Disability Services Newsletter
Winter 2008

Message from the Director

As you may have noticed, there has been a phase of transition in the Office for Institutional Equity this academic year.  A phrase that comes to mind from an old song is “Times, they are a’ changin’!”.  After 29 years of service to Ohio University, Bill Smith has retired from the position of Executive Assistant to the President for Institutional Equity and has laid down the hat of leader for this office.  In his place Dr. Katherine Ziff has willingly stepped in to provide leadership and guidance.  Dr. Ziff’s background as the Associate Ombuds for Ohio University as well as her experiences as a School Counselor makes her an excellent advocate for students, faculty and staff.

Continuing with the transitions in the office, Jennifer Deforest, Director of Disability Services, has officially resigned from the university.  With such big shoes to fill, both Margaret Romoser and I are here to ensure that your right to equal opportunity and access is implemented.  Ruth Blickle, our beloved Administrative Coordinator, has returned to the office and is here to assist you. And last, but certainly not least, Disability Services is currently conducting a search for an Assistant Director.  With a part of our mission being to effectively and efficiently provide services to you, the student, we need your input!  If you have suggestions, ideas or input about what characteristics you would like to see in Assistant Director for Disability Services, let us know by emailing equity@ohio.edu.  We also plan to have an open forum for each candidate so that you can ask those questions that are important to you.  I will keep you updated on if and when the open forums will occur.

With all of the change and transition that is happening in our office, I am certain that things are changing in your world as well.  If you plan on graduating this academic year, please let us know so that we can congratulate you!  If you have made the decision to transfer to another institution, we can transfer your files if you would like to continue using accommodations.  If there are any other changes that you would like Institutional Equity to be informed of, we want to hear it.  I once heard that the only constant is change.  With that being said, let us assist you in embracing the changes and all of the highs and lows that come with it. 

Best Regards,
Jesse Raney
Interim Director of Disability Services

Deadlines and Important Dates to Remember
 
Tuesday, Feb. 12 Priority Registration for Spring Quarter begins
Friday, March 14 Last day to withdraw (drop all classes)

Opportunities for Students with Disabilities

            Outstanding paid internship opportunities for students with disabilities in science, engineering, mathematics, and computer science are now being offered by ENTRY POINT!, a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  AAAS has developed unique partnerships with NASA, IBM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Merck to provide summer internships for qualified students with disabilities to apply their skills in real-world settings.  For more information and applications go to: www.entrypoint.org.

            Landmark College is American’s premier college for students with learning disabilities and AD/HD.  Their Bridge Semester provides short-term, intensive support to college students who are struggling in their studies.  Participants receive the tailored skills instruction they need to successfully return to their home college or university.  Students may enroll in credit or non-credit courses and participate in curricula that focus on “Organization and Time Management” or on “Academic Skills Development.”  For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at:  802-387-6718 or email:

admissions@landmark.edu

Students and faculty may find some of the terms employed by Disabilities Services, such as, “Flexibility with Absence Policy,” “Flexibility with Deadlines,” and “Forgiveness of Spelling Errors,” to be somewhat ambiguous and confusing.   These terms are intentionally ambiguous to allow students and faculty, employees and employers to work together to resolve possible problems in a way that accommodates the student or employee, but also recognized the needs and expectations of the faculty member or employer. Flexibility with absences or deadlines does not mean that the student can miss an unlimited number of classes or deadlines.  It means that some flexibility is expected when the absence or missed deadline is a direct result of the diagnosed disability.   Similarly, “Forgiveness of spelling errors” refers primarily to in-class assignments and is not applicable when the expectations of the class require accurate spelling, as in foreign languages.  Students and faculty should discuss these kinds of issues at the beginning of the quarter and talk with staff members at the Disabilities Services Office if questions remain.

Scholarship Opportunities

National Federation of the Blind is offering scholarships that range in value from $3000 to $12,000 for students, high school seniors through graduate students, who are legally blind.  To apply for scholarships, complete the official 2008 scholarship application that is available at www.nfb.org/scholarships or contact Anil Lewis, chairman, NFB Scholarship Committee, office: (404) 371-1000 or email:  Scholarsips@nfb.org.  All documents must be received by March 31, 2008.

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is offering scholarships of $2500 to high school through graduate students who are legally blind.  Applications are available at: www.nfbohio.org and select NFB-O Scholarship Information, or contact Deborah Kendrick, chairperson, NFB of Ohio Scholarship Committee, 2819 Victoria Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208; (513) 321-2232; email at dkkendrick@earthlink.net.  All documents must be received by June 1, 2008.

The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (ORSC) announces the availability of the TG Public Benefit Award for students who are consumers of ORSC services.  Awards will be available to help fund ORSC students attending a postsecondary institution during any part of the 2008-09 academic year.  A minimum of 25 awards each worth $2000 will be applicable to educational expenses such as tuition, books and supplies.   For more information contact Mike Kinney via email:  Michael.Kinney@rsc.state.oh.us.  Completed applications must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2008.

FYI

Attention!!  Students who are concerned about issues surrounding disabilities at OU will begin meeting during Spring Quarter.  Anyone who cares about these issues is welcome to join.  For more information, contact Cory Schneider:  cs683096@ohio.edu or call (740) 566-9103. 

March is “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” and the Athens County Board of MRDD is hosting its annual:

“Disabilities Awareness Festival”

Athens Community Center

Thursday, March 6, 2008   6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

For more information and/or to become involved with this event, please contact:

Jeff Bierlien, Community Inclusion Coordinator

Atco Adult Services

21 S. Campbell St.

Athens, OH  45701

bierlein@athenscgmrdd.org  or call 592-6659, ext. 254

Last updated February 13, 2008 by Margaret Romoser