Opportunity to comment on state agencies

It's been a busy spring for advocacy opportunities in Indiana. Family Voices is excited to share another opportunity for families to provide valuable input to the federal government regarding the efficacy of state agencies that support families and individuals with disabilities in Indiana. Please take a moment to review the following and note that you can arrange to give input over the phone.

The Administration on Developmental Disabilities will be seeking input about The Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities (GPCPD), Indiana Protection and Advocacy (IPAS), and The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC), to determine the extent to which grantees are helping individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have more opportunities to live, participate, and contribute to community life. Family Voices Indiana is sharing the following background on each agency to give families an opportunity to prepare to provide input. These are the things each agency should be doing; if you have sought help, or had other interactions with the agencies, those experiences would be appropriate to share with the interviewer

• GPCPD http://www.in.gov/gpcpd/ Councils pursue systems change that promotes improved outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Councils pursue capacity building to develop and expand projects that successfully deliver services and supports. Councils also support advocacy activities that promote self-determination and inclusion in the community. Examples of Council activities include demonstration of new approaches, outreach, training, public education, and providing information to policy-makers.

• IPAS http://www.in.gov/ipas/index.htm P&As protect the legal and human rights of individuals with developmental disabilities. P&A strategies include legal, administrative, and other remedies (e.g., mediation and alternative dispute resolution); information and referral; investigation of incidents of abuse and neglect; and education of policy-makers.

• IIDC http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/ University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) UCEDDs are either components of a university system, or are public or not-for-profit entities associated with a university. UCEDDs are required to carry out four core functions: 1) Interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education 2) Community services, which includes services, training, and technical assistance 3) Research 4) Information dissemination

What ADD is looking for: Impact of ADD grantees on consumers and service systems: that is, the kind of difference ADD grantees in a State have made on people and service systems.

Without appropriate services and supports, the choices open to people with developmental disabilities including where they live, work, and play are minimal. Limited options lead to people being isolated rather than fully integrated and included in the mainstream of society. Persons with developmental disabilities often require individually planned and coordinated services and supports. In order to live successfully in the community they need services and supports related to housing, employment, education, civil and human rights protection, health care, transportation, and recreation.

If you have lived in another state and had contact with their respective agencies, it might help to compare/contrast their services and impact with services in Indiana.

More information on what ADD will be monitoring can be found here: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/mtars/MTAR.html

P U B L I C F O R U M N O T I C E

Your Opinion Counts…

Monday, May 5, 2008 – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

You are invited to provide comments about

The Administration on Developmental Disabilities Partners:

The Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities

Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services

The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Indiana will be visited by a site review team from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) within the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. ADD will conduct a Monitoring and Technical Assistance Review on the work of our three organizations in the interest of people with developmental disabilities in Indiana.

If you are an individual with a disability, have a family member with a disability, work in the field of developmental disabilities, or are a community member who is acquainted with our work or who has received services from any of us, the members of the review team would like to hear from you.

Your comments are important to us and we invite you to come in person and provide input on Monday, May 5 between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. (three minutes per person). Or, if you wish, we can arrange for you to comment by phone during this forum. You may also send your response in writing by e-mail (bhudson@indiana.edu) or mail to the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, 2853 East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408.

If you are willing to offer comments about our work, please call or send an e-mail to us. Please give your name, role, contact information, and a time block that is most convenient for you between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 5, 2008.

Contact: Becky Hudson, Secretary to the Director, Indiana Institute on Disability

and Community, 1-800-437-7924 or 812-855-6508 or e-mail bhudson@indiana.edu

Please RSVP at your earliest opportunity so that we can make convenient arrangements to obtain your input on May 5, 2008.

This Public Forum will take place at the ISTA Center, 2^nd Floor Conference Room, 150 West Market Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, from 4:00–6:00 p.m.