NTAC e.News — October 1, 2007

Asian/Pacific Islander Words of Wisdom

“The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions”—Confucius
Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/confucius.html

Announcements: Local

NEW! Disability Mentoring Day under New Management

This year’s Disability Mentoring Day will be managed locally by a mentoring course taught by Dr. Steven E. Brown and Graduate Assistant Elizabeth Foster Heckman. The course is offered through the Center on Disability Studies, the College of Education, and the Outreach College at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. With support from James D. Brightman, manager-coordinator of last year’s Disability Mentoring Day for the state of Hawai‘i, the 2007 event is poised to be even bigger and more influential. For more information, or to participate as a mentor or mentee, please contact James D. Brightman, NTAC-AAPI Vocational Rehabilitation Coordinator, at jamesdb@hawaii.edu.

NTAC-AAPI Enters New Phase

The National Technical Assistance Center for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (NTAC-AAPI) with Disabilities is nearing the end of its sixth year, when funding by the U.S. Department of Education will cease. However, the good news is that we remain committed to assisting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities, and helping them secure employment. Therefore, we will continue to distribute e-News and to provide online training for Vocational Rehabilitation service providers. The University of Hawai‘i Center on Disability Studies will continue to support the NTAC, but we will need your support and suggestions for securing funding from foundations or other sources. If you need technical assistance or have suggestions for sources of further funding, please contact Dr. Weol Soon Kim-Rupnow, Project Director, at kimrupno@hawaii.edu.

Mahalo—Thank you.

Announcements: National and International

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

“Talent for a Winning Team!” is the official 2007 theme for National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Designated by the US Congress, the month is used as the kick-off for year-round programs that highlight the abilities and skills of Americans with disabilities. The Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) produces materials to increase the public’s awareness of the contributions of American workers with disabilities. Typically, private sector; federal, state and local government; and advocacy organizations piggyback on the same theme to plan events and programs that showcase the abilities of workers with disabilities.

See a recent Ohio news article at: http://www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/B8/20070926/NEWS01/709260309/1002. Also, free downloadable posters from California at: http://www.scdd.ca.gov/disability_awareness_posters.htm

“Talent for a Winning Team” Poster Available to the Public

The 2007 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) poster, depicting this year’s theme, Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team, is now available. In addition to its representation of the national NDEAM theme, this poster is popular throughout the year in connection with events that foster employment opportunities for workers with disabilities. http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/ndeam07.htm

Yes I Can! Award

Each year the Council for Exceptional Children honors 27 students who have excelled despite their disability. Since the program’s inception in 1982, more than 30,000 children and youth have been recognized for their achievements and received the Yes I Can! Award. Nomination deadline is October 16, 2007. http://www.cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutCEC/YesICanFoundation/ToNominate/default.htm#eligibility

Positions Available

Museum Curator Job—Museum of American Samoa

Qualifications for the job are a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies or related field, with coursework in museum studies. A successful candidate will also posses detailed knowledge of the Polynesian Culture. Pay range is $35,000 - $55,000(USD) plus benefits. Payment depends on qualifications Send resume and cover letter to: Museum Board P.O. Box 997687 Pago Pago AS 96799 or e-mail to: asmuseum@americansamoa.gov by November 10, 2007.

Recent Products

Self Employment for Individuals with Disabilities CD

This CD provides the viewer with information on self-employment for individuals with disabilities. The CD contains audio and video presentations, fact sheets, related Web links, and important contact information. http://www.worksupport.com/store/index.cfm/2

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

Resources

ODEP Funds New Center on Employment

The US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has awarded a two-year grant of over $2 million to a consortium of organizations that will establish a center aimed at increasing the employment and economic self-sufficiency of adults with disabilities. The consortium, led by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, also includes the American Public Human Services Administration, Washington, DC; the National Leadership Consortium for Developmental Disabilities at the University of DE; the Boggs Center for Developmental Disabilities; and the Community Solutions Group LLC in VA. The consortium was selected from applications submitted in response to a solicitation by the Labor Department. http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?results_art_filename=rutgersgrant.htm

Funding Announcement for State Educational Agencies

Funding to help State educational agencies (SEAs) improve their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational, and transition services in order to improve results for children with disabilities. Application deadline is January 3, 2008. http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/ShowLink.do?parentFolderId=5097&linkId=18458&linkExternal=false

VA Honors Little Caesars Founder for Supporting Veterans in Business

To assist service-disabled veterans who want to open a Little Caesars restaurant, the program waives a $20,000 franchise fee on the first store, provides $10,000 credit on the initial equipment order, and provides a variety of marketing support and financing options and other benefits, which can total $68,000. http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1383

Institutes / Conferences

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

National Council on Disability to Make Employment Recommendations

The National Council on Disability (NCD) will highlight National Disability Employment Awareness Month by releasing its latest report, Empowerment for Americans with Disabilities: Breaking Barriers to Careers and Full Employment, at a news conference and panel discussion on October 1st from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2007/a07-541.htm

SW Conference on Disability Announcement

October 3-5, 2007: Albuquerque, NM
Don’t miss out on this years conference! Over 60 sessions on a variety of topics with special emphasis panels on Autism, Assistive Technology and Brian Injury. To register, use the attached registration form or visit our Web site for more details and registration options. http://cdd.unm.edu/swconf/index.htm

APSE Supported Employment Institute: Fall, 2007

Go no further than your workplace to take advantage of this exciting learning opportunity. The APSE Network on Employment Supported Employment Institute premiered in July, 2001 at the APSE Conference with the first SE 101—a 3-4 day training on the application of supported employment. SE 101 has returned by popular demand each year and has become an integral part of the annual APSE Conference. For individuals unable to attend the conference SE 101 series, the high quality training is available year round for front line workers, administrators, management staff, consumers and family members in this teletraining format. http://www.ntac.hawaii.edu/downloads/announcements/09282007/fallteletraining07.doc

2007 DiversABILITY Employment Summit

October 18th 2007: 8am - 5pm at The Ohio State University—Fawcett Center.
This innovative summit will educate employers, human resource personnel, supervisors, and managers on the benefits of including people with disabilities into their diversity initiatives. Early registration till October 10th, deadline for all registrations is Oct 15th. http://www.wrightchoice.org/events/

International Forum on Disability and Development: Caring, Participation, and Action

December 10-15 2007: Beijing, China
This year’s International Forum on Disability and Development, jointly sponsored by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, Peking University, University of Southern California, and Griffith University, will take place in Beijing, December 10-15 2007. Representatives from the United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization, the National Development and Reform Commission of China, the Ministries of Civil Affairs, Finance, Health, and Labor and Social Security, and both domestic and foreign well-known scholars are invited to attend the forum. View the announcement | Download the registration form

International Forum 2008: Securing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

April 12 & 13, 2008: Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
Select speakers including experts with regional and UN experience, advocates and community leaders will present and participate in panels and lead discussions around the posed questions. The forum will also provide a space for dialogue and informal conversations. We invite you to host a dialogue session and to share your insights and expertise. Those interested in speaking and or participating at the Forum, please contact Robert A. Stodden at stodden@hawaii.edu

24th Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities

April 14 & 15, 2008: Honolulu, Hawai‘i
Even though it is not until next year, now is the time to start planning to attend PacRim. The 24th Annual Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities will be held April 14 & 15, 2008 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and Resort in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. For more information about Pac Rim, please see http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/.

2008 National ADA Symposium and EXPO

On May 12-14, 2008 at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri the National ADA Symposium and EXPO will be held. It is a comprehensive three-day conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability laws sponsored by the National Network of Disability and Busines Technical Assistance Centers. Visit http://www.adasymposium.org to find out why the National ADA Symposium has become the conference to attend on the ADA.

Research / Publications

Personal Assistance Services: Emerging from Community Support to Employment Support

To fully understand PAS as a workplace support it is important to understand its evolution from an institutional based service to a community based service and how it has emerged as a valuable workplace support. An important factor was the 1976 Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act Amendment giving birth to the Independent Living Movement which established CIL’s and trained participants how to choose and direct their own services. http://www.worksupport.com/documents/PASFACTSVol1.pdf

Save The Date Toward Culturally Responsive Disability Services: An International Conference

On October 6th and 7th, 2007th the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange will hold their international conference at the Niagara Falls Conference Center. http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/conference2008/index.html

Start-UP-USA Fact Sheet Self-Employment Q and A: Successful Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Speak Out!

Not until the rise of the corporation at the turn of the twentieth century, did wage employment take precedence over personal enterprise in the United States. Annually, almost 700,000 new businesses are started in the United States. In 2004, the Small Business Administration reported that 12.2 percent of the general population chose self- employment. In contrast, a slightly higher number or 14.3 percent of people with disabilities started businesses (SBA, 2004). http://www.start-up-usa.biz/resources/factsheets/speak_out.cfm

Engaging and Serving People of Color with Disabilities

Webinar series beginning on October 2, 2007 on Engaging and Serving People of Color with Disabilities. http://www.tash.org/dev/tashstore/ONSCategory.aspx?catid=4

Modernizing Federal Disability Policy

This GAO report examines federal disability programs, how to strengthen partnerships and coordination for modernizing programs, and ways to modernize measures of program success. The report also reviews next steps for achieving a 21st century disability policy. The entire report may be downloaded in .pdf format through the following link. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07934sp.pdf

Report: ADA is Good for Business

The National Council on Disability released two reports on the Americans with Disabilities Act that show that ADA implementation is not only possible and practical, it is also good for business. Read more and download the reports at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2007/r07-540.htm