Family Voices Indiana

Family Voices Indiana urges its members to educate themselves regarding proposed legislation that impacts children with special health care needs this session. You can find a list of all proposed bills here.
We share HB 1367 which could impact education for the deaf and hard of hearing: Deaf and hearing impaired education services. Establishes the center for deaf and hearing impaired education to ensure that children who are deaf or hearing impaired acquire optimal communication and academic abilities. Requires the office of management and budget to determine an appropriate agency to provide office space and staff support for the center. Transfers the outreach services and consultative services to local education agencies to assist in meeting the needs of locally enrolled students with hearing disabilities of the Indiana School for the Deaf to the center for deaf and hearing impaired education. Provides that the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Indiana School f…

We will be introducing the health information specialists (HIS) and family leadership specialists (FLS) for the family to family health information center at Family Voices Indiana over the next few newsletters. Their biographies will also be included on our website. Every contractor at our center is a parent of a child(ren) with special healthcare needs and/or disabilities. We have personal experience navigating the systems and services in Indiana. We look forward to learning more about your families as well.Traci Kurmayis one of our HIS for theIndianapolisarea. Traci resides in Avon, IN along with her husband and their two wonderful children, Makenna and Maison.Traci’s desire to help families navigate the world of special needs comes from her experience with her own two children as well as her personal battle with childhood cancer. Her daughter Makenna was born extremely premature, 3 months early. Makenna weighted only a pound and as a result has several special health care needs. He…