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FUSE INK 
  
January 2014




In This Issue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




Restaurant Nights

Thank you for supporting our restaurant night fundraisers. 

 

Our upcoming restaurant nights are:    

 

New Palestine McDonald's

5:00 - 8:00 pm

 

February 26

March 26  

 

Hope to see you there! New dates and locations to be announced throughout the year. 






Visit Our Sponsor
jmc technology group logo  





TOPSoccer Winter League Still Taking Players

Are you interested in learning more about the Greenfield Area Soccer Club TOPSoccer Winter Indoor Soccer /Futsal program?  Think you missed the deadline?  Well it's not too late!

 

TOPSoccer is still accepting athletes for the winter league. They play at Greenfield Intermediate School on Sundays from 4-5 pm, and they will continue to take players during the program.  TOPSoccer is a great activity for kids with special needs.  They learn the fundamental skills of soccer while working alongside their soccer buddy who helps them participate at their own level.  What a great way to burn off a little steam during this cold winter that is keeping us so cooped up!

 

If you want to see what TOPSoccer is all about, call Amy Titus 317-586-5893 or email [email protected].

 

Check out the photo gallery of previous TOPSoccer practices and games at www.greenfieldsoccer.org.    






Visit Our Strike a Difference Sponsor


Visit Our Strike a Difference Sponsor




Save the Date

FUSE will be having a fundraiser with Chicago's Pizza the first two weeks of March.  Visit the Chicago's locations in Greenfield or McCordsville and Chicago's will donate 10% of your purchase to FUSE.

You will need to bring in our fundraising flyer or show the flyer on your smartphone.  The flyer will be posted to our website later this month and included in next month's newsletter so save the date!

March 1 - March 14  

 

 






Changes to be Made in Timeliness of Waiver Service Provision


On January 15th, 2014 The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) issued an update with encouraging news. After gathering feedback from the Arc of Indiana as well as case management organizations and INARF (an association of providers of services in Indiana) they are taking immediate action to shorten the length of time it takes for a family who has accepted a Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver to begin to receive case management services. An emphasis is being placed on customer service with much improved timeliness and accuracy in administration of the programs. Click here to read a copy of the full letter from DDRS.

 

--information courtesy of Indiana Resource  

Center for Autism 





Workshop Announcement from CRG

Emotional Dysregulation in Teens: How to Help
A Workshop for Parents, Caregivers, Educators and Health Providers

Presented by:
Dana Lasek, Ph.D., HSPP
Psychologist at Children's Resource Group (CRG)      

Saturday,
February 22, 2014
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Indiana Wesleyan University Conference Center North
Indianapolis, IN

Registration Fee: $75/person

For more information about the session, and to preregister (required), contact Children's Resource Group at 317-575-9111

 

 Remember FUSE when doing your estate planning! 








Phone:  317-462-9064
 
 
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It looks like we've all survived a most difficult start to 2014, and ready or not, we're turning the chapter to February.  I find that hard to believe myself. With all the weather issues and irregular schedules it seems like January disappeared before we knew it!  Here are some updates about what is happening with FUSE as well as news and information from our friends at other great organizations around Central Indiana.   

February Parent Meetings--Hancock and Shelby 

   

With so much continued uncertainty about the weather these days, I decided to schedule speakers later in the year and just have discussion groups in February. 

 

The January Q&A session at Greenfield was cancelled, so we'll try it again in February!   We hope you will join us for some networking and problem solving with other families, finding support and encouraging others!  Bring your questions, stories, challenges and dilemmas, and we'll tackle them together.

 

In Shelbyville we were able to get our Q&A meeting done in January, so we'll do something a little different in February.  We will have a focused discussion around understanding IEPs and working with your school.  We will start by watching two short videos from the InSource online training library, then have a facilitated discussion to answer questions families have about topics in the videos. 

 

The February parent meetings will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on the following dates and locations     

  

Greenfield--Monday, February 3     

Greenfield Intermediate School
204 W Park Street, Greenfield 

Large Group Instruction room

 

Shelbyville--Monday, February 10 

Shelby County Public Library

Carnegie East Wing

57 W Broadway St, Shelbyville

 

We will have a light supper at each meeting, so please register at the appropriate link below so we know how much to plan for the food.  

 

Child care is provided, but reservations must be made through the registration links below so we can plan enough caregivers.

 

   

If you have questions about either meeting, please call 317-462-9064 or contact us via the Contact Us tab on our website. 

 

Inspiring Abilities Expo Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 8th annual Inspiring Abilities Expo!    Inspiring Abilities Expo

 

The Inspiring Abilities Expo offers families and professionals a great opportunity to network with 50+ organizations and service providers who meet the unique needs of children with disabilities.   

 

Saturday, March 1, 2014
9:00 am to 1:00 am
Greenfield-Central High School
810 N Broadway
Greenfield IN 46140

Cost: no charge

Click here to view more information and register online 

 

Six speakers will be scheduled throughout the day, so expo attendees can browse the exhibit hall, then take some time to listen to presentations that are relevant to their own child and family.  Sessions will be available for all age groups, so families with young children can learn as much as families whose children are transitioning from high school to adult life.  We will also feature various demonstrations during the day so families can see firsthand some of the fun services and programs available to their children.  

 

Vendor registration is ongoing, so the list of vendors you can see at the expo will be available on our website and updated all month as vendor registrations are received.  We will also post the speaker schedule and schedule of demonstrations as details are firmed up, so check back regularly to see what has been added as the event date approaches.  

 


The Inspiring Abilities Expo is supported in part by sponsorships from Applied Behavior Center for Autism, JMC Technology Group, Unlocking the Spectrum and Vectren.  See our website for a list of other generous sponsors.
Strike A Difference Bowl-a-thon

Now is the time to get signed up for the 6th Annual Strike a Difference Bowl-a-thon!

This year's event will be held on FEBRUARY 22nd at STRIKE FORCE LANES in Greenfield. Bowling will start at 5:00 p.m. with check-in at 4:00 p.m. The Strike a Difference Bowl-a-thon works much like a walk-a-thon.  The emphasis is on fun and fundraising, and not so much on skill! You can put together a team of 5 or sign up as an individual. All bowlers are challenged to raise a minimum of $100. It's as easy as getting 10 people to sponsor you for $10 each.  

 

A special prize is given for the top individual fundraiser. If you have friends who would be interested in bowling, put together a team of 5.  You can also get your office or club to enter a team. Your company or club could sponsor the team, or you can work together to raise funds for a $500 team goal!  We can help you with ideas to raise funds, so just ask for help if you need it.  You can do everything online or contact Amy Borgmann at 317-462-9064 and she will be happy to send you information.

    

As always, we welcome sponsors for this event. Contributions can be anything from a door prize to a lane sponsorship of $100 or more. Get businesses you know to sponsor you or your team. Sponsorships can be mailed to FUSE or paid online on your team or individual bowler page. All contributions are very much appreciated and go a long way to making this event a success!

 

TOGETHER WE CAN STRIKE A DIFFERENCE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS!

 

Click here to register to bowl  

 

Click here to be a sponsor or  Click here to print out a sponsorship form 

 

Click here to print out a pledge form  

 

If you have questions or need assistance call Amy at 317-462-9064 or email [email protected].   

 

Strike a Difference is supported in part by sponsorships from JMC Technology Group, Easterseals Crossroads and Borgmann Realty.  See our website for a list of other generous sponsors.  

 

    

   


2014 Medicaid Disability Eligibility Changes

information courtesy of Arc of Indiana

The following information has been posted on FSSA's website at   http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/4859.htm regarding Medicaid Disability eligibility changes that will be effective June 1, 2014. 

 

 

2014 Medicaid Disability Eligibility Changes


Effective June 1, 2014, Indiana is changing the way Hoosiers will obtain Medicaid coverage in the aged, blind or disabled categories. Currently, when an individual applies for disability coverage, he or she is subjected to additional, more restrictive criteria by the state than the Social 
Security Administration (SSA) requires for its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) programs.

After June 1, Indiana will automatically enroll individuals that the Social Security Administration determines eligible for Supplemental Security Income into Indiana Medicaid and will accept all SSA determinations of disability. This will eliminate the arduous and duplicative requirement 
that these aged, blind and disabled applicants also complete a second application and go through a second medical review process to be determined 
eligible for Indiana Medicaid with disability coverage.

It also eliminates an unpopular "spend down" program that has caused administrative burdens for providers and members. In addition, actions being taken to help current members maintain eligibility will result in more members receiving more comprehensive Medicaid coverage after the transition.

The resources below have been prepared to offer further information about Indiana's transition and how Medicaid members will be impacted. 

 

 

General notice to Indiana ABD Medicaid members  

Frequently Asked Questions   

Behavioral and Primary Healthcare Coordination program  

Instructions on how to establish a Miller Trust  

 


 

New GFCF Cookbook Available

 

A new cookbook "Sweet Debbie's Organic Treats: Allergy-free & Vegan Recipes from the Famous Los Angeles Bakery" has just been published and has received an enthusiastic response from the gf/cf community and in general.  Delicious Living Magazine has named it the "Best Gluten-free Cookbook of 2013."

 

The cookbook can help caregivers provide delicious gluten-free/casein-free treats for their family for special occasions and every day snacks. In addition to being free from gluten and casein, all the recipes are free from dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat, and refined sugar.

 

Author Debbie Adler, owner of Sweet Debbie's Organic Cupcakes in Los Angeles, says, "In the cookbook you'll see that I figured out a way to not only make all the recipes mouth-watering and delicious but also nutritious by using whole foods, no refined sugar and high protein, low glycemic gluten-free flours."

 

For more information, visit http://www.sweetdebbiesorganiccupcakes.com/

 


 

Fact Sheet for Comparing Health Plan Benefits and Coverage Summaries 

 

information provided by Family Voices Indiana 

 

Family Voices Indiana shares the following resource that might be helpful for our families:

 

FIRST FACT SHEET FOR THE NATIONAL DISABILITY NAVIGATOR RESOURCE COLLABORATIVE (NDNRC): "Comparing Health Plans' Benefits and Coverage Summaries" 


The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is pleased to announce the publication of the first fact sheet for the National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC). "Comparing Health Plans' Benefits and Coverage Summaries" is designed to inform navigators and other enrollment specialists about what people with disabilities need to look for in the Summary of Benefits and Coverage. The fact sheet can be found here:  http://www.nationaldisabilitynavigator.org/ndnrc-materials/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-1/. 

 

The entire list of upcoming fact sheets is also available at: http://www.nationaldisabilitynavigator.org/ndnrc-materials/fact-sheets/.

 

 

 

 
I hope you find the resources in this newsletter to be helpful! Please feel free to contact me at FUSE if you need to connect to other services or resources to help your child. 
    
Denise Arland
Executive Director
FUSE, Inc.
  
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