NTAC e.News — December 1, 2008

Asian/Pacific Islander Words of Wisdom

“Bulaama chaacha (Days bring different things)” - Tongan Proverb
Explanation: Days are different; things change. If you are lucky today, tomorrow you may not be lucky.
Source: http://www.mulonga.net/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=262

Announcements: National and International

Categories of Disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

There are 14 primary disabilities included in the IDEA under the definition of child with a disability. These definitions guide how states define disability, and determine eligibility for a free public education under special education laws.

Positions Available

Program Manager (UCP VII)

The Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability (CPED) at the University of Connecticut is seeking candidates to serve as the Program Manager of the Universal Design for Instruction On-Line grant project beginning in January 2009. Minimum qualifications for this 12 month position are: Masters degree in education, instructional design, or a related field and at least one to two years experience with instructional design, integrating technology into college teaching, and/or distance learning and teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate degree levels; excellent interpersonal skills; a proven ability to work in a collaborative team environment; strong oral and written communication skills; experience with project/program management; and experience with professional/conference presentations. Applicants should send a letter addressing relevant qualifications; a current vita, all transcripts, samples of written work, and three letters of reference to: Dr. Joseph Madaus, University of Connecticut, Department of Educational Psychology, 249 Glenbrook Road Unit 2064, Storrs, CT 06269-2064. Applications may also be submitted electronically to Dr. Madaus.

Recent Products

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

Resources

New Resource for Wounded Warriors, Veterans & Their Families

The U.S. Department of Labor has joined with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to launch a Web-based directory to help wounded warriors identify resources available to assist them in transitioning back to civilian life. The National Resource Directory encompasses more than 10,000 services and resources. "This directory is valuable for our returning wounded warriors and their positive reintegration back into mainstream American life," said Neil Romano, assistant secretary for the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

$17 Million Grant to Help Youth Offenders Announced

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration announced a three-category, $17.3 million competition. These grants are targeted toward serving young people who have never been involved with the adult criminal system. Projects funded through these grants will create a broad variety of services, including employment, educational, mentoring and civic-minded services to better equip young people in becoming effective citizens. The solicitation is available at: http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/SGA_DFA_PY0809.pdf and the deadline for applications is December 18th 2008.

Institutes / Conferences

Ninth Annual Multiples Perspectives Conference

The Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion & Disability: Change, Challenge, & Collaboration conference will be held April 28 and 29, 2009 at the Ohio State University Columbus Campus. This year's theme "Change, Challenge & Collaboration" reflects the critical place in history we occupy. Since the last conference the United Nations has adopted the Convention on Disability; Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act, a new GI bill with significant support for disabled veterans and the Higher Education Opportunity Act which includes significant provisions on disability; the Access Board is proposing changes in Section 508, and the Department of Justice is in the final stages of a comprehensive review and update of the regulations for the ADA's Titles II and III. For more information re this conference, please contact Scott Lissner at lissner.2@osu.edu.

The 26th Annual NAJA Conference

The National Association of Job Training Assistance (NAJA) is a non-profit association that sponsors annual conferences for the professional development of government and non-profit workforce development professionals. This years conference will be held from April 5th to 10th 2009 at the Inner Harbor Marriott at Camden Yards in Baltimore Maryland.

National Organization on Disability Conference

The Disability and Special Needs Technical Assistance Conference will bring together some of the most influential Federal, State, and local experts in emergency management to discuss the processes involved in the emergency management spectrum and describe how special needs issues should be integrated into the four phases of emergency management. This conference will provide in-depth information on the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. The conference will be held at the Kona Kai Resort in San Diego California on December 9th-10th. To learn more and to register, please visit http://www.governmenthorizons.org/.

Research / Publications

STATE OF THE STATES IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES DOCUMENTS 30 YEARS OF FINANCIAL AND PROGRAMMATIC TRENDS IN SERVICES AND FUNDING FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN AMERICA

The book includes recent reductions in disability support as the U.S. faces an economic recession. Since 1977, the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities study by David L. Braddock has been tracking the public financing of developmental disability services in America. The new seventh edition of the book, now published in hardback format is poised to serve as a key reference as decision makers tackle cutbacks in spending during this time of economic crisis in America. To access an excerpt from the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities and purchase the book, visit http://aaidd.org/publications/bookstore-home.

START-UP/USA Self-Employment Fact Sheet

Traditionally, determining employer needs and then finding a person with a disability to fill the job was common practice. Today, using a customized employment (CE) framework, an individual's talents and desires are considered first. Then suitable employment is negotiated that matches the person's skills, contributions, and interests. This customized approach to assisting an individual with a disability in finding a job also applies to starting a business. In other words, the person's talents desires, and interests are considered first, and the business idea follows. The process for determining the person's talents, desires, and interests is called "Discovery". This Q and A will answer some basic questions about how to use Discovery when assisting an individual in becoming self-employed. Read the factsheet here.

Fact Sheets for Parents, Youth & Employers

Three new fact sheets that provide useful information on employment and youth with disabilities: Tips for Parents with Children with Disabilities, What Young People with Disabilities Need to Know, and Including Talents of Young People with Disabilities. These links open PDF documents.