National Council of Self-Advocates – Creating a Strong Network of Self-Advocates Across the Country

May 8th, 2012 by

I have been fortunate to participate in Self-Advocates of Indiana (SAI) and Self-Advocates of Tomorrow, the Aktion Club of Columbus. The benefits I have received from being part of these two great organizations far exceeds anything I have been able to do to help support them.

Through my 30+ years of involvement with The Arc (yes, I am a “seasoned veteran”) I have always been connected to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but it was when I was asked to assist SAI that I truly developed a super passion for the many friends that I have made over the years.

I hope self-advocates throughout Indiana have the opportunity to participate in a local self-advocate group and/or Aktion Club. And hopefully that local group is affiliated with SAI, which in turn supports the national self-advocate group SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered). If there isn’t a local self-advocate group or Aktion Club in your community let Melody Cooper, President of SAI, know. SAI is committed to expanding self-advocacy throughout the state.

At the national Arc level a new initiative has been developed to foster the active involvement of individuals with I/DD in the work of The Arc – the National Council of Self-Advocates (NCSA or the “Council”).  Its primary purpose is to empower persons with I/DD to voice their opinions about what is important to them and to ensure that they are afforded the same opportunities as everyone else to have a meaningful life in the community, and there is no cost to join! Members will be able to network with others who are involved in advocacy work, educate the public about the issues that are important to people with I/DD, and become active leaders in their communities.  In addition, the Council will also promote leadership roles for individuals with I/DD in local chapters of The Arc and supporting The Arc’s commitment to employing individuals with I/DD.

Self-advocates who are interested in joining the Council must be members of a local chapter of The Arc, and can join online through The Arc’s website by visiting:  Join the Council.  It is a simple process that we hope others will help self-advocates access if they need assistance.

The NCSA held its first event during the recent Public Policy Seminar of The Arc and Melody Cooper reported that it was a great gathering and an additional way for self-advocates to connect with others. I’m not sure what the future holds for NCSA but I believe it provides another avenue for self-advocates to be engaged.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services



The Taste of Toothpaste

April 20th, 2012 by

I’ve heard speakers talk from time to time about how people with disabilities often don’t get to pick out the simplest things like what toothpaste they use or what their soap smells like.  I never really thought about it until I bought the wrong toothpaste last month.

I noticed that I was leaving for work every morning in a bad mood and crawling into bed at night in that same mood.  It finally dawned on me that it was because of the horrible taste my new toothpaste left in my mouth.

For me it was easy – I went to the store and I bought a different tube.  But what if I was at the mercy of my provider and had to use what I was given?   What would life be like if the smell of your soap or the smell of your clothes bothered you and you were stuck?

We are so lucky to have Self-Advocates of Indiana.   They fight every day to make sure that individuals with disabilities are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve.   They fight to make sure that everyone has a voice even when that voice is expressed through movements or eye contact or a communication device.

Everyone can express how they feel or what they like.  I wonder how many individuals with disabilities are being treated for “behaviors” when they are only trying to tell someone that the toothpaste they have to use makes them sick.

Every single person on this planet has something to offer and unique gifts.  Everyone has the ability to express themselves if the rest of us only learn to listen without always using our ears.

It took a tube of toothpaste to remind me that no matter how far we have come – we have a long way to go.   I hope one day that The Arc and Self Advocates of Indiana are no longer needed because everyone has the rights that they deserve.

Please support The Arc of Indiana or Self Advocates of Indiana so that this important work can continue.  Donations can be made on our website at www.arcind.org.

Jill Vaught is The Arc’s Director of Organizational Advancement



After the Storm

March 13th, 2012 by

On Friday, March 2, 2012, tornadoes ravaged at least eleven states including Indiana. The strongest (EF-4) tornado essentially destroyed two small southern Indiana towns, Henryville and Marysville. The photographs of the storm damage show unbelievable devastation – houses left in a pile of ruble amid trees snapped in the middle like toothpicks. As soon as The Arc of Indiana staff began hearing the news, we began wondering about individuals who happen to have I/DD and were concerned about their safety.

Almost immediately, Shane Spotts, DDRS Director, reached out to The Arc to begin spreading the word that DDRS would be offering emergency assistance to individuals who receive DDRS services. Additionally, The Arc of Indiana implemented a plan to quickly begin trying to find individuals with I/DD, their families and direct support staff who have been impacted by the storm to offer assistance with access to resources and immediate short-term needs.

Our southern Indiana family advocate, Jill Smith, has been doing a wonderful job since the storms hit trying to locate families and individuals who need assistance. Jill is attending community update meetings and visiting with people at emergency food locations to connect with people who need support. Reaching those who may need our help continues to be a challenge as cell phone service was down over the weekend and many people are displaced from their homes.

If you wish to help The Arc of Indiana support those individuals who need help, there are two things you can do. First, please let anyone you may know that The Arc is a source of help and immediate assistance. Anyone who has knowledge of an individual or family, including direct support staff, needing help can leave a message for Jill Smith at 317-224-0276. Jill will call you back as soon as possible and can meet with the individual to provide help. Secondly, if you wish to financially contribute to the short-term immediate needs of people with disabilities affected by the storm, you can simply text “TheArc” to 20222 on your cell phone. A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance.

The Arc has already been able to assist several individuals who have lost much of what they owned, including one direct support staff person whose husband is in the hospital with injuries. We hope that as communication is restored and word gets out about the availability of assistance, that The Arc of Indiana will be able to help many more individuals and families. I am so proud of the work that Jill Smith is doing in her community. I am so thankful to work for an organization like The Arc that does whatever it takes to get help to those who need it the most.



Happy Leap Day from All of Us at The Arc

February 29th, 2012 by



Nine Ways to Donate (that don’t include cash, checks, or credit cards)

February 28th, 2012 by


An interesting question came up recently about ways to donate to The Arc of Indiana that don’t include cash, checks or credit cards. There are actually several ways that you can donate to The Arc. They include both immediate gifts, as well as planned or deferred gifts. Below is a quick list. If you would like more information or to talk, please let me know. I would be happy to schedule a time to come and have a confidential conversation. The best way to reach me is by email at jvaught@arcind.org or by telephone at 317-977-2375.

 

Securities: If the donor has the certificates(s) in his or her possession, ownership transfers to The Arc of Indiana when:

    1. the donor delivers by hand the properly endorsed certificate(s) to The Arc, or
    2. the envelope(s) containing the properly executed certificate(s) and stock power are postmarked, or
    3. for delivery other than by hand or by the U.S. Postal Service, the date on which the completed gift arrives at The Arc office.

Tangible, Intangible, Personal and Real Property: The Arc of Indiana will accept gifts of property, including tangible personal property, intangible personal property, and real property.

Life Income Gifts: Life income gifts are those that provide donors with annual incomes, including trust and annuities.

Charitable Lead Trusts: Agreements by which The Arc of Indiana accepts assets in trust for a specified term of years, during which it receives periodic distributions from the trust. At the expiration of the time period determined by the donor(s), assets are transferred back to the donor(s) and/or beneficiaries specified by the donor(s).

Charitable Remainder Trusts: Agreements that provide distributions to one or more beneficiaries specified by the donor(s). Established during life or at death, the donor (or his or her estate) receives a current income or estate tax deduction and the beneficiaries receive periodic distributions from the trust. When the trust terminates, the remaining trust funds are paid to The Arc of Indiana. Charitable remainder trusts can last either for the life of the income beneficiaries or a specified term.

Real Estate with retained Life Estates: A life estate is a form of deferred gift whereby a donor irrevocably transfers legal ownership of a personal residence or a farm property to The Arc of Indiana but retains the right to live in, on or otherwise use the property for the remainder of his or her life (or for the lives of the donor and his or her spouse or partner) or until such time as the donor or his or her spouse or partner may elect to relinquish or terminate the retained life interest.

Life Insurance: The Arc of Indiana will accept gifts of whole life insurance and term policies.

Bequest: A bequest is a gift made upon the death of a donor to The Arc of Indiana in a donor’s Last Will and Testament or other legally blinding testamentary document. Gifts made via a bequest may be outright or contingent, unrestricted or restricted and may include any item or thing of value.

Retirement Funds: Individuals will be solicited to designate The Arc of Indiana as a beneficiary of retirement funds, where appropriate.

Jill Vaught is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Organizational Advancement



The Unwritten Benefits of Membership

February 24th, 2012 by

This month members of The Arc received in the mail (yes, the old fashioned mail brought to your door) the newsletters “Empower” from The Arc of the US and “The Arc News in Indiana” from The Arc of Indiana.

In fact, 8,275 new members received their copies of the newsletter. These new members, along with the nearly 10,000 members from 2011, learned the latest about The Arc’s Blueprint for Change and read columns by John Dickerson, Executive Director of The Arc and Melody Cooper, President of Self Advocates of Indiana. Members were updated about happenings at the State House, as well as  The Arc’s highlights of 2011. Readers learned about our new Strategic Plan, became knowledgeable about The Arc’s National Sibling Council, and received the latest information from the Autism NOW Center.  Both newsletters featured articles on Election 2012.

In all, members were provided twenty pages of information and stories about The Arc, events, happenings and features on individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Some may say that the printed newsletter is outdated – so yesterday (or many yesterdays ago). Yet it is the vehicle that connects every member with our state and national organizations. Every member is different and while I’m sure some won’t take the time to read the many articles, for those who do they’ll learn about Ron, Andrea, Shawn, Martha, Bailey, Rob and others.

I hope that as those of you who are members of The Arc read these stories, you take pride in knowing that you are part of an organization that has for more than 55 years advocated for individuals and families, and that the stories in the newsletter are just a few examples of how our members are so very important in the lives of many people.

If you are not a member, The Arc and its chapters are still conducting our membership campaign and it’s not too late to join. Our goal is for 10,000 members to join and we are at 83% of the goal. Our membership drive efforts will continue through March Disability Awareness Month.

And as a member you’ll receive the quarterly state and national newsletters.  I often hear people say that they only receive junk mail. I hope you take the time to read the articles in our newsletters; you’ll easily see that these newsletters are not junk.

I hope you will join us as we are Building Pathways with Membership. And if you are a member please ask your relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers to join The Arc. Contact a local chapter or join online.

Members receive benefits such as the newsletters, but the greater benefits are the support members provide to our local chapters; and while your membership supports our efforts, in all likelihood you will feel that you benefit more from knowing that your support is helping someone like Fred and his friend and advocate Mark (a story shared on page 10 of the most recent issue of The Arc News in Indiana.).If you’d like a copy of our newsletter, email me at mkevitt@arcind.org and read firsthand what our members are reading.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services



2011 Report from The Arc Master Trust

February 8th, 2012 by

As Trust Director for The Arc Master Trust, I am happy to report another strong year for the Trust – which will celebrate its 24th anniversary on October 24th this year.

The Arc of Indiana Master Trust was founded in 1988. Trust I is The Arc of Indiana’s original trust. The intent of Trust I is to provide parents with a reliable way to supplement government benefits their children receive, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), when they are no longer there to provide for them.

Trust II was established in 1995 in response to a law passed by Congress in 1993 allowing individuals receiving government benefits to fund their own trust.

In 2011, 44 new people enrolled in Trust I and 201 new people enrolled in Trust II.

As of December 31, 2011 there were 2,084 open trusts with The Arc of Indiana Master Trust.  Of those, 1,405 people are actively receiving distributions from either their Trust I or Trust II accounts. 155 accounts are funded but are not currently receiving distributions, and 524 Trust I accounts have not yet been funded.

Trust I Investments had a positive rate of return in 2011 of +.12%. This fund is conservatively invested and very closely monitored to ensure the safety of our beneficiaries’ trust money. The Arc Master Trust invests beneficiaries’’ money as if they have retired and this is their retirement money.

The following table profiles investments as of December 31, 2011:

Mutual Fund – Int. Government/Bond

$13,052,952

44.38%
Mutual Fund – Large Cap Equity

$ 8,134,607

27.66%
Miscellaneous Cash Equivalents – Taxable

$ 2,451,488

8.33%
Mutual Fund – Foreign Stock

$ 1,926,593

6.55%
Mutual Fund-Small Cap Equity

$ 1,699,903

5.78%
Mutual Fund – Domestic Hybrid

$ 786,344

2.67%
Other   $ 1,360,226

4.63%

The total on deposit at The National Bank of Indianapolis for Trust I and Trust II at December 31, 2011 was $42,814,720.

The Arc Master Trust Team:
Melissa Justice, Trust Director
Brandi Davis, Assistant Trust Director
Katie Batagianis, Trust Account Manager
Tom Ewbank, Senior Trust Officer

The Arc Master Trust Family Advisory Committee
Alan and Phyllis Hamilton, Indianapolis
Sharon Hauss, Bloomington
Kylee Bassett Hope,  Indianapolis
Kevin McDowell, Indianapolis
Greg Smith, Brownsburg
Sara Walker, Indianapolis

Learn More!  Visit us at: www.thearctrust.org



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



Three Ways to Raise Money for The Arc – Without Costing You a Dime!

January 27th, 2012 by

There are three ways that everyone can help raise money for The Arc of Indiana and it won’t cost you a dime! I promise!

There is an organization called GoodSearch which helps non-profits raise money. The Arc is now one of the approved charities that people can select. What this means is that you can go to www.goodsearch.com and help The Arc in the following three ways

GoodSearch.com – The search engine with a unique social mission. It’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get great search results, and each time you search, GoodSearch donates about a penny to your cause!

GoodShop.com- The online marketplace that donates a percentage of each purchase to your organization. You can choose from more than 2,500 popular merchants, find more than 100,000 coupons and deals, and the experience of shopping through GoodShop is exactly the same as going to the retailer’s websites directly.

GoodDining.com – The first 365 day a year Dine for Charity program. Dine in or take out at over 10,000 participating restaurants nationwide. Up to 6% of your total check including tax and tip will be donated to Arc of Indiana.

It really is that simple. If you set www.goodsearch.com as your search engine and choose The Arc of Indiana, every time that you search for something, we get a penny. And every penny adds up!

The GoodShop.com option is just as easy. I recently needed to rent a car. I went to www.goodsearch.com and choose the shopping link. From there I had access to several major rental car companies and coupons for each one. I picked the best deal and rented a car. The Arc will get 2.5% of my purchase.

Sometimes if it seems too good to be true it is so I also went directly to the rental car sites and through Travelocity.com. I wanted to make sure that I was getting a good price. My fear was that they would be giving money to charity because their prices were higher. But they weren’t. The daily rate that I received was cheaper than anywhere else.

One of the participating companies is Staples. This is where we order our office supplies. By going through the GoodSearch website we will be getting money back on every purchase.

The third way to help is through their Good Dining.com program. If you registered your credit card, every time you eat at a participating restaurant The Arc will receive a portion of your total bill. You don’t have to ask for it or do anything extra at all.

I am very excited to be a part of this program. I hope that you will check it out and help support The Arc. If you have any questions or need any help, please let me know at jvaught@arcind.org.

Jill Vaught is The Arc’s Director of Organizational Advancement



Happy 2nd Anniversary to “A View from My Window”

December 22nd, 2011 by


“Everyone deserves to not have that disability define them.
They just need that window to sort of open up 
and for them to see themselves as an individual
instead  of someone with a disability.”

So began the first show of Michelle Fischer’s audio cast, A View from My Window, on December 22, 2009 – two years ago today!  Happy Anniversary Michelle, and thanks from The Arc for sharing your wonderful gifts with your audience.

Listen in to Michelle’s first show, Introducing A View from My Window, and then check out a few of Michelle’s shows from the past two years.

Michelle Fischer, Host, A View from My Window,
on location at Special Olympics Indiana
Listen in to, A View into Special Olympics Indiana with Mike Furnish

 

 Listen in to Michelle’s personal reflection, A View into Building My Career Pathway

 

Michelle and The Arc Master Trust Director Melissa Justice
Listen in to, A View into The Arc Master Trust  and  A View into Trust II

 


Michelle and her Mother, Gail Fischer
Learn more about Michelle, watch Michelle’s Story

 Michelle and State Representative Sheila Klinker
Listen in to, A View into the DD Commission

 

Michelle and Melody and Joe Cooper
Listen in to, From Day Dreamer to Dream Catcher

 

Michelle and her personal photo from Anderson Cooper
Listen in to, Thank You Anderson Cooper!

 

Michelle and INARF Executive Director Jim Hammond
Listen in to, 2011 INARF Conference, A View from Jim Hammond and Jill Dunn

 

Michelle and the WISH-TV News Team

 

Michelle and her A View from My Window team, Producer Sally Morris and Sound Engineer Bryce Dickerson.

Michelle, it has been a great two years!  You are more than a joy to work with, and we can’t wait to see what the years to come bring!

Sally Morris is The Arc of Indiana’s Assistant Director of Public Relations



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