National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC-AAPI)

Ňto 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 – August 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

 
NTAC-AAPI Activities


NTAC-AAPIs Hire.Us Program
Congratulations to Federal Highway Administration, Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the U.S. Department of Transportation for registering and becoming a part of our Hire.Us Employer database! What is the Hire.Us program? Fast, Effective, and Free! The National Technical Assistance CenterŐs HIRE.US program (Hire Interested and Ready Employees in the U.S.) is a time-saving personnel resource. HIRE.US offers college students, and recent graduates, with disabilities the opportunity to market their skills and abilities to employers across the United States free of charge. Your student profile information will be available to governments and businesses across America. 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

 

FAPAC Conference

The Federal Asian American Pacific Council held its Annual Meeting during the Week of 17th – 21st of May 2004.  During this week the National Technical Assistance Center for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (NTAC-AAPI) at the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii, Manoa held a one day training for vocational rehabilitation counselors and other professionals who work with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities who wish to find employment opportunities.  Out of the 50 participants who registered early, 40 attended the event with another 10 attending from the larger FAPAC conference.  http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu

 

Vocational Rehabilitation agency can also take advantage of our database to increase employment opportunities of its job-ready clients! Send their resumes to be placed in the HIRE.US database! NTAC will actively recruit employers for those who entered into this HIRE.US database. In addition, NTAC will add your agency name to our list of collaborators. This will allow for free advertisement on our website and once via email in our periodic e-newsletter, with over 2,000 people on the distribution list.
For more information, please visit http://hireus.cds.hawaii.edu

 

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

 


 

 

National & International

 

Hawaii Stars Talent Search! Auditions August 14 - 10 a.m. to Noon – Harry & Jeanette WeinbergŐs Concert of Extraordinary Abilities

Be on a special prime time Hawaii Stars Show! Hawaii Stars is looking for young individuals (ages 5-35) with disabilities who have talents in singing, dancing and/or playing a musical instrument . . . Come and share your gift with Hawaii! 5 Finalists will be selected to perform before a live audience at the historical Hawaii Theater on November 7, 2004 for the filming of the hit television show Hawaii Stars. All finalists chosen for the television special will receive $10,000 for his or her charitable organization and are awarded fabulous gift packages! Variety School of Hawaii, 710 Palekaua Street, Honolulu , HI 96816, (808) 732-2835

 

VisuAide unveils Maestro: the first mainstream handheld PC for blind and visually impaired

June 30, 2004 -- VisuAide unveiled today Maestro, the first mainstream handheld PC accessible to the blind and visually impaired. The launch coincided with the National Federation of the Blind convention held in Atlanta this week.

http://www.visuaide.com/news_maestro_en.html

 

2005 IRMA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Submission Deadline - October 4, 2004

Theme: Managing Modern Organizations With Information Technology Submissions for the IRMA2005 International Conference may be submitted in the following categories: 1. Full Length Submissions; 2. Research-in-Progress Submissions; 3. Panel, Workshop, Tutorial and Symposium Submissions. For more information on submission categories and complete submission guidelines, please visit: http://www.irma-international.org/conferences/2005/submission.asp

 

IBM Tool Has An Eye For The Blind

July 15, 2004 - IBM's emerging technologies site, alphaWorks, now features a Java-based application that lets developers see how their site looks and sounds to a person with low-vision impairment or blindness. Called aDesigner, the tool was developed in the IBM Tokyo Research Lab to make Web access easier for the thousands of Internet users around the world who go online to conduct their business, read e-mails and shop online.

http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3381491         

 

Special Education 602: Legal Aspects of Special Education - Thursdays 4:30 to 7:00 pm. beginning August 26th.

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Focuses on understanding special education law necessary to provide services for students with disabilities in a variety of placements. Appropriate for special/general education teachers, administrators, related service providers or others wanting to be knowledgeable about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  For more information contact: Dr. Ann Barnes, mbarnes@hawaii.edu, 808-386-1984

 

[ILRU Web Cast] Transitioning to College: What You Need to Know – August 18, 2004, 2:00 pm Central

The transition from high school to college is often a difficult one for all students, let alone those with disabilities who have additional issues to address. In high school, students are often peripherally involved, if at all, in determining and arranging their accommodations. Once they move to college, students must self-identify and request the services they need, becoming an integral part of the process. This presentation will discuss some of the differences between disability services in high school and college. http://www.ilru.org/online/handouts/2004/08-18-Case/index.html

 

"NOTICES INVITING APPLICATIONS" (grant opportunities) from the U.S. Department of Education (ED)

Special Demonstration Programs -- Model Transitional Rehabilitation Services for Youth & Young Adults with Disabilities -- CFDA# 84.235S – Deadline August 19, 2004, http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml

Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) -- Safe Start: Promising Approaches for Children Exposed to Violence Program http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/funding/FundingDetail.asp?fi=16

 

Hiring of disabled people at federal agencies

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) will propose that the Appropriations Committee go on record to reaffirm support for the hiring of disabled people at federal agencies, the aide said.  A recent report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that from fiscal 1993 to fiscal 2002, the percentage of people with disabilities decreased in the federal workforce at a much faster rate than in the general workforce. Hoyer's proposal would direct the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management "to assess the causes of the negative findings discovered by the EEOC report, and within 90 days develop and report to Congress a plan of action to reverse these troubling trends." Hoyer wrote White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. to "express my great concern" about the EEOC data, which showed the proportion of disabled workers in the government had dropped by 12.49 percent. Hoyer, who was the chief House sponsor of the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act, urged Card to direct agencies to find out why the hiring of the disabled has declined. To view article, click on

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4373-2004Jul21.html

 

Teleconference Call: Access to the General Education Curriculum: Research-Based Interventions for High School Students with Disabilities - Tuesday, August 17, 2004, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Central Time (9 a.m. Hawaii, 12 noon Pacific, 1 p.m. Mountain, 3 p.m. Eastern)
This teleconference will discuss results from the Institute for Academic Access, a research institute designed to develop and field test interventions for high-school students with disabilities to ensure their success in the general education curriculum. The presenter will briefly review the results of a descriptive study of nine high schools and the educational experience of students with disabilities in those schools. Then they will present the philosophy behind and components of an intervention model that is currently being tested in high schools as well as research results associated with those components and the mode as a whole. http://www.ncset.org/teleconferences

 

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT for Government: Linking Performance Measures, Strategic Planning & Budgeting Into An Integrated Management System – September 21-23, 2004

Reminder...Register by August 27th for the Advanced Learning Institute's 14th National Forum.  New and updated information-packed program for Fall 2004 - reserve your seat today for this popular training. Call:  888-362-7400 -or- 312-362-9100

Email:  info@aliconferences.com Online:

http://www.aliconferences.com/conferences/governmentperformance/904.html

 

 

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Coordinator for Learning Disability & Assistive Technology Services - Application deadline August 13, 2004

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) is seeking a Coordinator for Learning Disability & Assistive Technology Services. The Coordinator reports to the Director of Disability Support Services and is primarily responsible for the delivery of mandated accommodations (especially electronic and otherwise adapted text and course materials to students with disabilities) and to determine the eligibility of services for said students and to ensure their delivery. Send a letter of application, resume, and three letters of reference to: Chair, Screening Committee, c/o Disability Support Services, Woody Hall B150 - MC 4705, Carbondale, IL 62901

 

Reading Skills Specialist

Bristol Community College is seeking applications for a Reading Skills Specialist to provide individual assistance and support to students enrolled in the Reading Lab classes of the QUEST for Success Program, in the Center for Developmental Education. QUEST is a Student Support Services Program grant funded by the TRiO Office of the United States Department of Education. Apply: Tafa Awolaju, Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, MA 02720, (508) 678-2811 ext. 2195, Fax:       (508) 730-3278, lassad@bristol.mass.edu

 

Disability Management Specialist - Services for Students with Disabilities

Under the general direction of the Director of Services for Disabilities (SSD), the incumbent evaluates eligibility and determines appropriate academic accommodations for enrolled students with physical, perceptual, learning and psychological disabilities. Apply: California State University, Fresno, Employment Services, Joyal Administration Building, Room 164, 5150 North Maple Avenue, JA71, Fresno, California 93740-8026,  (559) 278-2032, FAX: (559) 278-4275

 

Counselor/Student Disability Services – Application deadline August 20, 2004

Responsible for providing services to students with disabilities to include working collaboratively with the Cooperative Program for the School for the Deaf and Blind. Provides admission counseling, career counseling, and academic advising to prospective and enrolled students. Train faculty/staff on laws and regulations pertaining to students with disabilities. Apply: Human Resources, Spartanburg Technical College, P.O. Box 4386, Spartanburg, SC 29305, (864)591-3706, Fax: (864)591-3692, TDD:              (864)591-3706

 

Minority Student (Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Hispanics, African Americans or Asian) Needed for NIH-Funded Project

The project is a randomized trial of the Positive Action program, a K-5/6 curriculum with school-wide climate change, family and community components designed to improve student attitudes, mental health, behavior and achievement. The program is offered in 10 schools and 10 are matched controls - 20 Hawaii elementary schools (10 on Oahu, 6 on Maui and 4 on Molokai).   Candidates should send (via email) their resume or CV, a letter of interest outlining how this project might fit with their educational goals, three referees to send letters of recommendation (preferable via email followed by the hard copy by regular mail). For more information, contact: Brian R. Flay, D.Phil., UIC Distinguished Professor, Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, and Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Health Research and Policy Centers, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 W. Roosevelt Road., Room 558 M/C 275, Chicago, IL 60608, (312) 996-2806, Fax: (312) 355-2117,  bflay@uic.edu)

 

Assistant Professor, Special Education

Teach undergraduate level courses and supervise public school practica in a Special Education undergraduate state, CEC, NCATE standards based program. Courses require integration of theory with practice and involve supervision of public school/agency practica. The most desirable applicant will have a strong background in language and behaviors/characteristics across severity levels, experience with standards based personnel preparation, curriculum development and program evaluation. Send letter of application, vita, transcripts of course work, with an official transcript from the institution from which highest degree was earned, and two reference letters to: Dr. Kathlene Shank

Chairperson, Department of Special Education, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920-3099

 

 

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

A national advocacy organization dedicated to promoting policy, program, and research efforts for the improvement of health status of all Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. http://www.apiahf.org

 

Chinatown Youth Center

Community Youth Center was incorporated in 1970 as a public benefit corporation. Our founders (Ling-Chi Wang, Rolland Lowe, and Gordan J. Lau) were concerned about the manner in which problems associated with Chinatown (a population density second only to Manhattan's, substandard housing, language difficulties and unemployment) were affecting the area's Asian youth.   http://www.cycsf.org

 

Asian American Health

Asian Americans represent a large and rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population. A recent U.S. Census estimate puts their combined numbers at over 11 million people and predicts a better than tripling in population by 2050. They are exceedingly diverse, coming from nearly fifty countries and ethnic groups, each with distinct cultures, traditions, and histories, and they speak over 100 languages and dialects. Asian American diversity extends to socioeconomic indicators, with members found throughout the spectra of poverty to wealth, and illiteracy to advanced education. http://asianamericanhealth.nlm.nih.gov/index.html

 

Filipino Task Force on AIDS

The Filipino Task Force on AIDS is dedicated and committed to bring to an end the increasing risk of HIV and AIDS in the Filipino community.  We strive to mobilize the community to join us in our heartfelt concern and our efforts to improve health and well-being of individuals, their families, and other groups vulnerable to HIV and AIDS through linguistically and culturally appropriate prevention education, outreach, awareness, and advocacy. http://www.filaids.org

 

Health Power

A nationally unique non-profit 501(c)3 corporation committed to minority health improvement through: a.) Health Information, b.) Health Promotion, c.) Technical Advice and Assistance to Organizations, and d.) Partnerships and Networking. http://www.healthpoweronline.com

 

Asian American Recovery Services, Inc.
The purpose of Asian American Recovery Services, Inc. is to decrease the incidence and impact of substance abuse in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities of the San Francisco Bay Area. To accomplish this goal, Asian American Recovery Services, Inc. develops and provides innovative outreach, treatment, prevention, and research services for its target populations. Because there are multiple causes and effects of substance abuse, Asian American Recovery Services, Inc. also engages in ancillary activities to meet its goal. http://www.aars-inc.org

 

Hmong Homepage

The WWW Hmong Homepage, first made available on the Internet in March 1994, is a volunteer effort bringing together a collection the Internet-based resources related to Hmong news and current-events, issues, history, publications, and culture. http://www.hmongnet.org

 

Japanese Community Youth Council

Over the past three decades, JCYC has become one of San FranciscoŐs most prominent youth organizations. While still committed to children and youth from the Japanese American community, JCYC has evolved and grown into an organization, which annually serves over 5,000 young people from all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. http://www.jcyc.org

 

 

Lao Family Community of Minnesota

Through its programs, Lao Family Community of Minnesota, Inc. (LFC) strives to help the Hmong community strike a balance between traditional Hmong culture and modern American life. Programs are clustered in four areas: English Education, Employment, Youth and Family Services, and Health. http://www.laofamily.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSTITUTES / CONFERENCES

 

4th National Asian Deaf Conference - August 4-8, 2004

Honolulu, HI

NADC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to define and address the cultural,

political and social issues experienced by Asians who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

NADC is strengthened by the diversity of its members and organizations that represent

various geographic regions, languages, religions, cultures and generations. http://nadc-usa.org/nadcconference

 

Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability - August 12-14, 2004
Washington, D.C.

Join this unique national professional network of accessibility coordinators, managers and directors in the cultural arts. The network is devoted to training emerging leaders and improving existing programs and facilities in an effort to make the cultural arts accessible to all. For additional information please contact the Kennedy Center Accessibility
Office at (202) 416-8727 (voice) or (202) 416-8728 (TTY), (202) 416-8802
(fax), or via email at access@kennedy-center.org

 

Rehabilitation Services AdministrationŐs 2004 National Employment Conference, Employment and DisAbility 2004:  The VR – Business Partnership - August 16-18, 2004

Washington, D.C.

The 2004 national event represents a significant departure from previous conferences.  It will target the infrastructure of the State vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency, especially the leadership and professional staff responsible for creating and maintaining employer   development, business relations and large-scale job placement. For additional information about the 2004 conference, please contact Jenn Rigger at 202-260-2179 or jenn.rigger@ed.gov.

 

Access 2004: The Small Business Summit - September 7-9, 2004

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host "Access 2004," a two-day Small Business Summit, in Washington, DC, on September 7-9, 2004. Participants will have a unique opportunity to help craft the ChamberŐs small business policy agenda for 2005, receive an election preview, and connect with elected officials. Yolanda Jacobs

yjacobs@uschamber.com, Phone: (202) 463-5589

 

Celebrating a Quarter Century of Changing Minds: NAMI 2004 Convention - September 8-12, 2004

Washington, DC

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill 2004 convention will celebrate NAMI's 25th anniversary. The conference will address mental health services, research, forensic issues, housing, employment, consumer-run programs, fundraising, and other topics of critical importance to consumers and family members. Breakout VIII, an event that brings together professionals who provide culturally competent community mental health services to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and deafblind, will be held in partnership with the NAMI convention this year. http://www.nami.org

 

Charting the Course: Accommodating and Employing People with Disabilities - September 20-21, 2004

JAN's annual symposium offers a unique opportunity for human resource managers, supervisors, and other management professionals to attend workshops presented by JAN consultants, share information with your peers, and gain valuable guidance and resources that can be shared with others in your company or organization. JAN has also invited featured speakers with expertise in employment law, best practices, and disability issues to join them. http://symposium.jan.wvu.edu/Symposium.htm

 

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT for Government: Linking Performance Measures, Strategic Planning & Budgeting Into An Integrated Management System – September 21-23, 2004

Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport, Arlington, VA

Hear how leading agencies and experts are developing and using performance measurement to achieve strategic goals and results, including these agenda highlights. http://www.aliconferences.com/conferences/governmentperformance/904.html

 

Advanced ADAAG: How to Conduct an Accessibility Survey - September 28-30, 2004

Bowie, MD

Advanced ADAAG is a higher level training for those with previous training and experience with architectural accessibility. This training explores ADA requirements in great detail. Participants will conclude the training with a hands-on experience conducting an accessibility survey. Registration fee is $150.00. Registration deadline is September 10; deadline to obtain discounted hotel rate is August 27, so register early!

Contact: Rachel Margolis at the ADA & IT Information Center at 1-800-949-4232 V/TTY or e-mail adainfo@transcen.org

 

Alternatives 2004 - October 13-17, 2004

Denver, CO

The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse holds the only national conference organized by and for mental health consumers and survivors.

http://www.mhselfhelp.org/alt2004.html

 

22nd Annual Closing The Gap Conference - October 19-23, 2004

Bloomington, Minnesota

Closing The Gap's Annual Conference has an international reputation as a leading source for information on innovative applications of computer technology for persons with disabilities. The 2004 Conference builds on a tradition of providing a comprehensive examination of the most current uses of technology by persons with disabilities and the professionals who work with them. http://www.closingthegap.com/index.lasso

 

7th Annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference: Assistive Technology and Accessible Media - November 9-10, 2004

Boulder, Colorado

The conference focuses on the implementation and benefits of assistive technology in university and college settings for sensory, physical and learning disabilities. Contact Kirk Behnke (kirk.behnke@csun.edu), (818) 677-2578 v/tty/msg, at the Center on Disabilities for registration and information.

 

NEADS Conference 2004: Right On! – November 13-14, 2004

Ontario, Canada

Speakers will include students, consumers, advocates, professionals and anyone else interested in the conference themes. Detailed information on themes, suggested topics and a web-based speaker submission form can be found on our Conference Site located at http://www.neads.ca/conference2004.  Any questions can be directed to Jason Mitschele, Conference 2004 Chair at conference2004@neads.ca

 

"Beyond the Myths: Successful Collaboration for Technology Innovators"
A conference and networking event for researchers, vendors and developers - November 15-17, 2004

The National Center for Technology Innovation is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Technology Innovators Conference (formerly the Annual OSEP Technology Project Directors' Meeting) to be held on November 15-17, 2004, in Washington, DC. http://www.nationaltechcenter.org

 

2005 IRMA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE – May 15-18, 2005

San Diego, California

IRMA is an international professional organization dedicated to furthering the professionalism of its members. IRMA brings together researchers, practitioners, academicians, and policy makers in information technology management. http://www.irma-international.org/conferences/2005/index.asp

 

 

RESEARCH / PUBLICATIONS

Older Adults: Improving Mental Health Services

By 2030, the population of Americans over age 65 is expected to rise to about 71.5 million, compared to 35.6 million in 2002. Yet even today, a shortage of mental health professionals qualified to treat older people means that many arenŐt being treated. Stigma keeps others from seeking help even when adequate treatment is available. http://store.health.org/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=16891

 

Mid-Atlantic Accessible Education-Based Information Technology Consortium

Gautam Gupta and Randy Axelrod of Temple University's Institute on Disabilities developed tutorials on accessibility features of commonly-used office applications including Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word, as well as on making accessible PDF documents. http://www.adainfo.org/IT/tutorials/index.htm

 

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard Report -- Version 1.0

The Office of Special Education Programs at the U. S. Department of Education funded the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum at CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology) to convene a panel of experts, the National File Format Technical Panel, and to establish technical specifications for a voluntary National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS). NIMAS will facilitate the provision of accessible, alternate format versions of print textbooks to PreK-12 students with disabilities. The application of NIMAS will provide standardized source files from which accurate and reliable alternate formats may be developed and distributed to qualified students with disabilities. http://www.cast.org/ncac/nimas/index.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 – August 15th) or if you wish to stop receiving these messages, please contact the NTAC staff at: ntac@cds.hawaii.edu