundry IU Center for Survey Research IU Herman B. Wells Library Customer and Access Services IU Police Department O'Malia's Marketplace Pizza Hut East Taco Bell West "Having employers who are willing and eager to partner with Stone Belt's Employment Services is extremely important in helping people with disabilities to achieve independence and inclusion in the community and be contributing members to the work force and economy," states Stone Belt CEO Leslie Green. "Many businesses in our community understand the value of hiring people with disabilities and have welcomed our clients with open arms." Stone Belt is a community-based organization with over 45 years of experience in serving persons with developmental disabilities. With locations in Monroe, Lawrence, Owen and Bartholomew Counties, Stone Belt's mission is to prepare, empower and support persons with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the life of the community. http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=43http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=43Indiana University, Bloomington community to take part in International Day for Sharing Life Stories BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Residents of the Bloomington area will have multiple opportunities to share and savor stories next week in connection with the International Day for Sharing Life Stories, a worldwide celebration scheduled for May 16. Local activities include weeklong exhibits and displays on themes related to community, memory and story circles, roundtables and exercises designed to facilitate the sharing of memories and the telling of stories. "We want to gather stories and involve people in the experience of sharing stories," said Philip B. Stafford, director of the Center on Aging and Community, which is convening the Bloomington activities. The center is part of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, a research, education and service center affiliated with Indiana University Bloomington. The International Day of Sharing Life Stories is a project of the Museum of the Person, which operates in Brazil, Portugal, the United States and Canada, and the California-based Center for Digital Storytelling. Organizers see the sharing of life stories as a critical part of the democratic process and a way to promote projects that make a difference in neighborhoods, communities and societies. May 16 marks the 96th birthday of the celebrated American storyteller and interviewer Studs Terkel and the retirement party of British oral historian Paul Thompson. Approximately 100 organizations in 20 countries have endorsed the International Day of Sharing Life Stories and are planning activities around the celebration. In Bloomington, exhibits from oral history projects will be displayed at locations across the community. Several activities will be coordinated with the Senior Expo, which will take place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. Students in IU's Masters in Immervise Mediated Environments (MIME) new media program are helping with digital story sharing. Exhibits related to the International Day for Sharing Life Stories include: La Cara Latina de Bloomington: Celebration of Latino culture in Bloomington through photographs and printed word; May 12-16 at La Casa, 715 E. Seventh St. Picturing My World: Photographs of subjects of personal significance to people with disabilities; May 16, Senior Expo. Memory of the Square: Photos, posters and memorabilia to evoke the evolution of the town square in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Monroe County Courthouse; May 16, Senior Expo. Memory of Third Street Park: Photos and posters from a 2003 ethnographic study by high-school and middle-school students of Bloomington's Third Street Park; May 16, Senior Expo. Banneker Center History Project: Photos and exhibits from a 2006 oral history by Bloomington High School North students on Bloomington's one-time "colored school;" May 16, Senior Expo. VETS: Voicing Experiences in Service: Photos, posters and other student work from an Indiana Institute on Disability and Community project in which students from Indiana, Maryland and Vermont collect and share stories from veterans; May 16, Senior Expo. Thoughts, Things, and Theories %u2026 What is Culture?" Exhibit on themes of universal needs and life stages, including replicas of a 1967 Bloomington ranch house and a multi-generational family compound from Nigeria; on display throughout the week at Mathers Museum of World Cultures, 416 N. Indiana Ave. Botanica: A Pharmacy for the Soul: Curator Selina Morales re-creates a botanica, a store selling Afro-Caribbean religious items, much like one owned by her grandmother from 1985-91; on display throughout the week at Mathers Museum of World Cultures, 416 N. Indiana Ave. Storytelling activities will include: Story circles and six-word memoirs: Participants will join roundtables for memory games using prompts, photos and artifacts; May 16, Senior Expo. Cold War memories: Video production students from Batchelor Middle School in Bloomington will record memories; May 16, Senior Expo. Memories of Monroe County Childhood: Growing up in the '40s; 1 p.m. on May 17, Monroe County History Center, 202 E. Sixth St. Global telephone call: International students are invited to call home and collect stories to share; May 16. The Crestmont story: Residents will take part in a neighborhood mapmaking and design workshop with Bloomington artist Joe LaMantia; May 17. Meadowood Health Pavilion Story Booth: Videographer MaryEllen May will record stories and memories for production of a DVD to celebrate the lives of storytellers; May 12. For more information about worldwide activities related to International Day for Sharing Life Stories, see http://www.ausculti.org/about.html. For information about local events, contact Philip B. Stafford at 812-855-2163 or staffor@indiana.edu. http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=42http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=42IU expert available to comment on issues raised by conflict over boy with autism attending churchEDITORS: Indiana University autism expert Cathy Pratt is available to comment on issues raised by a Minnesota case in which a priest filed a restraining order to bar a 13-year-old boy who has autism from church services. The Bertha, Minn., priest said the boy's behavior is disruptive and endangers others at church. Cathy Pratt is director of the Indiana Resource Center on Autism, part of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University Bloomington, and currently is chair of the board of the National Autism Society of America. She said the Minnesota case points to the need for improved public awareness of autism and the importance of resources and support to enable individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families to take part in day-to-day activities such as attending church, shopping and eating at restaurants. "The increasing incidence of autism means that these kinds of issues may continue to arise unless families have the resources, communities have the awareness and individuals on the spectrum have the support they need," Pratt said. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nationwide prevalence for 8-year-olds is one in 150; and the incidence among Indiana school-aged children is even higher. That compares with one in 5,000 or even one in 10,000 when she began working with autism 30 years ago, Pratt said. While there is more awareness of autism than there used to be, she said, "I think there is still a lot of misinformation. People in the community may think, 'If only the parents were better disciplinarians,' or 'The individual should know better.' They need to understand that autism is a complex neurological disorder, and how people with this disability are able to process information and negotiate the world is very different, and sometimes very difficult." Families of children with autism spectrum disorders, Pratt said, often face not only a lack of community support but extensive costs for speech, occupational and behavioral therapy, specialized caregivers and medical and dental care. An Indiana survey two years ago found that families paid an average of $950 a month for such services, she said. To speak to Pratt, contact Joel Fosha with the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at 812-855-6508 or foshaj@indiana.edu.http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=41http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=41IU Health & Wellness: Back-to-school issueResearch and Insights from Indiana University This back-to-school themed issue discusses the following topics: Printing letters and brain development in preschoolers Parents' guide to high-tech cell phones Hairstyles deterring exercise? Talking to children about sex Weight gain during the college years Resources for families of children with disabilities Printing and brain development. Recent neuroimaging research from Indiana University has revealed that brain activation in preschool children changes depending on how they learn. "We are interested in how children's neural activity changes as they learn to recognize letters and as they learn to read," said Karin Harman James, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at IU Bloomington. "We have recently shown that when children look at letters, the activity in parts of their brains becomes more like activity seen in literate adult brains, but only after they have had practice printing letters." One group of preschool children practiced identifying letters using visual practice while another group practiced printing letters. Only the group that practiced printing letters showed changes in brain activity while viewing letters as a result of their experience. "Coupled with other work from our lab, we interpret this as the motor system augmenting visual processing," James said. "In the case of learning letters, printing helps children recognize letters." These studies are part of a larger initiative in the Cognition & Action Neuroimaging Laboratory to study how the brains of preschool children change as they learn to read. Neuroimaging at IU uses functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to measure brain activation while people are performing tasks. This method uses the same technology as MRI, which gives pictures of internal tissue, but instead of taking a measure at one time, fMRI measures tissue changes over time. It is harmless and involves no risks, so is safely used on children. James can be reached at 812-856-0659 and khjames@indiana.edu. For more information about the lab, visit http://www.indiana.edu/~canlab. Top Dialing-up trouble? As parents get their kids geared up for the coming school year, many will include a first or new cell phone on their child's school supply list. Many parents like the convenience and perceived security of their child having a cell phone (so they can easily reach the child and so the child can get help in the event of an emergency). But according to Greg Travis, assistant director of the Pervasive Technology Labs' Advanced Network Management Lab at Indiana University, with today's technology-rich phones, there are several things parents should consider before making that trip to the local cellular store. "A very large number of phones are now capable of providing the same kinds of services as desktop and laptop computers," said Travis. "This means parents should be concerned about all the same issues they worry about on their other computers -- exposure to inappropriate Internet content, the potential for kids to share personal, incriminating, or embarrassing personal information and photos, and the potential for trouble should the phone be lost or stolen." Travis also warns that parents can get a bad case of sticker shock when opening that first cell phone bill. "These services aren't free. Charges can add up quickly, especially if kids make heavy use of the text messaging and Internet features." Travis offers these tips to parents buying cell phones for their children: World at their fingertips. Parents who are uncomfortable with allowing their children and teens full access to online content should choose either a phone plan that does not include Internet access or a phone model that does not include an Internet browser. Teach good sharing. Make sure your kids understand how to exercise good judgment when deciding what to share with their cell phone -- particularly pictures taken from its camera. The Internet doesn't forget; pictures or content kids once thought to be harmless or funny can quickly become incriminating or embarrassing. Kids shouldn't take or share any pictures that they wouldn't want to be seen by you, their teachers or the world. Privacy at risk. Today's high-tech cell phones store a lot of very personal data, including e-mail and text messages that your kids may not want others to read. Unsecured e-mail and text accounts can also be used by others posing as the phone's owner. Kids should not lend their phones to friends. And make sure the phone you choose includes a self-locking feature that requires a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Know how to contact your cell provider promptly if the phone is lost. Your company may be able to erase and disable the phone, no matter where it is. Know the plan. Don't get caught off guard by budget-busting cell phone bills. Make sure you and your child understand what's included in the cellular plan -- such as number of text messages, phone minutes and amount of included Internet access. Watch your monthly bills closely. If you are getting lots of charges outside the plan, you may want to upgrade your plan -- or downgrade the phone. To speak with Travis, contact Daphne Siefert-Herron at 812-856-1242 and dsiefert@indiana.edu. Top Forsaking health for style. African American women often cite time and such socioeconomic issues as lack of support or disposable income as obstacles to adopting an active lifestyle or exercising regularly. Indiana University fitness expert Antonio Williams said, however, that one of the top reasons given by black women of all income levels involves style and hair care. He said black women, particularly college-age women and women with corporate jobs, often sacrifice their health for stylish and often expensive hairdos. Fears of "sweating out" the hairstyle make lunchtime workouts unlikely and keep the women from the gym or other physical activities. Williams, a fitness consultant and lecturer in IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, specializes in fitness marketing and perception. "For years I've heard, 'I can't schedule a personal training session now, I just got my hair done,'" he said. "These women are risking their health for style." Williams, who gives presentations about this topic, said it is possible to be active without perspiring heavily. He offers the following tips to help women maintain their health and style: Walk, don't run. Williams said the amount of time depends on the goals. To be healthy, walking for 30 minutes, three times a week, is sufficient. To lose weight, walk 60-90 minutes, five times a week. Break it up. He suggests several daily bouts of 10-minute walks or light jogging because it conveys the same health benefits with less sweating. Consult your beautician. Williams encourages women to tell their beauticians that they would like a hairstyle that suits corporate America as well as a healthful lifestyle. Beauticians have told Williams that hair extensions and wearing Afrocentric headwraps during workouts can help preserve styles. Williams notes that studies from IU and elsewhere often find that African American women tend to have more favorable body image compared to other women, despite fitness levels. "We can't continue to sacrifice health for hair," he said. Williams can be reached at 812-855-3061 and aw22@indiana.edu. Top Talking about sex with your kids. "Parents are afraid about what they might find out," said Dennis Fortenberry, M.D., professor of adolescent medicine at the IU School of Medicine. "They think they might hear more than they want to." It's possible they will. Studies show, Fortenberry said, that parents often underestimate the amount of sexual activity their teen is having. They also underestimate how important parental values are to their teenagers. "Kids grow up and absorb the values and expectations of their parents, even if it is not apparent," he said. This makes conversations about sex all the more important -- if teens do not know what is expected of them, how can they make safe and informed decisions? "Part of the benefit of talking to your kids about sex is that, when they leave your sight and are no longer under your control, the choices they make about sex will be something they've arrived at purposely. It's a safer choice," he said. Fortenberry offers the following sex-talk tips for parents: Be direct. According to Fortenberry, many parents perceive they have spoken to their teens about sex when, in fact, teens do not think they have. "It's hard for parents to use the words needed," Fortenberry says. "They have to be direct." Be explicit about values and expectations. Let your children and teens know what you expect of them. "Despite lots of myths to the contrary, parental values and expectations remain important to most young people," said Fortenberry. Forget "the talk." Instead, he suggests making sex an extension of a larger and longer conversation -- not a one-shot deal. "If it's down to the talk, then it's probably too late. Parents often begin this conversation early anyway, when they ask their kids if they have a girlfriend or boyfriend." Fortenberry also suggests taking advantage of life events such as school dances as opportunities to continue the conversation. Be comprehensive. Sexuality is complex for adults and teens alike. Simplistic approaches such as "just say no" often fail to equip teens with the knowledge and skills needed to make safe and informed decisions. Fortenberry suggests including information about biology and anatomy as well as information about the development of relationships, feelings and how those feelings can be part of being interested in sex with a person. These tips all address ways that parents can talk to their kids about sex, but what if the conversation is reversed? If teens approach parents with questions or concerns about sex, Fortenberry suggests listening as a top priority. "I think the best response is to say 'tell me more, tell me what you've been thinking about sex, tell me how it's related to the person you are having sex with, tell me what you are afraid of and what intrigues you.' Then, ask how you can help," says Fortenberry. Fortenberry can be reached at 317-274-8812 and jfortenb@iupui.edu Top Weight gain during college. During the college years, it's common for students' activity levels to decrease as their waistlines increase. What's the harm of a few pounds? Habits students develop now -- and the pounds they put on -- could last a lifetime. "It's always a lot easier to prevent something than it is to address it after the problem has occurred and you see the negative health effects resulting from your behaviors," said Jeanne Johnston, assistant professor at Indiana University's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Johnston studies physical activity, health and quality of life issues facing various age groups. One study involving college freshmen found that almost half of the students already had at least two risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol. Alice Lindeman, associate professor in the School of HPER, said it can be exciting for students to try new foods and eat whenever they want. "What you eat today stays on your body and adds to what you eat tomorrow," Lindeman said. "You have to eat for today and plan for tomorrow." Johnston said little research has been done on how to help this age group become healthier. "It's particularly pertinent because this is the time when they're establishing their lifelong behaviors," Johnston said. "It's the right time -- they're out there on their own. It's a good time to talk with them about why this is important." Johnston said these strategies could help students get their school years off to a healthy start: Be physically active throughout the day. Students could walk or ride a bike to class as opposed to taking a bus or car, walk or ride bikes to local places like stores, making an effort to accumulate 10,000 steps a day. Plan exercise. Johnston encourages students to make exercise part of their daily schedules. She says time has been cited as a major barrier to exercise. How much exercise is enough? She said 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three days a week will suffice. Students also could consider joining intramural or club sports. Manage stress. Stress can have a negative impact on health and well-being. It decreases immune function and contributes to weight gain, particularly around the mid-section. Physical activity has been shown to improve mood and have a positive impact on stress. Avoid late night snacks. When eating too late at night, you tend to select foods that are convenient (pizza, popcorn, chips) or bring comfort (cookies, pop) but are not mini meals that have variety and balance, Lindeman said. After too many late night meals or snacks, you start missing breakfast and become even hungrier later in the day. Remember lessons learned at home. Students can make many more choices about when and what they eat. Lindeman encourages them to stick to the healthy routines established at home. Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep has been shown to have a negative impact on health, contributing to weight gain, increased late-night snacking and a negative impact on focus and performance. Johnston can be reached at 812-855-5073 and jdjohnst@indiana.edu. Lindeman can be reached at 812-855-6437 and lindema@indiana.edu. Top Family-to-Family Connections. The Indiana Institute's Early Childhood Center is partnering with About Special Kids (ASK) to provide a series of Family-to-Family programs and Web-based services designed to connect families of children with disabilities to community information and resources. This Family-to-Family project is funded by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, a Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, First Steps Early Intervention System. Indiana's Family-to-Family Parent Listserv is for all families of children with disabilities. Parents and family members may use this Listserv to exchange information and resources to build the knowledge-base and leadership skills of other Indiana families. Common topics include transition, IEPs, types of therapies, diets, coping and general family-to-family support and encouragement. Participants may subscribe by visiting INF2Fparents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. The Family Involvement Fund (FIF) provides financial support for family members of children with disabilities to help increase knowledge and understanding of their child's disability and/or the systems that provide services. Support may include attending conferences and workshops, task force meetings, online trainings, teleconferences, and more. FIF also provides financial support for the purchase of disability-related print and electronic media. Separate funding within FIF is available for parents who participate as members on Local Planning and Coordinating Councils-LPCC, its committees and sponsored activities, Transition Local Learning Opportunities, or other requested committee participation. Parent Liaisons are parents of children with special needs that reside within the First Step Clusters they serve. Parent Liaisons have access to extensive amounts of resource materials to share in the areas of health insurance, special education law, community resources, trainings, and support organizations. Additionally, Parent Liaisons will connect individuals with Parent Mentors who are volunteers providing peer support. Peer support matches parent(s) with other parent(s) who have encountered the same obstacles and experienced similar milestones. The Family-to-Family Web site offers more information on the above programs, forms and fact sheets, and links to other disability sites. Visit http://www.INF2F.org for more information or contact Cathy Beard, Family Support Specialist, Early Childhood Center at 812-855-6508 or beardc@indiana.edu. Top For additional assistance with these tips, contact Tracy James, 812-855-0084 or traljame@indiana.edu; Amanda Daugherty, 812-856-3136 or amadaugh@indiana.edu; or Steve Hinnefeld, 812-856-3488 or slhinnef@indiana.edu.http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=39http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=39View the Indiana University Media Relations Press Release (October 29, 2008) BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A far-reaching survey of Indiana residents age 60 and older reaffirms the high level of civic activity engaged in by this population. Conducted by researchers at Indiana University, the telephone survey of 5,000 older Hoosiers revealed that 85 percent had voted in the previous local election. Moreover, nearly four out of 10 seniors had contacted a local representative to express a concern or state an opinion. In Indiana, there are nearly 975,000 residents in the 60-plus age group. As participants were selected randomly, the findings can be seen as representative of the entire population in this age group. While the majority of older Hoosiers took the time and energy to participate in civic life, a fairly high percentage, 25 percent, felt that local policy makers don't take into consideration the interests of older people, or even of all residents. "Older Hoosiers contribute an incredible amount to the life of their communities," noted Indiana University researcher Phil Stafford, the director of the survey project. "Eighty-nine percent of this group made a donation of money or goods to charity and 380,000 older Hoosiers volunteer on a weekly basis in their communities." When asked about their primary goals, 94 percent indicated they would like to remain in their current residence for as long as possible, yet 39 percent were not very confident that they would be able to afford to do so. "Despite the Madison Avenue images of sun-seeking seniors flocking south, the vast majority of elders want to stay put. Given the many, many contributions to their communities, it behooves us all to figure out ways to make that happen," said Stafford. The survey, sponsored by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration's Division of Aging, was conducted in the spring of 2008. The survey has been conducted nationally, in 30 U.S. communities, providing baseline comparisons around 33 different indicators of an "elder-friendly community." The Indiana AdvantAge Initiative is the first statewide application of the planning model and has received additional funding from the U.S. Administration on Aging, Indiana Area Agencies on Aging, the Daniels Fund of Denver, Lilly Endowment Inc., and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community's Center on Aging and Community. For more information about the survey and the AdvantAge Initiative project in Indiana, visit www.agingindiana.org.  http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=7http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=7Keynote Speech by David Mank presented at the Ohio Supported Employment Conference Download the Full Presentation: Poverty or Not Presentationhttp://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=126http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=20&newsId=126 Hanging at INARF The Indiana Institute was pleased to exhibit at INARF's state-wide conference designed for rehabilitation, employment services, community support, and other industry professionals on Thursday of last week at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites. Each year, this conference attracts over 500 attendees from across Indiana and this year was no exception. Additionally, over 29 exhibitors were in attendance. Brittany MooreNetworking Team ManagerOptions for Better LivingMeet Brittany Moore (pictured above) who is a Networking Team Manager at Options for Better Living in Bloomington. Brittany will graduate this summer with a certificate from the Direct Support Professional in Human Services program from Ivy Tech in Bloomington. The Direct Support Professional Development program is a training initiative designed to support Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and help them gain new information, learn new skills, and make career connections. The program was created through a unique partnership between the Indiana Institute's Center on Community Living and Careers, Ivy Tech Community College, the state of Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, nine participating service providers, families, self-advocates, direct support professionals themselves, and a broad coalition of state and professional organizations. INARF is the principal membership organization in Indiana representing providers of services to people with disabilities. For 34 years, INARF has maintained relationships with governmental agencies responsible for human service programs, promoted networking opportunities for members, coordinated quality professional development programs, and provided leadership and support in the promotion of quality programs for persons with disabilities.    http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=173http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=40&newsId=173QUICK SCAN:City of Bloomington to Offer Free Workshops on Making Businesses AccessibleEmployment Specialist Training (EST) Workshops Your Chance to Make a Difference: Autism Needs Assessment SurveyVicker to Present at Conference on Isodicentric 15 and Related DisordersVolunteer Opportunities: Best Buddies International ConferenceLibrary CornerUPCOMINGCITY OF BLOOMINGTON TO OFFER FREE WORKSHOPS ON MAKING BUSINESSES ACCESSIBLE: The City of Bloomington has received $1,276 in funding from ADA-Indiana and the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities to provide two workshops aimed at educating inspectors, builders, contractors, and architects on new federal and state regulations regarding people with disabilities.  Workshops will target those who approve plans and inspect construction, and those who design, build, and renovate buildings. The City’s goal is to help businesses and organizations understand how to be fully accessible early on, even as they design and construct their buildings.  The City’s Council for Community Accessibility applied for the funding for its project entitled Making Businesses Accessible: If We Build It Right, They Will Come! Workshops will be offered on Tuesday, July 28 for government building inspectors, and Wednesday, August 19 for architects, builders, and contractors. Both workshops begin at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, 401 North Morton Street, Bloomington, and will include a free lunch. Presenting will be representatives from the Great Lakes ADA Center, a program of the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and from the U.S. Access Board. The Great Lakes ADA Center provides information, materials, technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The Great Lakes ADA Center's service area is designated as Region 5 and is one of 10 regional centers funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), a division of the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities.  It provides technical assistance and training on accessible design criteria and enforces accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities. For further information about the workshops, contact Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department at (812) 349-3471 or e-mail brennerc@bloomington.in.gov. Additionally, you may contact Barbara McKinney, Human Rights Director, City of Bloomington Legal Department at (812) 349-3429 or e-mail mckinneb@bloomington.in.gov. EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST TRAINING (EST) WORKSHOPS: The Indiana Supported Employment Training Team (ISETT) invites you to attend one of its three remaining Employment Specialist Training Workshops for 2009! EST is designed to provide basic skills training to service providers who have worked as employment specialists for less than one year. To date, EST has certified over 2,500 employment specialists in Indiana.What do folks have to say about EST... "Speakers were very informative and easy to understand! They gave creative solutions to underlying issues we confront daily in this business.” "The materials provide excellent resources for me to use in doing my job. I am so excited to go home and implement everything I've learned." And finally, "Hands down the best training and most practical program I've ever attended!"Attendees learn best practice in job and career development, employment support planning, ecological analysis, follow-along, and emerging industry trends. EST is a six-day training split into two sessions which are held one month apart. An exit test is required for participants seeking certification. Individuals who attend all days of both sessions and successfully complete the exit test receive a competency-based certificate from Indiana University. CEUs and CRUs are available.Remaining training dates and locations include:August 4-6 and September 8-10, 2009Easterseals CrossroadsIndianapolis, INNovember 3-5 and December 1-3, 2009Indiana Institute on Disability and CommunityBloomington, INAct now and receive a $200.00 per participant discount toward the $300.00 registration fee. For more information or to register, contact Kay Moore at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail moorel@indiana.edu.AUTISM NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEYYOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: 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, we have opted to gather information from families. We do this as part of our 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, 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 to other state agencies.  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. The survey is available on the Web at www.surveymonkey.com/irca2009.  Unfortunately, because of urgency in gathering this information, on-line surveys must be completed no later than July 1, 2009. All information will remain strictly confidential.  However, if you would like to attach a letter that can be shared with the Legislative Commission on Autism and others, please feel free to do so. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism realizes that your participation in this survey is voluntary, and thank you in advance for your willingness to help with this project.  If you have any questions about the survey, contact Scott Bellini, Assistant Director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism via email at sbellini@indiana.edu.AROUND THE COURTYARDVICKER TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCE ON ISODICENTRIC 15 AND RELATED DISORDERS: Beverly Vicker, Speech Language Pathologist with the Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism, will provide two presentations at the Fifth International Conference on Isodicentric 15 and Related Disorders, to be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Indianapolis, on June 25-27, 2009. Vicker’s presentations are titled Communication is More than Talking Aloud and Moving on Beyond Echolalia. For more information about the conference, visit http://www.idic15.org/ideas_conferences.php.VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES20TH ANNUAL BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: Best Buddies, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, is seeking over 100 volunteers to assist with learning, leadership development, and fun, at the 20th Annual Best Buddies International Leadership Conference, scheduled to be held at Indiana University, Bloomington on July 24-27, 2009. The conference will host over 1,500 high school and college students with and without intellectual disabilities from around the world. Best Buddies provides opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment opportunities. For more information, contact Rebecca Scherpelz at rebeccascherpelz@bestbuddies.org for more information. LIBRARY CORNERNEW 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.Mahler, K. J. (2009). Hygiene and related behaviors for children and adolescents with Asperger spectrum and related disorders: A fun curriculum with a focus on social understanding. Shawnee Mission, Kan: Autism Asperger Pub.Simone, R. (2009). 22 things a woman must know: If she loves a man with Asperger's Syndrome. London: Jessica Kingsley.Wagner, S. (2009). Inclusive programming for high school students with autism or Asperger's syndrome. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons.http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=50&newsId=151http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=50&newsId=151 Select the play icon, to learn more about Really Simple Syndication (RSS Feeds)http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=50&newsId=100http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=50&newsId=100 Click on player to learn about our new look!http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=50&newsId=82http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=50&newsId=82 Select the play icon, to learn more about the Institute's E-Store.http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=7&newsId=154http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=7&newsId=154Visit the VETS Website at http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/vets/ A statewide celebration reception was held recently to honor the students and veterans who have participated in VETS: Voicing Experiences through Service, a Program of National Significance, funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, in partnership with the National Service Inclusion Project. The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University's Centers on Education and Lifelong Learning and Community Living and Careers, are collaborating with the University of Vermont and TransCen, Rockville, Maryland, to support programs pairing young people and veterans to write and submit oral histories to the Library of Congress.The VETS Appreciation Celebration was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at the Rotunda at the Indiana State House. This was an opportunity to showcase Indiana's service learning efforts and to honor these exceptional Hoosier young people, their teachers, and the veterans who willingly shared their stories. The reception also provided an opportunity to celebrate Governor Daniels' proclamation of a day of Celebration for Service Learning.  Student displays and presentations from VETS as well as Indiana Learn and Serve provided valuable information to legislators and other state leaders about the great things that can happen when students apply knowledge to meet needs in their schools and communities. This awareness-raising, as with other forms of service-learning, will also give students experience in active and engaged citizenship. Indiana is seen as a national leader in service learning efforts and we look forward to providing national leadership as historic Legislation supporting service-learning is about to be signed by President Obama.            For more information about the VETS: Voicing Experiences through Service Project, resources, additional photos, sample products, and more, visit http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/vets/. Addtionally, visit  http://www.mff.org/connections/connections.taf?cid=50 to view work of Jeffrey Rudkin, Practical Arts Teacher, Batchelor Middle School, Bloomington, Indiana, a VETS Partner School. Visit http://www.hofferthistoryclass.com/Mr._Hofferts_Class_Website/Welcome.html to view the work of David Hoffert's U.S. History class at Warsaw High School, Warsaw, Indiana. Mr. Hoffert’s Class is a proud participant of the Library of Congress Veterans Oral History Program, and the Indiana University VETS Program.  More pictures below. Enjoy!                                  http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=7&newsId=165http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=7&newsId=165 A group of Indiana direct support professionals (DSPs) took center stage on Friday, May 15, when they become the first graduates of the state’s new Direct Support Professional Development training and education program. Ceremonies included a short "virtual" graduation that featured a videotaped congratulations from state officials and experts in the field, including Peter Bisbecos, Director of the Indiana Division of Disabilities and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) and Amy Hewitt, Project Director of Minnesota's Research and Training Center on Community Living. Organizations providing services to Hoosiers with developmental disabilities cheered their DSP employees who  completed both Foundations, an onsite orientation, and Ivy Tech Community College coursework designed to give them more in-depth information on topics ranging from First Aid to positive behavior supports and person-centered planning. In addition to college credit, DSP graduates of the program earned their Human Services Certificate and are eligible for national credentials. Visit http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/3915.htm to view the "virtual graduation video and visuals from provider agencies that had graduating DSPs. Direct Support Professional Development is an initiative created by a partnership of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, self-advocates and individuals with disabilities and their families, Ivy Tech, Indiana provider organizations and the Indiana Institute's Center on Community Living and Careers which coordinates the program. The collaborative effort focuses on improving quality of life for people with disabilities while improving professionalism and career opportunities for DSPs. For more information on Direct Support Professional Development or the virtual graduation ceremonies held in May, contact Mary Held at the Institute’s Center on Community Living and Careers at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail maheld@indiana.edu.