December News and Activities

December 2021 News from the National Coordinating Center

New Think College Publications

Tips to Help Students Prepare for College

There are certain skills students can learn and practice in high school to better prepare for the demands of college. This Grab and Go publication shares tips on campus participation, academic preparation, and personal responsibility.

Here’s a couple Think College publications you may have missed.

Regret missing the Decade of Data webinar, catch up by reading the key points discussed in our takeaway document! Or for the whole experience, watch the recording and read the transcripts by clicking here.

Industry Recognized Credentials in Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual Disability

By Charles Walters, Chelsea Stinnett, and Anthony Plotner

The Role of Councils on Developmental Disabilities in Supporting Inclusive Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

By Siddarth Nagaraj

NCC Accreditation Workgroup Update

The Workgroup is focusing on a guidance manual for accreditation that will provide key info to program staff and leaders who are interested in applying for program accreditation. The workgroup is seeking to ensure all information and data provided during the accreditation process are available, practical, and beneficial.

During a recent meeting, a lively discussion occurred regarding the inherent design of accreditation as a measurement of both student outcomes and quality assurance—and reasonable requests of programs. The group will soon meet with program staff and leaders to confirm the guidance manual meets these goals. Learn more about the workgroup and their activities.

Just added!

Demonstrating Student Competencies: Microcredentials & Digital Badging

Join us for a one-hour presentation on microcredentials. Attend to learn what they are, why they are important, and how they help students enter their career pathway Our presenter, will also talk about digital badging and how UNH-4U uses them.

Presented by Tobey Partch-Davies, University of New Hampshire

January 25, 2022 | 2-3pm

Click to register

Who Does What? Optimizing Employment Services & Supports through Individual Planning

March 31 | 2-3:30pm

Presented by Meg Grigal, NCC and Melissa Diehl & Amy Dwyre D'Agati, NTACT:C

Click for webinar details and registration

Paying for College: Exploring Possible Funding Options

May 25 | 2-3pm

Presented by Cate Weir, NCC

Click for webinar details and registration

ThinkCollege.Net

Each month we share a video on one our favorite website features. This month is about hot topics. Click play to learn more!

Find an IPSE job!

Visit our Employment Opportunities page to learn about jobs currently available at 12 universities and colleges. Email Sheila at [email protected] if you would like us to post your job.

Think College Affinity Groups

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.

Upcoming meetings:

Jan. 13: Technology and UDL

Jan. 19: Employment Supports

Jan. 20: Statewide Alliances

Jan. 20: Research on Higher Education

Jan. 21: Inclusive Campus Life

Feb. 2: Vocational Rehabilitation

Feb. 8: Student Credentials

Feb. 10: College-based Transition Services

Registration not required.

You can find dates for all Affinity Group meetings and other events at thinkcollege.net/events .

Think College Policy Advocates: Helping Students Find Their Voice

By Siddarth Nagaraj

In 2019, AUCD and Think College started offering an opportunity for students with intellectual and developmental disability an opportunity to learn about policy, including participating in DPS in a meaningful way. The Think College Policy Advocates (TCPA) experience helps college students with disabilities build their leadership skills so they can advocate for themselves and others more powerfully. Continue reading Siddarth’s blog.

NEWS FROM OTHER THINK COLLEGE PROJECTS

Future Quest Island-Explorations (FQI-E) is an online accessible college & career readiness curriculum that uses gaming strategies to motivate and support improved self-concept, social and emotional competence, and early college and career awareness for upper elementary students with and without disability. FQI-E Director Lori Cooney uses universal design learning (UDL) (not familiar with UDL, click here) when preparing learning for students. She is also our UDL/tech consultant. She has a bit of advice for you!

Tech Recommendation: Quick Notes are Nifty

The new IOS upgrade on the iPad IOS has some cool features. We recommend checking out Quick Notes. Why? Because you can jot down notes, add links, include pictures, and other things you don’t want to forget! It is great for taking notes when reading a book or browsing on the Internet. And homework! Something else we like is that you can tag people (@name) and use hashtags (#something). ag a teacher or classmate.

Finding it is simple. Just swipe the bottom right corner of the iPad with your finger or an Apple Pencil. Write down your notes. Save it. It is important to know that you can only create a Quick Note on iPad but once you save it, you can view it on any iOS device, even an iPhone. Learn more by reading this article - iPadOS 15: How to Use Quick Notes.

Thanks Lori!

Earn Your Transition Leadership Certificate Online

UMass Boston offers a transition leadership certificate that focuses on the transition from high school to adult life for young people with a wide range of disabilities. It’s designed for teachers and those with a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, school guidance, school adjustment counseling, or school social work seeking advanced training in postsecondary planning for students with disabilities.

The program is an excellent way for educators and non-educators from across the nation to broaden their abilities and to place their work in a wider context. The program is also approved by the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) for graduates interested in a national certificate.

Visit the program webpage for more information.

What do program alumni say?

“I found this program to be extraordinarily helpful in my work as a transition counselor, the material relevant and current, and the instructors highly responsive and knowledgeable. I strongly recommend this program to special educators who seek to implement positive change in their districts and to advance their skills and expertise supporting students with their postsecondary planning.”

Brendan McCarthy, transition specialist and Bridge Alliance teacher at Brookline High School

The program is now accepting applications for the 2022 cohort. Attend an info session to learn more or contact Nancy Hurley at [email protected].

Upcoming information sessions:

Thursday, January 6 at 6:00 PM ET

Tuesday, January 18 at 12:00 PM ET

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: TUBA KAUSAR

This month's student spotlight in on Tuba Kausar, a student at Bridgewater State University. Click here to read her spotlight.

Be our next Student Spotlight (or recommend a student you know) by emailing Sheila at [email protected].

Click here for more Student Spotlights.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY IN THE US

Students in Florida:

Help Spread the Message College Matters!

Are you a student living in Florida? College Matters Florida wants you to be a social media partner! Click here for a sign up form. Email [email protected] for more info.

Organizations and Colleges: Become a College Matters' outreach partner

Be part of an awareness campaign to spread the message that inclusive postsecondary education matters! Complete this interest form if you would like to help.Click to earn more or email [email protected].

Seeking campus disability services professionals for a qualitative study!

Are you a program administrator or coordinator who works with or for disability services offices at a college or university? If so, a student from Capella University would like to interview you for their research project on the ways offices of disability services are meeting the needs of learners with diverse disabilities. Contact [email protected] to learn more.

Fellowship Opportunity for Self-advocates

The Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) Fellowship is a year-long opportunity for self-advocates to develop and grow their skills as leaders in the self-advocacy movement. Fellows work with a supporting host organization on policy issues or a project that can help develop their leadership skills. Click here to learn more.

Students in Florida:

Help Spread the Message College Matters!

Are you a student living in Florida? College Matters Florida wants you to be a social media partner! Click here for a sign up form. Email [email protected] for more info.

Organizations and Colleges: Become a College Matters' outreach partner

Seeking campus disability services professionals for a qualitative study!

Fellowship Opportunity for Self-advocates

Our good friend Kenneth Kelty launched a podcast!

Kenneth Kelty is a Think College Policy Advocate and a member of the Think College Emerging Advocates Group. AND he is an award-winning motivational speaker on disabilities and empowerment. AND he just started his own podcast! Make sure you check out the first four episodes.

NTACT:C Launches Student Group

In November, the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborativ e kicked off initial meetings of a small group of young adults, self-named the Youth Engagement Transition Initiative (YETI). YETI meets monthly to share individual transition-to-adulthood stories, identify solutions, and inform the work of NTACT:C. Stay tuned for more from YETI as the group defines its learning and its work in the coming months - and follow YETI on TikTok!

NTACT:C has also developed Side by Side View: Transition Services to help compare and contrast the transition services requirements for education and vocational rehabilitation, including pre-employment transition services as teams examine opportunities to collaborate.

(Thanks to Employment Resources Inc. for sharing their photo!)

NEWS FOR NCC PARTNERS

Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)

2022 AHEAD Management Institutes (Virtual)

February 2-4, 2022

This year’s four in-depth Institutes cover a range of topics for disability service professionals, ADA coordinators, student affairs staff and administrators, and others working toward equity in higher education. AHEAD’s Management Institutes are facilitated by nationally-recognized faculty and offer opportunities for networking and individual support. Learn more.

Spring AHEAD!

This year’s spring webinar program features 11 webinars with 26 speakers, representing a wealth of knowledge, experience, and backgrounds. Click here for the schedule and registration.

Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD)

AUCD Network Narratives Podcast

AUCD’s podcast shares real stories from network members. Episodes highlight emerging leaders and the voices of black, indigenous, people of color with disabilities and their families. Check out Episode 4: Using Storytelling to Connect Research and Lived Experience to hear from Morénike Giwa Onaiwu’s story. Morénike joined the show to share their expertise on storytelling, especially when it comes to including lived experience in research. Listen now.

COVID-19 Recruitment Study by National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN)

NCRN in partnership with AUCD is doing a study to test COVID-19 vaccine ads. This study is an online survey that tracks your eyes when you are looking at an ad. This study will be done on a computer or laptop that has a camera. To learn more, email Ashley Jacinth Salmon at [email protected].

AUCD and ecoAmerica Partner to Bring Disability Perspective to Climate Justice

We are thrilled to partner with ecoAmerica to ensure that people with disabilities are engaged at every level of climate justice, and to help partners identify opportunities for disability inclusion in local planning and show how to take action. Learn more.