On Target

 Informing Indiana About Disability Issues

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

ADA-Indiana releases "Making the Grade" survey
Report outlines areas in need of improvement

To coincide with the 16th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA-Indiana released "Making the Grade," a comprehensive survey of people with disabilities, their advocates and members of the general public. The survey was designed to gauge how well Indiana communities were doing in implementing the ADA.

After results were tabulated, the cities and towns of Indiana received an average grade of "C-," which was the same grade given in the last "Making the Grade" survey in 2001.

Of the respondents, 4 percent gave their community an "A," 12 percent gave a "B," 40 percent gave a "C," 27 percent gave a "D" and 17 percent gave an "F." These results were similar across northern, central and southern regions of the state. However, respondents from southern Indiana indicated more dissatisfaction in ADA implementation than the other regions.

Subjects that need the most work, as indicated by respondents, include:

• Employment of people with disabilities
• Removal of physical barriers in buildings
• Rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities
• Accessible transportation
• Access to local government services

Other areas listed as being in need of improvement include:

• Work accommodations on the job
• Accessibility surveys of buildings and programs
• Complaint procedures
• Communication and alternative formats
• Accessible city Web sites
• Attention to physical accessibility

Vicki Pappas, director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, said the survey shows what still needs to be done. "More parking spaces, ramps, curb cuts, fewer awkward doors, etc.; we still need lots of attention on physical access. Cities need to pay attention to their events, their fairs and their festivals. Are they really looking at all the accessibility issues adequately, including polling places?" asked Pappas.

"People with disabilities themselves need to be more educated about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA so that when they identify they're being discriminated against, they know avenues available for remedy," said Pappas.

Of the respondents, 71 percent stated that they have good or excellent knowledge of the ADA. When asked where they get their ADA information, the survey showed that most respondents get their information from three main sources: publications, newsletters or the media; the Governor's Council; and other people with disabilities.

Of the 409 respondents, 34 percent were people with disabilities, 22 percent were parents or family members of people with disabilities, 18 percent were staff members of service-related organizations, 13 percent were advocates and 10 percent designated themselves as "other." Three percent of respondents did not identify themselves in a category.

The survey respondents represented 69 Indiana counties - 27 percent from southern Indiana, 40 percent from central Indiana and 27 percent from northern Indiana. Seven percent of respondents did not designate a region.

For more information on the "Making the Grade" survey, visit ADA-Indiana's Web site at www.iidc.indiana.edu/cpps/ada.

Legislative committees to determine 2007 session

State committees are currently meeting to determine which legislative topics will be studied during the January session. A number of subjects are of interest to people with disabilities, including:

• Government Administration and Regulatory Matters: This committee is charged with monitoring and reporting on the impact of privatization of non-health related services performed or administered by state agencies, including the impact on state employees who have been laid off.
• Children's Issues: This committee is responsible for children's health issues, with an emphasis on diabetes and obesity.
• Code Revision Commission: This committee is studying the use of "people first" or respectful language when referring to people with disabilities in Indiana laws.
• Health Finance Commission: This committee is examining the cost of delivering health care services to diabetics and adapting health coverage systems used in other jurisdictions to answer the needs of Hoosiers.
• Medicaid Oversight: This committee is exploring the Medicaid reimbursement rates.

If you would like more information, please visit http://www.in.gov/legislative/interim/. If you do not have access to the Internet, you can call Legislative Services at (317) 232-9856 (voice). You may also subscribe to a weekly mailing service from Legislative Services that provides meeting dates and times for $10.

Institution and community-based services examined

With the closing of New Albany's Silvercrest Children's Development Center in May and the planned closing of the Ft. Wayne State Developmental Center next summer, many advocates see advancements in community living for people with disabilities.

However, institutionalization is still a fact of life for many even seven years after the decision in Olmstead v. L.C. was released. This Supreme Court decision stated that unjustifiable institutionalization of two people with developmental disabilities (DD) in Georgia violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The decision also declared that services provided to any person with a disability should occur in the least restrictive environment possible appropriate to his or her needs. The case encouraged a general review of the process for moving people with disabilities from institutions to community-based settings.

According to the 2005 State of the States in Developmental Disabilities, which documented data from 2002, more than 100,000 U.S. residents with DD lived in large institutions. In Indiana in 2002, there were 3,060 people with DD in large institutions. Currently, 2,225 are still in these of types of placements, including 634 in immediate care facilities with 16 or more residents and 1,686 in nursing homes. This is a 27 percent decrease from 2002.

According to national Medicaid data from fiscal year 2005, 63 percent of long-term care expenditures went toward institutional services, which includes both nursing homes and immediate care facilities of all sizes. Nursing homes provide care primarily to people with physical disabilities, while immediate care facilities serve people with developmental disabilities (MR/DD).

When looking at Medicaid services provided to those with physical disabilities, more than 72 percent of national expenditures goes to institutional services, while 27 percent is used for community-based services. For those receiving MR/DD services, less than 42 percent goes to institutions and a little more than 58 percent is spent on community-based services.

In Indiana, more than 92 percent of expenditures for physical disability services goes toward institutional services, with 8 percent left for community-based services. As for MR/DD services, 45 percent of expenditures are used for institutional services and 55 percent is put toward community-based care.

Many advocates have questioned the disparity between institutional spending for MR/DD services and general physical disability services. To comment on this issue, e-mail Steve Gold, a disability rights attorney based in Philadelphia at stevegoldada@cs.com. For more information, visit www.stevegoldada.com.

To view the State of the States report and 2005 Medicaid statistics, visit www.cu.edu/ColemanInstitute/stateofthestates/aboutSOS.html and www.aapd-dc.org/News/medicaid/060717bull.htm.

Program supports youth

Recovering from a serious illness or injury can be a long process for a child, especially if it results in a disability. Children and families affected can find help in the Circle of Friends program at Methodist Hospital.

"This program offers the friends and family members a comfortable, informal setting to encourage questions and concerns they may have, and share how they can continue to help the patient in the recovery process after he/she leaves rehab," said Kim Conley, program coordinator for Circle of Friends and nurse at Methodist Hospital.

Circle of Friends is a support program designed to help children who develop disabilities ease back into their home and school after leaving the hospital. As a support system, Circle of Friends encourages children to educate their peers about their disability, including what has changed in their lives and what will stay the same. Offered to all affected patients and their families, approximately 98 percent participate.

Participants usually range from elementary-aged children to teenagers. Before they are released from the hospital, the child and his/her family select up to 10 peers to make up the child's "circle of friends." These peers then learn about their friend's disability and help him or her make good choices. For more information, visit www.clarian.org/pedsrehab.

Annual conference registration opens soon

Once again scheduled for the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, this year's Conference for People with Disabilities will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn more about issues and developments, as well as to network with their peers.

The format for "Seeking New Truths; Forging New Paths" will be similar to previous years, starting early Thursday morning with registration and exhibit viewing, followed by a keynote presentation, lunch and an afternoon of workshops.

The morning's keynote speaker is Dr. Peter Blanck, one of the world's leading scholars and experts on disability law and policy. He will present "The Impact of Globalization on the Disability Community."

Following the workshops, all will be invited to grab their sombreros and maracas and join in a Fiesta of Fun at the opening reception. Another special event that will take place Thursday evening is the Arc of Indiana's 50th anniversary celebration. "A Night Out with the Stars" at the Indiana Roof Ballroom coincides with the conference's opening reception Nov. 16. Attendees are encouraged to attend both events. For more information or to register for the Arc's celebration, visit their Web site at www.arcind.org or call (800) 382-9100 (voice).

Friday will begin with a plenary session, which features Dr. Nancy Henkin, executive director of Temple University's Center for Intergenerational Learning. Henkin will challenge the audience to envision a community that welcomes all ages and reaches out to people with disabilities.

That session will be followed by the annual awards luncheon. This year's lunch will feature presentation of the Governor's Council's new Community Spirit Awards. The keynote speaker for the awards luncheon will be Dr. Al Condeluci, who is one of America's leading consultants on human services and community issues.

Overnight accommodations at the Westin are available at a discounted group rate of $81/night plus tax for a single guest, $91/night plus tax for two. More information about the conference, along with a registration form and scholarship application, will be mailed soon.

Brothers share 4-H talents at county fair

The Arland brothers participated in another year of 4-H fun at this year's Hancock County fair. Jacob, who has autism, Zachary, who has cerebral palsy, Lucas, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Matthew, who has cerebral palsy and pervasive developmental disorder are 12-year-old quadruplets from Greenfield, Ind., who spent many hours preparing for the fair.

As members of the Clip Clop Clovers, an inclusive 4-H organization for youths of all abilities, the brothers are able to enjoy the events of the fair. The organization is the only one of its kind in Indiana.

Each of the Arland boys was awarded for his hard work and outstanding dedication to the fair's success - winning a total of 11 awards, including several first place prizes, blue ribbons and even a Grand Champion honor.

Grants available to assist community living

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a series of demonstration grants available to states to assist in ending "unnecessary institutionalization." The grants are designed to provide additional resources for people who wish to live in the community rather than in institutions.

CMS will give a total of $1.75 billion over a five-year period to promote the shift from institutional long-term care services to a program with more choices for people with disabilities from all age groups, including home- and community-based services.

"With this program, people who need long-term care and prefer to live in their own homes and communities can do so," said Michael Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "States will also get more for their money by giving the elderly and people with disabilities more control over how and where they get the Medicaid-funded long-term care services they need."

The grants are competitive and require development and submission of a plan. CMS encourages Medicaid officials to work with local and state housing authorities, as well as people with disabilities, disability-related organizations and independent-living centers, to create the grant applications. Extra points will be awarded to states that plan to work with housing finance agencies to identify how housing shortages will be addressed.

For more information on the grants, visit www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060726.html.

Of Note

Internships available for students with disabilities

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, is offering 50 $8,500 scholarship awards/internships for students with disabilities. The internships place the students in a federal government position in Washington, D.C., during the spring 2007 semester. Applications are due Nov. 15 and can be found at www.twc.edu/students/how_to_apply.shtml. If you require the application in an alternative format, contact Roshni Lal at (202) 336-7567 (voice).

Free computer class offered at Easter Seals Crossroads

On three upcoming dates, classes on accessibility features of Microsoft Windows XP will be offered at Easter Seals Crossroads in Indianapolis. The classes will be held 1-5 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2006; Jan. 18, 2007; and April 12, 2007. To register, call Carol at (317) 466-1000, ext. 2421 (voice) or e-mail cgirt@eastersealscrossroads.org.

MAAP annual conference: Oct. 20 and 21

MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome, along with The Indiana Resource Center for Autism, is hosting its annual conference titled "MAAPing the World of ASD" at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Indianapolis Oct. 20 and 21. To register online, visit www.maapservices.org/MAAP_Conference_Home.htm. For more information, call (219) 662-1311 (voice).

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

This year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month is themed "Americans with Disabilities: Ready for the Global Workforce." This theme, and the accompanying poster, will be used by the private sector, federal, state and local governments, and advocacy organizations to plan events and programs that showcase the abilities and skills of job candidates who have disabilities. To download a copy of this year's poster, visit www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/posters.htm.

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.

Sign up for the Council E-News

Council E-News is a bimonthly newsletter featuring updates on public hearings, policy issues, conferences and other Indiana-related issues. To subscribe, send your name and e-mail address to cdahlberg@gpcpd.org (e-mail). For more information, contact Christine Dahlberg at (317) 232-7774 (voice).