June 23rd, 2009 by John Dickerson
The Indianapolis Star each year identifies the top companies that employees themselves identify as the best places to work in the greater Indianapolis area. This year for the first time, three of the top ten medium-sized companies provide supports to people with disabilities and their families.
Opportunities for Positive Growth, Insights Consulting and Bosma Industries all made the lis of top ten workplaces. The Arc of Indiana congratulates all three for this incredible achievement.
In this time when there are so many challenges facing us, to be nominated by your employees and the selected by business leaders is quite an honor.
According to the article what do employees want: “Workers want job security. They crave managers who are fair and honest with them. They want to be able to advance from within and be offered training. They want to feel trusted. They want recognition for their work.”
For more information on the winners and the process visit
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009906210317
Tags: agencies, workplace
Posted in General, John Dickerson's Blog | Leave Feedback
June 18th, 2009 by John Dickerson
Across the state of Indiana, more people are losing their homes - the two biggest reasons are medical crisis and losing your job. With homelessness comes a tremendous demand on food pantries all across the state.
At recent meetings of Self Advocates and The Arc people wanted to help.
Self-Advocates of Indiana and The Arc of Indiana are partnering to encourage people with disabilities and their families, provider organizations and friends to sponsor a food drive in your community during the months of July and August. To start this process going, everyone is being asked to bring canned goods to the Self-Advocates of Indiana Statewide Picnic on July 10th in Indianapolis. For more information on the picnic click here
www.arcind.org/calendar
All of the food brought on July 10th will go to Gleaners Food Bank and reach people throughout central Indiana.
What should we bring:
- Canned meats like tuna and chicken
- Heat and serve meals such as soups & ravioli
- 100% fruit juices
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Other kid friendly foods like Macaroni, cereal, applesauce cups & healthy snacks
Plan on attending the July 10th Self-Advocates of Indiana Picnic and bring food. Then plan what you can do in your own community.
Stone Belt Arc operates a year round project; Hand In Hand. that also provides a key role for people with disabilities helping others - more info at www.stonebelt.org/index.php?pageId+23 This is a great opportunity to give back to our comunities.
Come July 10th, and please contact your local food bank to see how you can help.
Someone you know will need it, and you will make a difference
Tags: food drive, picnic, self-advocates
Posted in General, John Dickerson's Blog, Self-Advocacy | Leave Feedback
June 17th, 2009 by John Dickerson
I am often asked by people why members of the General Assembly just can’t get together and work things out. The divide we face today on the Special Session underscores some of the fundamental differences people have about three key issues.
Public Education: How much money should we put into public education, k-12 including special education and how should we treat stimulus dollars for special education? How many new charter schools should be allowed in each district and what does that mean for the children left behind? Public Education makes up about 50% of the state budget so what decide is critical.
The CIB – the Marion County entity that manages the Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium and Conseco Field House: Should the rest of the state help solve this problem and at what cost?
Gambling: The gambling industry wants help, they are losing money and recently one of the race track/casinos said they may have to file for bankruptcy.
People across the state feel very strongly about these issues and their voices are heard and represented by our legislators. How do you feel about these?
While these are being debated, we are working hard to make sure these issues don’t overshadow the issues that are important for people with disabilities and their families. Please keep checking our website for the latest information, we need your help to be successful in not getting lost in the debate.
Tags: Budget, CIB, education, gambling, special session
Posted in John Dickerson's Blog, Public Policy | Leave Feedback
June 12th, 2009 by John Dickerson
Indiana’s economic situation is forcing new budget realities for the state. While federal stimulus dollars have provided some short-term breathing room, there is no denying the economy is driving the discussion on how Indiana will use its financial resources in a new state budget.
In this era of person-centered planning and individual Medicaid waiver budgets, there are competing interests. On one hand, there is the individual and his or her goals, needs and dreams. On the other hand, there is the “greater good” to thousands of people who are waiting for services. With nearly 14,000 people on or targeted for the DD, Autism, and Support Services Medicaid waivers; nearly 3,800 people in group homes and approximately 1,500 people funded with state dollars, there are nearly 20,000 people in services. There are nearly that many on the official waiting list, and an unknown number that do not even know they should be on the waiting list.
What does fairness mean to each of these individuals and their families? To those waiting it is when is my chance; to those in services it is how can I get or keep getting what I need. In many cases families and people with disabilities share the same concern - they do not trust the state to take care of them, or keep taking care of them.
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Tags: individual budgets, Public Policy, special session
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June 10th, 2009 by John Dickerson
We are off to a rocky start in preparation for the Special Session to develop a budget for the State of Indiana. There are major differences between the House and Senate over funding for public schools, funding for charter schools and funding for higher education. The other critical issue will be what happens to the Capital Improvement Board - the body that is responsible for the Lucas Oil Stadium, Convention Center and Conseco Fieldhouse.
We have seen the issue of federal stimulus money for IDEA also become part of the controversy, with some feeling counting of this money is not appropriate in how we consider overall spending for k-12 education.
We will be working closely with state leaders and posting updates on our website. This is not starting out too well, but we hope that differences get resolved and we move forward with a budget that serves Hoosiers well in these difficult times.
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June 8th, 2009 by John Dickerson
It was a great weekend in Terre Haute, joining 2,400 athletes and 1,000 coaches 
and volunteers in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Indiana Special Olympics. And if you wanted to experience pure joy that helped you refocus your energies you could not have picked a better place to be than Friday night in Hulman Arena.
It was 1969 and The Arc of Indiana hosted the first games at Bush Field in Indianapolis. 500 athletes, coaches and volunteers registered – over 1,000 showed up. Thankfully Fort Harrison and others provided cots so that everyone had a bed to sleep in at the old Marott Hotel on North Meridian.
These and other stories were shared between Ilene Younger Qualkenbush who was at the first games and Mike Furnish, CEO and President of Indiana Special Olympics at the start of the Torch Run Friday morning at Victory Field. Ilene was amazed at the nearly 200 members of the law enforcement community who were there for the Torch Run to Terre Haute – an effort that this year hoped to raise over $500,000 for Special Olympics.
It was great fun and a great reminder of how far we have come. The Arc was proud to have been around at the beginning and even more proud today to support Indiana Special Olympics – what I believe is the best, most inclusive and innovative program in the country. Congratulations to the Athletes, Coaches and Volunteers not for what you have done, but for what lies ahead.
With the upcoming Special Session of the Indiana General Assembly, participating in this event, made it ever more real to understand why we do what we do, every day for Hoosiers with developmental disabilities.
Tags: Self-Advocacy, Special Olympics, special session
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June 2nd, 2009 by Sally Morris
Welcome to The Arc of Indiana’s new web site and blog. We are glad you have found us!
So, blogging and such. The Arc is excited to find new ways to connect with families, self-advocates and professionals through this new world of “social networking.”
A little over a year ago we took our first step into this new medium by creating The Arc of Indiana’s Facebook page. To do this, I needed to create my own page on Facebook - much to my teenage daughter’s chagrin. While I was skeptical at first, I have found Facebook to be a way not only to connect with old friends, but also a new way to connect with people I know through work. I have particularly enjoyed “Facebooking” with our Arc Network family advocates and self-advocates. Because they work for The Arc throughout the state, I do not have many opportunities to get to know them. Through Facebook I have enjoyed learning more about them and a little more about what goes on in their day to day lives - Renee’s tears of joy when her daughter said, “Mama, mama, mama” for the first time; Jennifer’s adventures in teaching and learning along with her daughter, Gracie; and Jill’s pride when her boys were honored by Junior Achievement - all dressed up and looking fine in their tuxes.
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Tags: The Arc of Indiana Blog
Posted in The Arc Staff and Volunteers | Leave Feedback
June 2nd, 2009 by John Dickerson
The Governor has laid out his plans for a budget for the special session and the Indiana General Assembly has begun the process of crafting a new state budget. Whatever happens there definitely will be some people who will be unhappy - perhaps furious, some relieved and some worried about when the next shoe will drop.
What is undeniable is that there has been a real drop in state revenue, and near record unemployment is hurting both families and the state. In the midst of this there is a growing waiting list of people with developmental disabilities, putting additional pressures on families, and a real need to make sure community organizations survive these extraordinary times.
The Arc is working in both the state capital and in Washington, D.C. to find balance. We certainly recognize the economic difficulties our state and country is facing. Yet ignoring the needs of families may only worsen the problem.
The state must use federal stimulus funding wisely to secure jobs and increase jobs, including jobs in the developmental disabilities field. Already schools are seeing the results of this stimulus and looking to shore up special education programs, jobs for teachers, and innovative one-time investments to improve services for children with disabilities. Stimulus funds for Medicaid have helped avert a crisis that would have threatened support to families and support to allow people with disabilities to live more independently in the community. But both stimulus efforts are short lived, and within two years a way must be found to keep Hoosiers on solid ground.
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Tags: Developmental Disabilities Funding, Indiana Medicaid
Posted in John Dickerson's Blog, Public Policy | Leave Feedback
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