Spring 2001 Disability Services Newsletter

In Memorium
It is with deepest sadness that we report that Terri Bodhaine, Director of Disability Services (DS) from August 1998 to September 2000, passed away on September 24, 2000. She was 53. Terri graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1969 from Western Washington State College in Bellingham and earned a master's degree in education at CU-Boulder in 1973.

Terri served the university for 20 years, beginning in 1980 as an academic skills instructor in counseling services. She was also an instructor at the Economics Institute and the Division of Continuing Education. In 1982 she began working as a learning disabilities specialist and held the position of learning disabilities coordinator before assuming her role as director.

She was instrumental in bringing learning disabilities conferences to the CU-Boulder campus in 1992, 1993, and 1994, and was named CU-Boulder's Employee of the Year in 1992. Terri participated on the planning committee for the Accessing Higher Ground: Assistive Technology in Higher Education Conference. Under her leadership, progress was made in creating an improved climate on campus for people with disabilities. For example, she was a member of the Program Accessibility Committee that worked on this issue. Also, under her leadership, the Disability Services Faculty and Staff Handbook was published, and an accessibility guide for the campus was completed. C-print technology for Deaf and hard of hearing students was also initiated. Terri was an inspiration to all of us in Disability Services and a respected leader in the field of disabilities.

A campus memorial service was held on Terri's birthday, November 7, 2000. Both a tree and a bench with a plaque will be dedicated in Terri's memory and will be placed near Willard Hall where Terri worked. Terri's enthusiastic spirit, wonderful sense of humor, and dedication to disability causes will be missed by all.

A Message from Cindy Donahue, Interim Director
Greetings from the Office of Disability Services. This issue is dedicated to the memory of our director, Terri Bodhaine. Although Terri put up an admirable fight over the nine months following her diagnosis of cancer, she lost her battle last September. It is a reminder to us all of the fragility of life and the unexpected or unwanted challenges that come our way. If you knew Terri, you are aware that she had tremendous devotion to her students at CU-Boulder. Her laughter, her expertise in a multitude of areas from learning disabilities and academic strategies to cooking and "retail therapy," her humor, her advice, and her presence, are greatly missed.

Fortunately, thanks to Terri's efforts, the DS office is well staffed with highly dedicated people who possess a wide range of expertise, and we are forging ahead.

The number of students who registered with our office last fall increased by more than 100 over the previous year. More students are using assistive technology, and more students are meeting with specialists to enhance their learning skills and improve academic performance. The increased numbers, as well as the students' diverse profiles, greatly enhance the richness of the campus environment.

Recently, DS distributed a survey to faculty and staff at CU-Boulder to understand the faculty perspective on the role of DS on campus. In addition, DS wanted to determine the understanding of disability issues in general. Overall, faculty and staff responded quite positively. Some wanted to know more about our services as well as how reasonable accommodations are determined and provided.

As you read on, you will learn about some of the successes of the DS office, such as the third annual assistive technology conference, and exciting events yet to come, such as a visiting lecturer who will present information on the historical aspects of disability. Cindy Donahue, Interim Director

Douglas C. Baynton Presents Disabilities Lecture
Historian Douglas C. Baynton, Ph.D., will present a lecture on disability as a significant factor in the great citizenship debates of the 19th and early 20th centuries: women's suffrage, African American freedom and civil rights, and the restriction of immigration. Disability Services believes Professor Baynton's comprehensive analysis of disability in American history offers an important opportunity for staff and faculty to work together to investigate these experiences. Currently an assistant professor of history and speech pathology and audiology at the University of Iowa, Dr. Baynton is the author of Forbidden Signs: American Culture and The Campaign Against Sign Language, several text chapters, and numerous articles related to disability culture and history. DS and several academic departments, including the departments of history; philosophy; speech, language, and hearing sciences; ethnic studies; the Center for Humanities and the Arts; and the Sewall Hall Ameri- can Studies Program will cosponsor the event. Dr. Baynton will speak on Tuesday, March 6, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. in the Aspen Room of the University Memorial Center. The presentation is free. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 for further information.

Senior Offers Advice
Kris Wright, a senior majoring in English, plans to graduate in May 2001. Kris transferred to the Uni- versity of Colorado at Boulder in 1997 from Colorado Mountain College. As Kris reflects on her CU-Boulder experience, she says that her internships have been an important part of that experience. Currently, she is looking forward to a paid internship with University Communications that she will begin soon. In that position, she will interview faculty and write articles. Kris previously had an internship at the state capital working for Colorado State Representative Fran Coleman where she scheduled events, answered phones, took care of incoming mail, and did filing. She felt that this position provided her with valuable experience, not only because of the job skills she learned, but also because it helped her understand the workings of the Colorado House and Senate. As a result of her internship experience, Kris has made some career decisions.

In order to prepare for her internships, Kris participated in the Career Program for Students with Disabilities. Career Services counselors assisted with her resume and helped her learn interviewing skills. They also videotaped one of her practice interviews so that she could analyze and improve her interviewing skills. By meeting individually with counselors and attending the Employer Panel presented by CPSD, Kris learned about disability-related issues and resources. Kris highly recommends doing an internship both for the skills that can be learned and for the career experience that looks impressive on a resume.

Kris also appreciates the personal and academic support she has received from her specialist, Cindy Donahue. She recommends that new students connect with a specialist to discover the options available to them.

New Specialist Joins Our Team
Disability Services welcomes a new addition to the Academic Access and Resources Program. Elaine Downing brings a great deal of experience working with people with all types of disabilities. She has a strong counseling background and is a recognized leader in biofeedback therapy. She is also highly knowledgeable about university policies and procedures as she has previously worked on campus for 16 years. Elaine says she looks forward to joining the Disability Services staff and working with students to help them achieve their educational goals. DS is fortunate to have Elaine as a new member of the team.

AT Conference a Success!
In November Disability Services presented the third annual Accessing Higher Ground: Assistive Technology in Higher Education Conference. The three-day event began with a preconference on the CU-Boulder campus. Hands-on workshops were presented on accessible web design and JAWS for Windows. The main conference was once again held at the Raintree Hotel and Conference Center in Longmont. The keynote speaker for this year's conference was Janice Hertz who manages Microsoft's Products and Tech- nologies team within the Accessible Technology Group (ATG). The group works closely with Microsoft product groups providing accessibility expertise and design guidance. Janice spoke about how Microsoft and other companies are working to make software accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. She also discussed new strategies for making software easier to use by people with visual and physical disabilities. Workshops included such topics as federal law and access to technology, distance education, C-print technology, and challenges in higher education when dealing with adaptive technologies in the university environment. Accessible web design and long-distance learning topics were emphasized. There were also workshops on voice recognition and new technology for individuals with low vision and blindness. About 20 percent of the conference attendees were from campus, a significant increase from last year. Disability Services thanks all who participated, and we look forward to next year's conference.

More information on the speakers and copies of their handouts can be found on the conference web site at www.colorado.edu/sacs/ATconference.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Conference to be Held
The Southwest Regional Resource Center will host an outreach and technical assistance conference for postsecondary Deaf and hard of hearing students, faculty, staff, service providers, rehabilitation counselors, employers, Deaf organizations, and other interested parties. It will be held March 30 through April 1, 2001, at the Regal Harvest House in Boulder. It is a three-day conference designed for further professional development and networking. For further information, contact Regina Schulz, Outreach Coordinator, at 303-589-9198 (V) or 303-776-4432 (TTY) or rkschulz@netzero.net. Visit the SRCC web site at www.ppc.cccoes.edu/SRRC.

Updated Accessibility Guide Completed
Disability Services is proud to announce the completion of the University of Colorado at Boulder Campus Accessibility Guide. This guide is an updated version of the previous accessibility guide in text format. A map that will link to the accessibility guide is also being updated. The text version lists accessible building entrances, provides elevator information, and describes restroom accessibility. Information about handicapped parking is also included. Disability Services appreciates the assistance from Parking Services in updating this information. Thanks also to Phil Simpson who helped verify the information. Because of the complex nature of collecting information across campus, DS realizes that the guide may contain some errors. If you know of information that should be corrected, contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671. To view the campus accessibility guide, visit the DS web site at www.colorado.edu/sacs/disabilityservices. Click on the resources page.

Disability Services Staff

Blankis, Leslie - Interpreting Services Coordinator	303-492-4125V/TTY
Bond, Catherine - Receptionist	303-492-8671 V/TTY
Bowman, Kathy - Disability Specialist	303-735-2998
Boyd, Karen - Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist	303-492-4124 TTY
Cohn, Jim - Disability Specialist	303-492-5602
Colcord, Ann - Business Manager	303-492-8671
Donahue, Cindy - Interim Director	303-492-5614
Downing, Elaine - Disability Specialist	303-492-5613
Fieirtag, Ruth - Writing Lab	303-492-5606
Gardine, Suzanne - Student Assistant	303-492-8671
Holdorf, Mandi - Student Assistant	303-492-8671
Hutapea, Johannes - Student Assistant	303-492-8672
Kramer, Howard - Assistive Tech Lab Coordinator	303-492-8672
MacArthur, Jayne - Coordinator, AAR Program	303-492-5612
Wood, Allen - AT Lab Assistant	303-735-4836
Yonkerman, Tom - AT Lab Assistant	303-492-8672