ELECTRONIC CALL FOR PROPOSALS/CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE State University of New York announces "DISABLED, BUT ENABLED AND EMPOWERED" March 19-22, 1998 The fourth biannual major multidisciplinary Empire State College Conference focusing on disability issues, empowerment, education, and advocacy featuring disability advocates and community and national leaders * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * They no longer maintain their silence. They're exploding the myth of "helplessness" and have thrown off archaic, prejudicial stereotypes that branded them as "handicapped," "retarded," and "crippled." The 49 million men, women and children with disabilities are today emerging as an organized, articulate, political, and social force working to expand the parameters of the American dream of independence. In educational, legal, employment, and technological arenas, persons with disabilities have made giant strides in recent decades. At one time forced to watch life from the sidelines, today these individuals strive to earn their own paychecks, live in their own homes, drive their own cars, and interact with a full range of social, spiritual, and recreational groups of their own choosing. Their Civil Rights march from disability to independence and self-advocacy into the next millennium will be mapped at the SUNY Empire State College Conference, Thursday through Sunday, March 19 through 22, 1998. "DISABLED, BUT ENABLED AND EMPOWERED" *********************************************** Electronic Announcement (Text only) and Call for Proposals 1998 Conference Theme: Building Common Ground for the Millennium 2000 fostering the Inclusion of People with Disabilities The call for proposals is at the end of this announcement as well as background information on the conference. *********************************************** FEATURING SIX CONCURRENT INTEGRATED THEMES Six interrelated themes will be explored at this conference. Presentations will be accepted related to only one theme as well as presentations that bridge two or more themes. EDUCATION - Distance Learning and Higher Education for post-secondary students with disabilities - Non-traditional higher education and training for people with disabilities - Adult education including continuing, literacy, and adult basic education for people with disabilities - Lower education - current issues and trends - Early childhood education EMPLOYMENT - Employment of People with Disabilities in the Electronic Age - Strategies for fostering employment - Injured workers/rehabilitation issues - Sheltered employment - Internships and other special initiatives - Tax credits and other incentives ARTS, RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPIRITUALITY - The arts and disabilities - Participation in recreation and entertainment - Fostering inclusion within religious communities - Recreation activities and sports for athletes with disabilities ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN - For employment and education - For housing and participation in all aspects of society - The Internet and telecommunications ADVOCACY AND INCLUSION - Through awareness and sensitivity discussions - Self, Community and Systemic - Independent Living initiatives - Aging and Disability - Gender Issues and Disability - Disability, Multiculturalism and Diversity SOCIAL POLICY/SOCIAL CHANGE - Legal issues - Policy changes, initiatives - Emerging and future trends - Disabilities studies - within a discipline and multidisciplinary studies - International trends KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Thursday Keynote Speaker: JOHN HOCKENBERRY, Correspondent, NBC, CNBC and MSNBC. Mr. Hockenberry will speak about many of the themes of the conference - the pursuit of higher education with a disability, inclusion, assistive technology and other topics. Friday Keynote Speaker: JUDITH HEUMANN, Assistant Secretary of Education, United States Department of Education. (invited but not confirmed) Ms. Heumann directs the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. She will discuss IDEA and related educational issues. Saturday Keynote Speaker: HEATHER WHITESTONE MCCALLUM, Miss America, 1995, will be the keynote speaker. As the first Miss America with a disability, she has emerged as an advocate for persons with disabilities stressing personal responsibility and achievement. Sunday Keynote Speaker: JOHN LANCASTER, Executive Director, President's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities, United States Department of Labor, will be the keynote speaker. Mr. Lancaster will discuss strategies to foster employment by people with disabilities. ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND RECREATION EVENT On Saturday evening, March 21, 1998 featuring a wheelchair ballet, arts displays and several performances by artists with disabilities. Wheel chair basketball and interfaith initiatives to include people with disabilities will also be featured. FEATURED SPEAKERS Several featured national speakers will be present at the conference addressing the various themes of the conference. Some of the confirmed speakers include: Dr. Ellen Arnold, Arncraft, Inc. Lyle Bald Eagle, Sioux Nation - the only Native American Nation to adopt A.D.A. Dr. Norman Coombs, Equal Access to Software and Computing Scholar, AAHE James Dixon, National Organization on Disability Dr. David Du Bois, SUNY Empire State College Dr. Nancy Gadbow, SUNY Empire State College Dr. Roger Hiemstra, Professor Emeritus Syracuse University, Adult Education Dr. Devva Kurnitz, World Institute on Disability and Society for Disability Studies Jill Jacobs, National Organization on Disability Dr. Carolyn Jarmon, EDUCOM Fellow, 1996-1998 Dr. Jane Jarrow, former Executive Director of the Association for Higher Education and Disability, and currently President of Disability Access and Information Service Dr. Mary Klinger, SUNY Empire State College Dr. Marcia Scherer, Center for Assistive Technology, University at Buffalo - SUNY OVERVIEW OF THE CONFERENCE In addition to the keynote speakers, featured speakers, special events, and exhibits by human service agencies, assistive technologists, book publishers and other disabilities-related products and services, the conference will have 88 concurrent sessions and approximately 200 round table and breakout sessions as well as exhibits and assistive technology displays. CONFERENCE LOCATION The Four Points Sheraton Hotel, located on the banks of the Genesee River in downtown Rochester, will be the conference hotel. This full-service hotel has excellent conference facilities and guest accommodations and is conveniently attached to the Riverside Convention Center by an enclosed pedestrian walkway to over 100 retail stores. Restaurants, theaters, entertainment, and cultural activities also are located near the hotel. The hotel is in close proximity to Amtrak and there is a free shuttle service from the Greater Rochester International Airport. ACADEMIC CREDIT/CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS A variety of studies (graduate and undergraduate) will be available. There will be several opportunities to incorporate this conference into undergraduate and graduate studies. Continuing education units will be available for participants. For more information about pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies in connection with the conference including a course to be offered on the world wide web, please request further information electronically by sending a message to DISABLED@sescva.edu FOR MORE INFORMATION PERSONAL CONTACT: Please contact for additional information: Dr. David Du Bois (DDUBOIS@sescva.esc.edu) Dr. Mary Klinger (MKLINGER@sescva.esc.edu) Dr. Nancy Gadbow (NGADBOW@sescva.esc.edu) ELECTRONIC REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION: Questions about the conference, including registration fees, housing costs, and exhibitor information may be addressed to: DISABLED@sescva.esc.edu. COLLEGE WEB PAGE: Information about Empire State College can be found on the college's WEB page: http://www.esc.edu CONFERENCE WEB PAGE: After October 25, 1997, a special Web Page about the conference can be found by accessing http://www.esc.edu/disabled/ The conference web page will be updated as further details about the conference become available. MAILING ADDRESS: SUNY Empire State College Genesee Valley Center 8 Prince St. Rochester, NY 14607 TELEPHONE INFORMATION: Conference Information Line 716/244-3884, ext. 113 Switchboard 716/244-3641 FAX: 716/473-1949 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL FOR PROPOSALS "DISABLED, BUT ENABLED AND EMPOWERED" The fourth biannual major SUNY Empire State College conference, focusing on disability issues, empowerment, and advocacy will feature disability advocates and community and national leaders. March 19 - 22, 1998 in Rochester, NY It is anticipated that participants will include individuals with a broad range of interests, professional fields, expertise, and experience related to disabilities and disability issues: the experience of having a disability, distance learning and persons with disabilities, employment of persons with disabilities, legal issues and social policies, assistive technology, challenges persons with disabilities face as learners throughout the lifespan, housing, recreation, human services, and spirituality, programs and services, future of disability issues and services. These areas will be explored through six themes throughout the conference: EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT ARTS, RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT, AND SPIRITUALITY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN ADVOCACY AND INCLUSION SOCIAL POLICY/SOCIAL CHANGE (These themes are discussed in greater detail in the above conference announcement). Through general sessions with keynote and featured speakers, concurrent sessions, exhibits, and receptions and special events, participants will be able to engage in dialogue and informal conversations with other conference attendees. The conference provides an unusual opportunity for people with many different interests, experience, and perspectives to come together and share ideas. DESCRIPTION AND CRITERIA FOR PROPOSAL SELECTION FOR CONCURRENT SESSIONS Concurrent conference sessions are scheduled for one hour and may be done in one of several formats: <> presentation <> presentation of topic with time for discussion <> round table - brief presentation with significant time for informal discussion of topic, <> workshop - primarily an interactive working session with active participant involvement, <> poster session - visual presentation / demonstration of topic and discussion with participants who move from one poster area to another. Concurrent sessions may include use of audio/visual presentations, handouts, and other appropriate methods and techniques. It is recommended that sessions include some strategies that encourage active involvement of participants. All proposals should address one or a combination of the themes and areas of emphasis as described above. Submission Dates Proposals for concurrent sessions must be received by December 15, 1997. Peer Review of Proposals All proposals will be peer reviewed by at least three individuals. All individuals who have submitted proposals will be notified on the results of the blind review by January 15, 1998. (If an electronic mail address is supplied with the proposal, notifications may be received prior to January 15). For proposals accepted, all presenters will be required to submit a 300 word summary of the session on diskette using Microsoft Word or Word Perfect for PCs by March 15, 1998. Following the conference a Proceedings will be published and distributed to all conference attendees. Submission Criteria To be eligible for selection, all proposals must conform to the following criteria: 1. One copy of a cover sheet with the following information: a. title of the proposed concurrent session, b. area of emphasis or theme (as described in the Call for Proposals), c. name of presenter(s), d. address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address, e. type of session ( presentation, round table, workshop, poster session). 2. Three copies of a single-spaced page that includes the same title as on the cover page, a summary (not to exceed 75 words), and an expanded description of the proposed session in more detail, including program outcomes, content, and format and technique (not to exceed 300 words). Send Proposals to: Dr. Nancy F. Gadbow SUNY Empire State College 8 Prince St. Rochester, NY 14607 BRIEF BACKGROUND: The Conference provides a balance of presentations between human service professionals, assistive technology professionals, educators, and people with disabilities. A product of previous conferences has been the opportunity for people with various disabilities to focus on common issues and for human services professionals to gain a better understanding of the larger issues related to disabilities. Self-advocacy is promoted at the Conference. The Conference promotes awareness and sensitivity to disabilities issues by encouraging the attendance by people with and without disabilities. This conference will bring together national leaders related to assistive technology, alternative and distance higher education, and advocacy. This conference is unique in its focus on non-traditional higher education and distance learning, to achieve greater inclusion and participation of adult learners with disabilities in post-secondary education. In addition, employment using technology will also be a major focus of the conference. Past attendees have commended the blend of presentations for breadth of experience and issues related to disabilities. Several collaborative initiatives have been spawned from discussions which occurred at past conferences because of the inclusion of people from a multitude of disciplines. The planning committee will continue to include a blend of presentations by professionals from many disciplines, people with first hand experience with disabilities, and students.