A new school year means a new grade, new teachers, new goals, and maybe even a new school! In order to help you and your child with special needs be as successful as you can be, Reading Rocket has put together a list of eight helpful back-to-school tips that we hope will make the transition into a new school year a little easier for you and your child.  To read more, click here.

Understood for All has also created a 4-week Back to School Plan.  You can see that here.

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On the Road

Our travels continue throughout the state to thank members of the Indiana General Assembly who signed onto Concurrent Resolution 46, recognizing and honoring Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) for keeping Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently we joined staff, participants and area legislators at New Star in Northwest Indiana and at The Arc of Vigo County.

Thanks to Senator Karen Tallian and Representatives Mike Andrade, Pat Boy, Julie Olthoff and Hal Slager for your support of DSPs; and thanks to New Star President/CEO, Dan Strick for his advocacy during the legislative session and for hosting the event.

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This e-newsletter provides obstetricians, pediatricians, and nurses with links to the latest research on ways to understand and to help children and adults on the autism spectrum. Please feel free to send us your comments and feedback email us.

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Lt. Governor Crouch Joins in SAI July Issues Forum

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch joined in Self-Advocates of Indiana’s July Issues Forum. Check out their great discussion on the 2021 legislative session, 1102 Task Force and advocating for disability rights. Watch Here

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DSP Wage Increase & FS Waiver Budget Cap Increase Update

As part of its 2021 State Budget Bill, the Indiana Legislature included a 14% rate increase for direct support professionals through the efforts of partners such as The Arc of Indiana and INARF. The intent of these funds is to support the overall goal of increasing the statewide average DSP wage to $15 an hour. Therefore, the rate increase requires an authorized service provider to use at least 95% of the amount of the increase in the reimbursement rate to pay payroll tax liabilities and to increase the wages and benefits paid to eligible direct care staff.

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Facing the Future Together Indiana’s Transition Conference

The conference will be facilitated by the Center on Community Living and Careers (CCLC) of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. During the conference, state and national speakers will present about benefits, future planning, transition assessments and IEP’s, jobs and career planning, postsecondary education, independent living, new assistive technology, and more.

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The Arc of Indiana was established in 1956 by parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who joined together to build a better and more accepting world for their children. With over 30,000 members and 42 chapters in Indiana, and 140,000 members in over 700 chapters nationwide, The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with IDD and their families.

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Northeast LCC Strategy to Increase ASD Awareness

You can help educators and students both gain more awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Check out the HANDS in Autism® Information Card and Bookmark. The Northeast Local Community Cadre (LCC) is currently disseminating this resource across its region to reduce stigma and increase empathy for individuals with autism and related disorders.

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Home Safety Month – Burns and Scalds

Summertime can be a great time for cookouts and outdoor fires! While roasting marshmallows may be a fun activities for many kids and families, it is also important to know how to prevent and treat burns and scalds. For tips and facts about burns and scalds and how to prevent them, check out the Safe Kids Worldwide website!

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OLIVER: DOCTOR FACES INVESTIGATION

Almost five years after the death of autistic teen Oliver McGowan, the General Medical Council (GMC) has announced an investigation into the doctor who prescribed an antipsychotic that an inquest ruled was a “significant factor” in his death.

Dr Monica Mohan prescribed Olanzapine to Oliver, 18, at Southmead Hospital in Bristol in 2016.

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The Arc of Indiana communicates to a wide ranging audience through a variety of platforms. How are we doing? What can we do better? What should we be doing that we are not doing?

Please help us improve our communication efforts by completing our short 2021 Communications Survey. We welcome and appreciate your feedback!

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May 2-May 8th is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week! Check out the National Federation of Families website and join the conversation to raise awareness and end prejudice and discrimination around the topic of mental health. There are many ways to get engaged through events, activities, and tools throughout the week!

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Join in a webinar on Thursday, June 3, 2:00 p.m. ET, to learn about federal legislation to grow and improve home and community based services.

Only decades ago, there were few options or supports for someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live and participate in their community.

Though we’ve made great progress, our current systems are holding us back from what’s truly possible. People still face long waitlists for services, shortages and turnover of direct support workers, and a lack of affordable and accessible housing.

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It is with great pleasure that we wish a warm welcome to Keana Thompson. Keana will be joining us for seven months as an intern as she completes her degree in Social Work from Indiana Wesleyan University. Keana sends this message to you – our ASK friends and supporters:

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At the end of the legislative session, State Representative Ed Clere authored a concurrent resolution honoring Direct Support Professions:

Whereas, more than 26,000 Hoosiers work in Indiana as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), providing exemplary personal and critical support and services to thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD);

Whereas, DSPs provide individualized supports, including navigating daily life, employment, transportation, finances, medical appointments, and hobbies in order to help people with I/DD learn or retain their independence, become involved in their local communities, and hopefully lead a high quality life 1with family and friends;

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After his remarkable 2017 Boston Marathon qualification, the 500 Festival appointed Andrew as their first ever Running Ambassador. Andrew’s goal is to build community through running. #NOlimits2Caring is Andrew’s newest Running Ambassador initiative. Each time Andrew races, a small nonprofit will benefit.

For the 2021 Carmel Marathon, Andrew chose ASK as the nonprofit to support. His efforts have resulted in bringing not only critical funds but also awareness to ASK and our mission. Andrew chose ASK in part, because it was the organization that first supported his father, Craig, twenty years ago in navigating the special education process when Andrew was entering Kindergarten.

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Coronavirus has had an enormous impact on all Americans’ sleep habits, but COVID-19 has been especially hard on children with autism who already deal with sleep-related issues.

It’s an especially critical issue because a new 2020 CDC report analyzing 2016 school data shows that autism is on the rise. The biennial update reports that one in 54 children is diagnosed with autism by age eight, up almost 10% from 2014.

“The world of autism has changed considerably since we were founded in 2005 when the estimated prevalence was 1 in 166,” says Autism Speaks President and Chief Executive Officer Angela Geiger.

Living with autism has its challenges, but life is made considerably more challenging when one isn’t armed with the sleep the body needs to function properly.

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We would like to thank everyone that came to the March Indiana Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (IIACC) meeting! The IIACC, supported by FSSA, and facilitated by Hands in Autism® is the Council that assists in implementation and dissemination of innovative activities through facilitation, informing directions and increasing public understanding and awareness of the state’s collective priorities, activities, programs, policies, and research. We look forward to see you July 2nd 2021!

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Individual differences in basic perceptual and cognitive functions have been shown to affect speech perception, language and literacy skills, as well as social and emotional development.

In turn, individual differences in language and literacy skills have been shown to be highly predictive of overall academic achievement.

Both genetic and environmental factors have been shown to contribute to individual differences in basic perceptual, cognitive and language abilities.

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Paying for college is a complicated process for any aspiring student. It’s a process that raises a ton of questions: What’s a Pell Grant? What’s a Perkins Loan? Do I have to pay anything back? For students with a disability, those questions are even more complicated.

The good news: A disability is not an impediment to a college education. There are plenty of resources for those who need help applying and paying for it.

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First Steps is partnering with an IU Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student and needs your help! They are seeking feedback to improve First Steps services to families. Families will be asked to attend one 60 to 90 minute online focus group in order to share your family’s experience in the First Steps Program.

The results will help design a training for First Step Providers that will lead to improved cultural awareness and family engagement and ultimately better outcomes for children served in early intervention.

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