NEWS FROM PATHFINDER By Melissa Fortson Photo by Courtney Evans Taylor HISPANIC OUTREACH PROGRAM UPDATE On November 7, 2007, Pathfinder’s HISPANIC OUTREACH PROGRAM sponsored the 3rd Annual Disability Services and the Hispanic Community Conference. The conference, held at Nashville’s Knowles Senior Center, facilitated resource and information sharing through a “Barriers & Possibilities” roundtable discussion. Another panel discussed information, treatment and resources related to autism and Hispanic Outreach Project collaborators shared project results and recommendations for working in the Hispanic community. Over 50 social service providers, students and community advocates attended. Pathfinder continues to identify bilingual resources around the State. A recent Council on Developmental Disabilities grant awarded to the Memphis-based UT Boling Center will support the development of Pathfinder’s bilingual resource database, Camino Seguro, in West Tennessee. For more information contact Hispanic Outreach Coordinator Claudia Avila-Lopez at claudia.avila@vanderbilt.edu or 800–640–4636 (ext. 11). ACCESS NASHVILLE UPDATE ACCESS NASHVILLE, a project of Tennessee Disability Pathfinder supported by the Vanderbilt Kennedy University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), was featured in a Discovery article on university student pre-service training. The article, published in the Fall 2007 edition of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s quarterly publication, shares how a number of professors include Access Nashville participation in their coursework. Nursing, special education and psychology students increase their awareness of the needs of people with disabilities as they identify “accessibility friendly” restaurants so that all persons can make informed decisions about where to eat. Carole Moore-Slater, M.S., UCEDD co-director of community service and technical assistance and Tennessee Disability Pathfinder director, helped found the program and now conducts the Nashville training sessions. Ms. Moore-Slater notes that incorporating the training into the academic setting is less expensive, more time-efficient and provides the program with more trainees. “It’s a great hands-on experience for the college students,” Ms. Moore-Slater said. “The response from the students has been amazing. It really makes sense because they’re going to be the ones who improve the laws, change the building codes and advocate in the community. “ Discovery, Fall 2007 For more information about ACCESS NASHVILLE, visit the project Web site at www.accessnashvilleonline.org or contact Carole Moore-Slater at 800–640–4636 ext. 13 SUBMITTING AGENCY INFORMATION TO PATHFINDER JUST GOT EASIER! Moving? Starting a new program or changing an existing one? Have a new director or contact information? Service providers can now send this information to Pathfinder’s Resource Specialist via our Web site. Simply visit www.familypathfinder.org, click on “Search the Pathfinder Database for TN Services”, then follow the link and instructions to provide us with your updated information. Agencies that meet Pathfinder’s inclusion criteria are included in our print directory and?searchable database; complete and current information also helps staff make appropriate referrals to your services. For information or assistance, contact Ashley Coulter at ashley.coulter@vanderbilt.edu or 800–640–4636 (ext. 15). Tennessee Disability Pathfinder has phone, Web and print resources in English and Spanish to connect the Tennessee disability community with service providers. Referral services, free of cost, are provided to persons with disabilities, family members, service providers and advocates. Pathfinder is a joint project of the TENNESSEE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES and the VANDERBILT KENNEDY CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Tennessee Disability Pathfinder English & Español (615) 322–8529 (800) 640–4636 TTY/TDD users: please dial 711 for free relay service www.familypathfinder.org tnpathfinder@vanderbilt.edu Melissa Fortson is information & referral specialist/program coordinator with Tennessee Disability Pathfinder.