November conference to enhance services to adults who have special needs

NAASLN, the National Association for Adults with Special Learning Needs, is presenting a four-day international conference: “Minding your Ps and Qs: Positioning Your Program to Expand Resources Through Quality Services to Persons with Special Learning Needs.” The conference will be held November 12-15, 2005 , at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver , Colorado .

The conference will offer over 50 sessions for service providers, administrators, state administrators and employers. Presentations will include research, cutting-edge models, and practical ways to better serve adults with specific learning needs. Conference sessions will offer up-to-date information on state and national initiatives. The conference will also host an array of quality exhibits targeting products and services for adults with specific learning needs.

On Saturday, November 12, NAASLN will co-host with NAEPDC (The National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium) a comprehensive pre-conference session on creating state policies and procedures to meet national and legal guidelines for services to adults with special learning needs. This highly interactive session will look at successful models and offer ways to promote quality collaborations between key stakeholders.

In addition, several Pre-Conference half-day sessions will be held. The Pre-Conference Sessions include:

1. Special Needs in the Workforce - What are the issues and innovate programs?
2. Transitioning Teens with Disabilities to the World of Work
3. Identifying and Addressing Special Needs with ESOL Learners
4. Getting on board with our customers -- ways to engage and empower!

For updates on conference sessions, along with additional conference and membership information, visit www.NAASLN.org or contact NAASLN, C/O CEA, 4380 Forbes Boulevard , Lanham , MD 20706 . The telephone is 800-496-9222

NAASLN is a unique organization devoted to supporting service providers working with persons with disabilities (learning disabilities, visual and hearing impairments, developmental disabilities, long-term mental-health and addiction disabilities, and physical disabilities) in all types of educational and vocational settings. NAASLN provides opportunities for networking, advocacy, links to resources, professional development, and opportunities for leadership.

Scholarship winners have big plans

The GMLC Scholarship for Higher Education offers scholarship awards through its General Scholarship Fund, The Anne Marie Pawelke Scholarship Fund and the Nancy Fink Endowment Fund. This year the GMLC awarded a $500 scholarship to each of the following students: Tawana Taylor, Damon Rimmer and April Kimpel.

Tawana Taylor received a scholarship from the Nancy Fink Endowment Fund. While attending the Adult Learning Center, Tawana excelled at her studies and successfully completed her GED in April of this year. Her ambition and drive continue as she plans to start school this fall in the Medical Assistant program at MATC. Tawana hopes to some day give back to the community by offering her medical services to the residents of homeless shelters.

Damon Rimmer received a scholarship from the GMLC’s General Scholarship Fund. Damon prepared for his tests on his own and received his HSED in March 2005. He currently is attending the Lakeside School of Massage Therapy. Damon has several academic and career goals; however, his long-term goal is to own his own personal fitness salon. Outside his studies, Damon is an active volunteer in the Today’s Dad Mentoring Program. He has served as a mentor and leader for teen parents. His efforts earned him the opportunity to meet the First Lady, Laura Bush.

April Kimpel completed her GED in July 2004. She also prepared for her tests on her own. April is currently enrolled in MATC, fulfilling science and math prerequisites for her enrollment to the College of Health Sciences at UW-Milwaukee. Her area of interest is research in cognitive development. April’s ultimate goal is to receive her doctoral degree and become a professor.

For more information about how you or your students can apply for a $500 scholarship, contact MATC’s Scholarship Clearing House or the GMLC website, www.gmlcwi.org. To qualify, you must have completed your GED or HSED between May 12, 2005 , and May 17, 2006.

To make a tax-deductible donation to one of the scholarship funds, please send your contribution to GMLC, P.O. Box 511121 , Milwaukee , WI 53203-0191.

-- Lana Kawalzyk