Ending the journey

We started this year blog approximately a year ago in answer to a request for information sharing. We hope that many of you have found the information and support you were seeking here. However, as mothers of children with disabilities, who also work, we are finding it difficult to update this blog on a regular basis-which is probably why not many blogs like this exist. We hope to check the links periodically to make sure they are still valid, but if we miss one, please drop us a note.

We plan to keep the blog "live" so it can be of help to future families. If you are seeking information, you can click a tag to the left, or use the search feature to look for specifics.

There are also several agencies you can contact for help:

You can contact ASK for more information on health care financing. The Arc of Indiana has family advocates that can help you apply for Medicaid waivers and other services. You can seek assistance with special education issues with IN*Source.

We wish you, and your family, the very best.

Outreach fact sheet library

As a service for persons supporting individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, Outreach and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community developed the Outreach Fact Sheet Library. The information provided is designed to enhance the understanding of the topic and does not replace other professional or medical instructions or individually developed plans. Please check back here for more fact sheets and information.

• Enteral Feeding Tube Best Practices **NEW**
• Enteral Feeding Tube Problems **NEW**
• Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
• Recognizing Change in Status
• Responding to Change in Status
• Signs and Symptoms Indicating a Change in Status

As new fact sheets are created, they will posted here: http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/3948.htm

Finding Healthcare in Indiana

Are you uninsured? You are not alone. Millions of Americans have no health

coverage. Some lost their insurance when they lost their jobs. Others work hard,

but their jobs don’t provide health insurance benefits. Whatever the reason,

finding health coverage can be difficult. If you are looking for coverage, this

guide can help you find the coverage you need.

The road to finding health coverage depends on where you start. Everyone

has different circumstances. Starting with number 1, find the question that best describes your

situation.

Start here:

1. Did you recently lose your health insurance because you lost your job?

2. Did you recently lose your job because of trade policy—for example, increased

imports or jobs moving overseas?

3. Are you an early retiree who has lost your health coverage?

4. Could you be eligible for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program

(CHIP), or other government programs?

5. Do you have a serious medical condition or a disability?

If options 1-5 don’t work, try these:

6. What do you need to know about buying insurance on your own?

7. Where can you find help if you can’t find coverage?

find the answers here:

http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/guides-to-finding-insurance-2009/indiana

Tips for Building Self Determination

Making Choices

􀂊 If you have a disability, learn about it.

􀂊 Find your strengths, interests, and think creatively about learning styles and methods.

􀂊 Have high expectations for yourself.

􀂊 Explore new activities; find positive, fun things to do with your friends. Learn from your

mistakes.

􀂊 Have a say in things that are about you.

􀂊 Be open minded and listen to what people you trust have to say.

Self Advocacy

􀂊 Speak up.

􀂊 Take on a leadership role in something you are good at.

􀂊 Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

􀂊 Learn to talk about your disability. Help others to understand you and your needs.

􀂊 Work on creating open, nonjudgmental relationships.

Exploring the Possibilities

􀂊 Try to learn something new every day.

􀂊 Volunteer in something that interests you; find new hobbies.

􀂊 Find adult mentors who understand and relate to you.

􀂊 Talk about your future.

Strong Self-Esteem

􀂊 Write your thoughts down; describe yourself and your life.

􀂊 Take steps to feel part of your community; get involved by volunteering.

􀂊 Use your talents.

􀂊 Involve yourself in healthy, caring relationships.

􀂊 Surround yourself with people who are positive; find someone you look up to be your mentor.

Goals & Plans

􀂊 Understand what a goal is and why they are important.

􀂊 Think about what you want to do with your life, discuss this and other interests you have with

people who are important to you.

􀂊 Make a list of your goals and the steps you need to take in order to reach them.

􀂊 Be flexible and realistic about your goals.

Understand Reasonable Risks

􀂊 Think about all of the benefits and consequences before you take action.

􀂊 Know your support network; those people who will be there for you unconditionally.

􀂊 Seek advice from others but keep in mind that sometimes the truth is not easy to hear.

􀂊 Mistakes are normal and an important part of learning.

Problem Solve

􀂊 Learn to take ownership of challenges.

􀂊 Accept the idea that problems are part of healthy development.

􀂊 Create a list of positives and negatives to help you make good decisions.

􀂊 Get advice from people you trust.

Adapted from the NCSET Research to Practice Brief

INDATA blog

INDATA this, INDATA that. What exactly is INDATA anyway?

Assistive Technology Lab

Let’s catch up a bit. INDATA stands for the Indiana Assistive Technology Act. Its goal is to spread the word about assistive technology and make it readily available for Indiana residents with disabilities. Here are the services we offer:

• Device Demonstration Set up an appointment to learn how to use assistive technology devices.
• Device Loan Borrow equipment for up to three months to help you decide if you could use it. Follow these easy steps to set up an account and browse the various devices available for loan.

  

  Equipment from Assistive Technology Lab

• Training Quarterly assistive technology trainings and annual assistive technology conference held at the convention center in Indianapolis.
• Equipment ReutilizationDonate old equipment including wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches and other mobility related devices to Easter Seals Crossroads as it prepares for an upcoming equipment exchange program.
• Reutilized Computer Program We repair and refresh donated computers and give them to people with disabilities that have no means to purchase one on their own.
• AT Hour This one-hour presentation informs your group about the assistive technology programs and services provided by the INDATAProject and includes an exciting “show and tell” of various assistive technology equipment.
• Information and Referral Questions about assistive technology? You can call our Information & Referral/Funding Specialist to learn more about available services and funding options.

We’re a friendly bunch here at the INDATA project, and we’re here to provide you with assistive technology solutions. Questions or comments? Stop by anytime at http://www.eastersealstech.com!

follow the blog here: http://blog.eastersealstech.com/

Real Work. Real Stories

This site highlights the employment successes of people with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities. Through the use of innovative, front-line employment support practices, these individuals are earning money, forming networks, and contributing to their communities. Learn more about these people and the promising practices that led to their success.

Scroll down this page for current featured stories, or use the menu at left to browse all stories by category.

http://realworkstories.org/

Turning a Nintendo DS into an AAC device

Two Ways to Make Nintendo DS an AAC Device

by K

DS Talker is an older free program by the people who bring us the Sclera Symbol set that runs on a Nintendo DS. Tap to Talk is a newer program for the Nintendo DSi or DS Lite that retails for a subscription of $99.95 a year. Both program are dynamic display.

As it is free you will need to do some work to get the DS Talker working. The program is in German, but the English manual explains in detail how to make it work in English. (Although a techie friend or gamer 17 year old is likely to make it work the fastest.) The program uses the free white on black Sclera Pictos.

Tap To Talk include the software for the DSi or DSLite and a web based application to program boards as well as clipart symbols. Other symbol sets can be used if converted to .bmp format. You can play with the application before you buy it with an online emulator.

Having played with DS Talker and watched the Tap to Talk videos the programs see to run in nearly identical ways.