Indiana Family to Family

Family Voices Indiana is looking for families that have a child(ren) with a special health care need and related medical/therapy appointments to receive FREE in-home internet coverage for 6 months. If you are interested in FREE internet coverage, please contact us at 844-323-4636 or info@fvindiana.org *Families must be income-eligible (the guidelines are at https://www.internetessentials.com/get-help ...) and live in a Comcast service area, which we can check. FVI Home Internet Outreach by Family Voices Indiana on Scribd ESPANOL FVI Home Internet Outreach by Family Voices Indiana on Scribd

On January 19, 2021, at 2 p.m. (EST), there will be a webinar hosted by the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center (MHDD-NTC) on "Using Innovative and Alternative Approaches for De-Escalating Individuals in Crisis Situations." Webinar information: A mobile mental health clinic will discuss strategies for working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and disadvantaged and underserved populations who are experiencing a crisis situation. The webinar will focus on alternatives to police involvement, promoting client-centered communications, scene safety, de-escalation strategies, rapport building, and the role of self in crisis intervention. Please click the link below to register for this webinar. https://uky.zoom.us/.../register/WN_yz7L1-3GQfK-xgzqe53x3g

The Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services mission is “To connect people with disabilities and their families to resources and supports to live their best life.” As part of our ongoing efforts to achieve this mission we are actively working on the implementation of the BDDS Gateway system. The BDDS Gateway will provide individuals and families the ability to apply for BDDS services online. During a recent survey of individuals and families who are currently using BDDS services, almost 90% responded that they would have applied for services online if it had been available. We hope that by offering an online option, our application process becomes more accessible to those in need of our services. Once the BDDS Gateway becomes available, individuals and families will have the option to apply for services through an online or paper application. State staff have begun testing the BDDS Gateway and are on track for the Gateway to be available by the spring of 2021. Information and trai

From Work to Include's January Newsletter The  National Council on Disability (NCD) , an independent federal agency, released the agency’s latest report “ Securing the Social Contract: Reforming Social Security Disability . ” This report analyzes various proposals for SSI and SSDI reform with an emphasis on Medicaid policy and increasing opportunities for people with disabilities to work.  In addition, the report identifies measures that could move people currently utilizing SSI/SSDI into the workforce and decrease the use of these benefits for sole income. Recommendations include modernizing the definition of disability and improving workplace access and accommodations for people with disabilities in a multitude of ways, including decoupling health care benefit and cash benefit eligibility; providing wraparound health benefits; improving the examination, planning, and gradual phase-in of a revised disability definition for benefit eligibility; ensuring management proficiency, earl