On Target is a monthly publication
of the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities.
We welcome your suggestions for newsletter content and
ideas concerning the actions of the Council. On Target is made available
in accessible formats upon request.
Suellen Jackson-Boner
Executive Director
Christine Dahlberg
Associate Director
Paul Shankland
Grants Manager |
Celebrate Disability Awareness Month
This month, join thousands of advocates and people with disabilities across the state who will participate in the Council's annual Disability Awareness Month, designed to increase acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities in the community.
The 2004 theme is "Freedom from Exclusion: Inclusion Now."
Each year, the Council's awareness campaign reaches millions of Hoosiers through the media and a variety of grassroots awareness activities in schools, businesses, human services organizations and places of worship.
Free campaign materials are available, while supplies last, by contacting Kim Dennison at Borshoff Johnson Matthews at (317) 631-6400 (voice), (317) 631-6499 (fax) or kdennison@bjmpr.com (e-mail). Information packets and order forms are also available online at www.in.gov/gpcpd.
New waiver to serve children with emotional disabilities
Indiana children with emotional disabilities now have expanded options for home and community-based care. In February, Indiana became the fourth state in the nation to offer a Home and Community-based Service Medicaid Waiver for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance.
"What we do for children has historically focused on institutionalization," said Steve McCaffrey, president and CEO of the Mental Health Association in Indiana. "This new waiver allows Medicaid reimbursement for community-based treatment for children with severe emotional disturbances."
Services covered under the waiver include family support and mentoring, life skills training and respite care. New York, Vermont and Kansas are the only other states to offer such a waiver.
"This waiver gives families a choice," said Betty Walton, a consultant to the FSSA Division of Mental Health and Addiction. "It offers more opportunities for children to receive intensive services while remaining in their communities and with their families."
The Division of Mental Health and Addiction submitted the proposal through the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning.
The first 12-month phase of the project will be a pilot program serving 10 Indiana counties. In that time, the state expects to serve as many as 50 people with emotional disturbances between the ages of 4 and 21.
The 10 counties to be served are Daviess, Elkhart, Knox, Lake, Marion, Martin, Pike, Randolph, St. Joseph and Vigo.
In its second phase, the program will expand to serve all Indiana counties and could serve 200 people or more. After three years, that number could climb based on the state's ability to match federal Medicaid funding.
"Ultimately, this waiver will serve as many people as the state can afford," McCaffrey said. "I think this is a great step in the right direction and a new priority for children's mental health."
Interested families and children can apply for the waiver at local community mental health centers. Currently, service providers are receiving training regarding the new waiver and its implications for those they serve.
Indiana housing authorities receive grants
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in December awarded almost
$1 million in grants to Indiana organizations to help public housing residents, including many people with disabilities, become more financially self-sufficient.
Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program grants are used to link public housing residents to services that lead to employment and leadership opportunities. Within the ROSS Program, the Resident Service Delivery Model (RSDM) funding category allocates funds for personal care attendants and transportation for senior citizens and people with disabilities. In December, RSDM funding went to housing authorities in both Indianapolis and New Albany.
Other ROSS Program funding categories allocate funds for community technology networks and homeownership counseling and support. In the latter category, the Indianapolis Housing Agency received $350,000.
Congress passes budget bill, moves to other issues
In late January, Congress finally passed the 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which outlines funding for virtually all federal disability programs through Oct. 1. With budget issues resolved for the time being, legislators moved on to other pressing issues, many of which will also affect people with disabilities.
The Social Security Protection Act (H.R. 743) passed both houses of Congress and now awaits the president's signature. The bill makes a number of improvements to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Title II programs, including improving protections for those with representative payees, creating additional resources to address fraud, and improving the attorney fee payment system.
The Preserving Medicare for All Act of 2004 (H.R. 3702) was introduced in the House of Representatives. It seeks to undo some provisions of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, which was signed into law in December.
The new bill would allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for discounts and to establish a standard Medicare drug benefit option. It would also eliminate the competition (premium supports) pilot program scheduled to launch in six metropolitan areas in 2010.
On the Senate calendar are the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (S. 1248), the Workforce Investment Act and Rehabilitation Act (S. 1627) and the Family Opportunity Act (S. 622).
Visit thomas.loc.gov to follow the progress of these and other bills.
To obtain contact information for your Congressional representatives, visit http://www.congress.org and click on "Elected Officials."
Evaluate Disability Awareness Month
To improve future Disability Awareness Month campaigns, we are seeking feedback on our 2004 theme and materials. Please complete the evaluation form included with your materials and send it with samples, photographs and/or newspaper clips to the address provided. (Please note that materials will not be returned.)
To be entered in the prize drawing, please return the form by April 14 to Kim Dennison, Borshoff Johnson Matthews, 47 S. Pennsylvania St., Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or (317) 631-6499 (fax). If you have questions, please contact Dennison at (317) 631-6400 (voice) or kdennison@bjmpr.com (e-mail).
State unveils accessible Governor's Residence
After 10 months of renovation, the Governor's Residence in Indianapolis is now accessible to all of the state's citizens, including those with disabilities. Adaptations include ramps, an elevator and two new doorways. A one-story addition features fully accessible meeting and event space, restrooms, staff offices and kitchen space.
"An accessible Governor's Residence reflects a strong commitment here in Indiana to increase accessibility for people with disabilities," said First Lady Maggie Kernan. "The people across Indiana who collaborated on this project worked very hard to ensure their fellow Hoosiers feel welcome and comfortable in the governor's home."
Previously, people with disabilities had to enter the residence through a back door.
Once inside, stairs and other architectural barriers blocked access to most of the home. And the only accessible restroom was a portable toilet in the back yard.
"I had been invited over the years to many events there (Governor's Residence) and had never gone because I couldn't get in comfortably," said former Council board member Janna Shisler. "This is a much better way to treat your guests."
The English Tudor residence was built in 1928, long before accessibility was considered in construction projects. The renovation - spearheaded by the Governor's Residence Commission and by former First Lady Judy O'Bannon and First Lady Maggie Kernan - cost about $1.2 million, all of which came from private funds.
"What began with the vision of Governor and Mrs. O'Bannon and the enthusiasm and generosity of countless individuals has resulted in a place that the people of Indiana can be proud of," said Greg Fehribach, who chairs the Governor's Residence Commission.
Count Us IN seeks polling place volunteers
Volunteers are needed during the May 4 primary election to survey polling places for accessibility in the following counties. (Remaining counties will be surveyed during the general election in November.) To volunteer, please contact Julia Vaughn at (317) 234-2226 (voice) or CountUsIN@gpcpd.org (e-mail).
Counties where volunteers are needed:
- Blackford
- Boone
- Brown
- Cass
- Clay
- Clinton
- Decatur
- Dubois
- Fulton
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Harrison
- Hendricks
- Henry
- Huntington
- Jefferson
- Jennings
- Johnson
- Knox
- Lake
- Marshall
- Miami
- Monroe
- Parke
- Posey
- Pulaski
- Putnam
- Rush
- Starke
- Steuben
- Sullivan
- Tippecanoe
- Vanderburgh
- Vermillion
- Vigo
- Wayne
Presidential candidates offer disability platforms
To help people with disabilities make informed decisions in the 2004 presidential election, several disability-related organizations are now offering online information about the various candidates.
The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) has posted the disability platforms of all major presidential candidates. Visit www.nod.org/election2004.html to read the candidates' disability platform statements, view their records on disability-related issues and link to campaign Web sites.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) asked Democratic candidates to respond to a specific set of questions on issues such as health care, special education and support for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Visit www.aapd.com to view their responses, as well as information on President George W. Bush's disability platform.
Of Note
Winner of Accessible America competition named
The city of Phoenix, Ariz., won the third annual Accessible America competition sponsored by UPS and the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.). Bloomington, Ind., was a finalist for the award, which recognizes cities and towns that have made an "exceptional commitment to offering their citizens with disabilities full and equal opportunities to participate in the life of their community." Bloomington was also a finalist in last year's competition.
Web site focuses on artists with disabilities
Infinitec's new adaptive artists Web site, www.infinitec.org/learn/art/feedsoul.htm, features profiles of artists with disabilities and information on adaptive equipment for use in making art. "We've created this feature about visual adaptive art to celebrate the artist in each of us," the Web site states.
Lieutenant governor offers summer internship program
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Davis is offering a summer internship program for college and university students who have completed at least their sophomore year in any major. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 12; hand-delivered applications will be accepted through March 15. For more information or an application, visit www.in.gov/lgov/pdf/04internapp.pdf or contact Corey Wilson at (317) 232-4545 (voice) or cwilson@lg.state.in.us (e-mail).
Count Us IN countdown
The deadline to register for the May 4 primary election is April 5.
Save the date!
The 2004 Conference for People with Disabilities will be held Nov. 8-9.
Indiana Governor’s Planning
Council for People with Disabilities
150 West Market Street, Suite 628
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 232-7770 voice
(317) 232-7771 TT
E-mail: GPCPD@gpcpd.org
Web site: www.state.in.us/gpcpd
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