Saturday, April 16, 2011
Action Alert The following laws, rules and civil rights are in place for our loved ones with a disability: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a free a appropriate education (FAPE), a guarantee of an education in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and Individualized Education Programs (IEP), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the procedural safeguards it provides, such as, due process hearings. Did you know that if you accept a voucher for your child with Down syndrome to attend a nonpublic school, you could be giving up these rights? According to the Arc of Indiana, this bill, HB 1003 the School Scholarships Bill, was voted out of the Senate Education committee this week and will be eligible for amendments and a vote during the week of April 18th in the Indiana Senate. Well, that sounds harmless, a bill that encourages scholarships to low income students to pay the cost of tuition, right? WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! The Down Syndrome Indiana Public Policy Committee encourages families to oppose this bill altogether. And here is why… Reasons to Oppose HB 1003 – the School Scholarships Bill If you have a child with a disability and you accept a voucher… 1. An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is no longer guaranteed; 2. You just opted out of procedural protections; 3. Due process – gone; it’s no longer guaranteed; 4. Mediation – nope, not anymore; it’s no longer guaranteed; 5. In fact, the safeguards provided under IDEA altogether are no longer guaranteed; 6. No guarantee of a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) either; 7. No guarantee of transportation any longer; 8. If this passes as is, schools that accept vouchers won’t even need to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If schools receive public funding then they should have to comply with civil rights laws. Please contact your local legislators right away and let them know how you feel! You can write to your legislator at: (Insert their name here) State House 200 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 If you don’t know who your legislator is, you can find them through this website: http://www.in.gov/legislative/legislators/.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Contact your state legislator and ask them to restore funding for the Public Mass Transit Fund in Indiana’s state budget. Access to safe and affordable public transportation is an essential service for maximizing independent living opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome Indiana believes that public transportation options must increase throughout the state. A great disparity exists between urban populations and less populated suburban and rural populations. This disparity results in limiting social, recreational, educational and employment opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome in geographic areas where public transportation is limited or unavailable. This may also have the affect of forcing individuals with Down syndrome to choose housing and employment options in areas where public transportation is available, but not where they would otherwise choose to live or work. Further, limited public transportation may result in individuals with Down syndrome forgoing wellness programming and needed medical services. You can write to your legislator at: (Insert their name here) State House 200 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 If you don’t know who your legislator is, you can find them through this website: http://www.in.gov/legislative/legislators/.