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volume 1, issue 1 (january/february 2005)

The Advocate

FOCUS ON YOUR ABILITIES

Edited By: DSS Staff

Inside This Issue

Feature Article

From the Boss's Corner

Talk to Me Goose!

Deaf Edu-choo-cation Station

The Counselor's Corner

Monthly Workshops

Understanding Assistive Technology and Accommodations

!Hola Amigos!

Hush and Tell It!

Disability Support Services

UNC Pembroke

PO Box 1510

Pembroke , NC 28372-1510

Phone: (910) 521-6695

Fax: (910) 521-6891

TTY: (910) 521-6490

 

As the DSS Grows

By: Mary Helen Walker, Director

It has been 9 semesters since I arrived at UNCP to build a program for students with disabilities. I had a cubby hole-type office, support from Debbie Jacobs as a Student Services Worker, and 20 hours per week to build this program. Debbie worked for Lisa Schaeffer in Career Services as well as this new person who brought in new types of students. All of us quickly learned this was a full-time job with needs of our own!

So…June 1, 2002, Misty and I moved into DF Lowry. We thought we had SO much space. We have quickly outgrown our space, and DSS now has 6 full time employees and two part-time employees. Oh what a ride it has been!!

Thanks to all of you for understanding as we grow and adjust. Thank you for allowing us to work with you. Thank you for working so hard to make students with disabilities more visable and proud to be at UNCP. Thanks for being YOU!!!

From the Boss's Corner

By: Mary Helen Walker, Director

Welcome back everyone!!! We are looking forward to all of us having a wonderful and successful Spring 2005 semester. Misty has worked hard on our newsletter and we are very excited about publishing a monthly newsletter for all of you. Please let Misty know how much you appreciate her hard work.

I want to take the time in this issue to introduce two new opportunities for fellowship together this semester. The first is MOVIES ON MONDAY, each 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 3 p.m. I will have a movie in the DSS, Room 115, to view as a group. We will have an opportunity to talk about the movie and join in times of fun and relaxation. The other project is Mary Helen’s Book Club. We will read one book each month and meet for dinner to discuss the book. See me for details.

So….here goes another exciting semester and myriad opportunities for fun, food, and relaxation. I look forward to seeing you at some of these events.

“Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true, or is it something worse?” Bruce Springsteen

 

Talk to Me Goose!

By: Jennifer Lowry, Assistant Director (LD, AD/HD Specialist)

We have found ourselves in another semester. Just think about it! That means that you survived the last one. Congratulations to yourself for that. Everybody always starts off January with goal setting and thinking about the ways in which they want their lives to be better for the upcoming year. I do it, too. Yet, I think back to last year’s gym membership that I bought (guess what month – Jan.) and only used it for one month (guess what month –Jan.). So, here is what I’m getting at. Be committed. Think one semester at a time, make a goal, promise yourself, and stick by that promise. Start off with a goal that you can obtain! For example, by mid-term I want to establish a positive relationship with all my professors…that is just one goal. If you want to plan and prioritize goals come see me, Mary Helen, Walker, or Misty Hardy. That’s what we’re here for, to talk to you, goose! Happy New Year!

 

Deaf Ed-choo-cation Station

By: Kelly Cheek, Deaf Educator

Welcome back to a new and challenging semester at UNCP. While I am not new to the university, my position as Deaf Educator is. I am extremely excited to be a part of Disability Support Services, paired with the School of Education . Check out this section of Advocate to learn more about hearing impairments, sign language, interpreting, Deaf culture, audiology and many more super cool aspects associated with the field of Deaf Ed-choo-cation. Each month, I will include a tip or tidbit for dealing with individuals who have a hearing loss so make sure to take a moment to brush up on your Deaf Awareness. Hop on and enjoy the ride!

"Passion is the great slayer of adversity. Focus on strengths

and what you enjoy.” - Charles Schwab, CEO (dyslexia)

 

Workshops

Located in Education Rm 334

"Five for Five" Workshops Menu

Note Taking Nachos January 25 at 2:00 pm

Study Skills Sandwich February 1 at 2:00 pm

Testing Strategies and Testing Anxiety Tea February 8 at 2:00 pm

Self Advocacy and Assertiveness February 15 at 2:00 pm

Time Management Tenders February 22 at 9:30 am

The Counselor's Corner

By: Misty Hardy, Coordinator of Counseling, Advising, and Transitioning

Welcome back! It’s the beginning of a new semester, and you are starting another adventure as you continue your path through college. During this transition, your feelings may vary from the excitement of coming back on campus to anxiety over learning new material. These feelings are common to college students adjusting to all the changes and the discoveries they make at this time in their lives. This can create wonderful opportunities for you to explore your interests, examine your academic pursuits, and become involved in organizations to meet new people. Transitions are life long processes, so patience and motivation will be very valuable to you. Often, success involves maintaining a balance between your academics, leisure time, and work. No matter what changes you may face this semester always believe you can accomplish anything!

 

Understanding Assistive Technology and Accommodations

By: Debbie Jacobs, Accommodations Coordinator

When a new student with a disability enters UNCP and becomes a client of Disability Support Services (DSS), the student is already overwhelmed with getting accustomed to their new surroundings. DSS is responsible for “leveling the playing field” for our clients once they register with us and begin using our services. As the Accommodations Coordinator, I assist our student clients with understanding accommodations such as note takers, alternative testing, E-text, assistive listening devices, interpreters and/or computer with speech input/ output. Our two service providers access a student’s needs to determine necessary accommodations for the student to be successful in a college setting. Thus, two students with the same disability might not need or receive the same accommodations. My job is to insure that you receive your recommended accommodations and that you know not only your rights and responsibilities but the rights and responsibilities of the University as well.

Keep a planner torecord your assignments, due dates for papers and projects, dates of quizzes, and exams.

 

Hush and Tell It!

By: Debbie Jacobs, Accommodations Coordinator

So you need to take an exam today at 1:00 p.m., and it’s now 10:00 am. You failed to schedule it ahead of time with me, and you didn’t complete the exam proctoring form for your professor to sign. What do you do?

First, you must get approval from me to have the exam proctored in Disability Support Services (DSS). This is at the discretion of the Accommodations Coordinator and/or the Director of DSS. If given permission, you must complete your portion of an exam proctoring form and take it to your professor to have him/her complete and sign their portion. Bring the exam proctoring form to me immediately. It is your (the student’s) responsibility to insure that the exam is delivered to me in a timely manner and that you begin your exam at the time specified on your form.

 

!Hola Amigos!

By: Julie Apodaca, Student Services Assistant IV

The Funnies

College Student: "Hey, Dad! I've got some great news for you!"

Father : "What, son?"

College Student: "Remember that $500 you promised me if I made the Dean's list?"

Father: "I certainly do."

College student: "Well, you get to keep it!"

(http://www.geocities.com, 2004)

When you are looking for the right word...

Gargoyle: an olive-flavored mouthwash

Abdicate : to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach

Coffee: a person who is coughed upon

Negligent: describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown

(http://www.drbernie.homeip.net:3380/funnies/040723.htm, 2004)

Julie's Quote of the Month: "I am going to make like a banana and split!"

 

February 2005

Study Skills Workshop 2 pm February 1 Education 334

DSO Meeting 3:30 pm February 2 Education 210

NAMI 6:30 pm February 3 Center for Community Action

LD and AD/HD Support Group 1:30 pm February 7 DF Lowry 115

Testing Strageties and Testing Anxiety Workshop 2 pm February 8 Education 334

Circle of Healing 11 am February 9 DF Lowry 115

Last Day to drop first eight-week course with a "W" grade February 11

Valentine's Day February 14

LD and AD/HD Support Group 1:30 pm February 14 DF Lowry 115

Movies on Monday 3 pm February 14 DF Lowry 115

Self Advocacy and Assertiveness Workshop 2 pm February 15 Education 334

Circle of Healing 11 am February 16 DF Lowry 115

DSO Meeting 3:30 pm February 16 Education 210

DSO Social February 17

LD and AD/HD Support Group 1:30 pm February 21 DF Lowry 115

Time Management Workshop 9:30 am February 22 Education 334

Circle of Healing 11 am February 23 DF Lowry 115

LD and AD/HD Support Group 1:30 pm February 28 DF Lowry 115

Movies on Monday 3 pm February 28 DF Lowry 115

Tips

* Prioritize. Avoid Procrastination. Make and stick to deadlines.

* Eat right and get plenty of rest.

 

Updated: Wednesday, May 4, 2005

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