-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ircaparentgroups-l@... [mailto:owner-ircaparentgroups-l@...] On Behalf Of Ketzner, Brian L
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 8:55 AM
To: IRCAPARENTGROUPS-L@...
Subject: First Responder Training Kits

 

Good morning parent support group leaders!

Late last school year, IRCA began a process with Indiana Homeland Security to deliver training materials developed by us for First Responders. We have circulated the material throughout the state to the individuals that train Fire and EMS personnel.  The training kit consists of two Power Point presentations on CD (one for Fire/EMS and one for law enforcement), printed note pages with commentary for each point on the slides, hand-outs, examples of supporting material, and evaluation forms. The process of distributing and building support for the training was through 11 regional trainings for the Homeland Security trainers.  We took this opportunity to attempt to reach the autism team leaders within the school systems as well as all parent groups throughout the state. The advantage has been evident in the time frame of delivery of the kits. We sincerely hope that the process has initiated communication between the Fire & EMS trainers, parent groups and autism teams within the local communities regarding further training.  There is definitely more to be done in the process of local trainings.

 

Many of you who were unable to attend the initial round of regional trainings and have since asked how you can receive your free kit for your parent group to start trainings within your community.  We would like to open another invitation to all of you to receive this information.  There is another avenue involving autism leaders/mentors within the school systems who meet several times throughout the state to provide support, collaborate, and share ideas.  These groups are divided into 7 areas called roundtables.  Below is a list of the next roundtable meetings across the state.  Those of you who were unable to attend the training with the Fire and EMS trainers, are cordially invited to attend the training taking place closest to your city/community.

 

Every support group recognized by IRCA is eligible for a free kit.  We ask that you attempt to attend or have a representative attend the roundtable meetings to assist in our distributing the remaining kits. Due to space limitations, we ask that only one or two representatives from your chapter be present.  It is not intended to be an open training, but is again encouraging local activity and additional training to follow.

In order to receive your kit, please email or call me to reserve a seat at a convenient location for one of the following meetings:

 

September 12 – Vincennes         10:00am – 12:00pm (central time)

September 18 – Scottsburg        10:00am – 12:00pm (eastern time)

September 21 – Columbia City     2:00pm –   4:00pm (eastern time)

 

October 19 –  Michigan City          2:00pm –   4:00pm (central time)

October 29 –  New Castle           9:00 am – 11:00am (eastern time)

 

If there is sufficient response for another area of the state, consideration will be given toward an additional training utilizing the roundtable in that area. We could even set up one Saturday morning meeting centralized to those needing training.

We need to be contacted at least one week prior of the dates above to allow for space and seating arrangements to be made by the schools.

 

** For those of you who already have kits, it would be very helpful to see some of the composite evaluation forms from completed trainings.  I will be talking about them next week with Homeland Security.

 

Thank you for your commitment to provide local awareness and training to your first responders!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Brian L. Ketzner

Family Mentor

 

Indiana Resource Center for Autism

Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

Indiana University, Bloomington

2853 E. 10th St.

Bloomington, IN 47408

812-855-6508

bketzner@...

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca

 

 

Half Full or Half Empty??  My glass is Full – though some is not visible to you or me!!!