NTAC e.News — May 1, 2007

Asian/Pacific Islander Words of Wisdom

An intelligent mind is constantly learning.
An intelligent mind is constantly learning, never concluding—styles and patterns that have come to a conclusion ceased to be intelligent. Bruce Lee (Excerpt from Little, J. (editor) (2000) Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee’s Wisdom for Daily Living. Tuttle Publishing: Boston).

Announcements: Local

NEW! Sixth Online Course Progressing

The sixth online course, “Introduction to Disability/Rehabilitation with Asian/Pacific Islander Americans” is underway, facilitated by the National Technical Assistance Center for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities (NTAC-AAPI). The professors are Paul Leung, Professor and Director of the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Work, and Addictions 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. A dozen professionals are earning Continuing Education Units by participating in this course. For more information or to learn about future opportunities to earn Continuing Education Units from NTAC-AAPI, please contact James D. Brightman, Vocational Rehabilitation Coordinator, at jamesdb@hawaii.edu.

NEW! Call for Success Stories!

NTAC-AAPI publishes stories of successful Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with disabilities. These inspirational stories show how AAPIs with disabilities have overcome obstacles and achieved their career goals despite incredibly challenging circumstances. In publishing their stories, NTAC-AAPI seeks to encourage others who face similar situations.

We believe such stories are valuable, and we want others to read them and use them as a resource. We want to publish your story, too. Please tell us your story in approximately 1,500 words and send it to James D. Brightman at jamesdb@hawaii.edu; phone number: (808) 956-3648. You can also send James any questions you have. For suggested outlines for stories, please visit http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/employ_success_stories/success.htm.

To read Success Stories that we previously published, please go to our Web site at http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/products/briefs/ and scroll down to “Success Story.” You can read the stories in all editions of Volume 5 of the Briefs.

Announcements: National and International

Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award

Established in 2002, the Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award annually recognizes non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities. On October 26, at the Fifth Anniversary New Freedom Initiative Awards ceremony, Secretary Elaine L. Chao presented awards to nine winners. The occasion also marked the first presentation of the Secretary’s Spirit Award.

National Crime Victims Rights Week

OVC’s National Crime Victims Rights Week page, which contains critical information of importance to crime victims and their families, may be viewed here: http://www.ovc.gov/ncvrw/welcome.html.

Recent Products

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

Resources

Google Reaching Out for Accessibility (EASI Podcast)

Google is actively reaching out to Internet users with disabilities and is working to make all of their products more accessible to this population. In March, Google attended the international conference on People with Disabilities and Technology produced by CSUN (California State University Northridge). Next week, EASI’s Podcast on conference presentations will provide the audio of a CSUN Google presentation and on the Podcast site will have a link to documents used in that presentation. This link will take you to a two-minute excerpt from the Google presentation.

Free Products—National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Free products relating to National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, as assembled by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) of the U.S. Department of Justice. It is worth noting that one of those products directly addresses ways best to meet the needs of crime victims with disabilities. The “2 in 1” DVD is entitled, “Serving Crime Victims with Disabilities.” http://ojp.gov/ovc/library/videoclips.html#dis

VictimLaw database

The brand new VictimLaw database, has now been released by the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) and funded by OVC. This resource includes more than 15,000 victims’ rights statutes (state and federal), constitutional amendments, court rules, and administrative code provisions. Future additions to the database will include state attorney general opinions and summaries of court decisions related to victims’ rights. VictimLaw will offer regular updates to the information in the database. VictimLaw offers four ways to search: by topic, legal term, jurisdiction, and citation. http://www.victimlaw.info/victimlaw/

Business Leadership Network (BLN)

Information on local chapters, conferences and other information from business owners on best practices in hiring, retaining and marketing to people with disabilities. http://www.usbln.org/

Institutes / Conferences

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

EASI Webinar: The Future of E-books Is Here

This presentation will focus on NIMAS, (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard), the role of APH, (American Printinghouse for the Dlind) and the role of CAST, (Center for Applied the room. (Those who register, whether or not they attend, will afterwards receive a link to the recording. When you connect over the Internet to the Webinar room, you can listen to the presenters and watch as supporting Web pages are pushed to reinforce the presentation. The audience can also make comments or ask questions either by using a mic to talk or by writing into the room’s text window. To read more and register to reserve a seat and to get login information for this free event, visit: http://easi.cc/clinic.htm.

Charting the Future In Developmental and Learning Disabilities

YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Network will hold its 28th Annual International Conference: “Charting the Future In Developmental and Learning Disabilities” on April 30 - May 4, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan Hotel, 1605 Broadway, in New York City. For more information, contact Tina Sobel, Senior Manager of YAI/NIPD’s Professional Information Department, at tsobel@yai.org, 212-273-6457 or visit http://www.yai.org/.

Imagine...Everybody Works!

The Autism Society of America and APSE: The Network on Employment Conference & Training Event, May 10 and 11, 2007, Columbus, OH, Hyatt on Capital Square. APSE and the Autism Society of America invite sponsors and exhibitors to participate. For more information, contact: Teresa Grossi (tgrossi@indiana.edu) or Cathy Pratt (prattc@indiana.edu) or call 812.855.6508.

ADA Restoration Act: Legislative Update: May 15, 2007

A bi-partisan bill was introduced that would restore protections for individuals intended to be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in September, 2006. The ADA Restoration Act is intended to restore the ADA to its “original intent” and address several decisions made by the US Supreme Court over the past 16 years. Join the session to learn about the history and intent of the ADA Restoration Act and the future of legislation that may affect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities.

The cost for the session is $25 for nonprofits and $40 for other entities for each location, regardless of the number of participants at each location (multiple people can attend at one location for the same flat fee. Sessions are delivered via audio conference. Participants are in a "listen-only" mode until the question and answer period. The sessions are offered real-time captioned on the Internet, and a transcript is developed and posted to the Internet following the session. http://www.ada-ohio.org/default.htm

World Health Organization’s North American Collaborating Center for the ICF (the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health)

The Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE) will be hosting the conference of the World Health Organization's North American Collaborating Center for the ICF (the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health) in Niagara Falls, June 5-7, 2007.

The conference theme, Sharing Knowledge Through the ICF, points to the role of the ICF in making it possible for us to communicate about disability across countries, cultures, languages, and professions. The conference will be useful to persons who are new to the ICF as well as those who have long been involved in its development and application.

Complete information and the Call for Papers are at http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/icf/conference/index.html

RESNA 2007

Instructional Courses: June 15-16, 2007; Conference Workshop: June 17-19, 2007
RESNA’s Annual Conference will be held in Phoenix, June 15-19, 2007. RESNA 2007 will feature assistive technology’s leading researchers, renowned clinicians and policy experts creating a conference program with unmatched levels of knowledge and expertise. RESNA presenters and attendees will experience a surprisingly intimate conference environment. RESNA 2007 will offer an exciting Exhibit Hall featuring product demonstrations and training sessions, two days of Pre-Conference Instructional Courses, and 3 full-days of Workshops, Interactive Poster Sessions, Themed Paper Sessions and distinguished speakers.
For the latest information and details visit their Web site: http://www.resna.org/.

AARP’s Diversity and Aging in the 21st Century Conference

AARP’s Diversity and aging in the 21st Century Conference will be held on June 19-21 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. For more information, visit the conference Web site, www.aarp.org/diversityandaging

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Institutes of Health: Summer Institute in Applied Research in Child and Adolescent Development

June 24-29, 2007: Bolger Center, Potomac, Maryland
A goal of the Institute is to support investigators who are beginning careers as applied researchers by providing training that will build upon their existing content knowledge and research skills. To be eligible for this Institute, individuals must have completed a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent terminal degree within their field. Individuals must also:

• Have at least 1 year of post-doctoral experience in academe, private industry, non-profit, or government
• Have not more than 5 years of subsequent research experience at the time of the Institute

Direct all inquiries to: summerinst@mail.nih.gov. Application Due Date: February 15, 2007. Notification of Acceptance: April 1, 2007

18th Annual National APSE Conference

The 18th Annual National APSE Conference will take place from July 16-18, 2007 in Kansas City, Missouri. This year’s conference challenges you to join in shaping the future of supported employment! Register Online for the APSE Conference

National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam 2007 A STEM Leadership Academy

July 30 - August 4, 2007: Baltimore, MD
Who:Two hundred blind high school students will be selected to participate in this program. Students who would like to be considered must complete the attached application and return it to the Jernigan Institute by April 1, 2007. Students will be selected based on their ability to participate actively in the activities.

What: This four-day academy will engage and inspire the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be impossible for the blind. While staying at Johns Hopkins University, students will be mentored by blind role models during fun and challenging activities meant to build confidence and increase science literacy.

Cost: There is no cost to apply for the program. Students who apply and are accepted to the Youth Slam will be expected to pay a $200 registration fee by May 31, 2007.

To send questions or comments via email, please write to youthslam@nfb.org

Research / Publications

The Personal Care Attendant Guide

The relationship between those who need help and those who provide it can be difficult to balance, but it can be maintained and even fun at times. This unique book will equip people with disabilities, as well as those managing caregivers for family members, with the skills to successfully find, interview, hire, train, and supervise their personal attendants. Small or personally signed orders | Online multiple orders

Applying Practical Solutions for Employment Success

This document is the second in a series of Customized Employment portfolios. It expands on the topics presented in the first in the series, Practical Solutions for Employment Success with Customized Employment and provides ideas on how to use these strategies with job seekers for their own customized employment success. http://www.dol.gov/odep/categories/workforce/CustomizedEmployment/successful/index.htm

Circle of Champions: Innovators in Employing All Americans Brochure

The Circle of Champions (CoC) is the distinguished group of U.S. businesses and organizations that received the Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award for innovative and proactive efforts to recruit, hire, and promote people with disabilities. For more information and to download their brochure, visit: http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/f6f62dd7_3c44_447d_8753_e786c2d898e6.pdf.

Disability Rights

The Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has recently posted the 18th Edition of Disability Rights On-Line News, which provides readers with some of the latest information surrounding efforts to uphold the rights of people with disabilities across the country. The text is available in HTML and PDF formats, and you may also read back issues of the publication. Visit: http://www.justice.gov/crt/publications/

NCVC’s National Magazine Article

The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice published an article in Networks, NCVC’s national magazine, concerning crime victimization of individuals with disabilities and what victim/witness service providers should do to help ensure greater access by people with disabilities.