Spring Conference
About the Conference
The 2012 AHEAD in Texas Conference will be held at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, April 12th & 13th (with a pre-conference workshop on the 11th). As we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary, our theme for the conference will be, “Remembering the Past, Envisioning the Future.”
Preconference: April 11, 2012
Conference: April 12 - 13, 2012
CEU credits available for: LPC & RID & LMSW
- Conference Logistics
- Conference Highlights
- Exhibitors
- Conference Schedule
- Session Descriptions
- Registration Materials
- Lodging
- Silent Auction
- AHEAD in Texas Scholarship Application
- Contact Information
Conference Logistics
The conference will be held in the University Wellness and Activities Center (UWAC) on the Our Lady of the Lake University campus, which is marked as building 27 on the map. Please enter campus using the “West Gate” on Commerce Street and park in either Lot “C” or Lot ”B” (link to PDF map attached). The conference will be held on the first floor of the UWAC. The Conference Registration Table will be located at the building entrance and from there participants will be directed to meeting rooms.
University Address and Contact Information is:
Our Lady of the Lake University
411 S.W. 24th Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
Conference Highlights
April 12, 2012 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 am
Keynote Address
Speaker: Dr. Marilyn Bartlett
Bartlett v. New York Board of Law Examiners
We are familiar with the landmark civil rights decision in the Bartlett case, and the impact it has had on our professional practice facilitating equal access for people with disabilities. The recent ADA Amendments Act noted the Bartlett v. New York State Board of Law Examiners ruling as one that was aligned with the civil rights “spirit” of the original law that the Amendments Act seeks to restore and preserves. Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s recent appointment to the Supreme Court was bolstered by her well-informed and deliberative ruling on the groundbreaking case.
We have the rare opportunity to hear the personal “voice” behind this history-shaping litigation. Dr. Bartlett herself will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the inequity that necessitated the case, the determined development of the case, and the far-reaching outcomes of the case from her professional and personal prospective.
April 11, 2012 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Institute
Faculty: Chuck Lopez
Developing a Comprehensive Assessment Plan for Disability Services
Institutional accountability will continue to increase across the nation. Today’s university leadership must be able move beyond program assessment. DS must identify and assess the impact our office has on student learning, program effectiveness, best practices and benchmarking. This session will be a workshop model that can assist you in identifying assessment objectives, possible assessment methods, and how to utilize the results for program improvement.
Exhibitors
Confirmed Exhibitors (as of 1/27/2012)
Audio Optical Systems of Austin, Inc. - Kurzweil*
Bookshare*
Christal Vision
Computer Comforts
DARS/Office of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services
DocSoft*
Enhanced Vision
University of Texas - Technology Access Program
Training Rehabilitation & Development Institute
Note: Besides having a booth in our Conference Exhibit Hall, the asterisked (*) exhibitors will also be demonstrating and answering questions about their technology during concurrent sessions at the Conference.
Conference Schedule
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Time |
Session and Presenter |
8:00 a.m. |
Registration |
9:00 a.m. |
All Day Preconference Session: |
12:00 p.m |
Lunch on your own |
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012
Time |
Session and Presenter |
8:00 a.m. |
Registration |
8:00 a.m. |
Exhibitor Move –in and Set-up |
8:00 a.m. |
Silent Auction Set-up |
9:00 a.m. |
Keynote Address: Dr. Marilyn Bartlett |
10:30 a.m. |
Break and Exhibitor Showcase |
11:30 a.m. |
Lunch (Provided) |
1:00 p.m. Concurrent Session |
Concurrent Session A1 Concurrent Session A2 Concurrent Session A3 |
2:15 p.m. |
Break and Exhibitor Showcase |
3:15 p.m. Concurrent Session |
Concurrent Session B1 Concurrent Session B2 Concurrent Session B3 |
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012
Time |
Session and Presenter |
8:00 a.m. |
Registration |
8:00 a.m. |
Exhibit Area Open |
8:00 a.m. |
Silent Auction Open |
8:30 a.m. Concurrent |
Concurrent Session C1 Concurrent Session C2 |
9:30 a.m. |
BREAK |
9:45 am Concurrent |
Concurrent Session D1 Concurrent Session D2 Concurrent Session D3 |
11:00 am |
BREAK |
11:15 am Concurrent |
Concurrent Session E1 Concurrent Session E2 |
Session Descriptions
Preconference Session
Developing a Comprehensive Assessment Plan for Disability Services
Presenter Chuck Lopez
Institutional accountability will continue to increase across the nation. Today’s university leadership must be able move beyond program assessment. DS must identify and assess the impact our office has on student learning, program effectiveness, best practices and benchmarking. This session will be a workshop model that can assist you in identifying assessment objectives, possible assessment methods, and how to utilize the results for program improvement.
Keynote Address
Bartlett v. New York Board of Law Examiners
Dr. Marilyn Bartlett
We are familiar with the landmark civil rights decision in the Bartlett case, and the impact it has had on our professional practice facilitating equal access for people with disabilities. The recent ADA Amendments Act noted the Bartlett v. New York State Board of Law Examiners ruling as one that was aligned with the civil rights “spirit” of the original law that the Amendments Act seeks to restore and preserves. Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s recent appointment to the Supreme Court was bolstered by her well-informed and deliberative ruling on the groundbreaking case.
We have the rare opportunity to hear the personal “voice” behind this history-shaping litigation. Dr. Bartlett herself will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the inequity that necessitated the case, the determined development of the case, and the far-reaching outcomes of the case from her professional and personal prospective.
Concurrent Session Descriptions
Current Session Breakout “A”
A1) Preparing Students, Parents and Professionals for the Postsecondary Education Track
Theresa Johnson
In working with students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and their families, there are many components of transition planning which are not taking place or are taking place in the last months before graduation. Often, there is no knowledge or understanding of the legal requirements regarding the appropriate components of a transition plan. This presentation will address the requirements of the transition planning process and other essential tools every family and student should know.
A2) Disability Services and Behavior Intervention Teams
Chuck Lopez
As members across campus come together to share information and assess students’ behavioral issues, disability services members play a key role in the process. This session will discuss the disability services/ADA coordinator’s role on the team.
A3) Exhibitor Presentation
Current Session Breakout “B”
B1) Accessibility in Online Learning
Cindy Camp
Does your campus think your office can work magic and make online classes accessible at any point? Universal Design says accessibility needs to be built into courses and websites as they are developed. In this presentation we’ll explore online accessibility and provide practical tips for making common file types accessible as well as explore post production captioning.
B2) The ABCs of Strategic Planning for Disability Services
Sandi Patton and Vicky Saunders
This presentation is geared towards helping the Disability Services Professional develop a Strategic Plan related to promoting students’ completion, success, and retention. The overall objective is to assist the participants in relating the plan back to their institutions’ strategic goals and initiatives. Come learn, engage and share in a discussion about developing your own Strategic Plan.
B3) Exhibitor Session
Current Session Breakout “C”
C1) Designing Collaborative Strategies to Maintain Balance (and Sanity) in a One-Person Office
Alan Russell and Gavin Steiger
It can be very challenging for one person to handle all aspects of a disability services office, especially when it is not the only office for which s/he is responsible. This presentation will discuss how these small, one-person offices can create and foster campus partnerships with various offices, as well as form relationships with and utilize external resources.
C2) Exhibitor Presentation
Current Session Breakout “D”
D1) Looking Back, Seeing the Future for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Melissa Bell and Jana Bielfeldt
In the beginning, deaf individuals were not allowed to be educated. Society didn’t think it was possible. Look how far we’ve come! In this session we will explore the past, present, and future of accommodating students who are deaf or hard of hearing for “equal access” to higher education. Current challenges and solutions to serving this population will be discussed.
D2) “Mom/Dad: I've Got It”
Carl A. Earwood
This workshop designed to describe strategies Disability Services professionals can use to interact with parents and families of students with disabilities. One must always remember that students with disabilities entering into college are responsible for their accommodations and their progress. This workshop will seek to provide some basic, yet critical communication tips to ensure that all parties are satisfied with the communication process at the college level.
D3) Exhibitor Presentation
Current Session Breakout “E”
E1) The ABCs of Assessment: Designing Assessment Tools that Work for You
Kristie Orr and Paul Harwell
Demonstrating effectiveness is becoming critical in higher education. Most DS coordinators do not have any formal training in program evaluation (or time to devote to it). This interactive presentation will explore the basic principles of assessment, provide examples of multiple methods of assessment, and discuss how to use the results to improve services for students with disabilities.
E2) Test Equity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Cindy Camp
When accommodating deaf students a common question is, can the test be signed to them? This presentation will look at language acquisition among individuals who are deaf and how that will affect comprehension of written language. Participants will learn about appropriate testing accommodations from a disability perspective and a legal perspective.
Registration Materials
Register now for the Spring 2012 AHEAD in Texas Conference.
Early Bird Deadline: March 4, 2012
2012 Spring Registration Packet (PDF Format & MS Word Version)
If you have not yet paid your 2012 membership fees, please be sure to also submit your membership application at: http://ahead.org/affiliates/texas/membership
Lodging
Since the spring conference is being hosted at Our Lady of the Lady University and not in hotel, there is no designated conference hotel. The conference committee has compiled a list of local hotels to help participants select an option.
Silent Auction
Each year at the AHEAD in Texas Spring Conference, the organization holds a Silent Auction to raise money for our annual scholarships. Members play a vital role in this fundraising effort by donating items to the auction as well and bidding on items during the conference.
Donation Form available in Conference Packet:
PDF Format or MS Word Version
Questions? Contact Eileen Cross, 281-756-3533, ecross@alvincollege.edu
AHEAD in Texas Scholarship Application
Each Spring AHEAD is Texas awards academic scholarships to students with disabilities in the State of Texas. Students must be nominated by a current AHEAD in Texas member and submit and application, personal statement and copies of their academic transcripts as part of the review process.
Application and nomination forms in the Conference Registration packet:
PDF Format or MS Word Version
Questions? Contact Cathy Tremaria, (512) 223-4725, ctremari@austincc.edu
Contact Information
For all other questions about the spring AHEAD in Texas conference please contact:
Rhonda Rapp, 210- 436-3135, rrapp2@stmarytx.edu
Alan Russell, 713- 348-5841, alan.g.russell@rice.edu
