2005 - Nominees/Winners
Department
Academic Advancement Center
Career Center
Center for Advising and Student Achievement
Foreign Language and Literature
Hartshorn Health Center
Learning Assistance Center
Mathematics
Music, Theatre and Dance
Office of Provost/Academic Vice President
University Counseling Center
Winner
Faculty
Dr. David Bowden, Statistics
Brook Bretthauer, Human Development/Family Studies
Dr. Robert Brewer, Music, Theatre, and Dance
Dr. Patty Cowell, English
Dr. Leslie Diverdi, Chemistry
Mark Frasier, Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Kenneth Klopfenstein, Mathematics
Dr. Charles Lawson, Music, Theatre, and Dance
Candace Lewis, Computer Information Systems
Gene Lewis, Computer Information Systems
Dr. Marinus Pilon, Biology
Lorella Paltrinieri, Foreign Language and Literature
Roger Pearce, Biomedical Sciences
Catherine Schelly, CCP/Occupational Therapy
Dr. Michael Shaff, History
Dr. James Thomas, Mathematics
Dr. Deborah Valentine, Social Work
Winner
Staff
Kathy Bacon, Morgan Library
Brian Chase, Facilities Management
Dr. Charles Davidshofer, University Counseling Center
Gaye Digregorio, Center for Advising and Student Achievement
Ronnie Guenther, Morgan Library
Jody Jessup-Anger, Women's Programs and Studies
Tehron Jones-Embry, Academic Advancement Center
Cath Kilcommons, Assistive Technology Resource Center
Jill Lenz, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences
Erik Meakins, Morgan Library
Karen Quick, Academic Advancement Center
Lois Samer, Mathematics
Toni Scofield, Facilities Management
Mary Ellen Sinnwell, Housing and Dining Services
Paul Thayer, Center for Advising and Student Achievement
Lindsey Wess, Morgan Library
James White, Facilities Management
Anne Wilcox, Academic Advancement Center
Winner
Student
Miriam Enix, Biological Sciences major
Logan Faelber, Finance/Real Estate major
Dana Franz, Art major
Rob Gerk, Finance/Real Estate major
Kathryn Michelle Glowa, Natural Resource Management major
Linda Keesling, Zoology major
Winner
Volunteers
--Community
Sue Ellen Alishouse
Rosyln Brodsky
Jan Else
CarolAnn Frisco
Craig Hartsough
Patrick Juliana
Miriah Knight
Diana Larson
Brenda Mross
--CSU Staff
Judy Arnold, Bioagricultural Sciences and
Pest Management
Heather Bean, Admissions
Ruby Olsen, Morgan Library
Dr. Karen Sellins, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology
Karen Solomon, Biomedical Sciences
--CSU Student
Miriam Enix, Biological Science major
Travis Peveto, Life Sciences Open Option major
Megan Kanda, Animal Science major
Courtney Spohn-Larkins, English major
Elizabeth Ann Snider, Design and Merchandising major
Sherrie Ann Vander Vliet, Biological Sciences major
Winners
WINNERS
Department
Office of Provost/Academic
Vice President
The
Office of the Provost/Academic Vice President has consistently demonstrated
support for the individual needs of students with disabilities. The various
vice-presidents in this office who have overseen academic policies have been
able to see those policies not so much as strict rules to follow but as guidelines
in which the university fulfills its mission. With that perspective comes
flexibility and that has made the difference for many successful students.
Students with disabilities often bring with them unique circumstances that
may require specific adjustments or modifications in order for them to pursue
their academic goals. The flexibility of substitutions, as well as waivers,
when appropriate, for classes that are non-essential for majors has allowed
many students the opportunity to graduate and still maintain the overall objective
of a well-rounded education. While the educational system may be designed
for the majority of typical students, the Provost's office has illustrated
it recognizes the diversity of learners and has tried to make the system work
as well as possible to accommodate that diversity. For example, in just the
past year or so, as the Vice Provost for Academic Studies, Dr. Kevin Oltjenbruns
was instrumental in helping to create alternative methods for disabled students
to complete their mathematics requirement for graduation. She was also helpful
in providing monies in support of a sign language course this past semester.
In further support, she also helped to facilitate a discussion with Assistant
Deans to clarify the responsibility of faculty in working with disabled students.
As the unit on campus responsible for some of the diversity efforts on campus,
the Provost's office has also supported disability as part of its diversity
initiatives. At other institutions, diversity is often defined much more narrowly.
Inclusion of this human characteristic, often left out of the diversity dialogue,
demonstrates to students with disabilities that they matter and belong as
much as any other student. Working with disabled students who challenge the
system as well as individuals is a formidable task. Yet, the Provost staff
have consistently provided fair and equitable consideration of complaints
rather than simple reaction to a student's frustrated behavior. Time and again,
the staff have been able to reasonably deal with those situations so that
some satisfactory resolution is achieved. Not everyone perhaps receives exactly
what they want but they do tend to all get some satisfaction out of the process.
The student-focus atmosphere of the Provost's office has proven invaluable
for those who work with them as well as for students. To feel one can call
and know that someone will listen and respond with consideration to the unique
qualities of a situation makes it easier to work through some very tough decisions.
For this and many other reasons, the Provost's office is well deserving of
recognition of its outstanding efforts on behalf of students with disabilities.
Faculty
Lorella Paltrinieri,
Foreign Language and Literature
Lorella
Paltrinieri more than certainly deserves this award as a faculty member who
demonstrates outstanding effort on behalf of students with disabilities. In
the Fall of 2004, a deaf student decided he wanted to take Italian. While
many may think this would be a formidable task for a student who cannot hear
as well as others, it is also a formidable task for an instructor to adapt
a curriculum for the student and to also support the interpreters who would
need to learn the language along with the student. Ms. Paltrinieri proved
up to the task through her creativity and flexibility. For example, the oral
requirement of bi-weekly exams required a triple time commitment to make sure
the student was able to read her lips, the interpreters' lips and any other
method possible to ensure he was given equal access to such strictly audible
information. The student was also offered options to fulfill the requirements
in language labs and a highly recommended tutor was identified who just happened
to be a previous student of Ms. Paltrinieri. While others may have been hesitant
with the prospect of having a deaf student in a language class, Ms. Paltrinieri
jumped in and made all the difference for the success of the student as well
as making it an enjoyable and learning experience for the interpreters. She
truly is an example for other faculty members in establishing a most effective
partnership with RDS, the student and an academic discipline.
Staff
Anne Wilcox, Academic
Advancement Center
Anne
has been a wonderful ally for Resources for Disabled Students and for the
students who work with that office. Under her leadership, the services and
support provided by the Academic Advancement Center have proven time and time
again to be invaluable to students with disabilities. As one student stated,
"had it not been for the Academic Advancement Center, I would not have found
Resources for Disabled Students." That strong referral process is what helps
students benefit from support comprehensively and not in isolation. Anne has
also been instrumental in ensuring a smooth referral process, both to RDS
and from RDS, by helping to streamline the process to improve its user-friendliness.
In addition to her leadership, Anne takes diversity to heart as well as inclusively.
Not only does she recognize the differences between people, she also fully
celebrates them. While others on campus may focus on the limitations a student
may have due to a disability, Anne seems to see the disability as just another
characteristic in the mosaic of the whole student. She sees this in her staff
as well. Anne was instrumental in having her staff learn sign language in
support of not only another staff member but for student users. Recently when
a deaf student came in and was greeted by a counselor who signed "good morning,"
the student was not only surprised but truly touched that someone could speak
her language. Anne is a great problem solver as well as administrator. She
has been the person to call when unexpected and unusual problems arise as
she has demonstrated the ability to think things through with a very student-oriented
perspective. In working through the unique problems encountered by students
with disabilities, she has also strived to make the system work for them rather
than having a student adapt to it. If there is a way to make it work, she
will help find it. Given the restraints of a federally funded program, the
ease at which students with disabilities interact with the program are due
to Anne's foresight during the grant writing process as those mechanisms become
part of the grant objectives. Anne's ability to forge cooperative relationships
with all aspects of the campus contribute to making the Academic Advancement
Center a place to be for students with disabilities. For example, by working
with the Assistive Technology Resource Center, Anne has ensured that students
with disabilities have the same opportunities that other students do to technology.
In addition, Anne has participated on the Disability Interest Group, contributing
insightful, supportive, and collaborative efforts to all the units working
with disabled students. They say that it takes a whole village to raise a
child. Anne is a true believer that it takes a whole campus to graduate one
disabled student. She is a truly a person whose efforts are outstanding on
behalf of students with disabilities.
Student
Logan Faelber,
Finance/Real Estate major
When
I think about outstanding efforts on behalf of people with disabilities, I
think of Logan Faelber, SLCE's Special Needs Swim Coordinator. Logan is not
your traditional Human Services person. He has a background in Business and
Finance, is currently a senior at Colorado State University and has worked
primarily in the for-profit sector. Yet for the past three years Logan has
been passionately committed to providing recreational opportunities for people
with disabilities living in the Fort Collins area, while providing an educational
opportunity for CSU students to learn about issues facing the special needs
community. He has done so through his involvement as a volunteer with CSU's
Special Needs Swim (SNS) program, and now in his role as the SNS Coordinator
with the office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement. SNS is volunteer
program where CSU students interact with community members - both children
and adults with a variety of disabilities. Each week students and their partners
spend an hour in the pool for exercise, games and friendship. These sessions
are oriented towards developing relationships, improving body coordination
and skills, and most importantly having fun in the water! Participants gain
exercise, friendships and increased awareness of issues concerning people
with disabilities. Volunteers also meet to discuss and reflect on their service.
SNS specifically focuses on providing an educational immersion experience
for CSU students so that they may become lifelong advocates for the rights
of people with disabilities while working to reduce the stigma impacting this
population. Logan carries out his role with passion and commitment. This year,
Logan recruited approximately 47 CSU student applicants and selected 32 CSU
volunteers to serve as partners with both youth and adults with a range of
disabilities. Logan designed a training program for all of the SNS volunteers
so that they could learn about the issues impacting the community in which
the SNS volunteers would be serving. Logan's training program began with Pre-training
on October 6th, and has continued for one hour weekly for the remainder of
the year. Here's a glimpse of Logan's training:
· Guide Dogs for the Blind came in with over 25 volunteers and 10 puppies.
The president of the club talked with SNS volunteers about the services and
opportunities provided by the club.
· Logan facilitated discussions on articles that address accessibility issues
at CSU and in Fort Collins. Volunteers had an in-depth discussion regarding
the issues and the role they can play in addressing these issues as lifelong
advocates.
· Skip Degraff, doctorate student at UNC visited with the group to discuss
his life as a quadriplegic. His heartfelt talk helped the volunteers learn
more about the stigma and the challenges that people with disabilities face.
· Logan facilitated a discussion on various types of disabilities so that
the volunteers were more aware of the different needs and challenges that
their partners face. He discussed signs, symptoms and descriptions of different
disabilities such as Down Syndrome and CP.
· Long time SNS participant and Program Assistant Rick came in talked about
his life experiences growing up with CP. Because Rick has limited verbal abilities,
he uses a Delta Talker to communicate. He programmed a lecture into his talker
for the CSU volunteers to learn about how people's reactions and interactions
with him throughout his life impacted him. His presentation helped the CSU
student volunteers learn more deeply about the emotional and personal side
of living with a disability.
And much more!
Logan's dedication and commitment to educating this generation's future advocates
is clear. In Logan's application for the SNS Coordinator position, he shared
"(Volunteering) leads to overall fulfillment and greater understanding of
others." He carries with him a strong belief that college is a time for personal
growth, and that volunteering for programs like SNS is an important catalyst
to begin the growth process. Logan continues to work towards reducing stigma
impacting people with disabilities both through is work with SNS, his interactions
with clients and caretakers in local group homes, and his support for additional
programs at CSU including SLCE's Alternative Break trip to the Fowler Center
in Michigan. He is a role model and resource for helping other students at
CSU become lifelong advocates and agents of change, and has served a critical
role in educating the CSU community on both the challenges and successes of
the local special needs community.
Volunteer
--Community
Rosyln Brodsky
Roslyn
Brodsky has volunteered for RDS for many years. She has read business, law,
veterinary medicine, statistics, and most recently biological sciences and
philosophy. She finishes the books quickly even though she sometimes looses
her voice. In addition, she often times reads more than one book in a semester.
She consistently receives excellent comments from the students on her reading
and she represents the type of volunteer we hope to never lose.
--CSU Staff
Ruby Olsen, Morgan
Library
Ruby
has been a vital part to the production of alternative formatted text. She
cuts the spine to the text books so we are able produce a cleaner scan of
the book. She then takes extra time out of her schedule to re-bind each textbook
so the book can be resold. Once a book is scanned, it can then be converted
into an alternative format electronically. If we did not have this ability,
we would spend hours at a copy maching copying each page of each book. As
a result, Ruby's contribution saves the university not only money but also
in staff time.
--CSU Student
Miriam Enix, Biological
Science major
Miriam
has acted as a volunteer note taker for several years for a student who is
deaf. She has also acted as a study aid, tutor and mentor to this student
and others. She is also currently volunteering her time to be an excellent
teaching assistant for the American Sign Language class. Miriam is an outstanding
example of dedication and leadership so critical to being not only a student
but as an effective volunteer.
Disability Awareness
| Outstanding Effort
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| 2001 | 2002 | 2003
| 2004 | 2006
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