Opportunities...

AT Seminars Offered by the University of Virginia

The University of Virginia was recently awarded a Rehabilitation Technology Training Grant by the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the grant, the University is offering AT seminars for rehabilitation professionals who desire to improve their AT services to individuals with disabilities. Each seminar will cover a specific area of AT, such as wheelchair seating, mobility, AAC, assistive devices for daily living, and transportation. For each topic area, the seminar will focus on objectively identifying a customer's abilities and needs, developing realistic and measurable goals, establishing an effective plan for meeting the customer's needs, and measuring the outcomes of the service. Most importantly, the seminar will offer a hands-on presentation of the spectrum of assistive devices currently available, with a focus on the features, similarities, and differences of the components and systems. Each seminar will close with a discussion of past and present R&D related to the particular area of AT being addressed to assist the participant in incorporating today's R&D into tomorrow's service delivery.

Upcoming seminars include: Wheelchair Seating and Positioning: Improving Your Services From Assessment Through Follow Up; Understanding the Integration of AT for Functional Mobility; and AAC: Matching Client Needs & Abilities With Technology Using A Features Analysis Approach.

For brochures and additional information, contact the University of Virginia's Division of Continuing Education at (804) 982-5313. The seminars are funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education, Grant Award #U129E50003.

Advancing Careers in the Sciences

One of the newest dimensions of the Applied Science and Engineering Laboratories (ASEL) is the Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SEM) program, which is designed to increase the number of individuals with disabilities in SEM academic programs and professions. The SEM mentoring program pairs high school students with mentors who are SEM professionals. The students and mentors communicate and work on SEM projects using Internet resources such as e-mail and the World Wide Web (WWW).

The participants in the program all have computer accounts with access to the Internet, some of which were provided as part of this program. In addition to available accounts, the program maintains a computer loan bank. Students accepted into the program, and who do not have the necessary computer equipment, may borrow from the available equipment. Through use of the equipment and a connection to the Internet, students have access to world-wide resources such as university libraries, international research laboratories, and government agencies such as NASA. Students and mentors also participate in electronic newsgroups and discussions on topics related to both SEM and disability issues.

Additional mentors and students are being sought to participate in this program. If you are a student with an interest in the sciences or a SEM professional willing to mentor a student, please contact the SEM program. Also, new and used equipment is needed to expand the computer loan program. Your participation or used equipment could make the difference to an aspiring student.

Applied Science & Engineering Laboratories
P.O. Box 269, Wilmington, DE 19899
Phone: (302) 651-6830; FAX: (302) 651-6895
TDD: (302) 651-6834
Email: sem-info@asel.udel.edu
WWW URL: http:/www.asel.udel.edu