Indiana Institute FYI

Week of February 25, 2008

FYI Spotlight

· Including Samuel       
· Strengthening Our Roots Conference
· Library Corner

Upcoming

Including Samuel: In honor of Disability Awareness Month, the Monroe County Community School Corporation’s (MCCSC) Parent Teacher Advisory Council for Special Education, will host the Indiana premiere of the film Including Samuel, on Saturday, March 29, 2008 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Jackson Creek Middle School, 3980 South Sare Road, Bloomington.

Including Samuel, a documentary film by Dan Habib, examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. The film focuses on the efforts of Habib and his family to include Samuel, seven, in all facets of school and community. Including Samuel also features four additional families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers, young people, parents, and disability rights experts.

This Indiana premiere is free and open to the public. Questions, contact
ParentTeacherAdvisoryCouncil-owner@yahoogroups.com for more information. Visit http://www.includingsamuel.com for more information about Including Samuel.

The MCCSC Parent Teacher Advisory Council for Special Education is dedicated to finding opportunities for parents and teachers to work collaboratively to improve special education services for students in the Monroe County School Corporation. The Council meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Monroe County Public Library.

Strengthening Our Roots Conference: Family members and those interested in learning more about supporting children on the autism spectrum, mark your calendars for Saturday, May 17, 2008 and plan to attend this one-day conference entitled Strengthening Our Roots: A Conference For, and About, Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum.

Organizations across Indiana have collaborated to host this one-day conference focused on providing practical information for families living with an individual on the autism spectrum. Outcomes are to provide attendees with opportunities to gain useful information, network with others, and learn about the various resources in Indiana.

Keynote speakers include Dr. Liane Holliday Willey and the Indiana Institute’s own Dr. Teresa Grossi. Willey is an author and inspirational speaker, who helps her audiences truly understand the importance of accepting people with differences. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome herself, Willey is dedicated to making sure her successes are not the exception to the rule for those with ADS, but rather the norm. Grossi, Director of the Indiana Institute’s Center on Community Living and Careers, has an extensive background in education and employment for individuals with disabilities, and will share her expertise in supported employment. Grossi serves as President of the National Board for APSE: The Network on Employment and is an external evaluator for the National Secondary Transition and Technical Assistance Center.

Registration fee is $50.00 per person. Certificates of attendance will be provided. Upon approval by the Indiana Professional Standards Board, Certification Renewal Units (CRUs) and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available. For information on Consumer Investment Funds for family members or individuals with disabilities in Indiana, contact the Indiana Governor’s Planning Council for People with Disabilities at (317) 232-7770. Additionally, family members of individuals, birth through 21, with disabilities in Indiana can contact the Indiana Institute at 1-800-825-4733 (fif@indiana.edu) to access Family Involvement Funds (http://inf2f.org/FIF/FamilyInformationFund.htm).

Library Corner

New Items: The following new materials may be borrowed by Indiana residents from the Center for Disability Information and Referral (CeDIR) at the Institute. To check out materials, contact the library at 1-800-437-7924, send e-mail to cedir@indiana.edu, or visit us at 2853 East Tenth Street in Bloomington.

Cooper, J., & Smith, S.B. (2007). Day dreamer to dream catcher: Autobiography of an illiterate, southern, black man who reached the depths of hell and fought his way back by learning to read. Fishers, IN: Sharp Printing Services, Inc.

Kaplan, M., et al. (2006). The boy inside [DVD recording]. Boston, MA: MSK productions.

Kluth, P., & Chandler-Olcott, K. (2008). “A land we can share:” Teaching literacy to students with autism. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Pub.

Lane, H. (2007). The story of Luke: One family’s experience with autism [DVD recording]. Bethesda, MD: Picaflor Productions.

Roffman, A.J., & Brinckerhoff, L.C. (2007). Guiding teens with learning disabilities: Navigating the transition from high school to adulthood. New York: Random House.

Shane, H.C., & Weiss-Kapp, S. (2008). Visual language in autism. San Diego, CA: Plural Pub.

Westcott, P. (2006). Living with epilepsy. London: Hodder Wayland.

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