The Indiana Association on Higher Education and Disability (Indiana AHEAD) is a non-profit professional organization whose members are current and former disability service providers as well as others interested in disability-related issues such as licensed professionals, vocational rehabilitation counselors, higher education staff, students, and advocates.
They will gather for their annual conference on Thursday, March 28th and Friday, March 29th at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Hammond. This conference brings together disability professionals from across the state and is a source of knowledge and support for them.
According to President Angela Szczepanik-Sanchez, who is Coordinator of Disability Services at Calumet College of St. Joseph, the primary purpose of Indiana AHEAD is to foster professional development opportunities and to facilitate communication among disability service providers and others interested in disability-related issues in order to support the implementation of services to students with disabilities at Indiana universities and colleges.
Speakers include:
- David R. Parker, Ph.D. – “The Big Leap Forward: Promoting Students’ Transition to Higher Education. “ Dr. Parker is a Postsecondary Disability Specialist and ADD/life coach at Children’s Resource Group in Indianapolis. For over three decades he has worked with students with LD, ADHD, and ASD and has conducted training on best practices for college students with ADHD in Italy, Japan, Austria, and Kuwait.
- Brian Norton – “Innovations in Assistive Technology – New Opportunities for Students with Disabilities.” Mr. Norton is the Director of Assistive Technology, Easterseals Crossroads. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Indiana’s Assistive Technology Act Project, a federally funded statewide assistive technology program and hosts a popular podcast and radio show called “ATFAQ – Assistive Technology Frequently Asked Questions.”
- Heidi Smart – “Where Can We Get It…They Don’t Have it…Now What?” Ms. Smart is an Alternative Text Coordinator at Purdue University in West Lafayette. She works with students, instructors, authors, and publishers to acquire and/or convert printed textbooks and course materials into accessible formats.
For more information about the conference or Indiana AHEAD, you may contact aszczepaniksanchez@ccsj.edu.
Calumet College of St. Joseph is a private, Catholic institution of higher learning located in Hammond, Indiana. Sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, the College lives out a commitment to social justice through education and community service. Currently serving approximately 1000 students, the College has provided access to education for students of the Calumet Region since 1951.