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Winter/Spring 2002 UCLA

NEW HORIZONS

UCLA Office for Students with Disabilities

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. A Word from the Director: Kathy's Korner by Kathy Molini
2. Deadline for Annual Scholarships Approaching
3. KCET'S College Relations Internship Program, Persons with Disabilities Program
4. Disclosing your Disability in the Employment Process
5. Graduate Disabilities Caucus
6. Disabled Student Union
7. 00-01 Annual Report Now Available in OSD
8. Searching for Scholarships
9. Alternate Formats
10. Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Disability
11. Los Angeles Commission on Disabilities: Bill Tainter Public Service Internship
12. Nadia Powers Scholarship
13. Have You Moved?
14. Contacting OSD
15. OSD Services

A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR

Kathy's Korner

It is hard to believe that we are getting close to the time of year that our thinking and planning turns to summer. Some of us make plans to travel and others look for summer employment. For those of you who are thinking about traveling, and could use some tips on travel for persons with disabilities, check out "Kathy's Corner" in the Spring 1998 issue of New Horizons by going to our web site (www.osd.ucla.edu).

For those of you who plan to work over the summer, I thought it would be worth resurrecting the very informative article by Cynthia Thompson of UCLA's Career Center. The article offers many important pointers, and can be found by using the following link:  "Disclosing your Disability in the Employment Process"

Whatever you end up doing, have a great time!

Deadline for Annual Scholarships Approaching

Each year the University awards several scholarships for students with disabilities. There are also several state-wide scholarships offered through the California Association on Postsecondary Education (CAPED).

The CAPED scholarships are for $1,000-1,500 with various eligibility requirements, but all are awarded to students with disabilities. Check with OSD or CAPED

Samuel Oschin Family Foundation Scholarship

• Preference given to physically challenged students.
• Continuing UCLA undergraduates enrolled in the College of Letters and Science or the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Involved in at least one extra curricular activity.

Marshall Nims Scholarship

• Preference given to students with disabilities.
• Continuing UCLA undergraduate enrolled in the College of Letters and Science.
• Good academic standing.

Nancy Diane Orford Scholarship

• Preference to an enrolled UCLA student diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in good academic standing. Students with other disabilities will also be considered.
• Preference to UCLA entering first year students who plan to major in a physical science in the College of Letters and Science.

The Scholarship Resource Center is another great source for scholarships. Use the following link to go directly to an article about the SRC in this issue: "Searching For Scholarships"

KCET'S College Relations Internship Program
Persons with Disabilities Program

The goal of the College Relations Program is to identify top college students who have a disability and who are at the junior, senior and graduate school level who have demonstrated high academic achievement in their major. These selected students should possess the ability and the potential to gain meaningful training to help them succeed in their broadcasting career development.

Participating interns shall be selected from local, accredited, four-year colleges and universities. Selection of participants shall be done through an application/interviewing process. The participating department and the Human Resources Department will make the hiring decision.

The duration of the internship shall be for one quarter or semester depending on the student's school system. This assignment can be extended for a full year provided the participant can commit to the duration of the program. Ideally, the internship schedule would involve two interns in the Fall and two interns in the Spring. This will be a paid assignment at a rate of $10.00 per hour.

The internship program will be designed to meet the goal objective of providing performance evaluation and coaching to the student and the department to enhance and validate the program. The desired goal will be to create a mutually beneficial relationship in which top-notch students perform a department's tasks and gain experience in the broadcasting field while providing the department with extra staffing to complete its work.

The Human Resources Department will implement the internship program. The Human Resources Manager will coordinate recruitment and application of participants. The manager will also monitor the progress of this program. Departments will be responsible for performance evaluations and coaching of the interns.

Interested students should contact Dalia Gomez, Internship Coordinator, at 323-953-5531, or email at dgomez@KCET.org or, send your letter of interest along with your resume to: KCET, 4401 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027.

Disclosing Your Disability in the Employment Process*

by Cynthia Thomas, Counselor, Supervisor, UCLA Career Center

In presenting workshops on resume writing, interviewing, and other job search strategies, I am encountering an increased number of inquiries from students regarding how they should or could talk about their disabilities during the various stages of the employment process. "Do I need to indicate on my resume that I am hearing impaired even though I read lips well and don't need an interpreter?" one student asked. Another student, who used crutches said, When I go for the interview, they can see that I have a disability, so I never even mention it. Is that okay?" Confused and worried, another student admitted, "I have no idea what I should say about my learning disability."

The American Disabilities Act (ADA) provides for the protection from discrimination of qualified candidates with disabilities who can, with or without reasonable accommodation, perform the essential functions of the position. Under the ADA, the employer only has the obligation to make "reasonable accommodations" for known disabilities.

Maybe you have not thought about the issue of disclosing before or perhaps you have agonized about it for many hours. Either way, the goal of this article is to acquaint you with some of the key issues surrounding this matter and to encourage you to seek more information.

Whether or not you should disclose information about your disability in the employment process varies from situation to situation. There is no one right answer. Even though it depends on the individual circumstances of the case, there are some important considerations for you to keep in mind when you make the decision.

The bottom line question should be: Does disclosing this information at this time and in this way bring me closer to getting the job offer and getting the appropriate accommodation(s) I need to perform the essential functions of the job?

If your disability has any bearing on your ability to do the job or needing an accommodation in the workplace, it is advisable to mention it at some point in the job search process. This is extremely important because under the ADA guidelines, employers only have to make reasonable accommodations for known disabilities. If your disability is visible, you might think that you don't have to mention the disability because it is apparent to the potential employer and shouldn't make any difference. That's true to some extent; however, it is important for you to realize that even though employers are prohibited from asking you about your disability, they may be curious or even a little uncomfortable about your disability. Your disclosing appropriate information eases any misgivings or nagging doubts and also answers unspoken questions which the potential employer may have about your ability to perform the job. In addition, especially if you have a hidden disability, disclosing appropriate information may give you a sense of openness, honesty and peace of mind.

Depending on your disability, you determine when to disclose. Honesty and openness are important, however you may not need to disclose in the first interview or ever. Some considerations include: your need for reasonable accommodation(s), company's hiring practices, unexpected barriers, and a realistic time frame.

To learn more about these critical questions, pick up a copy of the guide Disclosing Your Disability in the Employment Process and/or review the related books located in the Career Center library.

Graduate Disabilities Caucus Invites You to JOIN!!

The purpose of this organization is to provide a forum for addressing issues pertaining to disabilities curriculum, students with disabilities, peer support, and access issues on the UCLA campus. We welcome those graduate students with and without disabilities who have an interest in this area.

Our objectives include advocacy, education, resource management and referral, support, curriculum development, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and representation of students with physical, learning, developmental, and psychological disabilities to faculty, administration, Office of Students with Disabilities, Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Disabilities, and the UCLA student government bodies.

Disabled Student Union

The mission of the Disabled Student Union (DSU) is to ensure full accessibility of educational opportunity for students with disabilities at UCLA. The DSU also offers disabled peer support and plans programs and events aimed at raising the campus consciousness about disability-related issues. If interested in becoming involved, please contact Dria Fearn at dsunion@ucla.edu.

00-01 Annual Report Now Available in OSD

Searching For Scholarships

The search for scholarships can be complicated and confusing, but the Scholarship Resource Center (SRC) is here to help guide you through the maze. The SRC maintains a scholarship database and library, and provides workshops and counseling. The SRC is located at 233 Covel Commons (206-2875).

The SRC is an extremely valuable resource to assist you in searching for scholarships including those based on a disability or any number of other criteria. You don’t have to have a 4.0 GPA to qualify for many scholarships. Now is the time to start looking for funding for next year.

Upcoming Workhops:

• Free Scholarship Search,
• How to Find Scholarships,
• Writing Personal Statements for Scholarships,
• The Scholarship Process, and
• Searching for Scholarships on the Internet.

The SRC also offers the U.S. National and British Merit Scholarships, workshops to provide UCLA students information about national scholarships such as the Rhodes, Churchill, and Truman Scholarship programs.

A great way to become familiar with the process is to sign up for one of the Free Scholarship Search Workshops. Check the SRC website for times and locations.

www.college.ucla.edu/up/src

Alternative Formats Available

New Horizons is available in Braille, on tape cassette and on the OSD web site. Contact the OSD to request a copy in an alternative format.

Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Disability

The CACD was established in 1982 as an advisory group by the Chancellor to create and maintain a more accessible campus environment. The CACD is comprised of student, faculty, staff, alumni, community, and ex-officio members. The Committee’s charge is to analyze and identify problems, propose solutions, and make recommendations on matters of particular concern to persons with disabilities.

Meeting Times:
The 2^nd Tuesday of each month (except August and December,) 2-4 pm, Faculty Center

For more information contact the ADA & 504 Compliance Office at (310) 825-2242 (voice) or (310) 206-3349 tty

Los Angeles Commission on Disabilities Announces
Bill Tainter Public Service Internship

This internship is awarded to a disabled person who exhibits pride and belief in the independent living movement and has a interest in disabilities issues in general.

This is a temporary, entry level position working with the LA County Commission on Disabilities. Duties include data entry, limited research, letter composition, public referral, attending Commission and County Board of Supervisors meeting as well as other duties related to the Commissions operations.

Applications are available the OSD or by writing to:
Tainter Internship Committee
Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities
383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Deadline: September, 16, 2002

Nadia Powers Scholarship

$500 Awarded to a UCLA Undergraduate or Graduate

For an outstanding project that furthers the understanding and study of people with disabilities

Projects must be faculty sponsored and may include: a research proposal, a research paper, field study report or architectural or 3-dimensional model/design. Possible subjects may include any of a wide variety of issues related to people with disabilities such as behavior, care, interactions, access issues, political power, etc.

Application Deadline
Tuesday, JUNE 21

Come by the OSD for an application or more information.

HAVE YOU MOVED?

Please remember to let the OSD know each time you change your address in order to continue to receive the newsletter and other important mailings regarding priority enrollment, proctoring, van transportation, etc.

Changing your address with the Registrar’s Office DOES NOT change your address with OSD. You can call the office, e-mail us, or come in and fill out a "change of address" slip.

Contacting OSD

Tim Andrews
Resource Room Assistant
tandrews@saonet.ucla.edu
825-2860

George Auletta
Programmer Analyst
gauletta@saonet.ucla.edu
794-5723

Chana Bell
Learning Disabilities Specialist
cbell@saonet.ucla.edu
206-6383

Tony Buffo
Resource Room Assistant
tbuffo@saonet.ucla.edu
825-2651

Doug Gerow
Auxiliary Services Coordinator
dgerow@saonet.ucla.edu
794-5725

Dan Levitt
Assistant Director & Coordinator of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student Program
dlevitt@saonet.ucla.edu
267-2005

Maria Martin
Payroll Administrator
memartin@saonet.ucla.edu
794-5731

Ed McCloskey
Mobility Assistance Program Coordinator
emcclosk@saonet.ucla.edu
267-2004

Kathy Molini
Director
kmolini@saonet.ucla.edu
825-1501

Julie Morris
Coordinator, Learning Disabilities Program
jmorris@saonet.ucla.edu
794-5732

Deb Owen
Budget Analyst/Supervisor of Technology, Planning & Training
dowen@saonet.ucla.edu
825-1501

Linda Stolt
Assistant Director/Proctor Services Coordinator
lstolt@saonet.ucla.edu
267-2008

Sharon Teruya
Learning Disabilities Specialist
steruya@saonet.ucla.edu
206-9160

Powell Resource Room
825-2651

FAX
825-9656

TDD
206-6083

Van Line
825-2263

Web page
http://www.osd.ucla.edu

OSD Services

Whether you are a new or continuing student, the OSD is here to assist you. There are many academic support services that the OSD has to offer regularly enrolled UCLA students with documented permanent and temporary disabilities. These disability-based services include:

Notetaking
Provided for students with a wide variety of disabilities, there are three approaches to this service: ASUCLA Lecture Notes, Volunteer Stipend Approach, and Classroom Assistant. The approach selected for a particular student will be determined after discussion with the Auxiliary Services Coordinator and based on verified need.

Proctoring
As an academic adjustment, a student with a disability may need alternative test-taking conditions. Depending upon the disability documentation, faculty consultation and the requirements of the academic program, appropriate testing accommodations for students may include: the exam printed in large print or Braille; additional time for the exam; one-on-one assistance such as the proctor reading the test questions and/or writing the student’s answers. Please contact the Proctor Coordinator for further information.

Transcription
Provided primarily for eligible students with learning disabilities, visual impairments or disabilities impacting manual dexterity, this service involves the conversion of information in any format into another format (tape to transcript, text to Braille, handwriting to typed material, etc.).

Reading/Scanning
The OSD will first facilitate membership in RFBD (Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic) for eligible students. If the readings are unavailable through RFBD, then readings may be done live or onto a tape. Scanning involves using a computer to scan the material and convert it to a word processing program which can, in turn, be converted into Braille, large print or a speech synthesized reading program.

Technology Resources for Students with Disabilities
The Office for Students with Disabilities maintains a Resource Room in Powell 181 that is used by students for distraction-free testing and use of special adaptive equipment and devices. There are several computer workstations with adaptive software that are used for scanning, reading, editing, large print, voice recognition and other activities. In addition, there are computer labs throughout the campus available to students who do not need adaptive technology.

The Office for Students with Disabilities maintains a close working relationship with the Disabilities and Computing Program which researches and field tests adaptive technology as it comes out and makes recommendations to students and campus departments. Students can receive and advice on the most useful software for their individual needs. Students may contact this program (206-7133) on their own or be referred by the Office for Students with Disabilities.

Priority Enrollment/ Registration Assistance
Priority enrollment is available to undergraduate students whose disability impacts their ability to get from class to class quickly, students who need to arrange for service providers or students who must take a reduced course load. Students requiring disability-based registration assistance may contact the OSD for more information.

Mobility Assistance Program

On-Campus Van Service
This service offers academically-related rides to students with mobility disabilities which impact their ability to travel around campus. Van service is provided from 7:20am to 5:40 pm, Monday through Thursday. Friday hours are 7:20 am to 5:00 pm. Contact the OSD to ask for the Campus Transportation Options flyer which contains information regarding evening and weekend rides and much, much, more.

Parking
All students with permanent or temporary disabilities or medical conditions must apply for parking directly at the OSD. Please contact the OSD by phone (267-2004) in order to arrange for an appointment. Students with Department of Motor Vehicle Disability Placards or Plates must bring their placard ID to their appointment.

Students without DMV disability plates or placards must have a Disability Verification Form completed by a health care professional in order to apply for parking. This form can be obtained from the OSD. Parking is granted only if a disability-based need is stated in the documentation.

The Mobility Assistance Coordinator will authorize appropriate parking. The application then needs to be taken to Parking Services for payment, processing and issuance of a permit and gate key.

Campus Orientation
Students with visual impairments may request a campus orientation and mobility session with the Mobility Assistance Coordinator.

The student will learn to traverse the campus as he/she would during a regular day - going from the classroom to labs, lecture halls, or bus stops.

Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Interpreting/Captioning
In order to participate fully in classes and activities, students who are deaf may receive Sign Language interpreting or real-time captioning. Interpreters use American Sign Language to interpret what the teachers and students say. Real-time captioning allows deaf students to read the verbatim lecture on a laptop computer as the professor lectures. Real-time captioning uses the same method and equipment used by court reporters.

Program for Students with Learning Disabilities

The Learning Disabilities Program serves students with documented specific learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, acquired brain injury, and students with psychological disabilities. Based on their disability-related needs, students may receive extended time for exams, notetakers, tutorial services, textbooks on tape, adaptive technology, alternative testing format, disability-related counseling and may participate in learning strategies workshops, support groups and the peer mentor program.

Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities
Reading machines and voice-synthesized editing programs are available in our Resource Room, Powell 181. These aids may be used to compensate for reading and writing difficulties. The following assistive technology is available for student use:

Bookwise and WYNN reading programs: These are "friendly" reading programs that use a voice synthesizer to read aloud to students. Popular features of this software include a dictionary to define unfamiliar vocabulary, easily adjustable reading rates and a selection of computer voices. Bookwise also allows you to edit the scanned document.

Openbook: Openbook is a "scan-and-read" computer program. It will scan a full page in less than 15 seconds and read aloud to students. Text can also be saved on disk for reading at a later time.

Please contact a Learning Disabilities Specialist to determine your eligibility to use this assistive technology, and for a demonstration.

Other Services at the OSD

Other services offered by this office include: Housing Assistance, Tutorial Referrals, Disability Management Counseling and Information and Referral, among others.

New Horizons is published quarterly by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). The views expressed in this newsletter by individual contributors are not necessarily the views of the OSD. The OSD welcomes material submitted for publication which may be of interest to its readers such as brief articles, essays, or poetry. We reserve the right to edit the material as needed. Contact the OSD for deadline information.

UCLA Office for Students with Disabilities
A-255 Murphy Hall
Box 951426
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1426
(310) 825-1501