NTAC e.News — August 1, 2005

Announcements: Local

NEW! Customer Satisfaction: Paving the Way to Success

Dr. Kim-Rupnow with other project directors from national Technical Assistance centers for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Latinos with disabilities will speak in a workshop entitled, “Rainbow of talents: Employment success of culturally and linguistically diverse persons with disabilities” during the RSA Project Directors Conference to be held at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. from August 8-10, 2005. Please contact Dr. Kim-Rupnow by email at kimrupno@hawaii.edu for more information.

NEW! Have You Played an Active Role in Determining What Your Future will be?

On July 20-24 in San Antonio, Texas, the NAMRC (National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns) hosted an annual training conference under the theme, “Focusing the Future: Realizing Multicultural Rehabilitation Outcomes.” Dr. Paul Leung, NAMRC President and a NTAC advisory board member, said, “The ‘focusing’ in the title was intentional. It is not only a focus on the future, but that we do the focusing. In other words, we have the power and the means to choose how, when, and on what we want to focus. Too often, we think in terms of observing and looking, but not on the active role that we can play in determining what our future will be.” The conference was truly multicultural in content and participants. Dr. Kim-Rupnow and Ms. Nawatani were among the leaders in the field of rehabilitation and had an opportunity to disseminate information on exemplary tools and resources to better serve the AAPI community. It was also a time for reflection, “Have we played an active role in determining our future?” Have you? You have the power to choose, act and make a difference!

NEW! Honolulu Career Fair

On Thursday August 11th , from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, interview with one or many companies in a variety of fields to find your career. Admission is free and you can register at the door. Come dressed for success with plenty of resumes.

For more information, visit: Honolulu Career Fair Information

Announcements: National and International

An online ADA course for businesses from the U.S. Department of Justice

As a business owner or operator, or someone thinking about opening a business, you may have wondered what you have to do to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This course explains how the ADA applies to businesses in ten short lessons. Putting these lessons into practice will allow you to comply with the ADA and welcome a whole new group of customers to purchase your goods, products, and services. And you may find that making your business more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities is not as difficult as you thought.

To make this course easier to fit into your busy schedule, it is divided into individual lesson modules. You may go though the lessons at your own pace and as your time allows. As you progress through the course, you will find links to additional information, but you can also access a wealth of information by visiting the ADA Website at www.ada.gov, if you have questions about a specific situation.

To visit the course, go to http://www.ada.gov/reachingout/intro1.htm

Getting the Message Across (Malaysia – June 6, 2005)

A brief review of the education system for the deaf in this developing nation, Malaysia.

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2005/
6/6/features/11093780&sec=features

FCC Reaffirms Rules for Hearing Aid Compatible Digital Wireless Telephones (Washington DC – July 6, 2005)

After adopting rules in 2003, the Commission reviewed the action to determine the progress of improving access for all Americans to wireless phones. http://www.telecomweb.com/news/1118349761.htm

The Future of Voting (Oswego, NY – July 2, 2005)

The future technology of voting was tested at the Oswego County Office Building in Oswego. The machines have electronic voting capabilities and audio voting for those who are hearing impaired. http://www.valleynewsonline.com/news/2005/
0702/Front_Page/009.html

Positions Available

Web Copywriter/Editor

Employer: InterVarsity Press
Location: Westmont, IL 60559
Start Date: September 1, 2005

PURPOSE: To advance the mission of InterVarsity Press, the Web Copywriter/Editor will assist the Communications Manager to ensure the accessibility and accuracy of information about books, authors and services for coworkers, business partners and customers.

Contact: Sally Craft, 430 Plaza Dr, Westmont, IL 60559

View this Job Listing

Missouri Disability Vote Project Organizer

Paraquad Public Policy
Attn: Kirsten Dunham
311 North Lindbergh
St. Louis, MO 6314

Paraquad’s Public Policy Department is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Missouri Disability Vote Project Organizer. Duties will include, but are not limited to: Coalition-building; membership development; identifying and developing statewide project leaders; grassroots outreach and activation; data maintenance, aggregation and manipulation; researching policy issues; identifying, informing and mobilizing voters within the disability community.

TO APPLY: Please send resume, cover letter, and at least one writing sample, not to exceed five pages, either by mail or e-mail to:

Paraquad Public Policy, Attn: Kirsten Dunham, 311 North Lindbergh, St. Louis, MO 63141, Or kdunham@paraquad.org

Recent Products

Culture Brief, 2 (6): Japan

James Brightman provides a snapshot overview of Japanese culture and a brief history of Japanese Americans. The brief also includes discussions about Japanese family and community structure, perceptions about disability, providing rehabilitation services to Japanese Americans, and recommendations to rehabilitation service providers for working with Japanese Americans. Brightman concludes with some ways readers might become more familiar with Japanese culture.

Success Story Brief, 5 (4): Dr. Ilchi Lee — World Peace Leader with Learning Disability

Min-Won Seo introduces readers to Ilchi Lee, who has pioneered the modern Dahn Hak movement, a traditional Korean system of physical and mental exercises that uses energy, or Ki, to attain spiritual awakening. Lee was recognized as one of the fifty preeminent spiritual leaders of the world at the United Nations World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders on August 2000. This brief describes Lee’s spiritual journey, concluding with an interview discussing his thoughts about being a leader with a learning disability.

More NTAC Products

Resources

The Foundation for Science and Disability

The Foundation for Science and Disability (FSD) was founded in 1975 as a non-profit organization. FSD has the following goals:

to promote the integration of scientists with disabilities into all activities of the scientific community and of society as a whole and
to promote the removal of barriers in order to enable students with disabilities to choose careers in science.

FSD stresses the ability of scientists and students with disabilities to contribute to science and society. Members of FSD also work together to promote employment opportunities and to increase the participation of scientists with disabilities in the academic, government, and industrial aspects of society.

http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/organizations/FSD_brochure.html

National Business and Disability Council

The NBDC is the leading national corporate resource for hiring, working with, and marketing to people with disabilities.

http://www.business-disability.com/

Institutes / Conferences

For a complete list of conferences, please visit the Conferences section of our Web site.

Come Meet the Profession at the 28th Annual AHEAD Conference

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA: August 2 - 6, 2005

http://www.ahead.org/training/conference/2005_conf/welcome.htm

Olmstead, Advocacy, and Community: Using IL NET’s Olmstead Curriculum to Advocate for Change in Your Community

August 9 - 11, 2005
IL NET and the PACER Center are working together to bring you an exciting, functional approach to implementing the Olmstead decision. Presented in “train-the-trainers” fashion, this two-day seminar in Oklahoma City, OK will focus on best methods for keeping individuals out of institutions and nursing homes. http://www.abilitycenter.org/newsletters/events/disconferences.html

Accessible Design in the Digital World where theory and reality collide; where ideas and practice merge

23-25 August 2005: Dundee, Scotland

The conference will explore the frontiers of inclusive design in the real world. It will also examine some of the challenges in both implementing guidelines and meeting legal responsibilities.

http://www.accessinthedigitalworld.org/2005/

Ticket to Work: Social Security Administration

September 12, 2005: Philadelphia, PA

Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 201 A-C

The Social Security Administration is hosting a series of Ticket to Work Conferences and Expos around the country to promote increased use of the Ticket to Work program. Using the theme “It Pays to Check It Out!” these one-day Expos will provide participants — beneficiaries, as well as employers and service providers – with a better understanding of how and why a Ticket can be useful for them.

http://www.tickettoworkexpo.com/event.aspx

The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF) and The Health and Disability Research Institute (HDR)

San Francisco, CA: September 26 - 27, 2005
Learn about accommodation issues, innovative employment practices, and the ADA! Meet the JAN Consultants and enjoy training from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Defense’s Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP), knowledgeable state and local legal representatives, and private employers. A free service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor. http://www.jan.wvu.edu/

California State University Northridge’s 21st Annual International Conference “Technology and Persons with Disabilities”

March 20-25, 2006: Los Angeles, CA
This is a comprehensive, international conference, where all technologies across all ages; disabilities; levels of education and training; employment; and independent living are addressed. It is the largest conference of its kind! http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/

Research / Publications

No More Job Interviews! Self Employment Strategies for People with Disabilities.

Writing from the perspective of a business owner with a disability, Alice Weiss Doyel lays out a bold plan: Aimed at people with disabilities who want to start a business and the employment specialists who support them.

http://www.diversityshop.com/store/interviews.html

Entrepreneurship, Self Employment and Disabilities

Price: $59.00
VHS Video Cassette (Running time: 22 Minutes, Close Captioned). Narrated by Cary Griffin, Director of Special Projects, University of Montana’s Rural Institute.

It is estimated that over 20 million Americans work in home-based businesses and that the self-employment rate is growing at over 20% annually. This video captures some of the excitement being generated by the emerging trend of self-employment for people with significant disabilities.

http://www.diversityshop.com/store/entre.html

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