Welcome to IN*SOURCE -
The Indiana Resource Center for Special Needs

Since 1975, the Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs or IN*SOURCE has provided service to Indiana's families of infants, toddlers, children, youth and young adults with disabilities.

IN*SOURCE is a parent organization. Through the work and dedication of the Board of Directors, the staff and many volunteers, virtually all of whom are parents of persons with disabilities, IN*SOURCE, utilizing a proven parent to parent model, has provided quality assistance and support services and educational resources to the community of individuals and organizations that serve and support persons with disabilities. We have worked to help countless families confront the complexities and what are often the challenges of having a loved one with special needs.

IN*SOURCE celebrates the accomplishments of individuals with disabilities and their families and we affirm our ongoing commitment to them.

Team Toni-Sunburst 2013

Photos from Sunburst 2013 Team Toni

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Current IN*SOURCE Job Openings

	NEW Employment Opportunity for a Regional Program Specialist in Southwest Indiana (Crawford, Dubois, Orange, Perry, Pike, Spencer and Warrick Counties) IN*SOURCE provides information, training and support services to families of children with disabilities, primarily in the areas of special education and early intervention. We are currently looking for a Regional Program Specialist to work 20 hours a week with families in the following areas:  Crawford, Dubois, Orange, Perry, Pike, Spencer and Warrick Counties. Job duties include providing one-on-one assistance to families and professionals, conducting training sessions for parents, working with parent volunteers, and participating in community activities related to disability and special education. Qualifications include strong communication skills, knowledge of early intervention services and the special education process, and the ability to work independently. Parents of a child or children with a disability are encouraged to apply. Interested parties should download the Employment Package which includes the job description and the employment application.  Please send your cover letter, resume, and completed application to Carolyn at choneycutt@insource.org or fax it to (574) 234-7279 by June 21, 2013.
	New Employment Opportunity for a Regional Program Specialist for Marion County (Indianapolis Public Schools) IN*SOURCE provides information, training and support services to families of children with disabilities, primarily in the areas of special education and early intervention. We are currently looking for a Regional Program Specialist to work 20 hours a week with families in the following areas:  Marion County-IPS schools (south of 20th Street), Franklin Township and MSD of Warren Township Job duties include providing one-on-one assistance to families and professionals, conducting training sessions for parents, working with parent volunteers, and participating in community activities related to disability and special education. Qualifications include strong communication skills, knowledge of early intervention services and the special education process, and the ability to work independently. Parents of a child or children with a disability are encouraged to apply. Interested parties should download the Employment Package which includes the job description and the employment application.  Please send your cover letter, resume, and completed application to Carolyn at choneycutt@insource.org or fax it to (574) 234-7279 by June 21, 2013.

New Information Service - The Legal Network

The Arc of Indiana has launched a new service, the Legal Network, to provide information to attorneys, judges and other practitioners in the legal fieldwho have a family member with a disability or direct interest in a person or individuals with disabilities.

To sign-up for this free information service, visit: http://www.arcind.org/index/legalnetworksignup.asp

The Legal Network is a project of The Arc of Indiana supported by the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services Commission (IPAS). To learn more about IPAS, visit: www.in.gov/ipas

IN*SOURCE Regional Program Specialist, Tammy BenSaeed's Son Receives the Terre Haute Mayor's Character Trait Award

Sulaiman BenSaeed received the Mayor’s Character Trait Award from the mayor of Terre Haute on May 28, 2013. The award is presented to the person who best demonstrates the trait of perserverance, which is defined as “Having the patience and determination to keep trying, even when faced with difficulties along the way.”

Sulaiman's English teacher nominated him for the award.  The nomination that was submitted for consideration was:

“Sulaiman is a limited English proficient student in my 10th grade English class.  While he reads well, he has difficulty understanding the subtle nuances of the language.  Every day, he shows great determination to understand all types of text.  When confronted with vague language or idioms, we discuss it until he really understands.  He puts his best effort forth in my class every day and this is evident in his good grades.  Recently, Sulaiman made a remarkable achievement:  he passed the English portion of the Core 40 exam on the first try.  Many students in his situation would simply give up, but Sulaiman perseveres every day and achieves wonderful things.  I highly recommend him for this award.”

His mother, Tammy BenSaeed, shares that when Sulaiman first entered school in the states he was in the second grade, didn’t know the alphabet and couldn’t read a word.  He was finally diagnosed with dyslexia, severe language delay and an auditory processing disorder.  He worked very hard every year and made great strides.  He went to speech at ISU and Union Hospital, but he also received reading help at ISU and the public library.  While most kids were having fun after school every day he was working hard on becoming a better student.  Now Sulaiman just finished his sophomore year and his last report card was straight A’s.  He has made exceptional honor roll every term since he has entered high school. 

Tammy BenSaeed serves parents in Clay, Owen and Vigo Counties

“Now What?” Resources for Life after High School

Transitioning students and their families often need background and contact information for a variety of state and national organizations and agencies. The Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center (INSTRC) has a quick, online reference card that students, families and professionals can download and print. You can even send out the link to students and families, so they can access the “Now What?” resources directly from the INSTRC web site.

How Well Are We Preparing Students for the Journey to Adulthood?

About a year after leaving school, young adults across the state who had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) will be contacted for a survey to see how well they are doing. Are they enrolled in college? Are they pursuing some kind of job training? Have they found competitive employment? These are all good questions.

Surveys are conducted between April and September every year in every state. Participation is voluntary, of course, but the input from former students who take a little time to offer feedback is invaluable. The information is used to improve how we prepare youth with disabilities to move from high school to adulthood – a big step for any student.

Locating former students can be a challenge, however. Young adults tend to be quite mobile so it’s likely that at a student’s final IEP meeting, schools will ask students for accurate telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for family members – and others who know the student well – before they leave school. That way, it will be much easier for them to reach former students and find out how they are doing in the future.
The data is collected in different ways by different states. In Minnesota, for example, a case manager or service person from the student’s former school conducts the phone interview.

States are required to collect this information under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in order to develop strategies to improve the number of former students with disabilities who are enrolled in higher education or are competitively employed. All answers are confidential and the responses are anonymously compiled into a representative sample of former students. The results are included in the Annual Performance Report each state submits to the U.S. Department every year in the section for “Indicator 14” (Post-school outcomes). Indiana's most recent progress report is available online. Find it at http://psocenter.org/content_pages/47 or at the Indiana Department of Education's website.

Everyone wants to see students with disabilities become successful adults. Research indicates that when parents, teachers, and students work together to map out a realistic plan for the future, the transition to adulthood goes more smoothly. The more we know about the journey former students are on today, the better we can help other youth with disabilities make their travel plans for tomorrow.

IN*SOURCE Workshops - Calendar of Events

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Listen to the IN*SOURCE podcast

• Listen online
• Visit the IN*SOURCE podcasts at iTunes

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Connect with Other Parents on Facebook

Connect with other parents through the IN*SOURCE Facebook Group.  Weigh in on timely discussions, post comments on disability issues or ask other parents for assistance at the new IN*SOURCE Facebook Group. 

Facebook members may join here.  If you are not already a Facebook member, sign up for FREE at www.facebook.com.

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"What's New" --   Access other miscellaneous information of interest here!

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