Minority Outreach Project
 

Minority Outreach Project Seeks to Connect Minorities with Programs, Services

Families and advocates know that if can be difficult for people with disabilities to access programs and services.  The difficulty is compounded if you have a disability, and you are a minority.

The Arc of Indiana recently completed the first year of an outreach program to people with disabilities who are African-American or Hispanic/Latino. The second year of the project, October 2007 - September 2008, focuses on three outreach and service efforts. 

The goal of the three outreach programs is to increase employment of minorities with disabilities by increasing referrals to Vocational Rehabilitation, and expanding the ability of Vocational Rehabilitation to serve them. 

Outreach efforts include:
▪ Family Advocate Outreach Workers from local chapters of The Arc, Noble of Indiana and Janus Developmental Services, will work with Patrick Jamison, Elizabeth Gedeon, and Elise McNutt from The Arc, on outreach and recruitment in central Indiana.

▪ Achieva Resources Corporation, a local chapter of The Arc, will focus efforts in rural areas in Fayette, Franklin, Rush, Union, Jay, Randolph, and Wayne Counties.

▪ Two local Arc chapters, Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana and Evansville ARC , have hired part-time Advocate Outreach Workers to reach minorities in their service areas.

The project will also:  

▪ Provide technical assistance and training to vocational rehabilitation, local chapters of The Arc, community rehabilitation agencies and community minority organizations.

▪ Conduct research and development of career paths in rehabilitation for people with disabilities from diverse cultures.

▪ Share information and products from activities of the Minority Outreach Project.

▪ Work with The Arc Network’s Family Advocates and Self-Advocates, staff and advocates from Local Arc Chapters, and Vocational Rehabilitation staff, will develop a more coordinated approach and effort in serving minorities with disabilities.   

The Minority Outreach Project is supported through a grant from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation.  

The Minority Outreach Project staff includes:    

Vanessa Summers Project Director vsummers@arcind.org 317-977-2375  ext. 255

Elizabeth Gedeon Employment Mentor egedeon@arcind.org 317-532-7470 (cell)

Patrick Jamison Outreach Coordinator pjamison@arcind.org 317-532-7135 (cell) )

Elise McNutt Employment Mentor emcnutt@arcind.org 317-242-8150 (cell)