Family Voices Indiana

By  Amanda Morin An evaluation is the gateway to  special education . Before your child can get special education and  related services  for the first time, the school must give her a comprehensive evaluation. This process is guided by legal rules in the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  (IDEA). Understanding the comprehensive evaluation process is easier if you don’t think of “evaluation” as meaning a single “test.” There’s a reason it’s called an  evaluation process . A series of steps are needed to look at (or evaluate) your child’s strengths, weaknesses and school performance. The process aims to get a better understanding of the whole child. That can’t happen with just one assessment or test. Here’s a breakdown of the evaluation process to help you understand it. What’s the purpose of an evaluation? An important purpose of the evaluation is to gather information to determine if your child is  eligible for special education . IDEA has a legal standard f

from The Arc of the US Congress has already begun the process of repealing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and it now is on the fast track to include major cuts to the Medicaid programs as part of the replacement plan.  The result would be two major blows to individuals with disabilities. People's health, services and lives are at stake!    We need advocates to reach out to their Senators and Representatives to let them know why the ACA and Medicaid are essential to people with disabilities and their families. Background: Message 1: Do NOT per capita cap Medicaid! Medicaid is a jointly funded program with matching state and federal funds. Under a Medicaid per capita cap, the federal government would set a limit on how much to reimburse states based on enrollment.  Unlike current law, funding would not be based on the actual cost of providing services. Much like the proposed block grants,  t he intent of the per capita caps is to restructure the program and save the f

To: Supervised Group Living Providers From: Cathy Robinson, Director, Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services Date: February 28, 2017 Re: Individual informed choice and day service options The purpose of this notice is to define individual informed choice in day service selection for individuals residing in supervised group living settings to ensure adherence to person centered practices. It is also intended to further clarify the role of supported group living providers in ensuring the consumers have an opportunity to make an informed choice, which the provider is required to honor. “Informed Choice” means a consumer has a right to determine, to the maximum extent possible, the services the consumer wants and the provider the consumer wants to deliver those services. Supervised Group Living Providers are responsible for coordinating residential and vocational services for individuals living in group homes. The interdisciplinary team, which includes the service providers, ind

To: Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services’ stakeholders From: Christina Commons, Director, First Steps Re: Part C State Application FFY 2017 - Notice of Comment Period Date: February 27, 2017 The State of Indiana is accepting public comment on the Part C State Plan. The plan is on file with the Bureau of Child Development Services, 402 W. Washington St., MS 51, Indianapolis, IN 46204 and on the Program Evaluation Reports Web page . Copies of the application may also be available for review at First Steps Councils and System Point of Entry offices throughout the state or at the above address. Interested persons may request copies of the application by calling 1-800-545-7763 or emailing FirstStepsWeb@fssa.IN.gov. Interested persons and organizations may submit written comments for State review until April 20, 2017. Written comments should include the name, title and address of commentator, the specific part of the proposed application on which comments are being made, a