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.