ODS Newsletter Archives: Academic Year 2003-2004
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Happy Spring, Happy Passover, Happy Easter, and happy "we're now in the home stretch for the rest of the spring term"! April is a very busy month -- so we hope you'll take a moment to read about some exciting opportunities and upcoming events. We're delighted to share with you a report from Angela Winfield '05 who is studying abroad -- and invite all ODS students who may be on study leave next year to serve as roving reporters like Angela! Living and Learning in London "It has been nearly three months that I have been living, playing, and of course studying here at Queen Mary College in London. During this time, I have learned many things in respect to disability, specifically blindness, and studying abroad. The most important of these things is 1) to plan, 2)plan, and 3) plan some more. Then, after all of this planning and researching, prepare to have not planned enough and expect the unexpected! It's Murphy's Law! But, don't worry. From my experiences, it is all of the unexpected things that have served as the source for a good laugh as long as you keep your sense of humor about you. Overall though, studying abroad is an incredible experience for anyone as I'm sure you've already heard time and time again. There are many good and justifiable reasons for not studying abroad, but disability is not one of them! It is definitely a major factor you must consider in choosing WHERE you study abroad, but NOT IF you study abroad -- especially if you're thinking of studying in England! They're extremely disability-friendly over here. If you just remember Location! Location! Location!, I really think that your studying abroad experience will be free of too many disability-related glitches, leaving you free to experience and enjoy life abroad." Marsteller Summer Internship Grants ODS and Career Development (OCD) invite all ODS-registered students to apply for a summer Marsteller Internship of up to $2500. Internships must be 8-10 weeks in duration and applications are due in OCD, 11 Milbank on April 16. All career fields are potentially fundable -- and students with a particular interest in disability rights, civil rights, education and advocacy projects are encouraged to apply. Applications are available in OCD and further info re: this competition can be found on the ODS website at the Marsteller Interns link. Jackson Stricks Scholarship April 16 is also the deadline for applications to the wonderful scholarship program sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women, New York Section (www.ncjwny.org). The very brief application requires only a short essay re: disability, three references, and a transcript. The one page application is available in ODS or online at the "services to the community" link on the Council's website. MIUSA Summer Exchange Pioneers Fellowships Awards Mobility International USA -- in coordination with The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) -- will provide internships to students with disabilities to work with international exchange organizations in Washington DC and other US cities. Internships will enable individuals to gain experience in the international exchange field, and for exchange organizations to gain disability perspectives by hosting an intern with a disability. Partial financial support will be provided to recipients to cover costs such as lodging, transportation and meals associated with completing a 300-hour internship during summer 2004. To qualify to apply, an individual must have a disability and be a U.S. citizen living in the USA. Completed applications are due by 5 pm (Pacific Time) on Friday, April 30, 2004. Please visit the summer internships link www.miusa.org to download an application. DARA: Disability Access Recognition Awards Are there faculty, staff or administrators who have been particularly creative and/or supportive in responding to your disability-related needs this semester? Please nominate them for a DARA -- a way for Barnard and ODS to recognize the importance of teamwork and shared support for our students with disabilities. Please stop by ODS to pick up a copy of the brief nomination form or visit the Faculty Friends link on our website. |
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Spring Break officially begins this Friday, March 12 and all of us in ODS wish you a restorative and relaxing vacation. Whatever your plans – going home for a little R+R, traveling to some exotic location or visiting friends, or just staying here and enjoying springtime in NYC – we certainly hope you’ll treat yourself well and enjoy this well-deserved break!
Well-Woman
Needs You! March 12 deadline… We hope you’ll want to be a part of this great group!
$$$
available: Jackson-Stricks Scholarship for college
students with disabilities.
Pool Party
Planned |
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As the program filing deadline of 1/30 has passed and the semester is in full swing, we hope that you’ve selected some courses that are challenging and thought-provoking this term. Speaking of deadlines, please remember that February 13 – a Friday this year -- is a triple-deadline for ODS: Test Accommodation Forms (TAF); Specialized Housing Request Forms; and Marsteller Career Internship Applications are all due by 5pm on 2/13. 1) Check-ins and TAFs If you haven’t already done so, please schedule a 15-minute check-in appointment with either Roberta Lupert (LD/ADD students) or Susan Quinby (all others) to discuss any disability-related concerns and/or accommodations needed this term. The TAF deadline is 2/13 @ 5pm. 2) Healthy Heart Days: February 10-11 Please join students, faculty and staff for an exciting array of activities to touch and strengthen your heart including: an Alexander Technique workshop, dinner by candlelight, the Pedometer Pick-Up, a Wednesday Wellness Walk, blood pressure screenings, a Valentine’s Blood Drive, and a Night of Sensual Delights. Watch your mailbox – or check the Barnard website – for further info! 3) Valentine’s Blood Drive: February 13 Please join SGA & ODS for this one-day, drop-in mini-drive in The Altschul Atrium from 11:30am-4:45pm. Donors may drop in – but volunteers are encouraged to sign up in advance for a one-hour time-slot throughout the day from 9am-5pm. 4) Body Talk: a group for students living with pain, illness or disability Do you have a chronic illness? Have you been coping with illness, medications, doctors, pain or disability? This weekly group coordinated by the Furman Counseling Center – and initiated by ODS alum Becca Mueller ’03 – offers students a comfortable place to share and discuss their experiences with chronic illness. If interested, please contact Jeannie Blaustein or Hilary Cooper @ 4/2092 to schedule an initial information meeting prior to the first group meeting on 2/2/04. 5) Marsteller Career Internship Program ODS and Career Development (OCD) co-sponsor this funded internship where grants of up to $2500, are offered to students with disabilities in fall, spring, and summer grant competitions. The deadline for applications is 2/13 and applications can be obtained in OCD in 11 Milbank. This is a terrific opportunity to pursue a field of endeavor—and get paid for your efforts. If you would like to speak to a former or current Marsteller intern, please stop by ODS in 105 Hewitt and we’ll put you in touch! 6) CU Diversity Recruiting Conference: 2/5/04 The CU Center for Career Education in partnership with Goldman Sachs is hosting a first-ever conference on diversity and recruiting on Thursday, 2/5 from 9am-2pm in Lerner Hall. At least 18 diverse employers will attend the conference including the American Symphony Orchestra League, BlackRock, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, Peace Corps, Time, Inc. and many others. Students with disabilities are encouraged to attend – and all participants must pre-register for the event @ www.cce.columbia.edu/cc/calendar. In addition, students are required to submit a resume for distribution to participating employers and should drop their resume off with OCD in 11 Milbank. Cara David, coordinator of OCD’s BEST Program, and Susan Quinby will attend the conference and hope you’ll join us. 7) JP Morgan Summer Internship Program JP Morgan is looking for students with disabilities to serve as paid summer analysts in the firm’s entry-level programs. Positions are primarily in New York and run from late May/early June to mid August. Resumes and cover letters should be sent to Ivy Tsui @ JP Morgan by February 15, 2004. For further information, please stop by ODS or contact Janice Kagan at JP Morgan, 212/662-5940 or via email @ janice.kagan@jpmorgan.com. 8) Meditation – Based Stress Reduction at Barnard: a time for focus, calm and insight Join Dr. Polly Wheat on Tuesdays from 7:30-9pm beginning February 3 and learn all about mindfulness meditation based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn. The cost is $25 for eight sessions and interested students should enroll by calling Lucia Mc Bee in the Student Health Service (SHS) @ 4/2091. For further info visit the SHS website @ www.barnard.edu/health. |
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Best of luck to everyone on all of your final papers and exams! ODS will be open through Wednesday, December 24 @ 4pm -- and will be closed from 12/25 - 1/4 for the intersession/holiday break. We will re-open @ 10am on Monday, January 5, 2004. Happy holidays and happy new year to all! Free Massage Thursday -- and beyond... We have had a tremendous response to our free massage day on Thursday, December 11 from 11am - 6 pm and as of 12/8, all massage slots are booked. As part of their "Comfort Zone" during the reading period, Well-Woman will also be offering free mini-massages (along with hot chocolate and herbal tea) on Tuesday 12/9 and Wednesday 12/10 from 7 - 9pm in the Well-Woman Office, 119 Reid. ODS borrowers alert If you have borrowed a piece of ODS equipment or other resource during the semester, your item/s are now due. Please bring in your loaned materials and make sure you have checked off your name in the ODS Borrower's Book. Disability Access Recognition Awards (DARA) Is there someone in the Barnard community who has responded to your disability-related needs in creative ways? We invite all registered ODS students to nominate faculty and staff who have been particularly supportive to you during the past semester. You may nominate as many faculty/staff as you like by going to the ODS homepage @ www.barnard.edu/ods and clicking onto the Faculty Friends link and DARA. Copies of the brief DARA nomination form are also available in ODS. We look forward to your nominations! Final Call for Flu Shots The Student Health Service in Brooks Basement has flu shots available @ $8/each while supplies last. Injections are available on a drop-in basis M-F from 8:30am - 4:30pm. Flu shots are recommended for students with a variety of chronic illnesses -- so please get one now if you haven't already done so! |
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The semester has literally flown by – but we wanted to take a minute to give you a bit of news and a few reminders about end-of-the-semester paperwork and check-ins. All of us at ODS wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving break – and we look forward to seeing you back in December. Welcome to Frank Ammirata As many of you know, our former assistant Sharyn Boswell gave birth to Alexander James Patrick Boswell on May 7, 2003 – and Sharyn is now enjoying full-time motherhood in Westchester County. Emily Katz was our able Interim Assistant from May through October when Frank Ammirata joined ODS as our new, permanent Assistant to the Director. An accomplished recorder player, Emily is currently a masters student in the music education program @ TC – and since Frank is a pianist, perhaps we’ll invite them to perform a duet at our next open house! Here’s more about Frank – from Frank! Greetings to all. I have recently graduated from Binghamton University, State of New York in May 2003 where I received a B.A. in psychology and music. I began working for ODS on October 6th, 2003. However, you can also find me on Saturdays working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At Binghamton University, I was an RA for two years (GO JOHNSON HALL!) and I loved the opportunity to serve as a role model for my residents, especially the first years. So when the opportunity came along to work with students in a welcoming office I jumped at the chance. One of my best friends went to Barnard so I know the campus well! So far it has been great meeting the amazing women of Barnard. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming. For graduation I bought myself a gorgeous Yamaha Digital Piano (YDP -223), which is now signed by Tori Amos! I love music and appreciate any opportunity I get to discuss music history or theory with anyone who will listen. Please feel free to stop in anytime to talk. I am a great listener! It is great to meet you all! Frank Ammirata End-of-semester check-ins At this time in the term – and as per email reminders some of you have already received – we ask that you schedule a 15 minute check-in with either Roberta (all LD/ADD students) or Susan (all others) to talk about your coursework and life in general this semester and plan for any services you may need in SP ’04. Now that the program filing deadline has come and gone (11/24), if you need advance syllabi so that you can order books on tape and/or get a jump on your reading, please stop in or download the Advance Reading List Form from the ODS website (www.barnard.edu/ods/advreadinglist.html). Final call for finals test accommodations All students who have filed Test Accommodations Forms this semester are reminded that the deadline for making arrangements for final exams is December 1. We will certainly try to accommodate as many test-takers as possible, but we need your help now so that we can book the space needed. If we do not hear from you by December 1, we unfortunately may not be able to guarantee you the test accommodations you need – so please call Frank @ 212/854-4634 or email him @ ods@barnard.edu. Adaptive Technology Mini-Lab In conjunction with Mary Ellen Tucker of Academic Technologies – and in consultation with similar labs at Teachers College as well as at Columbia – we are delighted to announce that the Computer Center in Lehman has set up a mini-lab in the “West Wing” of the Center for use by students with disabilities. We have installed JAWS screen-reader software and expect to be adding additional software in the coming months. Please let us know if there are particular kinds of assistive technology that would be useful for us to have available to you. Many thanks to Angela Winfield ’05 for her assistance with getting this project together and for her time spent on our campus site-visits to see what is available within the larger university community. December Blood Drive: 12/5/03 Please join us for a final one-day, drop-in mini-drive on Friday, December 5 from 11:30 am – 4:45 pm in the Altschul Atrium. As in all drives, we ask that members of the community donate one hour of time – either as a donor or as a volunteer. Please call or stop by ODS to sign up to participate – and thanks!
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