|
|
--- Begin Message --- COUNCIL E-NEWS- July 21, 2006
We hope Council E-News will provide resources and information about disability issues that will educate and empower advocates to form their own views on issues and advocate according to their personal needs and those of their communities. If you have comments or ideas to submit, contact Christine Dahlberg at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
10 ITEMS OF INTEREST
**FYI- The theme for the reception at the Council's annual conference is Fiesta!!! Anyone have a lead on a free or extremely cheap Mariachi and/or Salsa band?- [EMAIL PROTECTED]
1. GOVS COUNCIL AWARDS PROGRAM- NOMINATIONS DUE AUGUST 31!
2. FREE MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP ACCESS CLASS AT EASTER SEALS CROSSROAD IN INDY
3. REMINDER: LAST 4 Arc SEMINARS ON EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
4 FEDERAL BILLS COULD RESULT IN KILLING CRITICAL PROGRAMS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
5. ALERT! PARATRANSIT REGULATIONS PROPOSED CHANGES RESPOND BY JULY 28!
6. PERSON WITH A DISABILITY NEEDED FOR COMPUTER HELP DESK POSITION IN INDY
7. SELF ADVOCATES OF INDIANA STATEWIDE CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 7-8
8. A SPECIAL INVITATION FOR SIBLINGS & PARENTS OF ADULTS WITH DEV. DISABILITIES:
9. NEED STORIES OF OVERCOMING OBSTACLES INVOLVING MENTAL ILLNESS BY JULY31.
10. WASHINGTON WATCH -MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ON DISABILITY ISSUES AVAILABLE
*******
1 COUNCIL AWARDS PROGRAM- NOMINATIONS DUE AUGUST 31!
The Council established the Community Spirit Awards as an annual recognition of the efforts of those individuals and organizations that make a difference, through their advocacy efforts, to insure that people with disabilities and children with disability have the opportunity, supports, and access they need to become fully included in society. The two award categories are: the Distinguished Leadership Awards and the Disability Awareness Campaign Awards. Winners and a guest are invited as guests to attend the annual conference and winners are recognized during the awards luncheon. Information about each winner will be posted on the website after the awards ceremony. For more information and a nomination form go to: http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/
***
2 FREE MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP ACCESS CLASSES AT EASTER SEALS CROSSROAD IN INDY
Optimize your ability to use your computer with no extra technology... learn how to use the built-in accessibility features of Windows XP!
-Accessibility Enhancements including font and icon size, screen resolution and contrast
-Sounds and Speech including volume, notification, and Text-to-Speech
-Keyboard and Mouse including mouse, key and pointer options and alternate keyboard
-Accessibility Wizard and Utilities including magnifier, narrator, on-screen keyboard
**And More!
Free Single Session Classes from 1-5 pm: 4 dates to chose from!
Dates: July 26; October 25; January 18; 2006 and April 12, 2007
Location Easter Seals Crossroads; Computer Basics Classroom - 4th Floor
4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205
To Register: Call Carol at 317.466.1000, x2421, or email her at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
******
3 REMINDER: LAST 4 Arc SEMINARS ON EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Registration info at : http://www.arcind.org/upcoming_events.htm
Marion - July 24
Lafayette - July 26
Evansville - July 27
Sullivan - July 28
*******
4 FEDERAL BILLS COULD RESULT IN KILLING CRITICAL PROGRAMS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
The bills numbers are: S3282 and HR5766. These bills would allow decisions to be made behind closed doors on all government programs and regulations. The commissions could eliminate programs without input from the public and would bypass the congressional process. The bad news is that both bills were marked up and reported out this morning by the House Government Reform Committee. This was an unexpected turn of events. Any CCD member councils and their grassroots networks need to take action on this dangerous legislation. Please help educate your Senators and Congress about the potential impact of this sunset legislation. For more information about these sunset bills, please go to the OMB Watch website at www.ombwatch.org.
******
5 ALERT! PARATRANSIT REGULATIONS PROPOSED CHANGES RESPOND BY JULY 28!-
From the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Department of Transportation Proposes Changes in ADA Transportation Regulation
YOUR COMMENTS NEEDED
Has your transit agency cut back assistance to paratransit riders recently?
Could you or people you know successfully use the ADA paratransit service, if there was no assistance beyond the paratransit vehicle?
Your comments are needed by July 28, 2006 - this is a new extended deadline -- on important proposed changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transportation regulations. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing positive changes that are being very strongly resisted by most public transportation providers. Disability advocates' support is crucial to the outcome. Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) has draft comments to help you write your comments. For more information go to: http://www.dredf.org/transportation/transportation_alert_6-06.html
DOT's full Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be found at <http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf95/387799_web.pdf>.
*********
6 PERSON WITH A DISABILITY NEEDED FOR COMPUTER HELP DESK POSITION IN INDY
People with disabilities who are interested in this position or other entry-level careers in the information technology, engineering, finance/accounting and general business areas should send their resume to the [EMAIL PROTECTED] Resumes are also accepted via fax and mail. Contact: Darren Hucko
Bender Consulting Services, Inc., 412-446-4453; (fax) 412-787-7178
Help Desk Qualifications: Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Science, or the equivalent is preferred. An Associates degree or equivalent technical training will be considered. Microsoft, Novell, or A+ certification will also be considered.
Company Description: Bender Consulting Services, Inc. (BCS) is a for-profit company that focuses on employing professionals with disabilities in the areas of information technology, finance/accounting, human resources, engineering, and general business. For more information and other job openings, please visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.benderconsult.com.
*********
7 SELF ADVOCATES OF INDIANA STATEWIDE CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 7-8
People Power Working Together for Change
Thursday and Friday, September 7 8; Bloomington Convention Center
Self-Advocates of Indiana, Inc. presents the
2006 STATEWIDE SELF-ADVOCACY CONFERENCE with a special feature:
Disability and Aging in the Family--A workshop on later life issues for family members of adults with developmental disabilities
News Flash: Faith McCormick from the federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities will give our keynote address!
Self-Advocates! : Your state organization is proud to offer you 2 days of fun and informative sessions. You will be able to learn a lot in your conference sessions. How about a health fair with a masseuse! Then a dinner and dance with DJ Fulton Express will light up the evening on Thursday.
Families!: Your program will begin with a town meeting Friday morning with the self-advocates and state officials to explore how families, communities and the people themselves can work toward meaningful lives for everyone in the community. Sessions will follow on other interesting topics (see special invitation below).
Staff & Supporters! : While your self-advocates are in their sessions, you can take advantage of sessions on best practices for supporting a person on the path to self-sufficiency. Your sessions will be repeated to allow for everyone to attend.
Scholarships: A limited number of scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis to individuals or households with dependents receiving Indiana SSI, SSDI or TANF. The number of available scholarships is limited; apply soon!
For more information: http://www.saind.org/index.html and click on the save the date card
******
8 A SPECIAL INVITATION FOR SIBLINGS & PARENTS OF ADULTS WITH DEV. DISABILITIES:
Attend the special Family Track during the statewide Self-Advocacy Conference, Bloomington Convention Center, Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. 8:00 am 3:30 pm.
Join Self Advocates in a special Town Meeting with state leaders to discuss the future of disability services.
Family Track Highlights
Don Meyer, internationally acclaimed speaker and founder of sibshops.
Jan Sinn on planning for later life issues
Gordon Homes on financial futures planning
Special session on Downs Syndrome and Alzheimers
$60 cost includes breakfast, lunch, and all conference materials. Partial Scholarships available for those on Social security or TANF.
Contact person: 812-856-5543 1-800-825-4733 (IN only) or: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or:
click on: http://www.saind.org/2006_Conference/Conf_Registration.html
Fees increase after August 1. Special room rates at Courtyard by Marriott, adjacent
to convention center. Call directly to (812) 335-8000, ask for SAI rate.
******
9 NEED STORIES OF OVERCOMING OBSTACLES INVOLVING MENTAL ILLNESS BY JULY31.
AMHPA, a coalition of Indiana area mental health and arts organizations, is seeking stories from mental health providers, consumers or family members who can share personal experiences of overcoming obstacles involving mental illness. Obstacles, either overcome successfully or with difficulty, might include experiences with
stigma, discrimination, or access to services and medication. Stories will be evaluated by a committee of mental health professionals, theatre professionals, and consumers of mental health services. Some stories will be developed for improvisational scenes performed by Picture This interactive theatre, a part of Health
Promotion Services of Community Health Network. Picture This uses professional actors to provide education on a variety of topics and engages audiences in ways beyond traditional lecture style presentations so that the audiences, themselves, are part of the presentation. The scenes developed by Picture This will be presented as a Spirit & Place Festival Event in November. The deadline for entries is July 31, 2006. To request an
application packet, which includes guidelines for submission, call Susan at 317-351-0510 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
******
10 WASHINGTON WATCH -MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ON DISABILITY ISSUES AVAILABLE
Washington Watch, your monthly source for news and information on disability-related issues, is now available. Download the July issue of Washington Watch at: http://www.thearc.org/ppc/ww.doc
In This Issue
Congress Returns For A Summer Stretch Of Work: Appropriations Still A Priority
Section 811 Funding Clears House With Small Increase
No Growth In Federal Employment Of People With Disabilities Sparks Widespread Interest
Troubled D.C. MR/DD Agency Gets Congressional Oversight Hearing
How To Navigate Key Federal Government Web Sites For Public Policy Info At Your Fingertips
******
PLEASE NOTE: Council E-News is the e-mail newsletter of the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities. It is sent out on an occasional basis usually twice a month but more often when the legislature is in session. It is used to report on late breaking news and information about public hearings, policy issues, conferences and other Indiana related news. Sometimes federal level information is included, especially if it has an Indiana aspect. It is also used to pass on Action Alerts from Indiana Advocacy organizations.
Please let me know if you would prefer not to receive this info in future and I will remove you from the list. If you receive this forwarded from someone else and would like to get it directly send your name, organization, street address and e-mail to me at the address below. We use the data base for our print On Target newsletter to send E-mail News so if you sign up, you will receive both in the future.
Christine Dahlberg, Associate Director
Governor's Council for People with Disabilities
150 West Market, Suite 628
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-7774
317-233-3712 (fax)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.state.in.us/gpcpd
--- End Message ---
