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Fall '03 |
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Newsletter - Fall, 2003
An
Update of Events, Achievements, and Other News From The Institute
on Disabilities Summer 2003 |
FROM
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Fall is an opportunity for new beginnings as well as a period to reflect
upon the successes of the past year. With the changing seasons, the Institute
on Disabilities at Temple University welcomes a new class of trainees
and celebrates many achievements. This year is particularly notable and
exciting for the Institute on Disabilities. As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary
we also commemorate 30 Years of Excellence in partnering with Pennsylvanians
with disabilities and their families. Our vision continues to be bold,
our mission remains focused, and our accomplishments continue to exceed
expectations.
Some of the many highlights of this past year include:
• Twelve graduate trainees from a variety of academic disciplines
each spent more than 300 hours with the Institute on Disabilities receiving
practical and classroom learning about disability policy and practice.
• Staff provided training, technical assistance, services, research
and dissemination of information to close to 40,000 persons (i.e., classroom
students, professionals and paraprofessionals, family members and caregivers,
children and adults with disabilities, and the general public.)
• We developed 38 new dissemination products and disseminated
these products to more than 16,000 persons.
The Institute on Disabilities continues to work in partnership with the
disability community while upholding the academic mission of Temple University.
We strive to acquire the required resources to support this vital work
throughout the communities we serve:
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States and increasingly,
the globe.
Please join me in celebrating the Institute on Disabilities’ 30
Years of Excellence. As we countdown to our 30th Anniversary celebration
in May 2004 (please see Calendar of Events)
we also look toward our future with great anticipation. In planning for
the
next thirty years we must meet the challenges to build a society of "justice
for all" rather that a society of "just us." The Institute
on Disabilities remains dedicated to serving the disability community.
Diane
Nelson Bryen, PhD
Professor and Executive Director
Our Mission
In partnership with people
with disabilities, families and allies from diverse cultures, the Institute
on Disabilities works to change systems so that people can live, learn,
work and play in the communities of their choice. The Institute on Disabilities
is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit
of interdependence, contribution, and inclusion. This mission is accomplished
through training, technical assistance, services and supports, research,
dissemination, and advocacy.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ACES MARKS ITS 16th YEAR:
ACES (Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports), an intensive
training program
for individuals with significant communication disabilities
and their allies, has marked its 16th year.
Each summer, Temple University is enriched as individuals with significant
physical and communication disabilities come to campus for two weeks to
learn how to use advanced voice output communication technology, become
more effective and powerful communicators, advance their computer technology
skills, and fulfill their dreams as they participate in an empowerment
course. Also attending are professional interns from across the globe,
who come to Temple to learn about communication technology and empowerment
in partnership with ACES participants. Each year, hundreds of ACES alumni
make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others across the
United States and across the globe.
ACES participants gather in Tuttleman Hall
ACES 2003 was, in the words of Executive Director Diane
Nelson Bryen, "an exemplary class." With 10 people who have
significant communication disabilities from Pennsylvania, New Mexico,
and Canada and professional interns from Pennsylvania, South Africa and
Guam, the 16th annual ACES was rich in talent, interests, and diversity.
The closing ceremony was powerful and empowering as each participant shared
their experiences at ACES and their dreams for the future.
ACES Free Speech Now Awards Established in 1992 by Bob
Williams, the ACES Free Speech Now Award is presented to individuals who,
by example and action, continue to advance the free speech rights of all
Americans, including Americans with significant disabilities. The 2003
ACES Free Speech Now Award was presented to
ACES graduate Karin DiNardi for her political advocacy, and to Carol Marfisi,
Instructor and Staff at the Institute on Disabilities, for "daring
us to dream." When accepting her award, Carol Marfisi remarked, "It
was such a wonderful and touching honor for me to receive the ACES Free
Speech Award this year. The workplace at the Institute for me has always
been a forum where I'm able to
reveal and talk about the many visions I have for people with disabilities,
including myself. Having the attentive ear of my associates is one of
the most valuable aspects of my freedom of speech."
PROGRAM
HIGHLIGHTS
The Higher Education Initiative on Inclusion
The Faculty Academy for Educational Change is scheduled
to meet January 14th and 15th, 2004. For more information, contact Trish
Creegan at tel. 215.204.3916 or email: pcreegan@temple.edu.
Project GOOD
The Institute on Disabilities will offer Project GOOD (Growing Older Optimally
with a Disability) through December 2004. Project GOOD is funded by The
Pew Charitable Trusts. For more information, contact Rosangela Boyd, PhD
at tel. 215.204.6749 or email: rboyd@temple.edu.
Disability Studies
September marked the start of Institute on Disabilities’ graduate
course Disability Rights and Culture (Spec Ed 550), taught by Carol Marfisi
and Allison Carey. This course examines the experiences of people with
disabilities and their situations in American society from a cultural
studies perspective. Rosangela Boyd, PhD, Associate Director, Institute
on Disabilities, currently teaches the undergraduate course Contemporary
Experiences of Disability (HRP C050). In the spring, Disability Studies
will offer Health and Wellness for Persons with Disabilities (Therapeutic
Rec 521); and Disability: Oppression and Resistance (Sociology 234).
For more information, contact Mike Dorn, PhD at tel. 215.204.3373 or email:
mdorn@temple.edu.
Families First
Families First is a one-day empowerment training for families of children
in Early Intervention. Fall sessions began Saturday, October 4th and continue
throughout fall 2003 and winter 2004. Sessions are held from 10 AM to
3 PM. Childcare reimbursement is available. There is no charge for the
training. For more information, contact Sue Tuckerman at tel. 215.204.8280
or email: susanne@temple.edu.
C2P2PL (Competence and Confidence: Partners
in Policymaking for Parent Leaders)
C2P2PL, a training for parents of young children with and without disabilities
who have not yet entered school, continues with the fifth session of the
eight training sessions on November 22nd, 2003 in Plymouth Meeting, PA.
For more information, contact Mary Mikus at tel. 215.204.1772 or email:
mmikus@temple.edu.
UPDATES
Pennsylvania’s AT Lending Library
Facts and figures from Annual Report, PA's AT Lending Library, July 1st
2002 - June 30th, 2003: This year, more than 3300 loans were made, with
more than 5000 devices shipped through Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGA).
Almost one-third (1036) of these were "first-time" borrowers.
In addition, there were almost 1000 uses of devices that are on "long
term loan" to Assistive Technology Resource Centers and Local Branches,
including more than 100 uses for consumer evaluation and over 200 uses
for consumer training or
device trials. For more information, contact Zona Jackson at tel. 215.204.4914
or email: atlend@temple.edu.
NEWS
Participation at the Pittsburgh Employment
Conference for Augmentative Communication
Staff and consultants (Bryen, Carey, Cohen, Potts, & Pecunas) of the
Institute on Disabilities presented four papers focusing on employment,
cell phones, social networks, and the RERC on Communication Enhancement.
Silvia Lee joins Institute on Disabilities
staff as English to Spanish translator
Silvia Lee will help us improve communications with the Philadelphia Spanish-speaking
population, furthering our commitment to build relationships with the
Latino community. Please contact us to request Inside Information, or
any of our publications, in Spanish at tel. 215.204.9348 or email: latino@temple.edu.
Queremos darles nuestra cálida bienvenida a Silvia Lee, quien nos
ayudará a mejorar las comunicaciones con la población Hispanohablante
de Filadelfia. Esta es nuestra apoyo decidido a fomentar nuestras conexiones
y relaciones con la comunidad Latina. Por favor contactenos para pedir
una version de este informativo en español.
ANNUAL
FUND Celebrates
30 Years of Excellence
As the Institute
on Disabilities celebrates 30 Years of Excellence partnering with Pennsylvanians
with disabilities and their families, we are pleased to initiate our first
annual campaign to commemorate our past accomplishments and secure our future.
The Institute on Disabilities has outlined an enterprising plan to ensure
the sustained growth of our projects and programs as we move ambitiously
into our fourth decade of outstanding service.
The Institute on Disabilities now looks to our most significant partners,
individuals who have recognized the important work we accomplish and who
are committed to investing in our vision.
We will also continue to build upon and enhance our strong partnerships
with the public sector on the federal, state and local levels, as well
as heighten our relationships with foundations and corporations.
The Institute on Disabilities encourages you to be as generous as possible
as we build for tomorrow together, meeting new challenges and investing
in our next 30 Years of Excellence.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
The Institute on Disabilities is Pennsylvania’s University Center
for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service
at Temple University.
For more information about the Institute on Disabilities, or about any
of the programs listed in this newsletter, contact:
The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Room 423 Ritter Annex
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Tel. 215.204.1356 (voice/TTY)
Fax: 215.204.6336
http://disabilities.temple.edu
This publication is available in alternate formats, upon request.
Edited
by Maureen Cannon.
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