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Attending:
Robin Kohn, Dominique Lepoutre, Kim-Anne Perkins, Steve Marson, Diane Strock-Lynskey, Pat Connolly (recorder).
Committee Progress Report for 2001-2002
Diane announced that the Disabilities Committee Progress Report has been submitted to the Board; a copy was distributed to
attendees. Diane notes that the Committee has been in the process of forming for the last two years. Committee objectives
and purposes were crafted last year.
Workshops/Events Hosted at 2002 BPD Conference:
Diane opened discussion by offering kudos to committee members who conducted disabilities-related presentations and workshops
at the conference. Members shared updates on sessions including:
(1) Robin's session on Addictions and Disabilities went well and drew 25-28 people. Robin reported excellent feedback
on evaluations and good interaction among participants. Discussion centered on efforts to integrate disabilities components
with addictions; this concept was enlightening to some. Robin noted the videotape Silent Storm as good resource on co-existence
of addictions and disability. Handouts were shared.
(2) Dominique, who previewed her presentation on Communications Technologies, which will be presented today, 10/26. Technologies
to assist the deaf elderly are a special focus. Computer-assisted instruction methodologies will also be discussed. Specific
technologies include:
- C-Print, using two computers in the classroom
- CART (Computer Assisted Real Time)
- TTYs in their latest iterations
- Hearing-aid compatible wireless technologies
- Cochlear implants
- Oral interpreters
- Voice regulation
(3) Kim hosted the Disabilities Forum. Participants largely set the agenda and substantially led the discussions. Kim
felt positively about the event, as did Robin and Pat, both of whom attended. Kim reported that 90% of forum attendees were
educators, others were practitioners. We need to pay attention to that latter subgroup. The forum focused this year on social
and economic justice. In future, some possible areas that might be the focus will be on the social work program settings and
also disability rights. The event should have a convener and evaluations; for this year, it had neither.
Development of Work Plan/Activities:
Diane prompted discussion of concerns regarding the meeting time for this Committee. One stipulation was to avoid holding
the meeting during workshop sessions. BPD originally scheduled this meeting for Thursday a.m., though that time was not requested.
Many participants were not even arriving until later on Thursday or Friday. The group considered alternatives for next year.
Friday lunchtime, 12-2, emerged as most popular. Diane will put in the request for that time during next year's conference.
Diane asked that everyone forward updated contact info to her. Attendees submitted pertinent information.
Stephen has been contacting colleagues who specialize in integrating technologies into disabilities for inclusion in next
year's conference. The Colorado Department of Education is on the cutting edge of technology and education. Many such technologies
are in the experimental stage, including some with application for persons with disabilities. Stephen detailed his prior interactions
with CO education personnel, hoping for their participation in last years conference and now next years conference in Reno.
At this point, Stephen has given up in frustration at lack of response from that agency.
Discussion ensued about whether or not the committee might attempt to solicit possible exhibitors in Nevada who might
do exhibit(s) on technologies and disabilities, perhaps from Carson City. Stephen will start with Nevada Dept. of Special
Ed. Robin will explore resources that might be utilized via the Association of Spinal Cord Injuries annual conference that
is held in Las Vegas. There are extensive presentations on assistive devices and accommodations at this conference. Robin
will focus on those geographically close to Reno. Kim talked about a federal grant at her institution's Student Support Services
that would fit appropriately with the Reno technology theme. She will make contacts and be in touch with the rest of the Committee
about their participation in the Reno conference. Kim noted that, instead of bringing this unit as an exhibitor, we might
consider including them as a presentation at the conference.
Diane will check with conference planning committee and learn about deadline dates for exhibits as well as process for
submitting requests. Stephen recommends that Christmas is too late. Diane reminded the Committee that exhibits are more expensive;
if such individuals opt instead to conduct presentations they might not incur the several level of cost. Maybe some will opt
for both!
The Committee considered whether to retain the Disabilities Forum. Kim assessed the event positively, highlighting the
importance of a venue in which the audience decides what is discussed. Robin suggested a panel of persons with disabilities
to speak about obstacles and opportunities. Diane suggested that this constituted a separate presentation and asked Robin
to draft a paragraph to that effect. Consideration would have to be given to participants' travel costs, costs for attendants,
etc. With lead-time, Diane projects, we can cost out the budget for next year. Dual disabilities should be included as a workshop/presentation
topic. Life experiences should be woven into presentations, including TBI and hidden disabilities (including fibromyalgia).
One justice issue could be framed as: a disability only becomes "legitimate" if a drug is identified to treat it
or if a movie star comes "out of the closet" with it. Another topical area to consider is how/whether to help or
offer help to a person with a disability; even people in the profession need significant help with these interactions. Potential
topics also include: non-visible disabilities, temporary disability; differing degrees of support in different institutions
and settings; unjust policies on campuses; the binary nature of disability labeling (totally disabled, or NOT disabled) and
its impact on ineligibility and self-perception.
Diane noted that we have quadrupled the number of workshops offered on disability topics. Kim recommends that we identify
the social and economic justice connection between disability and social work in order to enhance the visibility and centrality
of disability in BPD. Certain speakers should be engaged. Suggestions included Romel Mackelprang, possibly as plenary speaker;
he has done significant work on related constructs. Diane will contact him. Kim will contact Stephen French Gilson at Orono,
ME, as well as Liz DePoy. Colorado psychologist Les Bud is a fine speaker, offering awareness and sensitivity; Robin will
get his bio. Kim suggested that we use the Nat'l Institute on SW and Human Services in Rural Areas in August as a showcase
on disability issues; she will ask Gilson about keynoting there.
In the future, this Committee should request that all disability-related session proposals come through this Committee
for review. There is also a need to dialogue with those who currently screen conference proposals so that they know which
types of submissions should come to this Committee. Diane will make the request, and will put specifics in writing.
Conference Issues:
The group discussed the problems associated with having interpreters at a level that ensures inclusion for all. Diane talked
with Bonnie Bedics about different levels of support at the Conference. The consensus of the Committee was that, if a presenter
requests an interpreter, the Conference Planning Committee should budget for it. However, this year there was only $500 in
the total Conference Planning Committee budget for interpreters; this is entirely unrealistic. Rochester Institute of Technology
provided some interpreters this year to help to supplement services for their students who are deaf and/or hard of hearing
who attended the conference. BPD had to supplement up to $4,200. A more realistic figure for future conferences is $3,000-$5,000.
As a public venue, the Conference should be fully accessible. The responsibility for this should lie with the conference planners,
not with this Committee.
The Committee on Disability and Persons with Disabilities discussed ways of assisting the conference planners including
partnering in some way with the Conference Coordinator/Committee. The Committee decided to recommend the appointment of Committee
members as liaisons that have knowledge of various aspects of conference planning as it relates to disability. These liaisons
would be available to work with the Conference planners. A motion was made and seconded for Disability Committee members with
specialties to serve as liaisons to the Conference Planning Committee. Dominique will serve as liaison for deafness and hard
of hearing; Pat will be liaison for blindness. Robin Kohn will serve as a liaison for mobility issues. Each liaison will list
areas of information that we can assist in gathering. Liaisons must exert clarity and assertiveness in limiting their roles
to technical assistance and resource sharing as it relates to conference planning. It was also recommended that the Conference
adapt its registration form to specify what is needed for accommodations rather than leaving this so vague.
Transition of Leadership:
Diane's current chairpersonship expires January 1, 2003. Diane agreed to continue in a leadership role but requested that
a committee member might volunteer to assist. Kim-Anne volunteered to serve as Co-Chair. A motion to accept Diane and Kim's
Co-chairpersonship was moved, seconded and unanimously accepted. The recommendation will be forwarded to BPD President for
consideration. Diane then opened the discussion about her work as Chair: was it adequate, acceptable? The Committee commended
Dian's work highly, calling her a strong advocate and very competent leader. Other officers were officially named by the Committee,
including: Advisor on Deafness: Dominique; Technology Committee Liaison: Steve; Secretary: Pat Connolly. Steve also agreed
to set up a website for the Committee; members thanked him profusely!
Diane will work from these minutes to create a Work Plan for the Committee. She hopes to forward this to the Committee
in early January. Contact information for Committee members that attended the Pittsburgh meeting follow on the next page of
these minutes. A final, revised and updated full committee list will be sent out in January of 2003.
Diane's current chairpersonship expires January 1, 2003. Diane agreed to continue in a leadership role but requested that
a committee member might volunteer to assist. Kim-Anne volunteered to serve as Co-Chair. A motion to accept Diane and Kim's
Co-chairpersonship was moved, seconded and unanimously accepted. The recommendation will be forwarded to BPD President for
consideration. Diane then opened the discussion about her work as Chair: was it adequate, acceptable? The Committee commended
Dian's work highly, calling her a strong advocate and very competent leader. Other officers were officially named by the Committee,
including: Advisor on Deafness: Dominique; Technology Committee Liaison: Steve; Secretary: Pat Connolly. Steve also agreed
to set up a website for the Committee; members thanked him profusely!
Diane will work from these minutes to create a Work Plan for the Committee. She hopes to forward this to the Committee
in early January. Contact information for Committee members that attended the Pittsburgh meeting follow on the next page of
these minutes. A final, revised and updated full committee list will be sent out in January of 2003.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE AT BPD
PITTSBURGH, PA
OCTOBER, 20002
Pat Connolly
Salem State College
School of Social Work
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970
FAX: (978) 542-6936
Phone: (978) 542-6607
Email: patricia.connolly@salemstate.edu
Robin M. Kohn
University of Central Florida
School of Social Work
P.O. Box 163358
Orlando, FL 32816-3358
FAX: (407) 823-5697
Phone: (407) 823-2967
Email: rkohn@mail.ucf.edu
Dominique Lepoutre
Rochester Institute of Technology
1 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
FAX: (585) 475-6500
Phone: (585) 475-6757
Email: dominique@mail.rit.edu
Steve Marson
Social Work Program
One University Drive
UNC-P
Pembroke, NC 28358
FAX: (910) 521-6688
Phone: (910) 521-6475
Kim-Anne Perkins
U. of Maine Presque Isle
181 Main Street
Presque Isle, ME 04769
FAX: (207) 768-9433
Phone: (207) 768-9428
Email: perkins@umpi.maine.edu
Diane Strock-Lynskey
Social Work Program
c/o Social Work House
515 Loudon Road
Loudonville, NY 12211-1462
FAX: (518) 782-6499
Phone: (518) 782-4283
Email: strock@siena.edu
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