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Special
Education Chief to Address Conference on Connecting Disabled Latinos
to Employment
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Prof. Robert Pasternack of New Mexico, President Bush’s choice to run the national special education system, will address the first national conference on Latinos with disabilities and employment. The meeting on the theme, "Building Bridges," is taking place August 21-24 in Anaheim, organized by the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities. Throughout the country, disabled persons of Latino or Hispanic heritage, have lower levels of education than other Latinos or disabled persons and, consequently, fewer opportunities for employment. This conference is bringing together leaders and disabled individuals from the Latino community with their peers in education, employment and disability services. Additionally, the conference will feature success stories by employed Latinos with and without disabilities. Featured speakers Other featured speakers from around the country include Delia Pompa, Director of the National Association for Bilingual Education, based in Washington, D.C., and Joe Cordova of the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Success stories will be presented by Alma Almanza of the Central Coast Independent Living Center in Salinas, California, who will talk about her experiences with independent living as a service recipient and provider; Jorge Pineda of the National Council on Independent Living, who will discuss challenges in restarting his career after immigrating from Mexico; Fred Schroeder, of Peruvian heritage and former RSA Commissioner, will talk of growing up as a disabled Latino in New Mexico; and Kathy Martinez of California, newly-appointed board member of the National Council on Disability, will discuss her experiences in the mainstream education system as a disabled Latino child. Rosangela Berman Bieler of Brazil, now living in the U.S. will lead a discussion with prospective reporters and writers for the National Technical Assistance Center’s online newsletter. The National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities, administered by the World Institute on Disability, has a website with news and resources: www.proyectovision.net |
