AUCDigest

June 16, 2006 • Volume 6, Number 62

AUCD NETWORK NEWS

University of Oregon Honors Center on Human Development UCEDD Director. On June 7, UCEDD Director Hill Walker was a recipient of a special award to "UO Innovators" at the first annual recognition event for the University. The focus for this year's event was the cycle of innovation, with special awards given to top recipients of competitive grants, inventors with issued US patents assigned to the UO, or creators of successful UO spin-offs. Dr. Walker was honored as one of the top three recipients of research grant funds during the period FY01-05 at the University of Oregon.

UW-Madison Honors Waisman Center (WI UCEDD) Staff with Prestigious Award. Rita Hohlstein, clinical associate professor for the UCEDD, received the Wisconsin Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Leadership. During the past 35 years, Ms. Hohlstein has displayed uncommon leadership in creating, implementing and sustaining interdisciplinary training and clinical service programs at the Waisman Center. Ms. Hohlstein has made her greatest contribution to the Maternal and Child Health LEND Program as its most consistent, dedicated and creative backer.

Munroe-Myer Institute (NE UCEDD) AmeriCorps Project Named "Outstanding Program of the Year." The MMI Americorps project was named "Outstanding Program of the Year" by the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission on June 1st. Additionally, Dave Burgess, MMI Americorps member, was selected for the Nebraska First Lady's award in recognition as the Americorps "member of the year." The MMI Americorps program is funded under the State competition and has 19 members participating in the program annually, five of whom have disabilities. Members provide a wide variety of service activities from provision of behavioral health supports, the provision of interpreter services, to running a program that pairs sportsmen with disabilities with volunteers who support outdoor activities. The program is operated and run by Dr. Joe Evans (Principal Investigator) and Mandy Volkmer (Project Coordinator).

Center for Persons with Disabilities (UT UCEDD) Staff Highlighted in National Service Publication. The Corporation for National and Community Service has recently released a publication called VISTA ... In Service to America, Fighting Poverty for 40 Years, and they have highlighted Gordon Richins from the UT UCEDD. His story is on pages 49-50. Gordon served as a VISTA member between 1994 and 1996 and was one of very first grantees of the National Service Inclusion Project at the Institute for Community Inclusion (MA UCEDD) in 2001. Gordon currently serves as the Consumer Liaison at the UCEDD and the Co-Chair of the AUCD Council on Community Advocacy (COCA) .

Virginia LEND Program's Summer Internship Program in Genetic Counseling and Disabilities. The Virginia LEND Program in collaboration with the Department of Human Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting a Summer Internship Program in Genetic Counseling and Disabilities. The goal of the internship is to expose strong science majors from historically black colleges and universities to the fields of genetic counseling and other health care disciplines. Two undergraduate students were selected from a pool of applicants to participate in this eight week internship. The students are rotating through a variety of clinics, participating in LEND activities, working within the Department of Human Genetics and designing a project. Funding for the internship is provided through the AUCD genetic counseling grant. For further information, contact Janet Willis.

Partnership for People with Disabilities (VA UCEDD) Debuts Promotional Film. Richmond's landmark movie theater hosted the premiere of a new promotional film that highlights the School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities and raises community awareness regarding the needs and hopes of people with disabilities. "Linking People, Changing Lives," recognizes the Partnership's strong programs supporting families, individuals, and service providers across the age span from early childhood to adult," said the Partnership's executive director Dr. Fred Orelove,. The 16-minute film profiles more than a dozen people who have benefited from the services the partnership provides. For more information, contact Bill Tinsley at 804-828-8243.

"Cast" members of the film include (left to right): Erma Hill, Melissa Harden, Robert Doval, Keith Chapman. Front row: Eric Clark (in wheelchair), Elin Doval, Melissa O'Neill, Dana Yarbrough, Lori Gerson, Blake Chapman with son Davison, and film producer Eric Futterman.

Developing Workforce Leadership in Delaware.

• Direct Support Conference. Over 250 people participated in the first conference for direct support employees in Delaware in May 2006, sponsored by the Center for Disabilities Studies (DE UCEDD). The Center has been conducting ongoing research and advocacy concerning the direct support workforce on Delaware. Among its many initiatives, the Center offers values-based training for partners including state agencies and community-based providers. The Center is interested in developing further collaborations with other groups around the country working on workforce issues. For more information about the workforce development plans, contact Renee Bean at 302-831-3073.
• National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities. In response to significant concern about training and support for the next generation of leaders in the developmental disabilities field, the University of Delaware has established the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities under the direction of Steven Eidelman and Nancy Weiss. The training and educational programs offered by the National Leadership Consortium focus on ways for agencies to identify and develop emerging leaders, and the leadership theories that are relevant to the disability field. In July, the 2006 Summer Leadership Institute, co-sponsored by the ANCOR Foundation and The Council on Quality and Leadership, will be an intensive, week-long training for individuals identified as emerging leaders.

Activities from the Kennedy Krieger Institute (MD UCEDD)

• Custom Foot and Ankle Orthoses. The UCEDD recently hosted a weekend course to Physical Therapy professionals about prescribing and casting for custom foot and ankle orthoses. The 2-day training enabled therapists to better identify orthotic needs and prescribe appropriate orthoses for foot and ankle for pediatric patients. In addition, the therapists acquired the skills to evaluate and design custom-made orthotics for the patient. This approach is beneficial to the patients and families, because receiving services from a specialized doctor is eliminated. As a result, costs are less expensive and the amount of labor involved is less, decreases travel for the patient, and enables the patient's personal doctor to be more central in the process. Contact Karen E. Good for further details.
• Advanced Electrical Stimulation Course. An 8-hour advanced electrical stimulation course is planned for June 17th at the UCEDD. This is an advanced course for therapists who are already trained in the use of electrical stimulation in Neuro-Rehabilitation. This course will provide evidence-based interventions using Electro Therapeutic technologies in combination with other technologies to manage slow or non-responding impairments and functional deficits. Participants should become proficient in the selection and delivery of evidence-based best interventions therapeutic technologies in the management of selected impairments including chronic edema, disuse atrophy, joint mobility, slow to heal wounds, vascular impairments and abnormal neural sensory-motor control. Contact Karen E. Good for further details.

Activities from the A.J. Pappanikou Center (CT UCEDD)

• Early Intervention Specialist Program (EISP). In June 2006, the Connecticut UCEDD opened registration for their online Early Intervention Specialist Program (EISP). New design elements have been added to the program. Due to popular interest, the program will begin in July and is open to early intervention professionals across the country. The interactive, competency-based program is organized into three interactive modules: (1) Family-centered Practice, (2) Cross-disciplinary Interventions in Natural Environments and (3) Interagency Collaborations. The course is aimed at increasing the number and quality of early interventionists serving infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Participants must be employed in the field of early intervention. For more information please contact Dr. Melissa Van Buren at 860-679-1586.
• Emergency Preparedness Work Continues. The CT UCEDD continues to build on its success of December 2005 statewide forum on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities. The UCEDD has been invited to participate on the Capitol Region Emergency Planning Council and to develop a training program on disabilities for first responders and emergency planners. The UCEDD staff also presented a 1 credit course to Masters in Public Health students and Department of Public Health personnel on Disabilities and Emergency Planning over the course of 4 evenings in May. For more information on the forum and upcoming publication on disaster preparedness, check the UCEDD Disaster Preparedness website or contact Jessica Jagger at 860.679.1584.
• Service Coordination Training Institute. Save the Date! The 2nd Annual Service Coordination Training Institute will be held September 28-30, 2006 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is designed for professionals who work with infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. This national conference will focus on model outcomes and practices. For more information, contact Dr. Julia Searl Rusert at 860-679-1585.

Honors & Activities from the Institute on Disability and Human Development (IL UCEDD)

• Daring to Dream Award. Carol Gill was selected for the Daring to Dream Scholarship Award, an award given by the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (ME UCEDD) to acknowledge exemplary scholarship in disability studies.
• New APA Appointment. Dr. Elina Manghi was appointed to the American Psychological Association Task Force on Guidelines for Assessment and Treatment of Persons with Disabilities. The charge of the Task Force is to develop a draft outline of a set of guidelines focused on assessment and treatment of persons with disabilities based upon a review of the current research and literature.
• Volunteer Leadership Award. Dr. Glenn Fujiura received the Arc of Illinois' Volunteer Leadership Award at it's annual conference held April 4th and 5th. He was selected as "one whose contributions have significantly impacted the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities. His leadership efforts have inspired others and influenced positive change."
• Bodies of Work. The Chicago Festival of Disability Arts & Culture was held from April 20-30, 2006. Bodies of Work is Chicago's first-ever festival showcasing disability arts. It explored and celebrated the contributions of artists with disabilities, the contemporary contexts of disabled lives, and works that illuminate disability experiences. The College of Applied Health Sciences, the Department of Disability and Human Development and its Disability and Cultural Studies Unit, National Center on Physical Activity and Disability and Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center were festival co-sponsors and several faculty and staff members participated in the festival.

Additional inquiries about these activities can be sent to Dr. Mary Kay Rizzollo.

News & Activities from the Institute for Community Inclusion (MA UCEDD)

Events

• ICI is co-hosting the 17th national APSE conference on supported employment at the end of June. The three-day event, held in downtown Boston, features keynote speakers and over 70 workshops focusing on promoting community employment opportunities for people with disabilities. For information, visit the APSE Conference Website.

In the News

• The "PhotoVoice" project at the UCEDD received coverage in both the Worcester Telegram & Gazetteand the Cambridge Chronicle. Young people with disabilities in both cities have used digital cameras to document their lives and services. On Monday May 15, Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves presented the Cambridge group with certificates of recognition for their efforts.
• ICI has debuted a public service announcement. The 60-second ad uses statistics and examples to promote the benefits of hiring a diverse workforce that includes people with disabilities.

Honors

• Congratulations to Soheila Lopopolo for winning the James E. Blackwell Prize in Applied Sociology from UMass Boston. A BA/MA graduate, Soheila works in the UCEDD research department studying people with diabetes in a three-year, qualitative study.
• Joe Marrone has been elected to the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning this month. USPRA says that his "experience and expertise will be a great addition to the Board."

Presentations & Lectures

• Melanie Jordan and the Partnerships for Employment project at the UCEDD have been busy giving presentations to state housing providers. To the MassHousing Tenant Assistance Program, she discussed the ways that housing staff can promote employment for their tenants. At the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, she talked about the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act when going on job interviews.
• Dr. Susan Foley and Joe Marrone presented a joint keynote at the Missouri Department of Mental Health spring institute in May. The keynote focused on improving employment opportunities for people with psychiatric disabilities.
• Elena Varney presented last month at the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals conference in Charlotte, NC. She discussed Universal Design for the Workforce Development System-ways to serve customers with various barriers to employment via One-Stop Career Centers.
• Rick Kugler and David Hoff presented an advanced job development workshop at the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services in Minneapolis this May. The workshop used a train-the-trainer model.

Additional inquiries about these activities can be sent to Danielle Dreilinger.

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