EVERYBODY COUNTS, Inc. the Voice of Northwest Indiana’s Disability Community www.everybodycounts.org 9120 Connecticut Drive, Merrillville, IN 46410 Voice: 219/769-5055 VP: 219/232-1063 ______This letter is also in ASL video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB22KsZ2EMs

Dear Friend.

Good News!

Everybody Counts has been chosen by Indiana Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services to provide Case Management Services for Deaf in Lake County (also Newton, Jasper, Benton, White and Carroll counties). This means more choice for deaf now!

Joanna Witulski will return as our Deaf Services Coordinator, and she will be joined by a new counselor/advocate, Leesa McClelland. Joanna’s e-mail is [email protected], and Leesa’s is [email protected]. Their VP number is 219/232-1063.

As you may know, Deaf Services is now a part of Trade Winds, and does not operate as a separate organization. Because they also serve Lake County, you have the right to choose whether to go to Everybody Counts or TradeWinds for assistance or support (case management services), and you can still choose your preferred interpreting agency.

Joanna and Leesa are planning to continue Everybody Counts’ proud history (under the FACES program) of providing valuable services for Deaf, including hosting the ‘All For One” national conference, sponsoring a local panel presentation, holding computer classes, conducting sign language interpreting workshops, and other training opportunities.

Everybody Counts will also continue to advocate for deaf rights, through education and empowerment, and having Deaf people teaching others about Deaf culture. But our most important goal is to collaborate with the Northwest Indiana Deaf Community and other Deaf individuals toward achieving program independence – having Deaf people completely running all programs for Deaf people, including interpreting, case management, etc. like other communities are doing.

Everybody Counts is proud to say that we have always been consumer-controlled – run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. We believe that people who are Deaf, or blind, or use wheelchairs, etc. should be the only ones who set up programs to help each other!

Board member Tim Gee, is working with Joanna and Leesa to establish a new Deaf Advisory Panel. We are looking for volunteers to help make sure that our services meet the needs of our deaf community, and to help us plan for the future. If you are interested, please write to him at [email protected].

And be sure to contact Joanna or Leesa if you have any questions about the information in this letter. Thank you!