NDCPD News

NDCPD is involved in many exciting activities throughout the state. Below are just a few of the top stories highlighting our efforts.

North Dakota Developmental Disabilities Network to Host Child Care and Disability Summit

Bismarck, ND- April 6, 2009. The North Dakota Developmental Disabilities Network, a collaboration between the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities on Minot State University’s campus, the North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the North Dakota Protection and Advocacy Project, is hosting a Child Care and Disability Summiton Thursday (April 9). The summit will be heldin the Senate-Chamber Room of the Best Western Doublewood Inn in Bismarck. Registration for the summit begins at 8:30 a.m.

“The NDDDN is excited to have an opportunity to explore the important issue of child care for children with disabilities throughout the state of North Dakota,” said Andrea Peña, executive director of SCDD. “The results of this summit will benefit consumers, their families and providers of individuals with disabilities, who often face unique, unmet child care needs in their communities.”

The keynote speaker for the summit will be Linda Reinicke, director of Child Care Resources and Referral in Minot. Reinicke will discuss the various kinds of child care available in North Dakota, the current state and federal child care funding streams and the challenges faced by the industry and child care consumers. She will also highlight proposed state and federal child care legislation and how the proposed legislation could impact child care services for children with special needs. The afternoon session will include a panel discussion on the issues of child care and disability from the agencies in attendance. The panel members scheduled to take part are Shonda Wild, coordinator of the N.D. programs for infant and toddler caregivers at Child Care Resources and Referral; Geri Herring, director of the First Steps Learning Center East; Vicki Peterson, a consultant for Family Voices of North Dakota; and Shelly Hauge, director of the Child’s Hope Learning Center.  

The Child Care and Disability Summit is the second in a series of monthly, multifaceted summits designed to:

• provide a venue where persons with child care and disability issues can come together with professionals in the field to discuss specific issues and provide valued input on the challenges surrounding them.
• create a list of actionable tasks to provide direction to the NDDDN for future project.
• gather insight on how members of NDDDN can feasibly address these issues.

The Child Care and Disability Summit will conclude at approximately 3 p.m. The public is welcome to attend, and there is no fee.

For more information, contact Chad DeCoteau, summit organizer, at 1-800-233-1737 or 1-701-858-3405 or by e-mail chad.decoteau@minotstateu.edu .

NDCPD Receives Exclusive National Contract

Minot, ND- April 1, 2009. NDCPD at Minot State University (MSU) was awarded an exclusive contract with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote the utilization of the telemedicine network as it relates to early hearing detection with newborns. This contract will put NDCPD and MSU in a unique position to establish standards that will be utilized by the profession on a national basis. While NDCPD has been awarded many grants over the years this is the first contractual arrangement that has been secured.

NDCPD will develop a diagnostic and management protocol that will be utilized as a basis to replicate audiologic testing of infants employing a telemedicine network around the country. The development of technology allows professionals to use video networks to view real time performance in remote locations. Pediatric audiologists can direct the placement of electrodes by trained paraprofessionals and then manipulate evaluation equipment using computer technology from a distant location.

As a participant in the EHDI project for the past eight years NDCPD understands the need to provide audiological testing for infants prior to three months. In a rural setting such as North Dakota it is difficult to get newborns who fail the initial hearing screenings to return for a complete evaluation. The combination of travel and access to professionals many times has led to a lack of testing.

We will make use of MSU as a hub facility for existing networks and place equipment in several remote locations to complete the beta testing. It is our intent to develop a training manual for paraprofessionals that would be used to train people in remote sites to connect infants to equipment while they are monitored and directed by a pediatric audiologist at a hub site.

We will develop a technical protocol that can be used to replicate this procedure across the country. This document will address minimum requirements of the network, equipment, procedures etc. A management protocol will also be developed that will explain a variety of approaches and methods that could be used to address problems that are encountered by this project.

After completion the CDC project staff will be asked to provide technical expertise in the establishment of other tele-audiology networks in the United States.

The project has specific timelines for completion of each element of the contract with the entire project to be completed in two years. For more on this project contact Neil Scharpe at neil.scharpe@minotstateu.edu .

NDCPD Sponsors ‘Gold Standard Assessments In Autism’

Minot, ND- March 17, 2009. “Gold Standard Assessments in Autism,” sponsored by the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, is being held Wednesday, March 18, at Minot State University in the Conference Center (Student Center, third floor), 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

“We are pleased to assist in furthering the expertise of local professionals who work with children on the autism spectrum,” said Wendy Thomas, NDCPD community services coordinator and director of the Great Plains Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment Program.

The goal of this one-day workshop is to provide an in-depth examination of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV criteria for autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Another objective is for participants to become familiar with the gold-standard instruments used to accurately assess and diagnose these disorders. The DSM, which is published by the American Psychiatric Association, provides diagnostic criteria for mental disorders

Athena Hayes Lickel, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, will be the speaker. She is actively involved in clinical work and research related to children with autism-spectrum disorders and also the identification and treatment of comorbid mental-health problems in persons with developmental disabilities. She has worked with children with various developmental disabilities, including autism since 1998.

For more information about other NDCPDs Autism activities contact Wendy Thomas at wendy.thomas@minotstateu.edu .

North Dakota Developmental Disabilities Network to Host Health Issue and Disability Summit

Minot, ND- March 10, 2009. The North Dakota Developmental Disabilities Network, a collaboration between the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities on Minot State University’s campus, the North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the North Dakota Protection and Advocacy Project, is hosting a Health Issues and Disability Summiton Thursday (March 12). The summit will be heldin MSU’s Conference Center (Student Center, third floor). Registration for the summit begins at 8:30 a.m.

“The NDDDN is excited to meet with citizens in North Dakota to discuss important issues in the disabilities field. This first meeting will discuss the most important factors in people’s lives — health and wellness,” said Brent Askvig, executive director of NDCPD. “Finding out what works and what doesn’t work is sure to influence our future endeavors.”

The keynote speaker for the summit will be Kari Arrayan, program director of NDCPD’s North Dakota Disability Health Project.  Arrayan will give an overview on the N.D. Disability Health Project and speak specifically on the impact of disabilities in the state, including data on health disparities between people with and without disabilities.  Kora Dockter, director of the N.D. Integrated Services Project, and Dawn Olson, NDCPD’s consumer liaison, will speak in the afternoon.  They will highlight the changing roles of individuals, their families and health care providers as they transition from the pediatric health care system to an adult health care system.

The Health Issues and Disability Summit will be the first in a series of monthly, multifaceted summits designed to:

• provide a venue where persons with health issues and disabilities can come together with professionals in the field to discuss specific issues and provide valued input on the challenges surrounding them.
• create a list of actionable tasks to provide direction to future projects for the NDDDN.
• gather insight on how members of NDDDN can feasibly address these issues.

The Health Issues and Disability Summit will conclude at approximately 3 p.m. The public is welcome to attend, and there is no fee. 

For more information, contact Chad DeCoteau, summit organizer, at 1-800-233-1737 or 1-701-858-3405 or by e-mail chad.decoteau@minotstateu.edu .

NDCPD Introduces AskNDCPD

Minot, ND- February 27, 2009. Beginning Sunday (March 1), the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities on the campus of Minot State University will unveil AskNDCPD. It is a new avenue for requesting information on disability-related issues.

AskNDCPD is an online resource that allows people to submit questions or request information regarding disability issues via an online form. To access AskNDCPD, individuals may visit www.ndcpd.org, click on AskNDCPD and complete the online form. Clicking on the submit button will process the individual’s question via e-mail to Dawn Olson, NDCPD’s consumer liaison. She will receive the inquiries and respond within 36 hours.       

AskNDCPD is not intended to replace any of the existing information systems in the state. Rather, it is intended to be an additional resource. NDCPD, as part of its mission, has always provided information and referrals on disability issues to North Dakota residents as a University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities. This new online resource will make it easier for people to access NDCPD’s expertise in education, research and services, as well as its partnerships with many organizations across the nation and state.

“At the center, we are really excited about AskNDCPD and hope it will be a great asset to the citizens of this state,” Olson said.

For more information about AskNDCPD, contact Olson at 1-800-233-1737 or (701)858-4472.

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Carroll Announced as New Associate Director at NDCPD

Minot, ND- January 1, 2009. NDCPD’s Executive Director, Dr. Brent Askvig, announced Dr. Christy Jackson Carroll as the new Associate Director of Development. Dr. Askvig said, “We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Carroll join NDCPD. She has experience and credentials that will allow NDCPD to progress in our acquisition of external funds. In addition, Dr. Carroll will join our center management team in setting the future for NDCPD.”

Dr. Carroll came all the way from Huntsville, Alabama to join the faculty and staff of NDCPD in September and will also serve as the Research Core Coordinator. Dr. Carroll brings with her 25 years of experience in Special Education and Psychology. She holds a PhD in Education from University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa with specializations Technology, Test Assessment, and Special Education and has completed post doctorate work in Clinical Psychology from University of Alabama in Huntsville and Alabama A&M University. Dr. Carroll received her master degrees in Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, and Computer Science from University of North Alabama with emphasis in Supervision and Administration of Special Education. She received her bachelor degree from Auburn University with majors in English and Theater.

NDCPD Presents at National AUCD Conference

Washington, DC- November 10, 2008. This past week several faculty and staff from the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) at Minot State University participated in the 2008 Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) Annual Meeting and Conference in Washington, D.C. Mary Mercer, Community Training Core Coordinator for NDCPD, chaired the 2008 AUCD Training Symposium, Widening and Strengthening Pathways through Universal Design, sponsored by the Coleman Institute on Cognitive Technologies. Approximately 140 participants of the symposium heard a panel of experts on Smart Home technology, web accessibility for people with cognitive disabilities, and other technology application for persons with cognitive disabilities.

NDCPD faculty and staff also presented five posters during the 2008 AUCD Poster Session, Paving the Way:

Reactions of adults with disabilities to Nintendo® Wii™ gaming system

• Linda Madsen, M.S.; Research Associate, NDCPD

The Wii™ gaming craze is sweeping the country. NDCPD established a gaming room which included a Nintendo® Wii™ gaming system connected to a flat screen TV. Six adults with varying disabilities were invited to participate in Wii™ gaming activities. Each person attended at least one time per week for six weeks. This poster discussed the reactions and challenges faced by six adults with varying disabilities as they played Wii™ games.

This project was split into two phases. Phase one provided supervised sessions and focused on orientation and introduction to the system. Phase two gaming sessions were no longer supervised by NDCPD staff; however, staff were available for assistance with technical troubleshooting. Participants scheduled their game time, independently turned on the gaming unit, selected and played the game of their choice and turned the unit off when finished. This project found increased independence and self-worth were gained through this gaming experience.

Norwegian and Midwestern US Citizens’ Perspectives on Institutional and Community Living

• Brent A. Askvig, PhD; Executive Director, NDCPD
• Jan Meyer, M.A.; Associate Professor, Harstad University College, Harstad, Norway

Community and institutional living arrangements have been studied in various countries and in some cases, cross country comparisons have occurred. As part of an international collaboration between NDCPD and Harstad University College in Norway, participatory research was conducted with citizens in rural communities in both Norway and North Dakota. This poster presented the reflections on the individuals’ responses and the discovered themes, especially as they pertain to cultural, political, and service system variables.

The research involved two phases. First, individuals with intellectual disabilities previously institutionalized in Norway or North Dakota were interviewed. They were asked similar questions about their experiences in institutions for person with mental retardation. Comparisons of responses amongst individuals and across the two countries were made. In the second phase, researchers from both countries utilized focus groups of individuals previously institutionalized to ask similar questions about their experiences living in integrated communities. Inter- and intra-group comparisons were made.

PicPlan – A Journey in Research & Development

• Cathy Haarstad, M.S.; Consumer Affairs, NDCPD

This poster described the journey a research associate takes in bringing a project from design to full development. It described how to find and work with a for-profit business as a University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and how to navigate the landscape of business models, intellectual property rights and grant development.
PhotoVoice – Using photos in research to communicate and influence constituents and policymakers

• Cathy Haarstad, M.S.; Consumer Affairs, NDCPD
• Dawn Olson, B.S.; Consumer Liaison, NDCPD
• Shannon Simonson, A.A. ; Chairperson Consumer Advisory Council, NDCPD
• Cynthia Salazar, B.S.; Dissemination Coordinator, NDCPD

This poster described the results of a participatory action research project using PhotoVoice. Photovoice blends a grassroots approach to photography and social action. It provides cameras not to policy makers, or professionals, but to people with limited access to decision-makers. Each person is given a camera and asked to take photos of people, places, and things that are meaningful, tell a story or send a message about challenges, strengths or conditions in their lives. The purpose was: 1) to assess the use of Photovoice as a tool for conducting a community needs assessment and; 2) to increase NDCPD’s Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) member experience with participatory action research to develop leadership skills.

ND Disability Health Project

• Kari Arrayan, M.S.; Program Director, NDCPD
• Kylene Kraft, B.S.; ND - North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities
• Brent Askvig, PhD; Executive Director, NDCPD

The ND Disability Health Project promotes the health and wellness of ND citizens with disabilities. The project has developed a strategic plan, based upon state data sources and focus group sessions, that includes health promotion strategies, technical assistance, and other techniques to promote awareness of health disparities and to address health related issues for people with disabilities. The poster presentation also highlighted health disparities in ND between people with and without disabilities.