winter 2011
This documentary
traces the history of
the Laconia State
School from its initial
beginnings as the New
Hampshire School for
the Feebleminded in
the early 1900s until
its closure in 1991.
Using archival footage and current
interviews with former residents of
the institution, families of former
residents, and people who worked
at the institution, along with an
extensive collection of photos,
newspaper articles, and state
documents, this film examines the
social values and cultural ideals
of the twentieth century relative to
individuals and families who were
labeled “feebleminded,” deficient,
or disabled in New Hampshire.
Available for $25 at
www.iodbookstore.org.
Join Our
Mailing List
The IOD produces a variety of
publications, including Vision &
Voice, which communicate the ways
we are connected to individuals and
activities in New Hampshire and
across the country. If you would
like to be added to our mailing
list, e-mail contact.iod@unh.edu
or call 603.862.4320.
What’s Inside
Challenges Persist in NH Mental Health . . . . . . 2
Annual Autism Institute Announced . . . . . . . . . 2
Did You Know?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Building Community Transportation in NH. . . . . 4
IOD Grant Supports Certificate Program. . . . . .4
His expertise linking
the areas of disability
and public health
align with the IOD’s
mission and goals.
Drum joins the IOD from Oregon Health and
Science University’s Institute on Disability and
Development, where he served as the assistant
director for public health, community outreach,
and policy and the founding director of the
Center on Community Accessibility at the Child
Development and Rehabilitation Center.
“I am excited to be
joining the IOD
and to build upon
its long-standing
tradition of
excellence in the
field of disability,”
says Drum. “I look forward to exploring new
and creative partnerships both on and off
campus that will further the institute’s mission
and work.”
“Dr. Drum is a natural fit for the IOD, having
extensive familiarity with and involvement
within university and community settings,”
says Barbara Arrington, dean of the UNH
College of Health and Human Services. “Along
with his demonstrated ability to communicate
effectively and to act as a visionary and a leader,
he is well connected and respected nationally
in the disability arena. We look forward to the
impact he will have not only on the IOD but on
the individuals both the institute and college
serves.”
Drum is widely published, authoring more
than 45 articles, reports, and monographs on
disability issues; seven training curricula; and
the first textbook on disability and public health.
In addition to directing the IOD, Drum has been
appointed as professor of health management
and policy at UNH. At OHSU, he served as an
associate professor in the department of public
health and preventive medicine. Drum received
a Ph.D. from Brandeis University and a J.D. and
M.P.A. from University of Oregon.
From all of us at the IOD: welcome, Charles!
Site Supports Employment for People with Disabilities
The Work Incentives Resources Center (WIRC),
a new website developed by the IOD in
collaboration with Granite State Independent
Living, is helping people with disabilities
navigate the benefits planning process with the
goal of making gainful employment a reality.
The website—www.nhwirc.org—aims to
provide information to New Hampshire
residents with disabilities that will encourage
the pursuit of employment and assist in
understanding how working and earning income
impacts federal, state and local benefits. One
way the site accomplishes this is by dispelling
myths about losing public income assistance
and benefits through the Social Security
Administration and Medicare/Medicaid, which
often deter
individuals
with disabilities
from pursuing
employment.
I NSTITUTE ON D ISABILITY / UCED
10 WEST E DGE D RIVE
S UITE 101
D URHAM NH 03824
Lost in Laconia
The Institute on Disability (IOD) is pleased
to welcome Charles E. Drum, a leader in the
fields of public health and disability, as its new
director. Drum’s appointment was effective
January 2011.
800315
Bookstore Spotlight
Institute on Disability Welcomes Charles Drum
“People with
disabilities can
contribute in
important and
valuable ways to
our communities
and our economy,” says David Hagner, WIRC
project director. “Nobody should be put in a
position of remaining idle or unproductive in
order to obtain the assistance they depend on.”
The website is designed for New Hampshire
consumers, families, and service provider staff.
Available resources include topical fact sheets,
calculation tools, links, notices of upcoming
trainings, and a password-protected section
where full-time work incentives specialists
share more in-depth information and resources.
Information at WIRC is approved by Social
Security or other applicable agencies for
accuracy.
As a collaborating partner, Granite State
Independent Living provides toll-free telephone
assistance, work incentives specialist training
and a database of trained staff, and staff certified
by the Social Security Administration to provide
work incentives planning and assistance to
ensure the accuracy and quality of information
provided.
The development of WIRC was funded by the
New Hampshire Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.
For more information on WIRC, visit
www.nhwirc.org.
Annual Autism
Institute Announced
In collaboration with the Autistic
Self-Advocacy Network, the IOD will
hold its 13th Annual Autism Summer
Institute on August 8-10, 2011 at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nashua, NH.
The 2011 theme is “Everybody Reads,
Everybody Writes, Everybody Has
Something to Say.” This integrated
literacy and communication theme
recognizes that far too many students
and adults with autism have not been
provided with high quality literacy
instruction nor with a means to
communicate if their spoken voice is
not effective.
The three-day conference will feature
age-specific content including a strand
for self-advocates, a technology
exploration lab, evening film
screenings, and keynote presentations
by I am Norm student advocates,
Christi Kasa, Ph.D., Paula Kluth,
Ph.D., Ari Ne’eman, DJ Savarese,
Donna Williams, and Therese
Willkomm, Ph.D.
For more information and to sign
up to be notified when registration
opens, visit www.iod.unh.edu/asi.
2
Did You Know?
The U.S. Census Bureau uses a set
of dollar value thresholds that vary
by family size and composition to
determine the poverty line.
In 2009, of the 76,114 working-age
individuals with disabilities in New
Hampshire, 15,551 lived below the
poverty line—a poverty rate of 20.4%.
In contrast, of the 755,151 individuals
without disabilities in New Hampshire,
51,671 individuals lived below the
poverty line—a poverty rate of only
6.8%.
The resulting gap, known as the
poverty gap, is 13.6 percentage points,
a 1.0 percentage point decrease from
2008.
For more statistics on people with
disabilities in New Hampshire, visit
www.DisabilityCompendium.org,
which is a collaborative effort of
the IOD, Hunter College, and the
American Association of People with
Disabilities.
Feedback
Have a comment, suggestion,
or story idea? We value your
input.
E-mail contact.iod@unh.edu
or call 603.862.4320 to let us
know how we’re doing and
how we can better serve you.
Share the IOD with a friend:
Please let friends or colleagues
know about us. Pass us along!
Challenges Persist in NH Mental Health System
A new research report from the IOD documents
some of the strengths and challenges of NH’s
community mental health service system
and reflects the critical issues that need to
be addressed in NH’s system reform efforts.
The report, “New Hampshire Public Mental
Health Consumer Survey Project, Summary of
Findings 2011,” provides the third year of data
based on consumer ratings of NH’s 10 regional
community mental health centers (CMHCs).
• Concerning school networks and their
impact on mental health, nearly one in five
students had been suspended or expelled
from school in the past two years, with
similar proportions found among youth ages
13-17, children ages nine-12, and children
under nine years.
• Regarding services provided by the CMHCs,
while most consumers were satisfied
with the services they received, there was
substantially less agreement on the extent to
which their lives have been improved as a
direct result of services.
The random survey of adults, youth, and
family members of consumers of the state’s
CMHCs assessed general satisfaction levels
with services, access to services, participation in
“We’re at an important
treatment, quality of treatment
“...mental illness is a challenge juncture,” says Peter Antal,
received, cultural sensitivity,
IOD researcher and author of
that needs to be directly,
and treatment outcomes.
honestly, and compassionately the report. “With steady cuts
Results from the survey
in services across the state,
faced by individuals, families,
highlight the need for greater
as well as substantial cuts
engagement on multiple levels: community members, service
providers, and the State of New in CMHC budgets even as
• A majority of consumers
Hampshire—each has a role.” consumer demand is rising,
were able to access needed
it is increasingly vital that
services, and most felt they were participants we recognize and address the multiple factors
in their care. However, only a third of adults that contribute to mental health. Management
participated with their local peer support
of and recovery from mental illness is a
agency sometimes or often to receive
challenge that needs to be directly, honestly, and
additional one-on-one and group supports.
compassionately faced by individuals, families,
community members, service providers, and the
• Regarding families and awareness of
State of New Hampshire—each has a role.”
substance use, 12% of youth surveyed
admitted to having a drug or alcohol
The Public Mental Health Consumer
problem, while only four percent of parents
Survey Project, funded by a grant from the
or guardians thought their children had
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
substance use issues.
Administration, is a joint initiative among the
IOD, the UNH Survey Center, the Bureau of
• At the community level, social isolation
Behavioral Health, and NH’s 10 CMHCs.
among adult consumers at CMHCs
continued to be high, as were unemployment For more information, visit
rates and the number of adults living at or
www.iod.unh.edu/pmhs.
near the poverty level.
Highlighting IOD Donors
Support from Across the Country for New
Film
A wide range of organizations are supporting
the development and distribution of a new film
by IOD Filmmaker in Residence Dan Habib on
the inclusion of students with emotional and
behavioral challenges (tentatively scheduled for
release in fall 2011).
This documentary will explore innovative
educational approaches to discipline, dropout
prevention, and improved school climate, and
examine key questions such as: What types
of supports and interventions enable children
with emotional/behavioral challenges to
succeed? How are behavioral problems linked to
communication and learning disabilities?
As with the award-winning film Including
Samuel, the new film—Education Revolution
(working title)—will be accompanied by
extensive education materials and discussion
guides, providing resources for families,
educators and mental health professionals and
fostering public awareness about the need for
better responding to youth with emotional and
behavioral challenges.
In addition to major support for the film
from the New Hampshire Department of
Education and the New Hampshire Charitable
Foundation, the project has recently received
support from:
• The National Education Association,
providing $25,000 and ensuring the
integration of the film and related
components into resources and outreach
provided to the NEA’s 3.5 million members.
• The New Hampshire Association of
Special Education Administrators,
providing $10,000 in funding as well as
technical assistance on the film and its
dissemination in NH.
• The National Association of School
Psychologists, providing $5,000 in support
and technical assistance.
Support for this project has also been provided
by the Crotched Mountain Foundation,
Easter Seals New Hampshire, and the
Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire.
Watch a preview of the film and learn more at
www.iod.unh.edu/pbisfilm.
To learn more about making a tax-deductible
gift to the IOD, please contact:
Mary Schuh, Ph.D. – Associate Director of
Consumer Affairs and Development
Institute on Disability / UCED
56 Old Suncook Road, Suite 2
Concord, NH 03301
603.228.2084 | mary.schuh@unh.edu
or visit www.iod.unh.edu for easy and secure
online donation.
Inclusive Practices in Action
Workshops providing support for busy
special education teachers, general
education teachers, paraprofessionals,
and other service providers who are
trying to fully include their students in the
general education curriculum.
Remaining Sessions:
February 8, 2011 – Using Collaborative
Teaming to Support Learning of the
General Education Curriculum by
Students with Disabilities
March 8, 2011 – Writing Standards-Based
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) with
Measurable Objectives
Time: 4pm–6pm, except March 8
(4pm–7pm)
Location: IOD Professional Development
Center, Concord, NH
Cost: $35 each
Presenter: Laurie Lambert, M.Ed.
Going for Guardianship
Information and tools necessary to
guide and assist families through the
entire process of obtaining guardianship
of older adults.
Dates & Locations:
March 2, 2011 – IOD Professional
Development Center, Concord, NH
March 16, 2011 – Common Man Inn &
Restaurant, Claremont, NH
May 11, 2011 – Best Western Hotel and
Suites, Portsmouth, NH
July 14, 2011 – Highlander Inn &
Conference Center, Manchester, NH
Time: 9am–3pm
Cost: $30
Presenter: Mary McGuire, Esq.
Foundations in Transition
Training in practices shown to improve
the self-determination skills of youth
and to provide educators, community
providers, and family members with
tools to help youth develop relevant
transition plans.
Remaining Sessions:
March 9, 2011 – Think Outside the Box:
Student-Centered Educational and
Employment Options
April 13, 2011 – Resource Development:
Who Needs to Come to the Table?
Time: 8am–2:30pm
Location: Holiday Inn, Concord, NH
Cost: $95 each
Presenters: Dawn Breault, M.S., Heidi
Cloutier, MSW, Jonathon Drake, MSW,
David Hagner, Ph.D., JoAnne Malloy,
MSW, & Heidi Wyman, MSW
AT for All
Eight hands-on, interactive assistive
technology (AT) workshops featuring
practical solutions for home, school,
work, and play.
Remaining Sessions:
March 9, 2011 – Beyond Duct Tape and
Velcro: 101 AT Solutions YOU Can Make
Using Everyday Materials
Cost: $175
March 18, 2011 – Assistive Technology
and Transition
Cost: $95
April 7, 2011 – Universally Designed
Technology to Support Reading, Writing,
and Communication in the General
Education Classroom
Cost: $35
May 4, 2011 – Natural Support Strategies
and Assistive Technology Solutions in the
Workplace
Cost: $95
May 13, 2011 – There’s an App for
That! Mobile Applications to Increase
Independence
Cost: $115
Time: 9am–3pm, except April 7 (4pm–
6pm)
Locations: IOD Professional
Development Center, Concord, NH
Holiday Inn, Concord, NH (May 13 only)
Presenters: David Hagner, Ph.D. &
Therese Willkomm, Ph.D.
It Takes a Team
Teachers, paraprofessionals, and
educational support members working
together to promote successful
classroom environments.
Date & Location: March 10, 2011 –
Common Man Inn & Spa, Plymouth, NH
Time: 9am–3pm
Cost: Individuals – $95; Teacher/
Paraprofessional Teams – $85
Presenter: Frank Sgambati, M.S.
Creating a Dementia-Friendly Home
Training on how environmental
factors can affect individuals with
dementia, along with simple, low-cost
modifications for most households.
Date & Location: March 11, 2011 –
IOD Professional Development Center,
Concord, NH
Time: 9am–4:30pm
Cost: $75
Presenters: Cathy Creapaux, Janet
Dineen, & Therese Willkomm, Ph.D.
Introductory Training for Facilitated
Communication (FC)
General overview of FC, a method
of augmentative and alternative
communication used by people with
limited speaking abilities.
Date & Location: March 17, 2011 –
IOD Professional Development Center,
Concord, NH
Time: 9am–3:30pm
Cost: $95
Presenter: Pascal Cheng, M.Ed., C.A.S.
Facilitating Friendships in the Inclusive
Classroom
Strategies for facilitating friendships
as well as the barriers that keep those
strategies from working.
Date & Location: March 22, 2011 –
IOD Professional Development Center,
Concord, NH
Time: 9am–3pm
Cost: $85
Presenter: Susan Shapiro, M.Ed.
Supporting Friendships! Facilitating
Social Networks for Young Adults with
Disabilities in the Community
Learn about social networks and
discuss the role a facilitator can play in
developing and supporting a network.
Date & Location: March 23, 2011 –
IOD Professional Development Center,
Concord, NH
Time: 9am–3pm
Cost: $85
Presenter: Lisa Hasler
Employment for All
Developing and supporting meaningful
careers for individuals with disabilities.
Sessions:
March 24, 2011 – Career Planning and
Job Search Methods
Time: 9am–3:30pm
April 7, 2011 – Job Development,
Customized Job Proposals, and
Customized Job Support
Time: 9am–3:30pm
May 4, 2011 – Natural Support Strategies
and Assistive Technology Solutions in
the Workplace
Time: 9am–3pm
Cost: $95 each
Presenters: David Hagner, Ph.D., Heidi
Cloutier, MSW, & Therese Willkomm, Ph.D.
Picture This! The Art of Graphic
Facilitation
An accelerated learning experience in
graphic recording and facilitation.
Date & Location: March 25, 2011 –
IOD Professional Development Center,
Concord, NH
Time: 9am–3pm
Cost: $99
Presenter: Patty Cotton, M.Ed.
Special Education Finance: The Costs
and Benefits of Inclusive Education
A conference to explore and discuss
how fiscal policies and practices relate
to inclusive education.
Date & Location: March 31, 2011 –
Holiday Inn, Concord, NH
Time: 11am–4pm
Cost: $75
Presenter: Dr. Thomas Parrish (via video
conference)
For more information and to register, visit www.iod.unh.edu or call 603.228.2084
3
IOD Leadership
Charles E. Drum, MPA, JD, Ph.D. – Director
Linda Bimbo, MS – Deputy Director
Susan Fox, M.Ed., MA – Clinical Assistant Professor
Matthew Gianino, BA – Associate Director,
Communications & Technology
Andrew Houtenville, Ph.D. – Research Director
Betsy Humphreys, M.Ed. – NH-LEND Training
Director
Cheryl M. Jorgensen, Ph.D. – Research Assistant
Professor
Monica McClain, Ph.D. – Project Manager
Mary C. Schuh, Ph.D. – Associate Director,
Consumer Affairs & Development
Executive Committee
Gordon Allen – Executive Director
New Hampshire Developmental
Disabilities Council
www.nhddc.org
Matthew Ertas – Bureau Chief
Bureau of Developmental Services
New Hampshire Department of Health
and Human Services
www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/BDS
Barbara Arrington – Dean
College of Health and Human Services
University of New Hampshire
www.chhs.unh.edu
Santina Thibedeau – State Director of
Special Education
New Hampshire Department of Education
www.ed.state.nh.us
Richard Cohen, JD – Executive Director
Disabilities Rights Center
www.drcnh.org
UCED Partners
Tom Bunnell, JD – Director
Institute for Health, Law and Ethics
Franklin Pierce Law Center
www.fplc.edu
4
John Moeschler, MD – Program Director
Dartmouth Center for Genetics and Child
Development
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
www.dhmc.org
Consumer Advisory Council
Kathy Bates – Somersworth, NH
Regina Bringolf – Hancock, NH
Stacey Brooks – Madbury, NH
Robin Carlson – Laconia, NH
Joyce Chisholm – Concord, NH
Gina Colantuoni – Bow, NH
Susan Covert – Contoocook, NH
Jeff Dickson – Concord, NH
Bonnie Dunham – Concord, NH
Nathan Gams – Hampton, NH
Amy Howe – Hopkinton, NH
Sandy Hicks – Manchester, NH
Dan Louney – Bedford, NH
Julie Noel – Concord, NH
Mary Schuh – Concord, NH
Chrissy Shaffer – Litchfield, NH
Julie Smith – Durham, NH
Jim Tobin – Effingham, NH
Maureen Tracey – Merrimack, NH
Pat Vincent-Piet – Concord, NH
Kathryn Wallenstein – Concord, NH
Marian West – Concord, NH
Support the IOD!
As a community oriented nonprofit focused on ensuring that
equal opportunities and a
satisfying quality of life are
accessible to all persons, we
rely on the generosity of
supporters like you to help
further the mission of the IOD. If
you would like to contribute to
the IOD, tax-deductible
donations can be made:
Online
www.iod.unh.edu
Mail
56 Old Suncook Road, Suite 2
Concord, NH 03301
Phone
603.228.2084
An IOD staff member will assist
you with the process and
answer any questions you may
have about your contribution.
Building Community Transportation in New Hampshire
On November 18, 2010, the State Coordinating
Council for Community Transportation held the
2010 Community Transportation Summit at the
Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH.
Over 150 individuals attended, including state
legislators, transportation providers, nonprofit
and charitable organizations’ staff members,
representatives of government on the state and
local level, as well as members of the general
public.
also provided updates to the attendees.
Outstanding leaders, organizations, and
projects in community transportation were
showcased during a recognition program,
and in the afternoon, attendees participated in
breakout sessions on volunteer driver programs,
organizational development, and the linkage
between land use and transportation.
“The summit was wonderful and it was good to
see such a great diversity of participants,” said
Governor Lynch recognized the event by
Sönke Dornblut, IOD representative to the State
issuing a proclamation, declaring the day to
Coordinating Council. “Transportation is our
be Community Transportation Day.
state’s life blood and our system’s
“Transportation
is
our
The Summit also marked the launch
impacts and inadequacies affect
state’s life blood and all of us. In hearing the issues as
of the “Granite State Mobility:
our system’s impacts expressed by the commissioners
Getting There Together” campaign
and inadequacies
for the State Coordinating Council
who addressed the audience, it
affect
all
of
us.”
for Community Transportation to
is good to know that perspective
highlight the connection between
permeates state departments
transportation and many other aspects of life.
outside of the NH Department of Transportation
as well.”
In addition to the governor, the day featured
presentations by several prominent leaders in the The 2010 Community Transportation Summit
field, including Todd Litman, internationallywas sponsored by AARP, the Endowment for
known transportation expert of the Victoria
Health, the UNH Institute on Disability, the
Transport Policy Institute. Mr. Litman provided
Anna Harrington Boardman Fund of the New
a broad perspective on transportation issues,
Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the NH
and spoke about the importance of a quality
Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the
pedestrian environment to support community
NH Department of Transportation.
transportation.
For more information on the IOD’s
Representatives of the Federal Transit
transportation initiatives, visit
Administration’s United We Ride Program and
www.iod.unh.edu.
the National Conference of State Legislatures
IOD Grant Supports Certificate Program
With support from IOD’s DirectConnect project,
more students interested in entering the direct
care workforce will now have access to a new
certificate program available through Lakes
Region Community College.
fortunate to be working with so many dedicated
partners to develop opportunities, such as the
Certificate in Developmental Disabilities, to
support workers to enhance their skills and
connect to a fulfilling career.”
In collaboration with Lakes Region Community
“We are so happy that Lakes Region Community
Services, in January 2011, Lakes Region
College has decided to offer this program,”
Community College began to offer a Certificate
says Christine Santaniello, executive director of
in Developmental Disabilities as part of its human Lakes Region Community Services. “This will
services program. For students interested in
ensure that we will continue to have a qualified
pursuing certification, DirectConnect is offering
workforce to meet our current and expanding
funding for tuition, textbooks, and student fees.
program needs. The timing is perfect for us and
DirectConnect is a three-year $3 million grant
for potential students with the availability of
awarded to the IOD from the
funds through DirectConnect.
“We are fortunate to be working We are fortunate to have such
U.S. Department of Labor
with so many dedicated partners committed partners of the
which aims to address the
growing direct care workforce to develop opportunities, such as college and the Institute on
the Certificate in Developmental Disability.”
shortage in New Hampshire
by providing statewide career Disabilities, to support workers to
enhance their skills and connect Students can enroll in singular
training as well as access to
courses or the entire certificate,
to a fulfilling career.”
established degree programs
and any credits earned in
through tuition scholarships.
the certificate program can be used toward an
“The DirectConnect initiative is designed to help
associate’s degree in human services.
provide the state with a skilled, stable workforce
Those interested in enrolling are encouraged to
prepared to meet the current and future needs
contact Lakes Region Community College via the
for home and community based direct care
web at www.lrcc.edu or by calling 603.524.3207
workers,” says Sue Fox, principal investigator
for information regarding registration and
for DirectConnect. “Direct care workers are
scholarship assistance through the grant.
the backbone of the long term care system
and provide essential home and community
For more information on DirectConnect, visit
based services to persons of all ages who have
www.iod.unh.edu.
disabilities or chronic health conditions. We are
Stay Connected
For the latest IOD news, follow the Institute on Disability on Facebook and Twitter:
www.facebook.com/instituteondisability
www.twitter.com/unhiod