October 2021 News from the National Coordinating Center

Great News: Think College is Expanding! Think College and partners have been awarded a $5.9 million three-year grant from the US Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education to establish the Think College Network’s National Technical Assistance and Dissemination Center. The Center will expand the work of the National Coordinating Center to address several persistent challenges facing inclusive post-secondary education for students with intellectual disability. Specifically, the Think College Network project will:

Develop and implement a targeted public awareness campaign Build a repository of inclusive instructional practices  Partner with two established regional alliances (SEPSEA and MIPSA) to develop five additional regional alliances across the US Create collaborative workgroups on career and technology education and community employment Develop and disseminate information, resources, and public awareness materials to IHEs to improve access to inclusive postsecondary education experiences in the US Click here to read more.

New publication: The Impact of COVID-19 on College Students with Intellectual Disability Attending Cohort 2 TPSID Programs Most of us are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on student learning and their college experiences. Many students with ID moved off campus, accessed their learning experiences and associated accommodations in new ways, and dealt with changes in internship and employment experiences. This Think College Insight Brief takes a deeper look into the ways the pandemic impacted college students with ID enrolled in TPSID programs. Click here to read the brief.

Presentations from TPSID Project Directors’ meeting available on the Think College Learning Channel This summer, the NCC brought together TPSID (Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with ID) project directors and staff for their annual meeting. The group gathered virtually for 2 days of presentations and discussion on program accreditation, employment, research, advocacy, and more. We believe everyone in the IPSE field can benefit from these presentations, so we posted them on the Think College Learning Channel! Click here to access all the videos.

We're your source for IPSE employment opportunities! ThinkCollege.net lists job opportunities across the country. Visit the webpage to view the latest announcements. Are you hiring? Email sheila.johnson@umb.edu and she can post your position.

Tips from Faculty: Engaging Students with Intellectual Disability Enrolled in College Courses Nov. 3, 2021, 2-3 PM ET

Interested in learning how faculty support students with ID enrolled in their college course? Join us November 3 to hear from professors Shakonda Diggs and Patrick McDermott who teach students with ID at Tallahassee Community College. Shakonda and Patrick will discuss the importance of having a support system in place to aid students both inside and outside the classroom.

Think College Affinity Groups: Looking for community?

Wishing you could find a group of people working toward similar goals, or who share an interest of yours? Look no further! Check out the Think College Affinity Groups.

New: Inclusive Campus Life Affinity Group This month, the NCC kicks off our ninth Affinity Group: Inclusive Campus Life. Staff from inclusive postsecondary college programs will be gathering on Zoom four times a year to discuss best practices in supporting students to have an inclusive campus experience. Click here to learn more about the goals of the group and about our facilitator, Lindsay Krech.

Groundbreaking Technology Demonstrations Coming Your Way!  Lori Cooney, universal design specialist for Think College is expanding the team of Tech & UDL Affinity Group facilitators to give participants an even more engaging and unique perspective on technology & universal design. These incredibly innovative co-facilitators, Olivia Hester and Don McMahon, will showcase cutting-edge technology & UDL strategies including virtual reality, mindmapping, and “almost-in person meetings." Click here to learn more about Olivia and Dan.

Miss the September Emerging Advocates Group Meeting with Judy Heumann? International disability advocate Judy Heumann joined the Emerging Advocates Group Meeting on Sept. 23, 2021. Students spent 90 minutes asking Judy thoughtful questions and listening closely to her answers. You’re in luck! We recorded the meeting. Click here to watch the recording on the group page.  Don’t have time to watch the full recording? Check out this short video of Judy responding to an important question asked by Liz Weintraub, host of the Emerging Advocate Group. Liz’s question: What does it mean to be an advocate? Click the video image to watch it. Upcoming Affinity Group meetings: Oct. 29: Inclusive Campus Life Affinity Group Nov. 3: Vocational Rehabilitation Affinity Group Nov. 4: Technology and UDL Affinity Group Nov. 18: Statewide Alliances Affinity Group Dec. 7: Student Credentials Affinity Group You can find dates for all Affinity Group meeting and other events at thinkcollege.net/events.

 How Can Presumed Competence Change the Education Game? By Lizanne Magarity Pando, president of St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls The rise of virtual learning during the global pandemic has impacted learners of this generation in a variety of ways. Virtual learning brought classrooms into homes where parents could observe their child’s educational process in ways they never had access to before. Continue reading the full post.

We’re Here for Your Back-to-School Needs By Kathy Becht, NCC Technical Assistance Coordinator The Help Desk is probably the easiest and fastest way to get a question answered. Recently, I spoke to a mom so excited to find the Think College Search tool to support her daughter in finding a college, that she also wanted to know how she could get the message out to the many historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). So, I sent her basic information about inclusive postsecondary education to share, like the Think College Fact Sheet and the Rethinking College video. Continue reading Kathy’s post. 

October Student Spotlight: Radek Dvorak What is your name, where are you from, and what college are you attending? My name is Radek Dvorak, I am from Bismarck, ND, and I currently attend Minot State University under the ASTEP program and I am a sophomore.   What classes are you taking, and which is your favorite? I am currently taking Algebra Prep III, Sociology, and an Art History course. Sociology is my favorite course. What do you like to do when you’re not attending class? I usually hang out with friends, play video games at the student center, and attend sporting events on campus through my employment helping with the cameras for the games. Can you name one thing that you learned about yourself while you’ve been at college? That I’m a very quick learner and pick up on things easily, but there are times where I struggle and I need to ask for help from a mentor. Who’s the person who has helped you most on campus? I think it’s my Algebra Prep Professor. He has asked me what he can do to help me excel in this course. What’s good about college? It’s mostly about the education and also about college life as well, meeting new people and different cultures and attending different events. What do you hope to do after college, after you graduate or get your certificate? Hopefully I keep my Etsy shop, running and do professional services for business logos and design. [Visit his shop, DvorakGraphics, at www.etsy.com/shop/DvorakGraphics!] What advice do you have for young students with disabilities who aren’t sure about college? Everything you do will be a lot of fun, always ask for help especially if the work is hard that you are given. Advocate for yourself for what you want and what you need in order to excel in college. Do you have any advice about college for parents of students with disabilities?  I think for parents it is good to send their kids to college if they have the services to support them. Make sure that when they’re in college, they have employment that suits their interest. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? If I could go anywhere in the world I would want to go to Disneyland and experience that, with all of the rides. I am sort of a Disney fanatic, and it gives you nostalgia and lets you relive some of your favorite movies. NCC thanks Radek for taking the time to answer our questions! Click for a list of Student Spotlights from past newsletters.

What's going on in higher education for students with intellectual disability in the US

State of the Art (SOTA) Conference: Inclusive Higher Education: Disability, Equity, and Social Justice Nov. 8 & 9, 2021 You are invited to attend the conference to learn about the current state of research and practice in the field, and to network with colleagues, students, and others interested in inclusive higher education. Visit the conference website for details and registration.

LIVE Virtual Event: Student Leadership Conference and Inclusive College Fair Nov. 8 & 9, 2021 SOTA invites high school and college students to attend the 5th annual Student Leadership Conference, where current and future college students with intellectual disability gather to learn useful tools to support the transition into college life, expand your potential to serve as student advocates and leaders, and connect with peers from across the country. A college fair will also be held on Nov. 8 at 5:30pm ET. Stop by to speak with people from inclusive college programs. Learn more and register.

Autism & Related Disabilities 29th Statewide Annual (Virtual) Conference Jan. 14-16, 2022  The Statewide Annual Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) is the largest autism-related conference in the state of Florida and is rapidly gaining recognition throughout other states and countries. The conference will feature over 50 sessions and at least a dozen on education and transition planning. Learn more and register.

2022 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards Deadline to apply: Oct. 27, 2021 The American Association of People with Disabilities is seeking to recognize emerging leaders or groups with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community through the 2022 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards. Two individuals or groups will each receive $7,500 to further a new or existing initiative that increases opportunities for people with disabilities and $2,500 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the disability community. Learn more and apply here.

Are you a supervisor or direct service providers working for state-level governmental agencies providing services to transitioning youth and young adults with disabilities? If so, CAPE-Youth wants to hear from you! They are conducting a nationwide study of best practices in interagency collaboration and coordination among state agencies serving these populations transitioning youth and young adults with disabilities. Learn more about the research project and how to participate.

News from NCC partners

Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)

2022 AHEAD Conference Call for Proposals  Deadline to submit: Nov. 1, 2021 After two years of limited contact, AHEAD expects a great gathering in Cleveland, Ohio for their 45th annual Equity & Excellence Conference on. Be sure to submit your pre-conference, concurrent and poster sessions right away for review. Click to submit.   AHEAD Accessing Higher Ground  Nov. 15 – 19, 2021 Registration is now open for the Accessing Higher Ground conference in Denver, Colorado. This conference offers more than 160 sessions on topics including accessible media, assistive technologies, and universal design, for audiences at all levels. AHEAD encourages you to invite faculty, instructional designers, administrators and other campus colleagues to learn this valuable information. Learn more and register.   AHEAD Fall Webinars  October and November are chock-full of AHEAD webinars on topics focusing on effective communications under the ADA; working with campus administrators; health science education; cognitive challenges in online education; and respecting social justice values in our work. The full schedule and descriptions are available at the Fall Webinar Series page.

Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD)

Register Today for the AUCD 2021 Virtual Conference  Nov. 15 - 17, 2021 Don't miss exciting speakers, presentations, networking opportunities, and tons of virtual fun. Learn more about this year’s theme, Learning Together: Connecting Research and Lived Experience by clicking here.   What You Need to Know About "Long COVID" and Your Rights Under Disability Rights  Most people who get COVID-19 recover within days or weeks of contracting the virus. However, some people experience Long-COVID conditions for weeks or even months longer. Long COVID conditions are also often commonly known as "Post-COVID conditions," "long-haul COVID," "post-acute COVID-19," "long-term effects of COVID," or "chronic COVID." Read more about this topic.   AUCD Policy Talk: Pioneers for Equity and Access: HBCUs Have a Role to Play in Inclusive Postsecondary Education Options "Making HBCUs [Historically Black College and University] more accessible to students with intellectual disabilities through the establishment of inclusive college programs would contribute to the diversity present in these college and university communities," Imani Evans says in a recent AUCD Policy Talk blog. Click to read the blog post.

Do you have news or an update to share? It could appear in the next newsletter. Please get in touch! Sheila Johnson sheila.johnson@umb.edu Knowledge Translation Associate Think College National Coordinating Center Institute for Community Inclusion

Stay Connected with Think College

www.thinkcollege.net