On Saturday, May 16th, families from all over Vermont came to the O'Brien Community Center in Winooski, hoping to make their kids' summer just a bit more fun. At the open house, thirty-eight kids with disabilities were fitted for specially adapted bikes that allow them to ride independently. AMBUCS, a national organization that promotes mobility and independence, provides sample bikes and parts for the open house, including hand cranks, block pedals, trunk supports, and head rests. A group of Vermont pediatric physical and occupational therapists volunteered their time to fit the kids. Each child was evaluated, and bikes adapted to fit their specific needs. A group of CDCI personnel greeted and signed in the families, and handled the paperwork. Kids will now be placed on a wish list, and fund raising events are planned to purchase the bikes. Last year, all 34 children fitted for bikes received them! This year, the chapter will need to raise about $23,000 to pay for the 38 bikes.
Marie MacLeod, CDCI faculty and president of the local Vermont AMBUCs chapter, will coordinate the fund raising events. "The biggest joy in doing this is the psychological benefit that I see these kids getting from finally being able to do something that their peers take for granted and do so easily," said Marie. "It's no fun in the summer to be sitting on the sidelines watching. These bikes allow the kids to be not sitting and watching but to be right there doing with their friends." With fundraising events planned, CDCI hopes these kids will be on their AMBUCS bikes this summer. Those interested in helping to make this happen can send donations to "Vermont Friends of AMBUCS-Wishlist", 26 Alder Lane, Burlington, VT, 05401. For more information contact CDCI, 802-656-4031.
The Center on Disability and Community Inclusion at UVM has been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Post Secondary Education. The overall goal of this 3-year project is to develop a system of campus-wide supports and resources for the creation of learning environments and experiences that serve the diverse learning needs of ALL UVM students, including students who experience disabilities. UVM will be well situated to respond pro-actively to the recently signed Higher Education Opportunity Act, which establishes new requirements for universities and colleges with regard to the learning needs of students with disabilities.
This grant will establish an interdisciplinary consulting team from CDCI, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Academic Support Programs to support faculty campus-wide. The team will be coordinated by Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Susan Edelman, Research Associate Professor and CDCI Associate Director, and Dr. Larry Shelton, Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies.
An overview of the project will be presented Monday, Oct. 20th at 4:30 pm in Memorial Lounge, Waterman, UVM.
Supporting Individuals Who Experience Autism Spectrum Disorder (Click to download pdf)
The Center on Disability and Community Inclusion, along with other Vermont Disability Advocacy groups hosted a community showing of Dan Habib’s documentary Including Samuel on February 11th on the University of Vermont campus. Over 300 people attended the event, including several UVM education classes. Mann Hall was overflowing with community members young and old, who were given a chance to look at community inclusion in a new light.
Habib’s film Including Samuel examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. The film documents the Habib family’s journey as they work to include Samuel in all facets of their lives, a journey that transforms each of them. The film was followed by a panel discussion on inclusion issues with Dan Habib and local disability advocates.
Other sponsors included UVM College of Education and Social Services, Vermont ILEHP, Vermont DD Council, Vermont P & A, Disability Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid, Vermont Center for Independent Living, Parent to Parent of Vermont, Parent Information Center, Green Mountain Self-Advocates, Burlington School District, and the VermontCoalition for Disability Rights.
Barbara Miles, an I-Team Deaf-blindness Consultant, received a Distinguished Service Award from Deafblind International at their
World Conference in Australia this last September. The award is for outstanding and lasting contribution to the international deafblind field. It particularly recognizes Barbara’s work on the importance of hands for children with deafblindness, and the development of specific techniques for interacting skillfully with their hands. CDCI is proud and honored to have Barbara working with us.
More information on Barbara Miles’ work is the field can be found in Remarkable Conversations, by Barbara Miles and Marianne Riggio. The book is a guide to developing meaningful communication with children and young adults who are deaf-blind. Remarkable Conversations is available through the CDCI Bookstore online, or by contacting Michaella Collins, michaella.collins@uvm.edu.
Last modified May 19 2009 12:49 PM
