The Other Side of Disabilities
The Office for Students with Disabilities
Newsletter
Division of Student Affairs
Volume VII, Issue III June-July 2006 Editor: James Walborn
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES
Shawn Friedkin suffered a spinal chord injury from a car
accident in the 1990's. When he tried to discover what community
services were available, he found that there were no organized
resources readily accessible for people who have neurological
impairments. He founded "Stand Among Friends" in order to support
research, education, and advocacy for individuals with
neurological disorders. "Stand Among Friends" has partnered with
the FAU Center for the Study of Neurological Disabilities, which
is located in Suite 120, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
building.
The Center is currently in the preliminary stages of
writing a grant for the funding for a Career Development and
Resource position to coordinate employment opportunities for
people with disabilities through Able Trust. Since FAU students
will benefit from this community effort, both the OSD and CDC
will be asked for input, as the Center does not plan to replicate
services already provided within the community. Currently, the
national average reflects that 75% of people with disabilities
are unemployed so this position would be invaluable to assist FAU
students with disabilities. For more information about this
Center visit the web site at www.standamongfriends.com or call
(561) 297-4403.
OSD MISSION
Since FAU is a large
institution which is constantly hiring new staff and faculty
members we thought that we should explain to those who are new
what we are all about. The mission of the Office for Students
with Disabilities (OSD) at FAU is to support students with
disabilities in their pursuit of equity and excellence in
education. The OSD works with the faculty and staff at FAU to
ensure that reasonable accommodations are made to allow this
population of students an equal opportunity to learn in the
classroom and to have access to all areas around the FAU
campuses.
AHEAD
Six OSD staff members just returned from attending the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Conference July 18th - 22nd in San Diego. AHEAD is the premiere professional association committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in postsecondary education. Staff members attended a variety of presentations which expanded their knowledge of disability-related issues, including current compliance legislation, in order to better assist students with disabilities.
DID YA KNOW...
All FAU faculty are strongly encouraged to include a statement regarding students with disabilities on their syllabi. For example: "In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) students who require special accommodations due to a disability to properly execute coursework must register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) located in Boca, SU 133, (561) 297-3880, in Davie, MD I (954) 236-1222, or in Jupiter, Office of Diversity Services, SR 117, (561) 799-8585, and follow all OSD procedures." We appreciate your co-operation in this matter.
SURVEY SAYS...
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete and mail out the Survey from the previous OSD Newsletter. We use your suggestions to help generate articles in the future. There were twice as many staff members as faculty members returning the survey. About half of the respondents have read all or most of the issues and 80% found the content informative or highly informative. We are pleased to note that 45% of respondents shared their ideas with us, with most of you wondering how you can better assist students with disabilities. Thanks.
CONGRATULATIONS
GRADUATES
The OSD would like to congratulate all the FAU students graduating this August and wish them all the luck in their future. Here is one student’s story:
AVRIL
Avril, of Boca Raton,
is graduating with her BS Degree in Social Work. She has Learning
Disabilities in both reading and math. Her Learning Disabilities
made completing her classwork a struggle throughout her
schooling. To graduate Avril had to take most of her math courses
three times and Statistics twice. She is the first in her family
to not only have graduated high school, but now college as well.
A Learning Disability is a disorder affecting the manner
in which an individual with average or above average intelligence
takes in, retains, and/or expresses information. College students
with Learning Disabilities are intelligent, talented and capable,
often developing strategies for compensating for their
disability. These students may require extended time on exams,
use of an audio recorder in class, and the assistance of a
volunteer notetaker.
For a career Avril wants to work for the State Child and
Family Services, where she has already had an internship. She
plans to do Child Protective Investigations. "I want to be able
to go into the homes, investigating abuse and neglect charges,"
Avril explains. Good luck to you in this very important endeavor.
NEW EMPLOYEES
We would like to
introduce to you Adriana, our new Testing Facilitator, and TJ,
our new Sign Language Interpreter. Welcome Adriana and TJ.
ADRIANA
Adriana Ellison is the
new OSD Testing Facilitator. She is currently a senior in
Business Management at FAU, graduating in December, 2006. "I
enjoy the environment at the OSD. I’m happy to be a part of
anything positive that will help students to achieve their
goals." Previously, she was a substitute teacher for the Palm
Beach County School System.
Adriana describes herself as relaxed and easy-going. "I
always try to have a good day and think positive," she explains.
Likes: When not at FAU she enjoys watching movies,
shopping, and spending time with her family. "I like to go to the
beach just to relax and get away from what ever stressors are
occurring," she states.
Dislikes: It bothers Adriana when people neglect to be
polite. "I like it when people remember to say
‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ That seems to
be something a lot of people forget."
Anything unusual in the fridge? "Unusual to me is what my
husband keeps in there a lot - protein shakes. He’s
currently ‘into the gym’ so every time I open the
refrigerator there’s chocolate and vanilla protein shakes."
TJ
‘TJ,’
Thomas Jaramillo, is the new OSD Sign Language Interpreter. He
has previously worked at the California School for the Deaf and
as a stock broker. Besides a degree in Deaf Culture, he has
earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English from FAU and hopes
to get a Master’s Degree in education. "The deaf culture is
a very different culture than the American culture with its own
nuances and ways of behaving."
"Working at a university level I find that the classes are
interesting and the students are much more mature. They are much
more likely to take their classes responsibly and to pay
attention and interact in class, compared to high school where
they are required to attend," he acknowledges.
Likes: "The first thing I have to do when I get home is
play with my two dogs for a half an hour. I enjoy spending time
with my in-laws, I enjoy reading and writing, and my only bad
vice is playing computer games," TJ states.
Dislikes: "A lot of the drivers in Florida scare me; they
are abysmal to each other. They are mean, cut each other off, and
use expletives. A lack of courtesy is a big thing with me, " he
emphasizes.
Anything unusual in the fridge? "It is filled with healthy
stuff and a lot of home-baked foods as I do a lot of cooking.
There might be anything from Thai Soup to homemade apple pie to
Mexican food - just about anything."
________________________________________
We want to encourage
comments and contributions from our readers. Please address any
comments to jwalborn@fau.edu. Feel free to share this newsletter
with friends and colleagues. Current and past issues are
available on the web at www.fau.edu/osd.
This newsletter is available in alternate format upon
request from the Office for Students with Disabilities. Boca
Campus: SU 133; phone (561) 297-3880, TTY (561) 297-0358. Davie
Campus: MD I, Room 104; phone (954) 236-1222, TTY (954) 236-1146.
