Family Voices Indiana

from Pat Howey at Special Education Consulting:

The small part of funding that comes from the federal government has been cut even further. Local school districts will now have to foot the bill for the services listed below. Local school districts that already are struggling to provide adequate services to all students will now have to stretch their budgets even further. After December 1, 2017, the IDOE will not longer be providing funding for the following services to local schools: (1) Extended School Year in Day Programs; (2) ABA services in centers and in schools; (3) One-on-one services (paraprofessionals and aides) in centers and schools; (4) Related Services; and, (5) Transportation. In addition, a cap on Residential Services and Day Services is being considered. What we can expect: Advocating for kiddos in special ed will become more and more difficult. We can expect to have to fight for these services for special education children who need them, even though the IDOE Memo sta…

from CCD:

Background
On November 17, the House of Representatives passed its version of a tax bill.  The Senate is prepared
to act on its bill right after they return from Thanksgiving recess the week of Nov. 27.  Both bills would
present serious threats to people with disabilities. A conference committee may have to work out the
differences between the bills, meaning that provisions in either bill could end up in a final tax bill. 

Both
bills are harmful because they:
 Dramatically reduce tax revenues by nearly $1.5 trillion over 10 years to provide tax cuts that
disproportionately benefit the wealthiest individuals and corporations .
 Build pressure to cut Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other critical
programs for people with disabilities in order to make up for lost revenue stemming from tax
cuts.
While the neither the House or Senate tax bills directly cut Medicaid, they both would have a
devastating impact on funding available for Medicaid and other…

To: Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services participants, providers, families and stakeholders From: Cathy Robinson, Director, Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services Re: Increasing budget flexibility for individuals receiving services through the Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver (CIH) Date: November 22, 2017

Effective January 1, 2018, an individual’s budget allocation under the Objective Based Allocation System (OBA) will no longer be distributed into three categories for individuals receiving services through the Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver (CIH).

Individuals will be able to use their full budget allocation to support identified community integration needs through the person-centered planning process. This change will enable individuals to have more flexibility in their person-centered planning process in combining their natural supports, community resources, and their overall budget allo…

from IAUW:

Organization Day kicks off the 2018 legislative session November 21 was Organization Day at the Indiana Statehouse which marks the ceremonial start to the 2018 legislative session.  Organization Day provides an opportunity for the Indiana General Assembly to gather and connect with their peers and staff to discuss legislative topics for the coming session.  The 2018 session will begin on January 3 and will end no later than March 14.  This is a "short session" were lawmakers will discuss a range of issues that likely have minimal fiscal impact because it is not a budget-making year.  
Now that we have heard more from caucus leadership and the Governor on their plans for 2018, you can expect key issues this session to revolve around workforce development, education and the opioid epidemic.  View Governor Holcomb's Next Level Agenda and look for caucus agendas and committee assignments to be released in the near future. Save the date - United Way Day at the Statehou…