At AbilityMaine we are developing a special page for events, committee meetings, board meetings, etc. that are of interest to people with disabilities. The calendar link will still be on our site, but this special page will be specifically for disability related meetings and events. If you have items to add to this page, if you are a committee member who can provide dates for your meetings,or if you are planning an event, send items to Mainefun40@hotmail.com with CALENDAR in the subject line.

We're always looking for news and information at Abilitymaine. If you have items you think we can use, send them to Mainefun40@hotmail.com with NEWS in the subject line.

NewsBriefs
November 12, 2006

Finding a job, keeping it and being paid well can be challenging. Michael Farr and Daniel J. Ryan, Ph.D., believe many job seekers with disabilities would be more successful in their job search if they knew when and how to appropriately discuss a disability.

The authors of Quick Job Search for People with Disabilities, believe that many people would be more effective in their job search if they knew how and when to address their disabilities appropriately when writing their resumes and interviewing with employers. For example, as job seekers with disabilities create their resumes, many are unsure if they should include achievements that hint to the fact that they have a disability, such as winning a gold medal in the Special Olympics. “While this is clearly an outstanding achievement, it also informs the employer that the person has a disability. The sad truth is that discrimination still exists and often it is inadvisable to inform an employer about a disability before it is necessary,” say Farr and Ryan.

They encourage job seekers with disabilities to confidently address their situation head-on in an interview. The most effective approach to this is for job seekers to acknowledge their disability, explain how it has not affected their past work experience, and discuss why they are the ideal candidate for a position.

Quick Job Search for People with Disabilities is available from the publisher (http://www.jist.com or 1.800.648.JIST).

JIST, America’s Career Publisher, is the leading publisher of job search, career, occupational information, life skills and character education books, workbooks, assessments, videos and software.

From the National Council on Disability
On August 22, 2006, the U.S. National Council on Disability and Mental Disability Rights International co-hosted a panel discussion side event at the United Nations in New York, during the course of the Eighth Session of the Ad Hoc Committee. Because the Eighth Session was to be the final session of the Ad Hoc Committee and it is anticipated that the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be finalized and adopted by the General Assembly at the end of 2006, the panel discussion focused upon issues of implementation of the Convention. Specifically, the panel sought to provide practical illustrations of current activities that support enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities, in the hopes that these activities could be useful for future implementation of the Convention.

To read the full document and supporting materials, please go to http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/side_event.htm.

If you have questions, please contact Joan Durocher at jdurocher@ncd.gov

From Disabled People International http://www.dpi.org
This week, DPI would like to congratulate Ambassador Luis Gallegos of Ecuador, who was awarded the title “Doctor Vicente Rocafuerte” by Dr. Wilfrido Lucero Bolaños, President of the National Congress, on October 26, 2006. This award was given in recognition of his work and leadership throughout the negotiations for the Convention on the Rights and Dignity of People with Disabilities. Ambassador Gallegos led the Ad Hoc Committee’s Convention negotiations from 2002 to 2005. Congratulations, Ambassador Gallegos! Thank you for all of your hard work in support of the rights of people with disabilities around the world.

DO YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE RIGHT NEWSLETTERS AND JOURNALS? Use the Source 'Newsletters and journals database' at http://www.asksource.info to identify free and low-cost journals relevant to your work and your region. This database lists over 200 newsletters by subject, region and country, and is a valuable tool for networking and learning about the activities of other organisations. It is a rich source of core materials to build up resource centres and provide up-to-date health information at little extra cost. Email dussin.l@healthlink.org.uk to submit your newsletter for inclusion in the Source database.

Disability Rights Center of New Hampshire’s newsletter RAP Sheet The Fall issue, Back to School, is now online in text version:
http://www.drcnh.org/Newsletterannouncement.htm
Here you will also find archives of DRCNH’s newsletters. Our neighbors have a wealth of information on line.

Parallels in Time
New education outreach program from the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities: "Parallels in Time II" is a free, easy-to-use online resource, packed with hundreds of photos, videos and documents associated with the vital history of people with developmental disabilities. Free.
http://www.mnddc.state.mn.us/parallels2/

The 2007 NFB National scholarship forms are now available on the NFB web site at http://www,nfb.org and hard print version copies of the form will be available shortly. For more information Email Peggy Elliott at
delliott@pcpartner.net

New Text-to-Speech Engine: CEC Systems has developed a new search engine that speaks aloud its results. Named Speegle, it allows users to select one of three voices which will then read the results of a query. To use, visit
http://www.speegle.co.uk/

Mobile Speak SmartPhone Software: Code Factory introduces Mobile Speak SmartPhone (MSS), the first ever full-fledged screen reader for SmartPhones powered by the Windows Mobile platform. MSS allows you to manage your call lists, select and edit phone profiles, track your schedule and contacts, send and receive SMS and email, browse the Internet, and connect to other devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and laptops to share data. For more information, visit
http://www.codefactory.es/mobile_speak_smartphone/mspeak_smartphone.htm

Macular Degeneration Website: MDSupport.org offers free information and personal assistance for people dealing with macular degeneration and similar retinal diseases. The site offers two “bus tours” to help you navigate the site. One provides you with information and resources and the other provides you with access to the macular degeneration community, including access to an email discussion group to share information. The bus tours can be found at:
http://www.mdsupport.org/bustour.html

Ski for Light Invites Applications: Ski for Light is accepting applications for its 32nd annual Ski for Light International Week. Ski for Light attracts cross-country skiers from beginners to advanced. A sighted instructor/ guide assists are provided. After a day of skiing, join in on any number of organized activities. 2007 Ski for Light will be Sun., Jan. 21 – Sun., Jan. 28, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Information and applications can be found at

Tuesday, November 14 is World Usability Day, and there will be plenty of interesting webcasts about usability and/or accessibility. Presenters include Jutta Treviranus (Adaptive Technology Resource Centre), Industry Canada's Assistive Devices Industry Office, and Jim Tobias (Inclusive Technologies). There are a number of interesting webcasts available.

The full schedule of webcasts is at: http://www.worldusabilityday.org/event/webcasts.

For further info about World Usability Day, see: http://www.worldusabilityday.org/

AOL Introduces Blog Targeting People with Disabilities

"AOL Ability" Site Provides Specialized Content in the Areas of Employment, Entertainment, News, Family, Health and Technology

Available October 2006:
http://ability.aol.com

Student and University Settle Lawsuit on Mental Health Issues The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law announced that George Washington University and one of its former students, Jordan Nott, have reached an agreement to resolve the lawsuit filed by Mr. Nott last fall against the University and several other entities regarding his October 2004 mental health hospitalization, the University's interim suspension and his subsequent withdrawal from GW.
http://www.bazelon.org/newsroom/index.htm