CenterPoint: The Newsletter of The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies

Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies staff member
Maria Timberlake chats with John Landry of East Machias
at the Disability Awareness Day held in March at the
Maine Statehouse Hall of Flags, Augusta. (Alan Parks photo)

The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS) is currently involved in a number of new initiatives. Included among these are the following:

Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC)
The Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy is collaborating with CCIDS and faculty from the University of Maine New Media program and other academic units to foster a positive environment in Bangor’s downtown neighborhoods. COPC grants were established to help colleges and universities perform outreach and applied research activities to address problems of urban areas. CCIDS and UMaine’s New Media program will work together to develop a curriculum that includes a person-centered approach to career exploration and postsecondary options for use with disadvantaged youth in Bangor. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Janet May, CCIDS coordinator of Transition and Adults, will spearhead the Center’s involvement in the project, with assistance from Graduate Research Assistant Lydia Conroy.

National Service Inclusion Project
The Maine Commission for Community Service (MCCS) and CCIDS are working in partnership to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to serve as community volunteers. MCCS serves as the state liaison for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), administering AmeriCorps grants in Maine.

In November 2005, CCIDS received a $15,000 National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) grant to create the Access Community Volunteers (ACV) project; a program designed to increase participation in community service projects by individuals with developmental disabilities. The ACV project seeks to bridge the gap between potential volunteers and the programs that wish to engage them.

New England Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (NERCEP)
CCIDS is a collaborating partner with the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in the NERCEP. This project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration, provides training and technical support to Community Rehabilitation Providers and Independent Living Centers throughout New England.

In This Issue

New Initiatives Underway


In This Issue Fall 2006 Gathering Celebrates the Dream of Inclusive Communities Director’s Corner Television Campaign Targets Awareness Awards Banquet Goes Hi-Tech Equity and Excellence in Higher Education—Collaboration for Learning Growing Ideas Tipsheets Benefit Young Children New Initiatives Underway Disability Studies Scholars Receive Certificates of Completion Teambuilding III Offers Training for Educational Surrogate Parents Prevention Center of Excellence at CCIDS Zeph Testifies Before House Appropriations Committee CCIDS Introduces Colloquium Series Statewide Database Links At-risk Babies with Services for Early Intervention Researchers Specialize in Epidemiology of Child Development Early Childhood Professionals Advance Skills, Services Upcoming CCIDS Events IDS Enrollment Increases Presentations & Publications CenterPoint Home	Center Home \| UMaine Home \| CenterPoint Home Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies staff member Maria Timberlake chats with John Landry of East Machias at the Disability Awareness Day held in March at the Maine Statehouse Hall of Flags, Augusta. (Alan Parks photo) New Initiatives Underway The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS) is currently involved in a number of new initiatives. Included among these are the following: Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) The Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy is collaborating with CCIDS and faculty from the University of Maine New Media program and other academic units to foster a positive environment in Bangor’s downtown neighborhoods. COPC grants were established to help colleges and universities perform outreach and applied research activities to address problems of urban areas. CCIDS and UMaine’s New Media program will work together to develop a curriculum that includes a person-centered approach to career exploration and postsecondary options for use with disadvantaged youth in Bangor. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Janet May, CCIDS coordinator of Transition and Adults, will spearhead the Center’s involvement in the project, with assistance from Graduate Research Assistant Lydia Conroy. National Service Inclusion Project The Maine Commission for Community Service (MCCS) and CCIDS are working in partnership to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to serve as community volunteers. MCCS serves as the state liaison for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), administering AmeriCorps grants in Maine. In November 2005, CCIDS received a $15,000 National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) grant to create the Access Community Volunteers (ACV) project; a program designed to increase participation in community service projects by individuals with developmental disabilities. The ACV project seeks to bridge the gap between potential volunteers and the programs that wish to engage them. New England Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (NERCEP) CCIDS is a collaborating partner with the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in the NERCEP. This project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration, provides training and technical support to Community Rehabilitation Providers and Independent Living Centers throughout New England. To see a current list of service projects, visit CCIDS Service. — Janet May Kimberly Sawtelle

CENTERPOINT: The Newsletter of the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service