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2021-2022 Annual Report to the Membership

Presented at the 2022 CAPED Convention/Training

October 23-26, 2022

Marina Del Rey, CA

CAPED OFFICERS

2021-2022


President Nicole Smith nsmith@citruscollege.edu  President Elect Edina Rutland Edina.rutland@sjcc.edu  
  
Immediate Past President Chad Bowman cbowman@gwc.cccd.edu  Vice President, CAPED Interest Groups Darren Walters Dwalters@sdccd.edu  
  
Vice President, Committees Krystle Taylor ktaylor@miracosta.eduTreasurer Dawn Decker ddecker@cypresscollege.edu  
  
Secretary Jennica Krause Jennica.krause@rcc.edu   Executive Assistant* Ivan Stanojkovic CAPED.ExecAsst@gmail.com  Fiscal Coordinator* Magaly Rojas-Gonzalez Fiscal.caped@gmail.com    

* Ex-Officio, non-voting member

TABLE OF CONTENTS
History of CAPED4
Mission of CAPED5
CAPED Presidents6
Reports 
President7
Past President8
President Elect9
VP of CAPED Interest Groups10
VP of Committees Secretary10 12
Treasurer13
Fiscal Coordinator13
Communique Web Services13 14
CAPED Mentorship Program14
CAPED Interest Group Reports 
CIG Contacts16
Access Technology17
Learning Disabilities17
ASD/ID18
Counseling and Career Development19
Deaf and Hard of Hearing20
Veterans20
Adapted Physical Education20
Committee Reports 
Historian/Photographer22
Scholarships22
Nominations, Elections, Awards22
Membership23
Legislative Advocacy23
Convention23
CAPED Recognitions 
Awards25
Scholarships26

History of CAPED


On October 8, 1974 the California Association of Postsecondary Educators of the Disabled was formally founded by the adoption of bylaws. The major purpose of the organization was to promote professional development, and to advance postsecondary educational opportunities for students with disabilities. CAPED later modified our name to the California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability. Our mission and purpose would remain unchanged.

The founding of CAPED followed three years of federally funded (Education Professions Development Act) workshops designed to train California Community College personnel on how to work effectively with students with disabilities. In April of 1975, with a membership of 86, CAPED was formally incorporated by the State of California as the first non-profit, professional organization of postsecondary educators of students with disabilities in the nation.

During the early years, the Association attempted to respond to a multitude of diverse interests and needs across all of California’s segments of postsecondary education through the establishment of CAPED Interest Groups (CIGS) and a burgeoning number of special committees and task forces – the most recent of which deals with the returning veteran who, perhaps unknowingly, is newly disabled.

CAPED has further evolved in recent years through the addition of staff for fund-development and asset management. We also have tools such as monthly – or immediate if the cause merits – digital updates regarding the organization’s activities and information of general interest to those involved with students with disabilities at postsecondary institutions across the state.  CAPED is viewed as the pre-eminent organization for faculty, staff, managers and students in all of California’s institutions of postsecondary education.

  Mission Statement   To facilitate collaboration and professional development that promotes and models equal access and educational opportunities for students with disabilities in California higher education.     Purpose   To facilitate the exchange of current information, issues and techniques among personnel and agencies serving persons with disabilities   To communicate and coordinate with all institutions and agencies offering programs or services to persons with disabilities.   To inform the public about higher education programs and services for persons with disabilities.   To promote high standards and success in higher education programs and services for persons with disabilities.   To promote, conduct, and report on research related to higher education and persons with disabilities.   To advance high standards of professional ethics and integrity among those who instruct or provide programs and services for persons with disabilities.   To conduct educational and/or professional meetings on disability issues and concerns affecting education and transition.   To remain technologically current and promote the use of accessible technology in every aspect of the organization.   To respond to the legislative needs of individuals with disabilities in accordance with rules governing CAPED’s non-profit status as stated in its Articles of incorporation.                 CAPED PRESIDENTS  
Nicole Smith Chad Bowman Gwyn Tracy2020-current 2018-2020 2016 – 2018Citrus College Golden West College Sacramento City 
Denise Simpson2014 – 2016NOCCCD/School of Cont Ed 
Grace Hanson2012 – 2014Mt San Antonio 
Mark Matsui2010 – 2012Long Beach City 
Scott Hamilton2008 – 2010Cosumnes River 
Bob Hughlett2006 – 2008Cerritos 
Lucinda Aborn2004 – 2006El Camino 
Rick Scuderi2002 – 2004LA Mission 
Ellen Young2000 – 2002Oxnard 
Diane Ramirez1999 – 2000Desert 
Gail Conrad1997 – 1999San Diego Mesa 
Inge Pelzer1995 – 1997Chaffey 
Randy Anderson1994 – 1995Saddleback 
Ron Burdett1993 – 1994Ohlone 
Paula McCroskey1991 – 1993Riverside 
Jim Bouquin1990 – 1991Stanford & Eagle Lake Children’s Charities 
Donna Marie Ferro1987 – 1989Butte 
Cheryl Dunn1986 – 1987Rancho Santiago 
Martha Kanter1985 – 1986Monterey 
Lynn Frady (Kelley)1984 – 1985Cuesta 
Emmett Casey1982 – 1983San Diego District Office 
Francisca Neumann1979 – 1981Pasadena 
Gary Graham1978 – 1979Fresno 
Steve Fasteau1975 – 1977El Camino   

President

Nicole Smith, Ph.D.

nsmith@citruscollege.edu

Colleagues! It has been a busy year. With many of us focused on students and returning back to campus due to COVID-19, it has been quite a challenge to say the least! I wanted to personally thank many of the individuals that have reinforced the work that CAPED has done to advocate for students with disabilities at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) and to commend you all for the work you have done to support students with disabilities during the pandemic.

I feel extremely fortunate that we are able to come together once again in person for the CAPED Conference 2022 in Marina Del Rey. A huge thank you to both Dawn for agreeing to plan yet another conference as our Conference Chair and for leading an exceptional planning team. It is my hope that you take the opportunity to network and connect with your colleagues and to experience all that you can at this conference, Navigating New Waters.

Over the past year, there has been many dedicated individuals meeting and planning to support continued conversations around the CCCCO contracts impacting students with disabilities via DSPS offices, CAPED’s LEAD project on professional development for the state, taskforces to support the AB 1705 changes, the re-envisioning of the DSPS allocation formula, and system-wide representation. Thank you to the CCCCO Reps and other CAPED members for leading these efforts. We continue to pursue social justice for students with disabilities in higher education through many avenues and welcome your support if you would like to join any of our activities.

If you are interested in getting more involved in CAPED, please feel free to email Edina Rutland, our new CAPED President! We are looking for volunteers all the time to support various efforts/activities and welcome any and all ideas and support. Currently, the legislative chair/consultant position is open, so please touch base as soon as possible if you are interested. Thank you for all that you do to support our students and CAPED!

Immediate Past President

Chad Bowman

cbowman@gwc.cccd.eedu

So much has been going on behind the scenes of CAPED some of you might have noticed or might not be aware of it. As Past President I have been busy with our President Elect on Advocacy and Legislative issues. We have come together with the DSPS State Advisory group of Regional Coordinators and several experts in our field to talk allocations and Budget Change Requests with the CCCCO as well as another team on working Distance Education Guidelines from the CCCCO and advocating to keep the inclusion of ADA and Section 504/508 in the notations. I have also been added again to the Allocation Taskforce with the Chancellor’s office and looking forward to represent CAPED and in this process. We are also actively looking at how CAPED can support and better represent for the CSUs, UCs, and private institutions.  With the California State Budget approved there are lots of new areas that we as a field can advocate for. 

More importantly I am making an ask of you: 

CAPED cannot do this work alone. Now is the time to step forward and offer your help as a field representative and advocate for our students. Every meeting I have been in and there have been a lot has been the same people, we need more support and more voices. We need your engagement, involvement, and help. CAPED cannot continue to survive as a volunteer professional organization if we do not gain new support and individuals to help take on the tasks that are certain to come along ahead. NOW IS THE TIME TO STEP UP. If not for CAPED, then for the students you serve. CAPED has vacancies on the Officers Council, consider nominating yourself or a colleague who might need that initial nudge. Get involved in a committee or task force. I am asking that you get involved to better advocate and serve our students. Stand with us as we continue to advocate for state changes in support of students with disabilities in all areas of higher education. If you do not know where or how to get involved e-mail me and I will help plug you in where you think you can help best cbowman@gwc.cccd.edu 

President Elect

Edina Rutland

edina.rutland@sjcc.edu

Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility efforts: We worked with the DSPS Statewide Advisory to advocate for the inclusion of Accessibility in the statewide DEI initiative. Our efforts were successful as the Consultation Council made the recommendation to the Board of Governors (BOG) to add Accessibility to the DEI framework. The recommendation was approved.

Payan vs LACCD: CAPED hosted a Student Focused Teach-In which over 100 students, professionals and advocates attended to take action and support the Payan vs. LACCD case. LACCD was planning to pursue the case taking it to the U.S. Supreme Court. CAPED sent an opposition letter to LACCD and took part in a successful action-oriented advocacy effort to stop one of the biggest threats to disability rights in over 40 years.

Changes to 504 Regulations: the Office of Civil Rights announced that it intends to propose amendments to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to strengthen and protect the rights of students with disabilities. As a response CAPED hosted a highly successful teach-in session:  The 411 of 504 Regulatory Advocacy & You, led by Catherine Campisi & Ralph Black. The workshop, along with the survey that the DSPS Statewide Advisory and CAPED sent out, resulted in recommendations were used by Paul Grossman and Edina Rutland at the OCR Listen-in Session in June.

AB 1705: Our opposition letter was submitted at the end of April, along with a very similar opposition letter by the DSPS Statewide Advisory. Since we were pressed for time, the letters were not signed, and as such they were not considered official. However, the letter did draw the attention of the Office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, and we were able to engage in conversation with a policy consultant from Ms. Irwin’s office. Dr. Stormy Miller Sabia and Dr. Connie Gutierrez Morales from the DSPS Statewide Advisory joined the conversation which led to the addition of two paragraphs to the bill that was signed into effect by Governor Newsom.

Language was added referencing Educational Assistance Classes and their role in supporting students who may benefit from access to these courses: “In order to protect the rights of students with disabilities to fully benefit from participation in postsecondary educational programs, students with documented disabilities shall retain access to Educational Assistance Classes (EAC) that are offered to students who otherwise would not be able to benefit from general college classes even with appropriate academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services.” Another statement was included stating: “Nothing in this section is meant to disrupt or preclude educational services specified in Education Code 84747, including for students with disabilities, adult education, and noncredit English as a second language instruction.”

Professional Development: A proposal was submitted to the DSPS Unit of the Chancellor’s Office to provide professional development to faculty, administrators as well as DSPS professionals to educate them on accessibility and providing services for students with disabilities. The new contract incorporates the mentorship program and allows us to provide four professional development workshops which we will organize in partnership with the DSPS Statewide Advisory.

Vice President of CAPED Interest Groups

Darren Walters

Dwalters@sdccd.edu

This last year has been a great start to getting back into the swing of things.  I am still learning the job and am sure there a lot of new ideas and thoughts that would help me direct each CIG to get their memberships to be more active.  Always willing to learn and understand.  It is difficult on top of our already demanding job to help and participate in CAPED events.  I encourage everyone, including myself to be more active in the coming year. Very excited as always to be part of CAPED and all the things we do.

Vice President of Committees

Krystle Taylor

ktaylor@miracosta.edu

This last year has brought about numerous opportunities to engage in new and creative ways.  The committee chairs have brought new ideas to enhance their work, while also developing innovative practices to implement in their areas for the future.   

Historian/Photographer – This year, CAPED changed online photo site hosts to share conventions images on our CAPED website. This shift in photo site hosts has had a significant price reduction that will save CAPED funds moving forward. In collaboration with the Scholarship Chairs, there are efforts to reach out to past scholarship recipients to learn more about where they are now in terms of academics and career so we can learn how the CAPED scholarship played a part in their progress.

Scholarship – Lorri Guy and Lara Rofman continue to work collaboratively with CIGs and CAPED leadership to revise scholarship materials and processes, strengthen partnerships with our UC and CSU representatives to disseminate scholarship information, and create new opportunities for student scholarships. This year, the College Access and Success scholarship was open to those enrolled in noncredit courses and programs. Additionally, we added the option to submit a video responses in lieu of written essays. As a result of Lorri and Lara’s creative approaches, we received 98 scholarship applications this year! Last year, we received 92 scholarship applications and the year prior, we received 56. We’re definitely spreading the word! This year we will be awarding a total of 11 scholarships and are excited to share the news with the recipients. A giant THANK YOU to Lorri and Lara for their continued efforts and creativity!

Nominations and Awards – Scott Brown has continued his amazing leadership and support in this capacity. This year, we nominated and voted on two CAPED officer roles (Vice President of Committees and Secretary), as well as numerous awards. Scott continues to enhance this process and we look forward to celebrating new officers and award recipients!

Futures Committee – The purpose of the Futures Committee is to annually review current CAPED goals and objectives, as well as make recommendations for revisions or areas of focus. These recommendations may then be submitted to the Officers’ Council for review and consideration. As President-Elect, Edina Rutland expressed interest in revitalizing the Futures Committee as a way to engage each CIG in futures planning. Each CIG recommended a member to participate in the committee and Edina was able to identify those to participate in this revitalized group. This new group first met in May 2022 and had an opportunity to review the CAPED Professional Development proposal for the CCCCO, discuss matters related to AB 1705 and the DSPS allocation, and plan goals for the upcoming years. One member of the committee also sits on the DSPS Statewide Advisory so we’re able to work collaboratively with DSPS professionals across the state.

Please join me in sending a huge thank you to each of the committee chairs for their dedication, creativity, and innovative ideas. I appreciate you all!

Secretary

Jennica Krause

Jennica.krause@rcc.edu

Meetings for 2021-2022 included:

October 4, 2021 OC meeting via ZOOM

Items of discussion:

  1. Member fees
  2. Title V revision
  3. Process to establish CAPED rep for the Chancellors office

February 23, 2022 Officers Council meeting via zoom

Items of discussion:

  1. Approved new fiscal coordinator and executive assistant
  2. Revise by-laws
  3. CAPED scholarship updates and changes
  4. Marina Del Rey conference updates
  5. Committee reports and updates

March 18, 2022 E-Board meeting via zoom

Items of discussion:

  1. Marina Del Rey conference updates
  2. Introduction of new Fiscal Coordinator and Executive Assistant
  3. Revised by-laws (first reading, second will be at convention 2022)
  4. Recruiting for positions up for election this year (secretary & president elect)
  5. Committee reports and updates

Treasurer

Dawn Decker

ddecker@cypresscollege.edu

As CAPED Treasurer this past year, I have continued to work closely with Magaly, CAPED Fiscal Coordinator, to streamline fiscal processes.  We have checked with our bank and other financial vendors to be sure we are paying the least amount of fees.  Magaly and I coordinated with Lucinda, CMP program coordinator, to be sure payments were made to speakers and mentors.  We worked with our CPA to file our taxes for the 2021 fiscal year.  We are hoping to bring some new payment methods to our membership in the future.  Stay tuned.

Fiscal Coordinator
Magaly Rojas-Gonzalez

Fiscal.caped@gmail.com 

No report

Communique

Rebecca Ferelli

rebecca.ferrelli@mvc.edu

No Report

Web Services

Mark Matsui

Mmatsui2b@gmail.com

CAPED’s Mentorship Program

 Providing Support to New Directions for Five Years

Lucinda Aborn, Ph.D, CRC; Program Coordinator

Jill Baker, Ed.D. CMP Evaluator

Executive Summary

Introduction

The California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED) Mentorship Program (CMP) was funded for a sixth consecutive year. Twenty mentorship pairs participated in the program.

Pre- and Post-Program data were gathered using the Fall Needs Assessment and the Year-End Outcomes Assessment. Over the course of the year, 5 protégés left the program due to job changes and, in some cases, long-term health issues. Year-end surveys were sent to the remaining 15 Protégés and 20 Mentors which yielded a total of 29 responses (83% response rate).

Protégé Learning Outcomes

Protégé Learning Outcomes were strong again this year across all six areas of the curriculum. In the area of day-to-day operations, Budget and Fiscal Management was rated highest across all metrics, as it has often been in the past six years.  DSPS Services and Laws and Regulations followed closely behind. These three areas of practice have consistently held a top three position over the life of the grant.

Personnel was rated highly again this year, particularly in Conflict Resolution for importance to practice and Collective Bargaining for growth.

For the second year in a row, advocating for your program within the areas of practice of Institutional Activities and Campus Governance rated highly.

Mentor Learning

Mentors cited learning on multiple levels. They especially valued the monthly Zoom training sessions, and to a lesser level, the Canvas Course resources and presentations. However, mentors also cited mutual (shared) learning as an outcome, as they learned from their discussions with their protégés.

CMP Activities

When rating the three CMP Activities, participants again found the Mentor Pair Relationship to be“most beneficial to learning.”  It was followed closely by Face-to-Face Training and more distantly by the Canvas Course Site.

When rating the Canvas Site on its own for usefulness in building their knowledge base, half of the participants rated it moderately to very useful, which is a decline from last year. Their favored instructional components were Resource Materials, followed by Power Point Presentations.

The Zoom Monthly Training Sessions continued into their second year and were highly effective, with 65% rating it Moderately to Very Useful.

The Mentorship Relationship grew stronger this year, with outcomes returning to pre-Pandemic norms, and in some cases exceeding them.  Both mentors and protégés rated their pairing match as excellent, and nearly all intend to remain in touch.

Training Modalities and Preferences

The shift to Zoom training last year became established this year. Last year 80% preferred face-to-face interaction. This year half of all participants reported no preference between two  formats. One fourth still preferred “in person” training. For future training, participants would like to see a mixture of in-person training, virtual face-to-face training (Zoom), and a revisioning of the Canvas Course Site.

Program Administrative Outcomes

Administrative outcomes for the 2021-2022 year are consistent with past years. This year’s responses indicated 85% strongly agree that the CMP Coordinator provided effective leadership; 11% agreed and 7% were neutral. 100% strongly agreed the CMP staff provided services in a timely manner.

Highlights

2021-2022 was a year of continued challenge and growth with the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it has also been one of connection and resiliency:

  1. 92% of protégés and 80% of mentors said that after participating in the mentorship program, they are better equipped to perform their jobs. Many said significantly so.
  2. 100% of protégés and 95% of mentors said that the program met or exceeded their expectations for the program, which is an all-time high.
  3. 95% of protégés and 80% of mentors plan to remain in touch with their mentorship pair. The rest said “maybe” for a variety of reasons, mostly related to workload and the interest of their pair.

Summing up the Program

The biggest benefit of participating in the CMP:

  1. From a protégé:
    1. “Absolutely hands down, the camaraderie, the connection to a mentor. The ability to engage once a month and ask questions in a safe environment is crucial to being a successful new director.”
  2. From a mentor:
    1. “I enjoyed the positive learning experience with my protege. It was rewarding to the both of us and we have developed a friendship that will last for years.”

       

CAPED INTEREST GROUP REPORTS


CAPED INTEREST GROUP CHAIRS

Please reach out to CIG Chairs for more information!

Adaptive PE

  • Jennifer O’Connor

Los Cerritos Community College

joconnor@cerritos.edu

  • Ashley Gabriel

Hartnell College

agabriel@hartnell.edu

Access Technology

Learning Disabilities

  • Sheryl Kern0Jones

Cabrillo Community College

shkernjo@cabrillo.edu

  • Leigh Ann Van Dyke

Palomar Community College

Lvandyke@palomar.edu

ASD-ID

  • Alina Sala

San Joaquin Delta College

Alina.sala@deltacollege.edu

  • Adam S. U. Gottdank, Ph.D.
    Southern Chair
    School of Continuing Education
    North Orange County Community College District
    AGottdank@sce.edu

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

  • Gamaliel “Ken” Datugan

Long Beach Community College

gdatugan@lbcc.edu

Program Management

  • Malia Flood

Mt. Sac Community College

Mflood2@mtsac.edu

Counseling and Career/Veterans

  • Rachel Stewart

Los Rios Community College

StewarR@scc.losrios.edu

  • Scott Thompson

Scott.thompson87@gmail.com

  • Deborah Michelle

Cypress Community College

dmichelle@cypresscollege.edu

Adaptive PE CIG

CAPED Adapted PE CIG Annual Report 2021-2022

The Adapted PE CIG continues to remain active since the last convention.  We have continued our bi-monthly Zoom meetings discussing various topics related to distance education, return to campus, and how to continue to support our students during these times.  We also will continue our discussions on how to continue to build back our programs since many of them saw a drastic drop in enrollment over the past few years. 

For this year, we plan to continue our Zoom meetings and reduce the number of meetings to monthly unless there is a request for more frequent meetings.  We plan to continue our discussions on Adapted PE minimal teaching qualifications and changes that we can make toward expanding equivalency, how to outreach and network for program growth, incorporating lab assistance and classroom aide in relation to equity and funding, equity in the classroom and on campus, and the future of Adapted PE in CAPED.

We are also beginning discussions of having a Spring Drive-In since we will not be meeting together for the convention this year.  We have just begun this planning session and plan to have more details in our next report. 

Access Technology CIG

CAPED AT CIG Annual Report 2021-2022

Subject

– CIG Member Business Meetings held.

• October 20th, 2021

– Budget approved, scholarship recipient announced

• March 2nd, 2022

– Budget approved, CAPED Convention Pre-Con session discussed and scheduled for upcoming conversion in October, 22.

– DSPS Taskforce on Distance Education Regulatory Action Committee

• The Taskforce, led by Stormy Daniels and Bree Kennedy. The AT CIG Chairs and Committee members were asked to weigh in, along with other CAPED members about the proposed new language being offered by the Chancellor’s Office and Executive Vice Chancellor and Legal Counsel on Distance Education Guidelines. The Taskforce needed to move quickly to counter language in the new regulations that would drastically alter the delivery of DSPS services. We had the opportunity to provide context and examples of the unintentional impact that language or omission of language has directly on students with disabilities in Distance Education. It was a robust and fruitful discussion. The Taskforce drafted recommendations based on discussion and feedback from the field.

• The drafts submitted were well received and eventually incorporated into the new DE Regulations from the Chancellors Office. The Taskforce efforts was considered a successful showcase of advocacy and legal engagement for CAPED and how we can produce a positive change and protections for students with disabilities.

– AT CIG Student Scholarship Recipient

• Transfer student, Justin Chiu at UC Riverside was awarded the AT Scholarship last year. The Scholarship will be used to support his use of Otter.ai as he furthers his education goals in computer science. Good Luck Justin!

Learning Disabilities CIG

CAPED LD CIG Bi-Annual Report 2021-2022

LD CIG Ongoing Work and the LD CIG Representative Council

During the past year, the CAPED LD CIG Chairs have focused on supporting the field during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the LD CIG formed the CAPED LD CIG Representative Council to help support the DSPS field during these unforeseen times since there was no longer any statewide or any regional support for LD Specialists. The Representative Council includes the LD CIG chairs and an LD Specialist representing each region. Due to the continuing need for leadership and avenues for professional communication, mentoring, collaboration, and consistency in our work, LD Specialists statewide have continued to support the need for the CAPED LD CIG Representative Council. The Council continues to be run on a volunteer basis, so while there are limitations in the work that can be accomplished, the Council is doing their best to fulfill a void left without a Statewide LD Field Advisory.

A similar process has occurred in the development of the DSPS Statewide Advisory and the two groups have committed to ongoing collaboration and support for the DSPS field.

The LD CIG has continued to offer support to LD Specialists in their implementation of the Guidance for Temporary Disability Service and Accommodations for LD developed by the LD CIG Representative Council (CAPED LD CIG, October 2020) and adopted as a best practice by the Chancellor’s Office. The LD CIG will be working with the field of LD Specialists to encourage consistency and provide collegial resources and support as colleges re-open to offer LD evaluations for students on their waitlists who require these evaluations to continue services.


LD CIG Leadership (2021-2022 academic year):

  • Jenna French Northern LD CIG Co-Chair (left this position in January 2021)
  • Sheryl Kern-Jones Northern LD CIG Co-Chair (through October, 2022)
  • Leigh Ann Van Dyke Southern LD CIG Chair (through October, 2023)

LD CIG Representative Council (2021-2022):

  • Region A: Maricela Becerra 2021 – April 2022, May 2022 forward – vacant
  • Region B: Shawn Usha – Fall, 2021, Maricela Becerra – Spring 2022
  • Region C: Patrick Tackett
  • Region D: Co-Representatives: Sile Bassi and Lisa Marsalek
  • Region E: Dave Clark
  • Region F: Alicia Hallex
  • Region G: Dawn Decker 

New to their LD CIG roles are Southern LD CIG Chair Leigh Ann Van Dyke from Palomar College, Region D Co-Representative Lisa Marsalek from Allan Hancock College and Region F Representative Alicia Hallex from San Bernardino Valley College.

LD CIG Presentations/Workshops

The LD CIG held a Development Seminar at the CAPED Convention, October, 2021. The seminar, “Selling Disability Rights” featured Paul Grossman, JD, PA. Description: Each of us has had to face the challenge of “selling” disability rights to a reluctant audience. Our colleague, attorney, and civil rights historian, Paul Grossman, has been on this mission for a long time and believes he has a helpful approach to share. His potion: a little fear, an introduction to intersectionality as an important element of disability character, some intersectional disability history including the 504 Sit-In, and some universal design – a tide that could raise all boats. Time was reserved for open discussion among the audience of why “selling” disability rights is necessary and how it may best be accomplished.


LD CIG Scholarships           

The LD CIG awarded two $1000 student scholarships in conjunction with the CAPED Convention in Fall 2021. The Susan Bunch Memorial Scholarship and the Dick Griffith Memorial Scholarship are each awarded to a student with a learning disability who is pursuing higher education. The Southern LD CIG Chair Leigh Ann Van Dyke and the LD CIG Representatives Sile Bassi, Patrick Tackett and Shawn Usha reviewed the applications.

Meetings

Regional: Meetings for LD Specialists by LD CIG Representative Council

  • In September/October 2021 and April 2022, the LD Representative Council members each held regional meetings for LD specialists to come together to discuss issues in their regions and statewide.
  • Topics included their ongoing provisional of services to students in need of LD evaluation through the implementation of the Guidance for Temporary Accommodation developed by the CAPED LD CIG Representative Council and supported by the CCCCO, planning to return to campuses to resume LD evaluations, suggestions and recommendations for the upcoming ISER update, training needs for the upcoming CAPED Convention, and regional issues for LD Specialists.

Monthly/Quarterly Regional Council LD CIG meetings

The LD CIG Chairs and Representative Council members met monthly in the Fall and Spring. Priorities were established and included the establishment of work groups for Re-Opening, LDESM ISER and CLD update, LDESM model update, LD/DSPS Legislative Advocacy, and Research. These are large issues and the group has not been able to address all of them yet. Priority has been on Re-Opening, Regional meetings to support the field, and collaboration with the Statewide Advisory and LDESM Trainers.


Spring 2022 LD CIG Business Meeting

  • MLD CIG meeting on April 29th, 2022- The LD CIG conducted a general business meeting sessions on LDESM trainers and publishers update and CAPED October 2022 conference updates and registration. The CIG field also discussed updates on finances and voted on one professional development LD Specialist stipend for CAPED 2022 conference (instead of two); due to a lower budget this year.  We also discussed Professional Development ideas for CAPED conference: Q-Global training and LandMark College were discussed as possible options. We also discussed AB 1705 information and implications to our field and students.

Activities/Projects/Publications

ISER and CLD interview updates

In Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, the CAPED LD CIG Representative Council worked with the LDESM trainers and LD field on the project to update the LDESM ISER. This is an ongoing process where Region Representatives are going out to LD Specialists in each of their regions to gather feedback. A collaboration between the LDESM Trainers and the LD CIG Representative Council is underway to review this feedback and draft an updated version. The field will have another opportunity for feedback before it is finalized and then implemented through the CCCCO and added to CARS-W. 

Professional Development

  • Paul Grossman Workshop on Selling Disability Rights at CAPED Convention 2021 (see above).
  • Identifying Field Training Needs: The LD CIG works to identify training and professional development needs for LD Specialists, to share resources, and host opportunities for learning.
    • We identified a need to address disparities in access and provide services for students with intersectional identities that may have a disability and also fall into one more additional equity categorized such as coming from a minoritized racial or ethnic group or having experienced other inequities such as homeless or economic insecurity. We sponsored the Development Seminar by Paul Grossman to address this need (see above).
    • The LDESM Trainers have announced an LDESM training on April 8th -10th for those whose training was canceled in January.
    • LD Specialists have not conducted evaluations in two years and many have expressed a need for review of administration and scoring, review of CARS-W, and additional training on newer procedures such as the use of Q-global. These needs were shared with the LDESM Trainers. The CIG and Trainers plan to work together with the CARS-W Developer and CAPED Convention organizers to set up trainings in the coming months. 
  • Leigh Ann Van Dyke has been working to bring in professional development seminars for the Pre-Convention at CAPED in October, 2022. 

CARS-W planning and updates

  • The LD CIG plans to collaborate with the LDESM Trainers/CARS-W Liaisons and the CCCCO regarding planning for the staffing transition with Steve Brown’s upcoming retirement and the ongoing needs of students with LD and the LD Specialists that serve them. 
  • Steve Brown is rolling out an e-signature feature in CARS-W that he had actively worked on with Dawn Decker, former CARS-W Liaison and current LD CIG RC member and continues to work on with Krystle Taylor, LDESM Trainer. Leigh Ann Van Dyke, SIle Bassi, Patrick Tackett, and Sheryl Kern-Jones volunteered to pilot the e-signature on the LDESM in CARS-W and attended a training with Steve Brown. Volunteers gave feedback to the developer regarding glitches and needed improvements.
  • Full-scale implementation is on hold while the LDESM Trainers work with the new CAR-W developer following Steve Brown’s retirement.

Returning to Campus

The LD CIG formed a Re-Opening Workgroup due to requests for guidance and professional support from LD Specialists throughout the state in helping them to plan for a return to campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining statewide consistency of work and safe practices for faculty, staff, and students. This work group included Jenna French, Northern LD CIG Co-Chair, Leigh Ann Van Dyke, Southern California LD CIG Chair, and Sile Bassi (Region D). Their work has included research and distribution of information to inform the field. The work has built on the prior work of the LD CIG that culminated in the “Return to Campus Learning Disability (LD) Assessment Considerations during COVID Pandemic” (CAPED LD CIG, April 2021) and the Spring Zoom-In 2021 Panel hosted by Ann Marie Breslin, DSS Counselor/LD Specialist, Saddleback College and Dawn Decker, LD Specialist, Cypress College and Region G Representative. The LD CIG serves as an ongoing resource for these issues.

Respectfully submitted

Sheryl Kern-Jones, CAPED LD CIG Northern California Chair

Leigh Ann Van Dyke, CAPED LD CIG Southern California Chair

ASD-ID CIG

CAPED ID-ASD Activities 10/21-9/22

The ID-ASD CIG worked closely with the UCLA Tarjan Center to co-sponsor many webinars and focus groups. Special thanks to Will Francis, formerly of the Tarjan Center and currently at the College of the Canyons for his leadership with our CIG. Alina and I have often thought of Will as the unofficial third chair for the ID/ASD CIG.

  • The ID-ASD CIG met on the following dates this past year:
    • 10.5.21
    • 11.18.21
    • 1.20.22
    • 3.17.22
    • 5.19.22
  • The ID-ASD CIG will be partnering with the Orange County Local Partnership (OCLPA) Steering Committee to produce a White Paper on best practices to include students with disabilities in higher education and competitive, integrated employment (CIE). We hope to have a draft of the paper by next Summer.
  • 4.14.22: Holistic Supports for Students with Autism, Intellectual Disability (ID), and Mental Health: Establishing a Wellness Program. The Tarjan Center at UCLA, in collaboration with Cypress College and North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE), will host a webinar on “Holistic Supports for Students with Autism, ID, and Mental Health: Establishing a Wellness Program”. Please help us to determine the best time to provide this webinar by participating in a Doodle poll. We will offer the webinar on the date/time when the vast majority indicate they are available to attend. Disability supports for postsecondary students often involve accommodations and modifications for academics; but for many students with disabilities holistic supports for non-academic areas are lacking. Many students attending college may be struggling with social skills development, executive functioning, stress management, relationships, and overall wellness. It is important for Disability Support Services (DSS) staff to be aware of the many areas that contribute to student success and provide holistic supports to students with disabilities. NOCE has developed the ARISE program to offer supports to students in these areas. This presentation will focus on how the ARISE program began, ways the program supports students, and strategies for others looking to offer more holistic supports to students with disabilities in the postsecondary education environment. Presenters: Casey Sousa – DSS Counselor, ARISE Faculty Coordinator North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE). Erika Larsen – NOCE Student Services Specialist, ARISE. Hailie Hurtado – NOCE Student Services Specialist, ARISE. Christina Lakeman – ARISE Adjunct DSS Counselor, Cypress College. Alli Stanojkovic – Professor, NOCE
  • 4.11.22: The Tarjan Center at UCLA, in collaboration with College of the Canyons, and IGNITE Collective, Inc will host a webinar on Mental Health Considerations for Returning to Campus and Strategies for Supporting Students with an Intellectual Disability and Autism. The webinar will be provided on April 11, 2022, from 2:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. As we emerge from almost 3 years of isolation and limited social engagement and begin to think about, plan for, and execute return-to-work and school strategies, it is important to keep in mind the challenges to our wellbeing that we have all experienced and that students with an intellectual or other developmental disability (IDD) including autism, have been particularly affected. Students with IDD are particularly vulnerable to social isolation. Personnel charged with assisting students academically have an increasing duty to support the mental health of these students, and each other, in these turbulent times. Keeping in mind the losses, traumas, anguish, apprehension, and ambivalence that those around us are experiencing, and how to manage those feelings will help with current functioning as well as transition back to campus and work. Learning about how to manage anxiety and stress when they become more intense are longer lasting, and interfere with work, activities, and relationships can be helpful to ourselves, each other, and in our efforts to respond to students. Personnel charged with assisting students academically have an increasing duty to support the mental health of these students and each other in these tempestuous times which have been exacerbated by local, national, and international events. Having an awareness of some cultural issues that aid students, or that are barriers to accessing assistance, is essential. It is important to consider the mental health of faculty, administrators, and staff as well as the mental health of students and to have some strategies for self-help being cognizant of 3 years of delayed social development which is now being manifest as depression, anxiety, attention problems, and irritability in homes and classrooms. Presenters: Larry Schallert, LCSW, Assistant Director of Student Health & Wellness/Mental Health Program, College of the Canyons. Molly Rearick Day, Ed.D, Founder and Educational Director of the IGNITE Collective, Inc.
  • 4.7.22: The UCLA Tarjan Center, in collaboration with IGNITE Collective Inc, will host a 60-minutes webinar on “Returning to Campus for College Students with Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities (I/DD): An Educational Perspective” on Thursday, April 7th from 1:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. Molly K. Rearick Day, Ed.D., will share insights from students and educators and strategies for supporting college students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) as they return to college campuses. Takeaways will include specific approaches and resources, and Dr. Rearick Day will take questions for discussion. Dr. Molly K. Rearick Day is an educator, researcher, and non-profit leader. Her current roles include Founder & Educational Director of IGNITE Collective, Inc.; Adjunct Faculty at California State University, Northridge in the Graduate School of Education; Educational Consultant; Adjunct Trainer and Advisory Board Member with Elevatus Training; Volunteer Nordic Ski Instructor and Advisory Council Member for Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra; External Advisory Board Member of the Colorado School of Mines Robotics Program; and Board Member and Director of Partnerships & Outreach for Peerbots, a technology non-profit. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Rearick Day has collaborated with self-advocates, families, educators, and therapists to develop and implement inclusive and accessible best practices.
  • 3.21.22: The UCLA Tarjan Center will host a webinar in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, Boston on Supported Education: Finding the Right Support for College Success on Monday, March 21, 2022, from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. (PST). This webinar is the first in a series of three webinars that will provide content about supported education, education coaching, peer mentoring, and similar support services. These approaches may be applied to assist colleges in the implementation of AB705, Student Equity, and other Student Success initiatives. Presenters: Maria Paiewonsky, Program Director/Transition Specialist, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts, Boston; Ashley Luce, Program Coordinator, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts, Boston; Jalene Washington, Peer Mentor, University of Massachusetts, Boston MA Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI) Program. In this webinar, we will discuss supported education models and highlight the benefits of providing educational support to students. We will also delineate specific roles and responsibilities that support staff fulfill, including offering encouragement, providing academic assistance, giving corrective feedback, and prompting organizational skill-building and social-skill awareness.
  • 3.10.22: The UCLA Tarjan Center in collaboration with College Autism Spectrum and Bellevue College will host a webinar on Autistic College Students: Moving Forward in Unpredictable Times on Thursday, March 10, 2022, from 1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. (PST). The presenters on this webinar will be: Jane Thierfeld Brown, Ed.D., College Autism Spectrum. Sara Sanders Gardner, Neurodiversity Navigators, Bellevue College, WA. The overwhelming nature of higher education is difficult for students, faculty, and staff alike, even in the most mundane of times. Current situations have raised stress levels for all, and our neurodivergent populations, along with other marginalized populations, can be more susceptible to these environmental and situational factors. How do we support our most vulnerable students while taking care of ourselves?
  • 3.8.22: California Institute on Secondary Education, Bridge to the Future V Conference. Postsecondary keynote panel on including students with ID/DD in higher education: Jodi Johnson, Melinda Lara, Alina Sala, Adam Gottdank and Tom Thompson.
  • 12.7.21: The UCLA Tarjan Center in collaboration with Santa Barbara City College will host a webinar on Neurodiversity on Campus: Student-Centered Services and Faculty Support. Natalie Holdren, Ph.D. Educational Consultant, Santa Barbara City College. Education Specialist Credential Coordinator (ESN), UC Santa Barbara. This webinar will provide an overview of the ways Santa Barbara City College has worked to facilitate student success through a package of supports that embrace a neurodiversity perspective, student-centered approaches, and faculty and staff training. We will also share our struggles, student feedback, and lessons we have learned with the hope of creating dialogue around promising practices for meeting student needs and the next steps for moving this work forward.

Counseling and Career Development CIG

No report

DHH CIG

No report

Program Management CIG

Jen Donaldson, Northern Chair

Dr. Malia Flood, Southern Chair

  • The PM CIG presented the CAPED Excellence $1,500 student scholarship award during the 2021 CAPED Convention. The CAPED Excellence award is given to a student with a disability who has achieved both scholastic excellence and a high level of community/campus involvement.  Thank you to this year’s scholarship committee: Patty Wendt, Edina Rutland, Ivan Pena, and Malia Flood.  There were 26 excellent applicants this year.  
  • The PM CIG held their Spring meeting on April 12, 2022.  Meeting was held on Zoom, and there was good attendance as well as a presentation on Year in Review by OCR.  It was nice to connect with other program managers throughout the state. 
    • Jen Donaldson was introduced as the new PM Chair for Northern CA
    • The PM Cig discussed the CAPED Excellence Scholarship; it used to be paid for ½ by the PM CIG and now needs to be fully funded by CIG.  Members voted to fund entire $1500 for 2021/2022.
    • Edina Rutland gave CAPED update.  Edina reported that CAPED President is open for nominations.  The CAPED exec board met at Marina del Rey hotel on March 18th and that the CAPED conference will be in-person his year.  Committee is looking at proposals.  The CAPED Futures committee will hold their first meeting in April and will work on creating CAPED goals with action items.  CAPED met with CCCCO regarding AB1705 and opposed to this legislation.
    • Stormy Miller Sabia provided Statewide Advisory Committee update.  Stormy reported that they collaborated with CAPED on professional development learning series training, hosted Spring meeting 4/1 with DSPS managers and discussed the work of the allocation taskforce.  They are looking at budget change proposal to increase overall funding to DSPS.  Stormy also shared that system wide advocacy is needed to imbed anti-ableism in EIA competencies criteria.
    • Jen Donaldson created and presented on the new CAPED PM CIG canvas page; it’s a resource for sharing information, tools, resources, processes, etc.  All members have access and can email Malia or Jen to add documents/announcements to the Canvas page.
    • Discussed CAPED conference in Fall and brainstormed pre-conference ideas for the PM CIG
    • OCR Legal Year in Review presentation with Dana Isaac Quinn and Ava DeAlmeida-Law presentation

Veterans CIG

No report

COMMITTEE REPORTS

For more information or to join a committee, contact Chair!


HISTORIAN/PHOTOGRAPHER

Adrian Gonzalez   

gonzala@lamission.edu

No report

SCHOLARSHIPS

Lori Guy, Co-Chair & Lara Rofman, Co-Chair

lguy@noce.edu & lrofman@noce.edu

No report

NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS and AWARDS

Scott Brown, Chair

scott.brown@rcc.edu

Nominations for awards and officers continue to experience low participation among CAPED members, while approximately 25% of members vote in CAPED general elections.  Awards that were delayed during Covid have been delivered to all recipients with CAPED’s congratulations. 

MEMBERSHIP

Danielle Barbaro

dbarbaro@noce.edu

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

Keith Ellis

ellistk@crc.losrios.edu

This year the CAPED Legislative Advocacy Committee supported several policy areas. First, we supported the University of California Student Association’s (UCSA) Double the Pell Campaign—a national campaign to double the Federal Pell Grant award for all students. The UC Board of Regents among many other organizations have supported this Double Pell movement. Secondly, the committee supported and tracked Assembly Bill (AB) 375, which would raise the maximum workload for part-time/temporary community college faculty from 67% to 80-85% subjected to local collective bargaining negotiations. AB 375 passed both the Senate and Assembly and is waiting the governor’s signature at this time and would take effect January 1st, 2022.

State Budget Advocacy: This year CAPED supported state budget increases including restoration of cuts for all 3 higher education segments—UC, CSU, & CCC. As for CCC specifically, categorical funds (i.e. DSPS & EOPS) were not cut in the prior year thus the increases were more modest 1.7% except for EOPS. In collaboration with the CAPED Officers Council, the committee advocated to the CCCCO to revise the DSPS funding formula to allow for carry-over funds from one fiscal year to the next; this has been allowed provisionally due to the COVID Public Health Crisis and under emergency authority. The CCCCO has committed to work with CAPED and other DSPS stakeholders to make carry-over funds permanent through revising the DSPS Funding Formula. The committee is working collaboratively with Regional Coordinators to set DSPS funding budget advocacy goals leveraging partnerships with EOPS, FACCC, and other groups.

Lastly, the committee this past year worked collaboratively with the Regional Coordinators and AT-CIG to form a DE Regulations Workgroup to address the CCCCO’s proposed elimination of references to ADA in the Distance Education Title 5 Regulations. The committee will set policy advocacy priorities for the future in a workshop at the 2022 Annual Convention.

CONVENTION

CAPED 2021 A Clearer (Re)Vision for our Future at Harrah’s, Lake Tahoe

Julie Sedlemeyer, Co-Chair & Dawn Decker, Co-Chair

jsedlemeyer@csustan.edu & ddecker@cypresscollege.edu

Although there were many challenges to meeting in-person (Pandemic, Forest Fires, Travel Restrictions, etc.) a great time was had by all. (Dawn do we have satisfaction data to add here)

2022 CAPED Awards

CAPED Volunteer of the Year

Shaun Smith

Administrator of the Year

Dr. René Alvarez

Dean of Academic Success & Student Equity

San Jose City College

President’s Award

Roy Payan

R.J. Scuderi Exemplary Service Award

Adam Gottdank, Ph.D.

DSS Director

North Orange Continuing Education


                                    Vice President of CIGS Award

Ken Datugan

Long Beach City College

Professional Recognition Award

Dr. Krystle Taylor

SAS Counselor/LD Specialist & LDESM Trainer

MiraCosta College

Community Recognition Award

Board of Trustees

North Orange Community College District

Lanterman Award

Dr. Stormy Miller Sabia

SAS Director

College of Marin

2021-2022

 Scholarship Award Winners


Scholarship                                                                             Scholarship Recipient                       

Access Technology ScholarshipJasmine Matthes
Alyssa McCroskey Memorial ScholarshipSchinal Harrington
Betty Bacon Memorial ScholarshipMaster Muhammed
CAPED Excellence ScholarshipMelania Boghonazian
CAPED Memorial ScholarshipTyler Tran
College Access & Success ScholarshipEver Alexis Molina
Dick Griffiths Memorial ScholarshipAmie Mansano
Steve Fasteau Past Presidents’ ScholarshipMariam Bottros
Susan Bunch Memorial ScholarshipCaleb Miller  
Counseling & Career Development  Shana McDavis-Conway