Drawing winners!

Last week, CeDIR and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community had a booth at the Monroe County Fair, and we are pleased to announce the winners of our drawings for free books:

Dawn C. of Bloomington gets the Adapting Curriculum & Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms: A Teacher's Desk Reference.

Courtney H. of Solsberry gets the Quick Guide for Parents Series--a series of three books on special education.

Julie T. of Martinsville gets the Record Book for Individuals with Austim Spectrum Disorders.

The books will go out in the mail to each of the winners today. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all who stopped by our booth!

Waiting

USA Today recently reported that the Indianapolis office of the Social Security Administration has the fourth longest average wait for hearings on whether an applicant is too disabled to work. In Indianapolis, the average wait time is 780 days, or more than two years. To read about the effects this has on claimants, read the article about the report here.

The government's information about reviewing your medical condition is listed here.

If you need assistance, you can call the Social Security Administration toll free at 1-800-772-1213.

Disability discrimination

The Indy Star recently reported that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against a Fishers-based mortgage company for allegedly disclosing an employee's medical condition.

If you feel that you have been the victim of discrimination in the workplace, you can file a charge through the Indianapolis office of the EEOC.

Workshop planned

The Indy Star reports about a conference to be held August 18 in Fishers, Indiana. The Arc of Indiana and Families United for Support and Encouragement will host this unique seminar about planning for the future that will include breakout spessions for special-needs children. There are many conferences targeted at parents, caregivers, and professionals; it is encouraging to see a workshop that also has events planned for the children themselves. According to the article, parent sessions will include information on accessing government benefits, accessing health insurance, and making the transition to work or college. Student sessions will focus on social skills, taking control of educational planning, and panels led by adults who have overcome disabilities.

For more information, read the story.

Let's do something fun

Summer is the time for fun! These books address recreation and disabilities. If you live in Indiana, contact CeDIR by phone at 800-437-7924 or via e-mail at cedir (at) indiana.edu to borrow these items or any of our other materials on recreation, disabilities, and daily living.

• Coyne, P., & Fullerton, A. (2004). Supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum disorder in recreation. Champaign, IL: Sagamore Pub.

• FitzRay, B. J. (2001). Alzheimer's activities: Hundreds of activities for men and women with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Windsor, CA: Rayve Productions.

• Newman, S. (2004). Stepping out: Using games and activities to help your child with special needs. New York: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

• Winnick, J.P. (2005). Adapted physical education and sport (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. This item includes a fitness DVD.

Come Vist us at the Fair!

For those of you in Monroe County, it's once again time for the Fair! For more information about CeDIR and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community stop by our booth in Commercial Building West.

Book Review: Sharing Information About Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Vicker, B. (2007). Sharing information about your child with autism spectrum disorder: What do respite or alternative caregivers need to know? Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger's Publishing Co.

CeDIR's Call No. 50.7 .V5

Beverly Vicker, a speech pathologist with the Indiana Resource Center for Autism here at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, has written a great book to help parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ensure that respite and alternative caregivers have all the information they need to "safely and reliably address the child's needs during the parents absence." It’s often difficult to think of all the details of the day which can be so important to a child with ASD, so to help parents Vicker has written this step-by-step manual.

Sharing Information about Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder is a practical guide divided into five sections. Section I includes worksheets designed to help parents decide what to share and how to share it. Section II provides topic sheets for caregivers addressing issues associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Section III gives examples of two families’ information sharing practices. Section IV provides blank forms to create your own information packet. Section V covers a variety of reference resources, including a list of recommended further reading. Included with the book is a CD-ROM with electronic copies of the worksheets to make creating and updating your caregiver's information packet easier. This book is a “must have” for parents of children with ASD!

Indiana residents who would like to check out this book can email us at cedir@indiana.edu or call (800) 437-7924.

Blog of Interest:

The Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Support Group has a new Blog!

If you live in Northwest Indiana and have a spinal cord injury, or you are interested in supporting efforts to find a cure, you will want to check out this blog. Here you can find out about local meetings and outings as well as National Activities and opportunities to get involved in supporting new research.

Check it out at: http://nwiscig.blogspot.com

Effects of longer lifespans

The Indy Star recently published three parts to a segment about aging issues and how longer lives affect the healthcare system.

Graying of America raises red flags

Services help seniors cope

Seniors face chronic disease, disabilities

Summer fun

Summertime is the perfect time for enjoying outdoor recreational activities -- whether or not one has a disability. The Indianapolis Parks & Recreation department is celebrating National Therapeutic Recreation Week by highlighting some of their accommodations for people with disabilities. They have five water wheelchairs, accessible wheelchair golf carts, and even a tennis wheelchair!

Dangerous work

Disabilities can often be the product of one's job. For farmers in Indiana and elsewhere, their occupation is particularly dangerous and sometimes even fatal. The Indy Star reports about the large numbers of farmers with disabilities.

Watching over

Keeping an eye on a spirited child is always a challenge. If this child has a disability such as autism, the task becomes even more difficult when the child can't communicate his or her whereabouts. One local community has provided a solution by implementing a tracking system using electronic devices. The Indy Star reports about the program here.

Overload

The Indy Star reports that certain factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise may cause a health crisis in children that could swamp the system.