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President’s Message
Accomplishments of IRA in 2004
Board members enjoyed the annual retreat in
January. They used this opportunity to discuss the events of the past year
for IRA and to explore new ways to better serve the membership.
The Web site received a dramatic face-lift this past year thanks to the hard
work of board member Dean Dorrell.
The Past Presidents Organization under the leadership of board member Carol
Stum created an updated display board to be utilized at IRA functions. It
was unveiled at the annual awards meeting in December. The PPO was also
responsible for fashioning a strong contingent of board leadership to ensure
continuity of leadership over the next three years.
The fine tradition of the Black and White Ball continued in May during
Memorial Day weekend. Beacon Awards were presented to Kevin Powell, on
behalf of the Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation services,
and to Marge Towell, Executive Director for the Marion County Mental Health
Association. Russell and Shirley Romine continue to provide the incredible
work, support, and enthusiasm needed to make this event such a success.
Over the summer, several IRA board members represented NRA at the national
APSE conference held in Indianapolis. This was a terrific opportunity to
network with both national and statewide rehabilitation professionals, as
well as lend support to APSE’s mission of advocating for community
employment for people with significant disabilities.
IRA’s presence on the national level was seen in several other ways as well
during 2004. Brad Romine serves as Treasurer and Board Member with NRA. Ed
Alexander continues to serve as chairman of the Switzer Memorial Seminar.
Finally, Ed and Lynnette Lewis represented IRA at the NRA annual training
conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tim White
Report of the 25th
Mary Switzer Memorial Seminar
From Ed Alexander,
Chairman
I first wish to thank
members of the Indiana Rehabilitation Association for continued support of
the Switzer Seminar. The following is a brief report of the November 6-7
seminar held in Alexandria, Virginia. Publication of the seminar monograph
is expected by the end of February 2005, and copies will be made available
to IRA members.
Six scholars from four
states and the District of Columbia gathered to review the topics and
findings of the last 25 years of Switzer Seminars. Each scholar was asked to
select a past seminar topic and to review and comment on findings of the
day, including observations about these findings’ relevance within the rehab
world of 2004. This “retrospective” proved to be a fascinating task, which
introduced some outstanding observations.
The Switzer Seminar
participant binder is available for your review with some things to look for
in the coming months in relation to this seminar. Highlights from each of
the author’s works will be available on the NRA Web page
www.nationalrehab.org (with a quick link that will allow the reader to
purchase the monograph!), as well as information about a Switzer
Presentation at NRA’s national conference in 2005.
Legislative
Updates
by
Molly Tschopp, Ph.D., C.R.C
Assistive Technology Act Signed into Law
The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 was
signed into law October 25. It allows for a five-year reauthorization of the
Assistive Technology Act which supports the continuance of State Assistive
Technology Act Programs and eliminates the sunset provision for state
programs. The act also supports state grants for protection and advocacy
programs related to assistive technology and national activities such as a
national public-awareness tool kit, research and development, technical
assistance and training, data collection and a national public Internet
site. You can download a copy of the bill by going to
http://www.ataporg.org. Full text of the above communication may be accessed
through http://www.fifthfreedom.org
IDEA
Reauthorization Signed
President Bush signed the reauthorization
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act into law on Friday,
December 3. For information on the changes in the law and how it affects
special education go to: http://www.wrightslaw.com/ or
http://www.pacer.org/legislation/index.htm
Leadership Changes in Indiana
Indiana’s new governor, Mitch Daniels, and
Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman are reorganizing Indiana’s government.
Please visit www.in.gov to learn about new leadership within the
executive and legislative branches.
2005
Legislature in Session
The first session of the 109th Congress formally convened on Tuesday,
January 4, 2005. Indiana's elected representatives, include:
Senate
Evan Bayh
(Democrat)
Richard Lugar
(Republican)
House of
Representatives
First district:
Peter J. Visclosky (Democrat)
Second district:
Chris Chocola (Republican)
Third district:
Mark Souder (Republican)
Fourth district:
Steve Buyer (Republican)
Fifth district:
Dan Burton (Republican)
Sixth district:
Mike Pence (Republican)
Seventh district:
Julia Carson (Democrat)
Eighth district:
John Hostettler (Republican)
Ninth district:
Mike Sodrel (Republican)
Fifthfreedom.org
suggests the following Web sites to assist you in staying up to date on
administrative and legislative action during the 2005 session:
■
Indy Star Newspaper Virtual Citizens Guide:
http://www.indystar.com/special/citizensguide/
Your guide to politics, the state legislature and making your voice heard.
■
Indiana General Assembly: http://www.ai.org/legislative/index.html
Listen to floor
action, look up bills, check committee schedules and more.
■
Bill Watch: http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/
Stay informed on
bills and/or resolutions scheduled for action on the House and Senate
floors. Track up to ten bills at a time and receive daily e-mail
notifications when the status of a bill changes.
■
Arc
of Indiana Legislative Alerts:
http://www.arcind.org/legislative_information_page.htm
Sign up for
alerts about bills that affect disability issues, especially developmental
disabilities issues, or just view bills on-line.
Enhance Your
Understanding of the ADA
Visit www.adaindiana.org
for information about ADA Indiana’s upcoming conference series on ADA
regulations and trends.
NRA 24th
Annual Government Affairs Conference
The National Rehabilitation Association announced its 24th Annual
Government Affairs Summit to be held
March 13-15, 2005
at the Alexandria Hilton Hotel in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. Highlights
of the summit will include Governmental Affairs Awareness & Advocacy
Sessions and Congressional Visits on Capitol Hill. The 2005 Leadership
Institute and Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, 2005 from 8:30
a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Hilton Old Town Alexandria. Online registration
for the Summit and Leadership Breakfast are available at: https://www.nationalrehab.org/secure/events/register-govt.shtml\
Online Guide to
the Legislature
The Indianapolis Star
has a new interactive Citizen’s Guide to the General Assembly. Go to
IndyStar.com/legislature for information and updates about our State
government.
·
Lawmaker contact: Find out who your legislators are and
how to reach them.
·
Issues tracker: Chart the progress of important issues,
from job creation to the new football stadium.
·
Ask the experts: The Star’s Statehouse reporters
answer your questions.
·
Digital limestone: Find out who works where in a
virtual tour of the Statehouse.
·
Legislative primer: This is how a bill really becomes
law.
·
Basic details: Look for committee rosters and a
legislative calendar.
·
Indiana rehabilitation association
2004 Annual Report
The Year in Review
In January 2004, board members met at their
annual retreat to explore IRA accomplishments in 2003 and to set goals for
the coming year. The focuses were to include expanding services to the
membership and partnering with other rehabilitation organizations.
2004 Financial Report
Assets as of 11-17-04
Checking $4,425.94
Savings $1,556.58
CD Value $2,708.15
Total $8,242.41
IRA 2004 Leadership
President
Tim White
Treasurer
Mike Batten
Secretary
Melissa Stolfo
Marjorie Mansfield
Membership
Ed Alexander
Legislative
Molly Tschopp
Program
Brad Romine
Internet/Web page
Dean Dorrell
Hoosier Beacon
Editor
Suzanne Southern
Student Representative
Melena Slaven
Southern Area
Representative
Gail Ball
Northern Area
Representative
Melissa Stolfo
IRA Board Members
Wade Wingler - Patrick
Sandy - Ron Roembke - Rob Richardson - David Taylor
Past Presidents of Indiana Rehabilitation Association
Ed Alexander
Ellen Ballard
Doug Bebee
Mike Blankenship
Steve Bonowski
Gail Corn
George Dell
Jack Hackett
Bob Jacobsen
Donna Kiefert
Lynnette Lewis
Carolyn McCutcheon
Steve Michaluk
Paula Micka
Vicki Moffatt
Brad Romine
Paul Schmidt
Sue Esta Scott
Annette Shaver
Brian Smith
Stanley Smits, Ph.D.
Carol Stum
James Wolf
Judi Wood
James Wray, M.D.
■
This year,
Brad Romine again served as the treasurer of NRA, and Ed Alexander was
chairman of the Switzer Memorial Seminar. Indiana was represented at the
national conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Lynnette Lewis and Ed
Alexander.
■
The PPO, in
addition to updating the IRA display board, reinstated their practice of
recognizing deserving rehabilitation workers by awarding a one-year
membership in NRA and IRA. Dawn Himelick and Tracy Perkins-Pearcy were
honored this year.
■
IRA members represented NRA at
the APSE National Conference held in Indianapolis in the summer 2004.
■
The Black and White Ball, held
on May 28, 2004, was again a successful fund raiser for the association.
Miss Indiana, Bryn Lawton Chapman, was in attendance as Honored Guest and
Dave Koffee served as Master of Ceremonies. At this event, Beacon Awards
were presented to Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation Services
and to Marjorie Towell of Mental Health Association in Marion County.
Awards
■
The Slater Bartlow and the
President’s Awards were given at the annual meeting, and due to schedule
conflicts, the Fairbairn and the Dennis Wyant Awards were presented at the
Easter Seals Crossroads board meeting on December 10.
IRA Annual
Meeting
■
The annual meeting and awards
ceremony was held December 7, 2004 at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Indianapolis,
Indiana.
Opening remarks were given by President Tim White.
Lynnette Lewis gave the election report for 2005 officers.
Presentation—Coping with Chronic Illness, by Molly K.
Tschopp, Ph.D., C.R.C.; Stephanie Holt, M.S., C.R.C.; Toni Gesler, M.A.;
Melena Slaven, B.S.
Tree’s Corner
by Tom Roundtree
Now
available online is Workforce Information Basics. The LMI Training Institute
has its first on line training course to help anyone who needs a better
understanding of employment and economic data. Go to www.limi.net.org.
For
those out there who are job hunting or helping others find employment, don't
let discouragement get you down:
·
General Douglas MacArthur was turned down for admission to
West Point, not once but twice. He tried a third time, was accepted and
marched into the history books!
·
Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade. He did not become
Prime Minister until he was 62 and then only after a lifetime of defeats and
setback. His greatest contributions came when he was a senior citizen.
·
Rafer Johnson, the decathlon champion, was born with a
clubfoot.
I would
like to solicit rehab success stories from our fellow rehab professionals or
consumers benefiting from such. These then could be presented in this
section of the Beacon. I would like these to represent the "common man"
success stories and ones which other individuals could identify with and use
as examples in their own situations. Many of the folks we serve have
overcome many attitudinal and social barriers that often go unmentioned when
we speak of overcoming the mental or physical barriers one faces. Please
feel free to contact me at 317-341-2356 or tomroundtree@yahoo.com. Thank you
all. I wish you a challenging and rewarding New Year!
Ball State University
course boosts
disabled students’ resumes
THE STAR PRESS
FISHERS, Ind. –
Computer
training for special education high school students, offered by BSU Outreach
Services Site (OSS) in Fishers, is featured on an international
certification firm’s Web site.
OSS was honored for its
Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3) program, which was
offered this summer to nine students in Hamilton County. It was listed as an
“IC3 Success Story” on Certiport’s Web site at www.certiport.com. Certiport,
which has more than 9,000 centers worldwide, provides training, assessment
and certification in Microsoft Office Specialist, the Internet and IC3.
The 36-hour course,
sponsored by OSS, Interlocal Association, Hamilton County WorkOne and
Hamilton/Boone/Madison Special Services Co-op, focused on computer hardware,
software, networks and the Internet. Not only did it develop specific
skills, but it also helped build students’ confidence and boost their
resumes, said Becky Branham, Interlocal Association’s program director.
SAMHSA Announces
New Suicide Hotline
1-800-273-TALK
The Department of Health and Human Services’
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today
announced the launch of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK. The national hotline is part of the National Suicide
Prevention Initiative – a collaborative effort led by SAMHSA that
incorporates the best practices and research findings in suicide prevention.
In addition, a new Web site is being launched at
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Callers to the hotline will receive suicide
prevention counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis
center in the network. A nationwide public education campaign to raise
awareness about suicide and the national hotline is under development.
To Contact
State Offices
Ind. Legislative Information
State Information Center
1-800-45-STATE
Statehouse Tour Office
317-233-9830
Federal Information Center
1-800-688-9889
US Senator Richard Lugar
1-202-224-4814
US Senator Evan Bayh
1-202-224-5623
Office of the Governor
317-232-4567
Indiana House
1-800-382-9841
Indiana Senate
1-800-382-9467
Medicaid Information
317-233-4455
Attain 2005 Conference
Empowerment through Employment:
Bridging Perceptions—Promoting Diversity
Indiana
Convention Center—Indianapolis, Indiana
March 29, 2005
Job Fair and Expo 8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
In a celebration of diversity, Attain is
providing Indiana businesses with access to a virtually untapped workforce.
Attain invites people with all types of disabilities seeking employment to
network with employers and to explore new vocational opportunities.
Lunch 12:00 –1:10 p.m.
Speaker –Tanyalee Davis, Comedic Performer
Concurrent Workshops 10:45
–11:45a.m. 1:25 –4:10 p.m.
Attain’s 2005 Conference is designed to
inspire business leaders, providers, consumers and educators to unite in the
creation of solutions for the future of our workforce.
Registration
Ph: (317)486-8808 E-mail: edean@attaininc.org
Previous
Beacons:
President’s Message
It
is that time of year when exciting
conferences are in full swing. National Rehabilitation and Indiana
Rehabilitation Association are no different. IRA will be well represented
at the NRA national conference this October as three IRA board members will
be attending. Over the summer IRA board members had the opportunity to
represent both IRA and NRA at the national Association for People in
Supported Employment (APSE) conference held in Indianapolis. This was a
wonderful opportunity to introduce or re-introduce rehabilitation
professionals to the strong mission of NRA.
Please mark your calendars for two important
IRA dates this fall. First, the annual training conference will be held on
November 17. Terrific sessions have been planned for the day that you will
not want to miss. Second, the annual awards banquet will be held on
December 7. This evening gives us the opportunity to pass on recognition to
some professionals who have displayed exemplary service to people with
disabilities.
Finally, we are only a few weeks away from
Election Day. Individuals elected into office will have a major impact on
the issues that are important to people with disabilities. It is critical
that not only you get yourself out the door to vote, but that you encourage
co–workers, family, friends, and those you serve to get out and vote as
well.
As always, if you are looking for ways to
get more involved with IRA, contact me at either 1-800-482-6815, x109, or
Twhite@arcrehab.org.
Enjoy the fall season!
Tim White
Recognizing
Excellence
You
have the opportunity to show appreciation for a co-worker, friend, colleague
or business partner who has done outstanding work in the field of
rehabilitation. Each year IRA is pleased to honor dedicated individuals or
businesses with these awards:
*
Fairbairn Award
*
Dr. Dennis Wyant Award
Look Inside for
Nomination Forms
Awards are presented at IRA Annual Meeting, December 7.
Deadline for
submitting nominations:
November 14, 2004
Mail forms to IRA, PO Box 44174, Indianapolis, IN 46244
or complete online at www.indianarehab.org.
Legislative
Updates
by Molly Tschopp, Ph.D.
From: Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental
Affairs
July 6, 2004
Introduction of S. 2595,
The Assistive Technology Act Reauthorization. Introduction of this important
bill would provide funds, improve access and foster better systems for
administering the program.
July 13, 2004
House Subcommittee on
Labor-HHS-Ed has recommended the mandatory Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
increase to Title I of the Rehab Act. National Rehabilitation Association
strongly supports Title I being mandatorily funded because a small funding
increase is better than no increase at all.
The Senate passed the
bill S. 2634, the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which would authorize $60
million over three years to fund suicide prevention programs in the States
by focusing on early intervention and mental illness detection programs.
July 21, 2004
Action alert for
members to call
Representatives/Senators and ask to co-sponsor The DisABLED Federal
Employees Protection Act. The National Rehabilitation Association supports
this important legislation for a number of reasons, including the recently
released Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) report which
chronicled a 20 percent DECREASE in individuals with DisABILITIES who are
presently employed by the Federal Government. This alert highlights problems
with outsourcing of federal jobs and the concern over employment
opportunities for individuals with disabilities. A related Legislative
Update on 9-30-2004 indicated that Congressman Chris Van
Hollen (D.MD.) intends to introduce sometime next week The Disabled Federal
Employees Protection Act, of which The National Rehabilitation Association
was an original sponsor. Access contact information on your Representatives
by visiting the NRA website:
http://www.nationalrehab.org/website/govt/index.html and typing in your home
zip code in the box marked “Write to Congress.”
September 1, 2004
On July 16, 2004, the
Federal Register carried a call for comments on the newly-proposed Workforce
Investment Reporting System, EMILE and public comments regarding the
collection of additional information on the types of disability of people
being served in the One-Stop. NRA cites concerns over duplication of data
collection and the protection of confidential information for individuals
with disabilities. The details on EMILE, including the full Federal Register
notice, may be accessed at:
http://www.doleta.gov/performance/emile/emile/cfm.
September 30, 2004
Congress may pass another
short-term extension of the Temporary Assistance To Needy Families (TANF)
legislation. This extension, which is anticipated to be six months in
length, would allow the 109th Congress the time to take up a long-term
reauthorization of TANF.
NRA President Kathleen
Wilson, President-Elect Patricia Murphy and I met with Deputy Assistant
Secretary Eugene Hickok at the U.S. Department of Education to express our
concerns regarding personnel changes and policy changes in the Office of the
Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)…The House
version of the WIA reauthorization bill downgraded the Office of the
Commissioner of RSA to a Director, however the Senate version of the WIA
bill left intact the Commissioner of RSA as a Presidential Appointment,
confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The NRA has never supported -- and does not
now support -- any downgrading of the Office of the Commissioner of RSA by
the Congress. This issue will be one of NRA's most important causes in this
and the forthcoming Congresses because we feel strongly that any downgrading
of the Office of the Commissioner of RSA -- who directly administers the
VR program -- is a downgrading of the public/private VR partnership
which has successfully served millions of individuals with disabilities
seeking the dignity of a career and living independently in the community
for over 84 years.
October 8, 2004
House-Senate Conference
is to begin on Special Education Reform Bill. Republican education leaders
in the U.S. House today applauded Speaker Dennis Hastert for appointing
conferees to work with the Senate in conference to produce a final special
education reform bill that can be signed into law by President Bush before
the end of the year.
Full text for the above communications may be
accessed through the NRA website: www.nationalrehab.org
Visit thomas.loc.gov to follow the progress
of bills.
Election Issues
NRA President Kathleen
Wilson’s
letter dated 9/9/2004 to NRA Members announced the NRA 2004 voter
registration drive: She requested that members register to vote and cast
their ballot, apply for absentee ballot if necessary, encourage eligible
consumers, colleagues and family members to register and vote. Full text for
this letter may be accessed through the NRA website: www.nationalrehab.org
The Indiana Governor's
Planning Council for People with Disabilities offers free copies of
their “Voter Participation Guide” and "Voting in Indiana" booklet, both
available at www.in.gov/gpcpd/publications or by contacting the Council at
(317) 232-7770 (voice), (317) 232-7771 (TT) or gpcpd@gpcpd.org (e-mail).
·
This site
also describes voter eligibility and the absentee ballot procedure. It
includes websites related to election issues. American Association of People
with Disabilities www.aapd.com/campaign04/indexcampaign.html offers
presidential candidates' positions on disability-related issues.
·
The
Council's Count Us IN project is leading the charge for full polling place
accessibility, as mandated by the Help America Vote Act of 2002. In a
massive undertaking, Count Us IN volunteers will survey every polling place
in the state - 4,026 polling places - on or before Election Day.
(Editor’s note: An article by Jason Thomas in
The Indianapolis Star on September 27, 2004, reported the survey done in
November 2003 found 96% of the 511 polling sites in Marion County had at
least one problem, including lack of handicapped parking, buildings without
elevators and doors without accessible handles. All 49 counties surveyed
have similar problems according to Julia Vaughn, project director for Count
Us IN.)
October 10, 2004
Our colleagues in the civil rights community have set up a toll-free
Election Day hotline. This hotline is staffed now and, in addition to
logging your complaint, the civil rights organizations have law students and
attorneys who can provide assistance on Election Day. The hotline number is
866-OUR-VOTE, (866-687-8683).
See related election information on page four.
IRA Annual Training Conference
The Indiana Rehabilitation Association
will hold its annual conference on
November 17, 2004
Crossroads Rehabilitation Center
4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis
9:30 a.m.
— registration and coffee
2:30 p.m.
— seminar concludes
The Seminar
is free for IRA members and $15.00 for nonmembers—There will be a charge for
lunch
Presentations
will include:
Þ
Coping with Chronic Illness —
basic theory of coping, impact on family, implications for counselors
Þ
Housing and Employment Issues
for People with AIDS
Þ
Youth and Disability
Þ
A brief presentation on
accessible workstations
For more
information or to register, please contact Brad Romine at
(317)
216-8127 or BLRDC@aol.com
Indiana & National Candidates 2004
On Election Day, Hoosiers
will choose candidates to fill a variety of national, state and local
positions. Following is a list of candidates, in alphabetical order, who
will appear on ballots statewide. Use the contact information to research
candidates’ views on important issues.
Governor/Lieutenant
Governor
Mitch Daniels/Becky
Skillman (Republican)
www.mymanmitch.com
(877) 648-2448 (voice)
info@mymanmitch.com
(e-mail)
Kenn Gividen/Elaine
Badnarik (Libertarian)
www.kenngividen.com
Joe Kernan/Kathy Davis
(Democrat)
www.kernandavis.com
(317) 231-7107 (voice)
comments@kernandavis.com
(e-mail)
President/Vice President
Michael Badnarik/RichardV. Campagna (Libertarian)
www.badnarik.org
(800) 807-7552 (voice)
CampaignManager@badnarik.org (e-mail)
George W. Bush/Dick
Cheney (Republican)
www.georgewbush.com
(703) 647-2700 (voice)
BushChaney04@GeorgeWBush.com (e-mail)
John F Kerry/John
Edwards (Democrat)
www.johnkerry.com
(202) 712-3000 (voice)
(202) 336-6950 (TT)
U.S.
Senator
Albert Barger
(Libertarian)
www.morethings.com/senate
barger4senate@gmail.com
(e-mail)
Evan Bayh (Democrat)
www.evanbayh.com
(317) 231-7147 (voice)
amy@evanbayh.com (e-mail)
Marvin Scott (Republican)
www.marvinscott.org
(317) 634-2651 (voice)
marvin@marvinscott.org (e-mail)
State Attorney General
Steve Carter (Republican)
www.in.gov/attorneygeneral
(317) 232-6201 (voice)
Joseph H. Hogsett (Democrat)
(317) 231-7110 (voice)
jhogsett@indems.org (e-mail)
AaronT. Milewski (Libertarian)
No information available
State Superintendent
of Public Instruction
Joe Hauptmann (Libertarian)
JoeH46250@yahoo.com (e-mail))
Suellen Reed (Republican)
www.doe.state.in.us
(317) 232-6610 (voice)
sreed@doe.state.in.us (e-mail)
Susan Williams (Democrat)
(317) 231-7100 (voice)
chorwitz@indems.org (e-mail)
Candidates’ names were
taken from the 2004 General Election Division from the Indiana Election
Division. The full list is available at
www.in.gov/sos/elections/candidates04/gen_candidatelist.pdf or by calling
(317) 232-3939 (voice).
Edited from on target, September 2004
Conferences on Services for
Transition-Age
Youth
The intent is to bring together key players
in transition services for youth and their families to address issues of
communication, coordination and collaboration. The morning will be an
overview of the school’s graduation requirements, academic standards, and
diploma options. The afternoon will be an overview of services offered by
the Department of Workforce Development and local WorkOne offices.
Targeted Audiences: Vocational Rehabilitation Services and WorkOne
staff, Teachers, Transition Coordinators, and
Parents/Family members.
Registration: None
Locations:
¨
Indianapolis, Tues., Oct. 19, 2004
Radisson-Airport, 2500 So. High School Rd.
(317)243-0853
¨
Fort Wayne, Tues., Oct. 26, 2004
Quality Hotel, 3330 W. Coliseum Blvd.
(260)484-7711
¨
Michigan City, Thurs., Nov. 4, 2004
Rag Tops Museum, 209 W. Michigan Blvd.
(219)878-1514
¨
Columbus, Wed., Oct., 20, 2004
Donner Park, 739 22nd St.
(812)376-2683
¨
Vincennes, Wed., Oct. 27, 2004
Executive Inn, One Executive Blvd.
(812)886-5000
For additional information call Sheryl Rader at (812) 855-6508
Attention
!
Important Job Fair
Thursday, October 21, 2004
You are invited to attend The Indianapolis
Business Leadership Network’s Accessibility and Diversity Job Fair.
Sponsored by the Indianapolis Business Leadership Network, the Indianapolis
Private Industry Council Inc. and the Mayor’s Office on Disability Affairs,
the job fair will take place Thursday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. at the IUPUI Conference Center.
Several factors differentiate our job fair
from others. The Accessibility and Diversity Job Fair will be open to
everyone, but will particularly target people with disabilities. An
accessible workstation with assistive technology will be available for you
and employers to sample. We will provide interpreters for those who are
deaf. We have requested that employers have large print and accessible
materials on hand. Please let anyone you know with or without disability
about the job fair.
Last year we had a wide assortment of
businesses, including both large and small local employers, and expect this
year will be even bigger and better. Please join us for a great opportunity
to see the kinds of jobs that are available in our community and talk to
businesses that are hiring.
We hope to see you Thursday, October 21.
Tree’s Corner
by Tom Roundtree
If you are keeping a list of helpful web
sites for Rehab Professionals, here are some useful ones:
Career Advice:
www.monster.com
www.wetfeet.com
www.jobstar.org
www.jobhuntersbible.com
www.rileyguide.com
www.careerperfect.com
www.net-temps.com
www.job-hunt.org
www.employmentzone.org
http://online.onetcenter.org
Careeer Research:
www.wetfeet.com
http://icpac.indiana.edu
www.acinet.org
www.princetonreview.com
Company Research:
www.wetfeet.com
www.hoovers.com
Please feel free to e-mail
tomroundtree@hotmail.com with any other helpful web addresses, and we will
include them in a future issue of the Beacon!
The Indiana Navigator Program
The IN Program
DOL Work
Incentive Grant (WIG)
The South Central and Circle Seven Workforce
Investment Boards in partnership with their WIA service providers -
Interlocal Association (IA) and Vincennes University/South Central’s
Workforce Development Services (SCWDS) - have received a Department of Labor
WIG to serve jobseekers with disabilities in all 13 counties/WorkOne
offices. This grant was one of four awarded to serve jobseekers from six
Indiana WSAs.
The primary goals and
objectives are to (1) enhance and increase the value and use of the One-Stop
Center system through implementation of Disability Program Navigator service
strategy; (2) improve the One-Stop system for jobseekers with disabilities,
including those with psychiatric and other hidden disabilities; and (3)
improve the number of people with disabilities registered, served and
participating in WIA and Wagner-Peyser programs, as well as improving their
employment outcomes.
During the two years
of The IN Program, 100,000 jobseekers are projected to receive WagnerPeyser
services of which 5,000 (5%) will have a disability. WIA services will be
provided to 1,900 persons with 11.5% or 219 having a disability. All adult,
dislocated workers and older youth registered will receive core services;
30% will receive intensive and 10% will participate in training.
2004 Calendar
OCT. 14-17 NRA Annual Training Conference
Philadelphia, Penn.
OCT. 16 Beacon mailing -
Nomination forms for the Dennis Wyant Award and the
Fairbairn Award will be included
OCT. 21 Accessibility and Diversity Job Fair
IUPUI Conference Center
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NOV. 8-9 Governor’s Planning Council—Annual Conference for People
with Disabilities
NOV. 14 Wyant and Fairbairn Award nominations due
NOV. 16 IRA Board Meeting
Veterans Administration Bldg.
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
NOV. 18 IRA Election Ballots mailed
NOV. 17 IRA Annual Training Conference
9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Crossroads Rehabilitation Center
DEC. 3 IRA Election Ballots due
DEC. 7 IRA Annual Meeting and Awards
5:00-7:00 p.m. Hyatt Regency Hotel
Fairbairn and Dennis Wyant Awards will be presented
Save These Important Dates!!
Þ
November 17; 9:30 am to
2:30 p.m.
IRA Annual Training Conference
Crossroads Rehabilitation Center
Þ
November 8-9, 2004
Annual Conference for People with
Disabilities
Westin Hotel, Indianapolis
Þ
December 7; 5:00-7:00 p.m.
IRA Annual Meeting and Awards
The Office of Disability
Employment Policy
has declared October
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
and
has named October 20
as
Disability Mentoring Day
Visit www.dol.gov/odep
for more information
You can support Mental
Health Association in Indiana and its local chapters by purchasing a “Ring
Out Hope” license plate. Visit www.mentalhealthassociation.com/entrance.htm
or call (317) 638-3501 (voice) for the application.
President’s Message
Summer
is here! I trust everyone is having their share of cooking out, seeing
fireworks, and enjoying needed vacations. I know I sure have. My wife and
I had the opportunity in May to take our five-year-old daughter to Disney
World. What an awesome experience for kids both 5 and 37 years of age! In
addition to having al lot of fun, it was also encouraging to see the
tremendous access and participation people with disabilities enjoyed in all
aspects of the Disney experience. From access to rides to transportation
through the many parks, we saw numerous examples of people with disabilities
accessing the same fun-filled adventure we were. It was very obvious that
Disney is an example of a company that understands the financial impact of
being accessible to people with disabilities irrespective of the fact it is
simply the right thing to do.
While my
family and I were having fun in Orlando, many of you were enjoying the
festivities of the annual Black and White Ball. This annual fundraiser, put
together by Brad Romine, Program Chair, and the program committee, continues
to provide financial support for the mission of Indiana Rehabilitation
Association. We are especially grateful to Brad’s parents, Russell and
Shirley Romine, for their enthusiastic work and support concerning this
event. Also, Indiana Rehabilitation Association had the opportunity to
provide well-deserved recognition to a couple of significant leaders in
rehabilitation. Marge Towell from the Marion County Mental Health
Association received a Beacon Award, as did Kevin Powell on behalf of the
Veterans Administration. Indiana Rehabilitation Association is grateful for
the work these individuals and organizations do for people with
disabilities. Thank you!
As this
edition of The Beacon goes to print, various IRA members will be
representing both National and Indiana Rehabilitation Association at the
national APSE (Association for People in Supported Employment) conference
being held in July. As many of you are aware, APSE is a national
organization promoting the mission of community employment for people with
all levels of disability. Several IRA board members are actively involved
with the Indiana chapter of APSE, IN-APSE. I know my professional
development has personally benefited from being involved with IN-APSE over
the years, especially as a rookie job coach in 1996. IRA is thrilled to
have this opportunity to support the work of this dedicated organization.
Finally,
please keep in mind that critical elections are approaching in November.
Voting is your way to act on your desire for adequate funding and services
for people with disabilities. In addition to yourself, encourage the people
you serve and work with to do their part as well in this high stakes
election.
As always, if you have any questions about Indiana Rehabilitation
Association, please do not hesitate to contact me at 1-800-482-6815, x109,
or email Twhite@arcrehab.org.
Enjoy your summer!
Tim White
Legislative Updates
From: Kathleen
Wilson, NRA President
As of April 28,
2004, NRA Director of Operations Jon D’Angelo has been appointed to serve as
Acting Executive Director of NRA. ... Michelle Vaughan, our former Executive
Director, will be assisting Jon in a consulting role. A Search Committee
will be formed in the coming weeks (for a permanent Executive Director). The
NRA Board has the utmost confidence in Jon’s ability. ...
From: Patricia
Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs
5-10-04
Yesterday, the
Senate passed the Family Opportunity Act, which will provide a Medicaid
buy-in to the families of children with disabilities. Many families with
disabled children have had to face the choice between giving up custody of
their child or keeping the family in poverty in order to obtain
rehabilitation and other specialized services that Medicaid offers. Under
the bill, states could charge families premiums for the Medicaid coverage,
although private insurance and Medicaid premiums combined could not exceed
7.5 percent of family income. There is like legislation in the House, which
we hope will be brought to the floor soon.
5-14-04
Yesterday, on a
roll call vote of 95-3 the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the Senate IDEA
reauthorization bill, S. 1248.
Following are
excerpts from the comments of Sen. E. Kennedy (D. Mass.): “Today, six and a
half million children with disabilities receive special education services.
Almost all of them – 96% – are learning alongside their non-disabled peers.
The number of young children with early development problems who receive
childhood services has tripled since 1975.
“More disabled
students are participating in state and national testing programs, and
graduation rates and college enrollment rates for disabled students are
steadily rising.
“The
opportunities for further progress are boundless. ...We are learning more
each day about the enabling power of technology to help disabled children
lead independent lives – it lets them communicate, explore the world on the
Internet, move in ways we couldn't have imagined five years ago, much less
in 1975 when the law was first enacted.”
May 19, 2004
On Wednesday, the
Committee on Education and the Workforce unanimously endorsed a substitute
bill, H.R. 4278, that reauthorizes the Assistive Technology Act. The bill,
entitled Improving Access to Assistive Technology for Individuals with
Disabilities Act of 2004, was a bipartisan effort led by Subcommittee
Chairman McKeon (R-CA), Committee Chairman Boehner (R-OH).
6-07-04
President Bush
has announced his intention to nominate John Hager of Virginia to be the
next Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).
Mr. Hager -- should he be nominated -- would succeed Dr. Robert Pasternack
who has transitioned to an executive position with Maximus, the firm that
administers the Ticket To Work for the Social Security Administration.
6-29-04
On Friday of last week,
the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)
Committee, Senator Judd Gregg (R.N.H.) and HELP Committee Member Senator Tom
Harkin (D.IA.) introduced S. 2595, the Assistive Technology Act
Reauthorization. Like its House counterpart, H.R. 4278 enjoys bipartisan
support. “This bill improves access to assistance by fostering
public-private partnerships, improving access to technology and stabilizing
state funding streams so devices and services are within reach of
individuals with disabilities.” —Sen. Judd Gregg (R.NH)
For full text on any
of the above, please go to the NRA web site: www.nationalrehab.org
Indiana Updates
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