The practitioners are not known to each other, nor available to students as mentors and role models. Students and their families have little awareness of what the design professions are or what is required to succeed in them. There are low expectations that people with disabilities can be successful designers. Access to Design Professions is a year long project that will be managed by the Adaptive Environments Center, Boston, MA in cooperation with an Advisory Group that will include the Center for Universal Design, School of Design, North Carolina State University. The three phase project will result in an Action Plan that begins to address the complex problem.
Some scholarships are available for unemployed or low-income disabled women.
Members of minority communities are encouraged to apply. It is said that more than two-thirds of people hear about jobs through formal or informal networks. This Forum is the first step in building a network that disabled girls and women can use to exchange news and tips about jobs, training opportunities, mentors and placement services. The theme of this conference embraces the growing recognition that it is important for families with children with special needs to know where we've been, why we are here, and where we are going. The conference will feature presentations from Parent to Parent Coordinators, program leaders, family advocates, family members, individuals with special needs, case managers, administrators, policymakers, service providers, researchers, educators and others.