Resources
About Special Kids
About Special Kids (ASK) is Indiana’s Parent to Parent organization that works throughout the state to give support, answer questions and provide information and resources to families of children with special needs. ASK staff members are extensively and continually trained as well as parents of children with special needs; therefore, they can help other families and professionals understand the various systems that families encounter related to special needs. ASK has a parent liaison in each region of the state with our central office location in Indianapolis. As a parent, once you make contact with ASK you will be connected with a staff parent liaison who is trained extensively and an experienced parent of a child with special needs. Parent liaisons focus on teaching families how to anticipate child and family needs, identify appropriate resources, and access community systems to help them meet the needs of their children. Their central office is located at 7172 Graham Rd., Suite 100, Indianapolis IN 46250, 317-257-8683.
Adult Protective Services
The Adult Protective Services (APS) program was established to investigate reports and provide intervention and protection to vulnerable adults who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. APS field investigators operate out of the offices of county prosecutors throughout the state. If the APS unit has reason to believe that an individual is an endangered adult, the adult protective services unit shall investigate the complaint or cause the complaint to be investigated by law enforcement or other agency and make a determination as to whether the individual reported is an endangered adult. To be eligible for service under this program, an individual must be a resident of the state of Indiana, 18 years of age or older, physically or mentally incapacitated and reported as abused, neglected or exploited. The central office is located at 402 W. Washington St., P.O. Box 7083, MS21 Room W-454, Indianapolis IN 46204, 800-992-6978.
The Arc of Indiana
The Arc of Indiana is committed to all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities realizing their goals of learning, living, working and fully participating in the community. The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. They are on the front lines to empower families with information and resources to assist them in their journey of raising a child with a disability to lead a full and meaningful life, to empower people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to be self sufficient and independent to the greatest extent possible, to inspire positive change in public policy and public attitudes, to prevent disabilities through education about the dangers of drugs and alcohol while pregnant and advocating for all women to have quality prenatal care, and to serve as a spokesperson and advocate for families and their loved ones. Their central office is located at 107 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 800, Indianapolis IN 46204, 317-977-2375.
Keep up to date on important federal and state public policy issues from The Arc of Indiana and The Arc of the United States.
Sign up to receive action alerts and legislative updates in The Arc of Indiana Action Center.
The Bureau of Developmental Disabilities- District 6 (serving Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Union & Wayne Counties)
The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS), Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) provides services for individuals with developmental disabilities that enable them to live as independently as possible in their communities. BDDS assists individuals in receiving community supports and residential services using a person-centered plan to help determine which services are needed and who can best provide them. BDDS also monitors the quality of care and the facilities of those who are approved to provide these services in Indiana. The local office is located at 201 E. Charles St., Muncie IN 47305, 765-288-6516.
Connect 2 Help, 2-1-1
Connect 2 Help 2-1-1’s mission is to facilitate connections between people who need human services and those who provide them. Through the easy-to-remember 2-1-1 dialing code, Connect 2 Help serves solely to promote self-sufficiency, change lives and, as a result, improve the quality of life in our communities. In one year alone Connect 2 Help provided help to more than 300,000 callers, e-mailers, and visitors to our website to obtain basic needs such as food, shelter, heat, etc., legal assistance or help in finding help in fleeing domestic violence. To contact this service, dial 211 from any telephone.
Department of Child Services
DCS protects children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. The Department also administers child support, child protection, adoption and foster care throughout the state of Indiana. The DCS Central Office is located in the Indiana Government Center South at 302 W. Washington Street, Room E306, Indianapolis IN. The Delaware County office is located at 3600 W. Kilgore Ave., Suite 600, Muncie IN 47304, 765-751-9565. The number for the 24 hour child abuse hotline is 1-800-800-5556.
Department of Mental Health
The Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) sets care standards for the provision of mental health and addiction services to Hoosiers. DMHA is committed to ensuring that clients have access to quality services that promote individual, family and community resiliency and recovery. The division also certifies all community mental health centers and addiction treatment services providers. DMHA operates six psychiatric hospitals. DMHA provides funding support for mental health and addiction services to target populations with financial need and administers federal funds earmarked for substance abuse prevention projects. Contact the DMHA Consumer Service Line at 800-901-1133, dial 711 to access the Consumer Service Line if you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. The central office is located at 101 West Ohio St., Suite 1900, Indianapolis IN 46204, 1-800-669-4000.
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) enforces the civil rights laws of the State of Indiana. They investigate complaints of discrimination and educate organizations, companies, landlords, associations, and individuals on their rights and responsibilities under Indiana Civil Rights Laws. The central office is located at 100 North Senate Ave., Indiana Government Center North, Room N103; Indianapolis IN 46204, (800) 628-2909.
Indiana Disability Rights
Reaching out to Indiana Disability Rights is always the right move to make. Intake Advocates have over 30 years’ experience in the disability rights field. They will listen to you, and based on your individual situation, they will guide you to the best resources and organizations in Indiana. If we can’t help, we have great partnerships with organizations that may be able to offer you the services you need. They can be reached by phone at 317-722-5555 or 800-622-4845.
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (Medicaid)
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) was established to consolidate and better integrate the delivery of human services by state government. FSSA is dedicated to helping Hoosiers live productive, safe and healthy lives. Their programs include Aging services, disability services, child care, family resources, SNAP (food assistance), and Medicaid, as well as other health care plans. The central office is located at P.O. Box 1810, Marion IN 46952, 800-403-0864. The Delaware county office is located at 1107 South Tillotson Ave., Suite 2, Muncie IN 47304.
For more information on the Medicaid Waiver Guide, click below:
Medicaid Waiver Guide
Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
The Indiana Governor’s Council is an independent state agency that facilitates change. Their mission is to advance the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. This mission is accomplished through planning, evaluation, collaboration, education, research and advocacy. Their central office can be reached at Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, Indiana Government Center South-Room E145, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis IN 46204, 317-232-7770.
ICAP – Outreach (Utility Assistance Program)
The Interlocal Community Action Program (ICAP) helps individuals and families become self-sufficient. Programs are planned and developed to intervene at critical points in the causes of poverty including Head Start, WIC, energy assistance, weatherization, housing, legal services, women’s healthcare, and senior programs. The Delaware county office is located at 407 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 1794, Muncie IN 47308, (765) 288-8732.
Muncie Housing Authority (Section 8-housing/rent assistance)
The mission of the Muncie Housing Authority is to provide quality choices of affordable housing and to foster self-sufficiency and homeownership. They are located at 409 E. 1st Street, Muncie IN 47302, 765-281-1582 or 765-288-9242
NAACP
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. The Muncie Branch Unit #3063 can be contacted at P.O. Box 2901, Muncie IN 47308, 765-286-5598.
Ombudsman
The Indiana Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is a federal and state funded program that provides advocacy and related services for consumers of congregate long term care services, regardless of age or payer source. Congregate settings include nursing facilities, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, adult foster care homes and county operated residential care facilities. The mission of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is to improve the quality of life and care for residents of long term care facilities. The central office is located at 402 West Washington Street, Room W454, P.O. Box 7083, MS 21, Indianapolis IN 46207-7083, 800-622-4484.
Office for Civil Rights
Through the federal civil rights laws and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, OCR protects your fundamental nondiscrimination and health information privacy rights by teaching health and social service workers about civil rights, health information privacy, and patient safety confidentiality laws, by educating communities about civil rights and health information privacy rights, and by investigating civil rights, health information privacy, and patient safety confidentiality complaints to identify discrimination or violation of the law and taking action to correct problems. They can be contacted at Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 240, Chicago, IL 60601, (800) 368-1019.
Family and Caregivers Guide for the Disabled
The Family and Caregivers Guide for the Disabled contains an overview of the ways a family caregiver can make the caretaking process easier and more convenient for the people who have care and support needs as well as their caregivers.
Self-Advocates of Indiana
Self-Advocates of Indiana (SAI) is a statewide advocacy organization that empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Self-advocacy is important because it is a way for people to know that all people, including people with disabilities, have rights. Self-advocates are citizens who speak out and advocate and educate for equal rights, respect, and inclusion for all in the community. Self-advocacy is standing up for your rights, being in charge of your life, and being treated with respect. The central office is located at 107 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 800, Indianapolis IN 46204, 317-977-2375.
Social Security Administration
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program. Social Security pays disability benefits to people who can’t work because they have a medical condition that’s expected to last at least one year or result in death. Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays benefits to disabled adults and children with limited income and resources based on financial need. The Delaware county office is located at 600 N. Walnut St., Muncie IN 47305, 866-964-7586.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, offering them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. The central office is located at 6200 Technology Center Dr., Suite 105, Indianapolis IN 46278, the phone number for the state office is 800-742-0612 or 317-328-2000, the phone number for Delaware county is 765-287-0041.
Special Needs Living Magazine
A magazine for special needs families living Indiana. The stories are written by the community and help give hope, inspiration and encouragement to other families. They aim to turn this wonderful neighborhood into a true community through the stories they share. They are able to create and deliver a new issue every month thanks to the generosity of their advertising partners and the participation of neighbors!
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR) provides quality individualized services to enhance and support people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain or retain employment. The individual will work closely with a VR counselor throughout the process. Through active participation in their rehabilitation, people with disabilities achieve greater level of independence in their work place and living environments. Muncie Vocational Rehabilitation (Area 11) is located at 201 East Charles St., Suite 130, Muncie IN 47305, 765-282-9863 or 877-847-9890.
