Check Out Our Special Needs Ministries Newsletter
Westside Special Needs Network
Our parent and provider's network is an open forum for you to receive information and resources. Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:
Tues.
Feb. 21 "Summer Camp and Program Preview" -
find out summer program plans and get registration materials
for camps and activities sponsored by Indy Parks, Carmel-Clay
Parks, Noble of Indiana, Easter Seals Crossroads,
and more. Camp registrations open in Feburary or March
and fill quickly, so find out what you need to know now!
6:30 gathering time; 7 p.m. speaker.
Tues. March 13 "Understanding
Article 7: Indiana's Special Education Law" -
learn your child's rights and how to work positively
and proactively with schools for successful IEP
development and case conferences. Featuring Karen Rusk
of INSOURCE. 6:30 gathering time; 7 p.m. speaker.
Sat. April 28 "Special Needs Family Resource and Information Fair" Stop by this sixth annual fair, one of the largest in Indiana, to learn from more than 50 special needs service providers about activities, programs and other services available for your family. The free fair includes booths, child care, and a carnival for the kids, as well as an optional lunch. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Download a registration form for your organization to reserve booth space.
Tues. May 8 "Planning for Your Child's Future" - Learn about how to make sure your child remains eligible for services, how to set up a special needs trust, the various types of guardianship, and more. Featuring Gordon Homes of MetDesk and an attorney specializing in guardianship. 6:30 gathering time; 7 p.m. speaker.
For more information or to reserve child care for any of these events, call 317-971-2619 or email Beth at dehoff5@att.net .
BLAST Youth Group
BLAST is a youth group for teens and young adults of all
abilities--specially designed for youth with special needs
and peer friends. If you are 12 years old or older, you will
have a blast developing friendships and faith in God. BLAST
is a partnership with Speedway United Methodist Church and
Fresh Perspectives. Special thanks to the Down Syndrome Indiana
for their generous support.
Dates: January 15 and 29, February 12 and 26, March 11 and 25.
Time: 4:30 to 5:15 pm (optional dinner with UMYF at 5:15--all
meals are prepared with food allergies in mind)
Sunday Morning Respite Care
On Sunday mornings from 9:30 to noon, we provide respite care for children with disabilities. Whenever possible, students with disabilities are placed in classrooms with their typical peers, with the respite provider there to offer trained assistance to children with special needs. This service is for parents or caregivers and their children interested in attending Speedway United Methodist Church's Sunday School hour at 9:30 a.m. and/or its worship service at 10:45 a.m. For more information, contact Beth at dehoff5@att.net or Pastor Darren at 317-241-1563.
Parents Night Out Program
On the
fourth Friday of each month, Speedway UMC and Easter Seals
Crossroads offers a parents' night out from 6
to 10 pm. for children with disabilities and their siblings,
ages 6 months to 12 years. Children must be registered for
the Parents Night Out program in advance. For more information
or to register, call Anna Marie House at Easter Seals Crossroads,
466.2006. You may download the registration forms directly
from the Crossroads Web site at www.eastersealscrossroads.org.
Time:
6 to 10 pm
Parent Support Group
Are you a parent of a child with special needs? Have you ever felt isolated and frustrated? Come join other parents on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. (meetings are held every other Sunday.) Meetings in December will be January 15 and 29, February 12 and 26, March 11 and 25.
We
are Looking for Persons Who Have Been Affected by Health
Care Reform & Medicaid Issues
The Indiana Disability Concerns Committee of the United Methodist Church is looking for Hoosier families positively affected by measures of the Affordable Care Act (health care reform), such as benefiting from having no pre-existing condition exclusions, no annual or lifetime caps, the 100 percent coverage of preventive care, and/or the ability to include adult children to age 26 on parents' medical policies. In addition, Speedway UMC Special Needs Ministry is interested to hear if parents have dealt with their children being dropped from or denied Medicaid coverage because of a parent's alleged failure to complete a process that the parent actually completed. If either of these advocacy issues have impacted you, please email Beth.
