CIG Updates

CAPED Interest Groups (CIGs) (pronounced “sigs”) are special divisions within the CAPED organization that provide the members the opportunity to consort and exchange their knowledge and wisdom with other members that are also working in a common field of expertise. 

From Mike Bennet (Saddleback College)

Hello fellow colleagues! 

I wanted to pass along a quick update from the Adapted Physical Education (APE) CAPED Interest Group. Most programs have recovered from COVID, but the pandemic led some colleges to drop their APE programs and others to downsize. COVID was a stark reminder of the social support we provide to our adapted students statewide and the importance of in person instruction with physical activity for the students we serve.

Our group has been meeting via Zoom almost monthly since the pandemic and working on topics such as:

•  Updating minimum quals to expand our ability to bring in new faculty

•  Coding courses as Educational Assistance classes in curriculum so that funds can be captured and used by disabled services

•  Creating learning labs in our classrooms so that other students on campus exploring allied health professions can get hands-on experience

•  Advocating for funds to provide specialized equipment and aides in our classes which increase both safety and quality of instruction

Almost all of the instructors who were part of the inception of adapted physical education in the early 80's have retired. Some were replaced with full-time faculty programs while others were not so fortunate. These monthly Zoom sessions have provided a great space for our group to collaborate on different ways to instruct and shape our individual programs as well as a place for new adapted instructors to get ideas about how to grow establish our programs.

The APE interest group has largely consisted of community college instructors, but we will be meeting for our pre-session at SDSU to dialog with our 4-year counterparts who are doing some innovative things with adapted athletics and serving the disabled community in San Diego with physical activity. 

Have a great conference!

From Mike Sauter (Saddleback College)

To start the year off, Megan Miller from College of the Sequoias was elected as the Northern Co-Chair for the CIG during the Fall business meeting held during the convention. She bring a fresh perspective to the group advocating for Neuro-diverse students and inclusive outreach to the LGBTG+ students.

In December, the Co-Chairs met to discuss and plan for the upcoming year and to build on the energy and ideas expressed during the business meeting at the convention. The members really wanted to have more trainings and product showcases for Assistive Technologies.

The AT CIG launched the Spotlight Series with an hour long Zoom webinar on February 13th, featuring note-taking software solutions, Glean and Otter.ai. The webinar provided an in depth demonstration of both apps and discussion with the attendees. The second webinar in the series was held on April 26th and featured Kurzweil 3000 and their products that help students with reading and print disabilities. Kurzweil attended the webinar to present and to field questions from the group on how they can position themselves as more colleges transition to using OER materials instead of traditional textbooks. The third webinar in the series invited Texthelp to present on their suite of products from Read&Write, OrbitNote and Equatio. The spotlight series were very well attended and helped the field stay up to date on the always changing world of assistive technology that are available for students with disabilities. The AT CIG will continue to look for more products to spotlight and bring to the group.

From Rachel Stewart (Los Rios Community College District) and Olivia Lopez (Sacramento City College)

 Our CIG is hosting two development seminars (previously called “pre-con workshops”) on Sunday, 10/27 - below is the info.

Hope to see you there!

Celebrating Disability Culture on Campus: Empowerment Through Community

Day/time: Sunday, Oct. 27th 1:00-5:00pm

Presenters: Rachel Stewart, Toni Saia, Katie Savin, Alena Morales, and Kimberly Starke

Dive into the vibrant world of disability culture by engaging with disabled student activists who have pioneered Disability Cultural Centers, researchers, and community college representatives who will share their journeys and insights. Key highlights include understanding what disability culture is and how it can transform your campus, integrating disability culture into your daily work and DEI initiatives, and learning the essential steps to create Disability Cultural Centers, including securing funding and support. Additionally, discover how to build inclusive environments that foster a sense of community and belonging. Engage in roundtable discussions to exchange ideas and strategies with peers and leave inspired to champion disability culture on your campus. Don't miss this opportunity to empower your campus community and celebrate the richness of disability culture!

Demystifying the Transfer Myths

Day/Time: Sunday, Oct. 27th 9am-12noon

Presenters: Mary Lee Vance, Ph.D., CSU Sacramento; Jennifer Billeci, UC Davis; Dawn Trujillo, Sierra College

In this interactive session, Disability Service directors from CCC, CSU and UC will share tips and pointers on how to make more seamless the transition process for students interested in moving from a CCC to a public 4-year campus. Information from the joint CCC/CSU transition task force, along with the CSU Chancellor’s Office webinar (presented by CSU DS directors) will be shared. The combination presentation and roundtable will provide clarifications of the differences between CCC Title V mandates and public 4-year processes for approving accommodations. Transition case studies  will provide opportunities for participant discussions to cover: the different roles disability service personnel provide in 4-year versus CCC; specifics associated with housing; ESA requests and other burning topics.

From Lindsay Cohen (SDCCD)

Special Message from Gridcheck: Thank You for Your In-Kind Sponsorship!

Gridcheck has been working shoulder to shoulder with many of you at CAPED for years, and it's an absolute honor to be an in-kind sponsor for your 50th anniversary. Whether you're already using our scheduling system like an old friend or meeting us for the first time, let's connect! We've got new features and benefits to share. Reach out at info@gridcheck.com, or use the postcard in your conference bag to scan the QR code and set up a face-to-face meeting. See you soon!

A big thank you to the National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) for coming from Austin, Texas, to present at the pre-conference and other sessions! Here is more information about NDC for those who are unable to attend.

National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes (NDC) shares information, networks, and strategies to improve continuing education and training for deaf people. We offer transition tools for deaf youth, current research and data, and evidence-based resources. For example, check out our latest data report about trends in disability services for deaf students in colleges across the country. 

CAPED members might be interested in exploring our online modules and certificate programs for disability service professionals. Our team is available to answer immediate questions via email or on-call appointments. We also have drop-in sessions for disability service professionals - register today for sessions on October 25 or December 6. 

We can also provide free individualized consultation, training, and ongoing support for schools that want to strengthen their programs and services for deaf people. Reach out to us anytime! 

From the LD CIG Co-Chairs- Jessica Truglio, Ann Marie Breslin, Carl Fielden, Theresa Martin, Tiffany Montgomery (co-chair trainee)

Greetings from the LD (Learning Disabilities) CIG! The LD CIG is full of anticipation (and honestly, a healthy dose of anxiety) this year as both Pearson and Riverside Insight test publishers release the newest version of their assessments. There will be a new administration method and new test questions for us to learn, so we are preparing to enter unfamiliar territory together. 

During this time of significant change in our field, we decided we need to ground ourselves. So, we invited Patti Flores-Charter, the arguable mama of the CCC LD field, the person who trained and mentored so many of us as we learned the ropes, and the source of seemingly infinite LD knowledge to soothe our souls and ready us for the road ahead. Patti graciously accepted and will host a live, all-day pre-conference training on Sunday, October 27th from 9am-4pm, entitled The Past and Future of the Learning Disability (LD) Field: Where have we come from and where do we go from here? We are so fortunate to have her coming to convene with us as such a critical time.

So, if you know an LD specialist, ask if they need a hug. If you are an LD specialist, know that you are in good hands at CAPED and that we will tackle the next year together. Stay tuned for news about assessment trainings and CARS-W updates in the months ahead. 

From Erika Higginbotham (San Diego Mesa College) and Leslie Quinones (College of the Desert) (Southern Co-Chairs) 

Hello and Happy Fall from the Program Management (PM) CIG! The PM CIG is here to support our current and emerging leaders. We are looking forward to our CAPED Developmental session on Sunday, October 27th, at 1 p.m., where we will host a three-hour design thinking workshop focused on burnout. The workshop will be facilitated by long-time CAPED member Julie Sedlemeyer, who currently serves as Associate Vice President for Student Equity & Success at Stanislaus State University.

Immediately following the developmental session at 5 p.m., the PM CIG, in collaboration with the CAPED Mentorship Program (CMP), will host a networking mixer for CMP mentors, protégés, and PM CIG members.

Additionally, the CIG will be holding elections during our bi-annual meeting for both Northern and Southern Co-Chairs. Please consider nominating yourself or a friend and join in on the fun!