AUCDigest
September 28, 2007 • Volume 7, Number 9
Jan Moss of the OK Center for Learning and Leadership (UCEDD/LEND) Honored as One of Top Fifty Women in Oklahoma. On September 20, Jan Moss was recognized as one of The Journal Record’s “50 Making a Difference” leading women in Oklahoma. Jan serves as a Family Advocate at the UCEDD and LEND program. Congratulations, Jan!
Learning Exchange and Collaboration Between Westchester Institute for Human Development (NY UCEDD/LEND) and Puerto Rico UCEDD. Starting this month, the Westchester Institute for Human Development in Valhalla, New York will be including three faculty members from The University of Puerto Rico as trainees in its LEND Program. They will participate through use of a blended learning methodology that combines distance education with face to face sessions. Trainees will visit Westchester three times during the year to attend LEND sessions in person and at other times will participate via videoconferencing. The Instituto de Deficiencias en el Desarrollo, Centro Universitario de Excelencia (UCEDD) of the University of Puerto Rico is assisting in the management and delivery of this program.
Center for Human Development (AK UCEDD) Grant Addresses Violence Against Women with Disabilities. The DD Council, in partnership with the UCEDD, has been awarded a three year grant from the Department of Justice Office for Violence Against Women. The first year will focus on an in-depth needs assessment in two communities in southcentral Alaska and the development of a strategic plan. For more information, email Larrisa Cummings or call 907-264-6279.
Rural Institute (MT UCEDD) Participates on State-Level Transition Task Force. Montana was one of six states involved in the 2005-2007 National Governors Association Policy Academy to Improve Outcomes for Young Adults with Disabilities. To ensure the state’s participation results in systemic change, the Governor convened a task force to work toward creating a comprehensive, cohesive transition system. The task force includes representatives from the Rural Institute Transition Projects, state departments such as Public Health and Human Services, the Governor’s Office, the state Protection and Advocacy agency, the state Developmental Disabilities Council, and the Office of Public Instruction. Most importantly, several young people with disabilities are being asked to join – their expertise and personal experiences with transition will be invaluable. For more information, please contact Ellen Condon, Transition Projects Director.
Center for Persons with Disabilities (UT UCEDD) Hosting Web Accessibility Training Workshop. WebAIM, a UCEDD project, is hosting a two day web accessibility training workshop on October 24-25, 2007. This intensive, hands-on training will cover everything from basic web accessibility principles to advanced accessibility techniques. No prior web accessibility knowledge is required, but an understanding of web design and development is recommended. The training will be held in beautiful Logan, Utah in a full-featured computer lab. You'll have an opportunity to visit our Assistive Technology Lab and interact with users of many of these devices. Cost is $850 ($700 per person for groups of 2 or more). This includes breakfast and lunch on both days, and a copy of the WebAIM Guide to Web Accessibility. Registration conducted through the WebAIM Workshop Webpage. This event is also highlighted on the AUCD Network Events page.
National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities (Week-long Institute). Applications are being accepted for the January 13-18, 2008 Winter Leadership Institute at the University of Delaware (DE UCEDD). The Institute supports the development of skilled leaders who are passionate about quality, have the management and financial skills needed to run solid not-for-profit businesses and government agencies, are capable of assembling top-notch teams of caring staff. Application deadline is October 24, 2007.
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD) Receives Funding for Tobacco Prevention Project. Drs. Elizabeth DePoy and Stephen Gilson, Professors and Co-Coordinators of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies at the UCEDD, have been awarded $100,000 from the American Legacy Foundation for a one-year initiative entitled the Tobacco Access Portal Project. In collaboration with Trefoil Corporation of Orono, ME and the Bangor Literacy Center, this project involves the development, evaluation, and dissemination of a web portal that will translate existing tobacco prevention, cessation and control websites into low literacy and accessible formats. For further information, please contact Sandra Horne, Acting Coordinator of Dissemination.
News and Activities from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD)
 |
| Will McMillan and Rachel Putnam |
- First Perspective. Will McMillan and Rachel Putnam answered questions and facilitated a discussion about Down syndrome during the Molecular Foundation of Medicine course for first-year Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students. The course is led by Marshall Summar, M.D., Vanderbilt geneticist and member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development.
- Elise McMillan, J.D., Appointed Co-director of UCEDD. As the former UCEDD Associate Director and VKC Director of Community Outreach, McMillan has worked successfully for over a decade with community and State partners to develop a host of programs that serve persons with disabilities and their families. McMillan is a board member of The Arc U.S., the Disability Law and Advocacy Center of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. In the words of Elisabeth Dykens, Ph.D., UCEDD director, VKC associate director, and professor of psychology and human development, “This effort [VKC UCEDD] continues to be successful, due in large part to Elise’s enthusiasm and dedication. Like so many others at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, her efforts every day improve the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.”
- Access Nashville Collaborates with Restaurant Critic to Review Dining Accessibility. Access Nashville, a project of Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, is contributing accessibility information on Nashville dining establishments to the restaurant reviews in Nashville’s daily newspaper, The Tennessean. The primary objective is to identify “accessibility friendly” restaurants so all persons can make comfortable decisions about where to eat in Nashville, TN. Results are posted on the Access Nashville website, which is linked from the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau website. Access Nashville will now share its findings with over 600,000 Tennessean readers bringing disability/accessibility issues to the “front page.” For replication information, contact [email protected], 800-640-4636 ext. 13.
News and
Activities from the Center on Disability
and Community Inclusion (VT UCEDD)
- Children with Varying Abilities Experiencing New Therapeutic Set of Wheels. The UCEDD recently invited all Vermont children of varying abilities to an AmTryke Open House. The AmTryke therapeutic tricycle is designed to give children with varying abilities their first set of wheels. This unique tricycle, driven by hand, foot, or both, improves muscle tone and motor coordination, and increases self-esteem. Best of all, it is fun to ride! Sample trikes from AMBUCS Association, (the national non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to the trikes) were adjusted by volunteer therapists and 32 children were fitted to an appropriate trike. All attendees have been placed on a wish list, and CDCI is now coordinating fund-raising events with Vermont Friends of AMBUCS to fulfill all of the kids’ wishes for a set of wheels.
- UCEDD Co-sponsoring Vermont APSE Conversion Institute. With theme of “Time for Change...,” Closing Sheltered Workshops are being conducted October 29-30, 2007 in Burlington, VT. In 2002, Vermont closed its last sheltered workshop, changing the direction of vocational services for individuals with developmental disabilities to community-based employment. Vermont is pleased to invite participants from throughout the nation to examine the issues involved in this important process. For questions contact Bryan Dague at the UCEDD. The event is also featured on the AUCD Network Events webpage. For further information, please contact Michaella Collins, Dissemination Coordinator.
News from the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI-MA UCEDD)
- Hitting the TV Screen. The ICI television series, Employment for All, will be shown on Charter’s Channel 3 in Worcester. The show, hosted by ICI’s Amy Gelb, is geared to people with disabilities who are looking for work as well as any job seeker or person with an interest in employment or the employment field. Employment for All will run on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. beginning in the first week of October and will run for five weeks.
- Funded
for More Service Inclusion Activities. The Corporation for National and Community
Service (CNCS) increased funding to ICI to $1 million dollars for Year III for
its work on the National Service Inclusion Project. This is the third
year that the ICI as received grant funding from CNCS.
Contact Quinn Barbour for more information.
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