Family Voices Indiana

When young people with disabilities reach the “age of majority,” they gain the right to manage their own affairs, including where they will live and what they will do. In most states, this happens at age 18. Legally considered as adults, they may take charge of their own housing and daily-life decisions, both large and small. But will they be ready to make such decisions for themselves? Will they have the skills and basic information they need to live as independently as possible? This tip sheet considers steps that you (as parents) and others (such as teachers or transition specialists) can take to help your young person with disabilities learn and practice the basic skills that underpin independent living, skills that will certainly come in handy in the future. Quick-Jump Links The Importance of Starting Early Areas of Daily Living to Consider What About Guardianship? Strategies for Providing Support Helpful Resources Materials Used in Developing This Tip Sheet Other Tip

What Do You Find Helpful and Want From Your Child's Doctors?? Parents from Family Voices Indiana along with parents from other Family Voices organizations developed a survey to learn from other parents what they find helpful when working with their child's doctors.   The survey has 18 questions and takes about 10 minutes to fill out. This is an anonymous survey, we cannot identify who you are when you complete the survey. Your answers will be combined with answers from other parents into a summary so we can  all  better understand what is helpful to parents and families and hopefully will improve the healthcare system. Please help us learn what you find helpful: Click here to complete the survey Para Española, clic aquí­ We thank you!!

A great resource for learning more about Pre-Admission Screening Resident Review (PASRR) is the PASRR Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Its website,  www.pasrrassist.org , has a wealth of information about the history and purpose of PASRR and its significance in the provision of long-term services and supports to individuals. For many people, placement in a nursing facility is the best way to care for their chronic medical needs. For others, nursing facility placement may not be appropriate, especially if they have needs the nursing facility is not well-equipped to meet, such as those accompanying a serious mental illness or intellectual disability/developmental disability. PASRR was designed to ensure that individuals are not admitted to or retained in nursing facilities when alternatives exist that better fit their needs. It is all about the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. The PASRR Redesign FAQs document is now being compiled and is full of your great questi

When young people with disabilities reach the “age of majority,” they gain the right to manage their own affairs, including their money. In most states, this happens at age 18.  Legally considered as adults, they may take charge of financial decisions large and small. But will they be prepared to make financial decisions for themselves? Will they have the money skills and basic understanding of finance they will need? This tip sheet considers steps that you (as parents) and others (such as teachers or transition specialists) can take to help your young person with disabilities learn and practice basic financial management skills, skills that will certainly come in handy in the future. Quick-Jump Links The Importance of Starting Early Areas of Financial Management to Consider Strategies for Providing Support What About Guardianship? Helpful Resources Materials Used in Developing This Tip Sheet Other Tip Sheets in This Series Acknowledgements, with Many Thanks! _________

The Arc of Indiana Legislative Action Alert Friday, March 11, 2016 The Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die on Thursday evening! It was a short session and one that is known for being very political and at the end of the day, ending with very few legislative victories.  Here is an update on some meaningful legislation to the disability community: SB 11 – ABLE ACT AWAITING GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE SB 11 – ABLE Act , introduced by Senator Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville).  Creates the “achieving a better life experience” (ABLE) authority.  Established the ABLE Board of the authority.  Requires the authority to establish a qualified ABLE program under which a person may make contributions for a taxable year for the benefit of an eligible individual with a disability to an ABLE account to meet the qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary in compliance with federal law.   The makeup of the ABLE Board which will develop the policies of the authority and th

When young people with disabilities reach the “age of majority,” they gain the right to manage their own affairs, including choosing their own doctor and seeing to their own healthcare needs. In most states, this happens at age 18. Legally considered as adults, they may take charge of healthcare decisions large and small. But will they be ready to make such decisions for themselves? Will they have the skills and basic information they need? This tip sheet considers steps that you (as parents) and others (such as teachers or transition specialists) can take to help your teenager with disabilities learn what’s involved in taking care of one’s own health and healthcare as an adult. Quick-Jump Links The Importance of Starting Early Areas of Healthcare to Consider Strategies for Providing Support What About Guardianship? Helpful Resources Materials Used in Developing This Tip Sheet Other Tip Sheets in This Series Acknowledgements, with Many Thanks! ________________________