Tapestry, SPRING 2006 TEXT ONLY

Spring 2006 Volume2 Issue1 TAPESTRY Weaving together a vibrant and inclusive community

UNC Charlotte Office of Disability Services
Fretwell 230 tel: 704‑687‑4355 fax: 704‑687‑3226 email: dissrvcs@uncc.edu website: http://www.ds.charlotte.edu

Did You Know?

The Office of Disability Services ensures that events at UNC Charlotte are accessible, including graduation. If you have any questions regarding accessibility and commencement, please contact our office. Wheelchair assistance, ASL interpreters, accessible seating, and a drop-off area are available for commencement.

THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES IS:

Jo Ann Fernald, Director: 704‑687‑2351, Jodi Vandervort, Student Services Assistant: 704‑687‑6026, Kelly Grey, Assistant Director: 704‑687‑2132, Kristin Kolin, Assistant Director: 704‑687‑3136, Katie Montie, Assistant Director: 704‑687‑3102

Get to Know the Office of Disability Services

So many times interactions on a large campus can get impersonal and you can often feel like just a number. Our office strives to get to know our students and the faculty and staff that work with us. Part of getting to know others requires some sharing of yourself. Therefore we would like to provide some information about each of our staff members so you can get to know us:

Jodi Vandervort moved to Charlotte from Blacksburg, VA where she attended Virginia Tech.her spare time you can find her with her husband, Brian, and cat, Doozer. She also enjoys watching college sports (rooting for the Hokies, of course), anything crafty, and the outdoors.

Kelly Grey is a UNC Charlotte alumni who completed her Master’s degrees in Special Education and Counseling. Kelly enjoys reading, crafts, and likes to work on home improvement projects with her husband. She also spends time with her church community and loves experiences that foster learning and spiritual growth.

Katie Montie : A Winston-Salem native, she has lived in Charlotte for several years and is a UNC Charlotte and UNC alumni. Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and doing any warm-weather activity, preferably at the beach! Katie is passionate about animal conservation, the music of the Beatles, and the movie “Jaws!”

Jo Ann Fernald : Born in New York, Jo Ann has lived in Charlotte since 1989.Ann and her husband, Denny, enjoy spending time with their four grown children and two grand-daughters.Jo Ann is not traveling, she is an avid reader, watercolorist, and birder.

Kristin Kolin: Originally from Mississippi, she moved to North Carolina to attend graduate school at Wake Forest University where she earned her Master’s degree in Counseling. Kristin enjoys painting, cooking, movies, traveling, and time with friends and family.
Our office also includes two graduate assistants and three student workers whose hard work and dedication help make our office run smoothly: Josh Kepler, Aaron Forsyth, Cassie Lindstrom, Jessie Blanton, and Christine Zapata.

In Their Own Words

In each edition of Tapestry we like to highlight some of the students we are fortunate to work with. In this issue we wanted to offer a forum where students’ voices can be heard and can contribute to the evolving UNC Charlotte campus. We asked two students the following question: What changes would you like to see at UNC Charlotte? Leo Caplanides is a sophomore originally from High Point, NC and is majoring in Political Science.

Leo has lived on campus for the last two years and believes that the following changes would be welcomed:

“As the university is expanding, the addition of a football team would be great. It would increase the appeal of the school. The more you offer, the more students will come here. It would pay for itself and it would help to pay for other programs. It would get the community more involved.”
“Making the university campus more pedestrian friendly to local shops and restaurants would help. The addition of walkways and safe paths from campus to the surrounding businesses would allow for students to leave campus without worrying about all the traffic on the surrounding highways. I don’t think people realize the amount of things to do around the area.”
“Improvements to the meal plan would also help. It would be nice to see the plan incorporate local restaurants or bring in more variety in food choices on campus.”

Valarie Mason will be receiving her bachelors degree in Management, with a concentration in Human Resources this coming May. Originally from New Jersey, she is a commuter student and proud mother of three.

Valarie shared her suggestions for improving the campus:

“It would be helpful to have more parking available near the Parking Services building.”
“More focus needs to be paid on the inclusion of commuter and non traditional students for campus events and activities. Information needs to be more readily available to all students, including commuter students.”
“Include students more in the planning process on campus. It would be helpful to have a team of diverse students to provide feedback.”

Lastly, Valarie believes that “more information needs to be accessible in regards to the escort service on campus and a wider variety of available food options other than those in vending machines would help to make positive changes at UNC Charlotte!”

Nominate an Outstanding Faculty or Staff Member

Has there been a teacher or a staff member that has gone out of their way to work with you or to offer support when you needed it the most? Well, it’s that time of year when we at the Office of Disability Services look to the students of UNC Charlotte to help us recognize that faculty or staff member for their commitment to accessibility and their dedication to the inclusion of all students.

Nomination forms are available in the front office of Fretwell 230 and the deadline for submission has been extended to April 3rd. We will review the nominations and based upon the personal examples you provide, we will select the faculty/staff member that best exemplifies a dedication to accessibility and inclusion on campus. Nominations will also be accepted electronically. Email your contact information along with the name of the staff member and a brief description of their excellence in regards to accessibility to Kristin Kolin at kjkolin@email.uncc.edu. After review, special recognition will be given to the faculty/staff member that is selected from the nominations submitted.

The Rolling Bobcat Tournament was a Slam Dunk!

Will Ferrell and hundreds came out to support the first tournament sponsored by Disability Services: The Office of Disability Services was a proud sponsor of the first wheelchair basketball tournament at UNC Charlotte. For two days in November wheelchair basketball was introduced to many and enjoyed by all. Charlotte’s own nationally ranked, Division II Rolling Bobcats took on the Dallas Mavericks, the Virginia Beach Sun Wheelers, and the Lakeshore Storm. The turnout was amazing and even reached celebrity status when Will Ferrell showed up during half time.

Ferrell, who worked with the Rolling Bobcats during the Charlotte filming of his upcoming NASCAR movie, brought well deserved attention to the arena of adaptive sports. He joined the Junior Rolling Bobcats team for a half time show filled with enthusiasm. Ferrell graciously signed autographs and posed for many photos, staying for the second half of the game between the 4th ranked Bobcats and the 5th ranked Mavericks.

While the Bobcats did not sustain a victory in the big match against Dallas, it was a winning experience for everyone. The competition was fierce and the players’ skills and love of basketball was evident to everyone in Belk Gym.

The Rolling Bobcats have gone on to win the Pioneer Classic in Birmingham and will be playing in the East Regional Tournament for the chance to be one of the nation’s final four. The team will also be hosting the Rolling Bobcats Golf Classic fundraising tournament on June 19th at Verdict Ridge Golf and Country Club.

For more information on the Rolling Bobcats visit their website: www.rollingbobcats.com.
The NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association) is the main source for up to date information regarding wheelchair basketball: www.nwba.org.

LEADERSHAPE SCHOLARSHIPS: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”John Quincy Adams. The Office of Disability services will sponsor two students to attend the upcoming LeaderShape Institute. It is being held by the Center for Leadership Development from May 16th– 21st at Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC.

Transportation, food, and lodging are included and participants must remain on site during the six day institute. Fifty five students along with faculty and staff members will participate. Students wishing to participate must plan on returning to UNC Charlotte for at least one more academic year following the institute.

LeaderShape is an interactive, ethics based leadership program which looks to the participants’ own unique perspectives and cultural experiences as a way to teach and to learn from each other. Your potential to make a difference will be revealed. LeaderShape will unveil your capability and will inspire you “to learn more, do more, and become more” than you ever thought was possible.
If you would like to experience LeaderShape and be considered for a scholarship please contact our office for further details. To find out more about the LeaderShape program please visit the following website:http://leadership.uncc.edu/leadershape.asp.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award Deadline, April 3rd: Nominate a faculty or staff member that has shown dedication to accessibility and to your education.
Finals Deadline, April 13th: Last day to request to test within the Disability Services office for finals. Please verify your test times with Jodi.
Finals are May 4th-11th: Finals in the DS office are given twice a day: 8:00 AM-12:30 PM and 12:30 PM-5:00 PM.
Commencement, May 13th: If you plan on graduating and require assistance from Disability Services, please contact our office.
LeaderShape Institute, May 16-21: An experiential and ethics driven institute that will foster leadership skills. See article on page 3 for more information.

Teleconferences Available for Faculty/Staff: Applying Universal Design Principles to Orientation and Summer Bridge Programs, April 20th: For more information on any of these upcoming events, please contact our office at 704‑687‑4355.

Faculty Corner:

Did you know that…

Some students with visual disabilities require assistive technology to utilize computers. Eligible students have access to many of these programs through their Novell log-in at most computer labs on campus. Information regarding the types of assistive technology available is located at: http:www.labs.uncc.edu/gethelp/assist.html.

While assistive technology is available in most computer labs and in the library, it may not available in every classroom. If a student in your course uses assistive technology that is not available in the classroom, please contact the Office of Disability Services. We will work with IT to ensure the technology needed for equal access to classroom resources is made available for your student.

Some of the assistive technologies available for students with visual disabilities include: JAWS: A powerful screen reader program that works with a PC to provide access to most software applications including the Internet. JAWS reads aloud information on the screen. Please note that JAWS is unable to recognize graphics or tables. ZoomText: A program that magnifies and enhances text and images displayed on a PC screen. Additionally, CCTV’s are often used to enlarge text and pictures. CCTV’s are stand alone magnification systems that are not available for classroom use, but can be found in the following locations: Atkins Library, the University Center for Academic Excellence and the Office of Disability Services.

Help us know…

Next month the Office of Disability Services will be sending out a brief, confidential electronic survey to faculty and staff who have worked with students with disabilities during the 2005-2006 school year. The purpose of this survey is to identify areas that may need improvement, faculty/staff concerns or questions, and to allow for opportunities to develop collaborations.
If you receive a Disability Services survey, please complete and return it promptly. Your responses will help us provide better services to you, students with disabilities, and the university community.

Tapestry Editor: Kristin Kolin