Fall 2001 Disability Services Newsletter

Praise for Our Writing Lab Instructor
I would like to express my gratitude to Jeanne Yeasting in the Writing Lab for her excellent tutoring abilities. This spring semester 2001, I took an upper division UWRP class. I sought help from Jim Cohn in DS when I started to have problems. He introduced me to Jeanne. My analytical skills were in desperate need of improvement and I was getting no help from my professor. The transition from essay to analytical was a difficult one for me. Jeanne would make me think with her probing questions. She would not give me answers, nor would she let me off easy. I greatly appreciated her gentle, encouraging, and firm teaching style. My grade for this class is a "B."

I hope that the university will acknowledge her skills in some way. I have already recommended her to fellow students and I know that if I ever have a need for writing again, I will look her up. What I learned from her will prove to be invaluable for me in any future classes and in my professional career. Patricia (Trish) Dickey

Campus Accessibility Fair
Thursday, September 13, 2001, Disability Services (DS) participated in the first Campus Accessibility Fair which was held from noon to 4:00. The fair was organized by members of the Program Accessibility Committee (PAC), a committee that reports to the chancellor on the status of programmatic accessibility at CU-Boulder

The purpose of the fair was to acquaint members of the university community with the available resources here on campus. Many groups and programs were represented, including Disability Services, the PAC committee, Wardenburg Health Center, the Center for People with Disabilities, the Coleman Institute, and the Office of Equal Opportunity to name a few.

A New Lounge
During our spring cleaning, we decided to clear a space for a visitors' lounge. It is located at the end of the Disability Services hallway in Willard and is a quiet, lovely space to wait for an appointment, study, or just relax. It offers a bird's eye view of campus as well as a computer for the use of our guests. Feel free to drop by and visit!

Dr. Larry Scadden to be Keynote at Fall Assistive Technology Conference
The fourth annual Accessing Higher Ground: Assistive Technology in Higher Education conference will be held November 14�16, 2001. It is again hosted by Disability Services at the University of Colorado at Boulder. A preconference day offering hands-on workshops and lectures will be held on November 14. This year's event will be held on the CU-Boulder campus and at the Millennium Hotel in Boulder.

The keynote speaker for this year's conference will be Dr. Larry Scadden of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Scadden earned his master's degree in experimental psychology and took a position at the Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, researching technology to assist people with visual and auditory impairments. Dr. Scadden received his doctorate there in 1971. In 1979 he was appointed deputy director of a newly created federal agency on disability research, now an office within the Department of Education. He was invited to head the NSF's disability initiative in 1991.

Preconference workshops include


• Accessible Web Site Creation, Norm Coombs, Dick Banks, EASI
• JAWS for Windows, Access to the Internet and other Advanced Features, David Wilkersen, Henter-Joyce
• Web Access: Evaluation and Repair Tools and Utilities, Laurie Harrison, ATRC, University of Toronto
• Creating Tactile Graphics using the TIGER Advantage Embosser, John Gardner, OSU
• Accommodation, Technology, and Legal Issues at the Post-Secondary Level, Paul Grossman, Office of Civil Rights

Workshops offered at this year's conference include:


• Courseware Accessibility: The Saga Continues, Laurie Harrison, ATRC, University of Toronto
• Accessibility of Online Resources in Higher Education�Problems and Strategies for Change, Axel Schmetzke, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Tips for Success for Those with ADD or ADHD: How to Survive and Thrive in College
Although there are many descriptions about ADD and ADHD, one of the best ways to describe it is as a disorder of inefficiency. People with ADD or ADHD function like everyone else, but do so with less efficiency. There are many successful ways to manage this disorder, including medications and behavioral techniques. It is generally believed that ADD and ADHD are neurological disorders with symptoms that become obvious in early childhood. However, it might not be officially recognized by medical or school personnel until later.

Not all techniques are effective for everyone, but it is worth the time and effort to discover what works for you. Remember, the key is to become more efficient in your academic efforts. The following suggestions have been found helpful in increasing focus and concentration.

1. Plan to exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. Do your studying after you exercise. Remember that people with ADHD need more physical stimulation and activity during the day. You may want to experiment with sports such as kickboxing, handball, or aerobics.
2. Take a Yoga, Thai Chi, or meditation class, and learn the techniques associated with these ancient disciplines. They provide relaxation as well as quieting a racing mind. Boulder offers many opportunities for learning these techniques.
3. Get out of your bedroom, dormitory room, or house to study. Find a place where the atmosphere is quiet, and there is nothing to distract you. Interruptions can be great reasons for procrastination.
4. Structure most of your day. Use a "Day-timer" for planning. Remember, structure does not have to be boring. However, when planning your week, be sure to include your favorite activities along with the necessary ones.
5. Set daily priorities. Priorities are different than goals in that you determine what is most important, then decide what you should do first.
6. Set daily, weekly, and semester goals. Keep them where you will notice them daily.
7. Reward yourself when you have achieved a specific goal. Too many times we do not give ourselves credit for what we have done well.
8. Learn to say "NO" to people and activities that detract from your study and personal time. Select your activities carefully.
9. Choose one or two activities you really enjoy that are easily accessible but do not involve much time or money. Examples include pool, pick-up basketball, computer games, and reading magazines. Indulge in a half-hour television show as a way to relax, or just take a break.
10. Do not neglect sleep. Studies show that cramming the night before a test does not significantly improve students' test performance.
11. If you are taking medication for your ADD or ADHD and find that it is not effective, see your doctor to discuss the alternatives. If you feel "jittery" as the effects of the medication wear off, try doing some fast-paced exercise such as bike riding or aerobics.
12. Sit in the front and middle of the classroom where it is easier to pay attention.
13. Do not allow yourself to fall into the habit of watching the clock.
14. Find a "study buddy" to work with on a weekly basis. It is usually easier to concentrate in a one-on-one situation.
15. Set yourself up for success. Experiment to find what patterns work for you, then stick with them.

Disability Services Commitment to Diversity
DS provides the campus and community with support and outreach related to our services: the Assistive Technology Lab, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Interpreting Services, Career Program for Students with Disabilities, the Academic Access and Resources Program. Currently, Disability Services is exploring new ways to develop and publicize diversity-related outreach components for each of our programs in order to better serve the needs of all underrepresented students. These diversity components have a two-fold purpose:

• to help students, faculty, and staff learn about the stigma and the "marginalization" some people experience
• to support minority individuals who also have disabilities in dealing with this "double stigmas"

Welcome and Information Session
An informational session for new students was offered Friday, August 24, 2001 from noon - 1:30 in the Student Recreation Center, room 3. Both students and parents were invited to join us for a "picnic lunch," meet staff, and find out what DS has to offer.

What is New at the Rec Center?
The CU-Boulder Student Recreation Center is ADA compliant but has taken steps to provide even more opportunities for people with disabilities. Several options now make it possible for those with physical disabilities to work out. For example, a wheelchair-accessible aerobic machine is available, and the weight training room features a special Universal Machine, an eight-station device designed by a wheelchair athlete. A new aquatic ramp to access the swimming pool has also been added. Strength training, body sculpting, creative movement, and aqua classes are offered. Yoga classes that are great for stress reduction, as well as stretching, can be adapted for people with physical disabilities. Fees are charged for some classes and programs. For more information, contact Patti Kish at 303-492-6949 (programs and classes) or Wally Ross at 303-492-6931 (sports fitness area).

Memorial Dedication
A bench and tree were dedicated to the memory of Terri Bodhaine, director of DS from 1998 to 2000. The new memorial is located in the newly-renovated east courtyard of Willard Hall. The dedication ceremony was September 24, 2001.

Scholarships Available
Several scholarships are available through DS for students who meet specific criteria, including financial need. Ask your Specialist for details.