Ken-Ton SEPTSA

Dear Fellow Parent,

I am asking you to provide input for a project on employment for people with disabilities. The letter below describes the project and the process. Please click on the link provided to respond to a short two question survey. The concept mapping process allows you to respond to the survey as many times as you would like before August 9, 2009. You may also view the responses of others.

Thank you for your participation and your interest in improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Jacalyn Yingling

Yingling@advocacycenter.com

Concept Mapping: Invitations to Brainstorm

Dear Colleague:

I am reaching out to you on behalf of the New York Makes Work Pay (NYMWP) initiative given your in-depth knowledge and understanding of issues facing people with disabilities as they attempt to go to work. The NYMWP initiative is a comprehensive employment systems Medicaid Infrastructure Grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Office of Mental Health and their management partners, Cornell's Employment and Disability Institute and the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. The primary purpose of the initiative is to work collaboratively with the Employment Subcommittee of the Most Integrated Settings Coordinating Council to develop a five-year strategic plan to remove obstacles and develop pathways to work for New Yorkers with disabilities. Toward that end we are asking individuals with experience like yourself, to participate in an online conceptual mapping process that will take less than ten minutes of your time.

The Concept System® concept mapping methodology will be used to maximize stakeholder input while minimizing the burden on participants. If you would like more information on concept mapping, please click here to view the concept mapping fact sheet http://www.conceptsystems.com/download/conceptmappingfacts.pdf

This concept mapping process will solicit input from employment stakeholders including employers, people with disabilities and their families, disability service providers and advocates and policy makers.

The results will be combined into visual representations, maps and action-oriented reports. The survey should take less than 10 minutes of your time and your input is invaluable.

The brainstorming phase for this initiative is a two step process to collect valuable data from invited stakeholders on the barriers and enablers to employment for individuals with disabilities. Once you have completed Step 1, you will be automatically directed to complete Step 2.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BRAINSTORMING

Go to the website.

http://www.conceptsystemsglobal.com/NYMWPBarriers/brainstorm

Please note that some computers block direct linking from a document. If this link does not work for you, please cut and paste this URL into your web browser.

?Self-Register ? Sign Up? by clicking on the button and create a username and password. By self-registering you will be able to save your work and return later to finish. We strongly recommend that you use your email address as your username. This will allow us to remind you of your password if you forget it and it will also allow us to communicate any important notices to you about this project. All information you submit will remain confidential!

Brainstorming Step 1. Read the instructions on the main page. Click on Brainstorming under Next Steps. Think of ideas to complete the statement below, enter one idea at a time in the box; you may enter as many ideas as you like:

?A specific barrier that prevents an individual with a disability from being hired, maintaining, and advancing in employment is...?

Brainstorming Step 2. Once you have completed Step 1, you will be automatically directed to complete Step 2. Think of ideas to complete the statement below, enter one idea at a time in the box; you may enter as many suggestions as you like:

?A specific action or thing (program element, policy, practice, etc.) that would enable an individual with a disability to be hired, maintain, and advance their employment is?

Please complete both brainstorming activities no later than August 9, 2009 at 10:00 PM (EST). If you do not have access to the Internet, or would prefer to give your ideas to us through email, fax, or mail, please contact Ellen Kong at 1-800-260-1602 or email at

ekong@conceptsystems.com.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RETURNING TO BRAINSTORMING

Please feel free to return to the brainstorming website at a later time to contribute additional ideas or to view responses from other participants.

To ?Sign In? use the username and password you created during ?Self-Registration ? Sign Up.?

To add additional statements to Step 1: ?A specific barrier that prevents an individual with a disability from being hired, maintaining, and advancing in employment??

Go to http://www.conceptsystemsglobal.com/NYMWPBarriers/brainstorm

To add additional statements to Step 2: ?A specific action or thing (program element, policy, practice, etc) that would enable an individual with a disability to be hired, maintain, and advance their employment is??

Go to http://www.conceptsystemsglobal.com/NYMWPEnablers/brainstorm

For more information on the New York Makes Work Pay (NYMWP) initiative, please visit

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/nymakesworkpay/index.cfm.

Thank you in advance for helping us with this important work.

Sincerely,

Jacalyn Yingling

Parent Partner Coordinator

The Advocacy Center

Rochester, NY

Yingling@advocacycenter.com

2009 Adaptive Water Sports Expo

This year the Adaptive Water Sports Expo will be held on August 21-23 so mark your calendar. As last year, it will be at the Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf. Our mission is to showcase the availability of water sports to the community at large and particularly the disabled and disadvantaged community. We hope to have demonstrations and events that will encourage people to join us in these activities on a regular basis.

This year the EXPO will be an event in the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project.

We need volunteers to help with the EXPO and ideas on how to make it better. If you're interested in helping please let us know. nowakrad@aol.com.

WNY Adaptive Water Sports

A Chapter of Disabled Sports USA

If I can do this I can do anything

April 18, 2009 Newsletter

What's New: Our application to operate our Saturday morning sailing program from the Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf has been approved. As any of you who were there last summer know, this is probably the best wheelchair accessible docking facility on the Buffalo waterfront. We will be allowed to permanently fix the post for our lift on the dock as well.

This location is also much more accessible to the lake, doesn't have the seaweed problem we struggled with at the Small Boat Harbor, and provides an immediate sheltered area to sail the small dinghies. We will not keep the boats there permanently, but will bring them across the river each morning for the program.

As soon as we get the boats in the water, hopefully by Memorial Day, we will start sailing each Saturday morning until October 1st.

Meeting: Our regularly scheduled Advisory Board meeting will be Monday, April 20. Advisory Board meetings are normally the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 PM. They are held at the Lackawanna Community Development Corp. office at 640 Ridge Road and everyone is welcome to come, see what we are all about, and get involved.

SCUBA: Phoenix Scuba & Watersports had a booth at the Buffalo Wellfest last Friday and Saturday where they promoted the therapeutic and wellness benefits of SCUBA and other water sports for both the physically challenged and the able bodied. They gave over a considerable amount of their booth space to promote our adaptive program and Tony gave a series of lectures explaining the positive effects of water sports on wellness. Onstage with him were one of our sailing dinghies and our big tube. Thanks Tony and Carole.

DD Day: This year we will again have a display at the WNY DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS DAY CONFERENCE held on May 21 at the Buffalo Convention Center. This is the largest DD Day Conference in the state and typically attracts over 1500 professionals and consumers with seminars, workshops, and over 100 exhibitors.

Over the past couple of years several of the DD facilities and Group Homes have had sailing outings with us and they seem to enjoy it immensely.

Water Skiing: This year Disabled Sports USA is offering Summerfest grants to its chapters. DSUSA has been very successful in organizing and promoting winter skiing programs and is hoping to improve their summer programs to get them up to the same level. The grants are competitive, ranging from $1000 to $5000 and will be awarded on the basis of biggest bang for the bucks€ . We have applied for a grant large enough for us to get our own adaptive skis to go along with the boat that Bill Howley and family so graciously donated last year. Having our own skis will allow us to do adaptive water skiing on a regular basis instead of just special events when we can borrow the equipment.

Steve Spitz is chairing up this effort and has written up a specification for the equipment. Steve Goodwin who is a board member of DSUSA and is the guy who came down and taught us how to do adaptive water skiing promises to put in a good word for us. Thanks again Steve.

2009 Adaptive Water Sports Expo: This year the Adaptive Water Sports Expo will be held on August 21-23 so mark your calendar. As last year, it will be at the Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf. Our mission is to showcase the availability of water sports to the community at large and particularly the disabled and disadvantaged community. We hope to have demonstrations and events that will encourage people to join us in these activities on a regular basis.

This year the EXPO will be an event in the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project.

We need volunteers to help with the EXPO and ideas on how to make it better. If you’re interested in helping please let us know. nowakrad@aol.com.

Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project: The Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project is a partnership between Disabled Sports USA, its chapters and the Wounded Warrior Project, providing year round sports programs free of charge for permanently severely injured service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict and the Global War on Terrorism.

Programs conducted by chapters can take place at sites throughout the U.S., offering Wounded Warriors the chance to re-build their lives through sports.

These are active duty service men and women who are transported to the event from various military medical facilities along with a caregiver or family member, are provided food and lodging, and given the opportunity to participate in the sporting events.

Carly's Crossing: Carly’s Crossing is an open water swim benefiting pediatric cancer research at Roswell Park. Swimmers get sponsors and then swim one of three courses in the lake. Hundreds of swimmers raise tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research at Roswell.

We have traditionally helped out by setting the courses in the lake and providing a safety boat for the event and last year our own Tom Hagerty and Carol Reis swam in the event and were a big hit. Several of the Carly’s board members were at our fundraiser showing support for us and we would like to support them in return.

This year the swim will be on Saturday, August 15 and we will sponsor any of our members who want to participate.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources - from REFERENCE POINTS - an activity of TATRA, a project of PACER Center

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S FEDERAL STUDENT AID WEBSITE
The Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website offers information and tools to help consumers select a school, apply for aid, and locate federal student loans. A fact sheet on "Tips for Paying for College," provides suggestions to make filing a FAFSA easier. The fact sheet is available at www.ed.gov/students/college/aid/paying.html. The website can be found at http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS FOR STUDENTS OF PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Through the Looking Glass will award students of parents with disabilities two separate scholarship awards: one for graduating high school seniors who will be attending college, and one for currently enrolled college students.  For more information go to   http://lookingglass.org/scholarships/index.php
Application deadline: March 16, 2009

FAMILY RA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Family RA Scholarship Program will offer 30 one-time scholarships of up to $10,000 each in 2009 each to students living beyond the boundaries of rheumatoid arthritis. For more information go to:  http://www.reachbeyondra.com/scholarship/
Application deadline: March 20, 2009

ANNE & MATT HARBISON SCHOLARSHIP
This $1,500 scholarship is awarded to one high school senior with a certified language-related learning difference who is pursuing post-secondary education. It is renewable for up to three additional, consecutive years.  For more information go to:  http://www.mosssociety.org/page.php?id=30
Deadline: March 31, 2009

ERIC MARDER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Immune Deficiency Foundation is honored to award scholarships to undergraduate students living with primary immunodeficiency diseases.  For more information go to:   http://www.primaryimmune.org/patients_families/scholar/appform.asp
Application deadline: March 31, 2009

AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA SCHOLARSHIPS
 CVS/All Kids Can Scholars Program, provides scholarships in the amount of $1,000 to a qualified individual with autism to be applied toward the completion of an accredited, postsecondary educational or vocational program of study (e.g., college, trade school, etc.).  For more information go to  http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=asa_awards
Deadline: March 31, 2009

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Each year at its national convention in July, the NFB gives a broad array of thirty scholarships to recognize achievement by blind scholars. For more information go to http://www.nfb.org/nfb/scholarship_program.asp
Application deadline:  March 31, 2009

BENJAMIN A. GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Gilman International Scholarship Program provides awards of up to $5,000 for U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad for up to one academic year.  The program aims to diversify the kinds of student who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go. The Gilman Program seeks to assist students from a diverse range and type of two-year and four-year public and private institutions from all 50 states.  For more information go to  http://www.iie.org/gilman.
Application deadline: April 7, 2009

THE ETHEL LOUISE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION, INC.
The ELA Scholarship program provides financial assistance from $500-$2000 for women with physical disabilities who are in graduate school allowing them to pursue their degree, and develop their leadership
role within the disability community. For more information go to http://www.ela.org/scholarships/scholarships.html
Deadline for application: June 1, 2009

THE JOSHUA O'NEILL AND ZESHAN TABANI ENRICHMENT FUND
The Joshua O'Neill and Zeshan Tabani Enrichment Fund seeks to offer financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who wish to enrich their lives by enrolling in postsecondary programs or taking classes that will help them gain employment, independent living skills, life skills, or others. Up to five grants will be awarded, each grant not to exceed $1000, and the grant may be used to pay for the tuition for a course or postsecondary program at a local college, educational institution, learning center or employment training program. For more information go to  . http://www.ndss.org/index.php?view=article&catid=55%3Aself-advocate-resource-&id=162%3Ajoztef&tmpl=component&print=1&page=&option=com_content
Application deadline: Not posted yet

PROJECT VISION
 Project Vision lists dozens of scholarships available specifically for students with disabilities, including nearly 50 that have their application deadlines in March, April, and May.  Learn more about them at:
http://www.proyectovision.net/english/opportunities/scholarships.html

 FINANCIAL AID ON DISABILITYINFO.GOV
This website includes links to scholarship applications for students with various disabilities for graduate and undergraduate as well as vocational studies.  For more information go to http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=84

 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION
Looking for scholarships for Latino students?  For  students formerly in foster care? Scholarships offered by the Federal Government?  Then visit the web site of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA). One new NPSA product, the Scholarship Data Standard, allows students to complete an online scholarship application and then re-use the information with other scholarship providers without retyping their data. These and other documents can be found on the NSPA website at http://www.scholarshipproviders.org

MICHIGAN STATE LIBRARY OF FINANCIAL AID
 Michigan State's comprehensive list of financial aid resources for students with disabilities can be found at http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm

SCHOLARSHIPS4STUDENTS.COM
Includes a list of scholarships for students with disabilities, by disability category. To access their list, visit
http://www.scholarships4students.com/special_scholarships.htm

WASHINGTON CENTER FOR INTERNSHIPS AND ACADEMIC SEMINARS
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is pleased to announce it will continue to help increase scholarship opportunities for students with disabilities. The Washington Center will complement students' professional experience with solid academic training for credit from highly qualified instructors. In addition, students will be exposed to community, national and international leaders through workshops, seminars, lectures, embassy visits and networking events held throughout the course of each semester. Applications are available at http://www.twc.edu/students/how_to_apply.shtml

The Parent Education Advocacy and Training Center announces their 2009 Webinar Series entitled Next Steps: Transition for Students with Disabilities. 

PEATC and the VCU RRTC invite you to participate in these six 30 minute webinars. This is a FREE opportunity for students, families, educators, adult service providers and others interested in Transition.  FREE, but registration is required.  To register, please link to:  
http://www.peatc.org/newsmanager/news_article.cgi?sess=8ee7992460bb0064160079671f724c0a&news_id=66

Six Webcasts on Transition  All scheduled for 2:00PM EST

March 2    From Segregated to Customized: The Shift to Personalized Employment with Laura Owens, E.D., Executive Director, APSE

March 16  In Support of Supported Decision Making with Lisa Morgan, E.D., Executive Director, Icon Community Services

April 6 Assistive Technology and Transition with Joey Wallace, Ph.D., E.D., New Well Foundation

April 20  Opportunities through Career Tech Ed with Domenic Giandomenico, Director, ICW, US Chamber of Commerce

May 4  Transition and the Arts: Taping into Creative Opportunities with Betty Siegal, Director of Accessibility, the John F. Kennedy

Center for Performing Arts

May 18  Student Voice: Transition to College with Liz Getzel, VCU/RRTC

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center in partnership with VCU's Rehabilitation and Research Training Center present:
Virginia's NEXT STEPS Transition Program 2009 for Families, Youth with Disabilities, and Professionals:
Building Effective Partnerships & Accessing Resources
CEU, CRC & Parent Certificates available

Supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Grant # H235F070018

Aspire is pleased to share with you the newest edition of our transition newsletter. We are very excited about this and hope to reach as many community agencies, families, individuals, and districts with this newsletter. It will be coming out three times a year and will highlight a variety of topics that pertain to transition. We welcome feedback on topics that you would like to see in future editions and hope that you will share this with your students, their families, and co-workers.

To view the newsletter, visit  http://www.kentonseptsa.com/Transition-Times-Winter2009.pdf

A User Friendly Handbook on Special Education Law, Policies and
Practices in New York was created by the Special Education Task Force to
help families and educators gain the knowledge that they need to be able
to effectively support students with disabilities during their school
years. It includes information on the laws, regulations and policies
affecting special education programs and services.

The Special Education Task Force is comprised of over 200 parent
advocates, school district staff, attorneys, and other individuals who
specialize in Special Education Law, and work to ensure that children
with disabilities are educated in the least restrictive setting and
receive a free and appropriate education.

To view the guide, please visit the link below.

http://www.kentonseptsa.com/spec_ed_guide[1].pdf 

All the best-

Aimee

Hi everyone!

We are just two days away from the 2nd annual Northtowns Family Agency!  I am proud to report that this year we have more than NINETY AGENCIES participating as well as more than TWENTY workshops and a kids area!!  ALL ARE FREE!!!

There will also be flu shots available ($30), Schwan's will be onsite selling their delicious food and Kenmore Middle School's Student Council will be selling donuts and coffee for breakfast and hotdog, hamburgers and pop for lunch!  So please stop by and say HI!! 

Information about the fair is below.  Have a great day!

Aimee Levesque, SEPTSA President

---

Northtowns Family Agency Fair is

THIS SATURDAY!!!

Hi Everyone!
 
Just a reminder that tomorrow is the first of two Ken-Ton SEPTSA hot dog sales.  We hope that you will stop by and meet this year's board while enjoying one of summer's best delicacies! 
 
Bon-Ton Books, Membership Forms and Agency Fair Information will also available.
 
The details are:
 
Ken-Ton SEPTSA's Upcoming Hot Dog Sales

WHEN: Two Saturday's ONLY!  August 30 and September 13th, 2008!!

WHERE: Valu Home Center, 396 Kenmore Avenue (Corner of Englewood and Kenmore Avenue)

TIME: 11am ? 3pm

INFO: Karen at 604-8742 or email kentonseptsa@gmail.com
 
Get a hot dog and drink for only $2.00!
 
Happy Labor Day!!

Aimee

Hi Everyone!

In anticipation of the 2008-2009 school year, a considerable amount of website work is being done at kentonseptsa.com!  Currently, the calendar and photo gallery are beta versions only and we hope to have them up and running again very shortly.  We appreciate your patience!  In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact SEPTSA at kentonseptsa@gmail.com!

Have a great night!

Aimee