The Arc of Bartholomew County

02/21/2026

📅 SAVE THE DATE! Get ready for a spectacular evening! Your $65 ticket includes dinner, $50 in game chips, as well as a chance at some spectacular Jackpot Prizes. And it's all taking place at the luxurious White Diamond Lavender Farms.

🎲 As an esteemed high roller, you'll be supporting a worthy cause - Autism Awareness. So let's raise funds for Columbus Autism Network and The Arc of Bartholomew County, as they provide invaluable support to local families.

🧩 More details coming next week!

02/20/2026

Our MyFreeTaxes program is now open!

Filing your taxes doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. United Way of Bartholomew County is offering FREE tax prep to those who qualify with two simple options:

• Get help from a certified professional:
Households earning $70,000 or less may qualify. Call (812) 375-2216 to check eligibility and book an appointment.
• Make $89,000 or less? File online on your own: Fast, secure, and free with MyFreeTaxes at www.myfreetaxes.com

Choose the option that works best for you and keep more of what you earn.

02/20/2026

The Arc is excited to announce that nominations are open for our 2026 Annual Awards Ceremony! This amazing event will take place on May 14, 2026, at Hotel Indigo.
(400 Brown Street, Columbus, IN 47201)

We invite you to celebrate and recognize outstanding individuals in our community by submitting your nominations.

The deadline to submit nominations is April 25, 2026. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor those who make a difference! Submit your nomination through the form below

https://forms.gle/1QdMM1KuVUDYBhnJ7

AVAILABLE CATEGORIES:
- Volunteer of the Year: Recognizes a volunteer who has given generously of time and talents to accomplish the mission of The Arc in meeting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

- Educator of the Year: Recognizes an educator/teacher/person who works in the educational arena and has demonstrated excellence in teaching and assisting students with special needs.

- Friend of The Arc: Recognizes an individual or organization that has performed outstanding service on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and their families.

- Professional of the Year: Recognizes a person employed in the field of serving individuals with developmental disabilities and whose work has resulted in improvement in supports and services for people with disabilities and their families.

- Self-Advocate Award: Recognizes an outstanding individual who is an achieving, inclusive member of his/her community.

- Youth Recognition Award: Recognizes a youth or group of youths/organization that has performed outstanding service on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

02/18/2026

Waiver reset goes into effect this summer. To see the details of how your waiver will be affected and how to submit your comments and concerns follow the link: https://www.arcind.org/news/waiver-amendment-public-comment-extended-webinar-opportunities/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQDAQxjbGNrBAMA_mV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmC6Y7qHOBPcrLs5NnlEHH4zWP6yWHzfdySjbIJ6l9DsTM4Yu6a74ZbVt11u_aem_xHxNKndu-vmBTj7-3G6zJw

The public comment period for proposed waiver amendments has been extended through March 18. The Arc of Indiana will host a webinar to review the changes on Feb. 26. FSSA will host three webinars regarding the waiver amendments. For more information, including how to join the webinars, go to: https://www.arcind.org/news/waiver-amendment-public-comment-extended-webinar-opportunities/

02/16/2026

The Arc of Indiana Weekly News - https://mailchi.mp/arcind/the-arc-of-indiana-news-6211250

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's Day from the Self Advocates of Bartholomew County and The Arc of B.C! ❤️🫶🥰

02/13/2026

People with disabilities belong in the Statehouse. That's how it all started 35 years ago, fighting for equal rights and the chance for a good life. We won't give up. https://www.history.com/articles/americans-with-disabilities-act-1990-capitol-crawl

02/12/2026

Here is some "light reading" that will affect you as a waiver recipient. The Arc of Indiana will be putting out a summary of the changes and sharing any concerns as soon as possible. Stay posted!

Medicaid Waiver Amendments Released for Public Comment

Amendments to the CIH, Family Supports, Health & Wellness, TBI, and 1915 B(4) waivers are open for public comment, now through March 13, with a projected effective date of August 2026. We will be closely reviewing the amendments and sharing information as soon as possible. The proposed waiver amendments can be found here: https://www.in.gov/fssa/ddars/bds-policies/ddars-draft-policies-for-public-comment/

Public comments may be submitted to ddrswaivernoticecomment@fssa.in.gov

02/12/2026

This is why we do what we do. Familes deserve support. Individuals with disabilities deserve opportunity and a community that believes in inclusion. Because of your support events like Always Ready for Chocolate don't just raise funds, they create connection, celebration, and belonging. Together we are building resources that strengthen familes. 🎉 Awareness and inclusion changes lives.

02/11/2026

There is a lot going on at the Indiana Statehouse. PAY ATTENTION.

🚨 URGENT ACTION NEEDED 🚨
SB 275 is being heard THIS WEDNESDAY in House Ways & Means, and advocacy has slowed. This is our last chance to stop FSSA from cutting Home Health rates.

Rate cuts = fewer work hours + lower wages. FSSA has already targeted agency overhead, and this bill removes protections that prevent cuts.

We need your voice TODAY. Please take 2 minutes to act and share with coworkers, families, and anyone who supports Home Health:

👉

https://www.votervoice.net/IAHHC/Campaigns/132664/Respond

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE to act now.

Dear IAHHC Members,SB 275 contains language that would remove protections against rate cuts for Home Health Agencies.  We need your voices to be loud and constant on this issue if we hope to be able to remove it from the bill.In 2017, Chairman...

02/11/2026

Disability rights and racial justice are deeply connected.

Black people with disabilities experience higher rates of discrimination in education, health care, housing, and the criminal justice system. These barriers don’t exist in isolation. They are shaped by history, policy, and long-standing inequities.

Disability Rights Florida wrote an article about 17 Black disability advocates who shaped the fight for disability rights. Read full article to learn how these leaders paved the way for change.

Celebrating Black history means telling the full story, including disability. 🖤

Link in comments.

02/09/2026

Make sure to include yourself in the list of things you need to take care of this week.

We have a long road ahead of us in the disability community and we need to be our best physically and mentally.

Today 10am at The Arc of Bartholomew County we have Yoga Therapy with Lezlie! I'm going and I would love to see you there.