Self-Advocates of Indiana Newsletter

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02.26.20

The Arc has developed resources to support individuals and organizations in understanding what the census is, why its important for people with disabilities, and how to complete it.

The Arc US Census 2020 Resources

You Count! Be Counted.

The 2020 Census is quickly approaching, and it is important that people with disabilities and their families are ready to be counted!

Every 10 years, everyone in the United States is counted through the census. It is important that everyone is counted because the census data impacts many key things. For example, the census data is used to figure out how much money state and local governments get for Medicaid, housing vouchers, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and education programs. When there isn’t enough money, services and programs for people with disabilities can be cut. Census data is also used to determine how many representatives each state gets in the House of Representatives.

Census Day is April 1, 2020 – check out the resources from The Arc to make sure you and your community are ready to be counted!

Resources From The Arc

The Arc has developed resources to support individuals and organizations in understanding what the census is, why its important for people with disabilities, and how to complete it.

You Count! Be Counted.

Plain language, English (PDF) | Plain language, English (Word Doc)

Tu Cuentas! Se Contado.

Plain language, Spanish (PDF) | Plain language, Spanish (Word Doc)

Get Your Community Counted: A Guide for Organizations

English (PDF) | English (Word Doc)

Haga Que Su Comunidad Sea Contada: Una Guía Para Organizaciones

Spanish (PDF) | Spanish (Word Doc)

Nicki Hinkle (left) and Shawn Fulton (right) attend the annual Valentine's Day at the Statehouse event.

Valentine's Day at the Statehouse 2020:

Ability is the Heart of The Arc

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch kicked off the day by welcoming everyone to the Statehouse. Andy Kirby also presented her the Arc Foundation’s President’s Award from EGTI since she was unavailable to make it to the awards presentation at Cruising for Dreams.

Both the House and Senate went into session at 10 a.m. so plenty of legislators were in the building to meet with people. Secretary Lawson and Amy Corbin who is in charge of the ABLE Accounts in the Treasurer’s office also met with us.

We wrapped up our day by meeting with Dr. Sullivan, Kylee Hope and the FSSA Team to give them valentines and tell them what people would like to see on the waivers that are currently going through the redesign process.

There was some rough weather, but we still made a great showing from all the way up in Elkhart and LaGrange to all the way down in Southern Indiana.

Supported Decision Making Resources from Indiana Disability Rights

Indiana Disability Rights has added new videos about Supported Decision-Making and other ways to support independence in adulthood to their YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2nAqidRiPfQa53Yaf9qeCg). Visit their channel and subscribe so you will be notified when new videos are added. Additionally, they also have been updating their Supported Decision-Making website with new resources and materials (https://www.in.gov/idr/2677.htm).

Vote by Traveling Board

Absentee voting for those confined due to injury, illness, or disability

The traveling board hand-delivers ballots to voters confined in their home because of illness, injury, or disabilities. Caregivers can also vote by traveling board.

You must complete an application to vote by traveling board. If officials approve your application, someone from the Marion County Election Board will call you to set up a time for the board’s visit. Apply early to secure your appointment.

You can prepare to vote by using the Voter Information Portal. It provides information about candidates, a sample ballot, and more.

You must re-apply for an absentee ballot each election.

Medicaid Waiver Redesign:
Upcoming Building Bridges Events and
Self-Advocate and Family Listening Sessions

Building Bridges: Supporting families and self-advocates through engagement

With the release of the initial concept paper on our waiver redesign project we have added additional Building Bridges meetings this quarter!

Building Bridges events are opportunities for families and self-advocates to meet and speak with the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services staff. These additional events will allow for individuals and families to ask questions and share their feedback on the current waiver redesign project as well as discuss any other concerns or successes with bureau services. These meetings are solely for families and individuals with disabilities to provide a forum for constructive and valuable conversations on successes and concerns, as well as providing suggestions or input for positive change.

It is the desire of BDDS that these meetings will allow for meaningful conversations that result in positive outcomes and stronger relationships. We hope you will consider joining us! All meetings will be from 6 – 8 p.m. local time.

March 12, 2020: Plymouth Public Library, 201 N Center Street, Plymouth, Ind.
March 23, 2020: Fort Wayne Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Ind.
April 2, 2020: Fishers Public Library, 5 Municipal Drive, Fishers, Ind

Medicaid Waiver Redesign
Self-Advocate and Family Feedback Sessions

The Arc of Indiana, Self-Advocates of Indiana and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community are hosting a series of feedback sessions at the following locations to present information about the Initial Waiver Redesign Concept Paper and obtain feedback from
self-advocates and family members.

Fort Wayne – POSTPONED (originally scheduled for February 26th)- more details will be released shortly
Vincennes – March 4 at Vincennes University, 120 W. Harrison Street, Green Activity Center, Vincennes, IN 47591
New Albany – March 5 at Prosser Career Center, 4202 Charlestown Road, New Albany, IN 47150
Indianapolis – March 12 at Ivy Tech, Rooms 166 & 168, 9301 E 59th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46216

All meetings will take place 4:00 – 6:00 pm local time.
At each of these feedback sessions there will be a meeting specifically for self-advocates and another specifically for family members. In each session information about the concept paper will be shared and facilitators will support a group conversation about the options raised in the concept paper and what attendees feel are the most important things that should come out of waiver redesign.
Event details are posted on The Arc’s website at: www.arcind.org/medicaid-waiver-redesign

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities has released Disability Awareness Resource Guide

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (#DDawareness2020) is only a week away, and the first version of this year’s DDAM Resource Guide is HERE! Check it out to find the DDAM logos, links to resources you can use as posting content, and even some messaging guidance and advice that we’ve gathered from past campaigns.

Also this year we’ve been gathering links to DD Council social media pages so that you can more easily find/follow those you aren’t already following. If we missed yours, please send it to us so that we can include it in the next update (usually every week).

Most importantly—don’t forget to send us resources, events, or links to your organization’s social media so that we can add them to the guide and get more people to share your content. Thank you to everyone who has already sent us resources! This resource guide will grow over the next month as DDAM kicks off, so keep coming back to check out the updates.

You can always find the resource guide and other news and information on our DDAM page.

Self-Advocates of Indiana
143 W. Market Street, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-977-2375
317-977-2385 — Fax

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Self-Advocates of Indiana · 143 W Market Street · Suite 200 · Indianapolis, IN 46204 · USA