:: What's New
New 2008-2009 College Survey Is Now Available
The updated College and Post Secondary Services for Persons with Disabilities in Indiana 2008-2009 Edition is now available for persons interested in learning more about Indiana college opportunities for young adults with disabilities.
2008-2009 College Survey - PDF 
2008-2009 College Survey - html
Updated 2008-2009
Summer Camp List
The revised 2008-2009 summer camp list for Indiana is now available.
2008-2009 Summer Camp List - PDF
2008-2009 Summer Camp List - html
Camp R.O.C.K.S. Lowers Cost
Easter Seals Crossroads and the Autism Society of Indiana are thrilled to announce that due to the gracious gifts and support of those who believe in the camp that they are able to significantly reduce the cost of the camp. The cost of camp is now only $250.00.
Easter Seals Crossroads and the Autism Society of Indiana are committed to serving campers without regard to their ability to pay. If the cost of camp poses a hardship to your family, scholarships are still available.
For additional information about Camp R.O.C.K.S. and for an initial application form, please go to the website www.incamprocks.org or call (317) 466-2001 Ext. 2501.
Funding System for Medicaid Waiver Services Will Change July, 2008
Waivers Covered Include DD, Autism, and Support Services
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) is making a major change, beginning July 1, 2008, in how Medicaid waiver services are funded and offered to consumers. The change applies to the Developmental Disabilities, Autism, and Support Services waivers. The change does not apply to the Aged and Disabled or Traumatic Brain Injury waivers.
The change in how Medicaid wavier services are funded is called OASIS - Objective Assessment System for Individual Supports.
If you or your loved one receives services funded by a Medicaid waiver, it is important for you to have information about this change.
For more information
Important Information for Special Education Students Leaving High School
School will be ending soon. Many graduates with disabilities face an uncertain future. In the past, graduates of special education programs and their families faced years long waiting lists for help and support. Thanks to the State of Indiana, graduates of special education programs can get help, now.
The linked fact sheet explains how special education graduates and their families can get help now through a program called the Support Services Medicaid Waiver. Your help in printing and distributing or emailing this information to families will help families know that they do not need to wait, but they do need to apply.
If you have any questions, please call The Arc of Indiana at (800) 382-9100 or email at thearc@arcind.org. You can also find information on The Arc of Indiana's website at www.arcind.org.
Disability Poll
The 2008 Indiana Disability Poll, conducted by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community's Center for Planning and Policy Studies, is focusing on the timely topics of voting and civic participation. The Institute wants to hear from people with disabilities and their family members about important topics such as voting, barriers to voting, the accessibility of polling places, volunteering for political parties, and participation in other community policymaking activities. Once all the responses are collected, they will be summarized and used to assure that the voices of people with disabilities are heard during the fall elections and that their vote counts.
Please go online and respond to this year's Disability Poll: A Survey on Voting and Civic Engagement at http://www.thepollingplace.org. If you would prefer a paper-and-pencil version of the Disability Poll or one in alternative formats, please contact Vicki Pappas at cpps@indiana.edu or by calling (812) 855-6508. The Indiana Disability Poll is a joint annual activity of the Governor's Planning Council for People with Disabilities, the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services Commission, and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.
Family Involvement Fund
INSOURCE no longer administers the Family Involvement Fund (FIF) for Indiana. Please contact Cathy Beard at (812) 855-6508 or (800) 825-4733 for information on how to access the Family Involvement Fund.
Go to website: http://www.inf2f.org/F2F-FIF.htm
Indiana Department of Education
New Name and Address
On March 28, 2008, Dr. Reed renamed the Division of Special Education, gave the Department a new mailing address, new email addresses and new staff titles.
The Division is now named:
Center for Exceptional Learners (CEL)
Office of High Ability Education
Office of Special Education
The mailing address is no longer Room 229, State House. The mailing and location address is now:
Indiana Department of Education
Center for Exceptional Learners
151 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
The website address has been changed to http://www.doe.in.gov/exceptional.
If you have any questions, please contact the Center at (317) 232-0570.
Online Tools from the
Social Security Administration
Did you know that you can appeal a decision on your Social Security disability claim online? To be able to use this Internet process, a claimant must: 1) have applied for benefits; 2) have received a "Notice of Disapproved Claim", a "Notice of Reconsideration" or "Notice of Federal Reviewing Official Decision; 3) disagree with the disability decision; and 4) live in the United States or one of its territories. For more information, visit the SSA's website at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/iAppeals/ap001.jsp . The SSA also has an online screening tool to assist with determining potential eligibility for any of the programs it administers. The online screening tool can be found at https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps7/best/benefits/
Parent to Parent Mentor Program:
The Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) Parent Teacher Advisory Council for Special Education (PTACSE) is pleased to announce a new Parent to Parent Mentor Program to pair a family with a child in an MCCSC school with a family with a child entering or recently enrolled in that school. As a program through PTACSE, the emphasis will be on matching families with children with IEPs.
This will be an ongoing program, but will be formally launched at the August 11 PTACSE meeting, at 6:30 p.m. at the Monroe County Library. If you would like to be part of this program, please send:
· Your contact information;
· The name/age of your child(ren);
· The school where your child(ren) are or will be enrolled; and
· Indicate if you would like to be a mentor or would like to be matched with one.
To sign up, please send an email to Deborah Myerson at ParentTeacherAdvisoryCouncil-owner@yahoogroups.com.
Spanish Infant & Toddler Language
and Early Literacy Activities
The Washington Learning Systems has made available at their website Spanish language versions of birth-to-three parent/child activity materials. These materials are free and may be reproduced.
These materials include twenty home and community activities for adults and children (birth to three) that encourage early language and literacy development. They are appropriate for children with disabilities as well as for children who are developing typically. The files are in PDF format to allow for easy and secure downloading. The materials were developed by Angela Notari-Syverson, Ph.D. and Kristin Rytter, Ph.D, with Judy Challoner, Faith Haertig Sadler, Young Sook Lim, Ph.D., Marilyn Sturm, and Rodd Hedlund (2005), and may be copies and distributed as long as they are not sold.
To download materials, go to www.walearning.com and click on the purple button that says "Free Parent Education Handouts" on the home page.
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