Guest article by Kris Steinmetz, Autism Society of Iowa executive director Children and adults with autism can have a reaction to...

Last month, individuals from the Iowa Family Leadership Training Institute and Child Health Specialty Clinics Family Advisory Council took to the Iowa State Capitol for...

Take Action. Be Heard. Create Change. We have extended the deadline for ID Action Voter Education Grant applications to Monday, April 16. The grant...

March is nationally recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The month is devoted to raising the public’s awareness of developmental...

Are you ready for another great Make Your Mark! Conference? We are excited to announce that the Make Your Mark! Conference will be...

  When Amanda Devereaux and her husband found out their second child was going to be born with a preventable disability, they started...

On January 8, a new legislative session starts in Iowa. ID Action wants to make sure you’re prepared. We’re kicking off the legislative session with a...

If you would like to meet with your legislators in Des Moines during the upcoming legislative session, consider applying for ID Action’s Capitol Day...

Your experiences are valuable. ID Action regularly shares the stories of Iowans with disabilities with our newsletter subscribers, social media...

If you want to get involved in your community, volunteering offers endless opportunities. Get started by finding a cause or organization that matters to...

Secretary Pate begins mailing Voter ID cards to registered voters without driver's licenses, non-driver ID's DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul...

Our annual Make Your Mark! Conference took place September 20-22 at the Honey Creek Resort in Moravia, Iowa. We were excited to welcome more than 70...

Every September, organizations around the U.S. host voter registration drives and educational events in honor of National Voter Registration Day. ID...

The Iowa Legislature will reconvene in January 2018, and ID Action has information you can use to get ready. ID Action Advocacy ToolkitFind out how to...

ID Action exists to help Iowans with disabilities connect with civic and political opportunities in their communities. If you’re looking to get more...

Do you volunteer with an advocacy group or a community organization? Have you overcome barriers or obstacles in your life? Do you have a positive...

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) announced Friday that Michael Randol has been appointed director of the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME). In...

MEDIA CONTACT: Lane Till, Capture Marketing  lane@capturemarketinggroup.com 515-423-0992 (office)515-230-8851 (mobile) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  “Inclusion Drives...

MEDIA CONTACT: Lane Till, Capture Marketing  lane@capturemarketinggroup.com 515-423-0992 (office)515-230-8851 (mobile) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  “Inclusion Drives...

MEDIA CONTACT: Lane Till, Capture Marketing  lane@capturemarketinggroup.com 515-423-0992 (office)515-230-8851 (mobile) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  “Inclusion Drives...

MEDIA CONTACT: Lane Till, Capture Marketing  lane@capturemarketinggroup.com 515-423-0992 (office)515-230-8851 (mobile) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  “Inclusion Drives...

The Senate’s “Better Care Reconciliation Act” (BCRA) and a new bill, the "Obama Repeal Reconciliation Act" (ORRA), are being prepared for a vote next week. It...

National Disability Voter Registration Week is July 17-21.  As a part of this important week, ID Action wants to visit YOUR community to register voters with...

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announces the creation of a new, large print voter registration form to assist Iowans with low vision...

Change. It seems to be the one constant in life. Learn how you can prepare for and be a part of the changes that are happening in your life...

National Disability Voter Registration Week is July 17-21, and ID Action wants to host an event in your community. The REV UP campaign...

On April 5, 2017, 266 Iowans with disabilities and advocates visited the Iowa State Capitol for Advocating for Change Day. Participants kicked off the day...

Are you involved in your community? Do you have opinions about the changes in healthcare or government? Do you take action and speak up...

ID Action was pleased to award not one but two Lifetime Achievement Awards this year. This year’s award winners are well-deserving...

As you have probably heard, the US Senate is planning to move forward to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)...

Cherie Clark and Becky Harker selected for the 2017 ID Action Lifetime Achievement Award Des Moines, IA – Iowans with Disabilities in Action (ID Action) has selected...

In March, we celebrate and raise awareness of the many contributions those with developmental disabilities make in communities throughout Iowa....

The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, ID Action and Polk County Health Services invite you to join us for Advocating for Change Day...

Mark your calendars now to save the date for the 2017 Make Your Mark! Conference. We are excited to announce that this year’s conference...

infoNET Bill TrackerThe infoNET bill tracker helps you watch some of the bills Iowa legislators are considering this year. We do not track all bills...

ID Action loves to hear from you! We want to fill our Facebook page and website with stories about you and other Iowans who are making a difference in...

Volunteering is a great way to become active in your community, but sometimes getting started can be scary. Here are a few tips to help you get...

Join us for the 2017 Advocating for Change Day on April 5, 2017. Before heading up to the Capitol to meet with your legislators, you will have...

The 2017 legislative session will begin on January 9. You can stay up-to-date on the issues with infoNET, Iowa’s disability policy resource. It is a free...

ID Action’s public policy publication, infoNET, provides you with an easy way to connect with your legislators through the Grassroots Advocacy Center. You do...

Need help telling your story and crafting your message? At ID Action we talk all the time about how important it is to effectively tell your story and...

Mark your calendars now to save the date for the 2017 Make Your Mark! Conference. We are excited to announce that next year’s conference...

Do you or someone you know have a story you would like to share? We are looking for individuals with disabilities who would be willing to share their...

Now that the election is over, have you found yourself wondering what you can do? The good news is your work as an advocate doesn’t have to come to an end,...

The election might be over, but our work as advocates is just getting started. There will be a lot of new faces in the Iowa Legislature next year, and this...

As you continue your advocacy work, here are a few resources you can use. Advocacy toolkit — ID Action has put together a toolkit to help you prepare to...

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This annual recognition celebrates the contributions individuals with disabilities bring to the workplace and spreads...

SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Mark your calendars today for the next Advocating for Change Day! Watch our website, social media and...

Our annual Make Your Mark! Conference took place October 4-7 at Honey Creek Resort and was a great success. With more than 100 people in attendance, we saw...

Are you part of an advocacy group that would like to visit the Iowa State Capitol to talk with your legislators? ID Action is offering Local Capitol Day...

DES MOINES, Iowa, (September 20, 2016) – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently announced new appointments to the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council...

DES MOINES, Iowa, (September 20, 2016) – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently announced new appointments to the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council...

DES MOINES, Iowa, (September 20, 2016) – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently announced new appointments to the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD...

As we continue with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we would like to share Charity's story with you. Charity began her journey with...

As we continue to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, it's important to recognize the impact of hiring someone with a disability....

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. ID Action recently met with Steven Acklin from Cedar Falls, Iowa. Steven recently took a...

2016 Make Your Mark! ConferenceOctober 5-7, 2016Honey Creek Resort12633 Resort Dr, Moravia, IA 52571                                           Preparation....

(Sessions are subject to change, and additional sessions will be added as they are confirmed.) Taking Charge in a Managed Care World Do you want to know more about how the...

The 2016 general election will be here before we know it, and it is time to start preparing now. ID Action offers a voter training to inform and educate Iowans...

The Department of Justice has launched a new Accessible Technology section for ADA.gov, its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Web site, to further assist...

In March, we celebrate and raise awareness of the many contributions those with developmental disabilities make in communities throughout Iowa. As the...

On March 9, ID Action spent the day at the Capitol with an advocacy group from the Clarion area. They traveled to Des Moines to attend an advocacy...

2016 Make Your Mark! ConferenceOctober 5-7, 2016Honey Creek Resort 12633 Resort Dr, Moravia, IA 52571 Preparation. Participation. Power.Mark your calendar...

In the 1987 proclamation declaring March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, President Ronald Reagan stated, “I invite all individuals, agencies, and...

Whether it's working at Hy-Vee, raising money for the Variety Club, planning and participating in the Youth Leadership Forum or volunteering at the...

On March 1, 2016, athletes from Special Olympics Iowa raised awareness of the hurtful impact of the R-word and asked others to pledge to eliminate the word from their...

Chris Evans is a junior at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. He wanted to get to know others in the Grand View community, so he started going...

UPDATES REGARDING CMS APPROVAL Find the Governor's news release here. Read the Letter from Iowa Medicaid Director Mikki Stier here. Read the Letter from CMS...

Are you ready? The 2016 Iowa caucuses are just over a month away, and the nation is waiting to find out who Iowans will support in both the Democratic and Republican...

More than 120 Iowans attended the ID Action Make Your Mark! Conference and are now ready to make an impact in their communities. Attendees went to...

Attendees at the 2015 Make Your Mark! Conference had the opportunity to share how they plan to make their mark in their communities when they leave the conference. Here is what they...

ID Action’s public policy publication, infoNET, has added a new tool to your advocacy toolbox — the Grassroots Action Center. You do not need to know...

Grassroots Action Center ID Action’s public policy publication, infoNET, has added a new tool to your advocacy toolbox — the Grassroots Action Center. You do not need...

Are you part of an advocacy group that would like to visit the Iowa State Capitol to talk with your legislators? ID Action is offering Local Capitol Day...

Tyler Gerdts is a junior at West High School in Davenport, Iowa, and participates on the school's cross country team with his service dog, Hugo. “I’ve been...

ID Action recently met with Devin Lile from Johnston, Iowa. Devin shared with us about working at Unity Point—Methodist Hospital, how he got there and...

ID Action recently met with Joel and Neal Rydberg from Des Moines, Iowa. Joel and Neal shared with us why employment was important to them and what...

ID Action recently met with Kyle Stumpf from Dubuque, Iowa. Kyle shared with us what working at Papa John's has done for him. Watch Kyle's video to...

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. ID Action recently met with Marissa Schletzbaum from Pleasantville, Iowa. Marissa talked...

ID Action is pleased to present its 2014-2015 Annual Report. To view this report click here. 

ID Action is excited to host its second Make Your Mark! Self-Advocacy Conference October 7-9, 2015 at the Coralville Marriott in Coralville, IA. Register by...

The 2015 Make Your Mark! Conference will offer a series of sessions to help Iowans with disabilities build their leadership, storytelling and advocacy...

In early 2016, Iowans will be in the process of nominating candidates to run in the 2016 general election for president of the United States. Instead of going...

ID Action is pleased to host our first Make Your Mark! Video Contest! The contest is a chance for Iowans with disabilities to show others around the state how they...

Do you want Iowans throughout the state to take advantage of your resources and information? We know you do, so take advantage of the opportunity to...

Learn how to make the ADA work for you. Know your rights under the ADA, learn common-sense approaches to what the ADA does for people with...

The Iowa Department of Human Services is announcing the dates of four public meetings regarding the Iowa High Quality Health Care Initiative (Medicaid...

Many people with disabilities use Medicare and/or Medicaid services for their healthcare and community living. In 1965, President Johnson signed...

ID Action was proud to name Tammy Nyden, Iowa City, IA, as the 2014 Advocate of Year. The Advocate of the Year award is presented each year to an...

ID Action is excited to continue the success of our inaugural conference with a second Make Your Mark! Conference October 7-9, 2015 at the Coralville...

The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) is looking for individuals to join the council. Do you the following describe you? Are...

Disability.gov had a number of resources for you.  Click here for information about your rights as an individual with a disability or as a parent of a...

Iowa Seeks Inclusion for Developmental Disabilities Month March 27, 2015 - John Michaelson, Public News Service (IA) Play Audio in Browser...

Our video this week comes from a familiar face, Adam Reynolds of Des Moines. Adam lives in the East Village and is an active member of his community....

Since its spring break this week, we are sharing a video from last year with you. The third video in our series for Developmental Disabilities...

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Words Matter – Eliminate Labels Our words and the meanings we attach to them create attitudes, drive...

An American Baptist leader says this summer’s 25th anniversary of President George H.W. Bush signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act provides an...

U.S. Department of Labor Releases February Unemployment Rate for People with Disabilities On March 6, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor...

Social Security Ticket to Work Program to Hold Webinar On March 25, 2015 from 3-4:30 pm EST, the Social Security Ticket to Work program will hold a webinar...

  Bureau of Engraving and Printing Distributes Free Currency Reader The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is distributing a free currency...

The Department of Justice is pleased to announce that, as of today, individuals wishing to file ADA complaints with the Department will be able to...

The Iowa International Center offers free interpretation services for emergency situations. These services are offered for limited English proficient...

The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division together with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and Office of Special...

A common barrier to financial stability for individuals with disabilities is on its way out with Congressional approval of the Achieving a Better Life...

 Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities By now you've received your W2 and other tax documents. And, if you are like most taxpayers with and...

Join us for the 2015 Advocating for Change Day on April 22, 2015. At a special training session you can learn how to effectively develop and deliver...

Brandon Arkland won’t let his Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis be a barrier to accomplishing his goals. Instead, he embraces it and turns what others often view as a negative impact of...

2014 ID Action ‘Advocate of the Year’ Nominations Needed Each year, ID Action recognizes one outstanding ID Action registrant who advocates to improve...

ID Action will provide eight (8) Capitol Day grants up to $500 each for advocacy training and support to local advocacy groups interested in meeting with their...

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and ID Action needs your voice to help us raise awareness. You have an opportunity to make an impact in...

More than 100 attendees, exhibitors and volunteers from all over Iowa participated in the inaugural ID Action Self-Advocacy Conference in Coralville,...

The theme of the 2014 ID Action Self-Advocacy Conference was “Make Your Mark” and that is just what we hope attendees will do with the...

ID Action’s public policy publication, infoNET, has added a new tool to your advocacy toolbox—the Grassroots Advocacy Center.  You do not need to know the...

The 2015 legislative session is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2015. Here are a few ways that you can get ready and be prepared to advocate on issues...

Advocating for Change Day will be held on April 22, 2014. Save the date so you can participate in a day specifically intended for Iowans affected by...

ID Action has been sharing the personal stories of Iowans with disabilities with you for the last two years. From stories about community involvement and...

Check out this year's conference video!

Heading into her senior year of high school, Lydia Dawley already knows her plans for the future. She has picked out the college she would like to attend and she knows exactly what she would...

The ID Action Self-Advocacy Conference is quickly approaching! Register by September 3 to take advantage of several discounted offers. Early Bird Discount:...

In each issue, we continue to share with you steps to become a good self-advocate. Next are steps 11 & 12. To view all 12 Steps to Successful Advocacy, please...

The ID Action Self-Advocacy conference has pulled together a series of sessions to help Iowans with disabilities build their leadership and advocacy skills to...

As each election season rolls around, you probably find yourself wondering where the candidates stand on the issues. ID Action has put together a six-step...

Join us at the 2014 ID Action Self-Advocacy Conference in October! We have all heard the expression “make your mark,” but what does it really mean?  Ray Kroc made...

The passion that Dan Dague has for his community is inspiring. Since graduating from Maquoketa High School in 1987, Dan has dedicated his life to being an active member of...

The 2014 Iowa Legislative session ended on May 2, 2014. Legislators hoped to end the session before the 100-day deadline but in the end went 10 days...

ID Action awarded the United-Coalition of Adaptive Inclusive Recreation (U-CAIR) a Regional Advocacy Coalition grant for 2014. U-CAIR is a network of...

As we head into the general election we will soon be overwhelmed with campaign calls, emails, mailings and knocks on our doors from candidates or their...

The 2014 general election will be here before we know it, and it is time to start preparing now. ID Action offers the Make Your Mark Voter Training to...

In each issue, we continue to share with you steps to become a good self-advocate. Next are steps 9 & 10.  To view all 12 Steps to Successful Advocacy, please...

ID Action is excited to announce that the first annual ID Action Advocacy Conference will be held October 1-3, 2014 at the Coralville Marriott in...

Emmanuel Smith always knew he wanted to be involved in advocacy. He said, “at a young age, my parents instilled in me the idea that we are all stewards of each other.” This idea...

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness month. This year, we are focusing on community involvement and inclusion. Communities throughout Iowa are...

In each issue, we continue to share with you steps to become a good self-advocate. Steps 7 & 8 focus on developing strong communication skills and determining the best...

Youth Leadership Forum is a five day leadership training program for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade high school students with disabilities. The next...

The Make Your Mark! Voter Training is designed to educate and inform attendees of their rights and responsibilities as voters. We will cover the most...

ID Action spent the day at the Capitol with an advocacy group from the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. They traveled to Des Moines to meet with their...

2012-2013 ID Action Annual Report

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as “Obamacare” was signed into law in 2010 to increase the quality, accessibility and affordability of health...

1. Plans must cover mental health and substance abuse services. Plans must cover “essential health benefits” which includes mental health. Plans will be required to...

By Karen Sullivan, Program Manager and Lead Navigator, Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa (VNS of Iowa) was one of three...

By Linda Hinton, Government Relations Manager, Iowa State Association of Counties This expansion of access to health insurance coverage under the...

If you need help or have questions about your options, you can contact a navigator or a certified application counselor (CAC). Navigators have been...

“I matter to my community because my community matters to me.” This is the Spencer Aktion Club’s motto and defines what is important to the members of the...

The 2014 Legislative Session is quickly approaching and now is the time to prepare as an advocate. Building a personal Advocacy Toolkit will help you to have the...

Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube provide a great opportunity to stay informed and connected and allow you to share information. Here are few ways you...

We have heard from many Iowans that being involved in their community is an important part of their life. It makes them feel as though they are a part...

Each year, ID Action offers opportunities for Iowans to visit the Capitol and talk with their legislators. In 2013, ID Action held Advocating for...

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, ID Action held our first Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign. The goal of this campaign was...

In each editions of the Iowa Advocacy Connection we share with you the 12 steps to Successful Advocacy. We are now on steps 5 & 6. A full list of these steps can be found...

In October, we will celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month amidst a growing sentiment that the participation of people with disabilities in the...

My Choice Employment……a new service of Hope Haven, Inc. Work is an integral part of our lives; we draw meaning, value, and a sense of contribution from our...

Iowa is embarking on a very significant change with regard to employment services for individuals with disabilities and it is an emotional topic. It may help...

  The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS), the Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS), and the Department for the Blind (IDB), in...

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and all Iowans are encouraged to participate. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month...

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ID Action is excited to get involved and raise awareness about disability and the impact that...

For Eric Frank, helping and encouraging others is a way of life. Growing up in the small Northwest Iowa town of Lake City, Eric was surrounded by family, and a...

ID Action is offering funding to support the development of Regional Advocacy Coalitions throughout the state. The coalitions will focus on providing...

In October, ID Action will be conducting the Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign. The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness that every Iowan with...

Are you a member of an Advocacy group?  If so, we want to hear from you and learn more about your group or organization. Share your group’s mission, tell...

At Advocating for Change Day, we talked about the 12 Steps to Successful Advocacy. In the last issue of the Iowa Advocacy Connection, we shared steps 1 & 2 and now we...

In March, many of you attended Advocating for Change Day at the Iowa State Capitol and had the opportunity to attend an advocacy training and talk with your...

AAPD is collecting stories from people with disabilities who face the tough choice of foregoing economic opportunities such as promotions, higher pay,...

After Year-Long Investigation, Senator Tom Harkin (IA-D) Releases Report Showing ADA’s Promise of Integration is Not Being Met for Many Americans with...

New York Times's Editorial Board urges the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York Times

Communities across the United States have seen their share of violent shootings over the last several years. Immediately following, there is often a...

The U.S. Surgeon General has determined that the likelihood of violence from people with mental illness is low. There are many reasons why violence occurs in our...

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has a long-standing record of strongly supporting the Second Amendment to the United States which states, “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the...

-Dave & Joan Becker Although our son, Mark Becker, just happens to fall in the less than 1% category of those with mental illness that did actually...

-Sheriff Michael Fitzgerald, Story County As Immediate Past President of the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), my perception on the gun control...

- Jessica Tull Allowing law enforcement to access mental health records is a bad idea. There are two main reasons I believe this: First, it would deter...

It has been over six months since the mass killing at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and the incident has renewed a national...

The National Council on Disabilities released two new publications concerning the Medicaid program - A Medicaid Block Grant Program: Implications for...

Labor Department Announces Theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2013 The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability...

A McDonald's in Oakhurst CA has agreed to pay $100,000 to former employee Derrick Morgan to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed against...

A monthly publication of NCHPAD - the NATIONAL CENTER on HEALTH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, and DISABILITY www.NCHPAD.org Not a subscriber? To sign up for...

The Quality Mall recently launched a new department titled "Women's Issues."  It already has more than 40 products that explore topics like physical health...

From Self-Determination and Aging: "Throughout this publication we provide examples highlighting the importance of hearing the voices of adults aging...

In March, over 600 Iowans with disabilities, advocates and family members joined ID Action at the Iowa State Capitol for Advocating for Change Day. Attendees let...

If you were not able to attend Advocating for Change Day, you can still get the information from the training session. Go to www.idaction.org and click...

ID Action is proud to name Angie Plager, Cambridge, IA, as the Advocate of Year. Angie is a dedicated advocate who according to Easter Seals is their...

Dave McCalley, Cedar Falls, is the recipient of the 2013 ID Action Lifetime Achievement Award. Dave has been a leader in advocating for Iowans with...

At Advocating for Change Day, we talked about these steps. Throughout the next few issues of the Iowa Advocacy Connection, we will share them...

Over the past several months, ID Action has been visiting communities throughout the state, meeting with advocates to hear their self-advocacy stories. In...

Thank you to everyone that attended Advocating for Change Day at the Iowa State Capitol. The stories that were shared affected not only legislators; they...

Dave McCalley selected for the 2013 ID Action Lifetime Achievement Award.   Des Moines, IA - Iowans with Disabilities in Action (ID Action) has selected...

In 2009, Congress passed and President Obama signed into the law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also referred to as the “ACA” or...

Governor Branstad has stood firm in his opposition to expanding Medicaid in Iowa and since then, he has noted his concern with Iowa taxpayers being stuck with large costs down the road because...

My parents brought their children up to be involved in our community, and to act when we had a chance to make a difference. I was taught the same values by my...

The Affordable Care Act gives states the option of expanding their Medicaid programs to enroll individuals earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty...

For those of us who work in health care, the predominant legislative issue this year has been the state’s pending decision on accepting Medicaid expansion as...

As counties are moving forward with the MH/DD redesign efforts, Medicaid expansion affords us the opportunity to look at services, especially to those...

Senate Democrats have offered what they consider a compromise to address the Governor’s concern over the current federal deficit and the lack of confidence he...

Disability.gov has published a guide titled, "A Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning."  The guide assists...

Click the link below to view Issue 1 as a pdf and print.

Welcome to the new newsletter from ID Action – the Iowa Advocacy Connection. Over the last year, ID Action has placed a greater focus on creating connections...

As an elementary student in Nevada, Iowa, Rick Samson, learned the importance of being a self-advocate. As the only student in his small school with a...

Advocating for Change Day will be held on March 27, 2013. ID Action and Polk County Health Services invite you to participate in a day specifically for...

Each year ID Action recognizes one outstanding ID Action registrant who advocates to improve the lives of Iowans with disabilities. ID Action is now...

Are you part of an advocacy group that would like to visit the Iowa State Capitol and talk with your legislators? ID Action is offering Local Capitol...

ID Action is excited to announce the launch of our new websites. Check out the new opportunities you have to stay informed and connected. Here are a...

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and ID Action needs your voice to help us raise awareness. You have an opportunity to make an impact in...

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has issued guidance on the legal responsibilities of school districts to provide equal access...

Welcome to the first edition of Perspectives in Policy, a new publication launched by Iowans with Disabilities in Action (ID Action) in partnership with the Iowa...

Like all people, my perspectives on policy are influenced greatly by my life experiences. I have a history of being what my parents called a “funny looking kid.” I have a tremor...

As a mother of a son who has autism, Patti Todd’s perspective has been shaped by focusing on the best ways to maximize the benefits her son receives as a waiver recipient in the state of Iowa. Patti and her...

My perspective on disability services in Iowa began forming at age 11 as I watched the battles my mother fought for my 13-year-old brother who lost his eyesight due to complications...

Representative Heaton is from Iowa House District 91, representing all of Henry County and North Lee County in southeast Iowa. He is the co-chair of the Health and Human Services (HHS)...

Senator Hatch has a long history of working with and advocating for Iowans with disabilities and disability-related issues. Over the years he has had many experiences that have shaped his...

—David R. VanNingen, Hope Haven Inc. I applaud the vision that employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred outcome… for all...

—Aaron Anderson, Roger Girard, Koki Nakagawa & Nathaniel Pierson Members of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) share varying perspectives on...

There has been a growing sentiment that the low participation rate of people with disabilities in the workforce is unacceptable and that people with developmental...

—Bill Stumpf, Father and team nurse  for persons with physical and intellectual disablities I am the father of a 22 year old son with an intellectual...

—Sherry O. Becker, North Iowa Vocational Center, Inc., Mason City, Iowa My commitment to increasing job placement and competitive employment outcomes...

Earlier this year, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill that made big changes in the state’s adult mental health and disability services system. The legislation...

As we are all preparing to celebrate the new year, we must also be planning for the next important political process to begin. The 85th General Assembly of the...

When the 2013 legislative session begins there is a need to continue to make mental health and disability service financing a priority. Counties...

Tina Terrell and Dennis Bahr are nervous about their futures. They are experienced, capable and valued members of the workforce at Cherokee Work Services and in the community of...

Ben Taber is a young Polk County resident who is living and working with Asperger Syndrome. In a recent meeting about the Mental Health and Disability...

Iowa, like the nation, is facing a mounting challenge to meet the needs of an aging population and ensure access to support services and choice for people of all abilities. Direct...

Everyone that we spoke with while preparing this issue of Perspectives in Policy agreed that Iowa’s direct care workforce is an invaluable resource that is essential to the delivery of...

Our daughter was placed in our home, as a foster child, when she was 9 days old.  She had been exposed to methamphetamine and, as a result, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy...

I have a great deal of passion and love for the work I do in direct care. It is sad, but a good part of the public world does not view direct care as a valued...

The ID Action team has been on the road over the last several weeks providing trainings on the voting process to Iowans affected by disability. The training focuses...

In early 2012, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill that made big changes in the state’s adult mental health and disability services system. The legislation...

One piece of advice that Koki Nakagawa would give to encourage other self-advocates or those that want to become better self-advocates is to "Just be yourself." He...

Mark your calendars – Advocating for Change Day is scheduled for March 27th.  Join Iowans with Disabilities in Action at the Capitol to meet with your...

On September 28, 2012, Governor Terry E. Branstad signed a proclamation declaring October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Iowa....

ID Action provides grant funds, advocacy trainings and support to local advocacy groups who are interested in meeting with their legislators at the Capitol and advocating on...

Getting ready to vote takes time, from researching candidates and understanding their position on issues to finding your polling place and heading out to...

Check out the new ID Action calendar of events on www.idaction.org. We want you to get involved in your communities and take action. Leading up to the...

ID Action will be launching a new website this fall. Please continue to check www.idaction.org for information and resources to help you get involved.

If you would prefer to receive this publication via email, unsubscribe or change your name or address, please contact ID Action at 866-432-2846 or...

  ID Action registrants discuss eliminating the "r" word.

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