DISABILITIES AWARENESS NEWSLETTER

What is the Newsletter?

The Newsletter is a unique statewide project that brings together students with and without disabilities to work cooperatively on a public education program geared especially to the needs and interests of teenagers. The aim of the Newsletter is to raise awareness of the disabilities that may affect adolescents by providing information and sharing personal experiences through creative writing, poetry, photography, and artwork. Our hope is that by reading the Newsletter teenagers will learn more about disabilities and the many students touched by them.

Who can participate?

To promote awareness and to change attitudes about disabilities, the Commission invites students in grades 8-12 to contribute to the Disabilities Awareness Newsletter. By attending conferences and listening to national experts from a variety of disability fields, researching topics, participating in site visits and directed discussions, students who participate in the Newsletter Editorial Board will increase their knowledge and become more aware of how similar disabled and non-disabled people are. The student editors take responsibility for soliciting articles, organizing and conducting board meetings, and developing an orientation program for new and experienced board members.

Where does the editorial board meet?

The editorial board meets in Schenectady and New York City on a regular basis to review submitted articles, edit and offer suggestions for revisions, and determine what will be printed in each issue. Additional meetings in other areas of the state are scheduled as needed. Students participating in board meetings are reimbursed for their travel expense.

What is the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy?

The Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilitites (cqcapd) is a state agency whose mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities in New York State. The Commission assists individuals and their families in receiving the care and services to which they are entitled.

The Commission also provides education and training programs for students, families and concerned citizens who are interested in learning more about disabilities and who can advocate for people with disabilities in their own communities.