National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC-AAPI)

Òto increase employment opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with DisabilitiesÓ - FUNDED BY: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

 

Semi-Monthly e.News / June 1, 2003
You can find this and previous issues of e.News online at http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu


~ Announcements

~ Resources

~ Institutes / Conferences

~ Research

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Mahalo (Thank you)!

At the FAPAC Conference, Washington DC., May 12-16, 2003, combined efforts of NTAC-AAPI exhibit and presentation by Dr. Kim-Rupnow resulted in approximately 50 federal employers committing to participate in NTAC-AAPI's job-site mentoring program. A big thanks to all who supported our efforts and recently signed on with NTAC-AAPI to make a difference and become job-site mentors!

 

Success Stories?

If you are Asian American or Pacific Islander with a disability or someone you know is (AAPI) employed and has overcome and developed solutions to adversity in the workplace Ð weÕd love to share your story.   Please email us at: melake.conway@cds.hawaii.edu.

 

NAMRC Scholarship - deadline of June 16, 2003

The National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns http://www.rcepv.siu.edu/namrc/namrcfront.htm is a diverse group whose purpose is to advocate for the rehabilitation needs of multicultural persons with disabilities; ensure the provision of quality and equitable services; and enhance the development of multicultural rehabilitation professionals. http://www.rcepv.siu.edu/namrc/Scholarship.doc

 

Job Openings - San Francisco Office of RSA
Accepting applications for (2) Vocational Rehabilitation Program Specialists, announcement OSERS-2003-0026, closing date 6/16/03; and (1) Financial Management Specialist, announcement OSERS-2003-0014, closing date 6/2/03.  We encourage all interested, qualified individuals to apply.  If you are applying as an individual with a disability under the special, Schedule A appointment authority, applications may be submitted under announcement OSERS-2003-0025 (VR Program Specialist) and OSERS-2003-0013 (Financial Management Specialist).  Applications must be submitted via the on-line system used by the U.S. Department of Education for this purpose, ED HIRES.  You may access the ED HIRES system at https://jobs.quickhire.com/scripts/edu.exe or at http://www.edhires.ed.gov (and follow the menu to ED JOBS).  Information on these openings is also available via http://usajobs.opm.gov. Job announcements may be attained through these sites.
For additional information, please contact Ike Gilbert, Personnel Management Specialist, at (206) 220-7813 or at ike.gilbert@ed.gov.

 

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RESOURCES

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The Goodwill Virtual Community

This self-paced online learning program is designed to help people coming off welfare find, maintain and advance their employment opportunities. The curriculum is part of a three-year demonstration project funded by an $850,000 Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/otiahome/top/index.html grant to Goodwill Industries International from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. http://locator.goodwill.org

 

Interagency Working Group on Assistive Technology Mobility Devices
A Task Force established by President Bush on Feb. 12 to identify existing Federal Government programs and resources designed to help individuals with disabilities obtain the assistive technology mobility devices that they need for education and employment.   AUCD president and CDS Director, Dr. Robert Stodden, wrote a letter to President Bush in March responding to the establishment of the Task Force. http://www.aucd.org/legislative_affairs/Letter_gwb.htm

 

Misconceptions About Hiring Workers with Disabilities Ð WCD Foundation for Education
Thirteen years after the passage of the American with Disabilities Act, a national survey of U.S. employers finds misconceptions and confusion about the costs and barriers of hiring people with disabilities.  http://www.wcdfoundation.org/index3.htm

 

The National Arts and Disability Center (NADC)
NADC is a national information dissemination, technical assistance and referral center specializing in the field of arts and disability. The NADC is dedicated to promoting the full inclusion of children and adults with disabilities into the visual-, performing-, media, and literary-arts communities. http://nadc.ucla.edu

 

Mapping your Dreams: Employment, PACER Center

PACER CenterÕs mission is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents. http://www.pacer.org/tatra/MYD-Employment.htm

 

Labor Department Offers Employers Free Database of Student Job Seekers with Disabilities

The US Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in cooperation with the Department of Defense, now offers a database of more than 1,600 job seekers with disabilities through its Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP).  http://www.wrpjobs.com


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INSTITUTES / CONFERENCES
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ADA Symposium and EXPO 2003 - June 3-5
Hyatt Regency Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri

Learning tracks include: Employment and the ADA, Accessible Design, State and Local Governments, Community Issues, Accessible Information Technology. Registration: $295 before May 2, 2003; $345 after May 2.  Phone #: 800-949-4232, ada@missouri.edu, http://www.adaproject.org/Symposium2003Info.html

 

Postsecondary Disability Training Institute - June 3-7, 2003

Mystic, Connecticut

Sponsored by the Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability, University of Connecticut.  The objective of this Training Institute is to assist concerned professionals to meet the unique needs of college students with disabilities. http://vm.uconn.edu/~wwwcped/pti03.htm

 

VCU's ADA Summer Institute

RHAB 683 001 WS: Effective Implementation of the ADA Employment Provisions (3 credits) - Instructor: Steven West

June 16-July 17, 2003; Intensive Week Course; Class will meet 8:30 am - 5:00pm June 16-20, 2003 with final paper due July 17, 2003. Contact Dr. West directly for more information, slwest2@vcu.edu.  Individuals who may need special accommodation should contact Katherine Inge at kinge@atlas.vcu.edu ; phone 804-828-1851; fax 804-828-2193.

 

Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Institute - June 16-20, 2003

The institute begins with a five-day self-employment conclave at the University of Hawaii-Manoa College of Business Pacific Business and PACE centers. Staff, consumers and others from across the state will attend the institute on self-employment topics. The five-day institute will be led by Dave Hammis and will include guest speakers from local small business development agencies, and local Hawaii rehabilitation experts.  E-mail Shannon Simonelli at simonelli@hawaii.edu for more information.
 

RESNA 26th International Conference on Technology & Disability: Research, Design, Practice, and Policy - June 19-23
Atlanta, Georgia

RESNA is the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, an interdisciplinary association of people with a common interest in technology and disability. For more information, email info@resna.org or see http://www.resna.org/conferences

NFB National Conventions - June 28-July 4, 2003
Louisville, Kentucky
NFB Conventions give government representatives, agency administrators, and leaders in politics, business, and industry the opportunity to address and respond to a large nationwide audience primarily of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The topics of interest include: relevant civil rights issues; rehabilitation of the blind for competitive employment; the operation of vending facilities by blind persons on public property; specialized library services for the blind; Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs; advancements in technology; the organization and funding of federal programs; and other timely topics.  http://www.nfb.org/convent/convens2.htm


National Veterans Wheelchair Games Ð July 5-9

Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center

More than 500 disabled veterans will compete in the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world, the 23rd National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Long Beach, California. http://www.wheelchairgames.org

The Fourteenth Annual APSE Conference - July 20-23, 2003
San Diego, California
This conference and training event provides an opportunity to work on integrated employment opportunities and supports for people who most need the support on these issues and challenges.   http://www.apse.org

 

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RESEARCH
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The Monetary Benefits of and Costs of Hiring Supported Employees

Cimera (2002) examined the monetary benefits and costs that businesses experience when hiring a person with a disability. Cimera measured employer cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness using an economic methodology and cost-accounting formula. http://www.worksupport.com/Topics/employment.asp

 

Students with Developmental Disabilities Go to College

Dolyniuk, Kamens, Corman, DiNardo, Totaro, and Rockoff (2002) designed a pilot project, which provided transitioning high school students with mild to moderate cognitive delays with community-based experiences and person-centered instruction. The project was designed to teach students functional skills that would enable their success in the workplace as well as to allow students to practice social skills with age-level peers. http://www.worksupport.com/Topics/transition.asp

 

U.S. Department of Education
A new Web site has been developed by the government's Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) to gather comments and recommendations on research needs for Americans with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Education announced Feb 25, 2003. http://www.icdr.us

 

NTAC-AAPI maintains an email list of persons in the disability-related fields that will

remain private. This information has been sent as a courtesy. If you would like to make news contributions to the next issue (deadline Ð June 8, 2003) of if you wish to stop receiving these messages, please contact M.E. Lake Conway at: melake.conway@cds.hawaii.edu