Center on Community Living and Careers

11/21/2025

Educators and employment professionals: Do you want to better support young adults with disabilities in navigating their careers and reaching their vocational goals? Join our upcoming cohort starting Monday, December 1.

Through the CCLC Learning Academy, we offer 10 online courses, created by professionals with lived experience and over 70 years of combined expertise.

➡️ Mental Health Series: Explores anxiety, bipolar, personality disorders, schizophrenia, and more.
➡️ Special Populations: Deep dive into Acquired Brain Injury, Autism, Substance Use Disorders, Trauma-Informed Care, and Formerly Incarcerated Individuals.

These courses are $75 and come with a certificate of completion, CRCs, PGPs, and more.

Courses are 100% online. Self-paced and take about 5 hours to complete.

Only 10 days away! Enroll now by going to go.iu.edu/8sQQ

11/20/2025

Join us at Turnstone for our new peer-run support group for young adults with physical disabilities. This support group is scheduled to meet on the first Thursday of each month from 2-3 PM, starting December 4. Questions? Contact Jessica Ferry at jessicaf@turnstone.org.

11/19/2025

This free and informative event is less than a month away! In-person seating is limited to the first 60 registrants, and virtual attendance is also available. Register today to secure your spot: go.iu.edu/8w9A

We hope to see you there!

🌟 Join us for A Place of My Own, a free and informative session focused on housing options for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 🌟

Only 11% of adults with IDD in the U.S. live independently. Many remain in family homes, often with aging caregivers. This event will help families prepare for the future by exploring residential options, funding, regulations, workforce challenges, and intentional communities.

📅 Monday, December 15, 2025
🕘 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET
📍 Easterseals Crossroads, 4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis

Presented by Jim McCarten, an expert in estate planning and special needs planning.

In-person seating is limited to the first 60 registrants, and virtual attendance is also available.
🔗 Register today: go.iu.edu/8w9A

If you have questions, contact the Center on Community Living and Careers at cclc@iu.edu
or 812-855-6508.

We hope to see you there!

11/19/2025

December Social: Your Invitation from the Southwest Community Family Network

Join us for trivia games and free pizza— a great chance to hang out and meet new people. RSVP today: go.iu.edu/8vSH

Where: The Arc of Evansville, 615 W Virginia St, Evansville, Indiana 47710
When: Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 12 P.M. – 2 P.M.

The Southwest Community Family Network helps families in Vanderburgh, Posey, Warrick, and Gibson counties navigate disability by promoting social inclusion and building supportive communities. This initiative is funded by the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities and partners with Indiana Family to Family, IN*SOURCE, and The Arc of Evansville.

11/19/2025

11/18/2025

Indiana’s proposed ABA therapy changes mean many families may soon see shifts in hours, service caps, or transitions away from intensive ABA. These changes can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to navigate them alone. 💙
HANDS in Autism® offers a Family & Caregiver 3-Day Intensive Training designed to help you build practical skills, understand evidence-based supports, and feel confident supporting your child at home, in the community, and during school transitions.
✔️ Hands-on strategies you can use right away
✔️ Visual supports, routines, reinforcement & communication tools
✔️ Coaching, practice, and individualized guidance
✔️ Designed specifically for families and caregivers
As systems shift, empowering families matters more than ever.
Learn more or register for an upcoming session today through HANDS in Autism® 💙, https://handsinautism.iu.edu/training-services/training/training-options-list/three-day-intensive-families.html.
January 15, 22, & 29,2026; 9:00am-4:00pm ET (Virtual or Bloomington)
Indiana UniversityIndiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University Indiana University Research

11/14/2025

This Week's Tuesday Tip: Prioritizing Mental Health During Seasonal and Holiday Transitions

Helping students successfully transition to adulthood means fostering self-advocacy, strong communication skills, and connecting families to community resources. As holiday breaks approach, these transitions can feel overwhelming but they also present an opportunity to build resilience and reduce stress.

Read this week’s Tuesday Transition Tip to learn a S.M.A.R.T. approach that supports mental health, encourages coping strategies, and prepares students for life beyond high school.

Read The Tip: go.iu.edu/8wbk

11/14/2025

We had a wonderful time and truly valued the conversations we shared with everyone who participated. Join Hands in Autism for their first session in their Behavior Series next week: 📅 Friday, November 21st ⏰ 12:00-1:30 PM EST

Topic: Evidence-Based Practices with Jared Smith from Little Star ABA
Register for FREE here: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b2usIWtbcHiDuR0

🌟 A Big Thank You to Our Amazing Participants! 🌟

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined today's session! Your energy and insights made it a success. 🙌

Special shoutout to our amazing speakers: ✨ Mike Nevins & Cathlene Hardy-Hansen from the Center on Community Living and Careers at IIDC! Thank you for your engaging presentation! 🎤 Leisa Barber & Maria Alvarez Rodriguez – We appreciate your expertise on the panel. 📝 April Walker and Melanie Smith-Sanders – Thank you for sharing an insightful case discussion.

🗓️ Mark Your Calendars!

Join us for the first session in our Behavior Series: 📅 Friday, November 21st ⏰ 12:00-1:30 PM EST

Topic: Evidence Based Practices with Jared Smith from Little Star ABA

🎟️ Don't miss out – Register for FREE here: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b2usIWtbcHiDuR0

Indiana Professionals in Healthcare Indiana UniversityIndiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana UniversityIndiana University Research IN*SOURCE

11/13/2025

🤔 What's the next big step in your life? Whether it's finding the right job, securing stable housing, or conquering your education goals, you don't have to do it alone!

This month’s issue of What’s Next? highlights how disability support programs and Independent Living Centers (ILCs) are game changers. They provide the resources you need to seize control and truly thrive as you transition into adulthood.

Ready to learn more? Read What’s Next?: go.iu.edu/8wav
Lea ¿Qué sigue? en Español: go.iu.edu/8waw

💡 ‘What’s Next?’ is a free monthly newsletter with tips and resources for individuals with disabilities preparing to transition from high school to adult life. The newsletter provides information on benefits, health coverage, state identification, guardianship, supported decision-making, and other relevant topics. We provide this newsletter in both English and Spanish, available in both online and print formats.

11/12/2025

Join the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities (GCPD) tomorrow at 12pm ET for the launch of GCPD Leadership Labs, a new quarterly learning series created to strengthen and support Council leadership across Indiana. Whether you're a current Council member, a future applicant, or a community advocate, this is your opportunity to gain practical tools, connect with others, and deepen your impact.

Upcoming Topics & Dates:

Q1: Developmental Disabilities Act (DD Act) – November 13, 2025

Q2: GCPD Roles & Responsibilities – February 19, 2026

Q3: GCPD Finance and Budget – May 14, 2026

Q4: Disability Policy Framework – August 13, 2026

Don’t miss out—register now at https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/OdZHIZ3pTvuHfxK70iVZbw #/registration

11/11/2025

🚨 Mark your calendars for Friday, November 14th, from 12:00-1:30 PM ET! Hands in Autism will bring you a session on Post-Transition Planning and Support: Vocational Rehabilitation. Our staff, Mike Nevins & Cathlene Hardy-Hansen, will be joining them!

✨ It’s completely FREE to attend! Whether you're a caregiver, educator, or community advocate, you won't want to miss this!

🔗 Register now and be a part of the conversation: go.iu.edu/8w8L