Get Creative – The Arc’s Valentine’s Day at the State House

February 1st, 2012 by

The Arc of Indiana
Valentine’s Day at the State House
February 14, 2012

 

Do you draw, paint, write poems, photograph? Be creative and create valentines for your members of the Indiana General Assembly that incorporate this year’s message:

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
We Love the Blueprint (for Change)
And Know You Will Too

Join us at the State House on February 14th to deliver your valentines (we will have folks there to help), or mail your valentines to:

State Senator/State Representative
Indiana House of Representatives or
Indiana State Senate
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786

Representative Sheila Klinker and The Arc of Tippecanoe County

This annual event helps keep legislators aware of The Arc’s mission, and helps people throughout the state connect with their legislators in a unique and positive way. You might include a short note with your valentine, letting your legislators know you are a constituent who has a loved one with a developmental disability, you have a disability, or you serve people with disabilities. Please feel free to use the suggested message or create your own. The goal is to share your own personal valentine in a creative way that makes your legislators feel special and reminds them that people with developmental disabilities and their families throughout the state are real people with real aspirations and needs.

If you plan to come to the State House, be sure to visit us at www.arcind.org for up-to-date information on this special event.

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director



What Would Amy Do?

November 18th, 2011 by

What would Amy do?

Amy Cook Lurvey was known as the Godmother of special education. Throughout her working career she was a tireless advocate to make sure that all students received the same opportunities in school, whether the student had a disability, had a non-English native language, or was highly gifted or talented.

When Amy passed away a few years ago, I lost my special education mentor. I never really had to dive into education issues because Amy always told me what to do and pretty much what to say. I followed her lead and was glad to learn from someone who was so well respected in the hallways of the State House. So when Amy passed away, I felt like The Arc of Indiana needed to take charge of special education issues. We have come a long way as we have a very strong education committee led by a tremendous advocate and father, Jeff Huffman. Together we have developed a strong working relationship with Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Tony Bennett.

Recently the Department of Education asked for The Arc’s position on an issue that may arise next session. Legislation is being considered to eliminate the bottom 5% of ISTEP scores from counting towards a teacher’s evaluation. I understand the concerns held by teachers and schools that a fair and equitable evaluation system must be developed. I understand that the evaluation may translate to a raise in salary and I will be the first to agree that many teachers are grossly underpaid for the important job they perform.

What I have a deep concern for is that people are willing to just “wipe away” students with disabilities and say they don’t count. Pioneers long before many of us fought hard to establish a Free and Appropriate Public Education for all students. They fought for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They fought so that all students would matter and be counted and have the same opportunity for educational progress. Don’t we want all students to matter and be monitored for educational growth?

I will agree that some students with disabilities may not be able to pass the ISTEP – just as some students without disabilities will not be able to pass ISTEP. However, in a good school with good teachers, I am willing to bet that even those students who do not pass ISTEP have achieved some educational progress and growth. Why wouldn’t teachers and school want to be rewarded for that? What am I missing? If we allow students with disabilities to not count, then we will be rolling back the hands of time to a world that sent a different message to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. A message that says, “You don’t matter.”

In this day of the myriad of education reform efforts, I really would like to know, “What would Amy do?”

Amy Cook Lurvey, back row, last person, at the bill signing with Governor Evan Bayh establishing the First Steps and Early Childhood Education Programs.

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director



Legislative Champions Will Help in Challenging Times Ahead

October 25th, 2011 by

Recently The Arc of Indiana held our Annual Legislative Breakfast to celebrate the great work of two wonderful lawmakers.

Senator Vaneta Becker from Evansville received our Lifetime Achievement Award for championing issues important and critical to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. She is so worthy of this recognition that no words can adequately describe why she is so deserving. Each session, she reaches out to The Arc at the state and local level to see how we are affected by proposed legislation and takes it upon herself to get educated on the issues. For all of her years of service, we are grateful to call her a champion of The Arc.

Representative Tim Brown from Crawfordsville received our 2011 Public Policy Award. In years past, we have recognized lawmakers for passing important legislation, this year we did something better. Last session Representative Brown stood beside The Arc as legislation was being considered. What could have been devastating language to services and programs became less harmful because of his support. He stood up to the Administration and challenged how we could do better without jeopardizing services critical to people with disabilities.

We are so fortunate to have many champions walking the hallways at the Indiana State House. We have challenging times ahead of us; but, with good lawmakers we can make these challenging times some of the best times in creating a stronger system of services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director



Lessons from the National Convention – We are Not Alone

October 7th, 2011 by

I recently attended The Arc of the United State’s Annual Convention held in Denver, Colorado. It was wonderful to network with colleagues from across the national, but sad to realize that services and programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are getting hit hard everywhere, not just in Indiana.

It was energizing to hear the buzz about what The Arc of Indiana is doing with the Building Pathways to Empowerment Campaign and hear that people around the country are looking forward to seeing the Blueprint for Change.

Several of the national speakers at the Convention commented on our bold actions and one, who served on our Big Minds Groups, was able to speak first hand on the issues being addressed.

The fact of the matter is we are not alone. Nationwide people are trying to think of new, bold ways to improve the service delivery system for people with I/DD. We do not just represent the thousands of people receiving services, we also represent the thousands more waiting for services. We must find a system that balances the needs and get services to those who need them most.

We must empower families and self advocates to shift the power to what works. We must create a system that has less bureaucratic red tape and places more control and responsibility with families and people with I/DD.

Many across the country have their eyes on Indiana and how families, self advocates, and providers will react to the Blueprint for Change. Now is the time for bold action – a time to renew our commitment to working together to achieve a better life for people with I/DD and their families.

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director



Perspectives on Family and Personal Responsibility

September 12th, 2011 by

Family and personal responsibility – it means different things for different people.  For most, simply put, it means you take care of your own problems.  You don’t ask for help; you don’t receive any help. 

This view was clearly stated in a message The Arc received through our “Contact Us” form last week, “I wanted to express my sympathy for the state taxpayer who is robbed to pay to support other people’s responsibility. It is about time that these programs be eliminated and focus be redirected towards the parents of people who dump their children on the system and expect the rest of us to support them.”

Families who have a child with a disability have a very different view of family and personal responsibility.  

Families want to do all that they can to keep their family intact and raise a child to be as independent as possible.  Until you have a child born with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, severe epilepsy or autism, it can be difficult to understand the range of supports that may be needed to help them achieve their journey toward independence.  At birth, early intervention services are critical, but not fully covered by private insurance.  For children with medical needs, insurance typically does not cover items like wheelchairs, incontinence supplies or specialized formula for those who rely on tube feedings for nutrition.  As children grow to be adults, as much as they want and are capable or working, finding employers who will hire someone with a significant disability – particularly in the current economy – is a challenge.  Medicaid becomes a necessity for basic health insurance and, once families can no longer provide care at home, critical to providing residential supports that allow people with I/DD to remain a part of their community. 

Congress has returned to Washington and the important issue of addressing the national debt continues. Between now and Thanksgiving, Congress will make critical decisions about the federal budget and deficit reduction.  People with disabilities, their families and those who advocate for them cannot be spectators in this process. We need to be active, informed and involved.  Congress is hearing from the voice that says the taxpayer is being robbed.  The parents, friends, co-workers, church members and neighbors of people with I/DD and people with I/DD themselves must make their voice heard too.

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director



A little trumpet music please

July 12th, 2011 by

Last week I received emails from legislators, families and self advocates thanking The Arc of Indiana for our work.  They reminded me how lucky I am to work for The Arc.   

The Arc helps many individuals on a daily basis and we really aren’t very good at “tooting our own horn,” because, quite honestly, we feel like we have more important things to do.  But I am feeling so good about The Arc, indulge me as I do a bit of horn tooting.

We have a great network of self advocates and family advocates that assist people across the state in maneuvering through the maze of services Indiana offers. 

We have a wonderful resource of pioneers to ask about the historical perspectives and to remember the fights that have been won and the lessons learned.  You can learn about the history of The Arc by watching our video, “About The Arc of Indiana.”

We have a phenomenal resource in The Arc of the United States, including  the Public Policy Department, with such well respected lobbyists who have been a part of passing extremely important pieces of legislation from IDEA to Rosa’s Law.

We have a Special Needs Trust program in The Arc Master Trust that serves Hoosiers of all disabilities and is recognized as the nation’s largest and most respected Special Needs Trust. 

We have a Collaborative Work Lab with state of the art equipment that can be used for strategic planning, focus groups, project and grant development, project evaluation, board development and much more.

We have outstanding volunteers who serve on our board of directors, committees, and help out at events.

And of course we have local chapters of The Arc throughout the state making a difference in the lives of indivduals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families every day.

The people who work and volunteer at The Arc truly believe in our mission to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities realize their dreams of living, working, playing and learning in local communities.  Our jobs are not just jobs that pay the bills; our work helps us realize our passion to make Indiana a better place for people with disabilities.  

Thanks for your indulgence – now its back to work at a place where I am so lucky to be.

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director



Bills, Laws, Regulations & Policies – Understanding the Differences

July 7th, 2011 by

A legislator recently contacted me regarding an email he received from a constituent asking questions about a bill that had passed that caused her son’s Medicaid waiver funding to be reduced.  The legislator could not understand how such a bill could pass without him knowing about it, let alone knowing enough detail to answer the constituent’s question.  Come to find out, it was not a bill as the constituent had stated, it was the policy regarding the Objective Based Budget Allocation (OBA) process that was put into place by the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS).  

While bills did pass in the recent legislative session that could affect waiver budgets, this issue was specifically on the OBA process for waivers.  I took this as an opportunity to educate the legislator on the good, the bad and the ugly regarding OBA, as well as to apologize for legislators getting criticized for something they had not enacted.   

It is really important that we all understand the difference between a bill, a law, a regulation and a policy.  In a nut shell, bills that go through the legislative process and are signed by the Governor become law; regulations are proposed by the administrative branch, go through public hearing process, are approved by the Governor, and have the force of law; policies are put into place by the administrative branch, may or may not go through a public hearing process, and while they do not have the force of law, they can greatly impact how programs and services are implemented. 

Trust me, I recognize the glazed over eyes when I talk about this. I understand that not everyone is as passionate about this as me. Although I think about the public policy process as giant chess game, others liken it to watching sausage being made….YUCK!

All fun aside, it is critically important that we all put forth accurate information to our lawmakers.  We want to show them we understand the process, know what we are talking about, and can be a trusted source of credible information.  Whether we are paid lobbyists, professionals in the field, a parent or a person with a disability, we do this so that lawmakers will contact us for input and advice on issues facing people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

In the case of how OBA is impacting individuals and families, let your legislators know how this policy of the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) is impacting you and your love one, and ask if he or she can contact DDRS.  This will help make your legislator aware of your concern, offer him or her the opportunity to intervene, and establish yourself as a source of information on how state policies impact individual constituents. 

The Arc is always here to help.  Please don’t ever hesitate to contact us if you have a question about how to clearly state an issue or concern.  It benefits us all to work together and share information.  You can contact us at 317-977-2375, 800-382-9100 or thearc@arcind.org. You might also find it helpful to read our Advocacy Guide. 

Finally, stay connected and informed by visiting us at www.arcind.org.   

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director



Building Relationships – Easy and Important

May 31st, 2011 by

It seems just as one legislative session ends, the next begins.  

Each summer and fall we stress the importance of building relationships with legislators to our local chapters, parents, self advocates and board members.  We certainly don’t want people to become pen pals with their legislators and bother them too much. 

What we really want is for individuals to develop periodic contacts that lead to relationships that gently remind legislators about the issues their constituents are facing, and put a face to those important issues.

Summer is a great time to build relationships.  Local festivals, parades and fairs are casual meeting spots that are fantastic places to start conversations.  It is easy to walk through the tents where both political parties usually have a table.  When you do, there they are – legislators wanting to say “hi” and shake your hand … it is what they are supposed to do!  

So I hope everyone will take the time this summer while you are out spending time with your family to stroll through some of these great local events and look for some key people to introduce yourself to.  Let them know that you are interested in their support at the state house and will stay in touch when issues come up that are important to you and your family.

Relationships are the key ingredient to successful advocacy.  Remember to always be pleasant, factual, brief, and NEVER embellish the truth.  Again, casual positive conversations are best.  When you start contacting them for every little, tiny thing the importance of your contact and relationship is lost.

Once you meet your legislators at local events, follow up with a note thanking them for their time, and TA DA! , a relationship is started.  It really is that simple – simple, but very important.

Thanks for all you do to improve the lives of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  Every relationship built helps people across the whole state!

Kim Dodson is The Arc of Indiana’s Associate Executive Director.



The Power of Personal Stories in the Legislative Process

May 18th, 2011 by

Thanks from The Arc to all of the families and self advocates who came out in force over the last two weeks of the legislative session to advocate regarding the Medicaid waiver language in the budget bill.   

It is a wonderful feeling to have legislators come up and say, “I heard from a family today,” or “I am getting a lot of concerned phones calls from families on this issue.”  The importance of personal stories can never be overlooked.

Yes, during the legislative session I am at the State House nearly every day.  I am meeting with legislators and staff and helping to strategize throughout the session; but, it is the personal stories that legislators quote on the floor, talk about in conversations, and discuss in caucus that make the difference.

I realize it must be hard to open up your private life and discuss with complete strangers the struggles your family goes through.  I realize it must be hard as a self advocate to talk to strangers about your fears and your needs. 

When I talk with families I always stress that no one should be intimidated by legislators.  They are people just like us.  They are teachers, farmers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, business men and women, etc; but few have a background that allows them to fully understand the issues facing people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  While they may be an expert on the legislative process (and it is important to have a basic understanding of the process), when it comes to discussing the impact of public policy and what will work and what may cause harm, it is families and self advocates who are the experts.  That can never be denied or ignored.

I am so grateful that so many people rose to the challenge the last ten days of the session.  We certainly would be far worse off then we are if families had not spoken out.  Legislators who have never been engaged in our issues approached me with questions and gave support.  Many looked forward to seeing the “public” in the hallway in the dreary days leading to the end of the session.

I was also moved by the support I received from my peers in the hallway, the other lobbyists.  Nearly every sector or industry has a paid lobbyist representing them at the State House.  The words of encouragement from other lobbyists and statements such as, “Yours are the issues that really matter; mine are minor in comparison,” show that there really is a lot of support for strong services and programs for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

We have a strong network of self advocates and families that need to remain involved –   not just when there is a crisis, but at all times; it absolutely makes the legislative process better and stronger.

So again, THANK YOU!

Keep up to date with federal and state legislative issues impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.  Visit our Legislative Action Center to sign-up to receive Action Alerts and Legislative Memo, sign-up to receive our E-Newsletters,  join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



You Have a Voice; Make It Count

October 14th, 2010 by

This time of year many start getting tired of the political ads on television.  They get tired of the political yard signs that seem to be on every major street corner.  Many are tired of the talk, talk, talk….but few stop to think about how this all REALLY affects them.  

The election on November 2, 2010, will be one of the most important elections in decades.  I would say that each and every election is important, but this election is especially important as it will form the body of policymakers that will be taking us through the most difficult financial times since the Great Depression.  Why wouldn’t you want to have a say on who is part of that decision making process?

When you look at the issues facing people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families, it is clear that our issues transcend partisan politics. We have strong champions in both the republican and democrat parties.

Once the state legislative session begins in January, issues impacting people with developmental disabilities will be pitted against many, many other critical issues.  Advocates for education, both K-12 and higher ed., transportation, the environment and countless others will be grasping for every dollar they can. I certainly do not discount their need for financial resources.  What these means, however, is that we must continue to make sure that our issues, those issues that affect people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, are also front and center before policy makers. 

Nowadays it is easy to vote.  You don’t even have to wait until Election Day.  Many counties have early voting options already up and running.  Absentee ballots are always an option as well.  Voting is an American privilege that many take for granted.  It is an important privilege that we need to actively participate in.  We need to not only cast a vote but cast an educated vote.  Take the time to learn about the issues that are priorities for the candidates.  Ask candidates questions about the issues that are important to you.  Then cast your vote for the person who best brings those issues together.

I hope you take part in the election on November 2, 2010.  I hope you take part in the legislative forums The Arc is hosting.  I hope you read your local paper and learn about the candidates running in your local community.  I hope you decide to take action rather than let action be taken upon you.  You have a voice, use it.  You have a voice, make it strong.  You have a voice, make it count.