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Spring-Summer 2005
An Update of Events, Achievements, and Other News From The Institute
on Disabilities. This is a concise version of Inside Information.
Please refer to the pdf link provided for a complete version. |
Introducing…The Pennsylvania Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families
The Institute on Disabilities is proud to announce The Pennsylvania Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families— "The Partnership."
Funded by the Office of Mental Retardation in the Department of Welfare, The Partnership will provide training and technical assistance to people with disabilities and families across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Training by The Partnership will be:
- Coordinated statewide, yet regionally responsive;
- Focused on—and driven by—people with disabilities and families;
- Culturally competent and responsive;
- Focused on capacity-building and leadership development;
- Efficient and cost-effective.
The Partnership is comprised of five collaborating agencies that have proven histories of providing training, technical assistance, and mentoring for and by people with mental retardation and families.
Partners include Achieva, the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, Mentors for Self Determination, Speaking For Ourselves, and Vision for Equality. Pooling and coordinating the individual efforts of the Partners will ensure that training and technical assistance is consistent statewide, coordinated, person- and family-driven, unduplicated, efficient and cost-effective. Coordination and support staff will be based at the Institute office located on the main campus of Temple University.
For more about The Partnership and its upcoming training in your region of the state, contact Diane Perry, The Partnership Training Facilitator at 1-866-865-6170 or visit the web site for the Institute on Disabilities — http://disabilities.temple.edu.
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FROM
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Welcome Spring!
The Institute on Disabilities is extremely proud of the establishment of The Partnership. This is an amazing opportunity to work collaboratively with self-advocates and families to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities served by the Office of Mental Retardation can get the services and supports they need. It is often said that "information is power!" Now we have the chance to ensure that self-advocates and families across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have the information they need to become empowered consumers and shapers of services in Pennsylvania. What an awesome challenge. What an awesome opportunity.
As the coordinating entity, the Institute on Disabilities has the privilege of using its 30-year experience as Pennsylvania's University Center for Excellence to steward and support this new Partnership. By applying Congress' mandated activities of training, technical assistance, information dissemination, and policy-relevant research and evaluation, the Institute on Disabilities will certainly bring "strength to strength."
Enjoy this brief introduction to The Partnership, partnering organizations, and staff. And visit The Partnership website to learn more about Partnership-sponsored training throughout Pennsylvania.
Diane
Nelson Bryen, PhD
Professor and Executive Director
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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, play and worship in 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.
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DONORS
Many thanks to our friends listed below for supporting the Institute on Disabilities and our special funds...
- Institute on Disabilities
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- Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Lynn Ruffenach
- Friends of ACES
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- Ms. Amy S. Goldman
- Ms. Lisa G. Matz
- Assistive Technology Lending Library
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- Ms. Evelyn I. Boyer
- Ms. Alexis J. Cackowski
- Ms. Shirley Chesmer
- Mrs. Audry M. Dowd
- Mr. Bryan J. Dowd
- Ms. Helen G. Ermiles
- Ms. Kara Gagen
- Ms. Amy S. Goldman
- Mr. John P. Jenkins
- Ms. Mildred B. Mullen
- Ms. Lisa L. Racz
- Mr. David F. Stephens
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THE PARTNERSHIP STAFF
KRISTIN AHRENS—Project Coordinator
Ms. Ahrens has more than 15 years of experience working with people with developmental disabilities. In her prior position, Kristin was the Interim Director of Self-Determination Resources, Inc., a regional brokerage serving adults with developmental disabilities, in Portland, OR.
DIANE PERRY—Training Facilitator
Ms. Perry has been with the Institute on Disabilities since 2004 with "Confidence and Competence: Partners in Policymaking" for families who have children receiving Early Intervention services” (C2P2EI) and "Families First."
COLLEEN McLAUGHLIN—Evaluator
Ms. McLaughlin began working at the Institute on Disabilities as a graduate extern for "Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking" (C2P2). In 2003, she was hired as a technical writer working on Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) and a variety of other state initiatives.
AMY SEMENUK—Web Designer
Ms. Semenuk has pursued a career in visual communications since earning her BFA degree from the University of Delaware. Adding to her experience in commercial, news, and portrait photography, as well as graphic design, Amy focused on Internet technologies in 1999, and has been designing and developing websites since.
JILL GATES SMITH—Technical Writer
Ms. Smith brings to her position as Technical Writer with The Partnership an eclectic background in women's history, public health, and community-based art-making, as well as a private tutoring business. In all her endeavors, Jill is concerned with fair and decent treatment for people of all abilities.
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THE PARTNERSHIP PARTNERS
ACHIEVA
Founded in 1951 by family members of people with mental retardation and professors from the University of Pittsburgh, ACHIEVA (formerly ARC Allegheny) established a wide variety of programs to offer training and support to people with mental retardation and other disabilities, and their families. Nancy Murray, now with the OMR, worked for ACHIEVA at the start of The Partnership. She believes that The Partnership offers an exciting opportunity to people with disabilities and families. "From diagnosis to senior years," Nancy says, "people come in and out of your life—doctors, therapists, etc. Other families are the one constant, the most passionate advocates and the best resource for families of people with disabilities." Jeanine Schultz, ACHIEVA Coordinator says, "The Partnership will provide more access to other families, more support and the most up-to-date, consistent information throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania." "The Partnership," Nancy says, "is an important step. It's historic."
MENTORS FOR SELF DETERMINATION
The mission of this newly-formed group based in Harrisburg is to empower people with disabilities to help themselves and, in turn, to help others. Director Janet Brouse, is a parent of a child with a developmental disability and has been an advocate for many years. She says that people need help to navigate the system and need technical assistance and training. "We think the best way to do that is the one-on-one approach through mentoring." That’s why Janet is so excited about The Partnership. "This is an opportunity for the partner organizations to provide people with disabilities and their families with ongoing, consistent, training and support across the entire state. It is most important that The Partnership can cover the often overlooked rural corners of the state. Each organization comes to the table with their unique expertise. Thinking about sharing in that expertise, and what it will mean for the people of Pennsylvania, is an awe-inspiring experience for me."
SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES
In February 1982, several group-home residents began meeting in Norristown. Today, nearly 25 years later, Speaking For Ourselves is a pioneering, vital self-advocacy group offering support in nine Pennsylvania counties. Their mission statement has four key principles: to find a voice for ourselves; to teach the public about the needs and wishes and potential of people with disabilities; to speak out on important issues; and to support each other through sharing, leadership development while helping and encouraging each other. Debbie Robinson, a leader in SFO and former president thinks that The Partnership is a significant move because it "...gets everyone to the table. Everyone who can make a difference will be working together." The Partners will be sharing information Debbie says—the professionals and the experts, people with disabilities and their families. "We have all been trying to do it alone—getting the public to think differently and helping self-advocates. It's like a puzzle and The Partnership will help put the pieces together."
VISION FOR EQUALITY
Established in 1996, the mission of this Philadelphia-based organization is to bring people to full empowerment and to advance the ideal of services that highlight accountability, quality and equal availability for all. Much like the other partners, Vision for Equality strives toward standards that emphasize the importance of services that are person-centered, self-determined and outcomes-based. This organization brings to The Partnership a passion for providing people with disabilities and families with accurate information, for inspiring people with hope for their future, and for encouraging people to take control of their lives. Maureen Devaney, Co-Executive Director says, "We give people the tools to help them know what to ask for and how to ask for it. And, we inform them of the state's expectations." According to Dee Coccia, Co-Executive Director, "The Partnership will provide training by people with disabilities and their families, for the first time, completely consistent in every part of the state."
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FROM THE OFFICE OF MENTAL RETARDATION
A few questions for...Deputy Secretary Kevin Casey Office of Mental Retardation (OMR)--Funding organization of The Partnership
Q. How do you feel about the introduction of The Partnership?
A. VERY positive. We're going in the right direction—having people with disabilities and their families working together on training.
Q. What does it mean for the people of Pennsylvania?
A. It means that training—consistent throughout the state—will be created and executed by people with disabilities and their families.
Q. What do YOU see as the primary objective of The Partnership?
A. I see the primary objective of The Partnership as helping people navigate an often complex system. Sharing ideas and training other people with disabilities and their families on how to get what they need.
Q. What do you see as the role of the Office of Mental Retardation?
A. We will provide as much technical assistance as possible as well as encouragement to the Partners and their consumers. And, of course, we will continue to fund The Partnership.
On a final note, we are very grateful to the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University acting as the organizing partner on what we see as a very important initiative.
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NEWS AND UPDATES
Unprecedented Response to Spring MiniSeries on Autism
During the week of March 22, The Institute on Disabilities hosted Stephen Shore, Executive Director, Autism Spectrum Disorder Consulting at three different locations across Pennsylvania. Mr. Shore presented "Beyond The Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome" as part of the Institute's Mini-Series Program. This session, in which Mr. Shore used his compelling personal journey to illustrate practical strategies to help people with autism lead fulfilling and productive lives was standing room only. "This was the best response to a mini-series program," says Robin Levine, Assistant Director at the Institute. "We knew it was a 'hot topic' but did not expect a full house at all training locations—here on Temple's campus, in Pittsburgh and in Lancaster."
In Memoriam
The Institute on Disabilities is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Frank Collins, a 1998 ACES graduate, on March 20 at the age of 48. Frank, a native of Philadelphia, earned a degree in communications from Wilberforce University. While interning on a local television program, Frank became ill with a rare disorder and moved into the Philadelphia Nursing Home. After attending ACES, Frank used his new voice to explore his spirituality through writing and leading discussion groups at the nursing home. Frank created a website— http://www.fcpubs.50megs.com/ —to distribute his writings. A Scholarship to ACES in Frank's memory under the "Friends of ACES" fund, will be earmarked for a potential participant from a local nursing home. To donate, please call the Institute at 215-204-1356.
New Faces at the Institute On Disabilities
Kimberly M. H. Black, Ph D, MPH, CHES—Research and Evaluation Coordinator.
Before joining the Institute, Dr. Black was coordinator of the Behavioral Science and Health Education track and Associate Professor, Florida A & M University's Institute of Public Health. Dr. Black holds a Masters of Public Health from University of Pittsburgh, and a doctorate in Community and Family Health from the University of South Florida, College of Public Health.
Priscilla M. Danielson, MA, CCCSLP—Communication Training Coordinator.
Ms. Danielson is a Speech/Language Pathologist with specialization in AT/AAC and language disorders and disabilities. Most recently, she held the position of AT Coordinator for the Wilmington school district. She was responsible for implementing and maintaining AT program for 27 schools with students ranging from 3 to 21 years of age.
George Heake—Electronic & Information Technology Coordinator.
Mr. Heake started his technology career in the U.S.A F. as a Personnel Systems Specialist. After completion of his enlistment, he began working in the mental health field with Life Guidance Inc., The AuClair School, Devereux Foundation, and Vision Quest. Mr. Heake then co-founded Wolf Twin Technology, Inc., specializing in web design, instructional design, training, and web animation, while teaching at Wilmington College, Penn State, and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
Lee McLeod—with the Institute since 2000 as a Supported Leadership Facilitator.
Mr. McLeod will now work with the Supported Leadership Project to develop training materials, conduct community-based training activities, and support self-advocates involved in leadership positions throughout the Commonwealth. With 30 years of experience, Mr. McLeod worked at UCP of Philadelphia for the last 12 years.
ACETS Training Manual Now Available!
ACETS (Augmentative Communication Employment Training and Support) is one of the first programs to focus on the unique needs and capabilities of AAC users who are pursuing employment. Now, the Institute on Disabilities has developed a comprehensive training guide that offers teachers, employment programs and vocational counselors a promising instructional approach. It can be adapted for use in a wide variety of settings, including community colleges, employment counseling programs and high school transition programs. The ACETS manual includes eight modules with topics such as "Getting a Job," "Realities of Working," and "Career Planning." For more information about the ACETS Training Manual, contact Dr. Bryen - dianeb@temple.edu or to purchase the manual (cost is $35) contact Betty Robichaw - robichaw@temple.edu.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May
- Mini-Series—Positive Exposure, The Spirit of Difference, Temple Univ., Philadelphia, PA May 4
- Mini-Series—E-Book: The Potential of New Formats for People with Disabilities Philadelphia, PA May 10
- Families First Training, Philadelphia, PA May 21
June
- Families First Training, Philadelphia, PA June 25
July
- The 18th Annual ACES: Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports, Philadelphia, PA Classes - July 11-July 21 Commencement - July 22
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
With suggestions or comments about our newsletter, contact Susan Fullam, Dissemination Coordinator, Institute on Disabilities at Temple University: sfullam@temple.edu. Available in alternate formats, upon request.
Para información en español, favor contactar a Silvia Lee por teléfono al 215.204.9348 o por correo electrónico al latino@temple.edu
Institute on Disabilities, Pennsylvania's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service at Temple University
1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Ritter Annex Room 423 Philadelphia, PA 19122
215.204.1356 Voice/TTY
215.204.6336 Fax
http://disabilities.temple.edu
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