Task Force To Examine Support Needs For Hoosiers With Disabilities

A state plan for the support needs of Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities will get an update for the first time in 20 years. A new state task force aimed at helping the estimated 100,000 Indiana residents with such disabilities met in Indianapolis Monday.

Rep. Ed Clere (R-New Albany) authored a bill last session to update the state’s plan to provide community-based services.

“Unfortunately, some people are not being served well or as well as they could be served,” Clere says.

Clere says they are looking for input from people all across the state.

“People with disabilities are speaking out about what they want, and more important, what they don’t want,” Clere says.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch chairs the group and says this population has different needs at all stages of their lives.

“And we need to figure out how best to address all of those needs,” says Crouch.

Down Syndrome Indiana’s Executive Director Lisa Wells told the task force about one of the state’s most pressing issues.

“Regardless of where one lives in the state of Indiana there is a shortage of respite staff and behavior therapists,” says Wells.

The 18-member task force will visit six more Indiana communities over the next year to assess needs.