NTAC e.News — March 15, 2006

Hawaiian words of wisdom

He kehau ho‘oma‘ema‘e ke aloha

Translation: Love is like a cleansing dew.
Explanation: The cleansing power of aloha can soothe and heal. Hurt, pain, and suffering yield to aloha’s healing power.

Announcements: Local

New! Pac Rim 2006 a Success & Two Post-Conference Events Begin!

The 22nd Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities is ending. The conference, held March 13-15, 2006 at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawai'i has been tremendously successful this year, with over 1000 registered participants. Presentations were given by NTAC staff, subcontractors, and numerous other experts in their respective fields. It has truly been an opportunity for East to meet West as many outreach strategies for assisting AAPI with disabilities were developed. Please go to http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/ to see what a wonderful conference we had and consider joining us for the 23rd Annual Conference, tentatively scheduled for March of 2007.

On March 16th and 17th, NTAC-AAPI will cosponsor “The 2006 Hire Abilities—Hawaii Employment Summit: Expanding Workforce Pathways For People with Disabilities and the Teaching All Students, Reaching All Learners: Innovative Ways to Address Disability and Other Forms of Diversity in the Postsecondary Classroom”—two 2006 Pacific Rim Post Conference events to be held at the same hotel.

Disability Leadership Institute: Registration Now Open!

NTAC-AAPI is proud to sponsor the Disability Leadership Institute on May 8, 2006 at the TAPA Conference Room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa in Honolulu, HI. Opening Remarks by Dr. Robert A. Stodden, Principal Investigator, NTAC-AAPI are planned with potential Keynote Speeches from Senator Daniel Inouye, Olegario Cantos VII, Elaine Chao, John Hager, and other notable representatives from national, local (Hawaii), and Pacific Region areas. At the Institute, we will share the best practices, employment success stories, and tools developed by NTAC-AAPI over the past four years and develop an action plan to continue NTAC-AAPI’s mission beyond the current project period ending in September, 2006. To register online, go to: 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.

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.

If you are an AAPI with a disability, we invite you to share your story for possible publication. If you are a vocational rehabilitation provider, with your consumer permission, we want you to tell us about your AAPI consumers who reached a successful employment outcome. 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) 956-4585. If we publish the story, we can offer a $400 honorarium. Please visit http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/employ_success_stories/success.htm for suggested outlines.

Announcements: National and International

Serving Children with Disabilities Placed by Their Parents in Private Schools

An online resource from the U.S. Department of Education designed to help school district officials and parents understand how the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides for students with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private elementary schools and secondary schools. Click here to download.

Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN) Extranet

EARN has released their new Extranet that allows members to directly post, view and search jobs. Employers who sign up for this free service can now go to the Extranet to post and edit their job announcements. Professionals working with job seekers with disabilities that are signed up with EARN can also use the Extranet to search job postings by occupation type and location. http://www.earnworks.com/extranet.htm

National ADA Symposium & EXPO

The National ADA Symposium offers training on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability laws. This year’s conference is being held April 10-12, 2006. http://www.adasymposium.org/

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Encourages Companies, Non-profits, Others to Apply for 2006 New Freedom Initiative Awards

March 2, 2006 news release from the Department of Labor regarding the 2006 New Freedom Initiative (NFI) Awards, which honor non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts to improve the employment and workplace environment of people with disabilities. The deadline for receipt of nominations is May 31. Click here for the press release.

Grants.gov Opportunities

• HHS: Department of Health and Human Services Intervention Research Grants to Promote the Health of People with Disabilities Grant: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7978.
• ED: U.S. Department of Education Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities Program Grant: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=7944.

Positions Available

Secretary’s Internship Program at the U.S. Department of Labor

The DEADLINE for applications for the summer program has been EXTENDED to March 17, 2006. For more information about the program and the application process, please visit http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/internprogram.htm or contact the internship coordinator, Melissa Naudin, at (202) 693-6000.

Search For Jobs Online

Search federal jobs at https://www.avuedigitalservices.com/. “Avue Central is a federal employment service provided absolutely free to the public. It’s the fastest and easiest way to find and apply for federal employment. Avue Central offers completely private, safe, and secure access to thousands of federal jobs worldwide.”

Recent Products

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

Resources

From Independent Living Research Utilization at TIRR March 08, 2006:

Expert Q&A—Everyday Living with SCI RRTC on SCI: Promoting Health & Preventing Complications through Exercise (A project of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Collaboration with ILRU a program of TIRR)

The Experts are in...and they are ready to answer your questions about daily living with a spinal cord injury (SCI).

Brenda Gilmore is a former nationally-ranked (#2) wheelchair tennis player and is the SCI Life Consultant/Educator for the RRTC on SCI at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. Russ Holt is the RRTC Peer Mentor Advisor and created disabilityguide.org, an online disability information resource for the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area. Between them both, they have over 45 year’s of experience living, working, and being physically active with a SCI.

Some newly-injured individuals with a SCI assume they can no longer participate in a sport or activity just because they can’t walk. Others may find it difficult to get back into the work force, or know even what kind of car they could drive. Brenda and Russ can help you answer some of those questions that you might have about non-medical issues and living with a SCI everyday. They aren’t doctors or therapists, but they've lived successfully with their SCI for many years, can relate to you and your injury, and can help answer some of those questions that you may not ask your doctor.

Some possible questions you might want to ask Brenda and Russ include:

• Should I buy a van or a car?
• How can I become involved in wheelchair sports?
• How easy is it to travel on a plane? What prior arrangements should I make?
• How can I find out if a restaurant is accessible for me?

Please submit your questions ILRU at TIRR (ilru@ilru.org) by March 31, 2006. Brenda and Russ’s responses will be posted on the RRTC on SCI and ILRU at TIRR Web sites: http://www.sci-health.org & http://www.ilru.org/html/projects/SCI/index.htm.

Message distributed to American Indian Disability Technical Assistance Center list at the request of Julie Clay, by:

Diana Spas, Information Coordinator
Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
The University of Montana Rural Institute
52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812-7056
(888) 268-2743 (RTC office)
(406) 243-5760 (my office)
(406) 243-2349 fax
dspas@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
http://rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu
http://aidtac.ruralinstitute.umt.edu
http://mtdh.ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Institutes / Conferences

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

Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus Briefing

March 16, 2006: 2:00-4:00pm
Disability and Health Congressional Briefing, 121 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and The External Partners Group invite you to join us at a briefing for the: Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus—109th Congress 2005-2006. For more information, contact Kim Musheno at kmusheno@aucd.org, or by phone at 301-588-8252.

Teaching All Students, Reaching All Learners: Innovative Ways to Address Disability and Other Forms of Diversity in the Postsecondary Classroom

March 16th, 2006: Honolulu, HI
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, Hawai‘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/

21st Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference

March 20-25, 2006: Los Angeles, CA
Mark your calendar for March 20-25, 2006. Plan to attend California State University, Northridge Center on Disabilities’ 21st Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, March 20-25, 2006: Los Angeles, CA. This is a comprehensive, international conference, where 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/2006/genconfinfo06.htm.

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/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.

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.

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).

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

Advancing Opportunities: Accommodations Resources for Federal Managers and Employees

http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/misc/advance.htm

Cultivating Leadership: Mentoring Youth with Disabilities

http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/cultivate.htm

Customized Solutions for Today’s Workforce: The Job Accommodation Network

http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/jan.htm