PRESERVE: Local Disability History

PRESERVE: Local Disability History with Alan Rowe, Local History Partners Coordinator, Indiana Historical Society

DATE: Friday, July 24th
TIME: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: Indiana State Museum (Training Conference Room)
COST: Free

Dr. Phil Stafford will provide a brief overview of the Indiana Disability History Project and the importance and role of local disability organizations. Alan Rowe from the Indiana Historical Society will provide an overview of how to locate, preserve, and care for your invaluable records, documents, and photographs related to your organization and your local community. He will explain that you don’t have to be a historian to use simple, effective techniques for preserving your organizational and community documents and photographs to preserve your local disability history.

(The class is limited to the first 30 registrants.)

Plan to stay for the afternoon reception to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the ADA!

To register, please visit:
https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9H3xkiXY7xnAe0J

INDOT seeks members for ADA Advisory Working Group

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Transportation is seeking applications from Indiana residents for its Americans with Disabilities Act Community Advisory Working Group.

INDOT seeks individuals from a broad cross-section of Indiana for the panel, and membership is open to anyone. It particularly seeks individuals with disabilities, disability advocates, or individuals who provide services to persons with disabilities. Members serve two-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms.

Selected working group members provide information and recommendations regarding INDOT's ADA Transition Plan, including efforts to increase the public involvement of persons with disabilities in transportation planning. The voluntary group meets quarterly at various locations throughout the state.

Interested Individuals should contact Erin Hall by Aug. 3 via email at ehall2@indot.in.gov or by fax at 317-233-0891.

White House holds its Conference on Aging

Once each decade since the 1960s, the White House holds its Conference on Aging (WHCOA).  The 2015 WHCOA celebrates the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act, and it is scheduled for Monday, July 13. The City of Bloomington Commission on Aging invites the public to participate in a livestream viewing session of the conference from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL), 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., Rm. 2A. There will be a break from 12:20 to 1:20 p.m. for participants to obtain their own lunch if they wish.

The Conference will focus on four key issues: healthy aging, long-term services and supports, elder justice and retirement security. WHCOA organizers have been gathering input from older Americans, their families, caregivers and the general public throughout the past year in regional forums and via their website. Through this input, detailed policy briefs have been prepared on each of the four key issues, which can be found in full on the WHCOA website, www.whitehouseconferenceonaging.gov.

The viewing will offer participants the chance to join in on Bloomington’s discussion of “the landscape for older Americans for the next decade.”  Commissioners will be present at MCPL throughout the livestream session. Members of the public are welcome to join the event at any point; no pre-registration is required.

For additional information, contact Program Specialist Sue Owens at owenss@bloomington.in.gov or 812.349.3468.

Occupational therapy evaluation for children: A pocket guide

Providing an overview of theory as well as step-by-step coverage of techniques, Occupational therapy evaluation for children: A pocket guide includes clinical examples that illustrate the application of content, as well as client and family-centered practice; illustrations that demonstrate assessment techniques; and extensive tables that summarize key assessments, techniques, and actions. -book description

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Tips for Families Working with Professionals

Families are a huge part of the life of a child with a disability, and a lot of times that means family members are directly involved with all types of professionals who support the child. The following was developed to help families work with these professionals.

• Become as knowledgeable as possible about your child. Read as many books and articles as you can. Attend lectures and workshops. Become involved in a parent group.
• You know your child better than anyone else. Professionals know more about their profession than you do. But you know your child best. Each of you have a special knowledge that can help your child.
• Everyone responds better when treated respectfully. It is important for both you and the professional to be equal members of the team. You can both help your child best if you work together as a team.
• Before an appointment, write down questions about the things you want to discuss with the professional. Bring the notes with you. Be specific and use examples whenever you can. Write down the answers as they are given. You may not be able to remember everything later.
• Ask the professional to explain things to you if you do not understand the terms or acronyms being used. Don't be embarrassed to ask for an explanation. You need to know what is being said.
• If you do not understand how the professional came to a conclusion, ask for the specific reasons behind it. A recommendation will always make more sense if you clearly see what led to it. Continue to ask questions until you understand the professional's thinking.
• Do not be afraid to disagree with professionals about their recommendations for your child. You know your child in a way they cannot. If you think what they are suggesting will not work for your child, talk about it. Remember, you are a team.
• Explain your point of view in a calm, courteous way. If you are calm, rather than angry when expressing your opinion, the professional will be much more likely to see you as a partner who has a different point of view rather than as a "difficult parent." It is okay to disagree, to express emotion, cry or be angry, but if you are feeling "out of control," it may be better to take a break or to stop and schedule another meeting.
• Parents and professionals should respect each other's time. It is important to make an appointment and be punctual. You need to ensure that both you and the professional have enough time to meet and thoroughly discuss any problems.
• If you need more time with the professional, say so. One appointment may not be long enough to get all your questions answered. The professional should be willing to schedule more time to meet with you. Ask for the best time to make an appointment for a longer talk with the professional.
• Keep in contact with the professionals involved with your child. Suggest and schedule meetings on a regular basis, as agreed upon by both you and the professional.
• Keep all of your child's important records in a safe place. You will need to refer to them often. This will help professionals know your child's history so they do not do things over again. Keep all of these records in a box, a notebook, or a file to help you remember what educational, medical, therapy and/or social services your child has received.
• Encourage members of your child's professional team to talk with one another. Part of your job is to make sure all the professionals in your child's life are communicating with each other.
• Professionals like to know when they are doing a good job. A "thank you" can mean a lot and will go a long way towards guaranteeing that they continue to do the best job for your child.
• If you cannot work things out with a professional directly, you may need to discuss your problems with their supervisor. Make sure you have made every effort to resolve things with the professional before you see the supervisor.
• If you have tried all of the above and still cannot work effectively with the professional, think about changing to a different person. Sometimes people simply cannot get along. If you have done the best you can and still do not feel comfortable with a professional, you will be better off finding someone else to help your family.

Adapted from 16 Tips for Dealing with Professionals written by the Parent Involvement Committee of the Hamilton County Family and Children First Council, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1994.

Mobile App Monday - Everyday Grooves

Got a child who has difficulty with schedules? Everyday Grooves will help make setting up routines and structure easier by using music. Twelve songs offer support in such tasks as:

• Waking up
• Brushing teeth
• Getting dressed
• Saying goodbye
• And more!

Want to learn more about this app? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id515990005

Holiday hours and What's New

Holiday Hours

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, the library will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. We will re-open at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 6th. Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!


What's New

But before we get to that noisy, fun-filled, colorful holiday, have you been wondering what's new in the library? Topics cover anxiety, autism, personal safety, social skills, and more! To view the entire list, please visit:

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/whats-new