____________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 7/11/2008 9:14:24 A.M. Central Daylight Time Subj: Fwd: Council E-News July 11, 2008
COUNCIL E-NEWS- July 11, 2008 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] **NOTE: WE NEED NOMINATIONS FOR THE PARENT AND PERSON WITH A DISABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS- DUE AUG 15. Recipients are recognized and attend the Council conference at no charge- Self nominations are fine To apply: _http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/2339.htm_ (http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/2339.htm) 8 ITEMS OF INTEREST 1. PARTNERS REGISTRATION GOAL EXCEEDED!! 2. 500 MORE RESPONSES NEEDED FOR THE INDIANA ON LINE DISABILITY VOTE POLL 3. FREE WEB BASED SERVICE THAT READS WRITTEN MATERIAL OUT LOUD 4. HEALTHY INDIANA PLAN (HIP) BUY-IN NOW AVAILABLE 5. FREE STATEWIDE ASSISTIVE TECH CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 6. STIPENDS & REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO JULY 15 FOR NATIONAL SELF ADVOCATES CONFERENCE 7. FAMILIES OF PEOPLE WITH DD ARE AGING: RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR IU STUDY 8. ADA UPDATE: 18 YEARS LATER A NATIONAL AUDIO-CONFERENCE TUES. JULY 15- 2-3:30 PM ****** PARTNERS REGISTRATION GOAL EXCEEDED!! Thanks to all of you who help us recruit applicants for the Partners in Policymaking program. We have 78 applicants from which to select 40 participants. ***** 500 MORE RESPONSES NEEDED FOR THE INDIANA ON LINE DISABILITY VOTE POLL ELECTION YEAR VOTING! We are asking individuals with disabilities, their family members, and advocates to lend their voices to this year's Disability Poll on Voting and Civic Engagement! We need your experiences and ideas about voting and the elections in Indiana: voter registration, polling places, and other election year activities! We have written about this poll before. If you have already responded, thank you for your help. If not, please visit _http://www.thepollingplace.org_ (http://www.thepollingplace.org/) and fill out the poll today! We need 500 more responses! For a print copy or an alternative format, contact Vicki Pappas at the Indiana Institute. Phone: 812-855-6508. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The poll should take less than 10 minutes, and answers are anonymous. Make your voice heard by sharing your ideas about voting rights, accessibility of polling places, other barriers to voting, participating in campaigns and sources of candidate information. The Indiana Disability Poll is being jointly conducted by the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, and Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services. Please respond as soon as you can so we can issue our report this summer. Thanks for your help! ***** FREE WEB BASED SERVICE THAT READS WRITTEN MATERIAL OUT LOUD _www.ReadTheWords.com _ (http://www.readthewords.com /) is a free, web based service that assists people with written material. They use Text To Speech Technology. Users of the service can generate a clear sounding audio file from almost any written material. They generate a voice that reads the words out loud, that you request them to read. They provide users various ways to let them know what to read. You can write text, or copy text from another file, and paste it into the text box. There is also a file upload section, where you can upload any Microsoft office document, Adobe PDF, txt, and HTML document. You can also provide a website address, or RSS feed url, and they can read that as well. You have many options for what you can do with your reading. You can download it to your computer, ipod, or other mp3 player. You can listen from any computer. ***** 4. HEALTHY INDIANA PLAN (HIP) BUY-IN NOW AVAILABLE The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced a buy-in option for the state's Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). The Indiana Check-Up Plan that was approved by the Legislature in April 2007 includes a buy-in option for Hoosiers who do not qualify for the plan due to income. HIP has been open only to Hoosiers earning below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Now, the buy-in option provides an alternative for those who do not qualify for the subsidized plan because their income is above 200% of the FPL, which is approximately $40,000 for a family of four. The buy-in option for HIP will include benefits similar to the original plan that rolled out January first of this year. HIP currently provides health insurance for uninsured Hoosiers between the ages of 19 and 65, who are below 200% FPL, do not have Medicare or Medicaid, have been uninsured for at least six months and are not eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage. Like the HIP plan, participants will have a $1,100 deductible. Once eligible expenses exceed $1,100, individuals have access to a basic personal health insurance policy, with no copays except for emergency room visits. At this time, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will be the only provider for the program. MDWise with Americhoice is expected to offer their version later this year. Cost of the plan will be based on age, sex and geographic region. There is no state or federal subsidization for the buy-in option. All applicants who are denied HIP coverage due to over income will receive a notice from FSSA about the alternative buy-in option. Hoosiers interested in purchasing the HIP buy-in product should contact Anthem at: 1-800-622-4075 or a licensed Anthem agent. For more information on the Healthy Indiana Plan, go to: _www.hip.in.gov_ (http://www.hip.in.gov/) . For more inf ormation on FSSA, go to: _www.in.gov/fssa_ (http://www.in.gov/fssa) . **** 5. FREE STATEWIDE ASSISTIVE TECH CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 In October 2007, Easter Seals Crossroads was awarded a grant to provide the Assistive Technology Act services throughout the state of Indiana. As part of that project, a FREE statewide conference will be held in downtown Indianapolis on Friday, September 26, 2008 at the Indiana Convention Center. This years theme: Explore the Possibilities. There will be 300 full-conference tickets available to the general public. In addition to full-conference tickets, up to 500 exhibit-hall-only passes will be available. Attendees will include service providers, educators, assistive technology users, parents and funders. There will be four tracks to the conference: Assistive Technology in Employment, Education, Recreation and Independent Living. At least 50 exhibitors will be present to demonstrate equipment and answer questions. A keynote speaker will be presenting during lunch. For more information or to register go to _www.eastersealstech.com_ (http://www.eastersealstech.com/) Feel free to contact Emily Abel, INDATA Education and Outreach Coordinator, Easter Seals Crossroads with any questions about the conference: 317.466.2013 office, **** 6. STIPENDS & REGISTRATION EXTENDED TO JULY 15 FOR NATIONAL SELF ADVOCATES CONFERENCE People with disabilities and their families have a unique opportunity to attend the largest gathering of self-advocates in the nation at the National Self Advocacy Conference, Indianapolis, September 4-7. SABE 2008: The conference will be here sooner than you think, and deadlines are quickly approaching. July 15 - Deadline for early bird registration rate of $350. Stipends are still available to Indiana residents to cover the cost of registration! To request a stipend, register on-line at: _www.sabe2008.org_ (http://www.sabe2008.org/) . After July 15, the rate increases to $425, so be sure to register soon. Children aged 9 and under must register, but can attend at no cost. The conference will offer over 90 breakout sessions led by self-advocates from across the country!. For more conference information, visit _http://www.sabe2008.org/_ (http://www.sabe2008.org/) . Hotel rooms are filling up! The conference hotel is already 50% booked. August 4 - Deadline to lock in special hotel rate of $149, plus tax. For hotel reservations, call: 877.640.7666 Indianapolis Marriot Downtown, 350 West Maryland Street. Reference group code SABE to get the special rate. Special note: You can reserve an accessible hotel room when you register for the conference online. Registration fee includes: All conference activities, Three nights of entertainment, Dinner on Thursday, September 4, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on September 5 and September 6, Breakfast on September 7 Registration fee does not include: Hotel Reservations , transportation, Optional tours or events **** 7. FAMILIES OF PEOPLE WITH DD ARE AGING: RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR IU STUDY Please Feel Free to Forward This Information People with developmental disabilities are living longer, healthier lives than at any point in history. Planning for this population has become very important. The Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Family and Social Services Administration, has identified a need to gain a deeper understanding of the range of possible supports that might enable parents and siblings to retain their adult family member with a developmental disability in the home environment, where such a goal is shared by all. In depth interviews with older parents and/or siblings are being conducted around Indiana by researchers from Indiana University. Specifically, interviews are sought with parents or siblings aged 50 and older who provide support in their home for an adult child, or children, with a developmental disability. Confidential interviews will be conducted with the individual seen as the "primary caregiver", as determined by the participating family. Interviews will be conducted in the home or in another private location of the interviewee's choice. The selection of interview participants will be partly determined by travel resources and schedules of the researchers. If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, please contact Lora Wagers for more information about the project by mail, phone, fax, or email: Family Support Project Indiana Institute on Disability and Community 2853 East Tenth St. Bloomington, IN 47408 Toll free phone: 1-800- 825-4733 Phone: 1-812-855-6508 Fax: 1-812-855-9630 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] **** 8. ADA UPDATE: 18 YEARS LATER A NATIONAL AUDIO-CONFERENCE TUES. JULY 15- 2-3:30 PM Speakers: John L. Wodatch, Chief, Civil Rights Divison, U.S. Department of Justice and Sharon Rennert, Senior Attorney Advisor, Americans with Disabilities Act Division, Office of Legal Counsel, EEOC Mark the 18th anniversary of the ADA by joining this audio conference as we listen to representatives of the Federal Agencies present an update on their litigation, technical assistance and enforcement efforts over the past year. Participants will have an opportunity to pose questions to the presenters regarding issues in their own workplace or community. No pre-registration is required. SHRM and CRCC continuing education credits are available. The session is free at the two locations sponsored by ADA-Indiana. ADA-INDIANA SITE LOCATIONS: BLOOMINGTON: Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Building L, 2853 East Tenth Street INDIANAPOLIS: Indiana Government Center, Conference Room 1, 402 W. Washington Street MORE INFORMATION: For more information about these sessions or the 2007-2008 ADA Audio Conference Season, visit _http://www.adaindiana.org_ (http://www.adaindiana.org/) , or call Matt Norris at 800-825-4733, or send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Handouts and archives of past conferences are also available. The session will be audio recorded and a written transcript will be created. Both will be posted within two weeks of the program to the archives on _http://www.ada-audio.org _ (http://www.ada-audio.org /) If you are not able to make it to one of ADA-Indiana's sponsored sites, individuals and organizations can purchase access to the audio conference by visiting _http://www.ada-audio.org_ (http://www.ada-audio.org/) . **** 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_ (http://www.state.in.us/gpcpd) **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112)
