Having trouble reading this email? Click here to view in a browser. May 29, 2018 Serving Indiana   What are 504 Plans and Individualized Education Plans? Scroll down for the answer. Dear Friends, I would like to introduce myself, for those of you who don’t already know me. I have been with our Chapter for almost two years now, having started as office manager under former Executive Director, Morgan McGill. In February of this year, I was named Interim Executive Director by our Board, and there has been such a flurry of activity since then, the dust has yet to settle. We hired Haley Norris as our new office manager, and our staff and board are excited for what’s to come. Truly, there is heightened energy with our Chapter, and we hope you feel it, too. In addition to our monthly statewide support groups, tai chi and yoga classes, and our incredible Walk to End Lupus Now, we added an instructional painting and Lupus 101 class in March, the upcoming Lupus Family Picnic on Sunday, June 3rd, and a fun, Howl-at-the-Moon outing sometime in August. We moved A Tasteful Affair from June to May so it would be during Lupus Awareness Month and this year’s event raised over $40K. And for the second year in a row, we partnered with Belardi Racing and Royal Purple Synthetic Oil. Very exciting to see The Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter logo –on 60 Indy Lights race cars! And just as exciting to have WTHR’s Lindsey Monroe broadcasting live from the track on Sat. May 12th and talking about the importance of lupus awareness.      Finally, and this is something I’m so very proud of –we’ve created an amazing video, #IAMLUPUS, starring some of our favorite people with lupus and this video will appear on WTHR several times, likely some time in June. Please like this video and share it far and wide with those you know and love. Click here to watch video. I hope you will join us for all the fun that this year holds. We are a strong community, and we’re just getting stronger. Thank YOU for your ongoing support. Sincerely, Lisa Kelly Interim CEO Lupus Family Picnic - Sun., June 3rd              We're very excited to host a Lupus Family Picnic this year and hope you'll join us for an afternoon of socializing, food, and games! We'll be providing hotdogs, baked beans, chips, fruit, cookies, bottled water and soft drinks. The picnic will provide people with lupus and their families an opportunity to meet others in the Indiana lupus community.   Date: Sunday, June 3, 2018 Time:  1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Location: Broad Ripple Park, 1550 Broad Ripple Ave. in Indianapolis Alcohol is prohibited. We will offer games including cyber-scavenger hunt, volleyball and corn hole. And what would a picnic be without facepainting! Faces by Joy will be on hand; check out some of her masterpieces to the left. The cost to register is $10 per person; $20 for a family (up to 4 people), with a $5 charge for each additional person. However, all registration fees will be refunded at event check-in.                  PURCHASE TICKETS  Walk to End Lupus Now Indianapolis - Sat., Sept. 29th This year's Walk will be held at Military Park/Canal Walk, 601 W. New York Street in Downtown Indianapolis.  This is the same location that the Walk was held in 2016. When you take part in a Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter's Walk to End Lupus Now™, you experience firsthand the power of the movement to end lupus. Join us in Indianapolis to raise money for lupus research, increase awareness of lupus, and rally public support for the estimated 1.5 million Americans who suffer from its brutal impact. Register online before August 15th and choose to immediately donate $25 and you will receive an EARLY BIRD Tshirt on Walk day! The Early Bird Tshirt will have the exact design of this year's Club 100 shirt but will be teal and will not have the Club 100 designation on the sleeve. This shirt will be in addition to the other shirts also available - remember, all shirts are individually earned! SIGN UP NOW TO WALK Things To Do! Support Group Meetings Faces of Lupus Calendar   LFA, Indiana offers Gentle Yoga and Tai Chi classes for people with lupus and one caregiver or support person. The cost is free, but registration for your first class is required. Watch and Learn about the health benefits of Yoga. Sign up now. When: Yoga meets on the first Tuesday of each month. Tai Chi meets the 4th Wednesday of each month. Both Classes are from 6:30-7:30 pm. Where: IU North Hospital, 11700 N. Meridian Street, Carmel. Learning Centers A & B. SAVE THE DATE! Get in the loop by attending the 2nd Annual In The Loop - Healthy Living with Lupus Symposium. This event is an educational symposium for people with lupus, family members, and anyone interested in learning more about lupus. Atendees will be able to select topics of interest from moring and afternoon breakout sessions. In The Loop will be held Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel (2501 S. High School Road, Indianapolis) from 9:30 am- 4:00 pm (8:30-9:30 will be check-in, breakfast, and exhibits). SAVE THE DATE! Do you love riding motorcycles and raising money for Lupus? Join Krazy Horse Krew's 7th Annual Rockin' Purple for Lupus Ride on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at VFW Post 1152 (920 N. Washington, Kokomo). Sign-in is from 11 am- 12:45 pm. The price is $15 for a single rider and $20 with a passenger. This price includes ride and food, as well as a chance to win auction prizes! For more information, check out their Facebook page. We hope you'll join us at one of our support group meetings this month! The philosophy of our support groups is to provide a warm and caring environment where people with lupus, their family members, caregivers, and loved ones can share their experiences, methods of coping, and insights into living with lupus.  LFA support groups help develop the best coping strategies to reduce stress that often accompanies living with a chronic illness. For specific meetings/locations, click here. We are looking for people with lupus to send us a picture of themselves to add to our "Faces of Lupus" Calendar. Your photo can be a selfie, a portrait, or a full-body shot. Please also send your birthdate and if possible, we will include your photo during your birthday month. Having your birthdate also helps us update our database so that we know age demographics of the people we serve. Please send your photos and information to Haley.The first 140 photos we receive will be featured. Online Support Group  What is photosensitivity? Our online support group is your opportunity to get support and guidance in the comfort of your own home.  The online support group meetings are held the last Monday of each month from 7 - 8 pm. The next meeting will be Monday, May 28th. So climb into a comfy spot with your laptop the fourth Monday of each month, and surround yourself with people who care and understand what you're going through. Support is only a click away. To register or learn more click here Photosensitivity is the term used to describe sensitivity to the ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight and other light sources, such as indoor fluorescent light. Photosensitivity can cause rashes, fever, fatigue, joint pain, and other symptoms in people with both cutaneous (skin) and systemic lupus. Excess exposure to UV rays is a common trigger for increased disease activity (flare) of both cutaneous lupus and systemic lupus How does photosensitivity affect people with lupus? Each person with lupus is unique in terms of how exposure to the UV rays of the sun or fluorescent lights may affect them. Some individuals will have new or increased skin rashes or sores (lesions). Those with systemic lupus may have increased joint pain, fatigue, fever, and flu like symptoms. Continue reading here Click the button below to become a Champion for Hope with your monthly gift of $10, $15, $25 or more to the Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter and make a difference in the lives of those affected by lupus. Your support will help bring us one step closer to our vision of a life free from lupus. Answer:  A 504 plan lays out accommodations and modifications for a student with a medical condition or physical disability to have the opportunity to perform at the same level as his or her peers. The Individualized Education Plan or Program (IEP) is part of the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Department of Education oversees IEPs through its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. IEPs are used for students who have mental, emotional, physical or learning disabilities but also for students whose health impairment is compromising their academic achievement. This is what distinguishes the IEP from the 504 plan. Read more here. You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter's newsletter. If you would like to unsubscribe or change your preferences, please click here.