CAPED- Program Managers CIG
October 25, 2010
Attending: Janice Emerzian and Paula McCroskey, chairing, Steve LaVigne, Susie LaLaBelle, Scott
Berenson, Gwyneth Tracy, Janet Shapiro, Pat Schwab, Jan Ponticelli, Cathleen Allen, Bob Hughlett, Inga
Peltzer, Jane Mathis, Helene Maxwell, Jan Galvin, Leo Orange, Angelica Gomez, Joann Busenbark, Dipte
Patel, Sherry D’Attile, Debra Wright-Howard, Jane Nolan, Bob Albrecht, Melinga Gunning, Pacific
University, Paul Miller, Cal State Fullerton, Lisa Nociki, John F Kennedy University, Norma Nava,
Jacqueline Handelsman, Patie Wegmann, Tim McHargue, Lucinda Aborn, Karin Rodts, Ellen Young,
Yolanda Garcia, Kathy Pryor, Gail Conrad, Sandy Burnett, Peggy Greeno, Bette McMuldren (Minutes)
Those in attendance were asked to share creative ideas that they have
implemented on their campuses to cut costs and create efficiencies. The
following comments were shared:
Janice- proctoring: At Fresno City, we have collaborated with faculty and staff in
technical areas who are now proctoring their own tests. Also worked with
tutorial center, specifically with a student aide who proctors in that area.
Paula- proctoring: At Riverside, we have collaborated with nursing- assigned a
room, sometimes they proctor with own tests; Also use space at assessment
center; campus partners are really responsive.
Steve- At Palo Verde, there is effective collaboration with the campus assessment
center- The Center Director has been helpful and does referrals to DSPS.
Gwyn- At Sacramento City, DSPS created and maintains a supply closet for the
whole college that enables all departments to share supplies.
Angelica- At Bakersfield, testing accommodations were eliminated in DSPS and
the testing assessment center absorbed all proctoring.
Jane- At Santa Ana, we successfully recruited teaching faculty from other
departments to teach in DSPS.
Jackie- At Copper Mountain, they had a 50% problem- was able to get the
administration to take all of the costs of DSPS Faculty & Counseling. Additionally,
DSPS Coordinator began teaching.
Jan Pontecelli- At Yuba, the LD Specialist now has a dual role as Crisis Counselor,
as well as LD and as a result, the college administration took over that salary.
Kathy - accessible furniture: At San Bernardino, we eliminated responsibility for
furniture by simply putting accessible tables and chairs in each room. The plan is
for the instructors to know which is the adaptive table and monitor accordingly.
The group expressed doubts that this plan will be successful.
Paul- At Cal State Fullerton, we label the tables as DSPS property in BIG LETTERS.
Paula- At one point, Riverside engraved “property of DSPS” on the furniture.
Presently, we use a sign “Do NOT Remove.” We also list the extension to call for
DSPS.
Angelica- Bakersfield purchased adjustable tables; each lab has at least one and
we labeled them “accessible workstations.”
Lisa - Throughout the campus at JFK University, all chairs are ergonomic and easily
adjustable. DSPS hot-glued a laminated label on the chairs with disability symbols.
Additionally, we keep inventory numbers to be able to locate missing furniture
when necessary.
Gwyn- At Sac City, all desks are chairs with table tops, so accessible furniture is
often needed. We now have several tables in classrooms that are assigned and
marked for each student.
Janice- Asked how many have eliminated LD Assessments? Eliminated- 5;
Reduced testing- 30; No change- 7; LD testing absorbed by other depts. – none
Bob- At Lake Tahoe, we are actually doing more testing with less staff- Five other
representatives indicated that this trend is happening on their campuses as well.
Patie- At Santa Rosa, LD Specialists stopped teaching and started only testing.
Dipte- At El Camino, we wrote a proposal that the college funded enabling DSPS
to do more testing during intersessions.
Bob- At Lake Tahoe, we streamlined the LD assessment process. Formerly, the
initial interview used to be an hour, but has now been reduced to one-half hour.
If doing LD testing, they begin immediately after the intake session.
Janice- At Fresno City, we are using the AHEAD guidelines to determine eligibility
in more cases than previously.
Bob-At Lake Tahoe, DSPS Coordinator & others have eliminated committee work.
He has notified the college that his workload does not permit him to be as
involved in college wide activities, as before.
Janet- At Santa Barbara, the approach has been to make decisions about cutting
back to protect the staff from burnout.
Paula- Riverside has a system to prioritize the LD testing, as follows:
1) Those who cannot be served in any other way.
2) Those who lack the appropriate documentation to provide the
accommodations needed.
3) Test those who are transferring- at the discretion of the LD Specialist
4) Committed to continue testing
Scott Berenson- There is precedence for colleges to do testing and be paid by the
county. In addition, some counties will conduct assessments for DSPS.
Joann- At Golden West, one campus in the district has all LD testing; another does
all the deaf interpreting coordination.
Gail- In San Diego, CalWORKS pays the colleges in the district to do the LD
assessments. Same at Merced per Janice.
Jan P- At Yuba, the district pays for the LD Specialist.
Helene- In Peralta district, the district pays for instructional faculty, so this means
that LD specialists are paid for.
An effective approach- “If you are not providing LD testing- then you are not
providing equitable access, because students can’t afford to pay for individual
testing.”
Pat Schwab- At Cuesta, we presented to the Board during budget considerations,
we were able to convince them to vote down the Administration’s
recommendation for DSPS. We also did a fundraiser at a winery (owned by a
Board member) and raised $15,000. Additionally, we approached executives of
some corporations. At many corporations, the executives have a fund that
enables them to give money on a monthly basis. Cuesta DSPS set up a Foundation
account and raised revenue of $35,000.
Inga- What can we do as a CIG? Should we have an emeritus CIG? How to move
forward to provide leadership to community at large?
Janice- CAPED leadership is also interested in whether we need presence in
Sacramento. Someone like Rick Scuderi could represent CAPED.
Scott- CAPED has had a good presence in Sacramento. Currently, Senator
Steinberg is attempting to get the Governor’s veto overridden, which includes
cutting DSPS funds.
Helene- CAPED’s purpose has been confused. We need to do more than have a
nice convention. When you consider the whole disability history, it has been not
nice. CAPED really needs a political presence.
Janet- At Santa Barbara, I was asked from the get-go, what is “the hurt?” We
can’t show “the hurt” if we keep filling the gaps---- If we really care about our
programs, we have to sell them. In addition, if we have to cut them, we must be
able to show what “the hurt” is.
Rick - In the past, CAPED hired a lobbyist. Legally, as a non-profit, if you spend
less than 10% of your total budget on lobbying, you are ok.
(In the past when CAPED hired a lobbyist, approximately 7-8% of the budget was
spent. When CAPED paid for expenses for Rick Scuderi to travel to Sacramento,
approximately 1.7% of the budget was spent.)
Paula- reinforcing Janet’s point- As long as we continue to perform, because we
don’t want our students to suffer, yet, we want to demonstrate “the hurt.” Can
we find a way to serve the students while still demonstrating “the hurt?”
Essentially, the question is HOW DO WE WORK BOTH SIDES??
Debbie- At San Diego City, our strategy is survival. We have one counselor for
1100 students. As a result, we discontinued LD testing. We are just trying to keep
the doors open. We use a triage approach. We attempted to gain assistance
from basic skills; were able to get a server through Perkins, and we cut HTC to 3
days/week.
Lisa- Wondering if the creative sacrifices show? When many services are still
being provided, we must also show what has been cut.
Paul- In some ways, we’re competing with each other. The CSU Chancellor
decided that we would reduce enrollment to show that budget cuts will have an
impact. After three years, there is an influx of dollars because of this political
process.
Kathy- Scott Hamilton has been doing a great job. Many of us feel we’re too busy
to write letters, make phone calls, send emails, etc.
How many positions have retired and would a CAPED emeritus CIG be a voice for
us who are so busy?
Bob- This is a good idea because there is tremendous experience among the
retired members of CAPED. We must also get the students involved.
Paul- CAPED is actively looking at student involvement, by stimulating interest
through the Youth program.
Bob- At Lake Tahoe, there is a new TRIO grant, which is not just for students with
disabilities.
Dipte- We need to do the cost benefit analysis on campuses. The impact of
discontinuing participation on committees will eventually be felt in decreased
awareness of disability issues on campus.
Janice- At one point, we had asked for a letter to be sent to the college
Presidents. We had requested that it come from the Chancellor’s Office.
Scott B- That letter was written and never left the CCCCO, Scott says he will try to
resurrect that effort. (Thanks Scott!)
Bob H- CAPED needs to find a person who will submit proposed legislation to
congress. Scott H is working on that.
Janice- Are we in consensus to form an emeritus CIG to represent us politically?
Rick- The emeritus group should not be thought of as a political group.
Bob H- The purpose should not just be political activity, but more broad purposes.
Helene- Question to the group- Are any districts paying for other post
employment benefits (OPEB)? Also, vote yes on Proposition 25!!!!
Janice- Closing reminder that the north and south will have one or two more
ADA/ 504 sessions with Paul Grossman & Ralph Black- to be updated on all legal
issues. Locations and times to be announced in the coming months.