National Service Inclusion Project, Year 3, UCEDD Participant/Contact List and Mini-grant Summaries (2003-04)
December 1, 2003
List of Participants: (Select a State for the Grant Summary)Alaska
Florida - Florida Center for Community Inclusion
New Hampshire
Vermont
Grant Summaries:
ALASKA - Center for Human Development at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Kim Walker, (907) 272-8270, [email protected]
- Conduct a statewide needs assessment to provide a foundation upon which to build the capacity of the state's National Service program to be inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
- Identify individuals with disabilities willing to serve in National Service.
- Specify barriers to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
- Determine current training opportunities for potential service members, current volunteers and volunteer managers. Recognize the gaps and barriers associated with these training opportunities.
- The UCEDD, in collaboration with the Alaska State Community Service Commission, will utilize existing infrastructure and support in achieving the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in National Service.
- At the completion of the project, Alaska will possess the information necessary to formulate a State inclusion plan that will provide Alaskans with disabilities opportunities to successfully participate in National Service programs.
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FLORIDA - Florida Center for Community Inclusion at the University of Florida, Drew Andrews, (352) 392-0701 ext. 302, [email protected]
- Develop ongoing relationships between community transition teams and facilitate opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in local AmeriCorps programs.
- The UCEDD plans to discuss collaborative strategies with the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development to increase community involvement of individuals with disabilities in service activities throughout the state.
- The UCEDD will utilize community transition teams to develop quality ongoing relationships between local Individualized Education Programs (IEP) Teams. This course of action will ensure the viability of the long-term effects of this project by integrating service learning components within students' Individualized Education Programs.
- The UCEDD will provide informational displays at state conferences in order to raise awareness of community service's importance.
- Disseminate information about successful methods and "stories" of inclusion.
- The UCEDD and Volunteer Florida will provide in-service to teachers designed to have them become familiar with the philosophies of national service. The purpose is to give students, with and without disabilities, opportunities to provide service contributions within their local communities.
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New Hampshire - Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire, Frank Sgambati, (603) 228-2084, [email protected]
- Identify and support 5 individuals with disabilities in community service activities of their choice.
- Increase awareness of community service opportunities for individuals with disabilities at statewide leadership training series for advocates, parents, youth, and adults with disabilities.
- Collaborate with training and technical assistance activities with the New Hampshire Corporation of National Community Service programs.
- Disseminate information on the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in national and community service programs at state and regional workshops, seminars, conferences, symposiums, and via the web.
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Vermont - Center on Disability and Community Inclusion at the University of Vermont, Jill Allen, (802) 660-9316, [email protected]
- Assess the current state of inclusion of Vermonters with disabilities in national service programs. This assessment will take the form of a survey with short answer questions and Likert scale questions to be sent to coordinators of national service projects in Vermont.
- Work with the state commission to add language in their website specifically encouraging the inclusion of Vermonters with disabilities in national service programs.
- Consult the state disability organizations to discuss ways to publicize opportunities for Vermonters in national service programs.
- Design resource guides and conduct training sessions on how to include individuals with disabilities in national service for supervisors and program managers responsible for operating national service projects.
- Design and conduct a presentation for supervisors and program managers of national service programs in Vermont to interact effectively with people with disabilities. This presentation will take some of the scenarios from the resource guides and allow managers to discuss ideas for inclusion with guidance from the presenter.
