2016 Election Guide the Arc of Indiana
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The Arc of Indiana Fall 2016 The Arc of Indiana 2016 Election Guide The Arc of Indiana’s 2016 Election Guide is part Following are questions on major topic areas Education of the statewide effort to help families, people with of concern that you may choose to ask your K-12 education for students receiving special developmental disabilities, caregivers and provid- candidates: education services is critically important as it paves ers register to vote and be engaged in the 2016 the way for a future filled with independence. elections. Our role is not to endorse candidates or Employment What would your administration do to ensure tell you how to vote. Our role is to provide you The unemployment rate for people with dis- that students receiving special education services with information and resources so that you can abilities is nearly 80% although many people with have every opportunity to be successful in school be an informed voter. disabilities want to work and can work. What will with the needed resources that helps them earn you do to create opportunities for people with dis- The Election Guide includes statements from a high school diploma, be fairly tested and learn major candidates for national and state office, abilities to have access to job training and careers aside their peers? including U.S. Senate, Governor of Indiana, that will increase independence? and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Guardianship/Supported Public Transit Statements from Presidential candidates Hillary Decision Making Clinton and Donald Trump were also requested. Accessible transportation continues to be a major At press time, no statement had been received barrier for people with disabilities to get to work, Too often parents rush into guardianship from Donald Trump. Candidates were asked to as well as medical appointments. What would be although the person with a disability is capable of respond to this question: your plan to address the need for increased mass making many decisions on their own. Supported Decision Making is an alternative to guardianship “People with intellectual and other develop- transit that people with disabilities could utilize? that allows people with disabilities to remain in mental disabilities (I/DD) want to be active charge of their own decisions but allows them members of the community who are valued and Managed Care access to support should they want it. What would provided opportunities to receive an education, There are a lot of conversations taking place you do to make sure that families have alternatives have a job and live a full life. How will you regarding managed care for people with disabilities. in supporting their children with I/DD to help use your office to support and advance issues What would be your priorities and/or goals for a them maintain independence while getting some important to people with I/DD, their families managed care system? support they need in making important decisions? and the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work with them.” Medicaid Reimbursement Crisis Rates/DSP Crisis Their responses, as well as photos submitted by Unfortunately, the need for crisis intervention their campaigns, are included in the guide. There is currently a shortage of qualified Direct exists. Indiana currently does not have a crisis On pages 8 and 9 of the guide you will find Support Professionals (DSPs) to provide personal, system in place for people with intellectual and important information on registering to vote, voter critical care to people with disabilities. Indiana’s other developmental disabilities who also have a id requirements, absentee voting and accessibility current Medicaid reimbursement rates for most mental health issue. When people have a crisis for voters with disabilities. services provided to people with disabilities were situation too often the emergency room or police As Election Day nears, we encourage you to recently restored to the rates of 2010 (they had are our only options. What would your adminis- seek out opportunities to meet your candidates for been cut significantly over the last 10 years). These tration do to help provide services for people in state and federal office and talk with them about rates do not allow community providers to hire crisis situations who have co-existing conditions? issues important to you and your family. No mat- qualified, dedicated staff. People with disabilities We hope you find this guide informative ter what the issue is, you have the right to know are seeing high turnover of the people who provide and helpful. If you have any questions, please where candidates stand to help you decide how very personal care. What would you do to address do not hesitate to contact us: the crisis we are facing in the shortage of DSPs you will cast your vote. The Arc of Indiana across the state? 317-977-2375 • 800-382-9100 [email protected] The Arc of Indiana www.arcind.org The Arc of Indiana Fall 2016 John Gregg Democratic Candidate, Governor The issues that people with I/DD face Next, a large part of our vision for Indi- A Gregg/Hale administration will also are too often overlooked. A Gregg/Hale ana deals with educational opportunities. support self-advocacy and supported administration will work for ALL Hoo- Indiana needs to increase and streamline decision making. We must make sure siers. Our door will always be open – to our workforce training, so that we can that the wishes of people with I/DDs are listen and learn about how we can make more easily build and retain a skilled labor always taken into consideration. We will Indiana a more welcoming place for people force. People with disabilities are a part of work with The Arc and the Department with I/DD. This campaign is focused on this, with too many people relegated to of Adult Protective Services to make sure inclusivity, and we will make sure that all the sidelines. That’s something we need that the rights and wishes of individuals stakeholders have a seat at the table. to change desperately. We must make are protected and supported. What follows is only a few of many issues sure that students with I/DD are able to Furthermore, the state of Indiana spends that deserve greater attention. First, we need receive high school diplomas, with more less on adult protective services than the city to make sure that Direct Support Profes- options available in order to fulfill neces- of Indianapolis spends on animal control. sionals are paid a competitive, living wage, sary requirements. We need federal and/ That’s a travesty. The average casework load so that we can address the massive turnover or state legislation that makes it illegal to of DCS is 12, yet adult services is over 300. rate, which is around 70% annually. A pay people with I/DD less than minimum Some elderly Hoosiers and adults with person’s home should not be a revolving wage. And we need more institutions such disabilities are never seen. There are even door of different caregivers. We need wages as The Arc’s teaching hotel in Muncie, The instances of people “collecting” the lonely that will professionalize DSPs and draw-in Erskine Green Training Institute. This first that have nobody else in order to cash in high-quality applicants. We also need to in the nation program gives individuals with their social security and disability checks. reinstate funding for the DSPs Project disabilities a chance to better themselves, As caregivers and baby boomers age, these that was discontinued in 2010, which gave their communities, and obtain a long-term, problems will only grow. Christina Hale DSPs training in best practices, and pro- fulfilling job. and I will make this a priority, as we must vided opportunities for skill advancement protect those Hoosiers who cannot protect through certification from Ivy Tech and The issues that people themselves. other community colleges. with I/DD face are too often overlooked. PAGE 2 www.arcind.org The Arc of Indiana Fall 2016 Eric Holcomb Republican Candidate, Governor It is important that we continue to develop and deliver services that provide all Hoosiers real avenues to self-sufficiency and self-reliance. It is my conviction, one shared by all This important step built a framework It is important that we continue to Hoosiers, that people with disabilities are that begins to gives Hoosiers with disabil- develop and deliver services that provide all unquestionably valued members of our ities greater flexibility and independence Hoosiers real avenues to self-sufficiency and communities and certainly ought to have while allowing them to maintain other self-reliance. Allowing people to direct more the very same opportunities available to critical resources on which they currently of their own tax dollars into services they them as anyone else to live full lives. This rely. As this program unfolds, I look for- know to be important gives them greater Administration and the Legislature took ward to supporting it fully to ensure that control over their own lives, and ensuring significant steps last session to give these the complete scope of its intent is realized that programs are reaching Hoosiers where individuals and their families more robust and the maximum number of Hoosiers they live is critical to their sustainability. tools to offset certain expenses they incur can utilize it. I look forward to supporting innovative without putting their benefits at risk. The Additionally, I’m looking forward to programs like these and building upon ABLE tax advantage savings accounts, man- working alongside my team at the FSSA’s their successes. aged under the Treasurer of State, are tax Division of Disability and Rehabilitative free and can be used for education, housing, Services to better align existing resources healthcare, and even employment training.