COMMUNITY DISABILITY AWARENESS

The Arc of Indiana County

Community Disability Awareness Workgroup

Indiana County Community

• Population 89,605 2000 census

• IUP students 14,000 • People with Disabilities, ages 5-64, 10,100

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• People receiving services through the county-Feb. 2009:– mental health 1,713– developmental delays 424– Total 2,137

Indiana County Schools

• Enrollment Data• Students receiving special education services

School District Total Student

Population

Total Special

Education Enrollment

Indiana Area School District

2914 389

Blairsville/Saltsburg 1954 353

Marion Center 1573 268

United School District

1301 

205

Purchase Line 1119 260

Penns Manor 998 207

Homer Center 

968 

154

Indiana County recognized for:

• 100 Best Communities for Young People

• CEC Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Recognition Award

• Home of Jimmy Stewart

• Indiana University of Pennsylvania

The Arc of Indiana CountyMission

• To work to include all children and adults with developmental delays or other disabilities in every community by – Identifying barriers and best practices– Building partnerships– Realizing positive outcomes

so people with disabilities are welcomed as contributing members of our community which enriches the whole community.

Barriers

• Incidents in the community where people with disabilities were not welcomed, ignored, and misunderstood.

• Discussion at The Arc’s Parent Transition Group meeting.

• How do we overcome this barrier?

Community Disability Awareness Workgroup

• People with disabilities & family• Alice Paul House• ARIN IU 28• Armstrong-Indiana MH/MR Program• Family Behavioral Resources• Community Guidance Center• Epilepsy Foundation• Health Care Quality Unit• ICW Vocational Services• Indiana Area School District• Armstrong School District• Other Indiana County School Districts• Indiana County Chamber of Commerce• Indiana County Commissioners• Indiana County District Attorney• Indiana County Human Services• Indiana County Sheriff• Indiana County Judge• Indiana Regional Medical Center• Indiana University of Pennsylvania• Milestones• LifeSteps• Community Living and Learning• Rep. Dave Reed• Congressman Bill Schuster• The Arc of Indiana County

Let’s Get to Know One Another Better!

• People with and without disabilities are contributing to our community everyday.

• The Community Disability Awareness Workgroup will provide information about different disabilities to help us understand each other better and make our community a better place for everyone!

• HOW?????????

Disability Awareness Workshop

• Presentation on 7 disabilities:– Facts - Stories– Myths - Traits

– Possibilities – song & video– Information tables– Training modules

Other Workshops

• Disability is Natural with Kathy Snow

• Project Illumination: Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities - Pam Klipa, The Arc of PA

• Understand the Criminal Justice Process in PA Beverly Frantz, Temple University

• Upcoming workshops– Brain STEPS 101 Sept. 23– Transition to Adult Living Oct. 21

Community Events

Indiana Mall• Abilities Not disAbilities Showcase • Family Fun Fest• Chamber of Commerce Expo• Indiana Mall display case

Other events• Stand For Children• Happy Hands Sign Language Group performs at

Altoona Curve Baseball Game

Building Partnerships• IU 28 Right to Education Task Force• IU 28 Transition Council• IU 28 Safe Schools Committee• Armstrong-Indiana MH/MR Program• Children’s Advisory Council• Local Interagency Coordinating Council• ODP Western Region Quality Improvement Council• Parent Transition Group• Indiana County Chamber of Commerce• Indiana County Technical Technology Center• Indiana County Tourist Bureau• Indiana County Human Service Council • Indiana County Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Special Populations Committee• Indiana University of Pennsylvania

– Special Needs Activity Program - Best Buddies• Indiana County School Districts• Indiana County Red Cross• YMCA Miracle Field Family/caregiver Dressing Rooms• Indiana County Commissioners, Mayor, Senator, Representatives, Congressman • Law Enforcement & 1st Responders• ICW Vocational Services• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation• Service Organizations• Agencies• Churches• Indiana and Regency Malls• Retailers

Realizing Solutions Emergency & Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities

– Armstrong-Indiana MH/MR Disaster Preparedness CommitteeIM4Q Questions a data resource tool

- Indiana County Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Special Populations Sub-Committee

- Indiana School and IC Emergency & Disaster Points of Distribution Drill

- Emergency Information Packets

- Disaster Preparedness Resource Kit

- Workshop evaluations/personal feedback

Community Health Connectionsa Health Care Quality Unit

• HCQUs are statewide

• Provide

– Training & Conferences

– Technical Assistance

– Community Capacity

Building

– Visit www.hcqu.org

New CEU’s for Nurses

ASL

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Discharge Planning

MR:Gaining Understanding

Prader Willi

Schizophrenia

Trauma and Disability

Understanding Restrictive Procedures

Employment

• Annual Youth Employment Expo – Employers learn incentives for hiring people with

disabilities

Roundtable Sessions– High School Student and Youth with disabilities learn

about what employers want in a good employers– Guest Speakers– Expand to include “How People with Disabilities Can

Have Positive Interactions with 1st Responders”

Community Members and People with Disabilities

Get to Know Each Other Better

• Information About My Disability card• Emergency Information Packets• Electronic Portfolio • Apartment Program for high school students• Spirit Day• Transportation - People With Disabilities Program• Provide 1st responders with resources & workshops

about having positive interactions with people with disabilities

Information Sharing

• Presentation at the National Professional Training Conference on Responding to Crime Victims with Disabilities in Denver, Colorado Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2

– Workgroup members presenting:Jim Kuemmerle, Armstrong-Indiana MH/MR Program AdministratorThomas Bianco, Indiana County District AttorneyLou Ann Williams, Alice Paul House, Executive DirectorHeather Telthorster, The Arc of Indiana County Board MemberBarbara Telthorster, The Arc of Indiana County Executive DirectorRobert Fyock, Indiana County Sheriff

The Arc of United States ConventionPittsburgh

Nov. 11-14, 2009

• Training Resources for 1st Responders Presentation by Workgroup member

Dr. Sue Glor-Scheib, IUP professor

Resources

Community Disability Awareness Workgroup

Resources• Video/DVD• “Autism Awareness for Law Enforcement/Community

Service Personnel”• Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore. The

website is www.autismbookstore.com

On their home page, Click on Law Enforcement & Safety

•“Under Arrest: Understanding the Criminal Justice Process in Pennsylvania” a 30 minute DVD

• Cost: $25 order # 718 Includes a spiral bound book Call 215-204-3861 email iod@temple.edu

•Websites/Contacts:

• Western PA Search and Rescue Development Center - (WPSARDC)

•“Silent No More” Communication Boards www.WPSARDC.org cgarfold@wpsdardc.org

Resources continued

Resources continued

•“Operation: Take me Home” www.WPSARDC.org

•PA Premise Alert www.papresimealert.com

•“Tips for First Responders” 3rd edition cards http://cdd.unm.edu/products/tipsforfirstresponders.htm

•Dr. Anthony Cahill 505-272-2990 acahill@salud.unm.edu

•“Special Needs Picture Board” Servision, Inc. 305-759-4764 westcots@aol.com

Resources Cont.

• The Arc of Indiana County

www.arcindiana.org

Click on programs for:

Emergency Information Packets

Information About My Disability Card

Community Disability Awareness Workgroup

Resources continued

National Criminal Justice Reference ServicePO Box 6000

Rockville, MD 20849-60001-800-851-3420 301-519-5212 faxwww.ncjrs.gov 

 

Free videos  Victims with Disabilities: A Forensic Interview – Training Techniques for Interviewing Victims with Communication or Cognitive Disabilities (DVD & Training Guide) Victims with Disabilities: Multi-Disciplinary First Response –Techniques for First Responders Called to Help Crime Victims Who Have Disabilities (DVD & Training Guide)  

Presenters Information

• Barb Telthorster, Executive Director The Arc of Indiana County btelth@arcindiana.org

• Skip McGreevy, ARIN IU 28, Transition/Work Experience Coordinator

Skipm@iu28.org

• Roberta Mack, IASD, Coordinator of Special Programs rmack@iasd.cc

• Mary Nau, Director of Health Care Quality Unit mnau@HCQU.org