Saturday, July 16, 2011

Fly in/Drive In - Open House

Airplanes, skydiving, good food and family fun are all part of the Fifth Annual
Fly In/Drive In - Open House at Indianapolis Executive Airport.

Admission and parking are absolutely free. Prots from food or refreshments
will go toward helping Down Syndrome families throughout Indiana. Since
2007, Indy Exec and Montgomery Aviation have raised more than $45,000 for
Down Syndrome Indiana.

And this year there is something new. Rolls Royce has joined our team of
sponsors with a unique event display and an extremely generous contribution.
For every visitor to the Open House, Rolls Royce will donate one dollar to
Down Syndrome Indiana.

And that’s not all! Airport visitors will have the opportunity to see the only
Redbird FMX -ight simulator in public use in all of Indiana! Pilots and -ight
students -y all sorts of aircraft simulating all conditions without ever leaving
the ground. You will want to see this demonstration!

Saturday, August 6th 10AM - 2PM
Indianapolis Executive Airport
11329 East SR 32, Zionsville, IN 46077
3 miles east of US 421 / 6 miles west of US 31


Contacts:
Andi Montgomery
Indy Exec
317.769.4487

Claire Chappell
Rolls-Royce
317.230.5833

Lisa Tokarz-Gutierrez
Down Syndrome Indiana
317.313.9615

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

College can be an Option!

New Website Encourages College as an Option for Children with an Intellectual Disability

The Indiana Postsecondary Education Coalition recently launched a website to inspire families of young children with an intellectual disability to consider college as an option available to their child when (s)he graduates high school. The website is www.thinkcollegeindiana.org. Now, families, educators and employers have a resource that emphasizes the value of a college life experience for ALL.

The goal of the coalition and the website is to begin to tear down the barriers that have excluded students with intellectual disabilities from the experiences of college. The coalition believes that individuals with an intellectual disability can and should have the opportunity to gain meaningful employment that includes a full-time career , a living wage and insurance benefits if they so choose. In fact, the Indiana Postsecondary Education Coalition envisions a world in which young adults with intellectual disabilities have the option of electing college as part of their planning as they transition from high school to the adult world. A college experience, which can include, academic, social and vocational components is really about providing opportunities to gain knowledge and skills that can change a life of dependence to one of independence and productive work!

“ Currently the only known college in Indiana that offers a program for individuals with a developmental disability is IUPUI and we are so grateful for the work that Pat Rogan is doing there! Now, we want more opportunities for students with an intellectual disability to experience college and the launch of this website is just one more step in creating the awareness needed for a more inclusive society for all.” Said Lisa Tokarz-Gutierrez, Executive Director of Down Syndrome Indiana, one of the organizations active in the coalition.

About the Postsecondary Education Coalition

The Indiana Postsecondary Education Coalition is a statewide effort of advocacy organizations including Down Syndrome Indiana (DSI), the ARC of Indiana, the Autism Society of Indiana (ASI), Goodwill, the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University, IUPUI, the National Down Syndrome Society, Passages, Inc., and of course parents, educators and self advocates promoting postsecondary education (college) options for students with a developmental disability.

It is important to note that this is a long-term process. It may take years to make this a widely accepted option but the good news is there is a team in place that is ready to stick with it for however long it may take. For more information on the Indiana Postsecondary Education Coalition, please visit www.thinkcollegeindiana.org.