AHEAD: Association on Higher Education And Disability

September 2006

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
— September 2006 Calendar
— AHEAD’s Permanent New Home
— Association of American Publishers (AAP) Announces Publisher Look-Up Service
— The Gersh Experience
— Research Scholarship
— China attracts students with disabilities
— Press Release: release of CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education, 6th Edition
— Call for Manuscripts

From the President

This is my first opportunity to write an article for the ALERT as AHEAD’s president. While the role seems daunting at the moment, I am thrilled to be working with an exceptional group of professionals from the AHEAD staff and Board members to the SIG Chairs and Association liaisons and leaders. If you’ve not had a chance recently to visit the AHEAD Website and know who your Board members are, I strongly encourage you to do so. Not only are they a diverse group of experienced professionals, but they are very open to input and suggestions. This fall we welcome Troy Odom from the University of Pennsylvania and Jose Soto from Southeast Community College.

Major issues from the July Board meeting in San Diego in July included:

• Discussion of the work of the E-text Solutions Group. That group, led by Ron Stewart of Dolphin Computer Access Ltd., continues to work with the publishing industry to find a national solution to the timely availability of print in accessible format. Look for the up-coming release of a position and policy statement from AHEAD on issues related to this topic.
• The opportunity to learn more about certification programs. While AHEAD’s Curriculum Advisory Committee, led by Tim King from the University of Dayton, continues its exploration of the knowledge base of our profession, the Board spent some time with Carol Hartigan from the National Organization for Competency Assurance to learn more about both certification and certificate programs. We will be summarizing and posting the information she shared soon so that we can elevate our dialogue on the pros and cons of a certification program for disability professionals through AHEAD.
• Conversations about diversity both within our profession and within AHEAD. The Board spent an afternoon with the leadership of the Racial and Ethnic Diversity and Disability SIG: Bea Awoniyi, of Florida State University, Duraese Hall, from the University of Houston, and Vinson Ballard, of Jackson State University, exploring the Association’s level of inclusion of diverse members, member support for diversity on our campuses, and plans for the next year. Plans are underway to survey AHEAD members in regard to our diverse backgrounds, to actively recruit a more diverse membership, and to provide opportunities for increasing our cultural competence.

As we look forward to next year, a priority for the Board is structure. As you may know, since AHEAD moved to Board positions that are not identified by their functions, i.e. Directors at Large, we have been working to define an efficient, effective structure that allows for clarity of roles, member involvement and improved communication. In pursuit of that goal, we will spend time at the October Board meeting working on Board development and excellence in governance. We will, of course, keep you updated.

As I close, a few thoughts:

• Please don’t forget the deadline for program proposals for AHEAD’s 30th anniversary conference in Charlotte, NC. With the theme “Of Pride, Prejudice and Passion”, the Program Committee is excited to receive proposals that explore the innovative application of sociopolitical thinking and the universal design paradigm on the creation of inclusive
• postsecondary educational environments. You can discuss ideas with Program Chair Gene Chelberg (chelberg@sfsu.edu) or submit a proposal by Oct. 6 at http://ahead.org/training/conference/2007_conf/cfp_form.htm
• The UD Initiative group and its Leadership Initiative participants of the last two years are working on resources and best practices that will be posted on the AHEAD Website within the next few months. This resource should offer suggestions to those wanting to both learn more about universal design and to begin to implement campus changes in small, strategic ways.
• If you and your office have not yet registered for the focused training opportunities available this fall from AHEAD, you might consider up-coming regional workshops, the series of audio-conferences, or the new online opportunities available through AHEAD online. The presenters for these top-notch professional development events are all experts in their fields, and feedback on these events last year was excellent.
• With classes on your campus either just beginning or in their first few weeks, you might find, as I am, a number of faculty members who are struggling with the role you’ve asked them to play in creating accessible classrooms for all their students. An excellent and easily accessible reference is Curriculum Transformation and Disability (CTAD): Implementing Universal Design in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota. Two things that make it especially helpful are that it’s readily available on-line (http://www.gen.umn.edu/research/crdeul/books-ctad.html) and that many of the chapters are written by teaching faculty, perhaps making the ideas more credible to your own faculty members.

I look forward to working with you over the next two years. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have ideas or concerns or want to be more involved.

Carol Funckes

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From the Editor

Greetings. Thanks to Carol for a great introduction. As we usher in the new season, it is particularly heartening in a time of such global turmoil that we are making significant strides in the areas of expanded opportunities and improved technology for students with disabilities in higher education. With the issue of E-text addressed on a national level, and study abroad programs exploring how they might include more students, there is the prospect that more and more bright minds will be recognized and their contributions and participation encouraged. Perhaps this is one small link in the chain connecting us all to a better world.

For those of us in the profession, this momentum is crucial, and for those who wish to increase their knowledge, training is readily accessible. Along this note, be sure to check out the AHEADonline professional development program for Fall 2006. Enjoy this issue of ALERT, and please continue to send contributions to alvaro@email.unc.edu.

Sincerely,
Alvaro Gómez

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September 2006 Calendar
Take advantage of these upcoming events, conferences, and other opportunities to increase and share your knowledge.

Calls for Presentations and Articles

ALERT submission and publication dates:
The ALERT is now being published every other month. Please keep those articles coming! Here is the schedule for submissions:

Submissions Due:	Publication Date:
November 6, 2006	November 17, 2006
January 19, 2007	February 1, 2007

AHEAD and Affiliate Events

AHEAD AUDIOCONFERENCE SERIES:
AHEAD is hosting a series of five teleconferences this academic year, the first being on Thursday, October 6. We’ve recruited top-notch presenters for each session who will present for approximately 90 minutes at a time. In addition to being less than half the cost of other similar offerings, our teleconference programs, called 'AHEAD to YOU,' will offer pre- and post-session opportunities for participants to Q&A with the presenters, handouts and presentation materials online in advance of each session, and full real-time captioning of each teleconference via the Internet.

The five audio-conferences will be offered in this series:

1. Universal Design in Documentation Policies: AHEAD’s Best Practices Model;
2. A Look at the Courts: Seeking Universal Access and Beyond;
3. ADHD Coaching Strategies to Move from Disorganized Thought to Purposeful Behavior;
4. Psychiatric Disabilities: Essential Information for Disability Service Professionals; and
5. Charting an Ethical Course: Using the AHEAD and CRC Codes of Ethics in Practice.

Detailed session content and registration information is available online at: http://ahead.org/training/audioconference/index.htm. If you have any questions about the Fall topical workshops or the audio-conference series; please contact Richard Allegra at AHEAD (v/t) 704-947-7779 or by e-mail to Richard@ahead.org

AHEAD 2007 Conference – Call for Proposals
'...of Pride, Prejudice and Passion...: Crowning 30 Years of Commitment'
July 17-21, Charlotte, NC, USA

AHEAD is excited to celebrate its thirtieth anniversary with a conference theme that challenges us to think beyond traditional modes of service delivery. With the theme '.Of Pride, Prejudice and Passion.' we are encouraged to reflect on the place disability history, identity and pride occupy in the continuing evolution of our work and to consider the impact that passion can have in the creation of campus environments that are welcoming and affirming of disability experiences.

Suggested Topical Areas for Proposals:

• Infusing Universal Design into service delivery models
• Creating cross-cultural and multicultural alliances
• Preparing future generations of leaders (students, faculty and or professionals)
• Developing campus climates that value disability experiences
• Ensuring accessible information technology environments (for learning and or working)
• Exploring international perspectives
• Sharing best practices of professional development and assessment
• Understanding emerging disabilities and how to create barrier-free learning/living/working environments
• Contextualizing new models of service delivery within current legal and policy structures

A completed program proposal must be submitted electronically by October 6, 2006. The Call for Programs in its entirety along with the submission form is available at http://www.ahead.org/training/conference/2007_conf/cfp.php

To discuss possible ideas or other Conference program matters, please feel welcome to contact the 2007 Program Chair: Gene Chelberg San Francisco State University 415-405-3728 (voice) chelberg@sfsu.edu

REGIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES:
Regional workshops are being planned for the 2006 – 2007 year, with the first one scheduled to take place in October.

Workshop #1: From the Ground Up: Documentation from Every Angle; October 27 & 28, 2006; Las Vegas, NV, USA

Workshop #2: Psychological Disabilities: Essential Information for Disability Service Professionals; October 27 & 28, 2006, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Workshop #3: Assistive Technology from A to Z; November 9, 10 & 11, 2006; Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Workshop #4: Advancing Disability Services at Your Institution; November 9, 10, & 11, 2006; Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Full information about the fall workshops is also available online at: http://www.ahead.org/training/reg_training/index.htm

Additional Opportunities, Conferences, Trainings and Expositions

Check out these offerings from our colleagues in the fields of disability and higher education:

American College Counseling Association National Conference Exploring New Frontiers in College Counseling, October 3-6, 2006, at John Ascuaga’s Nugget – Reno/Sparks, NV. For more information, visit http://www.collegecounseling.org/news/ACCA_conv/index.html

NACADA’s 30th Annual Conference on Academic Advising DIVERSE ADVISING FOR A DIVERSE WORLD, October 18-21, 2006, Indianapolis. For details see www.nacada.ksu.edu
Deaf Asia Foundation (DAF) is celebrating its cultural diversity at MATA EXPO 2006, on November 3 and 4, 2006, in Ontario Convention Center. DAF is a non-profit organization that helps the deaf community to obtain better technology assistance, media accessibility and information services. DAF enhances the awareness of deaf culture and health-related issues through media, conferences, workshops, community collaboration, and leadership development. For more information, contact info@deafasia.org or fax 951-346-5678.

National Symposium on "CAS Standards, Self-Assessment, and Student Learning Outcomes in Higher Education," November 12-14, 2006, at the Hotel Hilton, Crystal City. Keynote speakers for the conference are: Judith Eaton, President of CHEA, Susan Komives, Associate Professor at University of Maryland, College Park, and Richard Keeling, President, Keeling and Associates.
For more information, contact: Phyllis Mable, CAS Executive Director, (202) 862-1400 or PhyllisMable@aol.com.

National Symposium on "CAS Standards, Self-Assessment, and Student Learning Outcomes in Higher Education," to be held November 12-14, 2006

CAS has announced that it will hold a National Symposium on "CAS Standards, Self-Assessment, and Student Learning Outcomes in Higher Education," November 12-14, 2006, at the Hotel Hilton, Crystal City. The goal of the national symposium is to strengthen the higher education community's understanding of the CAS standards and guidelines.

In addition to a pre-workshop on learning about "CAS Basics," nationally recognized speakers, and round table discussions, four "hands on" learning opportunities will be offered during the symposium:

1. Connecting Functional Areas to Student Learning Outcomes
2. FALDOs: Setting the Foundation for Imagining the Future
3. Preparing for Institutional Accreditation
4. Creating a Culture for Assessment

Keynote speakers for the conference are: Judith Eaton, President of CHEA, Susan Komives, Associate Professor at University of Maryland, College Park, and Richard Keeling, President, Keeling and Associates.

For more information, contact: Phyllis Mable, CAS Executive Director, (202) 862-1400 or PhyllisMable@aol.com

Advanced Training in Web and Media Access in the University Setting

WITH AHEAD PARTICIPATION, ACCESSING HIGHER GROUND WILL OFFER ADVANCED TRAINING IN WEB AND MEDIA ACCESS IN THE UNIVERSITY SETTING – NOV. 7 - 10, Boulder, CO

The ninth annual Accessing Higher Ground conference on Assistive Technology and Accessible Media in Higher Education will be held at the Millennium Harvest House Boulder, adjacent to the University of Colorado-Boulder campus on Nov. 7-10.

Program coordinators at the CU-Boulder AT Lab and Disability Services are bringing together national leaders in the field of assistive technology and media to educate students, staff, faculty and the community on the availability and potential benefits of assistive technology in education and business. Participating organizations this year include WebAim, EASI, AHEAD, ATHEN and the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM).

More than 40 workshops, including hands-on labs, will be presented throughout the conference, on topics including Web and Media Access, the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, legal requirements and policy issues, and accommodations for students with learning disabilities, visual impairments and physical disabilities.

WebAim will present a series of hands-on and lecture sessions, including a full day lab titled Web Accessibility Evaluation and Repair Methods, a lecture session on CSS/DHTML/AJAX Accessibility and a second lab titled Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools and Techniques. NCAM will present a session on captioning titled Audio Description: the Visual Made Verbal.

Previous feedback from attendees on the conference reveal two aspects of the event which are particularly appealing to the audience: a more intimate setting – the conference has an attendance of between 150 and 200 attendees – which facilitates networking and second, a more advanced level of sessions due to the level of expertise of the audience. Jon Whiting of WebAim, has commented that during his first year at the conference he needed to adjust the level and pace of his hands-on class because the class had a much higher level of expertise than he was expecting.

A sampling of other conference sessions include:

• The AHEAD Institute on E-Text Production (both lecture & hands-on)
• Creating Accessible PDF Documents (Lab)
• Legacy Web Pages: Converting from HTML to XHTML.(Lab)
• Everything DAISY: Sorting Through the Authoring Tools
• Digital Talking Books for Math and Science
• Section 504, title II, and Disabilities of Students at the Post-Secondary Level
• Audio Description: the Visual Made Verbal (NCAM)
  (For a full agenda, visit the conference URL below)

The keynote speaker for the conference, Kevin Kling, is a humorist and playwright who built his reputation in the Twin Cities during the 1990s with his groundbreaking plays 21A and Fear and Loving in Minneapolis. Kling is also a frequent National Public Radio commentator. His NPR pieces have included Acting the Swan to Overcome the Duck, an essay where Kling discusses how the inspiration of Shakespeare's Richard III helped him come to terms with a disability.

In addition to the keynote address, special events include a presentation of the film Sound and Fury followed by a question and answer session with the director, Josh Aronson, and a final plenary session by Michael Chorost, the author of the book: Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human.

For a complete agenda, workshop listing and registration form, visit the conference Web site at http://www.Colorado.EDU/ATconference or call CU Conference Services at (303) 492-5151. For more information about the program, call Howard Kramer at 303-492-8672.

The AT conference is sponsored by Dolphin Computer Access, the CU Office of Diversity and Equity, the Vice Chancellor's Office for Student Affairs, the Coleman Institute, the CU Information Technology Council and the Colorado/Wyoming Consortium of Support Programs for Students with Disabilities.

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AHEAD’s Permanent New Home

Members of AHEAD have been hearing news of AHEAD’s Office move from the Boston area to the Charlotte, North Carolina area in early August. Thankfully the move is done, the staff are settled, and after being closed for five days, the office was back up and running on Monday August 14 in their new location without a hitch.

All of the AHEAD staff, except for Richard Allegra, made the move to NC. Richard will continue to work with AHEAD in his capacity of Director of Professional Development while living in the Boston area. All AHEAD staff are available through our new central telephone number (v/t) 704-947-7779.

The staff looks forward to continuing to provide AHEAD members with exceptional service from the new home in NC.

Please feel most welcome to contact the staff anytime they can be of service.

The new, permanent contact information for the AHEAD offices is:

AHEAD
107 Commerce Center Drive
Suite 204
Huntersville, NC 28078 USA
(v/t) 704-947-7779
(fax) 704-948-7779
(e-mail) AHEAD@ahead.org

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Association of American Publishers (AAP) Announces Publisher Look-Up Service

Washington, D.C. (August 22, 2006) -- Higher education publisher members of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) today launched a beta version of a Publisher Look-Up Service. The online search tool, found at http://www.publisherlookup.org/, will enable Disabled Student Services (DSS) professionals who are seeking text materials in alternate formats for
print-disabled students to more easily contact publishers.

The Publisher Look-Up Service is a first step in AAP's Alternative Formats Solutions Initiative (AFSI), a national effort to identify ways to provide print-disabled post-secondary students with specially formatted course materials on a timely basis. AFSI research showed that publishers could make an immediate difference by launching the Publisher Look-Up Service,
while still exploring longer-term solutions.

"The Association of American Publishers heard repeatedly that DSS professionals can have a tough time figuring out whom to contact at a particular publishing house to request either an electronic format of a textbook or permission to scan that book in order to produce e-text. In response, AAP built the Publisher Look-Up Service, a Web site interface to help DSS professionals search for e-text and permissions contacts at college textbook publishing companies," said Ed McCoyd, AAP's director of digital policy.

DSS offices at post-secondary institutions can search by textbook publisher or publisher imprint to access general information about the publishing company and appropriate contact information. Once provided with this information, DSS offices typically work with publishers to acquire an electronic version of a textbook to provide to print-disabled students.

" We believe the Look-Up Service is a step in the right direction. Active participation by publishers and DSS professionals will make this beta launch a success, enabling us to enhance and improve the Look-Up Service with publisher-supplied data and user feedback. Our ultimate goal is to have completely accurate, up-to-date information on the site for the spring 2007
semester," McCoyd said.

Publishers-AAP members and non-members-are encouraged to secure a login from AAP that enables them to directly upload, edit, and update company information on the site. To request a login, write highered@publishers.org.

About AAP's Alternative Formats Solutions Initiative (AFSI)
The Alternative Formats Solutions Initiative is a publisher-funded research project that involves colleges and universities, students, disabled students support services professionals, national and state disability advocacy groups, and technology providers in an effort to create a national framework of specific, practical solutions. The AAP-led program, which began in March 2006, is assessing problems faced by print-disabled students, including delays in getting their materials or the inability to receive the proper
materials at all.

AAP members were active participants in a federal solution for students in grades K-12, supporting the development and passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004. Building on that collaborative effort, the Association and its higher education publishers initiated their post-secondary efforts in April 2005 at a meeting of stakeholders in Washington, D.C. In December 2005, AAP hosted a meeting held by the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) with publishers, college and university personnel, and other advocacy groups to gather input on how to move the process forward. At this meeting, AHEAD's E-text Solutions Group identified the Look-Up Service as a priority.

About the Association of American Publishers

The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP's more than 300 members include most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and electronic products and services.

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The Gersh Experience
The Gersh Experience, A College Level Program for Students with Neurobiological Disorders, Now Accepting Students for Spring Semester, January’07

Students with various neurobiological disabilities often struggle in their attempt to earn a college degree because of the difficulty they experience fitting in socially and managing both their studies and lives in a traditional college setting. Sadly, for many, their needs go unmet. The best efforts of college personnel to assist them often prove insufficient because of the nature of their needs. That is until now. The Gersh Experience at Daemen College is a new opportunity specifically designed for college students who are dealing with such disorders as Aspergers Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities.

The Gersh Experience is a one-of-a-kind post-secondary, undergraduate program situated on a 9.5 acre campus in upstate New York, just a few miles from Buffalo. The program was developed in partnership with Daemen College and offers students the opportunity to take fully-accredited, college-level courses leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in various Arts and Sciences, Health and Human Services, Pre-Professional Programs and Interdisciplinary Studies. First and second year courses are aimed at helping the students achieve seven key competencies critical to their success. Beyond academics, students in The Gersh Experience are taught the social skills and independent living skills they need to be successful both in college and the adult world. Succeeding academically, functioning socially, developing friendships, living independently, being self-confident, and pursuing their interests and dreams are the program’s goals for each student. The path to reaching those goals is customized to the needs of each student. When appropriate, efforts are made to return the student to the campus of their choice once the necessary skills are achieved.

All courses at The Gersh Experience are taught by Daemen faculty in classes with a low student-to-teacher ratio, supported by consultant teachers who are knowledgeable and experienced in addressing the needs of students with neurobiological disorders. The campus features a three-story building that houses classrooms, dining facilities, a student union, computer lab, 776-seat theatre-style auditorium, recreational areas, a full-size gymnasium, a competition-sized pool, weight rooms and athletic fields. The students live in residential facilities throughout the North Tonawanda community which are in close proximity to the campus.

For more information on admissions or to request a comprehensive brochure on The Gersh Experience, please call: 716-696-6116 or email admissions@gershexperience.org.

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Research Scholarship
$20,000 Research Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Expanded to include additional universities.

August 11, 2006 - The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute is pleased to announce its $20,000 scholarship in Rehabilitation-Related Research for Graduate Students with Disabilities is now available at additional universities. Besides the University of Toronto, students at McMaster University, Ryerson University, the University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, and York University are now eligible to apply for these scholarships.

Toronto Rehab views the scholarship as more than an academic award. ³This exciting scholarship is intended to act as a spur to involving people with disabilities in rehabilitation-related research,² says Dr. Geoff Fernie, Vice President, Research, at Toronto Rehab.

³ We look forward to working closely with scholars from the eligible universities to support their academic and research success and to open doors to careers in rehabilitation research.²

With the support of TD Bank Financial Group, Toronto Rehab is able to provide scholarships of $20,000 and a supplement for educational expenses incurred as a result of the student's disability. Applicants must plan to be enrolled in a rehabilitation-related graduate program leading to a masters or doctoral degree at one of the eligible universities.

Fields of study must relate to rehabilitation but are not limited to any particular discipline. Eligible disciplines may include but are not limited
to: Engineering, Social Work, Psychology, Medicine, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Kinesiology, Nursing, Recreation and Music Therapy, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Speech-Language Pathology, Biology, Biostatistics, Chemistry, Physics, Early Childhood Education, Architecture, Computer Science, Sociology, and Public Policy and Administration.

The next round of scholarships will be awarded for the 2007/08 academic year, with an application deadline date of May 1, 2007. Applications are encouraged from international students and final year undergraduate students.

For more information on the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Scholarship in Rehabilitation-Related Research for Graduate Students with Disabilities visit www.torontorehab.com or contact Lois Ward at ward.lois@torontorehab.on.ca or 416 597-3422, ext. 3081.

The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (Toronto Rehab) is at the forefront of one of the most important and emerging frontiers in health care today - rehabilitation science. As a fully affiliated teaching and research hospital of the University of Toronto, Toronto Rehab is Canada's largest academic provider of adult rehabilitation services, complex continuing care, and long-term care. Toronto Rehab is advancing rehabilitation knowledge and practice through research, education and patient care.

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China attracts students with disabilities looking to stand out.

China is increasingly on the list of possible countries for today's students looking to add an international element to their education. Students with disabilities seeking a non-traditional destination or interested in studying a foreign language may find the adventure of China a perfect fit. This quarter the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange takes a disability centered look at this ancient place through the featured country http://www.miusa.org/ncde/featcountry/ and a site visit to Hong Kong University http://www.miusa.org/ncde/sitevisits/hongkong with a focus on accessibility.

We are also pleased to feature an ongoing blog by Christie Gilson, a Fulbright Fellow with a disability who has been living and working in and around Hong Kong for the past seven months. Christie’s research for her PhD focuses on Special Education. Read her blog and subscribe for automatic updates at http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Hong-Kong-Fulbrighter/. For more success stories about students with disabilities traveling in and around Asia please visit http://www.miusa.org/ncde/stories/.

Past featured countries include: Kingdom of Jordan, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. Learn what these non-traditional destinations for study abroad offer students with disabilities today!

Call for Contributors! The National Clearinghouse on Disability and exchange is looking for students with disabilities who are currently on an overseas program to write articles and/or post blogs about their experience, and add to our library of site visits by completing an accessibility survey of their overseas host institution. If you know of students who may be interested in contributing to the future success of other students, please contact the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange at clearinghouse@miusa.org.

The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange is managed by Mobility International USA and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs.

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Press Release
Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education announces release of CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education, 6th Edition

CAS has announced that its CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education, 6th Edition, has been released. The book introduces five new functional areas of standards and guidelines for: College Honor Societies, Education Abroad Programs, Service-Learning Programs, Internship Programs, and College Health Promotions. The Book now holds 35 functional area standards and guidelines. Nine (9) of those 35 functional area standards and guidelines have been revised and were unanimously approved by the CAS Board of Directors.

The “CAS Statement of Shared Ethical Principles” and “CAS Characteristics of Individual Excellence” are included in the 6th edition.

In addition to the CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education, CAS has also published Frameworks for Assessing Learning and Development Outcomes (FALDOs.) The FALDOs give definition to the 16 student learning domains, review relevant research, and provide the practitioner with examples of research questions and concomitant research instruments for conducting assessment activities.

Version 3.0 of the CD that contains all 35 Self-Assessment Guides (SAGs) has been released. Other information on the CD includes: an e-learning course about how to conduct self-assessment, a PowerPoint presentation that can be used to give an overview of CAS and the assessment process, and links to the CAS website and CAS Executive Director.

For more info, please contact:
Phyllis Mable
CAS Executive Director
(202) 862-1400

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Call for Manuscripts for Anthology on Identities Transcending Race, Gender, Disability in Higher Education.
Mary Lee Vance, Ph.D., with the University of Wisconsin – Superior, is seeking personal stories and scholarly works for a new anthology.

I am soliciting manuscripts for an anthology tentatively titled Disabled Professionals in Higher Education: Multiple Voices and Identities Transcending Race, Gender and Disability (formerly tentatively titled Race, Gender, Disability and Employment in Higher Education: Real Employment Experiences by Real People), with the intention of having it published and distributed by the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) in 2007.

I am specifically seeking personal stories and/or scholarly works written by and about employees with disabilities, and their employment-related experiences in higher education. Writers are requested to identify their racial/cultural backgrounds, gender, and description of their impairments when submitting works (will be included in any published bio statements), as well as their status as either current or past higher education employees. Tentative topics may include works addressing: Challenges; Passing (experiences related to invisibility, and/or shielding ones’ identity); Coming Out (experiences related to becoming comfortable and “open” about any combination of identities); Relationships (may involve sexual orientation and other sexual experiences); Accommodations, Consequences, and Other (I am open to "other" possibilities and experiences contributors might offer). This publication has great potential to be appealing to those interested in disability studies, diversity studies, psychology, sociology and other academic departments as well as AHEAD Members, and the students served.

Final original, unpublished manuscripts of up to 8,000 words (approximately 10 to 25 typed pages in 12-point type), double-spaced, and printed on one side of the paper are due to the editor December 1, 2006. Earlier completed submissions encouraged. Target publication date is expected to be summer 2007.

Submissions must be typed as a Microsoft word document and sent electronically to the editor, along with a cover sheet with the writer’s name, address, telephone number, email address, and brief biographical paragraph which includes racial/cultural identification, gender and disability diagnosis. Submissions will not be returned. Submissions and questions are to be directed to the editor, Dr. Mary Lee Vance at mvance@uwsuper.edu.

Mary Lee Vance, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Academic and Career Advising
and Disability Support Services
University of Wisconsin - Superior
Old Main, Room 134
Belknap and Catlin, P.O. Box 2000
Superior, WI 54880-4500
Phone (715) 394-8515
Fax (715) 394-8307
E-Mail mvance@uwsuper.edu
Internet www.uwsuper.edu/career

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