DPHD

Newsletter

Winter 2006

 

 

President’s Message

Alison Stafford

 

Welcome to 2006! I hope that this message finds all of you well, and having a successful and productive year. I am happy to assume the position of President, following in the footsteps of Kathy Segers, and all former presidents. I hope that each and every member will consider what DPHD can do for them, and will contact one of the officers or committee chairs and let us know. Without input from our members, DPHD will not be successful in meeting the needs of members.

 

One issue that DPHD is facing, and has been for the past several years, is that of dwindling membership. DPHD is not alone. Overall, CEC has experienced a loss of membership, as have many of the special interest divisions. However, because we represent low incidence disabilities, when we lose members it has a much greater impact than that of high incidence disabilities or interests. The students represented by the Division for Physical and Health Disabilities may be few in number, but certainly do not have few needs. It is imperative that we remain strong and present a solid base of support for the professionals serving this population.

 

I would like to repeat a challenge that I have also made in the current issue of our journal, Physical Disabilities: Education and Related Services. I challenge each and every member of DPHD to sign up one member, new or rejoining, by the time we meet in Salt Lake City on April 6. I will check the membership numbers prior to our General Business meeting on April 6, and my hope is that I will be able to announce an increase in our membership numbers. I have already obtained the commitment of one of our former members to rejoin when she renews her membership at the end of this month. While it may not be time for many to renew their memberships this time of year, please ask for a commitment so that we can report membership increases in future newsletters.

 

In addition to increasing membership, we also need to increase the participation of our membership. Once again, because we are a small division, there are not as many members to go to when there is work to be done. Wait! Don’t push this away! We are not asking for a tremendous time commitment on the part of our members. But if we are to continue to be a resource for professionals working with students with physical and health disabilities, we must keep our journal and newsletter up-to-date with what is happening in the field. We also are in need of developing and/or disseminating resources to those who need them. No matter how little time you have to spare, please consider giving a small portion of it to the DPHD committee of your choice. Later in this issue you will find a listing of the committee meetings scheduled for Salt Lake City. Please drop by one of the meetings, just to hear what is happening. You won’t be given a task unless you want it. There is no high pressure sales pitch!!

 

I am looking forward to a productive year as your president, and hope that I will meet many of you in Salt Lake City.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2006 DPHD Conference Meetings and Social

 

While we know that the primary reason for coming to a CEC conference is to attend presentations, don’t forget about the business meetings of the divisions. Each year we hold a General Business Meeting to share with DPHD members the work in which the division is engaged. If you thought that all we do each year is publish a journal and newsletter and sponsor annual presentations, then please join us to hear more about division activities. Also, if you know someone who is not a member but wants to find out more about us, please invite them to attend. This year’s General Business Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 6 from 2:00 – 4:00 in the Riviera room at the Grand America Hotel.

 

DPHD has three standing committees that meet at each annual conference. If you have thought about getting more involved, but weren’t quite sure how, consider joining one or more of these committees. If you want to hear more, without making a major commitment, attend the meetings on Friday morning. You can get involved as little or as much as you want and your schedule permits. The meeting schedule is as follows (all meetings are on Friday morning and will be held in the Sussex room at the Grand America Hotel):

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.           Critical Issues and Leadership

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         Multiple and Severe Disabilities

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.       Hospital/Homebound Committee

 

2006 DPHD Conference Presentations

 

Those of you who have attended CEC conferences in the past are aware that one of the features of the presentations is extended learning opportunities called strands. Strands are a series of sequential sessions conceptually and developmentally linked to address a particular topic in depth. We are fortunate this year to be part of a strand devoted to low incidence disabilities. This strand, titled Current Status of Evidence-Based Practices with Low Incidence Disabilities, consists of five sessions addressing issues for students with vision impairments, physical disabilities, hearing impairments, deafness, and language impairments. This strand will be held on Friday, April 7, beginning at 9:45.

 

DPHD is pleased that Kathryn Wolff Heller and Mari Beth Coleman-Martin will be discussing Strategies for Promoting Literacy with Students who have Physical Disabilities. This session will begin at 11:00 on Friday. Please consult your conference program for a description of this session and all other sessions in the strand.

 

In addition to the strand session, DPHD is pleased to sponsor the following session. Please consult your conference program for the day, time, and location of each.

 

Grief: Helping Children Heal, Claire Thornton

 

Providing Activity-Focused Motor Interventions for Infants and Young Children, Mary Jane Rapport

 

Traumatic Brain Injury: Strategies That Enhance Academic Performance, Darlene Fewster

 

Using a Team Approach to Teach Writing to Students with Orthopedic Impairments, Adrienne Duris

 

Fanconi Anemia: Educational Considerations, Mary Dasovich

 

Bridge School Portfolios: Supporting Transitions Across Educational Settings for Students Using AAC, Sarah Baroody

 

Children with Disabilities, Pamela Dixon

 

Integrating Health Care Routines and Instruction for Students with Severe Multiple Disabilities, Margaret Cooper

 

DPHD Now Accepting Nominations for Award and Scholarship

 

The Joan Wald Bacon Award was established in 1997 to honor the memory of a devoted member of DPHD who dedicated herself to individuals with physical and health disabilities. Up to two (2) awards are given annually to individuals whose accomplishments represent exemplary advocacy and educational practice. The recipient must be involved in direct delivery of services to individuals with physical and health disabilities in schools, hospitals, clinics, homes, or in the community. Self nominations or nominations by colleagues will be accepted. Please include the following information:

 

1.        Nominee information

a.      Name

b.      Address

c.      Phone

d.      Email

 

2.        Current service position and length of service

 

3.        Summary Statement: 300-500 word narrative stating qualification for the award including:

 

a.      Lengths and types of service to persons with physical and health disabilities

b.      Description of service/advocacy efforts

c.      Outcomes achieved on behalf of persons with physical and health disabilities

d.      Future activities and goals

e.      Resume

 

The Elizabeth Wetzel Scholarship awards up to $500 to students working toward teaching credentials in physical and health disabilities. To apply for this scholarship, please submit the following:

 

1.        Personal information

a.      Name

b.      Address

c.      Phone

d.      Email

e.      School attending

f.        Type of degree

 

2.        Summary statement: 300-400 word essay stating the following:

a.      Professional philosophy

b.      Goals for teaching students with Physical and Health Disabilities

c.      Statement of progress toward these goals

d.      Official transcript

e.      Two (2) letters of support from instructors or colleagues.

 

Nominations for the award and applications for the scholarship must be received by March 24, 2006. Submit your packet to:

 

Alison Stafford

DPHD President

3113 Brandy Ct.

 

The Division for Physical and Health Disabilities (DPHD)

2006 Officers, Committee Chairs, & CEC Committee Representatives

 

Region 5 T/TAC at JMU

MSC 9002, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

888-205-4824 Toll free

540-568-6726 Fax

lowmandk@jmu.edu

http://ttac.cisat.jmu.edu/index.htm