Impact Story
Attendant Care for Medically Fragile Children, Bill Signing Celebration
Families of medically complex children, together with The Arc of Indiana, and lawmakers joined Governor Mike Braun on Wednesday, August 27, to celebrate the official signing of H.B. 1689. H.B. 1689 was introduced to address the issue of parents and spouses being reimbursed through the Medicaid Waiver program to provide attendant care to family members…
It’s Off to Work I Go – Family Advocate Mike Dunn
Mike Dunn’s Story – Since I was young, I have always had a desire to be as independent as I possibly can be. As I approached adulthood, I had a strong desire to work. I am reminded of the song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, “Hi ho hi ho, it’s off to work…
Remembering Ilene Younger Qualkinbush – Our Founding Mother
Ilene Younger Qualkinbush, the “founding mother” of The Arc of Indiana, passed away on May 14, 2020 at the age of 93. Inspired by her daughter Susan, who was born with severe developmental disabilities, Ilene helped establish The Arc of Indiana in 1956. Along with her friend and colleague, Dorothy Burnside, Ilene served as the…
Remembering Our Pioneers, and Thanks to Pioneers of the Future
As we approach Memorial Day, it is important to remember those who have given so much to bring the developmental disabilities movement to this point. It came home so powerfully this week. I was privileged to be the speaker for Down Syndrome Indiana’s fourth Tuesday family session at St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis. And into this…
In Difficult Times, Remembering a Founder’s Words
Many years ago, during one of our more trying days at the Indiana General Assembly, I made the trip to Rushville to speak at the Rush County Arc annual dinner. I must admit on that day I was weary, feeling the weight of the people who did not believe in what we were trying to…