Indiana Institute FYI

Week of January 14, 2008

FYI Spotlight

· January ADA-Indiana Audio Conference
· A New “Death by Chocolate” Interactive Murder Mystery
· Autism Grant Award
· Healthy Indiana Plan   

· Library Corner

Upcoming

January ADA-Indiana Audio Conference: Accessibility and architectural design will be the focus of the January 15, 2008 ADA-Indiana Audio Conference sponsored by ADA-Indiana. Architects and designers are faced with a myriad of rules and regulations governing accessible design which may require their professional judgment to determine which provides greater access.

Best Practices in Design: Balancing Local, State and Federal Requirements to Ensure Accessibility will feature a panel of speakers (including architects and a representative from the U.S. Department of Justice) who will discuss and debate the issues and engage in a dialogue about achieving minimal compliance versus designing accessible and useable environments.

Persons who work as architects, contractors, state and local government code officials, people with disabilities, and other interested community members should plan to attend. No pre-registration is required. AIA and CRCC continuing education credits are available. The session is free at locations sponsored by ADA-Indiana.

Site locations include:

Bloomington, IN (2:00-3:30 p.m. EST)
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Building L
2853 East Tenth Street

Indianapolis, IN (2:00-3:30 p.m. EST)
Indiana Government Center, Conference Room 1
402 West Washington Street

If you are unable to attend 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 about this session or the 2007-2008 ADA-Indiana Audio Conference Season, visit http://www.adaindiana.org or contact Matt Norris at 1-800-825-4733 or e-mail adainfo@indiana.edu.

Coming in February and March: Accommodating Older Workers: Implications for Employers and The Nature and Scope of Discrimination in Hiring under ADA Title I.

A New “Death by Chocolate” Interactive Murder Mystery: As part of Options Week of Chocolate, Citizen Advocacy of South-Central Indiana (CASCI) and members of the Bloomington Playwrights Project, will present an interactive murder mystery entitled Death by Chocolate: Death by Smooches! New plot, new twist, new thrills! And, if you dare, partake in a delicious Lennie’s decadent Death by Chocolate dessert served with tea or coffee on Thursday, January 31, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 3800 East Third Street in Bloomington. Tickets are $15.00 (pre-purchase is encouraged). This event is recommended for teens and adults, ages 13 and older. Purchase advance tickets at Options for Better Living or St. Thomas Lutheran Church. For more information, contact Dixie Patterson (812) 327-7823 or Jo Gilbertson, (812) 219-5566.

Grant Award

Autism Grant Award: The Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism was awarded a research grant in the area of autism spectrum disorders from the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), Arlington, VA. Increasing Social Engagement in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Video Self-Modeling and Peer Training will focus on addressing deficits in social functioning, through the implementation of a video self-modeling (VSM) procedure and a peer mediated intervention.

Impairments in social-emotional functioning are a central feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and can create great difficulties in the life of an individual on the autism spectrum. Social skill deficits increase the likelihood of the individual experiencing social failure, peer rejection, and isolation leaving the individual vulnerable to developing anxiety, depression, and other forms of psychopathology. VSM is a positive behavioral support strategy that integrates a powerful learning medium for children with ASD (visually cued instruction) with an effective intervention modality (modeling, coaching, and social problem solving). Results from the present study will be the first step towards the development of a manualized treatment protocol that will be available to parents and professionals throughout the nation wishing to design data-driven social skills intervention procedures for students with ASD.

The Organization for Autism Research funds pilot studies and targeted research within specific modalities and issues affecting the autism community, primarily for studies whose outcomes offer new insights into the behavioral and social development of individuals with autism with an emphasis on communications, education, and vocational challenges. Visit http://www.researchautism.org/about/philosophy/index.asp for more information on OAR. Contact Scott Bellini, Principal Investigator at (812) 855-6508 or e-mail sbellini@indiana.edu for additional grant information.

Community News

Healthy Indiana Plan: The Healthy Indiana Plan, offered through the state of Indiana, is a new health insurance option for uninsured Hoosiers. While more than 550,000 Indiana residents qualify for the plan, due to funding restrictions, only 130,000 will be accepted in 2008.

Bloomington Hospital’s Director of Managed Care, MaryAnn Valenta, along with Nancy Woolery, Health Projects Manager with the City of Bloomington’s Community and Family Resources Department, will provide an overview of the Healthy Indiana Plan, answer questions, and provide information to help spread the word and help those eligible in the Bloomington Community apply for the plan.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2008 from 11:30-12:30 p.m. at the Bloomington Hospital’s Wegmiller Auditorium. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Nancy Woolery at woolery@bloomington.in.gov or call (812) 349-3851 by Friday, January 18, 2008. Visit http://www.in.gov/fssa/hip/6621.htm for additional information.

Library Corner

New Items: The following new materials may be borrowed by Indiana residents from the Center for Disability Information and Referral (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.

Dunn, W. (2008). Living sensationally: Understanding your senses. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Fein, D., & Dunn, M. A. (2007). Autism in your classroom: A general educator's guide to students with autism spectrum disorders. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Gosselin, K., & Freedman, M. (2001). Taking seizure disorders to school: A story about epilepsy (2nd ed.). Valley Park, MO: JayJo Books.

Korin, E. S. H. (2007). Asperger syndrome, an owner's manual 2 for older adolescents and adults: What you, your parents and friends, and your employers need to know. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Pub. Co.

Pakroo, P. (2007). Starting & building a nonprofit: A practical guide (2nd ed.). Berkeley, CA: Nolo.

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