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August 31, 2006

Healthy Living Expo, For those with Vision Loss at Carroll Center in Newton, MA

Date: Friday, September 8, 2006
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Location:

The Carroll Center Technology Center
770 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458

Directions: http://www.carroll.org/about/directions.php

Exhibits and Seminars for Consumers on Living with Vision Loss
Free, no registration required.

Workshop Schedule:

• 11 am: *Making the Home Safer for Seniors with Vision Loss*, This session will identify several examples of safety problems in the home, their functional consequences, and possible remedies for safety improvement. Joseph Kolb and Peter Waterfield.

• 1 pm: *Using Assistive Technology in Everyday Activities; A Day in the Life of a Blind Person*, Brian Charlson.

• 2 pm: *Self-Managing Diabetes*, Margaret Cleary.

Ongoing:

• Low Vision Advice: Robert McGillivray will be in the Low Vision Lab to answer questions about low vision devices.

• Technology: Brian Charlson will be available to provide answers to questions about computers and assistive technology

Exhibitors:

• AdaptiVision;
  
• Adaptive Technology Consulting;
  
• Vision Dynamics, LLC.;
  
• Magnisight;
  
• Verizon Center;
  
• National Braille Press;
  
• Freedom Scientific;
  
• Perkins Talking Book Library; and
  
• Mass. Commission for the Blind

Posted by Nancy at 01:10 AM | Comments (0)

August 30, 2006

Mayor Bloomberg Appoints Matthew P. Sapolin to The Rank Of Commissioner at A Reception Honoring 16th Anniversary of The Passage of The Americans With Disabilities Act

Second Annual Mayoral Advocacy Awards Presented To 5 Recipients

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced today that Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Matthew P. Sapolin is being promoted to Commissioner. This announcement was made as Mayor Bloomberg hosted a reception at Gracie Mansion in celebration of the 16th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Mayor Bloomberg also honored five recipients of the Second Annual Mayoral Advocacy Awards. The Mayoral Advocacy Awards honor people and organizations that are raising the quality of life for people with disabilities. Joining Mayor Bloomberg in commemorating the anniversary of the ADA were Executive Director Sapolin, Chairman and CEO of Avis Rent-A-Car System, LLC Ronald L. Nelson, Director of the Human Ability & Accessibility Center at IBM Frances West, and Executive Director of the Disabilities Network for New York City Alexander Wood.

"The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act was a civil rights milestone," said Mayor Bloomberg. "For more than 50,000,000 Americans living with a disability, some aspects of daily life are still challenging. New York City is working to break down barriers that keep people with disabilities from fully participating in City life. Tonight we honor New Yorkers who are making a difference and making our City more accessible for all, and we congratulate Matt on his well deserved promotion."

"I am honored to join Mayor Bloomberg in the presentation of our Mayoral Advocacy Awards," said Matthew Sapolin, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. "The City has made significant gains to improve the lives of people with disabilities - from Mayor Bloomberg's recent signing of the Disabled Rent Increase Exemption, to improved ferry access, to the enactment of legislation that will increase the number of taxis in our City. It is also fitting that we recognize and pay tribute to our courageous neighbors who are working daily to increase the standard and quality of life for people with disabilities."

At the reception the Mayor and New York City Sports Commissioner Kenneth J. Podziba also announced the publication of the second edition of Exercise Your Ability: The Ultimate Guide to Sports and Recreation for People with Disabilities. This valuable resource for athletic and recreational opportunities provides an expansive list of adaptive sports for athletes with disabilities. To receive a copy of Exercise Your Ability, please call the New York City Sports Commission at 212-487-7120.

"Exercise Your Ability provides valuable information on the myriad of adaptive sports and recreation programs in New York City and the country," said Commissioner Podziba. "This book showcases many exciting recreational and therapeutic programs that are available, and it is our hope that this book encourages our disabled community to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle."

The following are this year's award recipients:

Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. is being honored with a Title I of the ADA Employment Award for its significant commitment to the hiring of employees with disabilities. Associate Director of the Human Resource Department Bettie Jones accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

City University of New York is being honored with a Title II of the ADA Public Service Award for its contributions as a public entity in providing services to people with disabilities through its Youth Transition Demonstration Program and Graduate Certificate Program in Disability Studies. Executive Director of the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education Dr. William Ebenstein accepted the award on behalf of CUNY.

Avis Rent-A-Car System, LLC is being honored with a Title III of the ADA Public Accommodation Award for its Avis Cares Program, which provides a full range of products and services for drivers or passengers with disabilities. Chairman and CEO of Avis Budget Group Ronald L. Nelson accepted the award on behalf of the company.

IBM is being honored with Title IV of the ADA Telecommunications Award for its commitment to providing increased access to computer technology and communications for people with disabilities. Director of the IBM Human Ability & Accessibility Center Frances West accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Alexander Wood, Executive Director of the Disabilities Network for New York City is being honored with the Frieda Zames Advocacy Award for his overall commitment to helping individuals with disabilities.

Sponsors of this evening's reception included: Avis Rent-A-Car System, LLC; IBM and the Verizon Foundation.

Posted by Nancy at 02:44 PM | Comments (0)

Assistive Technology Expo in the Bronx

The New York Public Library presents:

Assistive Technology Expo: Tools to Help

Learn about some of the newest products and services to assist people with visual, hearing, and mobility disabilities.

Date: Saturday, September 16th, 2006
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Admission Free

Co-sponsored by:

• Insight for New Housing Inc.
  
• Bronx Independent Living Services, Inc. (BILS)

This event is supported in part by the New York State Coordinated Outreach Services Grant.

The Bronx Library Center
310 East Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10458

The New York Public Library
http://www.nypl.org

(718) 579-4244

Organizations represented include:

Achilles Track Club

Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library

Choice Magazine Listening

CSD Video Relay Services

Independence Care Systems

Independent Living Aids

Lifelinks

Matilda Zeigler for the Blind

National Federation for The Blind

NYC Workforce1 Career Center

NYS Commission for the Blind and

Visually Handicapped

Sorenson VRS

Soundbytes

Star Bright Books

Directions :

Trains: B, D or 4 to Fordham Road.

Buses: BX1, BX 2 to Grand Concourse and Fordham. BX 22, BX 9, BX 12 to Valentine Ave. BX41, BX 55 to Webster and Fordham.

Metro-North to Fordham Rd.

Posted by Nancy at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

Call for Papers Announcement-CSUN Conference

The Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge is pleased to announce that the Call for Papers for the 22nd Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference is now open and available on-line.

To submit a proposal to present at the 2007 Conference, please visit:
www.csunconference.org

The deadline to submit your speaker proposals is Friday, September 22, 2006.

The 2007 conference will be held March 19-24, at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton and Marriott Hotels. Please visit their website at www.csun.edu/cod/conf/ for more information.

Posted by Nancy at 10:34 AM | Comments (0)

August 29, 2006

New York To Washington Bike Ride Planned to Promote Hiring of Workers With Disabilities

Hire Disability Solutions CEO Jeff Klare To Undertake 300 Mile Bike Ride To Deliver "Appeal For Inclusion" To U.S. Chamber of Commerce Invites Members of The Disabled Community To Join Him Along The Way

Brooklyn, NY - - With the U.S. employment rate of people with disabilities at 20%, Jeff Klare, CEO of Hire Disability Solutions, a national leader in increasing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, will undertake a 300 mile bike ride from New York to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of the need for greater corporate hiring of workers with disabilities.

The "Opportunity for Success Ride" will commence at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Sunday, October 1, the first day of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and conclude in Washington, D.C. on October 6th. Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., Klare will deliver an "Appeal for Inclusion" to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help raise awareness of the need for greater hiring of individuals with disabilities by corporations.

The ride is also being conducted to benefit several nonprofit organizations:

• The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, an organization created to assist severely wounded and disabled Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their families;
  
• The East Coast Greenway, a user transportation and recreation trail network connecting major urban centers along the east coast of the United States from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida;
  
• The National Organization on Disability, which works to expand the participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life.;
  
• The National Disability Rights Network, a nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities.
  
• The American Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides early detection education and screening services to those in need no matter what age, race, sex, or financial challenge.

Hire Disability Solutions is encouraging individuals to help promote the hiring of those with disabilities by donating to these organizations whose activities promote such inclusion.

Specifically, the "Appeal for Inclusion" to be presented in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce calls for:

• Corporate America to devote all necessary resources to promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities;
  
• Corporations to educate themselves on disability issues;
  
• Decision makers to become more informed about and implement employment practices that provide equal opportunity to all job seekers, including people with disabilities;
  
• The job selection process to focus on finding the person who has the ability to perform a job, rather than focusing on a disability.

Klare, whose ride will take him through cities ranging from Philadelphia to Baltimore, is calling for members of the disabled community, as well as socially conscious citizens, to join him along his planned route for whatever portion of the ride they would like to undertake. Additionally, Klare will be collecting resumes from individuals with disabilities in each town he is scheduled to make a stop in. These resumes will then be posted on the Hire Disability Solutions website Career Center to help facilitate opportunities for employment. The Career Center, which is powered by Monster®, the leading global online careers and recruitment resource, also provides search tools and career content, courtesy of Monster.

Individuals can show their support by "signing" the "Appeal for Inclusion" directly on the Hire Disability Solutions website, www.hireDS.com. On the site, visitors will also find a route map, so that they can determine at which point they would like to participate in the "Opportunity for Success Ride." Klare is also currently maintaining a blog on the site and will continue to do so during his ride, enabling visitors to receive updates on the initiative and providing them with an opportunity to post their own thoughts as well. Visitors can also donate directly on the site to the nonprofit organizations being supported by the ride.

"While the Americans with Disabilities act passed in 1990 prohibits discrimination, in reality, little has been done to proactively help people with disabilities gain employment," says Klare. "Significant misconceptions exist in corporate America today concerning the hiring of individuals with disabilities and this has led employers to fear rather than to value or understand the significant contributions such individuals can make. As has been done on behalf of others who have faced difficulty in the job marketplace, we are looking forward to working in partnership with the Federal government to increase efforts in educating corporate employers and to urge more active recruitment of individuals with disabilities. Our hope is that through the 'Opportunity for Success Ride' we can bring attention and action to reversing the astoundingly low rate of employment that exists for those who are disabled."

For more information on the "Opportunity for Success Ride," or on Hire Disability Solutions, visit www.hireDS.com.

About Hire Disability Solutions
Hire Disability Solutions was founded to provide services on behalf of individuals with disabilities promoting inclusion into the mainstream employment world. Since its inception in 2004, Hire Disability Solutions has established itself as the national leader in protecting and enhancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Through its educational campaigns surrounding employment law, education opportunities and assistive technology, the company facilitates the success of individuals with disabilities and employers alike.

About the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes

The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes is a non-profit, non-partisan 501©(3) organization, created to provide a meaningful way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their families rebuild their lives.

About The East Coast Greenway

The East Coast Greenway is a long-distance, inter-urban, multi-user transportation and recreation trail network connecting major urban centers along the east coast of the United States from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida. The spine route consists of a series of locally owned and managed trails, linked to form a continuous trail network, easily identified by the public through signage, maps, and user guides. The East Coast Greenway is intended to be an off-road route serving cyclists, hikers, and other non-motorized users for recreation and transportation.

About The National Organization on Disability

The mission of the National Organization on Disability is to expand the participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women, and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. Contributions enable the organization to continue to narrow the gaps in the levels of participation between people with and without disabilities in all aspects of life, including employment, education, community involvement, religious worship, and social, cultural and recreational activities.

About The National Disability Rights Network
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States. Through training and technical assistance, legal support, and legislative advocacy, the National Disability Rights Network works to create a society in which people with disabilities are afforded equality of opportunity and are able to fully participate by exercising choice and self-determination.

About The American Breast Cancer Foundation
The American Breast Cancer Foundation is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. The mission of the American Breast Cancer Foundation is to provide a fighting chance to every life threatened by breast cancer no matter what age, race, sex, or financial challenge through screening assistance programs, research, and support for breast cancer patients and their families.

Contact: Bill Daddi
Daddi Brand Communications
(212) 404-6619
(917) 620-3717
Bill@DaddiBrand.com

Posted by Nancy at 05:01 PM | Comments (0)

August 23, 2006

The Jewish Guild for the Blind Scholarship Program

The Jewish Guild for the Blind has created an annual scholarship program for college bound high school students who are legally blind. Applications will be accepted from students at the start of their senior year, with recipients selected and scholarships awarded later in that academic year.

The GuildScholar Program will award 12 to 15 scholarships of up to $15,000 each. The next round of scholarships will be awarded for the academic year that starts in September 2007.

Application and supporting documents must be at the Guild by September 11, 2006.

Contact: Gordon Rovins

Phone: (212) 769-7801

E-Mail: guildscholar@jgb.org

URL: http://www.jgb.org/programs_guildscholar.asp

Posted by Nancy at 09:17 AM | Comments (0)

Carroll Center Computer Classes

The Carroll Center is happy to announce a calendar of group computer training classes for Fall 2006 in the use of ZoomText and JAWS for beginning computer users. Consumers may take the full two weeks of the class or split the class and take week 1 one month and return at a later date to take week 2 (prerequisites apply).

• September 11, Week 1, JAWS Class
  
• September 18, Week 2, JAWS Class
  
• September 25, Week 1, ZoomText Class
  
• October 2, Week 2, ZoomText Class
  
• October 16, Week 1, JAWS Class
  
• October 23, Week 2, JAWS Class
  
• November 6, Week 1, JAWS Class
  
• November 13, Week 2, JAWS Class
  
• December 4, Week 1, ZoomText Class
  
• December 11, Week 2, ZoomText Class

In addition, we will be offering our Office Skills Training Course beginning on October 10th (this session is for JAWS users only) .

Contact Dina Rosenbaum, (617) 969-6200 ext. 238 for more information, or an application.

Posted by Nancy at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)

August 22, 2006

Learning Ms Excel While Using Jaws

De Witt & Associates Announces:
Hands-On, 2-Day Computer Workshop Entitled:
Learning Ms Excel While Using Jaws

Date: Monday And Tuesday, September 25th & 26th

Location: De Witt & Associates Training Lab
700 Godwin Avenue
Midland Park, NJ 07432

Prerequisites: Keyboarding at least 20 words per minute, and an intermediate knowledge of jaws word processing skills and windows concepts.

Price: $400.00

Would you like to create, manipulate and understand commonly used formulas?

Do you want to be certain that your spreadsheets are legible and visually appealing?

If you’re a student or an assistive technology instructor, a corporate employee or a teacher of the blind and visually impaired, Learning MS Excel with JAWS is for you.
Using our acclaimed Courseware for Assistive Technology Trainers, every student will receive:

Transportation to and from your hotel, or the closest train station or bus stop;

A certificate of completion;

Hands-on instruction on a computer running Windows XP, MS Office 2003, and JAWS 7.1;

Lists of key terms and keystrokes, exercises, quizzes, and report cards in print, Braille, or DAISY format; and

Lunch.

To register or to receive lodging and transportation recommendations, call Maria toll free at 1-877-447-6500 Extension 217.

Posted by Nancy at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)

EASI Web Conference Series: LD and Accessible Info Tech

Dates: October 5, 12, 19 and 26;
Registration is $150;
Register at: http://easi.cc/forms/ldconf.htm

• Part 1: Learning Disabilities - Adolescents and Adults Presenter: Noel Gregg, Ph.D. Director & Distinguished Research Professor University of Georgia Regents Center for Learning Disorders This first presentation in a series of four focusing on learning disabilities will present an overview of learning disabilities and the adolescent /adult population. Several individual profiles will be used to investigate defining individual attributes, assessment issues, and effective learning strategies. The similarities and differences observed with learning disabilities related to instructional, testing, and work strategies will be emphasized. The need for understanding the heterogeneity across the population will be highlighted.

• Part 2: K-12 through Transition: One Size Does Not Fit All Presenter: Pene Chambers, Director, Information Systems Department of Special Education Kennedy Krieger Institute Technology affords flexibility and can accommodate unique and diverse individual needs and interests without compromising goals and objectives. Use what you have better. You will learn where and why to access books and text from the web as well as what to do with the text to make it more accessible and usable. You will learn about ways to alter standard applications, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and use technology in non-expected ways. Included will be information about altering and using standard word processing programs including how and why to create templates and create forms. You will also learn how and why to use PowerPoint as an organizer and to make non-linear presentations. Other strategies and less normal application combinations will be included.

• Part 3: LD and AT in Post-secondary Education Presenter: Carolyn Phillips, Manager, Georgia Department of Labor/VR Tools for Life Program Vocational Rehabilitation Program Customized Employment gives power back to individuals, families, employers and community stakeholders. Participants will be exposed to unique profiles of individuals with learning disabilities who have benefited from the concept of customized employment because it fosters flexibility, individuality, unique strengths and desires and a partnership with the natural community. This presentation will show that working across local, state, federal and international domains advances the opportunities for persons with disabilities to increase their access and participation in employment and daily life. This presentation will also address key concepts with customized employment: self determination, zero exclusion criteria, interest based assessment, individualized job development, integrated and linked employment, choice-based options for, and user friendly access to, assistive technology.

• Part 4: The Matrix: Incorporating Universal Design for Learning in a Post-secondary setting for Student with Learning Disabilities Presenter: Christopher M. Lee, Ph.D. Director, AMAC, University System of Georgia This presentation will explore how disability services are evolving within the post-secondary environment. The scope of disability services has changed as a result of access to alternative media and more effective ways of linking accommodations, modifications, and AT to individual student profiles. With better informed staff and more innovative options students should be receiving better services. If so, then why are retention and graduation rates for students with disabilities so low? Are students utilizing these innovative services? This presentation will offer participants insight on how students in post-secondary settings are accessing and using assistive technology services, how post-secondary systems are incorporating universal design for learning models, and will highlight innovative systems that are linking and expanding to others outside of network partners and creating a service-driven Matrix.

Note, in September there is another 4-part fee-based Web conference series on making Podcasts and Vodcasts accessible and also 2 free Web conferences: http://easi.cc/clinic.htm Also, EASI's online, month-long, instructor-led courses have been significantly enhanced and revised. In September the course is Barrier-free Information Technology, and this course will count towards the Certificate in Accessible Information Technology: http://easi.cc/workshop.htm

Again, you can register for the LD and Accessible Info Tech Web conference series http://easi.cc/forms/ldconf.htm

Posted by Nancy at 03:27 PM | Comments (0)

2006 Bridges to Employment Summary Now Available

A summary of the recent Bridges to Employment conference is now available online. A special issue of the newsletter gives a general overview of conference activities and reports on the most popular workshops and roundtables. Go to
http://www.proyectovision.net/english/bridges/index.html.

Conferencia Anual Bridges to Employment - Lo más destacado
Ahora contamos con un boletín electrónico que hace énfasis sobre los eventos más importantes de la conferencia Bridges to Employment. La entrega especial de Bridges ofrece una visión panorámica general de las actividades de la conferencia y tiene información sobre los seminarios y mesas redondas más populares. Visite http://www.proyectovision.net/spanish/bridges/index.html.

Posted by Nancy at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)

Empowering Employers to Build an Inclusive Workforce

Job Accommodation Network Conference 2006

Date: September 18th and 19th
Location: Hilton Boston Logan Airport

Acquire knowledge and skills to accommodate employees with disabilities, comply with the ADA, and develop innovative employment practices

Schedule

Exhibitors

Participation is limited to 300, so don't delay registering. You may register on-line for JAN Conference 2006.

Frequently Asked Questions

Posted by Nancy at 09:30 AM | Comments (0)

August 21, 2006

BEPD – Certification Program with the City of Chicago

Date: September 7, 2006
Time: 10:00-12:00 noon
Location: Chicago City Hall - 121 North LaSalle, 8th Fl., Community Hearing Room

Description: The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities would like to invite you to an upcoming BEPD (Business Enterprises owned/operated by People with Disabilities – certification program with the City of Chicago) informational workshop.

The workshop is a collaboration between Department of Procurement Services (DPS), MOPD and Dept. of Business Affairs and Licensing (DBA).

The focus is to provide BEPDs with a greater understanding of the procurement process, including how to market to City Departments. DBA will provide information regarding the many resources and services available through the City.

The procurement process is changing, and this workshop is expected to be beneficial to most business owners with disabilities! Please spread the word! If you would like to plan to attend this workshop, please RSVP to carolyn.jones@cityofchicago.org.

Posted by Nancy at 06:09 PM | Comments (0)

The BuildingWorks - Minority Worker Training Program

The Fifth Avenue Committee/Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (FAC/BWI) is now recruiting young men and women interested in careers in environmental clean-up and the building construction trades.

The BuildingWorks - Minority Worker Training Program is a fulltime 17 week program. The training is slated to start in November this year. Program hours are 8:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday.

Orientation/intake will end in September, 2006.

Each participant is provided lunch and transportation while enrolled in the program. All training, licenses and certificates are paid for and provided by the program at no cost to the participant. After completing the training, each participant is given the appropriate tools and clothing to enter their chosen field once they have secured employment.

To be eligible applicants should be at least 18 years old at the time of application. American citizens, or Naturalized Immigrants

All applicants must be able to navigate a rigorous tryout process, perform physical labor, and posses at time of application, a HS Diploma or GED, and a valid NYS Drivers License or Identification Card.

To be considered all applications must be accompanied by all supporting documentation listed below:

• Birth Certificate;
  
• Social Security Card;
  
• Valid Identification;
  
• Proof of Address;
  
• Citizenship Status;
  
• High School Diploma/GED; and
  
• Proof of Income.

Additional documentation may be required to verify Conviction Record, Veteran Status, Health Status, Income, Family Composition)

Applicants train for careers in Lead & Asbestos Abatement, Environmental Assessment, Carpentry and Construction.

Application will be completed August to October 2006.

Eligible candidates should contact:

Calvin V. Patterson at the BWI/Fifth Avenue Committee.

718-237-2017 EXT. 135

Posted by Nancy at 05:44 PM | Comments (0)

August 19, 2006

Committee on Disability Convention Continues Talks on Treaty, 14-25 August

Delegates and representatives of the global disability movement will seek to bring to a conclusion the draft convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, when they meet at the United Nations from 14 to 25 August.

The eighth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities will focus on the still unresolved issues, and revisit the language of the 33-article working text (document A/AC.265/2006/2).

“Our objective is to adopt the draft convention at the end of this session”, said the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, New Zealand’s Ambassador Don McKay. “Intensive informal consultations will be required on a variety of issues throughout the session, in addition to the discussions in the plenary. We will need to be flexible in our approach”, he said.

Without creating new rights for the most part, the convention seeks to elaborate, in detail, the rights of persons with disabilities and, set out a code of implementation. It covers rights such as equality, non-discrimination and equal recognition before the law; liberty and security of the person; accessibility, personal mobility and independent living; right to health, work and education; and participation in political and cultural life.

Four main issues in the working text are still unresolved: international monitoring, international cooperation, legal capacity and the definition of “disability”.

Current proposals on international monitoring involve setting up a committee of independent experts, which would monitor implementation of the convention by States that ratify it. That is the procedure currently followed under seven core human rights treaties, such as the conventions on women’s rights and children’s’ rights. States parties would have to regularly submit a report to the monitoring committee and discuss it with the experts.

The draft article on international cooperation would require States parties to provide assistance to developing countries to help them to implement the Convention. That would include technical and economic assistance, access to assistive technologies and support to capacity-building support.

Countries have not agreed on a definition of “legal capacity”, and on whether to refer to “legal capacity” or to the “capacity to act”. For their part, disability-related non-governmental organizations are concerned that addressing legal capacity -- which would involve external assistance to exercise that capacity -- would open the door to guardianship and substitute decision-making, thus, limiting the rights of persons with disabilities.

“There will be immense pressure on delegates to resolve issues informally between themselves,” said Mr. MacKay. “We are now at the end of the negotiating phase, not still in the debating phase, and it will be necessary to sow up compromises in the corridors and move on, rather than debating them in plenary”, he added.

Meanwhile, informal work had been ongoing on international monitoring and final clauses, led respectively by Mexico and Liechtenstein.

On 1 August, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson threw his support behind the completion of the treaty, writing to all delegations “to give priority to the upcoming negotiations, and to approach them with maximum flexibility and pragmatism, in order that we can reach agreement on a convention that will be in the common interest of us all”.

Disability-related non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions from around the world will continue to be major players in the negotiations. Some 500 representatives of disability-related organizations are expected to attend the session.

Governments, disability-related non-governmental organizations and others are organizing daily lunchtime side events on topics such as political empowerment of persons with disabilities, universal design and education www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc8sideevents.htm.

For information, please visit http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/ or contact Edoardo Bellando, United Nations Department of Public Information, tel.: +1 212 963 8275, e-mail: bellando@un.org.

Posted by Nancy at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2006

NCD Youth Advisory Committee Seeks Four Members

Recruitment Announcement:

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) for the National Council on Disability (NCD) announces the opening of a nationwide search for four new members. One of the positions is reserved specifically for high school students. NCD is an independent federal agency, headed by 15 Council Members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The collective responsibility of NCD is to make recommendations to the President and Congress on issues affecting all Americans with disabilities. NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to support the empowerment of individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

The YAC, a 12 member advisory committee with applicant ages
from 16-25 encourages youth across disability sectors, diverse
racial and ethnic groups, and under-represented areas of the
country to apply. Application documents must be received
through E-mail by September 14, 2006 at 5:00 PM Eastern
Daylight Time.

The application consists of:

1. your resume,

2. your cover letter pointing out what makes you the best
   candidate for a position of national level leadership as
   a representative of youth with disabilities, and

3. one letter of recommendation from an adult who is familiar
   with your leadership and disability experiences and
   potential. A recommendation by someone who is not your
   parent/guardian is requested.

A brief daytime telephone interview with you may also be needed
for a selected list of finalists among the top applicants.

Please send only electronic documents (use e-mail only) to be
considered as a YAC applicant during this recruitment period.
E-mail your resume, your cover letter, and one letter of
recommendation to: YOUTH@ncd.gov

Attn: Dr. Gerrie Hawkins
Designated Federal Official
Youth Advisory Committee
National Council on Disability
YOUTH@ncd.gov

Please do not send your application to any other address, if
you wish it reviewed for this recruitment period.

The YAC ensures that NCD's policy recommendations and
activities give consideration to the perspectives of young
people with disabilities. Meetings are planned and conducted
through teleconference arrangements under NCDs budget. If a
face-to-face meeting occurs travel and lodging are assumed by
the agency for active members of the committee, in accordance
with federal guidelines.

To read more about the YAC, see the brochure (attached as WORD
and Text only) and feel free to check out the NCD Website at:

http://www.ncd.gov.

If you have questions, please contact youth leaders Gina
Semenza (YAC Chair outgoing) or Stephanie Orlando (YAC incoming
Chair) at YOUTH@ncd.gov

We look forward to receiving your application documents at:
YOUTH@ncd.gov . . . by September 14, 2006 at 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

Mark S. Quigley
Director of Communications
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004

Posted by Nancy at 07:32 PM | Comments (0)

CRITICAL INFORMATION FOR AIR TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES,THOSE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS, AND MATURE PERSONS

The intent of this message is to alert potential air travelers with disabilities, those with medical conditions, and the mature of the elevated threat level, encourage them to take proactive and necessary steps to alleviate potential adverse impacts, and provide connections to further information and assistance.

The following quotes are extracted from DHS Secretary Michael
Chertoff's press conference yesterday:

• "In light of the nature of the liquid
  explosive devices which were designed by the
  plotters, we are temporarily banning all
  liquids in carry-ons in aircraft cabins.
  That means no liquids or gels will be
  allowed in carry-on baggage. Any liquids or
  gels have to be checked as part of baggage
  to go into the hold. There will be
  exceptions for baby formula and medicines,
  but travelers must be prepared to present
  these items for inspection at the
  checkpoint, and that will allow us to take a
  look at them and make sure that they're safe
  to fly."

• "Today, air traffic is safe. And air
  traffic will remain safe precisely because
  of the measures we are adopting today.
  People should be patient, but they need not
  cancel their travel plans. They simply need
  to be aware there may be some delays and
  they may want to check with their carriers
  to see whether they ought to adjust their
  arrival times at airports."

Overall guidance to travelers with disabilities is located on the
web site of the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) at: http://www.tsa.gov. This
guidance includes tips specific to those with disabilities and
medical conditions.

TSA's Checkpoint Security Screening Procedures for persons with
disabilities, individuals with medical conditions, and the mature
have not changed as a result of the current threat situation.

All disability-related equipment, aids, and devices continue to
be allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through
screening.

Items permitted beyond the checkpoint include: Wheelchairs;
scooters; crutches; canes; walkers; prosthetic devices; casts;
support braces; support appliances; service animals; any and all
diabetes-related medication, equipment, and supplies; orthopedic
shoes; exterior medical devices; assistive/adaptive equipment;
augmentation devices; ostomy supplies; medications and associated
supplies; hearing aids; cochlear implants; tools for wheelchair
disassembly/reassembly; personal supplemental oxygen; CPAP
machines; respirators; CO2 personal oxygen concentrators; baby
apnea monitors; Braille note takers; slate and stylus; tools for
prosthetic devices; and any other disability-related equipment.

Current restrictions prohibit liquids, gels, or lotions (except
baby formula/milk and medications) through the security screening
checkpoints and onboard the aircraft. This includes common
items, such as, but not limited to: beverages, perfume/cologne,
shampoo, shaving cream, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair
gels, saline solution. Such items are recommended for transport
in checked baggage.

It is also recommended that those with medications only take the
amount of medication essential to sustain them until arrival at
their final destination. Additional medication can be placed in
checked baggage or mailed to their final destination. This will
help speed up the screening process and avoid additional delays.

Travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, and the mature
may want to consider the following:

• Arriving at the airport well in advance, 2-3 hours prior
  to flight;

• Following all published rules on carry-on items and
  medications;

• Viewing TSA website tips for persons with disabilities and
  medical conditions and other TSA screening advisements located on
  TSAs website under "Our Travelers,"

• Bringing documentation on medications, devices, medical
  condition where possible. This is not a requirement and will not
  exempt a passenger from the screening process.

• Packing medications in a clear bag separate from other
  carry-on items/bags;

• Exercising patience with the lines, delays, and stringent
  screening procedures.

For additional information on transportation security, the
Transportation Security Administration Contact Center may be
reached at:

1-866-289-9673 (Voice/Relay)
tsa-contactcenter@dhs.gov (Email)
http://www.tsa.gov (Web)

For concerns about potential rights violations, contact the TSA
Office of Civil Rights at:

1-877-336-4872 (Voice)
1-800-877-8339 (TTY)
tsa-contactcenter@dhs.gov (Email)

For information about overall air travel accessibility, contact
the Air Carrier Access Act Hotline of the Department of
Transportation at:

1-800-778-4838 (Voice)
1-866- 754-4368 (TTY)
airconsumer@ost.dot.gov
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov (Web)

- - - - - - - - - -

Olegario D. Cantos VII, Esq.
Associate Director for Domestic Policy
The White House
Washington, DC 20502
ocantos@who.eop.gov [Email]

Posted by Nancy at 04:22 PM | Comments (0)

New EEOC Publication Addresses Employment Rights Of People With Hearing Loss

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued a Q&A Fact Sheet
on the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to job applicants and employees who are deaf or who have hearing impairments.

Posted by Nancy at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)

ENABLE AMERICA to host Community Connection Forum to promote awareness on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.

Date: Monday, September 25, 2006
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Registration: begins at 10:00 AM
Location: Marriott East Side Hotel, 525 Lexington Ave, NYC

HOSTED BY: ENABLE AMERICA
COORDINATED BY: Scott Hess (Barrier Free Living, Inc.)

Discussion Topics:

• Employers Today & "The Fear Factor"
• "You must be In It to Win it"
• People with Disabilities = Dynamic Employees!
• Disability Income and the Transition to the Working World
• Get Involved – Know the Facts – Speak Out & Participate
• And much more…

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Seating limited. Lunch provided.

Enable America is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization created to eliminate the significant barriers to independent living, employment, civic involvement and social inclusion for Americans with disabilities, and empower citizens so they may become fully engaged in our economy, community and democracy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (813) 222-3299, EXT. 160 www.enableamerica.org

New York City - Seventy percent of working-age people with disabilities do not have jobs, but most want to work. Join Enable America as it makes a critical connection between local businesses looking for good employees and people with disabilities looking for good jobs. Local business leaders, lawmakers and service providers will come together to provide the resources needed to create opportunity.

“Good things happen when people have jobs,” said Enable America Founder Attorney Richard Salem, who is blind. At a time when the national unemployment rate is near historic lows and baby boomers are beginning to retire, there is a growing shortage of skilled and dedicated employees. The time is ripe for businesses to discover the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.

“Welcome to the 21st Century! Technology has opened a whole new world to people with disabilities, the likes of which business is not yet taking advantage of,” said Mr. Salem. The positive attitude, critical thinking skills, determination and retention rate for people with disabilities are all proven benefits of having these individuals in the workplace.

Statistics on Americans with disabilities:

• 1 in 5 Americans has a disability;
  
• 70% of working aged adults with disabilities want to work, that’s a potential job pool of 18-million people;

• People with disabilities are 70% more likely to stay at a job five years or longer compared to able bodied workers; and

• The government pays more than 230-billion dollars a year in disability benefits, which could be reduced if they were working and paying taxes.

Join Enable America for this inspirational event as you meet people with disabilities who are already amazing success stories in the business world. See incredible technology on display which is helping to level the playing field in the workplace for people with disabilities.

“It’s time to break down the barriers and build a bridge,” said Mr. Salem. The Community Connection Forum will provide one stop shopping to connect people with disabilities to the people who can provide jobs and services to make their dreams of working a reality. For more information you can call Enable America at 813-222-3212 or toll free at 1-877-ENABLED.

Posted by Nancy at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)

August 14, 2006

Dr. Tao Jiang Agrees to Co-Chair Hong Kong Assistive Technology Conference

For Immediate Release:
For information contact:
Howard McClintic: 202-312-2913
John M. Williams: 703-218-4813

Washington, DC – Dr. Tao Jiang, one of China’s most respected and renowned audiologists, has agreed to be Co-Chair of the First Annual Assistive Technology Conference in Hong Kong from October 10-12. The Managing Director of SpeechEasy International LLC , Tao Jiang, AuD, says, “I am honored to be asked to co-chair this conference whose goal is to expand the awareness of the benefits of Assistive Technology products in the public and private sectors in the Asia-Pacific Rim. This is a greatly needed program. I am most pleased that this important first of three conferences is occurring in China.”

Dr. Jiang was awarded Doctor of Audiology, AuD, by the Arizona School of Health Sciences, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in April, 2001. In May, 1988, he received Master of Science in audiology and Master of Science in deaf education from Lamar University. Among his many other current professional roles, he serves as Vice General Manager of Phonak China Group, a Swiss listed company as well as Vice Executive President of Hua-xia Health Group Inc, a Hong Kong listed company.

As Co-Chair, Dr. Jiang will address the entire assembly at Opening Ceremonies and be a Keynote Speaker on the topic, Technology and the Quality of Life. His company is also one of the Sponsors of the conference titled, Assistive Technologies: Expanding a Universe of Opportunities for People with Disabilities .

“We are honored to have Dr. Jiang Co-Chair the conference. His prestige and knowledge of communication technology for the deaf, hearing- and speech-impaired individuals, strengthens the conference and our goals,” said John M. Williams, world-renowned assistive technology writer. He is president and founder of Assistive Technology News (ATN); and is organizer as well as Co-Chair of the conference.

The United Nations estimates there are several hundred million people with disabilities living in the Asia-Pacific Rim. The China Disabled Persons’ Federation estimates there are more than 60-million-people with disabilities in China. The conference will examine the ways that assistive technologies address the diverse needs of people with disabilities in every aspect of their life and assist their families as well as professionals involved in their care.

Assistive or Adaptive Technology commonly refers to "...products, devices or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities...", as found in the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

These assistive technology (AT) products enable people with disabilities to accomplish daily living tasks, assist them in communication, education, work or recreation activities, in essence, help them achieve greater independence and enhance their quality of life.

“Dr. Jiang’s leadership in this Conference reinforces our Hong Kong Local Partner’s, Community Business , conviction that the individuals requiring these products need the information so they can lead richer, more productive and more independent lives,” says Howard McClintic, executive director, Concurrent Technologies Corporation Foundation .

The six topics being discussed are: Assistive Technology and Aging; Assistive Technology and Education; Assistive Technology and Employment; Information and Communication Technology; Assistive Technology and Quality of Life; and, Assistive Technology and Web Accessibility.

Assistive Technology manufacturers will exhibit hardware and software, but not during the breakout or plenary sessions. Manufacturers are being invited from the United States, Canada, Europe, Mainland China, and other Asia-Pacific Rim countries. Products benefiting individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities will be displayed. Some of the disabilities benefiting from these products include: mobility, vision, speech, hearing, cognitive and a combination of disabilities.

“Assistive technology products equalize educational, recreational, social and job opportunities for Chinese users,” says Dr. Jiang.
What do these AT products do? They allow blind people to hear and read materials they can’t see; they speak for speech-challenged individuals; they allow deaf people to communicate with others; they provide cognitively challenged individuals with tools to learn; and they provide mobility for individuals.

Williams believes there are business benefits to the AT exhibitors. Among the benefits are: partnering with businesses interested in manufacturing in AT products in Asia; expanding markets; employing people with disabilities to build AT products; and, testing and evaluating new AT products.

The attendees are expected to have some knowledge of AT products, but yearning to learn more. The Registrants will come from the United States, Hong Kong, Europe, Mainland China, and other Asia-Pacific Rim countries. The attendees will be people with disabilities, their families and caregivers; physicians; nurses; OTs; PTs; SLPs; psychologists; rehab and recreational therapists, medical professionals; special, general and adaptive physical educators, school and facility administrators; direct support providers; association executives and members; advocates and government employees; as well as dealers and distributors.

On the last day of the conference, the public will be given free access to the exhibits.

The 2006 AT conference is the first of three conferences. In 2007 and 2008, the AT conferences will be held in Beijing. The 2008 conference will occur around the time of the Paralympic Games. One of the goals of the 2007 Conference is establishing an Assistive Technology Center in Beijing. The center is to be used for training purposes and to showcase products.

Founded in the 1980s, Assistive Technology News (ATN) is an editorial and marketing company working in the Assistive Technology area. Its founder John Williams coined the phrase Assistive Technology.

Founded in 1998, the mission of the CTC Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the general public through unique economic initiatives that involve the private and public sectors, as well as non-profit organizations.

-30-

Posted by Nancy at 05:18 PM | Comments (0)

OPEN HOUSE at Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled

Date: August 24, 2006

TIME: 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 PM

WHERE:

Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled
2044 Ocean Avenue (between Aves. O & P)
Suite B-3 (downstairs)
Brooklyn, NY 11230

RSVP 718-998-3000

Celebrate the 16th Anniversary of the ADA

Greet Helene Katz Lesser, new Executive Director

and Honor Retiring Congressman Major Owens

SPEAKERS:


Frank Stechel, Manager - VESID District Office
Ted Finkelstein, Associate Human Rights Specialist
NYC Human Rights Commission
Carr Massi, President, Disabled in Action

Musical Entertainment will be provided for your enjoyment.

Refreshments will be served.


Posted by Nancy at 05:02 PM | Comments (0)

August 09, 2006

Hadley School to Give Web Seminar on Support Groups

The Hadley School for the Blind
Phone: 800 323 4238

Hadley School to Give Web Seminar on Support Groups

The Hadley School for the Blind will present a free Web seminar on "Self-help Support Groups for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision," Wednesday, August 16 at 1 p.m. Central Time.

Participants will learn the importance of building a social network, the various types and formats of self-help support groups and how to connect with a support group. "Support groups are crucial to anyone who experiences vision loss by helping them adapt and reclaim their independence," says Don Golembiewski, Hadley's Director of Outreach, who will facilitate the seminar. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share information during the seminar.

Registration is required for this interactive seminar and is on a first come first serve basis. To register, go to http://www.hadley.edu/seminar/ and follow the "Registration" link. You will receive a confirmation e-mail containing instructions on how to log in to the seminar. Please note registration will only be taken online, and not by phone.

Technical requirements to participate in the seminar are: For Windows: Windows98, ME, 2K, XP or 2003 (XP recommended) system, Pentium 3 500 MHz or better CPU, 512 MB RAM, Internet Explorer 6 or FireFox, JavaScript and cookies enabled in the browser, 56K or faster Internet connection (broadband recommended), full duplex audio device, speakers, and microphone (optional).

For Macintosh: Mac OS 10.3 system or later, 512 MB Ram, Safari or FireFox browser, JavaScript and cookies enabled in the browser, 56K or faster Internet connection (broadband recommended), full duplex audio device, speakers, and microphone (optional).


Editor's Note: The Hadley School for the Blind is the single largest worldwide distance educator of blind and visually impaired people. Since its founding by William Hadley and Dr. E.V.L. Brown in 1920, all of Hadley's distance education courses have been provided free of charge. Today, the school serves more than 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries. Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations to fund its programs.

Visit us on the Web at www.hadley.edu

Posted by Marten at 03:42 PM | Comments (0)

Florida BLN EmployAbility Symposium Deadline Extended

Due to increased interest, the registration deadline for the EmployAbility Symposium has been extended until Friday, August 11, 2006 at 5 p.m.

The Able Trust will host the first Florida BLN EmployAbility Symposium on Friday, August 18, 2006, in Tampa. Human resource and diversity managers, as well as service providers for persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend. In addition to employer and service provider tracks with top notch speakers, the Symposium will feature The Able Trust's 10th annual Ability Awards luncheon, with nationally recognized comedian, Alex Valdez, as the keynote speaker.


The symposium will feature presentations by representatives from Walt Disney World Co., SunTrust Bank, and Hyatt Corporation who will share strategies about the success their companies have found in hiring people with disabilities. Workshop topics will adress marketing to consumers with disabilities, successful accommodation strategies, tax incentives, and other topics. Service providers in attendance will find out more about funding opportunities, workforce safefy and employer relations. Thanks to the support of HR Florida, the event has been approved for recertification credits for PHR and SPHR through the Human Resource Certificate Institute.

Registration information for the symposium is available on the Florida BLN website at http://www.abletrust.org/bln/06_Symposium_Reg2.pdf. For more information about the EmployAbility Symposium, contact Kristen Knapp at 888-838-2253 or
kristen@abletrust.org.

Posted by Nancy at 02:01 PM | Comments (0)

Hunter College CUNY - Master’s Degree Program in VI Rehab. Teaching/Orientation and Mobility

Hunter College CUNY

Master’s Degree Program in Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Teaching/Orientation and Mobility

Hunter College program in Rehabilitation Teaching/Orientation and Mobility (RT/O&M) is accepting applications for Fall 2007. Individuals who complete the 55-credit RT/O&M Master’s Degree program are eligible for certification through The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) as vision rehabilitation therapists, O&M specialists, and low vision therapists.

The Rehabilitation Teaching/Orientation and Mobility program requires that students have a Bachelor’s Degree from an approved college and have grade point average 2.8 or better.

Graduate Admissions application

Contact Information:

Grace Ambrose Zaken, Ed.D.
Hunter College CUNY
Dept. of Special Education 909 W
695 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10021
212 772 4740

gambrose@hunter.cuny.edu

Course of Study: Visual Impairment - Rehabilitation Teaching

Cross-Categorical Core Courses:


• SPED 700
  Issues and Practices in the Education of Students With Disabilities, 3 Credits.



Visual Impairment: Rehabilitation Teaching.

• SPED 740 Medical Aspects and Educational Implications of Visual Impairments, 3 Credits. Pre- or Coreq: SPED 700

• SPED 741
  Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre- or Coreq: SPED 740

• SPED 743
  Braille Literacy and Communication Skills for Learners with Visual Impairments (includes 10 hrs of field experience), 3 Credits.
  Pre- or Coreq: SPED 740, SPED 741, SPED 742

• SPED 744
  Assistive Technology for learners with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 742 and SPED 743

• SPED 747
  Principles and Practices of Orientation and Mobility for Teachers of Learners with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre- or Coreq: SPED 740, SPED 741, SPED 742

• SPED 749
  O&M for Special Populations, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 765 & SPED 768

• SPED 760
  Skills and Techniques for Rehabilitation Teaching I, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 740, SPED 741

• SPED 761
  Skills and Techniques for Rehabilitation Teaching II, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 760

• SPED 762
  Principles of Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living: Rehabilitation for Adults with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 740, SPED 741

• SPED 763
  Internship I: Rehabilitation Teaching for Individuals with Visual Impairments, 2 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 760, SPED 761

• SPED 764
  Internship II: Rehabilitation Teaching for Individuals with Visual Impairments, 2 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 760, SPED 761

• SPED 765
  Intermediate O&M, 3 Credits.

• SPED 766
  Advanced O&M, 3 Credits.

• SPED 767
  Internship/Seminar O&M, 2 Credits.

• SPED 768
  2-week Intermediate O&M Lab/Seminar, 2 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 700 or equiv.

• SPED 769
  2-week Advanced O&M Lab/Seminar, 2 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 765, SPED 768 & SPED 766

• COUNR 720
  Medical Aspects of Disability, 3 Credits.

• COUNR 730
  Rehabilitative Counseling with the Aged, 3 Credits.

• COCO 701
  Counseling Skills and Interviewing, 3 Credits.

Posted by Marten at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)

Hunter College. Master’s Degree Program in VI Rehab. Teaching

Hunter College CUNY

Master’s Degree Program in Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Teaching

Hunter College Master’s Degree program in Rehabilitation Teaching (RT) is accepting applications for Fall 2006. Individuals who complete the 40-credit RT Master’s Degree program are eligible for certification through The Academy for the Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) as Vision Rehabilitation Therapists and low vision therapists.

The Rehabilitation Teaching program requires that students have a Bachelor’s Degree from an approved college and have grade point average 2.8 or better.

Graduate Admissions application

Contact Information:

Grace Ambrose Zaken, Ed.D.
Hunter College CUNY
Dept. of Special Education 909 W
695 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10021

Phone: 212 772 4740

gambrose@hunter.cuny.edu

Course of Study: Visual Impairment - Rehabilitation Teaching

Cross-Categorical Core Courses:


• SPED 700
  Issues and Practices in the Education of Students With Disabilities, 3 Credits.

Visual Impairment: Rehabilitation Teaching:


• SPED 740
  Medical Aspects and Educational Implications of Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre- or Coreq: SPED 700

• SPED 741
  Education and Rehabilitation of Individuals with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre- or Coreq: SPED 740

• SPED 743
  Braille Literacy and Communication Skills for Learners with Visual Impairments (includes 10 hrs of field experience), 3 Credits.
  Pre- or Coreq: SPED 740, SPED 741, SPED 742

• SPED 744
  Assistive Technology for learners with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 742 and SPED 743

• SPED 747
  Principles and Practices of Orientation and Mobility for Teachers of Learners with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre- or Coreq: SPED 740, SPED 741, SPED 742

• SPED 760
  Skills and Techniques for Rehabilitation Teaching I, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 740, SPED 741

• SPED 761
  Skills and Techniques for Rehabilitation Teaching II, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 760

• SPED 762
  Principles of Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living: Rehabilitation for Adults with Visual Impairments, 3 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 740, SPED 741

• SPED 763
  Internship I: Rehabilitation Teaching for Individuals with Visual Impairments, 2 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 760, SPED 761

• SPED 764
  Internship II: Rehabilitation Teaching for Individuals with Visual Impairments, 2 Credits.
  Pre-req: SPED 760, SPED 761

• REH 720
  Medical Aspects of Disability, 3 Credits.

• REH 730
  Rehabilitative Counseling with the Aged, 3 Credits.

• COCO 701
  Counseling Skills and Interviewing, 3 Credits.

Posted by Marten at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)

August 05, 2006

Secretary Spellings Announces New Special Education Regulations

New regulations will help children with disabilities receive the services they need.

PRESS RELEASE: August 3, 2006

Contact: U.s. Dept of Education
Chad Colby or Casey Ruberg
(202) 401-1576

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the new regulations for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The final regulations further the president's goal that no childincluding each and every one of America's many students with disabilitiesis left behind. By aligning the regulations with the No Child Left Behind Act, there is a new focus on ensuring that students with disabilities are held to high expectations.

"Thirty years ago, America's students with disabilities were for the first time assured access to a free and appropriate public education thanks to a new law passed by Congress, now called IDEA," said Spellings. "Yet in those 30 years, too many students with disabilities have faced what President Bush calls 'the soft bigotry of low expectations." Students with disabilities can meet high standards, as long as we adults have high expectations and hold them to these standards. Thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act, we are holding ourselves accountable for making sure students receive the education they deserve. And with these final regulations for IDEA aligned with No Child Left Behind, we are ensuring that students with disabilities are challenged and prepared for successful lives."

The final regulations conclude a process that began in January 2005 with a series of public meetings to receive input on the development of these new rules. The Department held seven meetings around the country to invite comments on the proposed regulations, which were published as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on June 21, 2005. More than 5,500 students, parents, educators and stakeholders responded.

The Department has prepared a user-friendly package to help guide the public through these changes. In addition to the actual text of the regulations, the package includes an analysis of the public's comments, a summary of the major changes since publication of the proposed regulations, and several appendices, including an index and additional guidance for implementing the regulations.

Once the final regulations are published in the Federal Register, the Department will also publish and widely disseminate through its Web site a set of model forms for individualized education programs (IEPs), notices of procedural safeguards and prior written notices as required under IDEA.

"I am pleased that the final regulations were completed before the new school year begins." said Spellings. "This gives parents, teachers and administrators time to become familiar with the changes prior to the start of the instructional year."

To give the American people as much time as possible to review the regulations before they take effect, the Department will post an unofficial copy on its website at http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html.

The official copy of these regulations will be published in the Federal Register in about two weeks. The final regulations will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

A fact sheet on the new regulations can be found at http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/speced/ideafactsheet.html.

Posted by Nancy at 02:02 PM | Comments (0)

August 04, 2006

Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, August 3, 2006

1. The accessible Google search tool we mentioned last week is located here: http://labs.google.com/accessible/

2. For readers who are members of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic: It ordinarily costs around $15 to get a key so that you can play RFB&D books on the Book Port, but until December 31, it will be free. Call Member Services at 800-221-4792 and order a book on cd and give promotion code RM106. You'll get the cd necessary to make RFB&D books playable on the Book Port in the mail.
3. Government Computer News (GCN) has implemented a gool that lets readers turn its stories into mp3 files for playback on computer or portable devices. The mailing list report stated that audio quality was good and that Adobe Flash Player was required for it to work. http://www.gcn.com/print/25_22/41508-1.html

4. From Jeff Bishop's the Desert Skies blog: People with a bet for programming can now download the MSDN library from Microsoft.

5. I don't know of anybody who has tested this for accessibility, but Jeff also tells us that holders of a free mail account from Lycos can now have 3 gigs of storage and can send attachments of any size! http://www.lycos.com/

6. The next free online training from Accessible World is entitled Using Freedom Box and System Access to Interact Comfortably With Those Who Use Main Stream Products Tuesday 8 August at 00:00 GMT, presented by Ann Parsons. http://www.accessibleworld.org/

7. Access technologist's Higher Education Network http://www.athenpro.org/ tells us about a podcast not routinely devoted to access technology, Fly with Me, narrated by a commercial airline pilot. Episode 11 is an interview with a blind aspiring helicopter pilot and discuss the auditory and tactual aspects of airplane control. Here is the mp3 link: http://media.libsyn.com/media/joepodcaster/fwm-011.mp3

8. Jamal Mazrui continues to enhance and improve TextPal, the free text editor, adding features of interest to blind programmer and to others in version 1.4. http://www.empowermentzone.com/palsetup.exe

9. Kevin Reeves has created a file of JAWS place markers for the social networking site MySpace. this should make navigating the site easier for those users. You can download it here: http://bestmidi.com/~kevinree/Myspace.zip

10. An Assistive Technology site from Northeast Minnesota is http://assistivetechmn.net/

11. Chris Judd now has ten tutorials, including tutorials on Winamp, Outlook Express, Word, Job Searching, Accessible Games, and more. Tutorials cost $8 each, but if you buy more than three, you get a discount. For information e-mail chrischas0713@charter.net

12. A mailing list recommendation for an accessible program to hear or download podcasts is golden Ear. http://brooklynnorth.com/

13. Screen Reader Users Forum will be a weekly half-hour Internet radio program full of information on screen readers. It will air Thursdays at 23:00 GMT. http://www.cjoyinternetradio.com/

Visit the Tidbits page at www.topdotenterprises.com/tidbits.htm where you can subscribe to the rss feed and grab back issues. All that welcome information for future issues can come to me at dean@topdotenterprises.com.

That's the news for this week.

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If you have a news item, handy web page or piece of software you want to recommend, concerning adaptive technology, technology as it relates to the blind, or Internet audio, send it to me for inclusion next time.

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Inclusion of information in tttt does not imply any endorsement of products or services mentioned, or even that the content of the announcement is accurate. (Often, I do not verify the accuracy of the announcements.) Having said this, most are accurate and useful.

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Dean Martineau Top Dot Enterprises 2219 Rucker Ave #204 Everett WA 98201 (425) 876-4406 dean@topdotenterprises.com

http://www.topdotenterprises.com

Posted by Nancy at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)

August 02, 2006

e-Access '06 - Technology For All

Date: September 14, 2006
Location: Central London

'e-Access'06,' hosted by E-Access Bulletin and supported by RNIB, Scope and RNID, is the UK's leading annual event on access to all technologies, including internet, PCs, mobile phones and digital TV and radio, by people with disabilities.

The conference focuses on how digital technology is enabling people with disabilities to achieve greater independence. It also looks at the problems people face with access to technology. Our keynote speaker is BBC Presenter Peter White and sponsors include BSkyB, BT and Ford.

Places cost 195 pounds plus VAT for public sector, 295 pounds plus VAT for private sector and 145 pounds plus VAT for small charities and non-profit bodies (turnover below £300,000). For more information and to book your place, please visit: http://www.headstar-events.com/eaccess06/

Posted by Nancy at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

August 01, 2006

NYC Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) 2006: CAREERS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY SEMINAR

The New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Invites you to Learn more about Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) 2006 and how you can further your career opportunities. Allan Goldberg, Director of Fedcap Career Design School will facilitate a workshop for mentees who are interested in pursuing a career in the hospitality industry.

When: Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: FEDCAP
119 West 19th Street
New York, NY 10011

The session will be held on the 6th Floor.
The session will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. and will end at 4:00 p.m.

Directions:
Subways: 1 train to 18th Street / F train to 23rd Street (On West 19th between 6th & 7th)

Bus: M7 (6th Avenue) / M20 (7th Avenue)


REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

To register for the workshops, and/or for more information contact Mkada Beach at (212) 788-2830 or by email: DMD@cityhall.nyc.gov.

For security purposes, you must confirm your attendance and present a valid photo identification to be admitted.

Please let us know in advance if you require a reasonable accommodation.

Posted by Nancy at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)

NYC DISABILITY MENTORING DAY 2006, A DAY OF RECRUITMENT

Join us for a day of networking with a variety of Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) 2006 committee members. Learn more about DMD and how you can further your career opportunities. Representatives from the DMD committee will be there to answer all your questions, and assist with the application process.

Date: Thursday, August 24, 2006

Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Location City Hall, City Council Chambers
(Please use the Park Row entrance for the accessible entrance to City Hall)

Directions:
Subways: #4, #5, #6 trains to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall / #2, #3 trains to Park Place / W, R trains to City Hall/Broadway

Bus: M15 to City Hall/Park Row

Access-A-Ride Drop off Point: Park Row Entrance/Gate Entrance on Park Row Opposite Brooklyn Bridge Ramp


REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

To register for the workshops, and/or for more information contact Mkada Beach at
(212) 788-2830 or by
email: DMD@cityhall.nyc.gov.

For security purposes, you must confirm your attendance and present a valid photo identification to be admitted.

Please call in advance if you require a reasonable accommodation.

Posted by Nancy at 05:07 PM | Comments (0)