Tapestry, FALL 2007 TEXT ONLY

TAPESTRY Weaving together a vibrant and inclusive community
Fall 2007 Issue 6
UNC Charlotte Office of Disability Services 230 Fretwell tel:704-687-4355 fax: 704-687-3226 email: dissrvcs@uncc.edu website: http://www.ds.uncc.edu
THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES : Jo Ann Fernald, Director: 687-2351 Jill Gosnell , Student Services Coordinator: 687-6026 Kristin Kolin, Associate Director : 687-3136 Katie Montie, Assistant Director: 687-3102 Vonetta Blakely, Assistant Director: 687-2132

DID YOU KNOW?
The Office of Disability Services routinely gives presentations to classes and group organizations on campus.
If you are interested in having someone from our office speak to your class or group, please contact our office at 704-687-4355. JG

Inside This Issue: Disability Awareness Week, Scholarship, Outstanding Faculty/Staff and Note takers, Student Advisory Board, Important Dates, Faculty Corner

Disability Awareness Week~ October 22-26
The Office of Disability Services is excited to sponsor the first ever Disability Awareness Week on campus, October 22nd-26th. We will offer the campus community several events which highlight the diverse abilities of individuals along with raising awareness and challenging previous ideas of what LIVING with a disability is all about.
Look for information and opportunities on campus. Check the Events page on the Disabilities Services website for the most up to date information: www.ds.uncc.edu.
The main headlining event will be comedian, Josh Sundquist, who will be appearing on Wednesday October 24th at 7:00 PM in Storrs Auditorium. This event is open and FREE to everyone! Josh not only identifies himself as the “One Legged Stand Up Comedian,” but is an accomplished Paralympian ski racer and a current graduate student at the University of Southern California. Josh has appeared on CNN, The CW Network, featured in USA Today, and has performed across the country for schools along with Fortune 500 Companies. Josh has also participated in a White House awards ceremony. His first comedy clip on You Tube received 100,000 views in a single weekend.
Recently Josh received recognition as a CNN Hero for creating the online amputee community, LessThanFour. For more information about Josh and his accomplishments, please visit the following websites: www.joshsundquist.com and www.lessthanfour.org
If you or your campus group are interested in participating in the Disability Awareness Week, or if you’d just like to find out more about all the events that will be offered, please contact Kristin Kolin: kjkolin@uncc.edu or visit www.ds.uncc.edu ! KK

The Office of Disability Services Scholarship Program
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt
The Office of Disability Services was proud to offer its first ever scholarship program for the 2007/2008 academic year. Thanks to the Carol A. Douglas Endowment for Disabled Students and the Lion’s Foundation of the Piedmont Fund, the Office of Disability Services awarded five scholarships to qualified UNC Charlotte students. Four scholarships in the amount of $1,000 were given to eligible undergraduate students. One additional merit scholarship of $500 was awarded thanks to the generosity of The Friends of UNC Charlotte Disability Services.2007/2008 Scholarship Recipients:
Marin Coleman $1,000 award, The Carol A. Douglas Endowment for Disabled Students
Ross McCarthy $500 merit award, The Friends of UNC Charlotte Disability Services
Crystle Murphy $1,000 award, The Lion’s Foundation of the Piedmont Fund
Lauryn Pelly $1,000 award, The Lion’s Foundation of the Piedmont Fund
Joshua Soles $1,000 award, The Carol A. Douglas Endowment for Disabled Students
Please be on the lookout for scholarship opportunities as we continue the scholarship program for the 2008-2009 school year.
The Office of Disability Services will offer five $1,000 scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year. The winners will be determined by the scholarship selection committee. Four scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate students, and one scholarship will be awarded to a graduate student.
In order to apply for one of the scholarships, the following information is required: Cumulative 2.5 GPA or above at UNC-Charlotte, Registration with the Office of Disability Services, Documentation of Financial Need, Verification of enrollment at UNC-Charlotte with maintenance of a minimum of 6 credit hours for undergraduate students and 3 credit hours for graduate students, Academic record free of disciplinary actions, Completion of FAFSA, Submission of complete application packet, Signed release of information.
Applications for the Office of Disability Services Scholarship can be obtained at the following locations: www.ds.uncc.edu, Office of Disability Services, 230 Fretwell, Financial Aid Office, 122 Reese.
Completed scholarship application packets will be accepted and reviewed beginning January 9th and ending March 10th . Applications should be submitted to the Office of Disability Services no later than March 10th!
Please submit your complete packet to the following location by MARCH 10th:
Office of Disability Services, UNC Charlotte, 230 Fretwell, Attn: Scholarship Selection Committee, Charlotte, NC 28223
For additional information regarding the scholarship please visit our web site: www.ds.uncc.edu and go to the Student Services section. You may also contact Vonetta Blakely by phone at 704-687-2132 or by e-mail at vblakely@uncc.edu. VB

OUTSTANDING FACULTY/STAFF AND NOTE TAKERS
Martha Sloss, Advisor for the College of Health and Human Services, was nominated by student, Whitney Russell, for her consistent commitment to inclusion and for the immense support she provides to ALL students. Whitney credited Martha’s “kind words and time spent ” with her as a major contributor to her success at UNC Charlotte. Martha’s “warmth and clarity” was also acknowledged as instrumental in Whitney’s educational development.
Martha Sloss began at UNC Charlotte in July 2002. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and a graduate certificate in Technical and Professional Writing.
Her position as an advisor and instructor allows her the opportunity to work with students from various back grounds and with diverse abilities. Martha embraces student diversity and believes every student has a unique story to tell.
When asked about her approach to student advising and the incorporation of accessibility, she replied, “I sit back and listen to students, but I don’t know how to help or who to connect the student to unless I hear their story first. I want EVERY THING to be accessible to them!”
Martha goes on to state, “Whenever I suspect that a student might benefit from Disability Services, I always let them know about your office.” Martha believes it is important for the campus community to be informed and involved when it comes to issues of inclusion and accessibility!
For this reason and many more, Martha Sloss is an outstanding advisor and a supportive advocate for ALL UNC Charlotte students! Thank you, Martha!
In addition to the Outstanding Faculty Award, Spring 2007 offered many opportunities for recognition and gratitude. Our office was happy to present the first annual “Nominate Your Note Taker” award. Volunteer note takers were nominated for their outstanding work by students who receive the note taking service as an accommodation.
The following volunteer note takers received this outstanding recognition from their peers for their high quality and consistent notes: Melinda Osbourne, Anna Call, Alisha Gettys, Elizabeth Cranfill
Each recipient was awarded with a certificate along with a Barnes and Nobles gift card! THANK YOU to ALL the outstanding individuals that enrich our campus! KK

Student Advisory Board
The Office of Disability Services is excited to announce the formation of our very first Student Advisory Board! The purpose of this Board will be to serve as consultants to our office on various disability-related issues, including: campus accessibility, disability issues, assistance with our first ever Disability Awareness Week
The initial members of the Board were recruited first from faculty and staff nominations, then from those nominated who expressed interest in participating in the group.
The Board will consist of 8-11 seats with variable terms. Frequency of meetings will be determined by Board members and will depend on goals and activities. We look forward to collaborating with the Student Advisory Board and feel the entire campus will benefit from the board’s contributions.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Katie Montie at 704-687-3102, or you may email her at ksmontie@uncc.edu KM

IMPORTANT DATES
Fall Break October 8th and 9th
Disability Awareness Week October 22nd-26th Visit the Disability Services website for up to date activities: www.ds.uncc.edu .
Spring 2008 Registration Begins November 12th Make sure you meet with your advisors prior to registration.
Finals Deadline November 16th This is the last day to notify DS if you plan on taking your finals in our office.
Thanksgiving Break November 21st-25th
Finals December 7th-14th Please contact the DS office to verify testing times prior to the beginning of finals.
Commencement December 15th Congratulations Graduates!!!!! Contact our office if you require assistance for the ceremony.
Winter Break/ University is Closed December 24th– January 1st 2008 Relax and have a happy and safe New Year! KK

Faculty Corner: Disability Advisory Committee
Did you know that the Office of Disability Services has an advisory committee that is comprised of faculty and staff from a broad selection of campus departments?
The Disability Advisory Committee has several important roles. Individuals who serve on this committee alert the Disability Services director to accessibility concerns across the campus. The Disability Advisory Committee serves as a resource for their departments, relaying disability and accessibility information, as well as sharing general disability guidelines with their colleagues.
Another important function of the Disability Advisory Committee is to provide guidance and feedback to the Office of Disability Services which ensures that accessibility issues specific to their department are addressed.
Some of the Advisory Committee’s recent projects include: identifying criteria for the Office of Disability Services scholarship program, feedback regarding Disability Awareness Week activities, and exploring test administration conflicts.
Is your department represented on the Disability Advisory Committee? If you are interested in becoming a member please contact Jo Ann Fernald.
Each member of the Disability Advisory Committee’s voice makes a difference in this small, energetic group!
The committee meets one to two times per semester. The next meeting will be held November 2, 2007.
If you have questions or would like further information regarding the committee, please call 704-687-2351 or email: jfernal1@uncc.edu.
Your input is valued and welcomed! JF

Question, comments, or suggestions about Tapestry ? Contact Kristin Kolin: kjkolin@uncc.edu