A Special Lecture Series focused on helping people with communication challenges.

Lectures were held from 11:30a to 1:00p in the Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero Building, Lecture Hall

Room131. The guest lecturer was Visiting Professor Diane Nelson Bryen, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

17 October 2008

“The right to Communicate” – Augmentative & Alternative Approach

Communications is the essence of life. However, for many individual with disabilities spoken language is not an effective means of communication. As a consequence, many people believe that if you cannot communicate, you have little to say.

The presentation introduced the communication ‘Bill of Rights’ and the technologies that can provide an effective communication augment to spoken language. Download the PDF file for her slides on the CEDDERS website.

24 October 2008
“Ending the Silence” – Abuse & Neglect (Protection and Advocacy)
People with disabilities are 4 to 10 times more likely to be victims of crime. This presentation will discuss the scope of the problem and what is needed to “end the silence” of victims with disabilities.

31 October 2008
“Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities”
People with disabilities have not been part of the planning process needed to prepare for and respond to man-made or natural disasters. This presentation focuses on what is needed to ensure the safety of ALL, including those with disabilities, in times of emergency.

7 November 2008
“Assistive Technology and Transition From School to Adult Life
Transition from school to adult life is important to students with disabilities. It is even more critical for students with disabilities who rely on a variety of assistive technologies. This presentation addresses what factors need to be built into an effective transition plan so that a smooth transition from school to adult life is more likely to occur.

New and upgraded computers were installed/moved into the Mac computer lab, rooms 108-A and 108-B, at the end of the Fall ’07 semester. The 10 new iMacs and the 10 new monitors for the Dells replaced the original 18 aging iMacs. During much of this summer, computer technician, Rudy Magallanes, and I have been reconfiguring both of the computer labs for the new ceiling-mounted projectors, and completing all of the paperwork involved in disposing of non-functioning hardware and software and donating the remaining viable iMacs to various educational entities.

The first donation of 4 iMacs was to the Reading Lab, on the first floor, under the supervision of Dr. Catherine Stoicovy. The hard drives have been cleared; now they await new Ethernet cords for Internet connections in their new home.

Our next donation should be to 2 or 3 elementary and middle schools which have no computers at all. We will keep you posted.