What are Your Goals for 2010

December 23rd, 2009 by Betty Williams

Do you have any goals of your own for 2010?

How important are your goals to you?

Who can help you reach your goals?

I will try and answer these questions with my blog entry!

With the beginning of a New Year I always try and set goals for myself for the New Year. We should always have dreams and goals for our lives. And it is important that we own them or we will have a hard time reaching them.  

It is important that goals are what we want for our lives and not what others want for us. If they are not important to us than we are spinning our wheels and getting no where. We should set goals for every area of our lives - such as work, play, health and money.  

Some times because we have disabilities we don’t think about setting our own goals and reaching them because we are waiting on someone to give us permission to set goals and achieve them.  

There are some people we can talk to so that we can set goals and achieve them, such as our parents, other family members, case managers, direct support workers, other professionals, our co-workers, and people who we know and trust. 

In some of these areas I have not done so well, but 2010 is another year to set goals again and achieve them.

With work I am going to write more blogs and set goals so that I can help more people than this year.  

I hope you too set some goals, and wish you the best in achieving them! 
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

Betty Williams
The Arc of Indiana, Consumer Education and Training Coordinator
President, Self-Advocates of Indiana

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Self-Advocacy, The Arc Staff and Volunteers | Leave Feedback

New Voice

December 22nd, 2009 by John Dickerson

I am very pleased to introduce an exciting new voice to our movement, Michelle Fisher. 

Michelle is the host of “A View from My Window,” an audio cast that is now a regular feature on The Arc of Indiana web site. 

Michelle is a talented young woman who does not let her disability define her, while at the same time accepting it as part of her - just like her sparkling personality. 

Michelle’s show will feature interviews and discussions with self-advocates, families, professionals, and policy makers.  We hope you will find this ongoing dialogue interesting, informative, engaging and sometimes just fun.   

I think you will find that this will be something you want to listen to regularly. 

Thanks, Michelle, for making The Arc part of your life, and for sharing your perspective - that unique view from your window - with our listeners.

'

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in A View from My Window, John Dickerson's Blog, Self-Advocacy | Leave Feedback

Ground-breaking conference set for October 1st

August 24th, 2009 by John Dickerson

The news is filled with town hall meetings where the dialogue is hot and at times a bit frightening for people.  It is clear that health care reform has touched a nerve with those who both want it and those that are against it.  Few topics have generated such intensity in recent times.  Many more feel that finding common ground on many of the challenges facing us is getting more difficult.

 

Many feel this intensity reflects the great uncertainty many people are feeling every day.  Jobs are gone, retirement accounts have been devastated, and people caught in the middle worry about their aging parents, their children and their own security.

 

Rather than raising our voices, The Arc believes we can use technology to help us find what really is important.   

 

On October 1, 2009, The Arc is going to do something we have never done before.  We are going to ask people to use the state-of-the-art technology to ask families, self-advocates, and professionals the 60 most critical questions that we could fashion.  Covering every area from these critical questions will be answered by every attendee, breaking out the responses and sharing with everyone who attends, how people really feel about the critical choices people need to make.

 

Topics will include early childhood, education, health care, employment, family support, living in the community, future planning and guardianship, cultural competency, post-secondary education and training all will be covered.  We have had a group of families professionals, and self advocates working all summer to ask the right questions.

 

Nothing has ever been done to ask so many, such critical questions and provide near instant feedback.  And its affordable.

 

The registration for this ground-breaking event is just $15 for self-advocates, $19 for families, and $35 for professionals and that includes free parking at The Indianapolis Zoo with shuttle service.   That also includes lunch with special guest Tom Pomeranz!

 

Make your voice heard.  We hope to have the largest gathering of consumers, families and professional together for this incredible event. For more information go to www.arcind.org.  

 

Be there for something unlike anything we have ever done.  This is not the time for yelling at each other, but forging some common ground on what is important and where we need to go  I hope to see you October 1st.

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in General, Help for Families, John Dickerson's Blog, Public Policy, Self-Advocacy | Leave Feedback

Sharing the Good News About Computer for my work

August 14th, 2009 by John Dickerson

I just wanted to share my good news with everybody, you see for years I have wanted a laptop computer, well I just completed my training with computers on 7-15-09 and was given a certificate for my accomplishments.  I would not have been so successful if it wasn’t for Sharon Lewis she was my teacher and she works for Bona Vista.  She taught everything that I needed to know about computers.  I took this training for The Arc Network because in my work for The Arc of Indiana I keep in touch with the Network and other self-advocates.  I love my job with The Arc Network, if it wasn’t for them I probably wouldn’t be as successful as I’m right now.  I will be emailing everybody that is with The Arc Network so that I can let them know what I have been working in my county.  I hope everyone is happy for that I successfully completed by training and gotten my certificate.  But once again i say a big thank you to Sharon Lewis.  I will always remember everything that she has taught me. 

Norma Jean Schwering,   Self Advocate, The Arc Network

Posted in General, Self-Advocacy | Leave Feedback

Self Advocates of Indiana Picnic Huge Success

July 13th, 2009 by John Dickerson

With over 700 Self Advocates present, Friday’s annual SAI picnic was a resounding success.  This was the largest ever picnic and kicked off the new election cycle for the SAI Board of Directors.  

One of the constant reminders throughout the picnic is how important so many people were to not only the success of the picnic but to the lives of people.  The entire INARF staff was present to help with many tasks from parking to snow cones - and thanks to them my photography equipment was not ruined in the rain- thanks guys.   A special thank you also to the entire staff of The Arc of Indiana who were there as well. 

We had numerous providers that made it possible for people to come from all corners of the state by making tranportation and staff available.

The leadership of the state was there from FSSA, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, IPMG and many more.   The health screening by Indiana Special Olympics was busy all day and was a great addition to the day. 

Helpers and support staff from each of the SAI chapters were present and our state board were remarkable as always.  Thanks again for all you do.

Soon we will have photos up for people to order on line as in the past. 

It was a great day added to the fact over 400 items of food were donated and taken to a food pantry on Saturday morning that works with homeless families in need.  They were greatly appreciative of this effort and one we hope will only continue to grow in the future.

All in all a wonderful day with lots of people who made it possible.  Once again our thanks to all.

Tags: ,
Posted in General, John Dickerson's Blog, Self-Advocacy | Leave Feedback

“Homelessness up 78% - Total Could Be Far Higher” Indianapolis Star 6-18-09

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: , ,
Posted in General, John Dickerson's Blog, Self-Advocacy | Leave Feedback