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
Indiana Area School
District
2914
Total
Special
Education
Enrollment
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 County
Mission
• 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
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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
– Myths
- Stories
- Traits
– Possibilities – song & video
– Information tables
– Training modules
Other Workshops
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Special Needs Activity Program
- Best Buddies
Realizing Solutions
Emergency & Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
– Armstrong-Indiana MH/MR Disaster Preparedness Committee
IM4Q 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 Connections
a 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
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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 Administrator
Thomas Bianco, Indiana County District Attorney
Lou Ann Williams, Alice Paul House, Executive Director
Heather Telthorster, The Arc of Indiana County Board Member
Barbara Telthorster, The Arc of Indiana County Executive Director
Robert Fyock, Indiana County Sheriff
The Arc of United States Convention
Pittsburgh
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
Resources continued
•“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
•“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. 305-7594764 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 Service
PO Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
1-800-851-3420
301-519-5212 fax
www.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)
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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