Family Voices Indiana

A new publication developed by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community is designed to provide Indiana families a place to start to navigate systems after their child receives an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. This free booklet, “ After the Diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Resource for Families Whose Child is Newly Diagnosed ,” includes information on what it means to have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, what services and supports are available, funding, and a state resource list. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new figures in 2015 indicating that the prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorders in the U.S. had climbed to 1 in 68 children. The estimated rate is 1 in 41 among boys and 1 in 189 among girls. In Indiana, based on 2014 child count data collected by the Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education, the prevalence rate is now approximately 1 in 71 in Indiana schoo

Because of the unprecedented demand and volume of consumers contacting our call center or visiting HealthCare.gov, we are extending the deadline to sign-up for January 1 coverage until  11:59pm PST  December 17. Hundreds of thousands have already selected plans over the last two days and approximately 1 million consumers have left their contact information to hold their place in line.  Our goal is to provide access to affordable coverage, and the additional 48 hours will give consumers an opportunity to come back and complete their enrollment for January 1 coverage. IMPORTANT If you enroll in a health insurance plan through HealthCare.gov or the Marketplace Call Center by  11:59 p.m. December 17th Pacific Standard Time, your coverage will start January 1, 2016. If you provided your contact information on the web or at our call center, we’ll send you an email or call you when we’re ready for you to come back and finish enrolling.

If you applied before age 6, we encourage you to check on the status of your application. Call BDDS  1-800-545-7763 Ask for the application date they are currently targeting Check to make sure your application date has not been targeted already   From BDDS: If the BDDS targeting date is after the child’s  application date the local office will target that child, scheduling a time to meet with the parents and child and complete level of care. If the child’s application date has not yet reached the dates that BDDS is now targeting, the local office can place that child on the Family Supports Waiver wait list with his/her original date of application.  The local office would then contact the family when the child’s name came up for targeting. If you applied before age 6 and your child is now older than 6, you need to call BDDS before age 8 and ask for a level of care screening if you have not been contacted by BDDS at this time. Below is the policy language regardi