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The Open Door | Friday, February 17, 2017
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Advocating for change

Every day at ADEC, we advocate for the people we serve. We work with our clients to build on strengths and develop skills. We provide assistance as our clients make life-changing decisions. And we walk into workplaces and demonstrate how our clients can not only do the job well, but they also enhance workplace culture. All of this is possible because of the life-changing work of Direct Support Professionals.

And now, the shoe is on the other foot. Our CEO Donna Belusar is hard at work to advocate for Direct Support Professionals to receive a wage their hard work deserves. The good news? These efforts are working! There's now an amendment to increase Medicaid spending so DSPs can receive pay increases in a bill at the state level. The tough news? Passing the bill with the amendment is something you can help make happen, but it's going to take some work. To find out how you can jump and make a difference, please read below.

As always, let us know if you have any stories to share or suggestions for future features. This is your Open Door.  


Whitney Craig, Communications Specialist
craigw@adecinc.com | 574-848-2441

From the CEO: The case for a DSP wage increase

In this letter, ADEC CEO Donna Belusar explains why the work DSPs do each day is vital to ADEC, and how we can all work toward increasing their wages on a statewide level. Click here to read more.

Resource + Transition Fair set for March 11 at Goshen College

ADEC is offering parents a chance to ask questions and attend workshop sessions to help them better understand how to support their child with a disabilitiy. Click here for more information and mark your calendar for this helpful event!

65 Videos for 65 Years

Meet Scott and see how ADEC Industries prepared him for a career that he loves at Challenger Designs in Nappanee.
Meet Michael and see how his artistic talents, along with some encouragement from ADEC staff, helped Michael to communicate in ways he hadn't before.
 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Carl Yoder, Assistive Technology Project Manager, on the death of his mother on February 13. To view her obituary, click here.

We want to celebrate your life events and accomplishment and stand with you during the tough times. Please e-mail Whitney Craig with any weddings, births, deaths, serious illnesses or personal successes you would like to share with fellow ADEC staff members.

Update on DSP wage increase advocacy efforts

We have exciting news to share from the Indiana Statehouse! We told our lawmakers that direct support professionals deserve higher pay, and they listened. The Indiana House Republicans proposed a new budget this week that includes language to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, with the majority of that money going to increase DSP wages. ADEC just increased starting pay for DSPs to $10.50 an hour for residential and $10 an hour for day services. If the budget passes through the House and the Senate with the recent amendment, we will be able to increase DSP pay even more.
 
It’s a great first step; however, the budget still has to clear many steps before it is approved. That is where you come in. If you are passionate about making sure DSPs are paid what they are worth, contact your local senators and representatives. If you are a DSP, tell them how hard you work each and every day to make sure people with disabilities lead lives full of choice and possibility. If you are a family member, tell your legislators how much the staff make a difference in the life of your loved one with a disability. Click here to find contact information for your local representative.

 

ADEC welcomed six enthusiastic new staff members last week. Please give each person a warm welcome when you see her around.

From L to R:
Brittani Ankin | DSP, Heather Lake

Maria Guevara | Art Team Leader
Kiana Santos | DSP, ADEC Day Services at Bristol
Mary Johnson | DSP, ADEC Day Services at Mishawaka
Brandy Jorgensen | DSP, ADEC Day Services at Elkhart
Taylor Fergison | DSP, ADEC After-School Club

ADEC Staff comes out to Making Cents

We had 56 people join us yesterday to learn about the fundamentals of banking in the first of 11 financial workshops presented by Mutualbank. During this time, participants enjoyed donuts, cookies and coffee as representatives from the bank explained the different types of banking, how you can opt out of pre-screened credit offers and unique payment options available.

The next Making Cents sessions will take place on Thursday, March 16, and we'll learn about the basics of using credit. Please plan to join us for this session. Don't forget, attending these sessions makes you eligible for some pretty fantastic perks.

  1. 1 hours pay (for your travel and time in class).

  2. $50 to anyone who completes 5 classes

  3. $100 to anyone who completes 10 classes

  4. An entry to win a set of tires from Star Tire and Brake for every class you attend.  The more classes you attend the more chances you have to win a set of tires in December 2017!

Click here for more information. Also, if you're planning to attend the March 16 class, please send Jessica Koscher a quick e-mail with the time you're thinking of attending so we can be sure to have enough seating and snacks!


ADEC proudly advocates for and serves people with developmental and
cognitive disabilities so they live lives full of choice and possibility.

Special Thanks to the The Open Door team: Crystal Slabaugh, Michelle Sokol and Rod Tackett.

Copyright © 2014 ADEC, All rights reserved.

19670 State Road 120 | P.O. Box 398 | Bristol, IN 46507 | 574-848-7451






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ADEC · P.O. Box 398, 19670 S.R. 120 · Bristol, IN 46507 · USA