Need A Ride?Y Miami Go, providing affordable and reliable transportation for residents of Peru. Accessible Transportation. <More
Come Visit Us!Handicapable Support Group Meetings are the 2nd & 4th Tuesday each month @ Ivy Tech College in Peru. <More
Online DiscussionsSpeak your mind about your disability, receive support & inspire others! Visit our Blog. <Go!
Disability Related Resources
Download the ADA Requirements for Small Towns
Download the ADA Guide for Small Businesses
Insurance News & Issues - Information pertaining to Indiana Health Care Coverage and Disability Issues.
Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Apply Now.
Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need. Apply Now.
National Resource Directory for Veterans The site is filled with "services and resources for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans, their families and families of the fallen, and those who support them from recovery and rehabilitation to community reintegration." The directory contains links to information on: Benefits & Compensation, Housing & Transportation, Education, Training & Employment, Health and much more.
Some Graduations Eligible for Priority Medicaid Waiver
High school graduates with disabilities, or students entering their senior year who are enrolled in special education programs, may now explore their eligibility for immediate assistance through a Support Services Medicaid Waiver.
The Support Services Waiver can provide $13,500 per year in programs and services to people with developmental disabilities. Traditionally, there have been long waiting lists to obtain this type of waiver. Now, however, the state of Indiana is providing the waiver to qualifying young adults leaving special education programs with no need for them to be on a waiting list.
Families or candidates interested in applying for a priority Medicaid Waiver can do so by contacting the Bureau of Development Disability Services (BDDS). Local BDDS office can be found by calling 1.800.545.7763 (voice).
You can also call the ARC of Indiana at 1.800.382.9100 (voice).
Bookshare Gives Free Access to Online Library
August 2008 marks the time of year when most children head back to school. This year, a newly renovated website will provide students with visual or other print disabilities more ease as they begin their studies.
Bookshare.org, an online database hosted by Benetech, allows qualifying students with disabilities free online access to more than 38,000 books and 150 periodicals that can be converted to Braille, large print or text-to-speech audio.
Bookshare.org gives all K-12, post-secondary and graduate students free access to an online library thanks to funding from the Department of Education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Recently, the Office of Special Education Programs awarded Bookshare.org $32 million over the next five years to expand its online database. The money will allow Bookshare.org to add more than 100,000 new titles for student access.
Through subscriptions, schools and institutions have the capability to download and provide materials to students registered within their accounts.
Organizations within the educational system and the rehabilitation system-along with libraries, specialized nonprofit agencies and various government units-can also register with Bookshare.org.
The online community enables individuals to scan and share materials through a special exemption from the U.S. copyright law held by Bookshare.org. This exemption permits the reproduction of publications into specialized formats for individuals with disabilities.
