ISSUE 13/OCTOBER 2015

A NEWSLETTER FROM EASTER SEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

DONATION PROVIDES FUN LEARNING TOOLS FOR ADCSometimes it’s surprising how a simple request can inspire great generosity.

Tyler, an Easter Seals client for about 25 years, was having such a good time with his LeapFrog system at home that his foster mother wondered whether his friends at the Adult Day Center would also enjoy using one.

Colleen made some calls and found the right person to talk to at LeapFrog Enterprises. She explained the situation and asked whether the company would donate a few of the educational electronic toys.

The answer was an immediate yes for more than “a few”—the company donated 94 LeapFrog desks with games, worksheets and batteries! That’s enough for almost

everyone in ADC to have their own LeapFrog

to learn things like numbers, letters and reading.

The LeapFrogs were delivered and distributed to each ADC classroom in July, and immediately inspired ear-to-ear smiles from the consumers enjoying a fun new way to learn.

THE VOICECREATING SOLUTIONS.

CHANGING LIVES.

THE ARC LEADS CHARGE FOR MEANINGFUL DIPLOMA OPTIONS

260.456.4534 / EASTERSEALSARCNEIN.ORG

260.456.4534 / EASTERSEALSARCNEIN.ORG

ISSUE 12/OCTOBER 2015

UPCOMING EVENTSOCTOBER10/2 & 15 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.10/12 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria10/16 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group10/20 Write A Will clinic, noon-4 p.m., 4919 Coldwater Road10/23 Vino, Java, Jazz, 5:30-10 p.m., Ceruti’s Banquet & Event Center, 6325 Illinois Road

NOVEMBER11/4 & 18 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.11/9 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria11/21 Sibshops, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for grade school (ages 7-12); noon-3 p.m. for junior high/middle school; 2-4

p.m. high school at Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House on Lutheran Hospital Campus11/20 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group11/26 & 27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY — CLOSED

DECEMBER12/2 & 16 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.12/5 FREE My Way Matinee, “Good Dinosaur,” 10 a.m., Regal Cinema, Coldwater Crossing12/14 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria12/18 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group12/24 & 25 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY — CLOSED

JANUARY1/1 NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY — CLOSED1/4 & 18 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne1/11 Social Group for H.S./Adults who have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria1/15 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group1/16 Sibshops, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for grade school (ages 7-12); noon-3 p.m. for junior high/middle school; 2-4

p.m. high school at Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House on Lutheran Hospital Campus

Article provided by The Arc of Indianawww.arcind.org

Indiana’s high school diploma options could be changing as the state explores new requirements to earn a diploma. The decisions will have a significant impact on the lives of students, including students with special needs.

The Arc has been closely monitoring this issue and continues to discuss with key decision makers the importance of providing a path for students receiving special education services to earn a diploma rather than being issued a certificate of completion.

Indiana currently offers four types of high school diplomas: General, Core 40, Academic Honors and Technical Honors. However, not all school corporations offer the General diploma.

Many families report that early on in their child’s education they have been required to decide whether their child is on the Core 40 diploma track or a track to receive a certificate of completion. In the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly, The Arc worked to pass House Bill 1194, which requires schools to inform families of students with special needs of all the state’s diploma options. However, it did not fix the problem of schools simply not offering the General diploma.

As part of the Indiana Career Council, the Core 40 subcommittee was established to make recommendations to the State Board of Education, including: • Changing course requirements for the Core 40

diploma• Changing the types of diplomas offered• Analyzing the need for a Career Technical

Education (CTE) diploma and/or CTE offerings

The subcommittee has proposed changes that would: • Combine the two honors diplomas• Replace the Core 40 diploma with a new College

and Career Ready diploma• Replace the General diploma with a new Workforce

Ready diploma

The new College and Career Ready diploma would require at least 44 credits, up from 40. Students would be required to take more math, science, and social studies classes, and two new classes – career preparation and financial literacy – would be added as mandatory classes.

The Workforce Ready diploma, among other changes, would require 6 to 8 credits in math, up from the 4 required

for a General diploma. Parents and the high school principal would be required to approve students choosing the Workforce Ready diploma.

In an article in the education news publication “Chalkbeat,” Teresa Lubbers, the head of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, stated that the Workforce Ready diploma is not meant for the majority of students. “Close to 90 percent of kids get the College and Career Ready diploma or honors,” Lubbers said. “So we are talking less than 10 percent there.”

The timeline has been for proposed changes to be finalized by December, presented to the General Assembly in 2016, and, if adopted by the General Assembly, enacted in the 2018-2019 school year.

The Arc of Indiana, along with several families, testified before the State Board of Education on Sept. 16 to express concerns about the proposed diploma structure and how, if implemented, this structure would place students receiving special education services at a disadvantage. After hearing strong concerns, the State Board decided to schedule a special meeting to discuss this issue in further detail.

CURIOSITY LEADS TO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITYHow does one go from a hospital visit to a volunteer?

“I just started asking a lot of questions,” says Tammy, who attends our GenX program three days a week. She used to attend four days, but has cut back since she became a volunteer at Parkview Hospital.

It all began about four months ago when she was there to have some lab work done. During the process she began asking the technician several questions about employment.

The staff directed her to the human resources department,

where she was given a volunteer application to fill out. After returning the application, and completing her scheduled interview, Tammy was accepted.

Now every Thursday, she proudly puts on her volunteer vest and name tag before beginning her 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. shift at the Randallia campus. She works in the dietary department stocking shelves and filling condiment containers, along with other duties.

Tammy absolutely loves her job and especially her coworkers, because they are so welcoming of her each week.

With a few months of volunteering under her belt now, she is looking ahead to acquiring the “really neat pin” volunteers are given upon reaching the one-year milestone.

SAVE THE DATE

OCTOBER 23, 2015

92%of respondents to a survey by the Arc said earning a high school diploma is important to their family member’s or their future

Tyler’s enjoyment of his LeapFrog led to a donation from the company that makes them.

THE VOICECREATING SOLUTIONS.

CHANGING LIVES.

ISSUE 13/OCTOBER 2015

We had a great summer! Our Dream Teens program at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne was full of activities on campus and in our community. Our staff also put on a carnival at our Coldwater location that our clients and staff enjoyed. Doug Bowman was busy with our recreation program—attending Special Olympic events, festivals, concerts, and TinCaps games!

In addition to all of the fun, this summer brought a new educational program for our clients. You may remember that we began offering High School Equivalency (HSE) classes in April through a collaboration with Northeast Indiana Works and The Literacy Alliance. A second phase of that collaboration on preparing clients for employment began in late June when Ivy Tech Corporate College launched classes based on the college’s Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) curriculum.

This fall we are continuing our HSE and CLA classes and expanding community employment options for our clients. We also continue our Direct Support Professional College and opportunities for our top-performing DSPs to earn more and become DSP coaches ... so it feels like back to school here at Easter Seals Arc!

In closing, I’d like to share a big congratulations to Misty Woltman, our chief financial officer! She was one of 11 people honored recently at Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s CFO of the Year Awards. Misty always does what is best for our clients first and foremost. She balances money with having a heart. It isn’t always about the bottom line, but what is right for our clients and staff.

A NEWSLETTER FROM EASTER SEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

DONNA ELBRECHTPresident, Easter Seals Arc

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM PROVIDES ENCOURAGEMENT FOR QUITTERSEaster Seals Arc is one of several Easter Seals affiliates across the country receiving grants to partner with CVS Health on a smoking cessation program for people with disabilities and their caregivers.

The cessation program highlights the American Lung Association’s online program, entitled Freedom from Smoking, which takes participants through modules containing tips and lessons on how to quit smoking.

The program began in late July with support groups for clients and staff interested in quitting smoking. Kala Smith, interim director of the Adult Day Center and Transitions, said the group meets every other week and focuses on providing information. The discussions cover topics such as why people smoke, what smoking does to a person’s body, and what happens when a person stops smoking.

Smith, who recently quit smoking, said the group’s attendees have been mostly clients from Adult Day and Transitions, but a few staff also have participated. They’ve even had a few non-smokers attend just to learn more about the subject so they can encourage friends and family to quit.

Smokers who are ready to quit can visit easterseals.com/stopsmoking to enroll in an online program with tutorials to guide them through the process of quitting. Once they take that step, they also can begin one-on-one meetings for individualized support.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES KEEP EVERYONE AT ES ARC BUSY

A group of clients in PDG spent about three weeks caring for caterpillars and watching them change into butterflies, then released them outdoors. Everyone wanted to hold one when they realized the butterflies wouldn’t bite or sting!

Painting with balloons was just one of the many activities that kept students engaged during Dream Teens. The program had about 40 participants this summer and used space on the Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne campus. In addition to being fun, Dream Teens helps participants learn life skills, explore the community, and practice social skills during summer, winter and spring school breaks.

About 150 clients and caregivers spent a sunny

July afternoon at Parkview Field

watching the Fort Wayne Tincaps beat

the Bowling Green Hot Rods during the

AWS Foundation’s Tincaps Disability

Awareness event. The foundation provided tickets to the game plus $5 TinCash for each of the clients

and caregivers.

Summer days are anything but lazy for the Easter Seals Arc community. From butterflies to picnics to baseball, our clients experience a wide variety of activities and outings that mix fun and education.

Adult Day Center clients had an adventure visiting Nurse Susan’s family farm. They had the opportunity to meet goats and donkeys, play games, ride in a golf cart, have their faces painted, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Nothing says summer like a road trip, and Bob had a great time visiting a car museum in Auburn.

About two dozen clients participated in the Special Olympics Ballroom Dance competition in August.

Our Picnic in the P-Arc included food, karaoke, a bake sale, a visit from a fire truck and police car, a dunk tank, and, of course, a pie toss.

Adult Day Center clients and staff planted mums in their new outdoor activity area.

Transitions outings included a fun-filled visit to Shoaff Park to play games and enjoy the playground.

ISSUE 13/OCTOBER 2015

We had a great summer! Our Dream Teens program at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne was full of activities on campus and in our community. Our staff also put on a carnival at our Coldwater location that our clients and staff enjoyed. Doug Bowman was busy with our recreation program—attending Special Olympic events, festivals, concerts, and TinCaps games!

In addition to all of the fun, this summer brought a new educational program for our clients. You may remember that we began offering High School Equivalency (HSE) classes in April through a collaboration with Northeast Indiana Works and The Literacy Alliance. A second phase of that collaboration on preparing clients for employment began in late June when Ivy Tech Corporate College launched classes based on the college’s Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) curriculum.

This fall we are continuing our HSE and CLA classes and expanding community employment options for our clients. We also continue our Direct Support Professional College and opportunities for our top-performing DSPs to earn more and become DSP coaches ... so it feels like back to school here at Easter Seals Arc!

In closing, I’d like to share a big congratulations to Misty Woltman, our chief financial officer! She was one of 11 people honored recently at Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly’s CFO of the Year Awards. Misty always does what is best for our clients first and foremost. She balances money with having a heart. It isn’t always about the bottom line, but what is right for our clients and staff.

A NEWSLETTER FROM EASTER SEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

DONNA ELBRECHTPresident, Easter Seals Arc

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM PROVIDES ENCOURAGEMENT FOR QUITTERSEaster Seals Arc is one of several Easter Seals affiliates across the country receiving grants to partner with CVS Health on a smoking cessation program for people with disabilities and their caregivers.

The cessation program highlights the American Lung Association’s online program, entitled Freedom from Smoking, which takes participants through modules containing tips and lessons on how to quit smoking.

The program began in late July with support groups for clients and staff interested in quitting smoking. Kala Smith, interim director of the Adult Day Center and Transitions, said the group meets every other week and focuses on providing information. The discussions cover topics such as why people smoke, what smoking does to a person’s body, and what happens when a person stops smoking.

Smith, who recently quit smoking, said the group’s attendees have been mostly clients from Adult Day and Transitions, but a few staff also have participated. They’ve even had a few non-smokers attend just to learn more about the subject so they can encourage friends and family to quit.

Smokers who are ready to quit can visit easterseals.com/stopsmoking to enroll in an online program with tutorials to guide them through the process of quitting. Once they take that step, they also can begin one-on-one meetings for individualized support.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES KEEP EVERYONE AT ES ARC BUSY

A group of clients in PDG spent about three weeks caring for caterpillars and watching them change into butterflies, then released them outdoors. Everyone wanted to hold one when they realized the butterflies wouldn’t bite or sting!

Painting with balloons was just one of the many activities that kept students engaged during Dream Teens. The program had about 40 participants this summer and used space on the Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne campus. In addition to being fun, Dream Teens helps participants learn life skills, explore the community, and practice social skills during summer, winter and spring school breaks.

About 150 clients and caregivers spent a sunny

July afternoon at Parkview Field

watching the Fort Wayne Tincaps beat

the Bowling Green Hot Rods during the

AWS Foundation’s Tincaps Disability

Awareness event. The foundation provided tickets to the game plus $5 TinCash for each of the clients

and caregivers.

Summer days are anything but lazy for the Easter Seals Arc community. From butterflies to picnics to baseball, our clients experience a wide variety of activities and outings that mix fun and education.

Adult Day Center clients had an adventure visiting Nurse Susan’s family farm. They had the opportunity to meet goats and donkeys, play games, ride in a golf cart, have their faces painted, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Nothing says summer like a road trip, and Bob had a great time visiting a car museum in Auburn.

About two dozen clients participated in the Special Olympics Ballroom Dance competition in August.

Our Picnic in the P-Arc included food, karaoke, a bake sale, a visit from a fire truck and police car, a dunk tank, and, of course, a pie toss.

Adult Day Center clients and staff planted mums in their new outdoor activity area.

Transitions outings included a fun-filled visit to Shoaff Park to play games and enjoy the playground.

ISSUE 13/OCTOBER 2015

A NEWSLETTER FROM EASTER SEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

DONATION PROVIDES FUN LEARNING TOOLS FOR ADCSometimes it’s surprising how a simple request can inspire great generosity.

Tyler, an Easter Seals client for about 25 years, was having such a good time with his LeapFrog system at home that his foster mother wondered whether his friends at the Adult Day Center would also enjoy using one.

Colleen made some calls and found the right person to talk to at LeapFrog Enterprises. She explained the situation and asked whether the company would donate a few of the educational electronic toys.

The answer was an immediate yes for more than “a few”—the company donated 94 LeapFrog desks with games, worksheets and batteries! That’s enough for almost

everyone in ADC to have their own LeapFrog

to learn things like numbers, letters and reading.

The LeapFrogs were delivered and distributed to each ADC classroom in July, and immediately inspired ear-to-ear smiles from the consumers enjoying a fun new way to learn.

THE VOICECREATING SOLUTIONS.

CHANGING LIVES.

THE ARC LEADS CHARGE FOR MEANINGFUL DIPLOMA OPTIONS

260.456.4534 / EASTERSEALSARCNEIN.ORG

260.456.4534 / EASTERSEALSARCNEIN.ORG

ISSUE 12/OCTOBER 2015

UPCOMING EVENTSOCTOBER10/2 & 15 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.10/12 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria10/16 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group10/20 Write A Will clinic, noon-4 p.m., 4919 Coldwater Road10/23 Vino, Java, Jazz, 5:30-10 p.m., Ceruti’s Banquet & Event Center, 6325 Illinois Road

NOVEMBER11/4 & 18 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.11/9 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria11/21 Sibshops, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for grade school (ages 7-12); noon-3 p.m. for junior high/middle school; 2-4

p.m. high school at Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House on Lutheran Hospital Campus11/20 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group11/26 & 27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY — CLOSED

DECEMBER12/2 & 16 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.12/5 FREE My Way Matinee, “Good Dinosaur,” 10 a.m., Regal Cinema, Coldwater Crossing12/14 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria12/18 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group12/24 & 25 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY — CLOSED

JANUARY1/1 NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY — CLOSED1/4 & 18 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne1/11 Social Group for H.S./Adults who have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria1/15 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group1/16 Sibshops, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for grade school (ages 7-12); noon-3 p.m. for junior high/middle school; 2-4

p.m. high school at Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House on Lutheran Hospital Campus

Article provided by The Arc of Indianawww.arcind.org

Indiana’s high school diploma options could be changing as the state explores new requirements to earn a diploma. The decisions will have a significant impact on the lives of students, including students with special needs.

The Arc has been closely monitoring this issue and continues to discuss with key decision makers the importance of providing a path for students receiving special education services to earn a diploma rather than being issued a certificate of completion.

Indiana currently offers four types of high school diplomas: General, Core 40, Academic Honors and Technical Honors. However, not all school corporations offer the General diploma.

Many families report that early on in their child’s education they have been required to decide whether their child is on the Core 40 diploma track or a track to receive a certificate of completion. In the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly, The Arc worked to pass House Bill 1194, which requires schools to inform families of students with special needs of all the state’s diploma options. However, it did not fix the problem of schools simply not offering the General diploma.

As part of the Indiana Career Council, the Core 40 subcommittee was established to make recommendations to the State Board of Education, including: • Changing course requirements for the Core 40

diploma• Changing the types of diplomas offered• Analyzing the need for a Career Technical

Education (CTE) diploma and/or CTE offerings

The subcommittee has proposed changes that would: • Combine the two honors diplomas• Replace the Core 40 diploma with a new College

and Career Ready diploma• Replace the General diploma with a new Workforce

Ready diploma

The new College and Career Ready diploma would require at least 44 credits, up from 40. Students would be required to take more math, science, and social studies classes, and two new classes – career preparation and financial literacy – would be added as mandatory classes.

The Workforce Ready diploma, among other changes, would require 6 to 8 credits in math, up from the 4 required

for a General diploma. Parents and the high school principal would be required to approve students choosing the Workforce Ready diploma.

In an article in the education news publication “Chalkbeat,” Teresa Lubbers, the head of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, stated that the Workforce Ready diploma is not meant for the majority of students. “Close to 90 percent of kids get the College and Career Ready diploma or honors,” Lubbers said. “So we are talking less than 10 percent there.”

The timeline has been for proposed changes to be finalized by December, presented to the General Assembly in 2016, and, if adopted by the General Assembly, enacted in the 2018-2019 school year.

The Arc of Indiana, along with several families, testified before the State Board of Education on Sept. 16 to express concerns about the proposed diploma structure and how, if implemented, this structure would place students receiving special education services at a disadvantage. After hearing strong concerns, the State Board decided to schedule a special meeting to discuss this issue in further detail.

CURIOSITY LEADS TO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITYHow does one go from a hospital visit to a volunteer?

“I just started asking a lot of questions,” says Tammy, who attends our GenX program three days a week. She used to attend four days, but has cut back since she became a volunteer at Parkview Hospital.

It all began about four months ago when she was there to have some lab work done. During the process she began asking the technician several questions about employment.

The staff directed her to the human resources department,

where she was given a volunteer application to fill out. After returning the application, and completing her scheduled interview, Tammy was accepted.

Now every Thursday, she proudly puts on her volunteer vest and name tag before beginning her 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. shift at the Randallia campus. She works in the dietary department stocking shelves and filling condiment containers, along with other duties.

Tammy absolutely loves her job and especially her coworkers, because they are so welcoming of her each week.

With a few months of volunteering under her belt now, she is looking ahead to acquiring the “really neat pin” volunteers are given upon reaching the one-year milestone.

SAVE THE DATE

OCTOBER 23, 2015

92%of respondents to a survey by the Arc said earning a high school diploma is important to their family member’s or their future

Tyler’s enjoyment of his LeapFrog led to a donation from the company that makes them.

THE VOICECREATING SOLUTIONS.

CHANGING LIVES.

ISSUE 13/OCTOBER 2015

A NEWSLETTER FROM EASTER SEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

DONATION PROVIDES FUN LEARNING TOOLS FOR ADCSometimes it’s surprising how a simple request can inspire great generosity.

Tyler, an Easter Seals client for about 25 years, was having such a good time with his LeapFrog system at home that his foster mother wondered whether his friends at the Adult Day Center would also enjoy using one.

Colleen made some calls and found the right person to talk to at LeapFrog Enterprises. She explained the situation and asked whether the company would donate a few of the educational electronic toys.

The answer was an immediate yes for more than “a few”—the company donated 94 LeapFrog desks with games, worksheets and batteries! That’s enough for almost

everyone in ADC to have their own LeapFrog

to learn things like numbers, letters and reading.

The LeapFrogs were delivered and distributed to each ADC classroom in July, and immediately inspired ear-to-ear smiles from the consumers enjoying a fun new way to learn.

THE VOICECREATING SOLUTIONS.

CHANGING LIVES.

THE ARC LEADS CHARGE FOR MEANINGFUL DIPLOMA OPTIONS

260.456.4534 / EASTERSEALSARCNEIN.ORG

260.456.4534 / EASTERSEALSARCNEIN.ORG

ISSUE 12/OCTOBER 2015

UPCOMING EVENTSOCTOBER10/2 & 15 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.10/12 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria10/16 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group10/20 Write A Will clinic, noon-4 p.m., 4919 Coldwater Road10/23 Vino, Java, Jazz, 5:30-10 p.m., Ceruti’s Banquet & Event Center, 6325 Illinois Road

NOVEMBER11/4 & 18 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.11/9 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria11/21 Sibshops, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for grade school (ages 7-12); noon-3 p.m. for junior high/middle school; 2-4

p.m. high school at Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House on Lutheran Hospital Campus11/20 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group11/26 & 27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY — CLOSED

DECEMBER12/2 & 16 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St.12/5 FREE My Way Matinee, “Good Dinosaur,” 10 a.m., Regal Cinema, Coldwater Crossing12/14 Social Group for H.S./Adults Who Have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria12/18 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group12/24 & 25 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY — CLOSED

JANUARY1/1 NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY — CLOSED1/4 & 18 Aktion Club Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne1/11 Social Group for H.S./Adults who have Asperger’s, 6-7:30 p.m., Lutheran Hospital, Room #4 in cafeteria1/15 Self Advocates Meeting, 1-2 p.m., Projects Drive Group1/16 Sibshops, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for grade school (ages 7-12); noon-3 p.m. for junior high/middle school; 2-4

p.m. high school at Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House on Lutheran Hospital Campus

Article provided by The Arc of Indianawww.arcind.org

Indiana’s high school diploma options could be changing as the state explores new requirements to earn a diploma. The decisions will have a significant impact on the lives of students, including students with special needs.

The Arc has been closely monitoring this issue and continues to discuss with key decision makers the importance of providing a path for students receiving special education services to earn a diploma rather than being issued a certificate of completion.

Indiana currently offers four types of high school diplomas: General, Core 40, Academic Honors and Technical Honors. However, not all school corporations offer the General diploma.

Many families report that early on in their child’s education they have been required to decide whether their child is on the Core 40 diploma track or a track to receive a certificate of completion. In the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly, The Arc worked to pass House Bill 1194, which requires schools to inform families of students with special needs of all the state’s diploma options. However, it did not fix the problem of schools simply not offering the General diploma.

As part of the Indiana Career Council, the Core 40 subcommittee was established to make recommendations to the State Board of Education, including: • Changing course requirements for the Core 40

diploma• Changing the types of diplomas offered• Analyzing the need for a Career Technical

Education (CTE) diploma and/or CTE offerings

The subcommittee has proposed changes that would: • Combine the two honors diplomas• Replace the Core 40 diploma with a new College

and Career Ready diploma• Replace the General diploma with a new Workforce

Ready diploma

The new College and Career Ready diploma would require at least 44 credits, up from 40. Students would be required to take more math, science, and social studies classes, and two new classes – career preparation and financial literacy – would be added as mandatory classes.

The Workforce Ready diploma, among other changes, would require 6 to 8 credits in math, up from the 4 required

for a General diploma. Parents and the high school principal would be required to approve students choosing the Workforce Ready diploma.

In an article in the education news publication “Chalkbeat,” Teresa Lubbers, the head of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, stated that the Workforce Ready diploma is not meant for the majority of students. “Close to 90 percent of kids get the College and Career Ready diploma or honors,” Lubbers said. “So we are talking less than 10 percent there.”

The timeline has been for proposed changes to be finalized by December, presented to the General Assembly in 2016, and, if adopted by the General Assembly, enacted in the 2018-2019 school year.

The Arc of Indiana, along with several families, testified before the State Board of Education on Sept. 16 to express concerns about the proposed diploma structure and how, if implemented, this structure would place students receiving special education services at a disadvantage. After hearing strong concerns, the State Board decided to schedule a special meeting to discuss this issue in further detail.

CURIOSITY LEADS TO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITYHow does one go from a hospital visit to a volunteer?

“I just started asking a lot of questions,” says Tammy, who attends our GenX program three days a week. She used to attend four days, but has cut back since she became a volunteer at Parkview Hospital.

It all began about four months ago when she was there to have some lab work done. During the process she began asking the technician several questions about employment.

The staff directed her to the human resources department,

where she was given a volunteer application to fill out. After returning the application, and completing her scheduled interview, Tammy was accepted.

Now every Thursday, she proudly puts on her volunteer vest and name tag before beginning her 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. shift at the Randallia campus. She works in the dietary department stocking shelves and filling condiment containers, along with other duties.

Tammy absolutely loves her job and especially her coworkers, because they are so welcoming of her each week.

With a few months of volunteering under her belt now, she is looking ahead to acquiring the “really neat pin” volunteers are given upon reaching the one-year milestone.

SAVE THE DATE

OCTOBER 23, 2015

92%of respondents to a survey by the Arc said earning a high school diploma is important to their family member’s or their future

Tyler’s enjoyment of his LeapFrog led to a donation from the company that makes them.

THE VOICECREATING SOLUTIONS.

CHANGING LIVES.