The goal of the Project is to enhance the knowledge of health science education faculties to teach and accommodate students with disabilities and, in turn, increase the success of these students.�Through the Project, faculty will be provided with the opportunity to attend training programs and to access information about the unique issues faced by students and faculty in health science programs.� The Oregon Institute on Disability and Development's Center on Self Determination is conducting the Project.�

Project Update

The student population at OHSU is becoming increasingly diverse. These students bring to the classroom and clinical experiences a wide diversity of learning styles. The Center on Self-Determination, along with the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, and the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry and Allied Health are addressing this issue by sponsoring a Luncheon and Information Session on Universal Teaching Strategies (UTS). UTS is an approach to presenting course instruction, materials, and content to benefit people with a wide array of diverse learning styles. Universal Teaching Strategies benefits students with disabilities, students who speak English as a second language, international students, older students, and ALL students. Faculty who are interested in learning more about diverse teaching strategies and their application to classroom and clinical settings, or who are interested in sharing diverse teaching and learning strategies are encouraged to participate. The possible formation of a work group around learning more about UTS and disseminating this information will be discussed at the luncheon. Martha Smith, Project Coordinator of the Health Sciences Faculty Education Project, and Clark Hochstetler, Department Faculty Chair of the Office for Students with Disabilities at Portland Community College will be presenting.

Martha Smith also recently presented information about accommodating students under the Americans with Disabilities Act legislation at a Panel Discussion entitled, "The Spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act held in October. This Awareness Presentation was Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department. Other members of the Panel included Mariann Hyland, Equal Opportunity Compliance Officer; Pam Maxon of the Commission for the Blind, Lynae Rutlage from OHSU's newly funded Northwest ADA Information Technology Center, and Lee Lacey, a current OHSU patient. Participants had an opportunity to ask questions about the ADA and how to create a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities.

In December, Martha will start the first of a series of sessions for the Faculty of the Dental Hygiene Department. The monthly series, entitled "Breakfast Bites," will provide faculty an opportunity to strategize and problem solve around providing best practices instruction to students with diverse learning needs. The first "Breakfast Bite" is scheduled for December 6th at 8:00 AM in room B36 A-B in the School of Dentistry Building.

Dental Professionals will have another opportunity to learn about issues in diversity in the Spring during the Second Annual Diversity Lecture Series begins. This series, sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and the Center on Self-Determination, was a great success last spring and more distinguished guest lecturers are planned for next year. A panel of Dental Professionals with disabilities is already being tentatively planned for January or February. Stay tuned for upcoming details on the innovative series.