The Focus Awards are given annually to those affiliated with Purdue University who have made an outstanding contribution to the furthering of Purdue University’s commitment to disability accessibility and diversity. These awards were started in March 2001 and were given to a faculty member, a staff member, and a student. Today, an organization is also recognized for their commitment along with the other three categories. Alumni and retirees within the appropriate category have also received Focus Awards. A description of the past Focus Award winners and their accomplishments can be found below.

To submit a nomination for the 2009 Focus Awards, please complete the nomination form and return it to Marcy Hintzman, Assistant Director for Compliance and Disability Services, Affirmative Action Office, American Railway Building, by January 30, 2009. You may also contact Marcy Hintzman at mhintzma@purdue.edu or 494-7253 to request a nomination form or should you have any questions.

Faculty/Academic Award: Bradley Duerstock, Richard Borgens, John Cirillo, J. Paul Robinson, Wamiq Ahmed, and Ala Samarapungavan

Bradley Duerstock, Assistant Research Professor at the Center for Paralysis Research; Dr. Duerstock is the project’s current principal investigator.

Richard Borgens, Mari Hulman George Professor of Applied Neuroscience and Director of the Center for Paralysis Research; Dr. Borgens was the principal investigator during the first phase of the project.

John Cirillo, Electronics/Computer Specialist at the Center for Paralysis Research; Mr. Cirillo has provided his electronics expertise throughout both phases of the project and is a current team member.

J. Paul Robinson, School of Veterinary Medicine Professor of Cytomics, professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Director of the Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories, and Deputy Director for Cytometrics and Imaging in the Bindley Biosciences Center; Dr. Robinson serves as consultant to the project.

Wamiq Ahmed, Graduate Research Assistant in Basic Medical Sciences; Dr. Ahmed has recently earned his doctoral degree from Purdue University.  He developed the software for the project.

Ala Samarapungavan, Associate Professor in Educational Psychology and Interim Head, Department of Educational Studies; Dr. Samarapungavan has contributed her expertise in the area of assessment to the project.

The AccessScope Project was designed and developed to allow persons with mobility impairments to independently control all aspects of light microscopy. The AccessScope Project system can perform brightfield and fluorescence microscopy, image analysis, and tissue morphometry necessary for undergraduate science coursework to graduate level research.  The goal of the AccessScope Project is to allow students with disabilities to be able to perform light microscopy with minimal or no assistance required, eliminating the need to hire an assistant or rely on the assistance of a “lab buddy” or classmate. 

The Project operates under the belief that access to light microscopy is necessary for students with disabilities to learn one of the most essential laboratory techniques utilized in the life and physical sciences.  Project team members hope to foster activity-based learning by allowing students with mobility and visual impairments the capability to independently operate a microscope. Microscopy is one of the most common laboratory techniques used in the biological, geological, food, and materials sciences. Accessible microscopy is especially important when students are ready to perform independent research and continue a career in the STEM fields.

Methods that promote access in the laboratory environment would not only permit students with disabilities physical accommodation, but would allow them to interact more in classroom demonstrations and to actively participate in laboratory exercises.  Physical access to classrooms and laboratories is important, but active participation of students with disabilities is paramount for learning.  The ability of students to actively explore and interact with scientific concepts and practices grants a more thorough educational experience than simply observing. Activity-based learning is important for students with disabilities to gain the same educational experiences as their classmates.

Staff Award: Robert Mate and Gail Polles

Robert “Rob” Mate, Assistant Dean of Students, Office of the Dean of Students

Gail Polles, Disability Services Specialist, Counseling and Psychological Services

Ms. Polles has been a member of the University’s counseling staff in Counseling and Psychological Services since the fall of 1991.  Mr. Mate began his career at Purdue as a graduate administrative professional in 1993 and became an assistant dean of students in 1999. 

Success in college is dependent on a number of prerequisite skills that don’t come naturally to individuals with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. College students must develop the ability to juggle competing social and academic demands and to independently form daily routines. They must also have acquired the strategies needed to complete long-term papers and projects, to conquer the voluminous reading assignments, and to prepare for infrequent tests.

About three years ago, these two staff members saw a need.  A need for students diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or AD/HD, to have an opportunity to learn how to cope with college life and incorporate strategies to manage their disorder.  To assist this group of students, Mr. Mate and Ms. Polles developed a coaching group, Make It Happen, that would facilitate skill development, and would provide support, structure, and feedback.  Specifically, the coaching group promotes growth and independence, helps in skill development, and addresses the practical matters of daily living and of academic, social, and personal skills, to name some areas of development that are touched on at group meetings. 

Both Gail and Rob have jobs at the University that entail full-time duties.  Make It Happen was formed, by these two individuals who are part of two different offices on campus, because Rob and Gail saw a need and worked together to meet that need for students with AD/HD in order to provide an avenue for success at the University and beyond. 

Student Award: Chelsea Koch and Jamie Sommers

Chelsea Koch is a senior in the School of Health Sciences, graduating in May, major is Preoccupational Therapy.

Jamie Sommers is a senior in the College of Engineering, graduating in May, major is Materials Engineering.

Ms. Koch has served as a service provider for students with disabilities for Adaptive Programs, now known as the Disability Resource Center, since the fall of 2004.  She has performed notetaking, reading, and tutoring services. 

Ms. Sommers has worked as a service provider for students with disabilities since August 2005.  Her primary job has been to provide notetaker service.  She was also a reader and a scribe for students who required assistance during exams.

As notetakers, Ms. Sommers and Ms. Koch attend classes with students with disabilities, take detailed notes, and interact with the students before or after class to clarify/explain the lecture material. 

In addition, Ms. Sommers assisted a blind student in three physics and technology labs, where she was responsible for working with the instructor to make the procedures and exercises accessible.   

During their years as members of the Adaptive Programs (now Disability Resource Center) team, Ms. Koch and Ms. Sommers have worked with students with a range of physical disabilities.

Both women are described as warm, expressive, enthusiastic, compassionate, competent, and extremely responsible.  They seem to have infinite energy, a consistently optimistic orientation toward life, and a high degree of self-confidence.  The students for whom they have worked have given them superlative evaluations, describing them as dependable, patient, sensitive, conscientious, and very well organized.  Despite their numerous commitments, both Jamie and Chelsea have been able to maintain an outstanding academic record while serving students in a highly professional manner.

Faculty: Karen D. Donah
Ms. Karen D. Donah is a Continuing Lecturer in American Sign Language. Ms. Donah was first employed by Purdue North Central from 1991 to 1997 in Information Services. She returned to the University in January 2006 as a Visiting Assistant Professor to teach American Sign Language (ASL) classes after having done so for several years as a Limited Term Lecturer. In August of 2006, Ms. Donah was hired as a Continuing Term Lecturer to not only teach ASL, but begin to develop recommendations for curriculum in ASL and Interpreting. Ms. Donah supported and encouraged the use of technology in developing accommodations for students with disabilities while she was employed in Information Systems, but her real impact has occurred during the period she has been teaching American Sign Language.  She has, among other innovations, instituted a “Silent Lunch” program where ASL students and others join Ms. Donah for lunch conversing only in ASL. Another very popular innovation has been the PNC American Sign Language Game Night. This event is open to students, the deaf community, and other interested members of the public. Nina Coyer, Ms. Donah’s sister, who is a deaf ASL interpreter professor at Eastern Kentucky University and Roger Coyer, a deaf retired teacher and football coach at Kentucky School for the Deaf have been on campus at Ms. Donah’s invitation to relate their experiences as deaf individuals growing up in a hearing world. Ms. Donah continues to develop and provide opportunities for her students, for the deaf community in northwest Indiana, and for the general public to grow and learn individually and together. Not stopping there, Ms. Donah has also significantly contributed to building awareness and sensitivity to issues specifically related to the deaf and by extension to all individuals with disabilities within the administration and faculty.

Staff: Shawn M. Rice
Mr. Shawn M. Rice works in the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Young Hall and is currently focusing his attention on the nanoHUB, a highly specialized nanotechnology site that is carving a unique niche in nanotechnology experimentation online. The nanoHUB is a web-based initiative spearheaded by the National Science Foundation-funded Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN). The NCN has a vision to pioneer the development of nanotechnology from science to manufacturing through innovative theory, exploratory simulation, and novel cyber infrastructure. Mr. Rice is also the web developer for the Birck Nanotechnology Center and abides by the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. These guidelines are used to assist web developers in creating web sites that are accessible to people with varying disabilities ranging from sensory impairments to learning disabilities. For example, Mr. Rice’s sites can be accessed using JAWS for Windows, a screen-reading program used by individuals who are blind. Mr. Rice says, “Non-standard web sites have messy code, cumbersome code [allowing] little to no accessibility to disabled users.” Navigating sites that do not conform to the W3C guidelines is a pet peeve of his. He is a great advocate for people with disabilities because of his commitment to ensure web sites are accessible. Mr. Rice has been at Purdue for a number of years. Before working at Birck, he earned both his bachelor’s degree in computer science and his master’s degree in information technology from Purdue University.

Student: Joseph A. Humbert
Mr. Joseph A. Humbert is a 2nd year graduate student in Special Education. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Graphics Technology from Purdue University. Mr. Humbert has been an assistant to Mr. David Schwarte, Assistive Technology Specialist, in the Adaptive Learning Programs Laboratory (ALPs Lab) for the past four years. Along with his assigned standard duties (i.e. training, technical assistance, research of new products), Mr. Humbert frequently goes above and beyond the defined range of his job when working at the lab. For example, he enjoys assisting students who have special needs with specific issues regarding their personal equipment. In one instance, he went to the home of a visually impaired student on his own time to help that student set up his internet access. Mr. Humbert has also made numerous attempts to bring up the issue of web accessibility and its importance in his various classes. He was making a sincere effort to improve communication and to explain the importance of web accessibility in the educational process. To this end and beyond his classroom activity, Mr. Humbert participated in extra work with Macromedia and with other vendors so that he might better understand accessibility issues related to their products and might also hopefully convince these vendors to improve their products. It has always been Mr. Humbert’s desire to ensure that the Purdue students with disabilities are able to understand how to use available technology, and not just the assistive technology of the ALPs lab. Mr. Humbert is also very desirous in ensuring that all of Purdue’s information technology services are made accessible to the entirety of the university’s students, faculty, and staff.

Organization: Hoosier ADAPT
Hoosier ADAPT is a student organization at Purdue University Calumet dedicated to advocating for students with disabilities and promoting inclusion. The student organization is active in various campus activities which include participation from students, faculty, and staff both with and without a disability. The group is instrumental in brining about change on the Purdue University Calumet campus. The organization collaborates with the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities office regarding disability awareness and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Hoosier ADAPT has organized events on the Purdue University Calumet campus to promote inclusion and awareness of people with disabilities. The group has helped promote Don’t (Dis) My Art, an exhibit showing art created by individuals who have physical disabilities limiting mobility. Dante Ventresca, Director of Theatre of Inclusion, made a special appearance for this event. Hoosier ADAPT also showed the video, “My Left Foot.” The film is about the life of Christy Brown, a man born with cerebral palsy who learned to paint and write with his only controllable limb - his left foot. The organization had an open discussion forum afterwards. Hoosier ADAPT also coordinated “Walking in my Shoes,” an event that allowed people (with the assistance of others) to experience what it would be like to have a disability, including using a wheelchair and hearing and visual impairments. The event was open to faculty, staff, and other professionals and Purdue University Calumet’s Vice Chancellor, Leo Bryant, participated in it.

Faculty: Dr. Nicoletta Adamo-Villani and Dr. Ronnie B. Wilbur
Dr. Nicoletta Adamo-Villani is an assistant professor of Computer Graphics Technology, and Dr. Ronnie B. Wilbur is a professor of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and is also the Director of the Linguistics Program. Through Dr. Adamo-Villani’s knowledge of computer graphics technology and Dr. Wilbur’s knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL), these two professors collaborated to create an animated rabbit which signs ASL and fingerspells. They are researching ways to develop programs with activities that can be used to teach math to primary school children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and who use ASL as their primary form of communication. This technology could also be useful in assisting the guardians and teachers of these students as well. Dr. Wilbur has conducted much research into the nonmanual tasks (or facial expressions) of ASL and their interface role with regards to syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and intonation. Dr. Wilbur and Dr. Adamo-Villani both agree that facial expressions, hand movements, and body language are very important components of how human beings communicate with each other. Although their National Science Foundation (NSF) grant was initially turned down in 2003, Dr. Adamo-Villani and Dr. Wilbur have continued to collaborate with each other while pursuing this research topic. They received a Purdue School of Technology I3 grant in April 2003 for the amount of $30,000 to continue their research, and have resubmitted their grant proposal to the NSF as of mid-February this year. A patent for their animated rabbit research efforts entitled “Blending and Interactive Animation Method for Sign Language,” which was filed in September 2005, is currently pending. Dr. Gerardo Beni, a colleague of Dr. Adamo-Villani’s within Electrical Engineering at the University of California-Riverside, has also assisted in their research.

Staff: David M. Schwarte
David M. Schwarte is the assistive technology specialist in the Adaptive Learning Programs (ALPS) Lab. As the assistive technology specialist, Mr. Schwarte has aided numerous Purdue University students and employees who have disabilities by training them how to use assistive technology and software and by addressing their adaptive technology issues. Mr. Schwarte has also been an important resource for employees and students outside of his immediate responsibilities in the ALPS Lab. Mr. Schwarte will frequently intersect with the Testing Center when an individual with a disability requires assistive technology to take a test. He has also transported equipment and assistive technology to areas where it was needed to ensure equal access to people with disabilities. Mr. Schwarte also serves on a number of committees. He is a member of the Purdue Universal Access Initiative committee on the West Lafayette campus, which gives presentations regarding web accessibility for people with disabilities. As a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, he serves on a committee which also addresses web accessibility.

Student: Nicolas B. Widman
Nicolas (Nick) B. Widman, a student studying Computer Science Graphics and Multimedia, was in his fourth year at Purdue University. During the 2005-2006 academic school year, Mr. Widman was the Floor Senator in his residence hall, acting as the liaison between the floor residents, the residence hall staff, and the residence hall government. He was also asked by the Adaptive Programs Associate Dean, Heather Stout, to be the student representative on the Advisory Council on Disability Issues, and accepted the invitation. This committee explores issues that prevent students with disabilities from having equal access to the University in any way, ensures academic integrity, and discusses concerns professors have regarding students with disabilities. He was also a member of the Purdue Advocates for Disability Issues panel during the Disability Awareness Month activities for March of 2005. Mr. Widman worked hard while here at Purdue, and was recognized for his skills and abilities. In the summer of 2005, Mr. Widman had an internship with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Washington, D.C. He also received both the Microsoft Scholarship Award for $5000 dollars and the Cisco Systems Scholarship. Mr. Widman has stated, “I am aware that my Asperger’s Syndrome causes me to have a relative weakness in my ability to understand complex interpersonal relationships and social cues.” He has many positive assets which far outweigh his stated limitations. Mr. Widman was accepted into the University of California-Los Angeles computer science doctoral program, which is quite an accomplishment considering most of the students accepted into this program have had to also earn a master’s degree.

Organization: Best Buddies
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships with other people in the community. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1200 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. This organization does a wonderful job of bringing friendship into the lives of individuals who have limited opportunities to experience friendship. At the same time, the students participating in Best Buddies learn about leadership and community service, and realize they can have a role as future employees and leaders in their community. The chapter at Purdue has worked very hard from its inception to provide as many opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities as possible. They truly understand the importance of the program and the work they are doing. It is this dedication that recently earned them Chapter of the Year honors. Several of the students return year after year to participate with their “Best Buddy.” As a result, stronger friendships are formed, which provides consistency and continuity to the lives of the people with intellectual disabilities. Our community is very fortunate to have the Best Buddies chapter at Purdue University. Through respect, laughter, love, understanding, and honesty, they are truly changing lives one friendship at a time. 

Faculty: Dr. Robert B. Jacko
Dr. Robert B. Jacko is a professor of Civil Engineering. He has researched methods in which to make crosswalks more pedestrian friendly to people with visual impairments, as well as the entire community in general. These new crosswalk signals will have both audio and visual cues.  Dr. Jacko’s research is funded by The Indiana Department of Transportation. He has an interest in this area due to the fact that his wife’s vision has degenerated over time. In addition to his research, Dr. Jacko has also taught a senior design class in which the class examined ways in which to make Mackey Arena more accessible.

Staff: Owen J. Cooks
Mr. Owen J. Cooks is the director of project management in Physical Facilities. Mr. Cooks has always gone above and beyond what is required to ensure that Purdue adheres to the ADA accessibility guidelines when renovating existing buildings or creating new ones. It is what Mr. Cooks did outside of his required responsibilities that makes him so deserving of this award. For example, when the Spring Fling Fitness Walk committee needed to make the fixed route accessible, Mr. Cooks was always willing, at a moment's notice, to bring in a portable ramp or build a temporary curb cut along the route for accessibility. Mr. Cooks also worked with a group of engineering students to create a fully adjustable chair and table that would fit into a specified area without drawing attention to a student’s disability. Mr. Cooks has also assisted a Purdue staff member with a mobility impairment with the construction of an accessible house, and helped another staff member install a large screen monitor in his/her office. Payment was typically a soda from the McDonald’s drive through.

Student: Chelsea R. Mathews
Ms. Chelsea R. Mathews was the president of Purdue Advocates for Disability Issues (PADI) from August 2004 until May 2005. She had been an active member in PADI while enrolled at Purdue. She participated in presentations PADI gave to classes about disability issues and was a member of the PADI panel at previous years’ Disability Awareness Month activities. She is described as being witty and having an outgoing personality. Ms. Mathews is comfortable with her disability and does not attempt to hide it. For example, she chooses bright colors for her hearing aid molds.  She is also open to learning about others’ experiences with disabilities. Along with PADI, Ms. Mathews was also active in her sorority and in the American Sign Language Club.

Organization: American Sign Language Club
The American Sign Language (ASL) Club, which was led by ASL Club President Aimee Smith during the 2004-2005 academic school year, has been active around campus and in the community. The club is open to anybody interested in learning about the deaf community. The club has formal and informal meetings that alternate each week. At these meetings, people get to learn new signs and practice signing through fun and educational games. Events which are of possible interest to people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or others who are interested in the deaf community are also discussed at the meetings. For example, one event the ASL Club hosted in February 2005 was a guest speaker. This guest speaker, Keith Wann, who is a child of a deaf parents, came to Purdue to talk to the community about what it is like to be a child of two deaf parents. Through the ASL Club’s publicity, high school students, people who are a part of or are interested in the deaf community, and students from other colleges, such as Ball State University, attended the event. The ASL Club also plans events for Deaf Awareness Week, which occurs during the first full week of April. During April of 2005, they taught ASL basics at local schools, informed the public about technology and devices people who are deaf use, and hosted a silent dinner. Members of the ASL Club have also volunteered to be counselors at the Indiana Deaf Camp.

Faculty: Dr. James D. McGlothlin
Dr. James D. McGlothlin is an associate professor of Industrial Hygiene and Ergonomics in the School of Health Sciences. He specializes in research in ergonomics and industrial hygiene engineering controls. Dr. McGlothlin was the driving force behind a video wheelchair project that has identified many accessibility issues on campus. He stated that improving accessibility requires teaching, teamwork, and technology. His team has added wireless transmission of video and biosensory data from a wheelchair, which the team demonstrated at the reception with the help of Scott Kempf, a previous year’s Focus Award winner. Dr. McGlothlin’s research was funded in part by the Christopher Reeve Foundation, which assists people who are paralyzed.

Staff: Paula J. (Micka) Pugh
Mrs. Paula J. Pugh, formerly Paula J. Micka, is the former Assistant Dean in Adaptive Programs within the Office of the Dean of Students. During her tenure at Purdue, Mrs. Pugh had a major role in the production of Removing Barriers. This booklet provides the faculty with guidelines for teaching students with disabilities. The main focus is to provide students with access to programs, services, and activities while they attend Purdue University. Mrs. Pugh also redesigned the instructor letters, highlighting the responsibilities of the instructor, the student, and the Office of the Dean of Students. Mrs. Pugh presented numerous workshops around campus to make staff aware of the need for accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Mrs. Pugh was active on many disability-related committees, including ADA People and Technology, Advisory Council on Disability Issues, Housing Accommodations Committee, and Parking Accessibility Review Committee.

Student: Kathleen Kisselburgh
Ms. Kathleen Kisselburgh attended Purdue as a returning adult student with a lifelong hearing impairment. She was accompanied on campus by her companion dog, Whisper. Ms. Kisselburgh was recognized as being an active participant in her classes who provided challenging, real-life examples in class that clarified discussion sessions, helping her classmates more clearly understand abstract ideas. Ms. Kisselburgh was engaged with the surrounding community. Since 1999, she was an active member of “Caring Paws,” an off-campus volunteer group that brought animal assistants into therapeutic settings for children and adults with physical, emotional, and psychological disabilities. Her most recent contribution was to establish a program at the Wabash Center for Adults in which pet partner teams, certified by a national organization, the Delta Society, worked with therapists to bring animal assistance into sessions with disabled clients. Ms. Kisselburgh and Whisper made regular visits to Wabash Valley Hospital to provide social interaction through pet partner work. In addition, Ms. Kisselburgh was involved with Canine Companions for Independence, Paws with a Cause, and the Greater Lafayette Disabilities Coalition. Tragically, Ms. Kisselburgh and Whisper were severely injured in an automobile accident in August 2003. She died several days following the accident. Whisper was returned to her trainer in Michigan.

Organization: Tactile Access to Education for Visually Impaired Students (TAEVIS)
Tactile Access to Education for Visually Impaired Students (TAEVIS) was established at Purdue University in 1996 to provide Braille materials for students who are blind in two chemistry classes. TAEVIS employees use computer graphics, special paper, and a heat system to produce tactile drawings similar to print illustrations, which is very useful in the fields of math, engineering, and science. In the absence of official standards for Braille diagrams, TAEVIS illustrators developed and refined a set of internal standards with an emphasis on reserving the scientific integrity of technical drawings. These standards, documented in the TAEVIS Tactile Diagram Manual, have earned widespread recognition and are being used by members of the National Braille Association. Today, TAEVIS is nationally recognized for its expertise and has won attention for their uses of Braille and specifically developed tactile diagrams. It utilizes a variety of alternative formats to provide academic accommodations to students who are blind, visually impaired, or have other print disabilities. Innovative applications for tactile diagrams, technical Braille, and electronic text are opening new opportunities in math, engineering, and science.

Faculty: Dr. F. David Schoorman
Dr. F. David Schoorman is a professor of Management who teaches in the areas of Organizational Behavior, Organization Theory, and Human Resource Management. His knowledge of applied psychology within these areas has been beneficial while he has served on the campus Advisory Council on Disability Issues since it was created in 1993. Dr. Schoorman appears to be at ease identifying and discussing access issues. For example, when the management building was in its planning stages, he asked why the wheelchair spaces were always at the front of the room. He felt that wheelchair users should have the choice and opportunity to sit in the back of the room like non-wheelchair users. He jokingly pointed out that all students should have the opportunity to fall asleep in class, which is difficult to do when sitting in the front row all the time! Dr. Schoorman also views his role as a faculty member as an opportunity to educate faculty on disability issues and to facilitate information to his colleagues. He is quick to state that his commitment to educate his colleagues and the Purdue community is not because it is the law, but rather because it is the right thing to do.

Staff: Timothy J. Nordland
Mr. Timothy J. Nordland is the webmaster for the School of Veterinary Medicine. He has brought knowledge and skill to the task of making Purdue’s web sites compliant with standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. Mr. Nordland has worked very hard, both individually and as part of the Purdue Universal Access Initiative (PUAI), to educate the Purdue community on its legal and ethical obligations of providing accessible websites. Prior to joining PUAI in the year 2000, he provided consultation and conducted educational workshops to various departments on campus, such as the Athletics Department, the Colleges of Science and Liberal Arts, and many others. In fact, Mr. Nordland developed one of the first accessible distance education web courses for the Veterinary Technology Program. Upon joining PUAI, he provided the technical “how-to,” a much needed addition to the legal, educational, and adaptive technologies aspects of the workshops. Mr. Nordland also advises the Grand Prix Committee. Several years ago, a prospective driver, who happened to be an amputee, applied to drive in the race. Knowing that this concern could be a potential issue due to the stringent safety rules and regulations, Mr. Nordland contacted Adaptive Programs for information and assistance. Due to his intervention and advocacy, the possible safety concerns never became an issue.

Student: Scott R. Kempf
Mr. Scott R. Kempf was a senior from Indianapolis in Organizational Leadership and Supervision when he received the Focus Award. During his freshman year, Mr. Kempf began experiencing dizzy spells, which eventually led to the diagnosis of a brain stem tumor. After two surgeries and over 20 radiation treatments, the brain tumor was successfully removed. However, a few limitations occurred as a result of the surgery. Mr. Kempf has impaired vision and decreased coordination in both his upper and lower extremities. He used a motorized scooter to get around campus and utilized adaptive technology to perform some tasks. Mr. Kempf remained optimistic and chose to educate others about his disability in several ways. He was a member of Purdue Advocates for Disability Issues. He also helped educate the campus through participating in Dr. James D. McGlothlin’s research project in which a video recorder was mounted to his scooter to reveal accessibility concerns around campus.

Organization: Tomahawk
Tomahawk is a coeducational service and leadership honorary organization at Purdue University. The goal of Tomahawk is to further develop students’ leadership abilities, as well as broaden the scope of each member through pledgeship and organizational activities. As a service organization, Tomahawk performs over 30 service projects each semester. This organization received the Focus Award for its diligence in helping students with disabilities, especially those individuals with visual impairments, learn how to get to classrooms and other campus locations. The organization has worked with Adaptive Programs in this way for eight years.

Faculty: Dr. William E. Field
Dr. William E. Field answered a phone call from a farmer with paraplegia in 1979 that would permanently change Purdue University. The farmer had a simple request: he wanted to get back on his tractor and farm again. Dr. Field, Purdue’s Extension Safety Specialist, having no prior background in disability-related work or adaptive technology, took several agricultural engineering students to visit the farmer and see if they could assist the farmer in reaching his goal. From this contact, the program that would become Breaking New Ground (BNG) began. Under Dr. Field’s leadership, Breaking New Ground has served farmers and ranchers with disabilities throughout Indiana, the nation, and even other countries. BNG has responded to over 10,000 calls for assistance over their toll-free help-line, and has produced more than 50 resources designed to assist not only agricultural workers, but also rural businesses, Extension offices, youth organizations like 4-H and FFA, and the caregivers of individuals with disabilities. The BNG program was used as a model for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s AgrAbility Program that was launched as part of the 1990 Farm Bill. BNG has also earned numerous national, state, and university awards for program accomplishments. Dr. Field has won a number of individual honors as well, including the 2000 Hovde Award, the USDA Superior Service Award, and Purdue University’s Cooperative Extension Association’s Junior and Senior Specialist Awards. Dr. Field has also brought Therapy, Health, and Education through Children and Horses as Partners, a therapeutic horseback riding program for children with disabilities, under the BNG umbrella.

Staff: Betty M. Nelson
Ms. Betty M. Nelson has had a tremendous and long-lasting positive impact on accessibility at Purdue University. In the mid-1970’s, she was a staff member in the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS). She worked with student organizations on campus to raise money to have curb cuts installed for wheelchair users. Ms. Nelson also worked with students who needed accommodations. In time, Ms. Nelson held the position of Dean of Students. As the Dean of Students, she created two new specialist positions within Adaptive Programs to better serve the needs of students with disabilities. Ms. Nelson became even more proactive in disability issues once the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990. She was appointed to the University’s Steering Committee. Ms. Nelson also founded and chaired the Advisory Council on Disability Issues, which is a faculty and student advisory group, to spread information and raise awareness of disability issues in the classroom. She fostered an atmosphere in ODOS and at Purdue that accepted people with disabilities as people first. Ms. Nelson was also a charter member of the Association for Handicapped Student Service Programs in Post-Secondary Education (which later became the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) and the founder of the Indiana Higher Education Committee on Disabled Students (which later became Indiana AHEAD). She also participated on the Indiana Rehabilitation Services Area V Advisory Committee and the Governor’s Task Force on the Employment of the Handicapped.

Student: Adam J. Rodenbeck and Hamlet
Mr. Adam J. Rodenbeck and his service dog Hamlet were Focus Award recipients while he lived at Wiley Hall during the 2001-2002 academic year. Many of the people living and working in the residence hall stated that they learned a great deal from their interactions with Mr. Rodenbeck and Hamlet. Many people stated that Mr. Rodenbeck, who is blind, approaches life with great confidence and impresses everyone with his independence. He was involved in many activities which occurred on campus. Mr. Rodenbeck educated the Purdue community by being willing to share his experiences with both students and university employees. He participated in various Boiler Gold Rush activities. Mr. Rodenbeck also joined the Wiley Hall radio station as a disc jockey. Another student, who was also a disc jockey at the radio station, was impressed at the fact that Mr. Rodenbeck was more familiar with the equipment after a few months than he was after four years.

Organization: Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS)
Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS), which was founded in Purdue University’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the fall of 1995, is an innovative program at the University that creates partnerships between teams of undergraduate students and local community not-for-profit organizations to solve engineering-based problems in the community. This partnership provides many benefits to the students and the community alike by fulfilling the complementary needs of engineering undergraduates and acting as a community service organization. EPICS at Purdue has grown from five teams and forty students in fall 1995 to twenty-four teams and three hundred fifty students in fall 2001. EPICS worked on three different projects related to assisting Purdue students with disabilities during the 2001-2002 academic year. The three projects involved creating an adjustable table, an adjustable chair, and an interactive campus map. The students involved in the campus map project were awarded a $5,000 grant from the Christopher Reeve Foundation to conduct their research and create the map. Because of EPICS’ popularity and benefit to the surrounding community, programs have also been started at other institutions, such as Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Georgia Tech. 

Faculty: Dr. Fred E. Lytle
Dr. Fred E. Lytle is a chemistry professor at Purdue, who, in the fall of 1994, was presented with the problem of converting complicated scientific material into Braille in order to assist students with visual impairments in pursuit of their academic goals. He undertook this task with no experience with Braille. He worked on his own time to develop a systematic way to convert chemical equations, symbols, and formulas into a standard six-dot Braille. The new symbols were combined with current Braille symbols to develop a software program to translate equations into Braille. The software program is used to translate course materials in subjects including chemistry, biology, mathematics, and psychology. It is also being used at high schools and colleges nationwide.

Staff: Kenneth P. Burns
Mr. Kenneth Burns was instrumental in providing administrative and executive level support in initiating Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance efforts at Purdue University. During his tenure as Vice President for Physical Facilities, he served as chair of Purdue University’s ADA Steering Committee and oversaw the initial implementation of the law. This committee was instrumental in providing guidance with regard to evaluating the University’s needs and developing a plan for implementation.

Student: Allyson Matt and Cooper
Ms. Allyson Matt and her service dog Cooper were involved in many efforts to raise disability awareness on campus and within the Greater Lafayette community. Ms. Matt was an active member of Purdue Advocates for Disability Issues, a student group, and she was a student member on the Advisory Council for Disability Issues. She and Cooper co-presented in many of Adaptive Programs’ presentations and talked about blindness to first grade students at Earhart Elementary School. Ms. Matt and Cooper lived in the residence halls on campus while she attended Purdue as an undergraduate student.