How Can Your Campus Improve Its Support of

How Can Your Campus Improve Its Support of the Non-traditional Student Gaeir Dietrich Director Myra Lerch AT Specialist/Consultant High Tech Center Training Unit (HTCTU)

What is the HTCTU? n Grant Program – Funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office – Located at De Anza College in Cupertino, California – Serve 110+ California community colleges

Training Areas n Alternate Media and Legal Issues – Myself n Web Accessibility and Assistive Computer Technology – Jayme Johnson

Our Role n Train staff and faculty of the CCCs to use technology to assist students with disabilities – We use a “train the trainer” model n Act as a resource – We have a _____* student! What do we do? – * blind, deaf, mobility impaired, etc….

Resources n Trainings – First for CCC, others welcome as space/capacity is available n Listserves – Various topics related to disability and access n Manuals – Some available online, others by request

Free! All our trainings are free n Some held at our Cupertino location (De Anza College) n – www. htctu. net n We will also come to you at your CCC campus! – Work with campus disability office and contact us to arrange trainings

Some Areas of Interest Web accessibility n Accessible documents n – PDF, Word, Power. Point Captioning/accessible podcasting n Math accommodations n Dragon Naturally. Speaking n – Speech recognition n Complying with Section 508

Vets to Vets: Veterans Resource Center Project of the CCCs A Special Group of Non-traditional Learners

Overview n A Few Numbers n Background n The Veterans Resource Center Project n Three Central Components n Consistency & Creativity n What Happens Next?

What characteristics might returning veterans have? n n n n Can leave the classroom Camaraderie Strong ethics Have triggers for PTSD, etc. Different from other 18 year olds Challenging relationships Dealing with loss and reintegration

A Few Numbers: 1 Gulf War Legacy n Of the 697, 000 Gulf War veterans, 53% (370, 600+) are receiving compensation for service-connected disabilities n The disability rate for the last century was – 5% before Vietnam – 10% in Vietnam 1 U. S. News and World Report, www. usnews. com, and The Cedars of Lebanon Weep

A Few Numbers: 1 California n Of 1. 42 million men and women in active military force, about 11% (175, 000) are stationed in California – Another 25, 000 people serve in the Reserves in California n Education benefit is the main reason many people serve in the military – Approximately 200, 000 are eligible for admission to California campuses n Approximately 26, 000 veteran students receiving GI Bill benefits in CCCs (2007 -2008)2 – Enrollment expected to increase dramatically 1 Thomas E. Church, 2/27/2008 2 Bonnel, Timothy P. , Chancellor’s Office, CCCs

A Few Numbers: Suicide Risk n Male U. S. veterans have twice the suicide rate (2. 13%) of nonmilitary people – Source: Portland State University n With more permanent, serious mental and physical disabilities, there may be a higher suicide risk – Source: Kaplan study, funded by NIMH n Army suicide rates = the highest level in 26 years, with 99 Army suicides in 2007 – Source: MSBN. com

A Few Numbers: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) n TBI has been termed the “signature injury” of these wars n According to current estimates: 1 – IEDs account for 65% of combat injuries – Of all exposed to IED, 60% have TBI – Therefore, estimate that approximately 10, 000 have TBI n As of September 2007, VA has seen approximately 500 1 Harriet Zeiner, Sept 2007

A Few Numbers: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder n Approximately 1/8 of returning soldiers suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)1 – Of those, approximately 2/3 do not seek treatment 1 www. msn. com, 9/10/2007

Disabled Veteran or Wounded Warrior? n Wounded warrior – Can recover from a wound – Still identify as being a warrior – More validating – Veterans were from other wars

Background n Veterans Resource Center (VRC) established by Butte College in Spring 2008 – Staffed by vets – Collaborative effort n Goal: Provide central entry point for vets as they navigate the civilian and academic worlds

Veterans Resource Center (VRC) – Butte College n www. butte. edu/services/veterans/vrc. html

Introducing the VRC Project n High Tech Center Training Unit (HTCTU)1 sparks the idea: – Establish VRCs on other CCC campuses – In coordination with Chancellor’s Office of CCCs n Assistive technology (AT) will play significant role 1 www. htctu. net

HTCTU Effort: Pilot Sites n Initial grant for VRC pilot sites: – Will select 15 campuses to participate – Minimum of 1 site in each of 10 DSPS regions – Will serve as training hub and example for other campuses in their region n HTCTU will provide: – 2 computers/pilot site – Assistive technology – Trainings, training guides, job aids

Data Collection n Conduct survey re: what services CCCs currently providing veteran students n Collect data from VRC pilot sites – Data will be collected at end of each semester during 2 -year pilot project

Three Central Components n VRCs: More than a vets lounge n Provide services in three areas: – Academics – Camaraderie – Wellness

Academics n Offering tools & strategies that provide scaffolding for academic success – Learning Styles Profile – Assistive Technology

Learning Styles n Learning Styles Profile n Results guide recommendations n Traditional vs. nontraditional learners n Recognizes the pivotal importance of: – Combining learning styles – Being actively engaged in the learning process

Learning Styles Profile 1 n 28 -item questionnaire n Evaluates 4 different learning styles: – – Visual Graphic Visual Written Auditory Kinesthetic n Represents results in graphic format n Identifies strongest two learning styles 1 Myra Lerch, Butte College. Some items drawn from: Jeffrey Barsch, Ventura College & Catherine Jester, Diablo Valley College

Four Learning Styles

How do you learn best?

Related Strategies: Examples n Visual Graphic: – Use concept mapping to organize thoughts n Visual Written: – Outline lecture/chapter to provide cognitive framework n Auditory: – Use self-talk; review materials aloud (even to a dog) – If not a strength, consider face-to-face or written communication for important discussions n Kinesthetic: – Walk as you review flash cards

Assistive Technology (AT) n Kurzweil 3000 & Kurzweil 1000 n Donated n Inspiration n Donated n n n by Cambium Learning Technologies by Inspiration Software, Inc. Screen magnification Screen reader Speech recognition n Referral to DSPS for training

Camaraderie n It starts when a vet walks through the door: – Staffed primarily by vets (minimum 70%) n Provide a safe place where vets can connect with other vets n Build on shared values & experiences: – People already know what you’ve been through

The hardest part of transitioning to civilian life has been the lack of camaraderie in the civilian world. The great people I served with have now gone their separate ways. Having the VRC on campus has returned to me access to a circle of friends I feel I can be open with, rely on, and turn to in times of crisis. I can honestly say the VRC is sometimes the only thing that saves me from “burning out” on school and keeps me coming back. [Mike O, USMC, 2 tours Iraq]

Wellness n Identify on- and off-campus resources n Refer to appropriate resources – Ideally, a seamless process – Recognize stigma associated with asking for help n Provide training for college staff/faculty on issues specific to vets – Examples: Dealing with TBI, PTSD, depression; addressing stress; leaving personal view about war outside classroom

Examples of Wellness Services n Catherine Morris (Sierra College) works with the Forgotten Soldier Program to provide free massages, acupuncture, etc. n George Rush (SF City College) inviting VA to put clinicians on campus n Dr. Joseph Bobrow (The Coming Home Project, SF) offers retreats for vets and families n Bruce Solheim (Citrus College) developed Boots to Books curriculum

Consistency & Creativity? n Consistency: – Name: VRC – Assistive Technology – Collaboration: Creating VRC Task Force n Creativity: – Staffing: American Legion – Fund-raising: Car magnets – Activities: World map & competition

What Happens Next? n Application process – Applications submitted – Will begin notification mid- to late April n Two-year pilot – Campuses retain equipment and AT n VRC to be functional Fall 2010 n Trainings will begin this summer

Contact Us n Gaeir (“rhymes with fire”) Dietrich – gdietrich@htctu. net – 408 -996 -6043 n Myra Lerch – lerch 29@att. net – 530 -521 -9626

Thank you! n http: //www. htctu. net/vrc/index. html