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<title><![CDATA[Indiana Direct Support Professionals]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/training]]></link>
<description><![CDATA[Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are people "whose job responsibility is to provide support, training, supervision, and personal assistance to people with disabilities" (Larson & Hewitt, 2005).

Indiana Administrative Code 460 (Article 6 http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/iac_title?iact=460) states that a direct support professional "means a person, or an agent or employee of a provider entity, who provides hands-on services to an individual while providing any of the following services:
(1) Adult day services.
(2) Adult foster care services.
(3) Community-based sheltered employment services.
(4) Community education and therapeutic activities services.
(5) Community habilitation and participation services.
(6) Facility-based sheltered employment services.
(7) Prevocational services.
(8) Residential habilitation and support services.
(9) Respite care services.
(10) Supported employment services.
(11) Transportation services.
(12) Children’s foster care services.
(13) Independence assistance services.
(Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services; 460 IAC 6-3-18; filed Nov 4, 2002, 12:04 p.m.: 26 IR 751; filed Aug 29, 2003,
10:30 a.m.: 27 IR 102)
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<title><![CDATA[National Clearinghouse on the Diect Care Workforce]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.directcareclearinghouse.org/i_workerassoclist.jsp]]></link><description><![CDATA[Indiana Care-Givers Association
John Booker
Phone: 574-289-9326
Email: nadwoc@sbcglobal.net
P.O. Box 3036

South Bend, IN 46619

The Indiana Care-Givers Association was founded in 2007. It seeks to strengthen the long-term services in Indiana by recognizing and supporting the development of the direct-care workforce and profession. ]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:17:03 CDT]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Microsoft Improves Word for the Blind ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2299079,00.asp  ]]></link><description><![CDATA[Microsoft Improves Word for the Blind 
05.07.08     http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2299079,00.asp 
by Brian Heater
Microsoft today joined with Sonata Software Ltd. and the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) Consortium to launch an initiative to make Word documents more accessible to blind and print-disabled users.
Created via an open-source project, the new "Save as DAISY XML" add-on for Word 2003, XP, and 2007 makes it possible to save docs as Daisy Standard, the globally accepted method used to publish content for print-disabled users. They can download the add-on at the Open XML Community site. 
Daisy Pipeline was also released today. The suite helps users convert Daisy XML files into DAISY Digital Talking Book (DTB), making content even more accessible to users with print disabilities. 
"This new 'Save as DAISY XML' functionality for Microsoft Word has the potential to break down barriers for millions of visually impaired individuals around the world and enhance the experience for virtually anyone who loves to read," said Chris Capossela, Microsoft's senior vice president of the Information Worker Product Management Group of the initiative. "We are proud of our collaboration with the DAISY Consortium and Sonata Software to deliver valuable benefits for people with a visual impairment. This tool will make it easier for anyone--from a child writing to his or her grandparent, to a government agency providing vital information to its citizens--to create accessible content." 

That the project was created using open-source programming should only serve to help expand the accessibilities of the technologies. 
Originally published on AppScout.
]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 9 May 2008 14:25:45 CDT]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Indiana Outreach Services]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/7112.htm]]></link><description><![CDATA[Outreach Services will work collaboratively with consumers, advocates, providers and state agencies to grow the capacity of the community by providing training, technical assistance, consultation and service provision to improve the quality of life and support individuals with disabilities, their families, service providers and case managers.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 7 May 2008 12:58:51 CDT]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[NEED HELP WITH A FOOD STAMP, MEDICAID OR TANF PROBLEM OR QUESTION?]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.in.gov/fssa]]></link><description><![CDATA[NEED HELP WITH A FOOD STAMP, MEDICAID OR TANF PROBLEM OR QUESTION?
The Voluntary Community Assistance Network, known as VCAN, is also available to help citizens with the application process and to manage benefits. An ombudsman (a person who investigates complaints and mediates fair settlements) is available for those who have problems with the system. Cheryl McNutt is the primary contact for those problems and she can be reached at Mental Health America of Indiana,(MHAI) 1-800-555-6424, ext 234, or 1-317-638-3501, ext. 234. She will be available during regular business hours. After hours, clients can leave a message and she or her backup will return a call within 24 hours, McNutt said. There also is an Indiana Public Health and Assistance Helpline, 765-459-0309 The Helpline is available to all public assistance consumers with questions regarding cash assistance (TANF), food stamps and Medicaid. Appropriate questions range from where to apply, to checking the status of an application. The Helpline can also hear concerns about agency procedures and staff. If you are having problems getting food stamps, call 1-800-403-0864 or go to the FSSA website at www.in.gov/fssa. Other helpful phone numbers: Family Help-Line 1-800-433-0746; Food Stamp Information/ Complaint Line 1-800-622-4932.---If you have a case number, be prepared to give it. Also have available your birth date, and the last four digits of your social security number.
]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:28:35 CDT]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[The Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC)]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://rtc.umn.edu/dsp/]]></link><description><![CDATA[Direct Support Workforce Development
One of the biggest challenges to providing community supports for people with developmental disabilities is the ability to find, keep and retain qualified direct support professionals (DSPs). The Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota maintains a comprehensive research, training and technical assistance program in the area of direct support workforce development. The RTC DSP workforce development program, its' staff and partners are working vigorously to find creative solutions to the workforce challenges of recruitment, retention and training. ]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:58:22 CDT]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Statewide Study of the Direct Support Staff Workforce ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://aamr.allenpress.com/aamronline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1352%2F0047-6765(2003)41%3C276:SSOTDS%3E2.0.CO%3B2]]></link><description><![CDATA[Statewide Study of the Direct Support Staff Workforce

David W. Test, Claudia Flowers, Amy Hewitt, and Jill Solow

Abstract
Issues of recruitment and retention related to the direct support staff and how these issues affect the lives of people with developmental disabilities were investigated. Major findings included the following: (a) High direct support staff turnover and vacancy rates have negative consequences for many people who receive supports. (b) Direct support staff provide a vast array of services and have numerous job titles and job descriptions. (c) Direct support staff are inadequately compensated and often have to work more than one job. (d) Turnover rate and recruitment is a serious problem. The need to develop the role of the direct support staff into a valued profession is discussed and considerations for research and practice are provided.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:51:49 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Self-Determination Tools for Direct Support Staff]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.lookiris.com/store/Developmental_Disabilities/Self-Determination_Tools_for_Direct_Support_Staff/]]></link><description><![CDATA[This program identifies three common roles that direct support staff assume when confronted with questions about self-determination: the Ally, the Smotherer, and the Slacker. Through careful examination of each role in several situations, direct support staff learn to become allies of the people they work with.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 1 Feb 2008 13:44:02 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Training Needs of Direct Support Staff ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://aaidd.allenpress.com/aamronline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1352%2F0047-6765(2004)42%3C327:TNODSS%3E2.0.CO%3B2]]></link><description><![CDATA[Training Needs of Direct Support Staff

David W. Test, Claudia Flowers, Amy Hewitt, and Jill Solow

Abstract
Training needs and current status of training for direct support staff were identified in one southeastern state. Data sources were (a) direct support staff, (b) administrators of direct support staff, and (c) consumers with developmental disabilities. Stratified sampling was used to gather data from 108 administrators and 170 direct support staff utilizing mail surveys and from 179 focus group participants (56 administrators, 53 direct support staff, and 70 consumers). Findings suggest that direct support staff recognized the needs (a) for additional training on Community Support Skill Standards; (b) to develop a comprehensive, cost-efficient statewide system for training direct support staff; and (c) to develop the role of direct support staff into a valued profession.

Ful Text Article available at http://aaidd.allenpress.com/aamronline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1352%2F0047-6765(2004)42%3C327:TNODSS%3E2.0.CO%3B2]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:55:28 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Assessing Retention Outcomes (Sheryl Larson June 13, 2000)]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://rtc.umn.edu/docs/retention.pdf]]></link><description><![CDATA[The process of assessing workplace recruitment and
retention practices and problems requires many types of
information. To establish a baseline the agency must
clearly define who counts as a direct support worker, and
how workers who work at several sites, or only “on-call”
hours will be counted. It is most efficient if the same
definitions and formulas are used for all sites and services
within the agency. The procedure for establishing a
baseline has several components including: developing an
accurate job description, examining retention outcomes
and recruitment practices, gathering specific information
about positive and negative job features, describing any
changes or special incentives that may have influenced
recruitment or retention, and summarizing the information
gathered. This handout describes how to measure
retention outcomes.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:01:08 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Who Will Care?]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.ucp.org/campaigns/whowillcare/]]></link><description><![CDATA[“WhoWillCare.net recognizes that direct support professionals make a difference, and that it’s time they make a living too,” said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “We entrust direct support professionals with tremendous responsibility yet we expect them to work in jobs that don’t even meet welfare-to-work wage minimums.

Visitors to www.WhoWillCare.net can also learn more about the issue, read stories about direct support professionals and sign a petition calling on state lawmakers to take action on this important issue.

For more information visit www.WhoWillCare.net or download the factsheet.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:42:31 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Find, Choose & Keep Great DSPs: Toolkits for Families and People with Disabilities  ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://rtc.umn.edu/ildspworkforce/]]></link><description><![CDATA[These toolkits from the Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration—one for people with disabilities and one for their families and support providers—aim to help people with disabilities and their families find quality, caring, and committed Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). The toolkits, which can be used together or separately, provide information on where individuals and families can find DSPs; how individuals and families can choose the best DSP for their needs, including how to develop a realistic job preview; and how to train and support DSPs in the job. Both are available in PDF.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:31:27 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Supporting Self Determination: Strategies for Direct Support Staff]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.lookiris.com/research/past_projects/13/]]></link><description><![CDATA["The idea behind "Supporting Self-Determination" was to provide direct support staff with an understanding of ways to foster self determination for the people with developmental disabilities they work with. 

Through a research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, an IRIS Media research and development team, along with expert consultants, gathered data, developed a video program and tested the effectiveness of the program." 

Read the full story at http://www.lookiris.com/research/past_projects/13/

]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:14:57 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Progress Since Olmstead - How's Your State Doing?]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.aapd.com/docs/join.php]]></link><description><![CDATA[Progress Since Olmstead - How Is Your State Doing? 
Information Bulletin # 231 (12/07).

In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court held in the Olmstead decision that "unjustified isolation is properly regarded as discrimination based on disability."  The U.S. Attorney General concluded, as the Court noted, that unnecessary "retention of persons in institutions, severely limited their exposure to the outside community [and] constitutes a form of discrimination."

The Court wrote that "institutional placement of persons who can handle and benefit from community settings perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life."  In the decision, the Court noted that a State's efforts should "not be controlled by the State's endeavors to keep its institutions fully populated."

Okay.  So how much progress has been made in your state between the 1999 Olmstead decision and FY 2006 (the last year for which we have data) regarding people in nursing homes?

Here is what we found using Medicaid's long-term care expenditures in both 1999 and 2006 for the nursing facility institution versus the comparable Medicaid LTC community services - those Medicaid waivers for persons eligible for nursing facilities (i.e., waivers CMS classified only for aged, aged/disabled, and physically disabled), the personal care option, and home health expenditures.

1999 - Olmstead decision - the benchmark:
Nationally 80.4% of the relevant Medicaid's long-term care institutional expenditures went to nursing facilities;

13 states spent more than 90% of their Medicaid LTC expenditures institutionally on nursing facilities (D.C, HI, IL, IN, LA, MS, NH, ND, PA, RI, SD, TN, and UT) and therefore less than 10% in the community;
Only 4 states spent less than 70% on nursing facilities (AR, NC, OR, WA);  and

The median state expenditure to nursing facilities was 84.7%.  Median means half the states spent more and half less on nursing facilities.

FY 2006 - Seven years later - how much progress has been made:
Nationally, 71.4% of Medicaid's long-term care institutional expenditures went to nursing facilities.  That's a "drop" of 9 percentage points from 1999 to 2006, i.e., national Medicaid institutional expenditures for nursing homes were reduced 9 percentage points from 80.4% in 1999 to 71.4% in 2006, and therefore nationally the states spent this additional 9 percentage in the community and

The median state expenditure to nursing facilities was 78.8% - reduction of approximately only 6 percentage points from 1999.

First the worst states in 2006:
5 states were still spending more than 90% of their LTC on nursing facilities (IN, MS, ND, TN and UT), even though the national average was reduced to 71.4% in 2006, and...
]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:53:46 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[2008 Social Security: Other State & Federal Benefits Planning Training]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cclc]]></link><description><![CDATA[Social Security: Other State & Federal Benefits Planning
•	March 4 - 5, 2008 (Evansville, Indiana)
•	May 20 -21, 2008 (South Bend, Indiana)
•	July 29 - 30, 2008 (Columbus, Indiana)
•	October 28 - 29, 2008 (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Registration Form download [http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cclc/index.php?pageId=36] 
]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 4 Dec 2007 12:42:52 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[CRITICAL BARRIERS SURVEY – YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED!]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[www.fifthfreedom.org]]></link><description><![CDATA[CRITICAL BARRIERS SURVEY – YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED!

Please help identify critical issues that Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services (IPAS) should consider as priority areas for their advocacy efforts over the next several years. The survey lists many barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from living as independently as they wish. You are asked to select those barriers that you believe – if eliminated or reduced – would benefit people the most. By completing the survey, you can help IPAS identify priority areas that they should target for advocacy and case selection. With your input, IPAS can work on barriers where their advocacy efforts might have the greatest impact. 

You can complete the survey online by going to: www.thepollingplace.org  

Or you can request a paper copy by calling IPAS at 1-800-622-4845 or by contacting Vicki Pappas at 812-855-6508 or emailing her at cpps@indiana.edu 
]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 4 Dec 2007 08:42:13 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Therap Services, LLC ]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/training]]></link><description><![CDATA[ INARF Title Sponsor for 2007 -- Therap Services, LLC was founded to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities by providing cost-effective information, communications, and technology services tailored to the specific needs of service providers, service managers, health professionals, and regulators. Please visit their web site for additional information www.therapservices.net.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:09:42 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[New National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.dswresourcecenter.org/]]></link><description><![CDATA[New National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the opening of the National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center. 

The Resource Center provides information and technical assistance to state and local governments, non-profit organizations, employers, and professionals who want to pursue initiatives to improve the recruitment and retention of direct care workers. 

The Resource Center brings together the nation's premier resources on the topic of the Direct Support Workforce. These resources, which include web-based clearinghouses, technical experts, training tools and more, cover the full range of Direct Service Worker consumer populations.]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:16:46 CST]]></pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Indiana Direct Support Professional (DSP) message board]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?user=ljschaaf]]></link><description><![CDATA[INDIANA DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS have a dedicated message board available for "free" message postings and information sharing.

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/training/dsp.htm
]]></description>
<author><![CDATA[ljschaaf@indiana.edu]]></author><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:12:49 CST]]></pubDate>
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