Registration for Mid-Year CANAR Conference - June 27-30, 2004

Vocational Rehabilitation for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe in Northern Idaho is hosting this year Mid-Year CANAR (Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation) conference. Brochure and Registration is located at http://www.cdatribe-nsn.gov/depts/edu/cr.html

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars Scholarship Program for College Students with Disabilities (Youth Scholarship) - Applications due June 14, 2004

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, recently announced a new academic internship program for students with disabilities: semester internships in Congressional offices and federal agencies in Washington, DC. In addition, the Washington Center will arrange workshops, seminars, lectures, embassy visits and networking events for interns. Further information at: http://www.aapd-dc.org/Internships/washintern.html.

Workshop on Asian American Culture - May 11, 2004

Clear Path is having a workshop on Asian American Culture and their

Perception on Disability on May 11th, 1:00-3:00PM at 3333 N. 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85013. For more information, contact Romeo R. Rabusa, Clear Path Recruitment Specialist at 602-262-5065.

Call for Paper Proposals for a Special Session – Deadline May 18, 2004

HCI International 2005 “Universal Design of Technologies that Render Web Content” that will be held in July 22-27, 2005 in Las Vegas, NV, USA. The goal of this special session is to explore how technologies that render web content can be designed to make the web a more accessible and usable place for people with disabilities. This session invites developers and researchers to submit papers on the universal design, evaluation and usability of browsers, plug-ins, multi-media players, voice browser, pervasive computing technologies. Please submit a title and abstract to Jon Gunderson, Coordinator of Assistive Communication and Information Technology, at jongund@uiuc.edu, Voice (217) 244-5870, Fax: (217) 333-0248.

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 Chamber’s small business policy agenda for 2005, receive an election preview, and connect with elected officials. Small business owners from around the country are encouraged to attend the event (Chamber members will receive a discounted entrance fee). Space is limited, so please register early! Yolanda Jacobs

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

National Endowment for the Arts to Fund Study of Careers in the Arts for Individuals with Disabilities - Deadline: May 24, 2004
The National Endowment for the Arts is seeking proposals for a three-year longitudinal study aimed at developing new knowledge through quantitative and qualitative research that explores the barriers people with disabilities face in accessing training and careers
in the arts. The study will examine effects, both economic and social, that arts training and practice can have on individuals with disabilities. http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/RFP/CareersintheArtsStudy.html

Teleconference Presentation: The Community Living Exchange Collaborative On-Line – May 5, 2004
Resources for Everyone Working to Improve Home and Community Based Services" with Leandre Waldo-Johnson of The Community Living Exchange Collaborative at ILRU on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. eastern, 2:00 p.m. central, 1:00 p.m. mountain, 12:00 noon pacific, 11:00 Alaska, 9:00 a.m. Hawaii. To receive teleconferencing instructions, reply to sfinney@ilru.org via email with "Teleconference 5/5". Or, to participate via Web cast, send a reply to sfinney@ilru.org with "Webcast 5/5" in the subject line. http://www.ilru.org/online/calendar.html

Call for Proposals for the 2004 National Service Inclusion Project Continuation Minigrant – Deadline May 28, 2004
The emphasis of this minigrant will be to generate and implement member/volunteer placement strategies with respective State Commissions and /or CNCS State Offices that will result in the increase of the enrollment of individuals with disabilities in national service programs. For more information, contact Jason P. Wheeler, Toll-free: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY), jason.wheeler@umb.edu.

National Women’s Check-Up Day – May 10, 2004
The University of Illinois UCE has collaborated with the UIC's Center of Excellence (COE) in Women’s Health to hold events such as screenings and a resource kiosk specific to women with disabilities. http://www.4woman.gov/WHW/2004

Graduate Research Grants Program - Proposals due July 2004

Organization for Autism Research (OAR) will award four small grants to graduate students pursuing Master’s or Doctoral degrees. These grants will be awarded to those students whose proposed research best fits with OAR’s research interests and priorities, namely practical research into the daily challenges of autism and related disorders. Proposals will be due in July, with grant awards announced in September. Please contact Mike Maloney or Sarah Snow at (703) 351-5031 for more information

or send an email to oar@researchautism.org.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars Scholarship Program for College Students with Disabilities

The Washington Center is able to provide a total of 50 competitive scholarship awards in the amount of $7,430 for students with disabilities interested in working in the executive, judicial or legislative branches of the federal government during the fall 2004 semesters (scholarships are not available in the summer). For more information contact JT Taransky, The Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars,V/TTY: 202-457-0046. http://www.aapd-dc.org/Internships/washintern.html

NEADS Conference 2004 Call for Speakers – Deadline: August 13, 2004

The National Educational Association of Disabled Students invites interested individuals to serve on one of three workshop panels at our next conference entitled: "Right On!" which will take place at the Delta Hotel and Suites, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on November 13th to 14th, 2004. 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

Asian Division of the Library of Congress invites you to join its Friends Society
Dr. Hwa-wei Lee, an internationally well-known librarian, came to Washington out of retirement in Ohio and is leading an exciting program with a very talented staff.
You can join the Friends Society in many ways - as an individual, a family, or an organization; you can also serve as a volunteer or become a donor. Your contributions will be tax deductible. http://www.lib.washington.edu/SouthEastAsia/vsg/conf/asian%20division%20friends.html

Call for submissions – Deadline: June 1, 2004

Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) has issued a call for submissions of writing and artwork, for an anthology on transition to college and the first-year experiences of college students with disabilities. http://www.ahead.org/network/anthology.php

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

READER (OFFICE AUTOMATION) GS- 0303 – Closing date: 05/12/2004

Incumbent provides reader services to a visually impaired employee. Provides reader assistance by reading and/or converting to useable form such as audiotape, written and printed materials received by the assisted employee. For additional information regarding this announcement, call either Ike Gilbert at (206) 220-7813.

Recreation Therapist

Creative, organized, self-starter to coordinate and implement community and facility based social and recreation activities for adults with disabilities. CTRS with some supervisory experience required. For more information, Ph: 708/352-3580, FAX: 708/352-9728, Email: pam@hhrehab.org

Program Coordinator-SDPAS Department

Summit Independent Living Center is taking applications for a program coordinator in the Self-Directed Personal Assistance Services (SDPAS) Department in the Missoula Office. This position shares program coordination responsibilities with the SDPAS co-coordinator and is responsible for working with a caseload of 60 + consumers who direct their own in-home personal care services. For more information regarding the job duties, qualifications, salary and benefits, or application process please contact Mike Mayer at 728-1630 or 800-398-9002 toll-free.

Case Manager – The Arc of San Diego

Case Manager needed to work with Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Supervises, maintains, and reviews the case management and client record keeping systems of the Work Activity Center. Works in close coordination and cooperation with the Program Manager and funding source representatives. Develops Program Plan with consumer and appropriate involved others designed to assist and encourage the consumer in achieving his/her employment goal. For more information, Ph: (858)715-3780, FAX: (858)467-9517, Email: cdahlke@arc-sd.com

Executive Director

The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc. (the “Center”) operates Florida's federally mandated and state designated protection and advocacy system for persons with disabilities. The Executive Director is responsible for managing the operations and staff of the Center and reports directly to the Center's Board of Directors. http://www.advocacycenter.org/news/employment.htm

Job Coach Case Manager - Goodwill Industries of Greater NY & Northern NJ

Work with adults who have mental retardation and developmental disabilities; helping them to obtain and maintain a job. This requires traveling to multiple work sites throughout NYC working intensively with clients and employers. For more information, Email: bjackson@goodwillny.org

Resource, Information, Support and Empowerment (RISE) - IL Specialist/Outreach Specialist

The Independent Living Specialist/Outreach Specialist is responsible for assisting persons with disabilities to receive appropriate services, which will enable them to live more independently. Develop contacts within community organizations and provide services to consumers in the communities within the service delivery area. Send cover letter and resume to: Cheryl Bass, Executive Director, RISE-Resource, Information, Support and Empowerment, 755 South 11th Street, Suite 101, Beaumont, Texas 77701, (409)838-4499 FAX or Email to RISE@prodigy.net. To request this announcement in alternative format, please call (409)832-2599 (V/TDD).

RESOURCES

Accessible Web Publishing Wizard for Microsoft ® Office

The Web Publishing Accessibility Wizard for Microsoft ® Office offers an alternative to the native Web Publishing feature in Office. The Accessibility Wizard simplifies the task of converting PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and (in the future) Excel spreadsheets to accessible HTML through an easy-to-use user interface and automation of many of the details of conversion. http://cita.rehab.uiuc.edu/software/office/overview.html

Independent Living Institute

The Independent Living Institute offers resources for persons with extensive disabilities and develops consumer-driven policies for self-determination, self-respect and dignity. http://www.independentliving.org

Disability Online

DDWP develops and implements disability policy and program initiatives related to the workforce system, including a cross-agency collaboration to address structural barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities. DDWP supports the New Freedom Initiative to improve career and employment outcomes for people with disabilities through innovative skill training and systems change grant activities. http://www.doleta.gov/disability

"Write N Read"

Handwriting to Text-to-Speech solution for those with literacy challenges. http://www.colligo.us

U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Web site

The Working Partners Web site features the Drug-Free Workplace Advisor, an interactive tool that helps employers build tailored, drug-free workplace policies and programs; the Substance Abuse Information Database, an online repository of hundreds of documents related to workplace alcohol and drug abuse; basic information about substance abuse and how it affects employment; and directories of national, state and local resources as well as state laws that may assist employers in making their businesses drug free. http://www.dol.gov/workingpartners/welcome.html

PowerTALK

The PowerTalk program automatically speaks the text on a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation using the Microsoft Speech API. It has been created to help those who have difficulties talking whilst presenting or for an audience that contains people with visual impairments. http://www.meru.org.uk/speechmakers

INSTITUTES / CONFERENCES

Techniques for Creating and Instructing with Tactile Graphics - May 6-8, 2004

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

COSD 5th Annual National Meeting 2004 – May 10-11, 2004

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 – 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 – 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

Employment, Medicaid and Social Security: Collaborations at Work—A National Conference on Change - May 16–19, 2004
Minneapolis, MN

The Employment, Medicaid and Social Security Conference is a premiere national event designed to focus exclusively on removing barriers to Medicaid and Social Security funding for effective workplace supports. This National Conference will provide an opportunity for professionals and consumers to learn cutting edge funding practices for employment services from those who have developed them. http://www.worksupport.com/topics/ssw.asp

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

APSE INSTITUTE – May 20-June 22, 2004

The APSE Network on Employment Institute now offers training by telephone. Topics Include Job Development, Job Coaching, Self-Employment, Medicaid, Transition, Employment Public Policy, Organizational Change, Professional Standards, and Leadership http://www.apse.org/TeleTraining/Tele_Training%20Main.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 – yet most challenging – functions of those engaged in employment and training. Federal guidelines demand that we look at clients through a lens of “risk factors” and “barriers.” Find out what’s 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

Sprout Film Festival – May 22-23, 2004

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 – 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 – 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

Announcing VSA ART EXPO: Vision, Strength, & Artistic Access – May 29-30, 2004

Expo to highlight Career Paths for Artists with Disabilities and will include free workshop strands. Located at Hawaii Community College. To register, contact Angela at 808-966-8707. See website for more information - http://www.vsarts.hawaii.edu

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 – 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

Mid-Year Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR) Conference-– June 27-30, 2004

Worley, Idaho

This conference will not only come from directors and educators, but grass roots counselors who deal directly with consumers, and who on a day to day basis, assist clients in gaining their identify, self-esteem and gaining a sense of self worth back into their lives. http://www.cdatribe-nsn.gov

Impact 2004: 6^th Annual WebCT User Conference – July 11-15,2004

Orlando, FL

Educators, course designers and system administrators will come together from all over the world to share their knowledge of WebCT and online teaching and learning. http://www.webct.com/2004

Third Annual Bridges to Employment Conference: Exploring Career Opportunities for Latinos with Disabilities – July 14-16, 2004

Chicago, IL

The conference will provide a national forum about issues concerning disabled Latinos and employment, and offer a variety of employment and technology training opportunities. http://www.proyectovision.net/english/bridges/index.html

RESNA's 27th International Conference - June 18-22, 2004

Orlando, FL
RESNA is a community of people who share a passion. Our passion involves working with people with disabilities and technology. Our annual conference is an expression of that passion. Come and join an interdisciplinary gathering of professionals as diverse as the technology and people with whom we work. http://www.resna.org/Conference/2004Conference/Conference2004.php?PHPSESSID=0e65a807a3125aa661c02503966906f5

Workforce Innovations 2004 – July 19-21, 2004

Sponsored by the United States Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and co-sponsored by the National Association of Workforce Boards, the annual Workforce Innovations conference provides attendees vital knowledge of the latest federal policy developments and funding opportunities, and best workforce investment system practices from across the nation. This year’s proposed conference tracks are: Policy, Budget and Legislation; Building a Demand-Driven System; and One-Stop Expectations, Enhancements and Integration. http://www.workforceinnovations.org/index.cfm

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 NDDS National Conference - July 22–25, 2004

The 2004 conference, "Empowering, Reaching, Achieving," will bring together parents, family members, professionals, and teens and adults with Down syndrome from across the country for education, networking and celebration. http://www.ndss.org/content.cfm?fuseaction=NwsEvtEvtConfNC

2004 National Youth Leadership Conference - July 24–27, 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 – July 26 – 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

The Fifth International Conference on Higher Education and Disability - July 27-30, 2004

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

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 Administration’s 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

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

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

RESEARCH / PUBLICATIONS

Accommodating Employees with Hidden Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines “disability” as an impairment that “substantially limits one or more of the major life activities.” Although some disabilities, such as inability to walk, missing or impaired limbs or severely impaired vision, are easy to observe, many disabilities are not. http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ek00/hiddenemp.htm

2004 RED BOOK

This book is a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. http://www.ssa.gov/work/ResourcesToolkit/redbook.html

TBI Research Review of the New York Traumatic Brain Injury Model System

The aim of the TBI Research Review is to summarize current research on traumatic brain injury (TBI), offer suggestions for future research planning and suggest application of research findings to clinical practice and policy. The focus in this first issue is on POST-TBI DEPRESSION. Additional copies may be found at http://mssm.edu/nytbims/whats_new.shtml or http://mssm.edu/nytbims/publications.shtml). This document may be downloaded and distributed to interested individuals and organizations without cost.

Work-Based Learning — Ages 14 to 25 Years

Work-based learning is a supervised program sponsored by an education or training organization that links knowledge gained at the worksite with a planned program of study. Experiences range in intensity, structure and scope and include activities as diverse as site visits, job shadowing, paid and unpaid internships, structured on-the-job training, and the more formal work status as apprentice or employee. http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/hot_Topics/work_Based_Learning/index.html

Search Engine Optimisation and Accessibility

This article shows how search engines, through their algorithms, and search engine optimisation, have led to a growing interest in making web content more accessible. http://www.e-bility.com/articles/accessibility_optimisation.shtml

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 – May 15^th) or if you wish to stop receiving these messages, please contact the NTAC staff at: ntac@cds.hawaii.edu

NTAC-AAPI

Awareness of APA with Disabilities Training Institute - May 21

May 21, 2004: VSA arts of Hawaii-Pacific