NTAC e.News — April 1, 2006

Asian Words of Wisdom

Sometimes, simply by sitting, the soul collects wisdom

-Zen proverb

Announcements: Local

New! Online Course Starting Again (Worth 10 CEUs)

Many students/rehabilitation professionals have earned Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to maintain their certifications by taking NTAC-AAPI’s free ‘Introduction to Disability/Rehabilitation with Asian/Pacific Islander Americans’ online course. We are set to begin the third edition of the course on April 18th, 2006. Conducted by 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, this course is a great opportunity to further your abilities as a service provider and maintain your certifications in the process. Please see http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/AAPIcourse/ for more information then send an email to james.brightman@cds.hawaii.edu to get on the mailing list. Don’t miss this opportunity!

New! Another Potential Online Opportunity to Earn Continuing Education: The Disability Leadership Institute may also be broadcasted on the Internet!

NTAC-AAPI is proud to sponsor the Disability Leadership Institute on May 8, 2006 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa in Honolulu, HI, which we may also broadcast on the Internet, if demand warrants. To request that we broadcast it and reserve your space in this online opportunity, send an email to james.brightman@cds.hawaii.edu. If we decide to offer it online, the people who watch the entire conference online will earn approximately 8 CEUs, same as those who attend the conference in Honolulu. If attending the conference in Honolulu, register online at: http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/. Participants must be registered with a $25 Registration fee by April 7 (Late registration will cost an additional $10). Complete the registration form and submit it to: Joeun Ham at joeun@hawaii.edu or fax it to her at 808-956-7878.

New! Attention employers! Check out HIRE.US!

Let NTAC-AAPI help you to expand and diversify your workforce! NTAC-AAPI has created a database of job-ready candidates, where you can find the perfect applicants to fill your open positions. With HIRE.US, you can search for prospective employees by geographic region or job type, and view their resumes on the site. You can also add your company’s information to our database of employers, so that job seekers know that you are committed to diversity and quality in your workplace. See www.hireus.cds.hawaii.edu for more information, or contact Christine Su, Employment Coordinator, at (808) 956-2890 or christine.su@cds.hawaii.edu.

New! Post-PacRim Employment Summit a Success!

As a follow-up to the highly successful 2006 Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities (March 13-15), Hire Abilities-Hawaii, with whom NTAC-AAPI is a partner, held a two-day employment summit to discuss ways to improve employment outcomes for job-seekers with disabilities on March 15th and 16th. Entitled “Expanding Workforce Pathways for People with Disabilities,” the first day of the summit included roundtable discussions on topics ranging from overcoming attitudinal barriers in the workplace, to customized career development, to disability as diversity. On the second day of the summit, participants gathered at the Hawaii State Capitol to meet with legislators, giving brief testimonies about both issues and accomplishments involved in employment for people with disabilities in the state. The summit was moving, thought-provoking, and inspiring for all involved. For more information, see http://www.hireabilities.hawaii.edu/.

New! Calling all Hawaii employers!

Would you like to expand and diversify your workforce? Join the Hawaii Business Leadership Network (HBLN)! The Hawaii Business Leadership Network is a part of nationwide initiative to recognize and promote best practices in hiring, retaining, and marketing to persons with disabilities. As part of an employment summit held at the Sheraton Waikiki on March 15-16, Tammie McNaughton, Director of Corporate Diversity and Work Life for Highmark Corporation, the lead employer for the Business Leadership Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, spoke to participants about her wonderful experiences in hiring and working with persons with disabilities. Joining the HBLN is a great opportunity for your company to cooperate with other Hawaii businesses in their commitment to hiring quality employees with disabilities. For more information on how the Business Leadership Network works, visit http://www.usbln.com/. To find out how you can join the HBLN, contact Christine Su at (808) 956-2890 or christine.su@cds.hawaii.edu.

Call for Success Stories!

The National Technical Assistance Center for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities (NTAC-AAPI) likes to publish the stories of successful AAPI with disabilities. These Success Stories are accounts by or of inspirational AAPI with disabilities, who have overcome obstacles and achieved their career goals despite incredibly challenging circumstances. In publishing their stories, NTAC-AAPI seeks to motivate others in similar situations. For examples of Success Stories previously published, please go to http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/products/products.htm and view all editions of Volume 5.

We believe such stories are valuable and want others to use them as a resource. Please tell us the story in approximately 1500 words and send it to james.brightman@cds.hawaii.edu; phone number: (808) 956-3648. Please visit http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/employ_success_stories/success.htm for suggested outlines.

Announcements: National and International

DOL Announces Competition for $4 Million in Funding for Grassroots Organizations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announces a $4 million grant competition for grassroots faith-based and community organizations to help underserved populations prepare for and succeed in employment opportunities.

Applicant organizations are expected to create their program in conjunction with their local One-Stop Career Center. Applicants must provide a Letter of Intent or Memorandum of Understanding signed by the One-Stop articulating the anticipated partnership.

This competitive solicitation for grant applications can be accessed online through www.doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm or www.grants.gov. The competition for grants will close May 2, 2006.

Administration on Aging (AoA) Grants Announcement: Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Projects New!

Grant announcement from AoA regarding funding for sixty-four SMP projects which recruit retired professionals as volunteers to educate older consumers in their communities about Medicare, Medicaid and other health care fraud, error and abuse prevention. Closing Date for Applications: April 28, 2006.

Fifth Anniversary of the Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award (NFI).

On Thursday, March 2, 2006, eligibility criteria and nomination guidelines were published in the Federal Register. Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao, established the NFI Award in 2001 to recognize businesses (of any size), non-profit organizations, and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering President George W. Bush’s New Freedom Initiative objectives. The nomination period closes May 31, 2006.

Over the past five years, 13 companies, 13 non-profits, and 4 individuals have been recognized by Secretary Chao as models of excellence in creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. To give you a sense of the quality, variety, and enthusiasm of our past awardees, please take a moment to view a short video located at www.dol.gov/odep/newfreedom/nfi06.htm.

Positions Available

Director of Foreign Language Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology seeks to hire a Director of Foreign Language Technology for its newly established state-of-the-art Foreign Language Technology Center to start July 1, 2006.

Review of applications will begin March 27th and continue until position is filled. Applicants must send letter, curriculum vitae, names of three references, a statement on the use of technology in foreign language teaching and learning, and a sample of instructional materials by US priority mail to: Professor Hiroko Yamashita, Chair of Foreign Language Technology Director Search Committee, College of Liberal Arts, Rochester Institute of Technology, 92 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623-5604.

SunTrust Employment Opportunities

SunTrust is a major employer leading the Emerging Leaders Program. Those who may be interested in this great opportunity, please reply to Emerging Leaders directly at www.emerging-leaders.com.

SunTrust Mortgage Internship, Richmond, VA SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunTrust Bank. Mortgage Internship opportunities are available in Richmond, Virginia. The 10 week internship program will begin in May and continue through the end of July 2006. The work hours are full-time. Interns will receive competitive wages.

Retail Administration Internship, Baltimore, MD The Maryland Retail Banking Group. There is one position available for the summer of 2006; will begin in May and continue until early or mid-August. This is a full time position (40 hours per week) based in downtown Baltimore, however, the Intern will be assigned to observe and/or support various branch locations in the downtown-midtown Baltimore area for part of the assignment. The Intern will receive a competitive hourly wage based on educational level.

Resources

Technical Assistance Tools

NCWD/Youth partners have developed sets of technical assistance tools to offer guidance in the design and implementation of programs in the field of workforce disability and youth. These documents are offered in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF file formats.

Institutes / Conferences

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

White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

When: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Where: Hyatt Jacksonville, 225 East Coast Line Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202
On Wednesday, April 12, the White House will host a conference to help faith-based and other community organizations learn more about President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The federal government is working to make sure that faith-based and community groups can compete on an equal footing for federal dollars, receive greater private support, and face fewer bureaucratic barriers.

The conference is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit www.fbci.gov to register online. We strongly encourage you to register online. Please register by Thursday, April 6. If you must cancel your registration, please send an email to fbci@dtihq.com or a fax to the number listed above so we may accommodate as many people as possible. For more information, please call 202-456-6718, send an email to fbci@dtihq.com, or visit www.fbci.gov.

2006 ADA Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion, and Disability Conference: “Personal Perspectives & Social Impact: The Stories We Tell”

April 17-18, 2006: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
For more information, go to: http://ada.osu.edu/conferences/past/2006program.htm

YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network

May 1-5, 2006: New York, NY
YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network will hold its 27th Annual International Conference “Pathways to Success in Developmental and Learning Disabilities: Innovative Programs, Strategies and Policies that Work” on May 1-5, 2006, at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan Hotel, 1605 Broadway, in New York City. For more conference information, visit www.yai.org/pid or contact Dalia Sztulwark at dsztulwark@yai.org, 212-273-6193 or 212-629-4113 (fax). On-line registration begins in March at www.yai.org.

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Equal Treatment Presentation—Cincinnati, OH

When: May 11, 2006 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Hyatt Regency Cincinnati
151 West Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
State, regional and local administrators of U.S. Department of Labor-funded programs are invited to an informational session hosted by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Cincinnati, OH on May 11, 2006.

To expand and strengthen services to people in need, the President has advanced the Faith-Based and Community Initiative to ensure that all effective non-profit organizations have equal access to grants and other types of Federal financial assistance. All desiring to attend should RSVP immediately to Shortenhaus.scott@dol.gov.

White House Targeted Workshop on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives—Cincinnati, OH

When: Friday, May 12, 2006 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, 151 West Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
On Friday, May 12, 2006, the White House will host a workshop geared towards representatives from social service groups that have a track record of applying for government funding, especially those from groups that have not yet won grants.

The conference is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit www.fbci.gov to register online. Please register by Monday, May 8. If you must cancel your registration, please send an email to fbci@dtihq.com or a fax to the number listed above so we may accommodate as many people as possible.

For more information, please call 202-456-6718, send an email to fbci@dtihq.com, or visit www.fbci.gov.

Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)

June 29th to July 1st 2006: Honolulu, HI
The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) will hold its 11th National Conference in Hawai‘i to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Filipino immigration to Hawai‘i. The theme, “Sakadas and Beyond: Connecting Our Past to Inspire the Future.” Call for Papers, Panels & Presentations (Deadline: February 1, 2006). For Conference Proposal Form and guidelines, go to: www.fanhs-national.org or contact (206) 322-0203 or (808) 956-9295.

29th Annual AHEAD Conference and Exhibit Hall

July 17-22, 2006: San Diego, California, USA
The AHEAD 2006 Conference celebrates the 20 year anniversary since our last adventure together in San Diego! Transition and change mark the theme of our Conference; our program reflects the many lenses we use to bridge the transition gap. The Program Committee recognizes that the transition continuum is quite broad: high school to college, 2-year to 4-year, private to public schools and interaction with parents, cultures, and state agencies. Learn more about the AHEAD 2006 Conference.

Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference

August 3-6, 2006: Washington D.C.
The Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference and Training is accepting proposals for pre-conference workshop intensives at the 2006 conference to be held August 3-6 in Washington D.C. Pre-conference sessions will be held on Thursday, August 3. Proposals must be submitted to the Kennedy Center Accessibility Program by January 30, 2006. Four to six proposals will be selected by committee, and notification of acceptance will be sent by February 10, 2006. To submit a proposal, please fill out the attached proposal and send it via email to access@kennedy-center.org. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your ideas for a proposal before submitting, call (202) 416-8727(voice) or (202) 416-8728 (TTY).

Aspire, Achieve, Empower: First Conference on Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities

September 13-15, 2006: Boston, MA
Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) is planning Aspire, Achieve, Empower: The First Conference on Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities to be held from September 13-15, 2006 in Boston, MA. Partnering with state and national organizations, PYD will host a national conference which will focus on sharing best practices in the field of mentoring youth with disabilities. Learn more...

Disability Issues Caucus of National Communication Association

November 6, 2006: San Antonio, TX
Call for Papers and Panel Proposals. Disability Issues Caucus, National Communication. Association Annual Meeting: San Antonio, TX Nov 16-19, 2006 Deadline: February 15, 2006 The Disability Issues Caucus invites research papers and program proposals exploring any aspect of issues related to disability and communication, and it especially. Contact: klebesco@mmm.edu URL: www.natcom.org http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=149092.

Research / Publications

Guideposts for Success

Transition from youth to adulthood is an awkward period in life; it presents challenges for almost every young person today. Youth with disabilities, indeed all vulnerable youth, may need extra supports throughout their transition period in order to make informed choices and become self-sufficient adults.

An extensive literature review of research, demonstration projects and effective practices covering a wide range of programs and services—including lessons from youth development, quality education, and workforce development programs—has identified core commonalities across the disciplines, programs and institutional settings. The review also points out that no one institution or organization can provide the full range of services; thus, highlighting the interdependence of agencies that requires communities, states, the federal government and multiple organizations at all levels to collaborate with one another in order to help assure quality transitions for all youth.

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: April 15, 2006), please contact the editor at david.baker@cds.hawaii.edu. If you wish to stop receiving these messages, you may send an email to listserv@hawaii.edu with the subject line blank and signoff ntac-l@hawaii.edu in the body of your message.