AUCDigest
August 15, 2006 • Volume 6, Number 64
Forging New Partnerships for New Challenges Through Research, Education and Service
New Director of Partners for Inclusive Communities (AR UCEDD). David Deere, MSW, MTh, is the new Director of Partners for Inclusive Communities. Mr. Deere has served in several different roles since he began his work at Partners. His first involvement with Partners was in 1993 as a social work intern, where he was the first trainee of a relatively new program. Most recently, he has served as an Associate Director for the agency and also as Interdisciplinary Training Director. His educational preparation include a bachelor of science in chemistry from Ouachita Baptist University, a master of theology from Southern Methodist University, a master of social work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and work toward an executive doctor of science degree in health services research from Tulane University. Prior to going into social work, he was a United Methodist minister.
Waisman Center's (WI UCEDD) Project Summer Focuses Quality Transition Services for Youths with Disabilities. The UCEDD was recently awarded a 3-year research grant from the National Center for Special Education Research at the Institute for Education Sciences. Project Summer will focus on developing a practical, effective intervention to improve the quality of transition services for youth with severe disabilities. Specifically, the project will (a) examine the employment and community activities of youth with and without disabilities, (b) identify factors that promote or hinder meaningful youth engagement, and (c) draw upon these findings to develop and initially evaluate an intervention package designed to increase the employment and community participation of youth with severe disabilities. For more information contact Erik Carter (Principal Investigator) at 608-890-1033.
Honors from the Institute on Disability and Human Development (IL UCEDD)
- Dr. James Rimmer, NCPAD Director, Featured in Associated Press Story. Dr. Rimmer was recently quoted in an August 6th Associated Press story, "Exercise Class Helps Those with Disabilities Shed Extra Pounds," by Heather Holingsworth. As he says, "[persons with disabilities] are closer to that margin of needing assistance to get around if they are deconditioned," and "[accessible fitness classes and facilities] are especially important because traditional health clubs often ignore those with disabilities." The story appeared in more than 60 news outlets, including the New York Times.
- Glenn Hedman Elected RESNA President. Congratulations to Glenn Hedman, MS, PE, ATP, RET, for being elected the new President of Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Mr. Hedman is the Director of the Assistive Technology Unit at the UCEDD.
News from the Institute for Community Inclusion (MA UCEDD)
- Dr. Hasnain Receives Community Service Award. Project Director Rooshey Hasnain, PhD, received the Paulette Anjorin Community Service Award from the Mass. Dept. of Mental Retardation Urban Youth Collaborative. Through this collaborative, students from diverse backgrounds intern for private provider agencies and the department.
- State Employment Leadership Network Initiated. The UCEDD and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services recently kicked off the State Employment Leadership Network, a project of StateData.Info. Several state MR/DD agencies are coming together to discuss ways to expand employment services. ICI and NASDDD are providing technical assistance and statistics work.
- Employment Publication Increases Disability Knowledge. Allison Cohen Hall, PhD, and four ICI co-authors recently published an article in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation. The article covers strategies to increase disability knowledge among One-Stop Career Center staff.
Additional inquiries about these activities can be sent to Danielle Dreilinger.
Honors and Activities from the Hawaii Center on Disability Studies
- Employment & Individuals with Diabetes Grant. The UCEDD has been awarded a contract from the Hawaii State Department of Human Services (DHS) for a CMS grant. The grant will be awarded in planning and implementation phases for a total of $7.9 million over a three-year period. UH-CDS will work with DHS and the Hawaii Business Health Council to investigate if medical assistance and other coaching supports can forestall or prevent the loss of employment and independence for individuals with diabetes. Rebecca Rude Ozaki, PhD, will serve as Project Director. For further information, contact Dr. Ozaki.
- Art Enabled Festival. "Art Enabled '06: Thinking out of the box - what fun that can be!" was held in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 21, 2006. The festival, which promotes community inclusion, created a welcoming environment where everyone could participate in all activities. This was the third annual Art Enabled event, which originated as a class activity in the coursework under the Certificate in Disability and Diversity Studies Program. About 75 volunteers made this happen, including staff from the UCEDD and the College of Education Special Education Program. Hawaii Mayor Mufi Hanneman and Miss Hawaii 2006 participated in the event along with more than 350 people of differing kinds of abilities.
Activities from the Connecticut A.J. Pappanikou Center
- Second Annual Training Institute on Outcomes and Practices in Service Coordination. This is your last chance to register for the Training Institute taking place in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands in late September. Participants will learn from presenters how to help young children and families reach positive outcomes and provide effective service or care coordination. To obtain a brochure and find out more about the Training Institute visit our UCEDD Events Webpage or contact Sharon Dexler at 860-679-5474.
- CT Celebrates ADA. On July 26th, the Connecticut UCEDD, Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Office of Protection and Advocacy hosted the 2nd Annual "Spirit of the ADA" Celebration to mark the 16th Anniversary of the signing of the ADA. This year's celebration honored individuals and organizations for their work to promote the full inclusion of people in recovery from mental illness: Laurel House in Stamford that offers rehabilitation programs; Artreach in Norwich that produces and performs educational comedy and drama about the experience of mental illness; the Melville Charitable Trust which funds supportive housing around Connecticut; Lieutenant Governor Kevin B. Sullivan; and Karen Kangas. The "Sprit of the ADA" was captured by speakers who pointed to the collaboration across disabilities that benefited people in recovery from mental illness. For more information about the event, contact Jessica Jagger at 860-679-1585.
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