illinois/iowa (ILLOWA) AHEAD

ILLOWA events

Mission
The Illinois/Iowa AHEAD, or ILLOWA AHEAD, Chapter is a resource for Post-Secondary Disability Professionals. Our Mission is to provide a vehicle which will strengthen the professionalism, expertise, and competency of those working in higher education with students with disabilities.

Purpose
Our Purpose is to serve as a source of expertise for information on disability, disability awareness, disability legislation, disability rights, and any other related information as it relates to higher education by:

• providing assistance to members on topical information, current issues, and needed resources.
• serving as an educational organization.
• providing information collection and dissemination through newsletters, workshops, regional conferences, research, program assistance, evaluation and assessment and training programs.
• encouraging the development and expansion of a communications network primarily for those persons professionally involved in programs and services for students with disabilities.
• being involved in programs and services for students with disabilities by assisting with research, evaluation, and programmatic planning.
• supporting members as they educate the public and public officials in the areas of disability, disability rights and awareness.
• exploring areas of qualifications of persons working in disability support services positions.

Benefits of Membership
The Illinois/Iowa chapter of the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) was created to serve as an organization providing education and professional development to its members. Specific benefits to members include, but are not limited to:

• Discounted registration fee for regional conferences
• Hosted round table meetings
• Networking opportunities
• Access to resources, information and assistance in the IL/IA region

To become a member of ILLOWA AHEAD, click to download membership levels, and click to download an application.

History
The chapter was formed in the Fall of 1998 by a group of Disability Service Providers from Northern Illinois and the Chicago Area joining with their peers in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Our first Regional Conference took place at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA as the organization was being formed in the Spring of 1999. With the great response from this conference, By-Laws were adopted by the newly formed Board of the Chapter in the Fall of 1999. Additional regional conferences were held at Northern Illinois University, St. Ambrose University, Cliffbreakers in Rockford, IL, and the Radisson in Davenport, Iowa. ILLOWA AHEAD has most recently begun to host roundtable workshops throughout the IL and IA region. These workshops allow participants to share ideas, solutions and resources on "hot topics" in the DSS field. Roundtables have been held at Rock Valley College, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Iowa State University, and Northern Illinois University.

Information and Referral
ILLOWA AHEAD is committed to providing our membership with information and assistance. Oftentimes it is most helpful and convenient to have access to a professional in the same geographical region. For this reason, our Board is available to answer your questions, provide presentations, make appropriate referrals and provide additional support whenever possible.

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