April 2005
April 2005
The articles published in the ALERT represent the
opinions of the authors and are not an endorsement by the Association
or necessarily representative of the views of the Association.
— From the President
— From the Editor
— Professional Development Calendar
— AHEAD 2005 Conference Update
— From the DSS Toolkit
— Advocates or Gatekeepers
— AHEAD 2004 Revisited
— Kat the Facility Dog
— Distance Education Survey
From the President
AHEAD President Jim Kessler updates
us on the 2005 Conference and other recent AHEAD activities.
Spring breaks are almost over, early registration (that’s
what it's called here, don’t know why, everybody but new freshmen
do it) is completing and in about a month, final exams will begin.
Commencement! End
of the semester! Start planning for next year! We hope your plans
include the AHEAD 2005 Conference “Meeting the Profession” in
Milwaukee, WI, August 2-6, 2005.
There will be three essential components
of the profession highlighted at the Conference: Research, Service
and Education, and equally important, it is the place to meet
new and old colleagues. When we “meet” and
if it is at all possible, wear your school’s colors and name, so
we get to know not just who you are, but where you are from.
There
will be some very interesting sessions this year. You don’t want
to miss it, and we don’t want to miss you. If you have not already,
you should be receiving Conference registration materials very
soon.
Who is AHEAD?
At the 2004 Miami Conference we presented the new
mission statement and strategic plan to the membership. There
was serious discussion about the membership with regard to diversity
and how
such diversity is represented.
The first “value” that we list in the mission statement
is our belief and support of diversity. You will, if you have
not already, receive the AHEAD Member Demographic Survey. Please
take 5-10 minutes to let us know about you. It is not our
intention to
overwhelm you with surveys, but since AHEAD is a membership
service organization, we believe
that it
is important to ask the members for demographic information.
Thank you for your help!
Advocacy
On February 28, 2005, you received correspondence
from the Board of Directors of AHEAD about the “proposed” budget
reductions/cuts planned by the current administration. Individuals
with disabilities
are not the only community targeted to assume the responsibility
for addressing the current and future budget deficits. You have
colleagues throughout higher education (especially in your institution),
as well
as contacts in the community, that will be directly affected.
Please feel free to share this information with these people,
though I am sure they
are
already aware of what is going on.
At the AHEAD Web site, http://www.ahead.org/home/whats_new.htm#FederalBudget,
we have provided a sample letter that you may use to contact
your legislators regarding the proposed budget reductions/cuts.
Because of the recent elections,
you may not be exactly sure who represents you, so there
are also links to contact listings for Senators and representatives
of the House. As a private citizen, you may communicate
as freely as you wish. If you work for an institution, and
you are a state employee, please be diligent and check your
institutional policy
regarding political involvement, particularly with the use
of institutional email.
In addition to opposing the budget proposals, AHEAD
has publicly
gone on record and united with 24 other distinguished associations
in the
disability and civil rights community opposing the appointment
of Terrence Boyle, a federal district judge (North Carolina)
to the Court of Appeals
for the Fourth Circuit.
Welcome!
At various times throughout the history of AHEAD,
we have been described as an International organization.
There is no doubt that we have always had distinguished members
from outside the United States. Canadians (although having their
own organization)
have always been active in AHEAD and its leadership, and we
have seen
an increase in representation of other countries. I
would like to introduce and welcome A.H.E.A.D. (Ireland) as a
Partner Member of AHEAD. I hope that we are able to develop even
more alliances with other countries in the future.
The Future
Several weeks ago you
were notified that AHEAD was accepting nominations for the Board
of Directors (Secretary
and a Member-at-Large) as well as nominations for Awards. Mr.
Vinson Ballard (Jackson State University), Board Secretary, will
be overseeing the Board
Elections. In
addition to the two positions already announced, there will
be an additional position on the Board of Directors to be appointed
by the President.
At the conclusion of the nomination period, I will communicate
with you about “nominations” for that position. Ms.
Carol Funckes (University of Arizona), Board President-Elect, will
be overseeing the Award
nominations.
The Board will meet April 8-10,
2005 in Milwaukee. If anyone has business with the Board,
please feel free to contact me
or any other Board member regarding any issues that you would
like addressed.
If there is anything else, please feel free to contact me at anytime.
Best wishes,
Jim Kessler, President
jrkessle@email.unc.edu
From the Editor
Greetings,
As the winter weather leaves us and our gardens
begin to turn green (my apologies to those in the north who are
still looking at snow!), thoughts move to planning for the summer.
This issue of the ALERT includes some interesting information
about Milwaukee and the 2005 Conference, which I hope you will
include in your summer plans. This issue also contains some
thoughtful
reflections
on our role as disability service providers,
and a wonderful piece on the impact a service dog can have on
your office. I hope you enjoy it.
If you have any questions about the ALERT or would
like to submit an article for a future issue, please e-mail
me at kejones@ucdavis.edu.
Keltie Jones, Editor
Professional Development Calendar
Take advantage of these
upcoming events, conferences, and other opportunities to increase
and share your knowledge.
Calls for Presentations and Articles
The ALERT is now being published every other month. Please
keep those articles coming! Here is the schedule for submissions:
|
Submissions Due: |
Publication Date: |
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April 18, 2005 |
May 16, 2005 |
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June 10, 2005 |
July 8, 2005 |
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August 12, 2005 |
September 2, 2005 |
The California Association for Postsecondary Education
and Disability (CAPED) invites workshop proposals for their
30th Annual Convention – Creating
an Oasis: Innovations through Collaboration & Coordination, October
9-12, 2005, in Rancho Mirage, CA. Workshop proposals must be
postmarked by April 29, 2005. For more information, visit their
website at http://www.caped.net/convention2003.html or
contact Maureen Fry, Riverside Community College, 4800 Magnolia
Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506. Email: maureen.fry@rcc.edu FAX
(909) 222-8059 Phone:
(909) 222-8641.
AHEAD and Affiliate Events
The MN AHEAD Conference will be held at Northwestern
College on Friday, April 22, 2005, and will feature a national speaker, Salome
Heyward,
JD. Ms. Heyward is the leading national legal expert in disability compliance
in higher education. She is the author of Disability & Higher Education and
The ADA and Graduate and Professional Schools. She also authored the Council
on Law in Higher Education’s 2002 Disability Compliance Brochure. For questions
about the conference, contact Kelly Friesleben at 866-437-2788, ext. 208 or kfriesle@smumn.edu
AHEAD in New England will be hosting a one-day workshop on April
29 at Bentley
College in Waltham, MA. Martha Smith, Oregon Health & Science University,
will be the visiting presenter. AHEAD in New England extends an invitation to
all AHEAD members to attend. You can read more about this workshop and get registration
information online at their website: http://www.ahead.org/about/regional_affiliates/newengland/news.htm
AHEAD 2005 Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
August 2-6, 2005. If you have not already, you will be receiving registration
materials in the mail soon – register
early to take advantage of lower rates! The Conference schedule includes a
special Preconference Institute, New Directions for Campus Accessibility:
The AHEAD Institute on E-Text Production, that will take place on Monday and
Tuesday, August 1st and 2nd. Check the AHEAD Conference website for travel
information and full Conference details: http://www.ahead.org/training/conference/2005_conf/index.htm
Other Upcoming Conferences, Trainings, and Expositions
Check out these offerings from our colleagues in the fields of disability and
higher education:
CAST is pleased to offer a very exciting and new agenda of 2005
institutes for educators. CAST Institutes are two-, or three-day sessions that offer information,
awareness, and hands-on activities, focusing on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and other
important educational issues. Each institute features presentations from experts on UDL and other CAST
professional development staff. Institutes have a maximum of 24 participants which allows for small
group work, hands-on technology (one computer to two participants), individualized support from CAST
staff, and direct application to participants' practice. All institutes are held at CAST in Wakefield,
Massachusetts, a suburb approximately 15 miles north of downtown Boston and convenient to public
transportation.
For more information contact: Grace Meo, gmeo@cast.org or call 781-245-2212, ext. 263.
To register contact: Leslie O'Callaghan at locallaghan@cast.org or 781-245-2212, ext. 273.
Register online at http://www.cast.org/pd/registration/index.html
Institute #: 06
Universal Design for Learning and Post Secondary Education
Featured Presenters: Tracey Hall and Skip Stahl
Dates: June 2-3, 2005
Time: 8:30 - 3:30
Audience: Post-secondary Faculty
Cost: $620
Faculties from institutions of higher education are invited to learn about the
principles of UDL and application to post secondary practice. This institute
focuses on applying the UDL principles to the
development of course materials, syllabi, assessments and goals to meet the needs
of learners with diverse needs, backgrounds, experiences, and opportunities.
The Fifth Annual Multiple Perspectives On Access, Inclusion & Disability,
April 11 - 13th, 2005. Hosted by The Ohio State University at the Pfahl Executive
Education and Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio.
View past programs on our web site at http://ada.osu.edu/conferences.htm.
April 11, 2005 Pre-conference: Demystifying the Interplay of the ADA with FMLA
and Workers' Compensation
Presenters: Kimberly Shumate, Associate Legal Counsel for The Ohio State University and President,
Columbus Bar Association; Mike Travis, Litigation Manager for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation;
Larry Watson, Regional Attorney in the Cleveland, Ohio Office of the United States Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Moderator: David Kessler, Attorney, Blaugrund, Herbert and Martin, Inc.
John Marshall, Attorney and Restaurant Critic for Columbus Monthly will host a wine & cheese reception.
For more information, go to http://ada.osu.edu/conferences/2005.htm
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, 3rd
annual Spring Institute: "Movin' In or Movin' On!" April
21-22, 2005, Cincinnati, OH. This is the third year for this information-packed,
two-day seminar sponsored
by CSTCC as part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, "Ensuring
High Quality Education for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education." The
grant had several target audiences (as reflected in the schedule of sessions),
including high school students preparing to transition to higher education,
their parents and teachers, and (most important here!) postsecondary disability
service providers. They have added a number of new sessions with new perspectives
so that the Institute will be of interest both to those who have never had
an opportunity to attend and those who have been in past years. You can see
the list of sessions planned for DSS providers at http://successforallswd.com/SpringInstituteSchedule.html#DSPG
Solidarity '05: Abilities in Motion
May 11-13, 2005, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Columbus, OH
Go to http://www.dnos.org or call 800-863-0344
for more information.
Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities, Inc.
presents their 2005 Conference - The Vision for Accessible Information: Celebrating Achievement,
Seeking Fulfilment.
The 2005 National Conference is being held in Sydney from May 14 - 17. The Conference will showcase
examples of best practice in the provision of accessible information to people with a print disability
in the workplace and the community centre, including businesses, agencies, tertiary institutions,
libraries, Commonwealth, State and local government.
For more information, go to http://www.e-bility.com/roundtable/
Postsecondary Disability Training Institute,
June 7-11, 2005, in Portland, Maine. The objective of this Training Institute
is to assist concerned professionals
to meet the unique needs of college students with disabilities. Participants
can select from a variety of Strands, Single Sessions, and a Saturday Post-Session
taught by experts in the field, which provide participants with in-depth information
and adequate time for questions and follow-up discussions. Participants also
have opportunities to share information and network with each other at various
activities throughout the week. For more information, go to www.cped.uconn.edu or
contact:
Carrol Waite, Institute Manager
University of Connecticut
Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability
249 Glenbrook Road, Unit 2064
Storrs, CT 06269-2064
Phone: 860-486-3321, Fax: 860-486-5799
carrol.waite@uconn.edu
IPSI BgD multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary,
and transdisciplinary conferences are scheduled throughout the summer.
All IPSI BgD conferences are non-profit. They bring together the elite of
the world
science. The conferences always take place in some of the most attractive places
of the world. All those who come to IPSI conferences once, always love to come
back (because of the unique professional quality and the extremely creative
atmosphere); lists of past participants are on the web, as well as details
of future conferences. These conferences are in line with the newest recommendations
of the US National Science Foundation and of the EU research sponsoring agencies,
to stress multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research
(M+I+T++ research). The speakers and activities at the conferences truly support
this type of scientific interaction. One of the main topics of this conference
is "E-education and E-business with Special Emphasis on Semantic Web and
Web Datamining."
IPSI-2005 ITALY
Hotel Castello Chiola (arrival: 27 July 05 / departure: 1 August 05)
IPSI-2005 HOLLAND
Hotel Okura (arrival: 1 September 05 / departure: 4 September 05)
IPSI-2005 MONTENEGRO
Hotel Sveti Stefan (arrival: 1 October 05 / departure: 8 October 05)
For more information, visit: http://www.internetconferences.net/
3rd SALT Center Conference: A Generation of Experience: What's Next?
Sponsored by: The University of Arizona, SALT Center, September 22 - 24, 2005,
at The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
A generation of students with learning and attention challenges has now been
educated through the benefits of laws that guaranteed them equal access to education
at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. What have we learned? Just how
far have we come? Has practice driven research? Or has research informed practice?
How will the next generations of learners benefit from our experiences?
AHEAD 2005 Conference Update
Conference 2005 Highlights: Take a Brewery Tour!
The Conference
Committee is providing regular updates on the Conference, including suggestions
for unique things to do while in Milwaukee.
One of the most obvious items on any list of things to do
when visiting Milwaukee would have to be taking a brewery tour.
After all, one of our nicknames is the Brew City. While “the
beer that made Milwaukee famous” is no longer produced,
several other brewers still call Milwaukee home. The last of
the area’s large breweries, Miller
Brewing Company offers
free tours that encompass the entire process of production and
distribution for the second largest brewer in the U.S. And
yes, the tour does culminate with a sample of the company’s
wares (sodas are available for those under 21).
If smaller is more your style, then you might want
to take in one of the local micro-breweries. Both Lakefront
Brewery, Inc. and
Sprecher
Brewery offer tours.
While these tours are not free, the nominal price
does cover multiple samples of some of the finest hand-made beers
available. Each micro-brewery also offers non-alcoholic drinks:
Lakefront bottles Golden Maple Root Beer and Sprecher produces
six gourmet sodas.
Finally, in addition to the free-standing breweries
mentioned above, downtown Milwaukee has at least three brew pubs
that produce
their own beers onsite. A visit to The
Water Street Brewery,
The Milwaukee
Ale House or The
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery would
allow one to sample a seasonal or specialty beer in concert with
appetizers or an entire meal.
As you can see, if beer is your entertainment beverage of choice,
Milwaukee still has a bountiful selection. In the next highlight,
we will talk about some the other cultural choices that make
Milwaukee a great place to visit.
From the DSS Toolkit
It’s annual report writing time, and many of you are looking
for comparative data. Here’s a sample of resources that
may help with the process.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
(2000, June). Postsecondary students with disabilities: Enrollment, services
and persistence. Stats in Brief. NCES 2000-092. Washington, DC: U.S. Government
Printing Office. Retrieved April 1, 2005 from
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/peqis/publications/2000092/
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
(2003). The condition of education 2003, NCES 2003-067. Washington, DC:
U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 1, 2005 from http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2003/pdf/34_2003.pdf
Society for College and University Planning. (2005, March). SCUP trends
to watch in higher education. Ann Arbor, MI: Society for College and University
Planning. Retrieved April 4, 2005 from http://www.scup.org/pdf/Trends%20Layout%202-05.pdf
Advocates or Gatekeepers
A Letter to the Editor from Randy Borst,
AHEAD Past President
A gentleman dining in Krew,
Found quite a large mouse in his stew;
Said the waiter, "don't shout and wave it about,
For the rest will be wanting one too."
--author unknown
In the January ALERT we learned of the passing of Joel
Bryan, one of the greats in our field and known advocate for
students with disabilities.
Our professional association, AHEAD, was originated by a small
group of disability support professionals like Joel from around
the United States
who came together to pool their ideas, talents, information,
and research for improving opportunities for people with disabilities
in higher education.
The then-new Section 504 regulations for nondiscrimination on
the basis of disability in postsecondary education had gone into
effect, to be followed
by the ADA. Advocates for disability inclusion and equal participation
were ecstatic, for now they would have a major civil rights law
to support their advocacy.
As our disability support profession took hold; however,
we soon discovered, as did our gentleman dining in Krew, that
if you shout too loud about
a mouse in your stew, everyone's gonna want one. The question
of the hour soon morphed from, "How can we improve opportunities
for individuals with disabilities in postsecondary education?" to "Which
students actually have disabilities, what, if any, academic adjustments
are appropriate
for them, and how do we know?" Once advocates, now we were also gatekeepers.
Next, students poured forth from primary and secondary special
education programs in to postsecondary education, and the numbers
of students we
serve in our profession spiked upward in the 1990s. And they
continue to grow in many areas of the United States even today.
Now we became busy
gatekeepers. Our new students, if academically prepared for postsecondary
education, have not proven to be prepared for informed self advocacy.
They tend to believe that, "My need as I see it equals my right." Finally,
we've become firm gatekeepers—to the point that, as I observe and
participate in discussions of our professional field, I find
so much more gatekeeper’s
language than advocate's language, and I wonder where have all
the Joel Bryans gone.
Also in the January Alert, President Kessler called on us
to "get involved" in the matter of disability documentation,
in light of the fact that students coming out of special-education programs
will soon be bringing us even less quantified information about learning
disability (in particular), given the changes to the IDEA. What our involvement
should look like, Jim didn't say, but I agree we need to continue grappling
with the problem. I just hope we can grapple with it as advocates
more than
as gatekeepers.
People with disabilities, all kinds of disabilities,
have enough barriers. Let us continue to remove barriers, not
to erect them.
I propose only motivation here, not "The Solution." Let us find
as advocates ways to let people in, not as gatekeepers ways to
screen people out. Let us find multiple methods of identifying
clear indicators of substantial limitations in the major life
activity of learning
rather
than specifying rigid statistical criteria. Let us not create
yet another way for students from low income families to be unduly
disadvantaged in
the review process. Finally, instead of taking the stance of
teaching psychologists how to test, let us be sure that we teach
ourselves how
to read and interpret — with refined skills and a broad mind.
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AHEAD 2004 Revisited I was very fortunate in being able to attend the I had taken up the opportunity of having a mentor And that is what is so stimulating about the event, Not only was the Conference an opportunity to learn All As an international attendee, I was reminded that A conference like the AHEAD Conference Judith Jesky Kat the Facility Dog On December 1, 2004, it was Kat’s third birthday Lynn contacted In When Lynn and Kat arrived home to the Palm Unlike the traditional “helper” dogs, On another day, a student with bipolar In When Florida experienced the hurricanes in the Distance Ed Survey Distance education, on-line courses and determining appropriate This research is where we need the help of all the AHEAD members Please take the time to complete the survey. Your help will be Grady Landrum |
