NTAC e.News — December 15, 2005

Hawaiian Quote

“Ua ola loko i ke aloha.”

Translation: Love gives life within (Love is imperative to one’s mental, physical, emotional and spiritual welfare).

Announcements: Local

NEW! Online Course is Filling Up

Our free, AAPI culture, disability, and rehabilitation online course with Drs. Paul Leung, Professor and Director of the Rehabilitation, Social Work and Addictions department at the University of North Texas and Nan Zhang Hampton, Associate Professor of the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education at San Diego State University is approximately halfway full. This free course, worth 10 Continuing Education Units, will begin January 9th, 2006 so don’t delay. Please visit http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/messageboard/login.aspx to sign up and send a message to James.Brightman@cds.hawaii.edu once you have.

NEW! Employers

Congratulations to Blind and Low Vision of Montana and Puna Kamalii Flowers, Inc. of Hawaii for registering and becoming a part of our Hire.Us Employer database! As employers registered with HIRE.US, they will be able to access our diverse database of job-seekers and their resumes online. The database may be searched by state, job category, or keyword to identify qualified applicants. HIRE.US provides employers with an opportunity to help promote employment of persons with disabilities, to demonstrate positive leadership in their communities, and to tap a pool of potential future employees. Tax incentives are also available to help employers cover the cost of accommodations for employees with disabilities, and to make their places of business accessible for employees and/or customers with disabilities.

To find out more and to register your company with HIRE.US, check out http://www.hireus.cds.hawaii.edu/.

Announcements: National and International

Federal Agency Issues Report Card on Disability Policy in the U.S. and Calls for Immediate Reforms in Social Security Income for Persons with Disabilities

The National Council on Disability (NCD) issued an annual progress report on disability policy in the U.S., calling for the federal government to be more creative in designing programs for people with disabilities. The report provides recommendation on areas such as, disability research and statistics; civil rights; education; long-term care; health care; children and youth; employment; welfare reform; transportation; housing; technology and telecommunication; international initiatives; and homeland security.

To read National Disability Policy: A Progress Report, visit http://www.ncd.gov/ newsroom/publications/2005/progress_report.htm

To read a press release on the issuing of the annual report, visit http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/ news/2005/r05-501.htm

The NCD also released a report with recommendations on improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities receiving Social Security benefits. The major reasons cited for the extreme underutilization of these work incentives by beneficiaries were lack of knowledge on work incentives and the complex and hard-to-grasp nature of the incentives for even those who were aware of them. Read The Social Security Administration’s Efforts to Promote Employment for People with Disabilities: New Solutions for Old Problems at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/ssa-promoteemployment.htm

Positions Available

Executive Director

DLC seeks a dynamic and experienced leader with a commitment to social and economic justice for people with disabilities in Massachusetts. The new Executive Director must be able to respond to local and federal funders, continue to diversify sources of funding and be an effective advocate for increased funding for the agency as well as for funding for health care and other services for the disability community.

TO APPLY: Please submit a letter expressing your interest and a current resume, in confidence to: DLC Executive Director Search Committee, 11 Beacon Street, Suite 925, Boston, MA 02108. Attn: Maureen Henrikson. Applications will receive full consideration if received by November 30, 2005; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Candidates with questions about the position or search process must submit your questions in writing to Maureen Henrikson at the address above or email to mail@dlc-ma.org.

For more information, http://www.dlcma.org/jobs/executive_director_job_announcem.htm

Project Manager for Katrina Aid to Individuals with Disabilities (KAID)

RESPONSIBLE FOR: The daily operations of Katrina Aid for Individuals with Disabilities which is specifically to deal with Katrina hurricane relief efforts. The Katrina Aid to Individuals with Disabilities Project Manager is a position created specifically around relief efforts for people with disabilities who were displaced due to hurricane Katrina. The funding for the position is anticipated to not exceed two years. Resumes may be mailed to 900 second Street, NE, suite 211, Washington, DC, 20002 or faxed (attn: Nachama Wilker) to 202-408-9520.

http://www.ndrn.org/jobs/NDRN_Project_Manager_Katrina_Aid.htm

Managing Attorney/Employment and Housing Team Arizona Center for Disability Law

At least 7 years legal experience required with an emphasis on civil litigation, public interest, and disability rights. Salary depending on experience. Excellent benefits. Persons of color, persons with disabilities encouraged to apply.

http://www.azdisabilitylaw.org/Managing%20AttorneyEmployment%20and%20Housing%20Team.pdf

Recent Products

For a complete list of NTAC products, please visit the Products section of our Web site.

Resources

The links below contain a variety of resources for the learning disabilities community.

American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association (ADARA)

Professionals networking for excellence in service delivery with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. http://www.adara.org

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

Comprehensive site providing information on deafness and communication disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/

Working Together: Computers and People with Sensory Impairments

Video presentation and publication featuring computer technology for people with visual and hearing impairments. http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/wt_sensory.html

Disabilities, Teaching Strategies, and Resources

Inclusion in science education for students with disabilities. http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/sitemap.html

Working Together: Computers and People with Mobility Impairments

Video presentation and publication featuring computer access technology for people with mobility impairments . http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/wt_mobility.html

Institutes / Conferences

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

Next Steps to Improving Outcomes for Students with Disabilities in Postsecondary Education

For those of you interested in improving outcomes for postsecondary education students with disabilities please register to attend the National Capacity Building Institute to be held on March 16th, 2006. Post Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities, Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, HawaiĄ„i.

To Register: Participants must be registered. Complete the registration form and submit to: Velina Sugiyama at velina@hawaii.edu or fax 956-5713. $25 Registration fee. http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/pacriminfo/pacrim2006/events/opeCBI/

Technology, Reading and Learning Difficulties

24th Annual International Conference, January 26-28, 2006, Hyatt Regency San Francisco in Embarcadero Center. Who will be attending TRLD? TRLD attendees include administrators, classroom teachers, reading or learning specialists, adult literacy instructors and more. These attendees come to TRLD from school districts, colleges, libraries and others.

To Contact Us call 888.594.1249 or email trld@donjohnston.com or http://www.trld.com

National Health Policy Conference

Dates: Wednesday, February 6-7, Location: Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel

Each year at the policy conference, leading experts from the Administration, Congress, Academia, and the health industry come together to share their insight into the key health care issues confronting policymakers and provide a health policy scan of the year ahead. For more information visit www.academyhealth.org/nhpc/index.htm.

16th Annual Conference On State Mental Health Agency Services Research,Program Evaluation and Policy

Dates: February 12-14, 2006, Location: Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland

In the President’s New Freedom Commission Report, the Commission recommends transforming how mental health care is delivered. System transformation is needed at many levels including individual consumers, mental health practitioners, service programs, provider agencies, public and private systems, and national levels. The methods used to achieve transformation at each level are different, yet the goals remain the same. The primary goal in a transformed system of care is that consumers can achieve recovery and resilience from mental illness. For more information visit http://www.nri-inc.org/Conference.

AAGP Annual Meeting

Dates: March 10-13, 2006, Location: The Caribe Hilton, San Juan Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry’s Annual Meeting will be held this year in Puerto Rico. This conference primarily serves the interests of geriatric and general psychiatrists, geriatricians, primary care physicians, neurologists, and advance practice nurses. To register please visit www.aagpmeeting.org/register.htm

Research / Publications

Call for Papers! Parting the Waters: Disability and Deliverance in the Wake of Disaster

Special Issue of the Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal. Note that the deadline for submission of abstracts is January 6 to be submitted to guest editors listed in the call for papers. For more information about the Review of Disability Studies, go to www.rds.hawaii.edu