Institute for Disability Studies
Youth Notes
December, 2008

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Welcome to the latest issue of IDS Youth Notes, a youth e-newsletter for high school and college age youth with disabilities.  IDS Youth Notes includes information on education, career and job opportunities, recreational activities, health and much, much more.  If you have resources or information that you want to share with others, please respond to this email or contact Terri (Cookie) Smith at terri.smith@usm.edu or Jerry R. Alliston at jerry.alliston@usm.edu.

Inside this issue:

1. Student’s Quest to Live in University Dorm
2. Two College Website Resources
3. Summer Internship
4. Apply for Federal Student Aid On-line

1. Student’s Quest to Live in University Dorm

The following news and action alert comes from Micah Fialka-Feldman and his parents Rich and Janice:

Micah Fialka-Feldman has a cognitive impairment and has been a pioneer in inclusion.  Micah has been taking classes, participating in clubs, and currently pays full tuition at Michigan's Oakland University.  In 2007, the university gave Micah a tour of the dormitory, accepted his deposit, confirmed his "move in date" and then said NO. In the last 2-3 months, the student body, the local media and people from across the country have expressed support for Micah's dream and the right of all Option Program students to live in the dormitory.   To learn more about Micah and this cause, please visit the American Association for People with Disabilities People Justice for All Blog at http://www.jfactivist.org/. (Scroll down to the fourth article.)

2. Two College Website Resources

The U.S. Department of Education has a new website to engage, inspire and inform students about college.  Information is available on why to go to college, what to do for college and how to pay for it.  For more information, please visit www.college.gov. 

The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning have a new website with information for parents, those interested in college and transfer students.  Disability specific information is located at the top right of each page.  You can find various resource information including contact information for disability service staff at all Mississippi 2-year or 4-year colleges and universities.  For more information, please visit www.mississippi.edu.

3. Summer Internship

The American Association of People with Disabilities has two summer internship programs for undergraduate students with disabilities.  These internships are both in Washington DC.  Covered costs include travel to and from DC, fully accessible housing and a living stipend.  The deadline to apply is January 9, 2009.  For more information, please visit http://www.aapd.com/AAPDRedesign/DMD/DMDinternships.html.

4. Apply for Federal Student Aid On-line

The U.S. Department of Education has a website where students can complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line.  If you plan to attend college next year, you may apply for possible federal financial aid starting January 1, 2009.  For more information and to apply, please visit www.fafsa.ed.gov.   

***PLEASE NOTE:  If you are unable to access any of the links in the Notes, please make sure the entire link is highlighted.  If a link is not highlighted, please copy and paste the entire link into your Web browser.

Training, Resources and Information for the Advancement of Degrees (TRIAD) is a project of the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at The University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (GR# 90DN0228).  TRIAD focuses on assisting youth with disabilities transitioning from school to adult life in accessing postsecondary training opportunities.  For more information, call 1.888.671.0051 or visit IDS on the Web at www.usm.edu/ids.

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