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 Ð April 1, 2004
You can find this and previous issues of e.News online at http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu
~ Announcements
~ Positions Available
~ Resources
~ Institutes / Conferences
~ Research / Publications
ANNOUNCEMENTS
San Francisco, CA
FREE registration! CRC Credits!
The National Technical Assistance Center for Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders with Disabilities (NTAC-AAPI) is providing a one-day training institute
for vocational rehabilitation representatives and community based
rehabilitation personnel at FAPAC's 19th Annual National Leadership Training
Conference. For more information, see ÒNTAC-AAPI Awareness of APA with
Disabilities Training Institute - May 21, 2004Ó located at NTAC-AAPIs website
url: http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu
and/or Ò NTAC-AAPI Members and
AffiliatesÓ located at the bottom of FAPACs website url: http://www.fapac.org.
NTAC-AAPIs Mini-Subcontract Proposals
AAPI is still in the process of accepting
proposals for mini sub-contracts. Individuals and organizations interested in
collaborating with NTAC are encouraged to complete and return the application
form located at http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/products/mini_subcontracts.htm
NTAC-AAPIs Hire.Us Program
What is the Hire.Us program? Fast,
Effective, and Free! The National Technical Assistance CenterÕs HIRE.US program
(Hire Interested and Ready Employees in the U.S.) is a time-saving personnel
resource. Employers nationwide identify both temporary and permanent employees
from qualified college students with disabilities in a wide variety of fields. http://hireus.cds.hawaii.edu
National
& International
Apple unveils Spoken Interface for
blind OS X users
Apple Computer Inc. has introduced
a new accessibility solution for visually impaired users that it will integrate
with the next major release of Mac OS X. The company took the wraps off of the
new technology today: It's called Spoken Interface for Mac OS X. http://www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/software/appdev/story/0%2C10801%2C91306%2C00.html?f=x11
Winners at Work
Winners at Work is now offering Medicaid Waiver Personal Assistant Level I and
Habilitation Supported Employment Services. Medicaid Waiver qualified individuals can now benefit from
WinnerÕs 20 years of supported employment expertise. Winners is also implementing innovative new application of
Personal Assistant Level I services that emphasize the development of employment
skills like transportation, coaching, safety skills, time management and more,
while still providing the traditional support for full community access. Winners is also working with High
School transition teachers to use Personal Assistant Level I services to
reinforce lessons in the community outside school hours and to facilitate the
transition to Habilitation Supported Employment services and job support upon
exiting school. Call Myles Ibara
at 532-2103 or email mibara@winnersatwork.org
for more information.
ÒArts learning center comes to the aid of disabledÓ
Honolulu Advertiser Article Ð March 19, 2004
David Fray, chief of the Hawaii State Health Department's Developmental Disabilities Division, said the program will give people with disabilities a chance to develop their artistic skills that has not existed. "We are trying to give people the best opportunities they can have; to make life choices that fulfill their dreams," Fray said. "This program will help do that." Hawai'i Artspace is supported by the state Department of Health, VSA arts of Hawai'i-Pacific, the University of Hawai'i and several other private and nonprofit groups. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Mar/19/ln/ln16a.html
Paper Proposal Submissions for the Human Computer
Interaction (HCI) International 2005: Universal Access in Human-Computer
Interaction Ð deadline October 2004
Las Vegas, NV
This
thematic area addresses issues of diversity regarding users and context of use
in HCI, issues of design for all, and a wide range of accessibility and
usability issues for disabled and elderly people. http://www.hci-international.org/thematic-areas_description.asp?ID=5
New version of Opera Embeds
ViaVoice from IBM
Opera Software announced the upcoming release of a multimodal desktop browser that incorporates IBM's Embedded ViaVoice speech technology. By leveraging IBM's voice libraries in this version of Opera, users can navigate, request information and even fill in Web forms using speech and other forms of input in the same interaction. http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/en/2004/03/23
Washington Center
The Washington Center for Internships and
Academic Seminars is pleased to announce a new initiative to help increase
employment for students with disabilities through an academic internship
program. http://www.twc.edu/diversityingovernment.htm
CCD Letter regarding $11 billion in Medicaid cuts in
the Senate Budget Resolution Ð March 10, 2004
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) strongly opposes any cuts to the Medicaid program as part of the fiscal year 2005 budget resolution. http://www.c-c-d.org/2005Medicaid.htm
The 2004 Progress Report: The
President's New Freedom Initiative for People with Disabilities
Announced in February 2001, the New
Freedom Initiative is President George W. BushÕs bold plan to tear down the
remaining barriers to full integration into American life that many of this
NationÕs 54 million citizens with disabilities still face. This Progress Report
highlights accomplishments under the New Freedom Initiative since the issuance
of the May 2002 Progress Report. http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/toc-2004.html
April 3 1 PM Eastern, Clinic:
Adaptive Technologies for Learning
and Work Environments - Presenter
Joseph Lazzaro who is the author of this book and instructor for EASI Train the
Trainer; April 8 1 PM Eastern, Clinic "linux and Sun Accessibility Tools
(Screen reader and more) - Presenter: Peter Korn from Sun Microsystems; April
22 1 PM Eastern, Clinic: The Other Side of Section 508 - Presenter: Doug
Wakefield of the Federal Access Board.
Read more and register at http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
Request for Proposals:
Assistive Technology and Accessible Media In Higher Education - deadline April 19, 2004
University of Colorado, Boulder
The
University of Colorado at Boulder invites speaker proposals for its 7th
annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference. The conference focuses on the
implementation and benefits of Assistive Technology in the university and
college setting. Other topic areas cover legal and policy issues, including ADA
and 508 compliance, and making campus media and information resources,
including Web pages and library resources, accessible. Please e-mail the
completed application to Disability Services at hkramer@colorado.edu or call
303-492-8671 (v/tty) for more information. http://www.colorado.edu/ATconference
POSITIONS
AVAILABLE
The National Rehabilitation
Hospital Center for Health and Disability
Research (NRH-CHDR) is currently
hiring one part-time (50% FTE) Research
Assistant (RA) for the
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on
SCI and Prevention of Secondary
Conditions. Contact Thilo Kroll at Thilo.Kroll@medstar.net for more information or to submit your resume and cover
letter.
The purpose of this position is to assist in directing the
operation of a comprehensive behavior assessment and intervention program
serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Apply: Cesar Espinosa, 9166 Anaheim Place, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
91730; Ph: 909-483-2505; FAX: 909-483-2119; Email: cesarespin@aol.com
Incumbent is primarily responsible
for: 1. recruiting, supervising, directing, training, monitoring and evaluating
all direct service staff and 2. overseeing the LeagueÕs systemic advocacy and
community involvement activities. Send resume and cover letter to:
David A. Nelson,CRC,
President/CEO, League for the Blind & Disabled, Inc., 5821 S. Anthony
Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46816
The full-time residential case
manager provides case management supports and direct care services to adults
with developmental disabilities living in a residential program. How To Apply:
Kim Wong, 38 Border Street, Newton, MA 02465; Ph: 781-642-9414; FAX:
781-642-9424; Email: kwong@barrypricecenter.org
Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange - deadline May 31, 2004
Seeking applications from U.S. school administrators at the elementary, middle,
and high school levels to participate in a two-way, non-simultaneous exchange
program with counterparts from Argentina. For more information about this
program please visit: http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/View/ViewOtherOpps.asp
Internship Program in Washington, DC
Federal Student Aid (FSA), the largest agency in the U.S. Department of Education, offers a unique and exciting internship program in Washington, DC for undergraduate and graduate students interested in helping us put millions of Americans through school. Our internship program provides students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, learn about government, build a network of friends, have fun and earn some money for school. For more information, visit our internship web site at http://www.interns.sfa.ed.gov.
Research Assistant
The National Rehabilitation
Hospital Center for Health and Disability Research (NRH-CHDR) is currently
hiring one part-time (50% FTE) Research Assistant (RA) for the Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center (RRTC) on SCI and Prevention of Secondary
Conditions. Contact Thilo Kroll at Thilo.Kroll@medstar.net
for more information or to submit
your resume and cover letter.
RESOURCES
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
The Consortium for Citizens with
Disabilities is a coalition of approximately 100 national disability
organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that
ensures the self determination, independence, empowerment, integration and
inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. http://www.c-c-d.org
AUCD Summary of Provisions that
Affect People with Disabilities. http://www.aucd.org/legislative_affairs/medicare_law.htm
The National Job Corps program is one of the U.S. Department of Labor's most successful youth education and career training programs, with nearly 70,000 economically disadvantaged youth receiving education and career training annually. http://www.uschamber.com/cwp/strategies/jobcorps/default
PRACTICAL TIPS TO
SUPPORT FACULTY IN PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC
CONTENT
Providing accessible course content has two major components. First, the infrastructure must be accessible. This means that accessible courseware or accessible Web pages that point to the actual content can be compared to making a physical campus accessible. http://easi.cc/conference/csun2004/csuncast/Hardy.htm
Continuing Education Center for Rehabilitation at the
University of Wisconsin-Stout (CEC)
The purpose of the Continuing Education Center is to advance the quality of participation by persons with disabilities in the workforce increasing their involvement and participation in their community of choice. The CEC fosters continuous learning opportunities designed to improve the knowledge, information, and application of skills needed by the workforce, rehabilitation personnel, educators, and community members. http://www.cec.uwstout.edu/%5Cindex.cfm
Summer Pre-College Programs for Students
with Disabilities - 2004
Annually, The George Washington University HEATH Resource Center
researches summer campus programs for students with disabilities. A list of
resources has been compiled for students with disabilities who are interested
in exploring ways to prepare for college and enhance college performance. http://www.heath.gwu.edu
INSTITUTES /
CONFERENCES
IL Board Basics & More...
APRIL 26-28, 2004
KANSAS CITY, MO
This training is specifically
designed for 501(c)(3) Executive Directors and Board members of all experience
levels. This training's general
focus on vital issues, presented with expert insight, makes it perfect for
seasoned veterans looking to expand their basic knowledge and new or potential
board members interested in learning the basics of board responsibility.
For more information, contact June Sutherland at
703-525-3406 (V),
703-525-3409 (Fax), 877-525-3400
(V/TTY), 703-525-4153 (TTY) or ilnet@ncil.org
Performance
Measurement for Government - April 26-29, 2004
San Diego, CA,
At this conference, you will hear proven strategies and practical
experience, firsthand, from leading agencies and practitioners on how to
improve your management initiatives and practices. http://www.aliconferences.com/conferences/perf_meas_apr04/perfmeas_apr04.html
Brighton, UK
Creative Clusters is an occasion for the sectorÕs diverse players to present their work, share their insights and build their networks. It draws together project leaders and policy-makers in industry, culture, education and social regeneration to build a common and a better understanding of creative enterprise. http://www.creativeclusters.co.uk
Workshop: Obesity Prevention and Intervention for
Children with Special Health Care Needs - April 28 -
30, 2004
Memphis, TN.
The overall goal of this program is to provide interdisciplinary leadership training to health professionals and related care providers involved in obesity prevention and intervention among CSHCN. http://www.utmem.edu/bcdd/obesity_wkshp_04.html
CSAVR
Spring Meeting - April 25 - 28, 2004
Bethesda
Hyatt
The Council of
State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation is composed of the chief
administrators of the public rehabilitation agencies serving individuals with
physical and mental disabilities in the States, District of Columbia, and the
territories.
http://www.rehabnetwork.org/default.htm
NCSAB
Spring Meeting - April 28-30, 2004
Bethesda Hyatt
The Council of
State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation is composed of the chief
administrators of the public rehabilitation agencies serving individuals with
physical and mental disabilities in the States, District of Columbia, and the
territories.
http://www.rehabnetwork.org/default.htm
IMMERSION
LEARNING about SELF-DETERMINATION - April 28-May 1, 2004
Atlanta,
Georgia
Immersion participants in the "Planning Stream" will be assisted to
create a "Blueprint for Implementation," which is a written plan for
applying the principles of self determination to their system. The blueprint
will create a structure for helping the teams to identify the parts of their
system which need to be changed; define tasks that need to be done; indicate
who should be responsible for the different tasks; specify timelines for
getting things done; identify resources and support for the process, as well as
planning for evaluating the outcomes.
http://www.self-determination.com/immersion/southern/index.html
High Beam
Festival - May 3-4, 2004
Australia
Biennial international arts festival showcasing contemporary works influenced
or inspired by experience of disability. Ideas and Innovations is a two day
interactive program held as part of High Beam on May 3 and 4, 2004 examining
some of the best Australian and international models of work in the arts
expressing disability culture and the cultural and social impacts of these
practices. http://www.artsinaction.asn.au/hb_what.htm
Arlington,
VA
Topic 1:
Innovative Methods for Providing VR Services to Individuals with Psychiatric
Disabilities; Topic 2 A New Paradigm for Vocational Evaluation: Empowering the
VR Consumer through Vocational Information. For further information contact
Frances R. Butler, Executive Assistant at fbutler@gwu.edu or (202) 973-1540.
http://www.gwu.edu/~rrcep/IRI.htm
25th
Annual International Conference on MR/DD - May 3 - 7, 2004
New York City
California
School for the Blind, Fremont, CA
Participants
will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with various methods of
producing tactile graphics, while also learning strategies for determining the
form and content of a tactile graphic. Email: bgallman@afb.net
Career
Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD) is a unique consortium composed of large
and small universities, well - known national employers and US Government
agencies focused on the career employment of college graduates with
disabilities. http://www.cosdonline.org
National
ADA Symposium & Expo Ð May 11-13, 2004
The National
ADA Symposium, hosted by the ADA & IT Technical Assistance Centers has
earned the reputation as premier training event available on the Americans with
Disabilities Act and related disability issues.
http://www.adaproject.org/NationalADASymposium.html
3rd Annual
Asian Diversity Career Expo Ð May 13, 2004
New York, NY
Companies and
organizations will be present to represent a number of industries such as,
finance, transportation, defense, retail, government, telecommunications, law,
healthcare, pharmaceutical, IT, consumer products and others.
http://www.asiandiversity.com/event/index.html
19th Annual
National Leadership Training Conference and Agency Exhibits - May 17-21, 2004
Hyatt Regency
Embarcadero Hotel, San Francisco, CA
FAPAC conference will have programs and workshops that highlight the
contributions of Asian American military heroes-- including purple heart
recipients and other military awardees, and distinguished Asian American
veterans from foreign wars. It will showcase programs for APAs with
disabilities, Native Americans, civil rights, and supervisory/management
issues, and current legislation concerning APAs. http://www.fapac.org
NTAC-AAPI Awareness of APA with Disabilities Training
Institute - May 21, 2004
San Francisco, CA
The National Technical Assistance Center for Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities (NTAC-AAPI) is providing a one-day
training institute for vocational rehabilitation representatives and community
based rehabilitation personnel at FAPAC's
19th Annual National Leadership
Training Conference. http://www.fapac.org/confinfo/index.htm
15th Annual
NAWDP Conference - May 23-26, 2004
Portland OR
National
Association of Workforce Development Professionals Conference explores identifying
and developing talent. It is
perhaps one of the most important Ð yet most challenging Ð functions of those
engaged in employment and training. Federal guidelines demand that we look at
clients through a lens of Òrisk factorsÓ and Òbarriers.Ó Find out whatÕs really
going on in Washington, and how you can help turn workforce development into a
priority for Congress and the Administration. http://www.nawdp.org/conference.htm
By
presenting films of artistry and intellect, the festival hopes to reinforce
accurate portrayals of people with developmental disabilities and expose the
media and general public to important issues facing this population. The goal
is an enjoyable and enlightening experience that will help breakdown
stereotypes, promoting a greater acceptance of differences and awareness of
similarities. http://gosprout.org/film
TRANSED 2004: 10th
International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled
People Ð May 23-26, 2004
Hamamatsu City, Japan
Previous TRANSED conferences have
promoted national and local transportation and development policies to include
objectives relating to the needs of people with reduced mobility. The 10th
International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled
People is designed to help these objectives with getting into action. http://transed.jp
Partners Building Bridges: Maintaining High Quality Services in
Challenging Times Ð May 25-27, 2004
Washington, DC
A national training conference for state coordinators and related
professionals serving individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing and
late deafened. http://www.ccer.org/confcal.htm#Emerging%20Issues
16th Annual Postsecondary Disability Training Institute (PTI) - June 8-12, 2004
Grand Summit Resort Hotel ~ Mt. Snow, Vermont
Come learn skills you'll use every day! The objective of this Training Institute is to assist concerned professionals to meet the unique needs of college students with disabilities. Participants can select from a variety of Strands and Single Sessions taught by experts in the field that provide participants with in-depth information and adequate time for questions and follow-up activities. http://vm.uconn.edu/~wwwcped/04pti.htm
TOOLS FOR
LIFE: A 21st Century Look at Assistive Technology and Services Ð July 9-10, 2004
Blaisdell Exhibition Center, Honolulu
The Tools for
Life Expo and Conference is a collaborative exhibit with concurrent workshops
designed to bring information to individuals with disabilities, their families,
and advocates regarding civil rights laws and technological support options to
maximize independence in society. For information, contact Francine Wai (DCAB)
at accesshi@aloha.net (ph. 586-8121 V/TTY) or Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong (ATRC)
at barbara@atrc.org. (ph. 532-7110 V/TTY
or 1-800-645-3007)
The Twentieth Computers and
Writing Conference - June 10-13, 2004
Honolulu, Hawaii
Some of the presentation topics include: Languages, Technologies, and Bodies. Intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and different forms of bodily "ability" with technology-based writing. issues of accessibility and adaptive technologies. http://www.hawaii.edu/cw2004
Discover 70,000 Skilled Workers: Chamber-Job Corps
Showcase 2004 - July 21, 2004
Washington, D.C.
This showcase will bring together a group of executives who understand the challenges faced by their members in finding skilled entry-level employees. Participants will include chamber-Job Corps partnership teams, chamber executives, and industry association executives. It will incorporate lessons learned from chamber-Job Corps demonstration initiatives, presentations by workforce and business leaders, a showcase of successful chamber-Job Corps partnerships from across the nation, and plenty of networking opportunities. http://www.uschamber.info/cwp/notice-description.tcl?newsletter%5fid=2626270
2004 National Youth Leadership Conference - July 24Ð27, 2004
Washington, D.C.
Conference
goals include helping prepare the next generation of disability leaders and
identifying ways to improve policies and supports for young people with
disabilities. http://www.nyln.org/apply/2004conference.html
Disability
Studies: Putting Theory Into Practice Ð July 26 Ð 28, 2004
Lancaster
University, UK
Disability
Studies is concerned with the inter-disciplinary development of an increasing
body of knowledge and practice, which has arisen from the activities of the
disabled people's movement, and which has come to be known as 'the social model
of disability'. The social model of disability locates the changing character
of disability, which is viewed as an important dimension of inequality, in the
social and economic structure and culture of the society in which it is found,
rather than in individual limitations. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/apsocsci/events/dsa.htm
Innsbruck,
Austria
THEME:
Scanning the Horizon: An International Collaboration On Higher Education and
Disability. This conference will
equip participants with tools and resources to build successful programs and
further develop our network of international colleagues.
http://www.unotrac.org/presentations.html
RESEARCH / PUBLICATIONS
The ADA is a federal
antidiscrimination statute designed to remove barriers which prevent qualified
individuals with disabilities from enjoying the same employment opportunities
that are available to persons without disabilities. http://www.adaportal.org/Employment/Browse_TAM_I/Introduction.html
The Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (ADA) makes it unlawful to discriminate in employment against a
qualified individual with a disability. The ADA also outlaws discrimination
against individuals with disabilities in State and local government services,
public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications. This booklet
explains the part of the ADA that prohibits job discrimination. http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada18.html
Since The Americans with Disabilities Act: Your Responsibilities as an Employer was published, the Supreme Court has ruled that the determination of whether a person has an ADA "disability" must take into consideration whether the person is substantially limited in performing a major life activity when using a mitigating measure. This means that if a person has little or no difficulty performing any major life activity because s/he uses a mitigating measure, then that person will not meet the ADA's first definition of "disability." http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada17.html
This guide presents an informal overview of some basic ADA requirements for small businesses that provide goods or services to the public. http://www.ada.gov/smbustxt.htm
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 April 14th) or if you wish to stop
receiving these messages, please contact the NTAC staff at: ntac@cds.hawaii.edu