News and Highlights

Sherlock Sentinels – Currently Recruiting New Members

The Sherlock Sentinels, the consumer advisory committee for the Sherlock Center, is currently recruiting new Core Committee Members. The Core Committee helps to plan activities for Sherlock Sentinels and work on projects adopted by the Committee. Core Committee members also participate in an annual review of the Sherlock Center’s five-year plan and are asked to provide feedback on specific Sherlock Center activities throughout the year.

To learn more, attend our Information Session & Open House on May 16, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, at the Sherlock Center.

Information Session Flyer & Directions 1.3 MB (PDF)

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2012 Access Challenge. On April 25, 2012 the Advocacy and Beyond Club (ABC) at RI College is sponsoring an Access Challenge. Developed by RIC Alumna, the late Dana Wright, this event educates the RIC community about the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities on campus. Using wheelchairs for five hours, participants perform their daily activities on campus, record difficulties, positive outcomes, public responses and lessons learned. Findings are presented at a round table dinner discussion. The challenge also includes “Visual Impairment” stations where individuals attempt to complete tasks while experiencing simulated impairments.

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Dr. Anthony Antosh receives Paul Crowley Award at the Statehouse. This award comes with a $1000 scholarship to be awarded to a RI public high school senior who wishes to pursue a degree in Education. Dr. Antosh chose the Town of West Warwick's High School as the recipient.

Providence Journal article Link.


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click on photos for larger versions

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Sprout Film Festival

The tenth annual Sprout Film Festival will be showcasing 53 films related to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities from 13 countries. The festival will take place Friday April 27 – Sunday April 29, 2012 in NYC at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Visit their website at www.sproutfilmfestival.org for the schedule of films and trailers.
Free Streams: New films are continually added to our www.sproutflix.org site.
Check out these latest films that can be streamed for free:
Cared Witless an 11-minute narrative from the UK: http://sproutflix.org/content/cared-witless
Distinctively a 4-minute documentary from the US: http://sproutflix.org/content/distinctively
And Beyond Borders a 20-minute documentary from Belgium: http://sproutflix.org/content/beyond-borders

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Dare to Dream Student Leadership Conference May 22, 2012 at the URI Kingston Campus. Pre-registration is required.

The purpose of the conference is to provide students with disabilities an opportunity to examine concepts of transition and to share experiences with other students. The primary goal of the conference is to help students gain self-determination and leadership skills.

Other Dare to Dream events for students, parents, and professionals:

Workshop on Youth Leadership Strategies 165 kb – March 6th at RIPIN or March 8th at The Gamm Theatre. To register, contact Deb Golding at 401-222-5954, deb.golding@health.ri.gov.

Who C.A.R.E.S.? 177 kb Become an Effective Youth Advocate – May 23rd, 1:00 – 3:00 PM at the RI Department of Health or 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Providence Career & Technical Academy. To register, contact Deb Golding at 401-222-5954, deb.golding@health.ri.gov.

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RI Health Care Survey - Adolescent Health Care Transition in RI

There has been a growing recognition that Health Care Transition (HCT) is a critical aspect of successful entry to adulthood. HCT supports economic self-sufficiency, independence and prevents school dropout and delinquency. As a result, there is an increasing interest in services and supports for young people with disabilities and chronic health conditions that address all aspects of health and well-being, including promoting health, preventing secondary conditions, and preparing for entry into adult systems of care.

In order to complete the picture of knowledge of and attitudes toward HCT, to understand the barriers to addressing HCT, to assess the HCT information and training and to set the direction of HCT work, the Transition Council invites the following groups to complete this survey: Parents, Students, Teachers, School Nurse-Teachers, Special Education Directors, Transition and Care Coordinators (@RIDE, ORS, DCYF, DHS, BHDDH), and other education and health care stakeholders.

Employment

JobTIPS for Successful Employment
The National Institute of Mental Health announced the launch of JobTIPS, a free, web-based program aimed at helping youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities develop and maintain skills needed for successful employment. The JobTIPS website presents text, audio and video related to seeking and applying for jobs, managing work responsibilities and interactive with co-workers. It also offers resources for educators, job coaches, clinicians and transition coordinators who support individuals with ASD as they transition out of high school into work or other post-secondary activities.

Internships - The On-Ramp to Employment - A Guide for Students with Disabilities
This guide from the National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth provides a detailed roadmap to help students with disabilities get an internship. Internships give students an introduction to the world of work and are an important step toward getting an ideal job in their career field of choice.

Getting the Most from Employment Services: Your guide to entering or returning to the workforce 630 kb (PDF)
This Guide is designed to help individuals with disabilities that are entering or returning to the workforce to choose those agency that best match the individuals support needs and career goals. The Guide provides a list of sample questions when interviewing agency staff and individuals receiving services.

Local and Regional Training Opportunities for Employment Professionals
231 kb (PDF) - Developed by the Employment First Provider Workgroup in partnership with Rhodes to Independence.

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Self Determination

Scaling up for Self-Determination
Scaling up for Self-Determination refers to many processes and procedures that help organizations at the community, state, and national level to sustain best and evidence-based practices in self-determination over time. These policy and organizational supports for self-determination occur through a number of initiatives by a variety of stakeholders which are highlighted on this Gateway to Self-Determination Web Portal.

Self Advocates: My Voice My Choice Video
Self-advocates tell in their own words, "What is Self-Determination and Why is it Important" -- the first in a series of topic-related videos for the National Gateway to Self-Determination.

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