Welcome
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Is there anything more exciting than the beginning of a new school year? While many of CDCI personnel work year-round, summer brings quieter hallways to Mann Hall and much of UVM's campus, and having students and faculty back on campus brings a revitalizing energy. Being back to school means we are back to doing some of our best work including teaching and supporting both students and educators across the state and collaborating with new and different people, departments, and organizations who share our passion for an inclusive Vermont.
In this issue of CDCI Connects, we introduce the Department of Education's new Chair, Dr. Kimberly Vannest, take a look at a new service offered by Student Access Services, introduce a fourth AT Tryout Center site through our collaboration with the Vermont Assistive Technology Project, and provide some updates on Act 173, which effects Special Education funding in Vermont schools.
Thank you for reading!
All my best,
Jeanne Nauheimer
Dissemination Coordinator
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Partner Profile: Meet Kimberly Vannest, Department Chair
 This July, the College of Education and Social Services welcomed Kimberly Vannest, Ph.D. as Chairperson of the Department of Education (DOE). Dr. Vannest comes to the University of Vermont from Texas A&M and brings expertise in interventions for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in educational and clinical settings and Single Case Experimental Design analysis. Before the start of the semester, Kimberly graciously answered some questions about the work she did that brought her to UVM and what she sees ahead.
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Project Profile: Assistive Technology Opens a Fourth Tryout Center!
In collaboration with the Vermont Assistive Technology Project and Caselton University, CDCI is excited to announce a fourth AT Tryout Center location on Castleton's campus.
AT Access Specialist Ben Wimett will be working at both the Rutland and the new Castleton location. We are thrilled to be offering another location for learning about and trying out assistive technology tools, especially at another university.
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Act 173 Update
As the new school year begins, we wanted to give an update on Act 173, the Vermont law that hopes to enhance the effectiveness, availability, and equity of services provided to students who require additional support. VT Digger reported that after worries were raised that the state is too restrictive with its definition and eligibility regarding special education, the panel charged with advising the state's rollout of Act 173 unanimously voted to delay the rollout for a year.
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Accessibility Achievement: Student Accessibility Services to Offer Free Captioning Services to UVM Departments
At CDCI, we're always thrilled when we get the chance to connect with UVM's Student Accessibility Services. We're big fans of the work they do to for our students and faculty, and have appreciated all the support they've given us as we work to improve the access of not only the courses we teach, but also our events, materials, and content. This month, we're especially excited to feature them in our Accessibility Achievement section because they will be expanding their services! UVM departments will be able to request video captioning services free of charge as part of a pilot program. The goal is to try to support the university in thinking proactively about accessibility instead of waiting for student requests.
Thank you so much for offering this important service!
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Awards & Acknowledgments
We love to celebrate at CDCI! Here are some of the awards and recognition our team received this year.
Max Barrows Receives NACDD Award
 This July, CDCI's Community Advisory Council's Co-Chair Max Barrows received the "Champion of Equal Opportunity" award from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities annual conference. Congratulations, Max!
Suter, Giangreco, Bruhl to be published in Remedial and Special Education Journal
Drs. Jesse Suter, Michael Giangreco, and Susan Bruhl have successfully submitted their article, Special education personnel absences in inclusion-oriented schools: Implications for building effective service delivery models, for publication to the journal of Remedial and Special Education. Congratulations!
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Culture Corner
Remembering Toni Morrison
After her passing earlier this month, we noticed our newsfeeds were flooded with quotes from, essays by and about, and tributes to the prolific Morrison. The impact of her talent and voice reached well beyond the books she penned and published to inspire and assist a new generation of diverse writers and activists, especially for black women. We see her mark in our own mission of diversity, inclusion, and equity at CDCI. We'll leave you with our favorite quote: "If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else."
Queer Eye Touches on "Disabled But Not Really"
In the fourth season of Queer Eye, the Fab 5 makeover Wesley Hamilton, a 30-year-old black man and founder of a non-profit organization called Disabled But Not Really. Hamilton is a wheelchair user from Kansas City who founded the organization after acquiring a disability from a gunshot wound. The Netflix series has touted much praise for both its representation of diversity and work to identify commonalities between individuals with seemingly dichotomous beliefs. Yet this episode has caught both positive and negative attention for its portrayal of people with disabilities.
Call to Artists: Inclusive Arts Vermont Exhibition
Our friends at Inclusive Arts Vermont have put out a call to artists for a 2020 exhibition called ANEW, an exhibition showcasing works by Vermont artists with disabilities to travel statewide through the 2020 calendar year.
ANEW will offer participating artists opportunities to be featured in statewide publicity, build larger audiences for their work, and receive technical assistance in the professional documentation and presentation of their work. All exhibition host galleries are physically accessible and the exhibition will provide accessible program and communication features coordinated by Inclusive Arts Vermont. This includes, but is not limited to: verbal descriptions, audio tours, large print, braille, and gallery tours.
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Upcoming Events
Interested in more events hosted by CDCI, our partners, or our community? Check out CDCI's Event Calendar to find out about more opportunities to learn, connect, and have fun!
We'd like to let our readers know about the events of our friends and partners! If you would like to get the word out about an upcoming event, please email Jeanne Nauheimer.
Health & Wellness Disability Seminar
September 13, 2019, from 10am-2pm
Capitol Plaza, Montpelier
VCIL is holding an educational and advocacy seminar on the federal proposed rule changes to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and a presentation on health disparities among people with disabilities. The Vermont Department of Health recently issued a report on the subject of these disparities.
Come to VCIL's Health & Wellness Disability Seminar and Advocacy Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Capitol Plaza Governors' Ballroom. A complimentary lunch will be provided.
Please RSVP by September 9th, 2019.
Under the Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness
Tuesday, September 24th at 6:30pm
Castleton University, Jeffords Hall Auditorium
Under the Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness, is a documentary about a tent city under a bridge in Indianapolis and the criminalization of homelessness in the United States. The movie follows Maurice as he tries to help his community and keep the city from shutting it down. It also explores the impact, positive and negative, of groups attempting to address the issue.
The movie will be followed by a panel discussion with those who work with the homeless in Rutland County. The audience is invited to explore the impact and reality of homelessness in our community and how we can address it.
Visit the screening's Facebook Event Page for more information.
2nd Assistive Technology Makers’ Fair
September 24-25, 2019, Monroeville, PA
The AT Makers’ Fair will inspire participants to become creative problem solvers, bringing together makers of all abilities to share ideas, develop new skills and enhance innovations for persons with disabilities. The Fair will empower individuals with the methods, materials and know-how needed to efficiently create everyday just-in-time devices and technologies. Join us! Novice to veteran makers of all ages and abilities are welcome.
AOTA, ASHA, and RESNA CEUs available. Register for the AT Makers' Fair.
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