UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

The University of Calgary has 26,000 student in undergraduate and graduate programs. In 1997 the University of Calgary established internationalisation as a university priority and currently there are over 900 international students attending the University of Calgary with 90 of these students participating in exchange programs. It's location in Calgary, with its proximity to international energy, electronics and agricultural enterprises, places it in a strategic location for building extensive international linkages. It's Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Programme has been on the forefront of such international initiatives, both in providing full degree and diploma programs abroad (notably Gaza and Russia), and in large scale international research such as study on self-employment conducted in collaboration with the International Labour Organization and Disabled People's International. The Program is cross faculty and interdisciplinary in focus, with degrees available at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. Over the past ten years it has developed a working example of seamless transfer of course credits with 6 community colleges, worked collaboratively with other Universities in providing degrees, and has considerable experience in providing distance education to cohorts of student (in Alberta, other provinces, and internationally). A variety of educational media are used including: WebCT computer conferencing, Multipoint videoconferencing (up to four remote sites), Satellite downlinking, self-guided and self-directed learning, as well as more traditional approaches. It provides a micro-system to study credit transfer issues and the potential for credentials shared between institutions of higher learning. A Pan Canadian degree in Community Rehabilitation at the Masters and Ph.D. level is now being offered.

The University also has an active practicum program in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, with students being placed by the Practicum Placement Office in over 160 agencies in the Calgary area annually.

PERSONNEL SUMMARIES

Project Director: Dr. Aldred H. Neufeldt

Professor, Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. He has a breadth of experience in Canada and internationally. Following completion of his doctorate in the mid-1960s he became involved in Saskatchewan's pioneering work in developing community mental health service and phasing down larger provincial hospitals, holding positions such as Provincial Psychologist and Director of Psychiatric Research. At the same time he had a Faculty appointment with the University of Saskatchewan. In 1972 he joined the National Institute on Mental Retardation (now the Roeher Institute), subsequently becoming its Director. This Institute has become Canada's foremost human service policy research centre. During that time he had an appointment with York University. He joined the University of Calgary in 1988 in the Department of Educational Psychology, and as part of the Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies. He's published over 100 articles, chapters and books. Internationally, he has worked most intensively in the Caribbean, Middle East and Russia, though other projects have taken him to all world regions involving more than 40 countries. His work in the Middle East forms the background to his talk today. Currently he leads a project in Russia the intent of which is to help transform their mental health services system. This project is funded though the UC-Gorbachev Foundation. On a voluntary basis, he's on the Board of the Mennonite Central Committee. Aldred also is President of the Global Applied Disability Network on Employment and Training (GLADNET), a world-wide web supported organization whose mission in conjunction with the International Labour Organization is to promote the inclusion of disabled people as part of the labour force globally.

Nancy Marlett, Ph.D.

Associate Professor in the Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program and along with her colleagues has extensive experience developing and implementing distributed education programs in Canada. She has developed the Pan-Canadian Community Rehabilitation degree program. A particular area f interest for Dr, Marlett is the transfer of credits across institutional and geographic boundaries.

Anne Hughson, Ph.D.

Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program co-pioneered development of the program's distributed education initiatives in Canada. Dr. Hughson brings to this project extensive experience in issues pertaining to gender and disability, the role of people with disabilities in society, as well as the broader diversity.

Susan Cran, M.Ed.

Instructor in the Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies Program and the current President of Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Personnel (CARP). CARP is interested in developing adaptive credentialing and approaches in ease of movement of rehabilitation personnel between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Carla Hamarnes, M.Ed.

Practicum Co-ordinator at the U of C. She is responsible for the co-ordination, supervision, and instruction of practicum students as well as public relations functions with approximately 160 human service organisations supporting individuals with disabling conditions and chronic health concerns.

Clark Sloan, Ph.D.

13 years of teaching experience at High School and University. His teaching background coupled with 17 years of living with a spinal cord injury gives Dr. Sloan the academic and lived experience to effectively teach courses in Counselling, Community Rehabilitation, and Disability Studies.

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UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

The University of Manitoba's Faculty of Social Work, in tandem with eight other Faculties and departments, have been working with the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS) to promote the development of consumer focused research and education programs that effectively prepare professionals in the area of disability studies. The University and the Centre have a strong commitment to the provision of high quality accessible education programs in this area. All the faculty and departments involved have a significant level of experience in collaborating with community colleges and other universities in the provision of high quality accessible education programs in the area. All the faculty and departments involved have a significant level of experience in collaborating with community colleges and other universities in the provision of distance delivery of its programs. The University uses a variety of educational delivery options to ensure its programs are accessible and relevant to the various consumer constituencies. The unique collaboration between the University of Manitoba and the CCDS provides innovative opportunities to study the application of interdisciplinary consumer focused approaches to disability studies across different countries and institutions of higher learning.

The University of Manitoba has a long and distinguished record of international activities, among them a considerable and varied number of development projects, most funded by CIDA. Past projects have included institutional capacity development in Africa, Brazil, and China; STD AIDS control and prevention in Kenya and elsewhere, enhancement of agricultural yields in China and Uruguay, to name a few. Current CIDA funded projects involve us in STD Aids management in India and Kenya, human resource development in China in nursing, agriculture and physics, capacity building in environmental health in CUBA (UPCD Tier 2) as well as development of social work and disability services in Ukraine and Russia. Also in Ukraine, we are the executing agency for a project called the Science and Technology Centre of Ukraine, now in its third phase.

In other ways the University of Manitoba is responding to the challenges of increasing globalization. There are increasing numbers of international research collaborations, increasing numbers of international students being recruited, and expanded student exchange and study abroad programs. Yet this progress is somewhat ad hoc and based on individual rather than on institutional commitments. We are a major Canadian university with a large student body and a world-class research base, yet we are one of the few universities in Canada that does not have its own formal definition of internationalization, a statement of commitment, and goals and plans. We may well be falling behind other universities in preparing graduates for a world of interdependence.

PERSONNEL SUMMARIES

Don Fuchs, Ph.D.

Project Director, Dean of the Faculty of Social Work. Dr. Fuchs has extensive experience in working with community based educational programs with a diverse population, and is experienced in building collaborative professional educational opportunities with institutions of higher learning in other countries, notably Russia and Estonia.

Harvey Frankel, Ph.D.

Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Work has extensive experience in developing and implementing Family Service Support Programs. Dr. Frankel is both knowledgeable about and highly skilled in diversity issues pertaining to professional education.

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CANADIAN CENTRE ON DISABILITY STUDIES (CCDS)

The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS) is a consumer-directed, university affiliated centre dedicated to research, education and information dissemination on disability issues. The Centre promotes full and equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. CCDS is guided by the philosophies of independent living and community living, emphasizing human rights, self-determination, interdependence, equality, a cross-disability focus, and full and valued participation in the community. Members of the disability community are key participants in directing CCDS policies and activities.

Housed in Winnipeg, CCDS is affiliated with the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg. CCDS board members, research committee members and research associates are located in educational, advocacy and research centres across Canada. Incorporated in 1995, CCDS has its roots in Canadian disability organizations, community groups and representatives from different faculties at a number of universities across Canada. A collaborative effort between the community, University of Manitoba and the Government of Canada led to the establishment of an Endowment fund to make the centre a reality. CCDS has established a Royal Bank Research Chair in Disability Studies, as well a s research project partnerships with disability organizations, universities and colleges, governments and public and private agencies locally, nationally and internationally.

Since its inception in 1995, CCDS has participated in over 30 research projects. These projects have explored such areas as emerging Disability Studies programs across Canada, social and political changes and their impact on disability organizations, revisions to the WHO definition of disability (ICIDH), the development of a Canadian Institute for Health Research Position Paper, employment and entrepreneurship for people with disabilities, the assault and women with disabilities, Aboriginal women with disabilities and education, the development of technology for students with disability, and the experiences of people with Chronic Lung disease. Through its international projects, the organization has developed networks across Canada and the world including Russia, the Ukraine, Zimbabwe and other countries. In its various initiatives, CCDS has collaborated with Queen's University, Laval University, Laurentian University, the University of Calgary, the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba and with a variety of disability organizations, academics, researchers and individuals.

PERSONNEL SUMMARY

Hal Loewen, B.A., MLIS, received his library science degree from McGill University, Montreal. He has developed library and internet programs for Park Nicollett Health Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg and for the Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, Canada. He is the Director of the Disability Information Network at CCDS.

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UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

The University of Arizona was established in 1885 as a land grant college. The University is ranked by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a "Research I" institution, a category reserved for universities with unusually high levels of research activity and comprehensive programs at all levels in the full range of academic disciplines. The University's structure includes a Division of International Affairs with reporting functions that include an Office of International Student Services and Programs, an Office of International Faculty and Scholars, an Office of Study Abroad and Student Exchange, a Center for English as a Second Language, and the International Studies Association, with a membership of over 3,600. Additional related campus resources include the Center for Latin American Area Studies and the Udall Center for Public Policy. The National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, affiliated with the College of Law, is playing an internationally recognized, central role in training legal scholars from the Americas in developments relating to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The UA is committed to producing a campus community that reflects international diversity with a student body that represent 2,700 students from 130 countries. Adding to this diversity is the high number of international visiting faculty, with an estimated 850 scholars per year lending their expertise to the University community.

Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and School Psychology: The mission of the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and School Psychology is to promote human and economic development through the empowerment and effective inclusion of culturally diverse individuals with disabilities and special abilities across the age span. Additionally, the mission of the Rehabilitation Programs is to develop and offer rehabilitation education, research and community services of excellence that shall lead to the enhancement of the quality of lives of individuals with physical or mental disabilities. The partnership of rehabilitation education with special education provides many more opportunities for students to broaden their knowledge base in both specialties. There are ample opportunities for practicum and internship students to gain valuable experience both within the University and the community. The Department faculty have been involved with international and multicultural activities related to disability for many years including initiating and hosting the First International Symposium on Disability between the United States and Mexico a decade ago. The relationship with Mexico has resulted in alternating annual conferences that focus on creating educational and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in both countries. The US/Mexico Disability Resource Consortium, housed under the University of Arizona Foundation, is a collaborative effort among various grass roots and consumer oriented entities that develops and provides reciprocal and participatory support services, educational opportunities, employment information, and advocacy to persons with disabilities and other concerned parties in the United States and Mexico.

Accreditation

The Masters Degree Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program was one of the first programs accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) and has consistently maintained that accreditation. The majority of Rehabilitation Education Program faculty also are licensed Psychologists in the State of Arizona and nationally certified rehabilitation counselors. Several years ago the undergraduate program in rehabilitation went through an extensive evaluation and became one of the first undergraduate programs listed in a new registry of similar programs.

Services for Students with Disabilities: The U of A has one of the largest populations of students with disabilities of any University in the nation. The climate is conducive, the geography flat, and the University and community exceptionally accessible. As a result, there are outstanding resources through the Disability Resources Center (DRC) for students with disabilities including advisement, counseling, a tutor center, computer lab, physical therapy, health services and a variety of assistive equipment. For a deaf or hard-of-hearing student, there is a staff of qualified manual and oral interpreters, note takers, and numerous assistive listening devices. The University offers an accepting integrated environment where students with disabilities can receive assistance and support, as they choose. Accessibility: All classroom and rest room facilities are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.

PERSONNEL SUMMARY

Director, Dr. McAllan received his BS Degree in Psychology and his MS Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1973 and 1975 respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1991. Since that time he has had extensive individual and group clinical experience as a rehabilitation counselor and licensed psychologist in private and public settings. As an educator at the University of Arizona since 1992, Dr. McAllan has had primary responsibility for coordinating the delivery of undergraduate and graduate degree programs utilizing work-study and distance learning models. He is Past-President of the Arizona Rehabilitation Association and President of the US/Mexico Disability Resource Consortium. Dr. McAllan's research interests include studying the effectiveness of different models of degree delivery, spirituality and disability, and psychosocial responses to disability. In 1995 he was awarded the Sarah Folsom award from the Arizona Rehabilitation Association which is given to persons who have demonstrated a lifestyle of concern and selflessness to education and rehabilitation. As part of the rehabilitation faculty team he shares in the national honors awarded to the degree program and was instrumental in obtaining Charter Membership in the new national registry of undergraduate programs in rehabilitation. Dr. McAllan also has been successful in obtaining grants to support the international exchange of students and faculty, undergraduate student participation in work-study degree opportunities, Navajo student participation in degree opportunities, and research support for conducting focus groups on several issues throughout Arizona.

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SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

The Interwork Institute

The Interwork Institute within the College of Education at SDSU, under the direction of Drs. Fred McFarlane and Ian Pumpian, was formed in 1990 as a successful merger of the previous long-term efforts of the Center for Rehabilitation Studies and Services (CRSS) and Project Work (Special Education). The Institute's demonstration, education/training, and research efforts have resulted in international, national, state, and local recognition. There are extensive resources available within the Interwork Institute for technical assistance and dissemination of information and resources.

San Diego State University

San Diego State University (SDSU) is a multipurpose institution of higher education located in a large, culturally rich urban area, with diversified industries, and a port of entry for a significant number of immigrants. With an enrollment of approximately 34,000 students from all 50 states, the U.S. territories, and over 80 foreign countries, SDSU is the largest institution of higher education in California, and one of the larger universities in the nation.

SDSU Foundation

The SDSU Foundation serves as the fiscal agent for all SDSU extramural support efforts, including this grant sub-contract. It is a non-profit organization, self-financed, and chartered specifically to provide and augment services which services which are integral to the educational programs of SDSU. Departments include grants and contracts administration, financial management, personnel, accounting, physical facilities, development, and computing services.

PERSONNEL SUMMARY

Fred McFarlane, Ph.D.

Project Director. Professor in Rehabilitation within the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Post-secondary Education at San Diego State University (SDSU). He joined the SDSU faculty in 1972 and has directed the graduate program and related rehabilitation education, research, and services since that time. With Ian Pumpian, he co-directs the Interwork Institute, which is the second largest institute at SDSU with over 40 faculty and staff. He has extensive experience in working with organizations and individuals throughout the United States, in the Pacific, Europe and Asia. He is the Chairperson of the Vocational Commission of Rehabilitation International. Areas of current involvement are mediated technology, distance learning, organizational change, and working with diverse organizations and groups. Prior to joining the faculty, he worked in mental health and community rehabilitation programs. His earned degrees are from the University of Wisconsin - Stout (BS and MS) and the University of Georgia (Ph. D.).

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ORIGINS GLOBAL COLLEGE

Origins Society Global College is an institution of higher education and research that is inclusive of all persons irrespective of type and severity of disability. The college offers three major programs: a) a program of adult general education studies, b) a program of participatory action research, and c) a curriculum of global development studies. This latter program prepares students to participate in the growing movement for social justice through the development of careers within the field of international development. The program of study consists of courses and experiences that focus on gender studies, disability studies, and ecological studies and prepares students to work globally to bring about sustainable change by empowering people through education, awareness and technical training. Origins Society Global College has a main campus in Tucson, Arizona and a satellite office in New Delhi, India.

PERSONNEL SUMMARY

Jamey Gittings, Ph.D. (Arizona 1996), is the executive director of Origins Society Global College and senior research specialist at the University of Arizona. Dr. Gittings supervises all education and research programs at OSGC and is the primary author of the Origins College Global Curriculum. As an ethnographic researcher he is director of the anthropology of disability project, a program of participatory action research that links issues of culture, gender, and disability, at the University of Arizona's Arizona State Museum. Jamey has traveled widely in Mexico and South Asia and was visiting scholar in residence at the Government of India's National Institute for Physical Handicaps, New Delhi, India in 1999. Dr. Gittings has conducted a number of major research projects, including Project Origins, which taught persons with severe disabilities the vocational skills necessary to participate in archaeological field and laboratory work. This program is currently being considered for adoption by the Indian State Government of West Bengal.

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UNIVERSITY OF SONORA (UNISON)

The University of Sonora is the oldest university in the northwestern, predominantly rural state of Sonora and was founded 59 years ago. It is located in the capital of Hermosillo and at the moment counts on an educative supply of 61 programs, of them 20 are graduate programs (2 doctorate, 13 masters and 5 specializations), 29 are undergraduate programs, 1 are of technical level, 7 programs are on education of languages and 4 programs on arts. Also, it is offered in its Center of Distributed Education the masters degree in advanced manufacture, the modality of distributed education, in agreement with the State University of New Mexico, the universities of Cd. Juárez and Sinaloa, and the Technological Institute of Sonora. Early in1999 the University student population was of 29,074 students located of the following way: 23,009 undergraduate level, 604 graduate level, 210 in technical level and 5,251 in the art programs and courses of languages.

The university has 2,267 professors and concentrates the half of the people with graduate level in Sonora, who representing 33% of our educational staff.

In the area of disadvantaged persons, including minorities and people with disabilities, UNISON faculty have initiated and implement several informal programs. One develops literacy among ethnic minorities. Another provides theatrical and ceramist activities and therapy for children with down syndrome. The accounting faculty has been developed a summer courses for down children. Lastly, there are general studies and research on minorities and persons with disabilities within the psychology, sociology and social work faculties.

A multidisciplinary group of faculty members of UNISON related faculties and professionals were working the last 4 years in a interchange related to disability issues in conjunction with the Canada/US/Mexico Disability Resource Consortium.

PERSONNEL SUMMARIES

Maclovia Fernandez Castro

Project Director. Public Accountant, has specialized in Administration of Hospitals and has a Masters degree in Organizational Development. She is the Coordinator of Social Service in the Division of Administrative and Economic Sciences. She has 21 years of professional experience and an uninterrupted educational experience at University level of 21 years. Leader of events related to social service, administrative and academic activities focused on University-community relations for 4 years. Coordinator of projects of support to children with syndrome of Down. Member of the organizing committee of the International Congress of Organizational Development. Member distinguished of the Professional Association of Accountants in Sonora Lic.

Norma Rebeca Sandoval Inda

Project Coordinator. Psychologist and a candidate for the Masters degree in Psychology. She is a full time Professor in the Department of Psychology and Communication Sciences of the University of Sonora and Coordinator of the professional practices for the advanced students of clinical psychology. Member of the Directive Council of the Professional Association of Psychologists in Sonora. She was working like curricular coordinator of Psychology in the University of the Northwest and like assistant of investigator and academic technician in the Research Center in Nutrition and Social Development. She has 12 years of experience teaching at University and High school levels.

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UNIVERSITY OF THE NORTH WEST (UNO)

The University of the North West is a private regional university which offers to Sonora and neighboring states educational services from basic to superior levels. UNO currently offers 15 undergraduate and 4 graduated programs. The institution provide to its students the tools necessary to apply both theory and method for effective intervention. And the English training like a second language.

In terms of disability issues, UNO offers curriculum in special education, language acquisition, speech therapy, family therapy, psychopathology for families, child development, child psychopathology, and youth development.

In addition UNO has been working with governmental institutions of Health and Education in order to promote activities and prevention to the communities jointly with professionals on health.

PERSONNEL SUMMARY

Lic. Maria of the Carmen Paez Reyes

Project Director. She is a psychology student of the graduate program in family counseling, has prior training as a instructor in human resource development for workers in assembly plants. She was director of the North American Cconsortium for Disability Services by the University of the Northwest. At the moment she is coordinating the psychology program and adviser of the Child Care Center of the University of the Northwest.

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