NTAC e.News — October 15, 2005

Hawaiian quote:

‘A‘ohe loa i ka hana a ke aloha.

Translation: Distance is ignored by love.

Announcements: Local

Disability Mentoring Day is October 19th

NNTAC-AAPI is helping to sponsor Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) on October 19, 2005. DMD is a local and national effort to promote the employment of persons with disabilities through personal mentoring. DMD enables participants to spend part of a day visiting a Hawai‘i business or agency that matches their interests, and to have one-on-one time with volunteer mentors. DMD provides Hawai‘i’s 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. Although it is right around the corner, if you are an employer and would like to participate by providing mentorship, please contact Christine at christine.su@cds.hawaii.edu, or by phone at 956-2890. If you or someone you know would like to participate as a mentee, please contact Amy at amy.nawatani@cds.hawaii.edu, or by phone at 956-0947. Mahalo!

It’s Tally Time!

The 04-05 Fiscal Year (October 1 2004 through September 30, 2005) has ended, and it’s time to tally the results of our hard work. This is a call to all network members, collaborators, and e-news recipients to provide us with the numbers of AAPIs with disabilities served and/or employed by you during the FY 04-05. In addition to the hard data, we want to hear your success stories. These stories may be shared with the rest of the community through our NTAC-AAPI briefs, future e-newsletters, and perhaps at our Pac Rim Conference in Honolulu in March 2006. Please send all information to Christine at christine.su@cds.hawaii.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!

Fifth Year, Seek Alternative Funding to Continue...!

Beginning October 1, 2005, NTAC is entering its 5th year of the project. As many of you are aware, it is the final year NTAC will be receiving the fund from Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education. Over the past four years, NTAC has developed many products and tools including (a) e.News (semi-monthly electronic newsletter), (b) HIRE.US (web-based jobseekers’ database for employers), (c) online course on AAPI culture and disability for service providers, (d) matching job seekers for job-site mentoring, and (e) briefs highlighting employment success stories. Dr. Kim-Rupnow, NTAC Project Director, is exploring ways to continue the project activities after federal funding ends in September 30, 2006. Please contact her by phone 808-956-5712 or by email kimrupno@hawaii.edu if you have ideas to share, zeal to act, in continuing NTAC’s mission to increase employment opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities.

Hire Abilities

The Hire Abilities Conference is being held October 24th at the Sheraton Waikiki. Please visit www.hireabilities.hawaii.edu for more information. Broadly, the goal of the conference is to increase competitive employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

New Online Course

The new and improved version of our free online AAPI culture course is almost set to go; however, a start date of January 9, 2006 was decided upon. Professors Paul Leung and Nan Zhang Hampton are conducting the course, worth 10 Continuing Education Units provided by the CRCC. It is a great opportunity to improve your abilities as a service provider. Send an email to james.brightman@cds.hawaii.edu to reserve your spot.

Announcements: National and International

Mark your calendars!

FAPAC’s 21st National Leadership Training Conference and Congressional Seminar will be held from 8-12 May 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii. We are working hard to bring you the best training workshops, guest speakers, foods and cultural presentations ever. For more information, please visit our Web site www.fapac.org. In the meantime, you can visit the hotel by clicking the link http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com.

Linda Miller, President/CEO, FAPAC, http://www.fapac.org

United States Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy—What’s New Update

New Fact Sheet: Employment Laws: Disability & Discrimination http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/laws.htm
New Joblinks: National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association http://www.dol.gov/odep/joblinks/joblinks_2f.htm#casa

Veterans Job Fair & Career Expo

Hosted by The New York Times Job Market in partnership with Hire Disability Solutions and Hire Vets First, this event will take place Thursday, November 3 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. It will provide former servicemen and women and their spouses with job opportunities and career seminars. http://nytimes.com/marketing/jobmarket/jobfair/2005/saluteourheroes/index.html

Louisiana Job Fairs to Benefit People with Disabilities & Evacuees

October 7, 2005 news release about job fairs being held in Louisiana to connect job seekers with disabilities and evacuees with employers. The New Orleans job fair will take place Monday October 10 - Friday, October 14, 2005 via the internet and by telephone. Starting on October 10, interested persons can apply with employers on-line at http://www.lbln.org or by calling 1-504-835-6387 between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m Additional events will be held in Alexandria, Covington, Houma and Lake Charles in November. http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/news.asp?Detail=703

KatrinaJobs.org

Free for all job seekers, this job bank Web site helps workers in the travel industry who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina find new employment as quickly as possible. Includes free resume posting, job posting and matching service. http://www.tia.org/express/job_intro.html

2006 Disability Leadership and Policy Fellowship

Do you have an interest in disability policy and desire to learn about the policy-making process at the national level? The AUCD Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to spend nine months to a year in Washington, DC working with AUCD legislative affairs and central office staff. The goals of the Fellowship are:

• To build leadership skills through a range of work experiences, responsibilities and contacts with national leaders.
• To provide experience and skills in the development of national policy and legislation related to individuals with disabilities and their families.
• To provide exposure to the AUCD network, their work and issues.
• To develop knowledge of and key relationships with other organizations including federal agencies, national associations, advocacy groups, and other public and private entities related to the disabilities field.

The Fellowship is open to staff at University Centers in the AUCD network who have been employed from 2-5 years and graduate students/trainees completing their training at a University Center. The Fellowship is a paid fellowship with a negotiable stipend. Applications are now being accepted. The review process will begin immediately with a deadline of November 30. The Fellow will be expected to begin in January 2006.

For more information contact the AUCD Director of Legislative Affairs: Kim Musheno at (301) 588-8252 or kmusheno@aucd.org

An Important Message from W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D., Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

In 1945, Congress designated a week in October to recognize the skills and contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month. National Disability Employment Awareness Month has become an important annual tradition. This theme will be used by the private sector; federal, state and local governments; and advocacy organizations around the country to plan events and programs that showcase the abilities and skills of job candidates who have disabilities.

Employment Policy (ODEP- http://www.dol.gov/odep/) is developing and influencing policies and practices that directly impact the participation of people with disabilities in the workforce.

National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Invites Applications

Deadline: November 10, 2005
The National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program promotes scholarship in the United States and abroad on matters relevant to the improvement of education in all its forms. Applicants must have received their Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent research degree between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2005. International applicants are encouraged.

The application packet is available at the NAE Web site: http://www.nae.nyu.edu/spencer/index.htm

Important Information from Other Federal Agencies on Hurricane Relief

• Homeland Security Web site Lists All Federal Help Available For Katrina Victims: http://www.katrinarecovery.disasterhelp.gov/moveforward.shtm
• Firstgov.Gov Links to Relevant Hotlines: http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/
  Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery/Telephone_Hotlines.shtml
• GovBenefits Shares Benefits Available for All U.S. Citizens: http://www.govbenefits.gov

Department of Housing and Urban Development Establishes Single Toll-Free Housing Hotline (1-888-297-8685) To Help Disaster Victims With All Housing Concerns Assistance available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST, seven days a week. Visit us on the web at http://www.dol.gov.

Positions Available

Behavior Specialist

Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Regular
Disability Type: Traumatic Brain Injuries
Provide behavior management services and assessment for individuals served in a traumatic brain injury program located in Golden Valley. Assist in developing recreational and psychotherapeutic programming goals. Degree in human service field and at least one year experience dealing with behavior management issues required.
Contact: BAlseth@rise.org
Please visit our Web site for more info: http://www.rise.org/secondaryB.php?cat_id=9

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is one of the Employment Networks offering its services to participants in the new federal Ticket to Work program. For a list of other Employment Networks, contact Maximus, Inc. (866-968-7842). http://blindreaders.info/employ.html

Recent Products

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

Resources

National Business and Disability Council

The leading national corporate resource on all issues related to the successful employment and integration of individuals with disabilities. http://www.business-disability.com/

Institutes / Conferences

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

Conference: A Practical Approach to Providing Quality Care to Women with Disabilities

September 17, 2005: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Harvard Medical School’s Center of Excellence in Women’s Health is pleased to present “Women with Disabilities Symposium: A Practical Approach to Providing Quality Care to Women with Visual, Hearing, and Mobility Impairments.”

This one-day conference will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Women with Disabilities at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The registration fee is $75.

To learn more about the conference and register, visit: http://www.hms.harvard.edu/coewh/DisabilityConference
For more information, please contact Lindsay Giorgi, Program Coordinator for HMS’s Center of Excellence in Women's Health. She can be reached at Lindsay_giorgi@hms.harvard.edu or (617) 732-5502.

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/

2006 National Conference of the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association

Fremantle, Australia: October 17 & 20, 2006

The 2006 conference aims to enable participants to understand how the application of technology can allow inclusion of all people into everyday activities, home, school, work and leisure. http://www.e-bility.com/arata/conf.php

Second Annual Tony Coehlo Lecture on Disability and Employment Law

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Please join New York Law School’s Labor and Employment Law Program and Congressman Second Annual Tony Coehlo Lecture on Disability and Employment Law Tony Coehlo for the featuring the Honorable Richard A. Thornburgh.

The Coehlo Lecture is Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. A light dinner will be served, and the Coehlo lecture will follow, along with a question and answer session. The Coehlo Lecture is open to the public at no charge, but registration is required. For more information, and to register, please visit us at www.nyls.edu/lel, email us at lawoftheworkplace@nyls.edu, or call us at 212.431.2127.

For those who cannot attend the event, please register for the live webcast at www.nyls.edu/lel. The webcast can be viewed from our Web site at the time of the speech or any time thereafter. Sign-language interpreters will be provided. Please e-mail lawoftheworkplace@nyls.edu, regarding any additional accommodations you may need.

23rd Annual Closing the Gap: Computer Technology in Special Education and Rehabilitation

Minneapolis, MN USA: October 20 & 22, 2006

http://www.closingthegap.com

The 2005 CNIB Braille Conference “Reaching Out”

October 27-28, 2005

Workshop registration is being coordinated by: Karen Somerville, Registration, CNIB Braille Conference 2005, CNIB Library for the Blind, 1929 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4G 3E8.

Web site: http://www.cnib.ca/library/awards/braille_conference/index.htm

National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) 2005 Annual Training Conference and Exhibit Showcase “Celebrating Eighty Years of Making a Difference”

Alexandria, VA: October 27-30, 2005

http://www.nationalrehab.org/website/events/index.html

National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference® and Expo

Chicago, Illinois: Nov. 15 - 17, 2005

The National Workers’ Compensation & Disability Conference® and Expo is the must attend conference for anyone involved in the disability or workers’ comp industries. And the 2005 event will be no exception! Make plans now to join us Nov. 15 - 17, 2005 when the 14th annual event takes place at Lakeside Center at McCormick Place in Chicago. http://www.wcconference.com/wcdis/confover.html

43rd Annual International Conference of the Learning Disabilities Association of America

New Orleans, USA: March 1-4, 2006

http://www.ldanatl.org/conference/esubmission2006.cfm

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/

AHEAD 2006 Conference: Charting the Course for Change

San Diego, California: July 18-22, 2006

The annual international AHEAD conference brings together professionals in the fields of higher education and disability for a week of information-sharing, networking and theoretical and practical training. http://www.ahead.org/training/conference/index.htm

Research / Publications

Special Issue of the International Journal of Disability, Development and Education (IJDDE)

Topic: “Illuminating the Black Box of School Reform to Improve Outcomes for All Students”
To be published: Volume 54, Issue 1, March 2007
Guest Editors: Dennis McDougall and Claude Goldenberg

Guidelines for Submission: Authors should submit manuscripts via mail or e-mail. Each manuscript should be between 5,000 and 7,000 words, word-processed in English, and conform to guidelines of the 5th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001). The Guest Editors welcome queries from potential authors prior to manuscript submission. IJDDE is a peer-reviewed journal and thus every article included in this special issue will go through the customary peer review process before publication.

Submission Deadline for Manuscripts: 15 May, 2006.

Please send manuscripts via mail or e-mail, or request of further details to: Dennis McDougall, Guest Editor, 124 Wist Hall, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA, email: mcdougal@hawaii.edu

Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss

Parents of children with hearing loss can find helpful information and resources in a publication produced for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) by the Academy for Educational Development (AED). Opening Doors: Technology and Communication Options for Children with Hearing Loss provides background on early intervention, the use of technology and other support available to children and their families. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/products/opening_doors/index.html