July 5th, 2009 by John Dickerson
This Fourth of July holiday had found us traveling across the midwest to see family in South Dakota. Each state we have spent time in, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota are all facing very tough decisions regarding state funding. A common theme in each is that they must cut spending with human services and education heading the list.
In Illinois, a budget impasse - which we avoided in Indiana - is leaving many families and community organizations wondering what will happen. In Minnesota, the Governor is using his authority to reduce the budget and people with disabilities will face real cuts.
There is no doubt that our future ability to educate and support people with disabilities in Indiana will depend on how quickly our economy responds to federal and state initiatives. Many believe we have not hit bottom yet, others see signs that it the economy is responding to these initiatives.
It is going to be a tough two years as the budget passed by the General Assembly will force some difficult choices. The state budget combined with the reduced county revenue adds to the problem. Some of our county leaders are working hard to continue their support of programs for people with disabilities while others have already targeted eliminating county funding for programs for people with disabilities, will put tremendous pressure on agencies and families.
Our work is just beginning as we look toward the future. It will again come back to how well we organize, find new answers to these challenging problems and pull together. We have done it before and will again.
One of the values of traveling is realizing how good home looks. Seeing what is happening in other states makes me realize how very good it is to be from Indiana - because of you. Thanks for all you do.
Tags: Budget, Developmental Disabilities Funding, education, special session
Posted in General, John Dickerson's Blog | 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.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: individual budgets, Public Policy, special session
Posted in John Dickerson's Blog | Leave Feedback
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
Posted in John Dickerson's Blog | Leave Feedback
Click here to receive content updates.
