Staying engaged in the advocacy process is vital, especially for individuals with disabilities and their families. You are the expert in your own life. Your voice matters. By sharing your experiences, you can help shape policies that improve not only your life but also the lives of others in your community. Self-Advocates of Indiana, in partnership with The Arc…
Honoring those who show up, speak out, and protect dignity in a space where silence has cost too much. Advocacy isn’t “Because I say so.” It’s “So, this must be said.” In December, I sat in a room filled with applause, warm plates, and long-earned recognition—and felt the weight of how rare moments like this…
DAY OF ACTION JOIN US AT THE STATEHOUSE Thursday, January 29, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET Third Floor South Atrium Share your voice on issues important to you and your family We will have fact sheets and talking points on legislation impacting people with disabilities and their families at the event. Schedule a…
Under a new process established by the Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS), individuals who want to transition from a Supervised Group Living (SGL) setting to the Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) waiver must reside in an SGL setting for a minimum of 365 consecutive days before being eligible to apply for a CIH waiver. This requirement…
Recently, Indiana learned the devastating news that 15-year-old Jeffrey Epps, a nonverbal autistic teenager, was found deceased after wandering from home in Baldwin County, Georgia. His death appears accidental, but it reveals a deeper truth that families like his live with every single day: the world is not yet built for their children. Parents of…
What Individuals, Families, and Guardians Need to Know Medicaid Waivers (also called Home and Community-Based Services) provide Medicaid health coverage, as well as supports and services that help people with disabilities live at home and participate in their communities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved several updates to Indiana’s Medicaid Waiver programs that take effect December 31, 2025. …
The Division of Disability, Aging, and Rehabilitative Services is seeking an immediate or extended family member of a person with an intellectual or other developmental disability to join the DDARS advisory council. General Overview of the Council’s Purpose The DDARS Advisory Council was established under Indiana Code Section 12-9-4 to advise and assist DDARS in…
Indiana’s Bureau of Disability Services (BDS) is launching a review process of high-cost Medicaid Waiver service plans, and has also issued guidance on transportation. High-Cost Waiver Service Plans BDS has issued advisory memos for providers and families regarding review of high-cost Medicaid Waiver service plans. BDS’s memo states, “BDS is taking a proactive look at…
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Secretary Mitch Roob has announced the recommendations of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Working Group, convened earlier this year to address the rapid growth and sustainability challenges of Medicaid-funded ABA therapy. The Working Group’s Process The ABA Working Group was led by FSSA Deputy Secretary Eric Miller and…
I remember the sound of the clock ticking in the principal’s office. The smell of floor wax and pencil shavings. And that small table—just big enough for two embarrassed children trying not to exist. Before free and reduced lunches were available, my brother and I were asked to sit there every day, just outside the…