The AALRC has scheduled a number of workshops designed to help programs meet the needs of adult students with learning disabilities for the 2003-2004 year. In addition to the regularly scheduled LDTD training, Payne-Jordan training, and Strategies and Accommodations workshops, we have contracted with Dr. Richard Cooper to conduct five days of training in September 2003. Programs should receive the Cooper training announcement in early August, but please contact the AALRC if your program does not receive the registration information.

For more information about upcoming training events, visit the AALRC website at http://aalrc.org

Students (age 14-64) who receive disability benefits from Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and want to work full or part-time should contact the A-WIN program at 1.888.284.7521. This program was established as a result of a nationwide initiative mandated by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (PL 106-170). The $280,349 annual Social Security Administration grant, renewable for up to five years, provides 95% of program costs. The other 5% is provided by the cooperating Independent Living Centers.

The program is designed to help people receiving disability benefits to understand how employment will affect their benefits, develop a plan to be selfsupporting, navigate the bureaucratic maze concerning employment and SSI regulations, and get in touch with other agencies that can help with vocational training and job placement.

All services are free.

Microsoft keeps moving toward providing built-in accessibility in their systems. In new and upgraded versions of MS Office there are particularly good new features that should help make web sites more accessible.

Click here to read the Microsoft press release.

The new accessibility features were announced on the second anniversary of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and include new accessibility improvements in the upcoming release of Microsoft Office^® System products as well as in recent releases of Microsoft Visual Studio^® .NET and Microsoft Windows Server^TM 2003.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires all federal agencies to ensure that all electronic or information technology they purchase, develop or use is accessible to people with disabilities, both federal employees and members of the public.

Scripts are available online from the Readers' Theatre. This Literacy Connections site also offers a "wealth of information on reading, teaching and tutoring techniques, ESL literacy, and adult literacy." They have resources that are useful for teachers, volunteers, and directors of literacy programs. Topics include the language experience approach, phonics, word study, and "the best in children's literature." They have a ton of information about teaching adults as well.

If you've never seen this website, please check it out. You will be amazed at the amount of information, ideas, and resources they offer.

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