Indiana
This bill establishes the Task Force for Assessment of Services and Supports for People With Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities (IDD), which is tasked with preparing a comprehensive plan for implementing community-based services to people with IDD. Members of the Task Force include representatives from the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction and the Department of Education.
This bill prohibits a school corporation from requiring a student with a disability to complete locally required credits that exceed state credit requirements to receive a diploma, unless otherwise required as part of the student's IEP.
This bill requires the Indiana Management Performance Hub, Department of Workforce Development and Department of Health to use data resources and technology to identify certain eligible students with disabilities, provide eligible individuals with a list of training and education opportunities and employment services resources and post that resource list online. In addition, it requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules to create an alternate diploma for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
This bill directs the State Board of Education to create an alternate diploma for students with significant cognitive disabilities, which is standards-based, aligns with Indiana's requirements for a diploma and is awarded to no more than 1% of students in a cohort.
This bill requires the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services to develop a plan to establish a statewide crisis assistance system program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It further establishes a task force to assess services and supports for people with IDD, which includes representatives from the Division and family members of people with IDD. Finally, it requires the Division to assess staffing and fiscal resources needed to provide vocational rehabilitation services to all eligible individuals.
This bill provides that the policy of the state is to promote competitive integrated employment, including self-employment, as the first and preferred option when providing services (including transition services) to individuals with disabilities. In addition, it directs the Commission on Rehabilitation Services to: 1. Establish baseline data regarding the number of individuals with disabilities in competitive integrated employment (CIE); 2. Set annual goals for increasing the percentage of individuals in CIE; 3. Identify and resolve barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities; and 4. Recommend changes to state policies and assist state agencies in implementing disability employment policies.
This resolution urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee the topic of an Employment First Program, which promotes and expands quality, community employment outcomes for all people with disabilities.
This resolution urges the Legislative Council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of studying barriers to competitive integrated employment that Hoosiers with disabilities face, and to create an advisory subcommittee that consists of disability-led advocacy organizations and allies.
This program enables individuals with disabilities, service providers and others to learn about, access, and acquire assistive technology needed for education, employment, and community living. Services include device demonstrations, reutilization, loans, and financing.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Crossroads
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides information to individuals with disabilities and their families on how employment and earnings can impact Social Security, SNAP/TANF, and Medicaid or other state benefits. Program liaisons receive extensive training in Social Security’s Work Incentive Programs, which help workers maintain or extend their benefits while earning and saving more of their paychecks.
Operating Entity: Indiana University, Institute on Disability and Community
Entity Type: College / University
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
CAP helps individuals who experience problems when applying for or receiving vocational rehabilitation or independent living services. This includes advising and informing individuals of their rights and providing advocacy services.
Operating Entity: Indiana Disability Rights
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program prepares individuals with disabilities for employment and supports them in job seeking and job retention through job coaching, pre-vocational training, and extended supports.
Operating Entity: New Horizons
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides career planning and employment assistance to individuals with disabilities; helps people find professional, skilled, semi-skilled, and entry level jobs; and works closely with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to do so.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Crossroads, Easterseals Crossroads
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This postsecondary vocational training program provides 10-13 week training sessions in hospitality, food service, healthcare, and inventory distribution to help individuals with disabilities master key job skills and gain valuable work experience through an internship. It also includes Camp EGTI, which is focused on assisting youth with disabilities in their transitions from school to adulthood, as well as two-day Career Sampling sessions, which enable participants to shadow employees and perform portions of the job.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Indiana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This group home living opportunity enables adults to participate in local employment programs and workshops. Services also include trainings on self-advocacy, social integration, community access, and other topics.
Operating Entity: In-Pact
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program offers levels of training for youth with autism, culminating in experiential learning and internship opportunities.
Operating Entity: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, School of Medicine
Entity Type: College / University
INDATA is an assistive technology program that includes information and referral, funding assistance, public awareness and education, device demonstration, device loan, reutilized computers, and equipment reutilization.
Operating Entity: Easterseals Crossroads, Easterseals Crossroads
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Indiana Treasurer of State
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
The program provides supports to families, school districts, and others who work with children who are deaf-blind. Services include workshops, technical assistance, in-service trainings, assistance with IEP development and transition-focused educational planning, and family leadership training.
Operating Entity: Indiana State University
Entity Type: College / University
The program works to increase knowledge, skills, and capacity of Indiana educators to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, and to help parents understand the IEP process. The initiative is funded through federal funds distributed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), and is implemented in collaboration with a range of community partners.
Operating Entity: Indiana State University
Entity Type: College / University
This program helps people with developmental disabilities develop work skills (through completion of production-oriented tasks) and prepare for community employment through a readiness training curriculum, which teaches professionalism and interview skills, as well as other transferable job skills.
Operating Entity: Bona Vista
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The PASS Project provides statewide support and professional development opportunities for educators (including teachers, interpreters, paraprofessionals, relate service personnel and administrators) to improve academic achievement and post-secondary transitions for students with sensory loss (including visual impairments and hearing loss). The project also facilitates the Visual Impairment Licensure Program and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Licensure Program at Indiana State University and the Educational Interpreter Mentoring Program.
Operating Entity: Indiana State University
Entity Type: College / University
This pre-vocational program seeks to empower individuals with developmental disabilities by providing them with tools to expand their vocational skills through opportunities set in a supervised environment.
Operating Entity: PEAK Community Services
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. This includes helping parents participate effectively in their children’s education and development and partnering with professionals and policymakers to improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Operating Entity: IN*SOURCE
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Pre-ETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests and developing skills to be successful in the workplace. This includes five required activities: job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences, workplace readiness training, counseling on comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, and instruction in self-advocacy.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides individual assistance, workshops, resources, and more to help youth and young adults with disabilities pursue meaningful careers, live as independently as possible, and enjoy inclusion at work and in the community. Guidance and information is also offered to families, and focuses on transition, employment, the role of vocational rehabilitation counselors, and more.
Operating Entity: PACER Center
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project SUCCESS provides research-based resources and professional development (including on the topics of content standards, instructional design, and student outcomes), designed to meet the needs of students with significant intellectual disabilities (including around transitions). Project SUCCESS is a resource center developed and managed by Public Consulting Group (PCG) in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Education.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program protects individuals with disabilities by empowering them and advocating on their behalf. This includes providing information and referrals, providing training and technical assistance to service providers, and conducting self-advocacy training.
Operating Entity: Indiana Disability Rights
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
STEP helps high school students who are blind or visually impaired explore various career paths and learn essential job skills, as a first step toward gaining viable employment.
Operating Entity: Bosma Enterprises
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The Region C PTAC provides technical assistance to parent centers across a 16-state region, which includes Indiana. Strategies include shared professional learning, coaching and mentoring, and collaboration and leadership.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides community-based transition services to young adults with disabilities who are exiting high school. It includes the AIM (Achieving Inclusion and Meaning) program, where individuals participate in various activities such as volunteering in the community, learning how to use public transportation independently, and visiting museums and cultural events. It also includes a food truck program, where individuals work on New Hope’s food truck and learn pre-vocational, food preparation, customer service, and social marketing skills.
Operating Entity: New Hope of Indiana
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
The VOICE Project is designed to increase competitive employment opportunities for people with mental health diagnoses, including through trainings to Indiana Community Mental Health Centers and systems coordination. It is a collaboration between the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), and is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program assists students in finding employment and job shadowing opportunities, taking skills assessments, and preparing job applications.
Operating Entity: PQC Trains
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program helps individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals, including through job exploration, job search services, assistive technology, and career advancement support.
Operating Entity: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security Disability benefits make informed choices about work and make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program provides job placement services to a range of adults with disabilities (including high school students and recent graduates) in 15 counties throughout the state
Operating Entity: Bona Vista
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides employment assistance to individuals with disabilities, provides reasonable accommodations to job-seekers, and provides workstations that contain assistive technology in over 20 WorkOne Centers in the state.
Operating Entity: Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
The Youth Services Program provides young people with disabilities with the community-based experiences, skills, and access to services needed to ensure their inclusion in community life and successful transition to adult life. Specific components include a Transition Timeline Checklist, education programming, independent living skills training, advocacy training, and a Young Adult Council.
Operating Entity: accessABILITY
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This webpage provides resources for people who are affected by the pandemic.
Operating Entity: Indiana Department of Health
Topic(s): Mental Health
The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services created a web page to share ongoing guidance to assist in the delivery of DDRS services in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes topics such as mental health, transition, telehealth, self-advocacy and policy guidance.
Operating Entity: Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services
Indiana created a document that contains a list of remote learning accommodations that can be employed for a variety of situations and disabilities. They included resources and policy describing how students with disabilities should receive information, demonstrate retention, be given an unrestrictive environment, and adjust their schedule to an unrestrictive timetable.
Operating Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Numerous state agencies collaborated to develop considerations for healthy and safe re-entry to in-class learning. The guidance document includes a section for special education that addresses case conferences, transition IEPs, homebound services, and therapy.
Operating Entity: Indiana State Department of Health, Department of Education, & Family and Social Services Administration
This is Indiana's main COVID webpage, which houses resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding Long-COVID.
Operating Entity: Indiana COVID Webpage
Topic(s): Long-COVID
Indiana created a comprehensive resource sheet with many links to various services and information. The document includes resources categorized by disability type, links for virtual IEP meetings, technical support for families seeking to engage in their student's virtual learning experience, and resources for educators ensuring a consistently equitable learning environment.
Operating Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Indiana created a list of resources for educators to use when planning and implementing distance learning. These resources include plans for re-opening in the Fall of 2020, adjusting IEP plans for COVID-19 related complications, holding virtual IEP meetings, and policies regarding the provision of a least restrictive environment for students with disabilities.
Operating Entity: Indiana Department of Education
The Indiana Department of Education dedicated a web page to sharing resources to assist with the delivery of services to students with disabilities. The web page includes various resources for distance learning, transition services, and IEP provision.
Operating Entity: Indiana Department of Education