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IU Northwest, Arc of Indiana to host forum addressing disabilities services March 23
Disabilities Forum
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Emily Banas
Office of Marketing and Communications
980-6536
ebanas@iun.edu
Erika Rose
Office of Marketing and Communications
981-4358
erikrose@iun.edu
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The Arc of Indiana and Arc BRIDGES, in conjunction with the Indiana University Northwest Office of Diversity Programming, is hosting a regional forum. “Building Pathways to Empowerment” will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 23 in the Library Conference Center (room 105ABC). Doors open at 6 p.m. The forum’s purpose is to address the budget crisis facing disabilities services in Indiana and to seek community input on ways to address the threat to services at a time when more people need services than ever before. John Dickerson, executive director of The Arc of Indiana, will present, “What Is Building Pathways to Empowerment and How Can You Be a Part of Change?” The Arc of Indiana launched the Building Pathways to Empowerment Campaign in the spring of 2010 in hopes of redesigning and redefining the system of services for people with developmental disabilities to be a system that provides what people want and need in the most sensible way possible. Dickerson’s presentation will be followed by a round table discussion and brainstorming session. Topics slated for discussion include supporting work – from paid to volunteer; supporting the resourcefulness of individuals, families and communities; using what you need and shifting the power from what doesn’t work to what works. The Arc of Indiana and its local chapters aim to improve the welfare of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides day services, residential programs and social services that help people with all levels of intellectual and developmental disabilities develop skills and abilities that assist their movement toward more integrations, independence and happiness. The community is invited to attend the forum. The Library Conference Center is located on the IU Northwest campus on 35th Avenue in Gary, just one-half mile south of I-80/94. Arc BRIDGES chapters in Northwest Indiana are hosting a series of open houses throughout March, which is Disability Awareness Month, including: March 10 in Hobart, March 17 in Gary, March 22 in Crown Point and March 25 in Highland. All open houses are from 1:30 to 3 p.m. For information on the open houses, contact Arc BRIDGES at (219) 985-6562.
