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COUNCIL E-NEWS OCT 22- 2007
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]
7 ITEMS OF INTEREST
1. CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED TO NOV 1
2. ADA ROAD TO FREEDOM BUS IN MERRILLVILLE OCTOBER 24
3. E-BOOK FEATURES ESSAYS FROM HOOSIERS WITH DISABILITIES
4. HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL (DISABILITY) DOCUMENTARY: BODY & SOUL:
DIANA & KATHY
5. INDY SPIRIT & PLACE FESTIVAL: DISABILITY RELATED EVENTS
6. URGE CONGRESS TO FUND VITAL DISABILITY PROGRAMS!
7. NO EXCUSES---VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6!
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1. CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED TO NOV 1, NOV 7 FOR HOTEL
Regular registration deadline is November 16---We have a great program this
year!! For details and/or a registration form go to: www.in.gov/gpcpd
Below are some details about logistics and expenses:
Hyatt Parking is under the hotel, fees are $18 per 24 hrs self park, $24
per day valet, the Plaza across the street is $20
Hyatt hotel rooms are $83 single $108 double plus 15% tax
Hotel rooms are covered for scholarship recipients from 50 miles or more
out of town and will be direct billed to the Council.
For scholarships- Hotel room deposits are required at the Hyatt only if you
want to use the phone, order movies, or use room service. You can bring a
credit card or $20 per night but if you don't, you can still register they
will just turn of the phone and movie channel
There is a McDonalds, Subway, pizza place and Charley and Barney's Chili in
the hotel in addition to hotel restaurants
The hotel has an indoor heated pool and Jacuzzi, sauna and fitness center
For more hotel info/direction go to: http://indianapolis.hyatt.com/
Some people who need accessible rooms will be staying at the Westin or
another downtown hotel because the Hyatt does not have enough wheelchair
accessible rooms.
Remember, discounted registration fees are available for parents and people
with disabilities with scholarships for people/families who receive SSI,
SSDI or TANF.
For more information or to download a registration form visit the Council
website at: www.in.gov/gpcpd or contact the Council at 317-232-7770 or
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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2. ADA ROAD TO FREEDOM BUS IN MERRILLVILLE OCTOBER 24
The ADA Bus Tour will be making its' only Indiana stop on October 24 in
Merrillville. There will be a public reception on October 24 from 10:00 AM
- 3:00 PM at the Everybody Counts Center for Independent Living, 9111
Broadway Suite A, Broadfield Center, Merrillville, IN 46410. For more info:
219-769-5055, 888-769-3636. The ADA Bus Tour and Road To Freedom exhibit
features Tom Olin's historical photographs of the struggle for disability
rights. Olin's work has been featured at the Smithsonian Institute. The
exhibit also includes a narrative of the grassroots history of the ADA as
written by Arlene Mayerson of the Disability Rights Education and Defense
Fund (DREDF). The Road To Freedom bus tour and traveling exhibit is a
project of ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights
(NCDR), an alliance of hundreds of disability, civil rights and social
justice organizations founded by disability rights advocate Jim
Ward http://roadtofreedom.org/cs/the_tour
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3. E-BOOK FEATURES ESSAYS FROM HOOSIERS WITH DISABILITIES
"Living in Muncie, Indiana: Perspectives from People with Disabilities".
This ebook contains 30 essays and interviews from people with disabilities.
Its goal is to raise disability awareness. Go to
www.livinginmuncie.xbuild.com and download a free copy! And remember to
pass the word to everyone you can think of! This is an insightful resource
that even people who live in other places besides Muncie can enjoy!
Thank you for helping to raise disability awareness! It's so appreciated!
Sincerely, Jody Courtney
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4. HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL (DISABILITY) DOCUMENTARY: BODY & SOUL: DIANA &
KATHY
BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY, the new short documentary film directed by
Academy Award nominated filmmaker Alice Elliott (The Collector of Bedford
Street), will be screened at the Heartland Film Festival in
Indianapolis. Director Alice Elliott and the subjects - Diana Braun and
Kathy Conour - will be in attendance at the Saturday, October 20, 10:00 am
screening at the downtown, Indianapolis, Circle Center Theater. The film
will be screened along with five other "short" films. BODY & SOUL: DIANA &
KATHY is a rare look at an unusual relationship between two people with
disabilities. The film tells the story of Diana Braun who has Down
Syndrome, and Kathy Conour who has Cerebral Palsy and is non-verbal, and
their tireless activism for the rights of people with disabilities. Diana
and Kathy met at a sheltered workshop in Illinois three decades ago and
vowed to live independent, non-institutionalized lives. Fearful of being
shut away in a nursing home or forced into a state run institution, Diana
and Kathy broke the rules, escaped the system, and survived to tell their
story. BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY moves beyond disability and activism to
a story of a profound, creative friendship.
HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL SCREENING DETAILS*:
Friday, October 19: 4:15 PM & 6:50 PM; AMC Theatres Clearwater Crossing 12
Saturday, October 20: 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM & 9:00 PM; Regal Entertainment
Group UA Circle Center 9
Sunday, October 21: 1:00 PM & 7:30 PM; AMC Theatres Greenwood Park 14
Monday, October 22: 4:30 PM; AMC Theatres Clearwater Crossing 12
Tuesday, October 23: 7:15 PM, AMC Theatres Greenwood Park 14
Wednesday, October 24: 7:00 PM; AMC Theatres Greenwood Park 14
Thursday, October 25: 1:00 PM; AMC Theatres Clearwater Crossing 12
*Ticket and festival information www.heartlandfilmfestival.org.
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5. INDY SPIRIT & PLACE FESTIVAL: DISABILITY RELATED EVENTS
The Spirit and Place festival takes place from Nov 2- 18 in various
locations throughout Marion County. This year the festival features 71
events, several related to people with disabilities.
http://www.spiritandplace.org/Home.aspx Most events are free:
1. The Collector of Bedford Street documentary film (Academy Award
nominated), Thursday, November 8, 7:30 pm, Laikin Auditorium, 6701 Hoover
Road Indianapolis, IN 46260 Featuring live appearances by Director Alice
Elliott & the star of the film Larry Selman. The story of Larry Selman, a
man with a developmental disability who has spent much of his adult life
collecting funds for charities. When his only living relative became sick,
neighbors responded by setting up a trust fund and services so that Larry
could continue to live independently. Larry gave to his community, his
community gave back and he gained a new family in the process. Sponsored by
the Governor's Council for People With Disabilities and Fifth Third Bank.
2. Embracing the Gifts of Children and Adults with Disabilities: Gayle Foy,
local advocate will lead a panel discussion with parents of adults and
children with disabilities Participants will also enjoy a choral
performance by youth with disabilities as well as a display of
family-created artwork. Admission is free. Classroom resources are available.
3. Different Strokes for Different Folks, an Arts exhibition by artists
with disabilities: Oct 24-Nov 30. Opening reception Oct 24 at 6:30 pm
Arthur M Glick Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Road Indianapolis, IN 46260
4. Family Arts Workshop. Nov 11 from 2-4 pm VSA Arts artists put you in
touch with your creative side $5 per participant limited to 45 people.
Register by Nov 1 by calling 251-9467 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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6. URGE CONGRESS TO FUND VITAL DISABILITY PROGRAMS!
ACTION ALERT FROM Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations October 16, 2007
The Senate is expected to take up the Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education (L-HHS-ED) appropriations this week. This bill is very important
to people with disabilities and their families!
The Labor-HHS-ED bill provides funding for special education, employment,
research, health care, DD programs, Independent Living Centers, and many
other essential programs. Many of these programs have experienced cuts in
recent years. If we do not act now to educate Congress and the President
about the need for this funding, we may end up with deeper cuts and no
increases. We will need you to take action 3 OR 4 times during this process
to get:
1) the Senate to pass the bill
2) the House and Senate to pass the final conference bill
3) the President to sign the bill, and possibly
4) Congress to override the President's veto
ACTION NEEDED THIS WEEK:
1. Please urge your Senators to support the L-HHS-ED appropriations bill
when it comes up for a vote this week.
The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your
Senators.
To send an email message, visit the AUCD Action Center:
http://www.aucd.org/template/capwiz.cfm
Please edit the message to make it personal and add state- specific impact
statement if possible.
For more info about funding levels, see CCD's FY08 Federal Funding
Recommendations at www.c-c-d.org
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7. NO EXCUSES---VOTE ON NOVEMBER 6!
If you live in a city or town you have an opportunity to elect local
officials like county or city council and mayors (think curb cuts,
sidewalks and property taxes). Star columnist Matthew Tulley wrote recent
article in the Indy Star rebutting the 5 most common reasons for not voting
1. "I don't care about local politics." Stand up, please, and walk to your
front window. Who do you think paves your streets, fixes your sidewalks and
makes sure police drive by occasionally? Yeah, local government.
Are you happy with how things look outside your window and beyond? If so,
then thank your local council members by voting for them. If not, make them
pay for ignoring you. I say this all the time: There is no level of
government that affects your daily life more directly than the local one.
Do you worry about your property values, property taxes and the state of
your neighborhood? Of course you do. So have a say in the future of your city.
2. "I'll vote in the state and federal elections next year." Sure you will.
But if you're worried about, say, property taxes, you'd better vote this year.
State lawmakers are watching to see whether voters are really as mad as
they say they are. If, after all the rallies and protests and outcry this
year, local elections produce paltry turnouts, state lawmakers will feel
less pressure to deal with property taxes in any serious way during their
2008 session.
3. "I'm busy that day." I hate to be blunt, but that's baloney. It takes
about 10 minutes to vote. Actually, one good thing about local elections is
the lines are never long. And if you're going to be out of town, you can
cast an absentee ballot.
4. "My vote doesn't matter." Oh, I love this one. Travel back with me to
2003. Marion County Democrats won control of the City-County Council that
year, taking 15 seats to the Republicans' 14. The key to the Democratic
victory was the race for the 12th District council seat on the city's
Northeastside. Democrat Sherron Franklin won the seat by just 13 votes. So
in the end, one seat won by 13 votes determined the majority. I hope this
makes the point: Your vote does matter.
5. "I don't know anything about candidates for city and town councils."
Hey, few people do. But don't worry. You can learn about specific
candidates by going to IndyStar.com and clicking on the online voter guide.
In addition to information about candidates, you can find out where to
vote, how to cast an absentee ballot, what district you live in and whether
you are registered.
So, come on, don't make excuses. Just go out and vote Nov. 6. It's easy.
It's important. And it's actually kind of fun.
Reach Matthew Tully at (317) 444-6033 or via e-mail at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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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
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