Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

College & Universities Celebrating Autism Awareness Month!

Excerpt from: Autism Speaks (click for full article)

 

Throughout the month of April iconic landmarks, buildings and schools around the world will Light It Up Blue to celebrate Autism Awareness Month! Below is a list of college campuses (as of April 11, 2013) that are lighting up buildings blue or hosting events throughout the month of April. Learn more about Autism Speaks' college program, Autism Speaks U.

Misuse and Abuse of ADHD Meds among college students

Excerpt from: Sharp Brains (click for full article)

 

The mis­use and abuse of pre­scrip­tion med­ica­tion is a grow­ing con­cern. I remem­ber speak­ing with col­leagues 15–20 years ago as reports about the non­med­ical use of stim­u­lant med­ica­tions used to treat ADHD (non­med­ical use is defined as use by indi­vid­u­als with­out a pre­scrip­tion) were first appear­ing in the media. At the time, these were gen­er­ally thought to be iso­lated inci­dents that were being over-dramatized in the press.

It has become clear, how­ever, that this is not the case today and that the non­med­ical use of ADHD meds, as well as mis­use by indi­vid­u­als for whom med­ica­tion is pre­scribed, is an impor­tant prob­lem. At the link above is a brief overview and sum­mary of research on these issues.

Taking brain injuries from the battlefield to the classroom

Excerpt from: KOSU (click for full article)

 

TBI isn’t a new injury, and it’s not unique to recent wars. But many experts believe that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with their blurred front lines and improvised explosive devices, have particular harm to the brains of the people fighting in them.

“These wars are different from, say, World War II,” says David Hovda, Director of the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center. “In Iraq and Afghanistan, you could be walking down any street and have somebody blow up an IED or a car and the explosive that’s being used is so powerful, it’s a devastating way to be exposed to an injury.”

Just how many veterans have a traumatic brain injury is a surprisingly difficult question to answer. Estimates vary widely; the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center says almost 270,000 traumatic brain injuries have been diagnosed in service members between 2000 and 2012 — most of which are not deployment-related – and a report from the Rand Corporation suggests that almost 20 percent of service members who served in Iraq or Afghanistan say they experienced a traumatic brain injury during deployment.

Professors provide help for students with disabilities

Excerpt from: The Daily Eastern News (click for full article)

 

Making accommodations for students with disabilities does not feel like taking an extra step at all for some professors.  Kip McGilliard, a biology professor, said he provides extra assistance to any student who needs it.

“Many of the accommodations I make for students with disabilities I actually make for any student,” he said.

Some things McGillard does in his class include providing a near-complete set of notes so students can listen and process information without having to worry about writing as much.  He said he made an entire unit of notes available in large print for one student who was visually impaired, and he tries to understand what each student needs.

“Students with disabilities are still trying to achieve an education, and we don’t want to stand in the way of their achieving a college education,” he said.

McGilliard said he expects students with disabilities to work just as hard as other students

Disabilities in America

Excerpt from: Learning English (click for full article)

 

A government report says more people with disabilities work as janitors or building cleaners than any other job. People with physical or mental disabilities are less likely to be employed than people without a disability. And those who are employed are more likely to work in lower paying jobs, and to earn less than their co-workers with no disability.

Meg Grigal works with an organization called Think College. That group helps colleges and universities provide courses, social opportunities and job training for people with mental disabilities. Many of the students have Down’s syndrome. Ms. Grigal says the students gain from higher education just like anyone else hoping to earn more in future employment by going to college.

“I think we are starting to be able to document the economic impact for people with intellectual disabilities that shows having them go to college, even if it isn’t for a degree, is going to improve their employment outcome.”

Ms. Grigal says the most common reason students with intellectual disabilities do not go to college is because their teachers and parents do not think they can do it.

Vanderbilt Tops Special Education Ranking

Excerpt from: Disability Scoop (click for full article)

 

A handful of universities retained the top slots this year in U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the nation’s best training programs for special educators.

Vanderbilt University claimed the number one spot on the publication’s list of special education graduate programs, which was released this month. The University of Kansas, which tied with Vanderbilt for top billing last year, came in second.

Other leading programs can be found at the University of Oregon, the University of Texas​‒​Austin, the University of Virginia and the University of Florida, according to the ranking.

Trust Funds and Financial Aid

Excerpt from: FinAid! (click for full article)

 

Most trust funds are not effective means of sheltering money from the financial aid process and often backfire on the family. Almost all trust funds are counted in the financial aid process, often as an asset of the child. This leads to a high impact on eligibility for need-based financial aid. If the trust fund document restricted the beneficiary's access to the principal, the trust fund will affect aid eligibility every year.

AAHD Announces Scholarship Programs for Students with Disabilities

Excerpt from: What Disability (click for full article)

 

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) has announced their 2013-2014 scholarship program for students with disabilities. It has long been a policy of AAHD to assist those with disabilities in pursuing higher education. Last year four scholarships were awarded from a pool of over 100 qualified applicants.

The mission of AAHD is to contribute to national, state, and local efforts to promote health and wellness in people with disabilities and identify effective intervention strategies that reduce health disparities between people with disabilities and the general

population. AAHD accomplishes its mission through research, education and advocacy at the national, state and community level.

To apply for this scholarship program, applicants must be enrolled in an accredited United States university, part time or full time if in graduate school or full time if in undergraduate school. They must have a documented disability and be able to provide documentation. They must also be a US citizen or legal resident living in the US.

 

Increased Availability of Accessible Housing is a Must

Excerpt from: Disability Blog (click for full article)

 

My years in college had been a major success. I never let my physical challenges get me down. Instead, I used them as my power, force and fuel to get through life with gusto and joy – at 8 MPH. After my college graduation, I was determined for my success and independence to continue.

If I have to continue to wait for services and accessible housing options, I will be stuck at my childhood home until I am at least 34 years old. I do not want to be known as the successful college graduate and independent business woman who is “living with my parents.” There is shame and negative stigma associated with that notion. After years of hard work to become independent, I’ve had to regress and give back some of my freedom because no other choices were available to me.

AAHD Scholarship Programs for Students with Disabilities 2013 - 2014

Excerpt from: Disabled World (click for full article)

 

• The 2013 - 2014 AAHD Scholarship Award will be awarded January, 2014.
• The last year four scholarships were awarded from a pool of over 100 qualified applicants.
• Only completed applications will be considered.
• Applications must be postmarked and/or received by email no later than November 15, 2013.

For more information on eligibility and application requirements, please visit http://www.aahd.us/initiatives/scholarship-program/

In continuance of the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) policy to support students with disabilities pursuing higher education, AAHD announces the launching of the 2013 - 2014 scholarship program.

The mission of AAHD is to contribute to national, state, and local efforts to promote health and wellness in people with disabilities and identify effective intervention strategies that reduce health disparities between people with disabilities and the general population. AAHD accomplishes its mission through research, education and advocacy at the national, state and community level.