The Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE) will be holding their 2005 National Conference in Mobile, AL. The Rehabilitation Program at Auburn University is assisting in the support of this conference and we want to get our students involved in this effort.  Therefore, we have decided to make practicum hour(s) available in conjunction with the conference.  

About the Conference:
The conference itself will be held July 24-27 in Mobile at the Mobile Convention Center located across from the Mobile Bay. The conference hotel will be the Riverview Plaza Hotel (formerly the Adams Mark).  The hotel is a skywalk away from the Convention Center. The group rates for the Conference are $98.00 Single/Double or $108.00 Triple/Quad.

Riverview Plaza Hotel
64 South Water Street
Mobile, AL 36602
251-438-4000 or 866-749-6060

On July 24, pre-conference summits will be held. The Conference itself follows for three additional days of general sessions and ninety-minute overview (breakout) sessions. Breakout sessions will cover issues such as job development, workplace supports, career planning, positive behavior supports, consumer empowerment, advocacy at all levels, Ticket to Work, One Stops, etc.  

About the Practicum:  

The practicum hour(s) associated with attending this Conference is for both undergraduate and graduate students.  Undergraduate students will receive 1 practicum hour and graduate students can negotiate for up to 3 practicum hours. We need to have a firm commitment from students regarding this Practicum and the activities involved in it.  We are asking that students commit before the end of the Spring Semester so that we can make appropriate arrangements (such as hotel rooms and transportation) well in advance of the Conference itself.  If you have already signed up for summer classes and have not included this Practicum, you may do the work for the Practicum this summer and “officially” sign up for the Practicum hour(s) Fall Semester 2005. 

What we will provide: 

We realize that most students have limited resources so we will provide some financial support for this event.  
• We will cover lodging costs.  Of course, this means that folks will need to bunk up – we just can’t afford for everyone to have their own “private” room.  
• We will cover transportation costs (mileage reimbursement) for students to carpool together from Auburn or Montgomery to Mobile and back.  
• Finally, we will cover the conference registration fee so that you will be able to attend conference sessions and events.  
• We cannot cover the costs of your food or extraneous items (such as the use of your room’s mini-bar!).  

Requirements for all students attending the Conference (1 hour of Practicum):

1. Sign up for the Practicum before the end of Spring Semester 2005.

2. There will be 2 meetings associated with this Practicum in which we expect students to be in attendance here on campus.  We realize that not everyone will be attending summer classes or working in Auburn but included in this Practicum are learning activities that will take place in conjunction with attending the Conference.

a. Introduction to Supported Employment.  The first meeting will be held before attending the conference.  (DATE – July 11, Monday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.) At this meeting you will be given 2-3 articles to read that will allow you an introduction and overview of supported employment.  The expectation is that you will read this material before the conference so that you will have a better understanding of how the supported employment model differs from a “typical” state vocational rehabilitation model.  We will discuss some of these concepts at this meeting which will be 1-1/2 to 2 hours in length.  

b. Also at this meeting, we want to make sure everyone has room/roommate assignments and has arranged for their transportation/directions.  Remember that expenses for rooms and registration fees will be paid up front by our Department so we must have confirmed agreement that you will show up.  Expenses connected with transportation will be reimbursed after the conference so save receipts for gas, parking, etc. to bring with you to the Post-Conference Meeting at Auburn.

c. Exhibit Booth.  At this meeting we will have a sign-up sheet.  Auburn University’s Rehabilitation Program will have a booth at the Exhibit Hall for the conference.  We are asking students to volunteer throughout the conference for approximately a 2 hour time period to make sure someone is at the booth throughout the conference days.  We will have brochures and related materials to make sure that students can speak to those who inquire about the program and their experiences in it.  I’m sure there will be questions regarding the Distance Education Master’s program as well as the on-campus program.  We will provide materials to hand out for visitors with questions.

d. Attending the Conference.  There is the expectation that you will attend conference sessions (a minimum of two concurrent sessions, and either the opening or closing session). 

e. Post-Conference Meeting.  We will hold a post-conference meeting to de-brief and review your experiences.  There will be a written assignment due when you attend this meeting.  (DATE – August 1, Monday, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.) 

f. Written Assignment – Post-conference Analysis.  This assignment consists of a brief paper (3-4 pages, double-spaced) that describes:

i. your experiences at the Conference (the sessions you attended, knowledge you learned from the sessions, the contacts you may have made, any eventful experience(s) you had working the Auburn Booth, etc.) and

ii. your understanding of supported employment in comparison to “traditional” vocational rehabilitation and your feelings about it (is supported employment a good idea, how do you feel about its implementation, do you like the idea of job coaches, how could supported employment be made more meaningful for consumers in a “traditional” program?).

Requirements for Graduate credit Practicum hours (3):
For Graduate students wishing to sign up for 3 Practicum hours, there will be requirements in addition to the above.  Currently, we are making arrangements with the Opelika Achievement Center for students to work in conjunction with job coaches in their Supported Employment program.  We will negotiate the number of hours required based on the number of hours you wish to sign-up for in this Practicum.  Basically, for 2 more Practicum hours we want students to be engaged in the following activities:

a. Job shadowing a job coach.
b. Working with consumers under the direction of a job coach.
c. Writing up an analysis/your perspective of each activity.

The amount of time you spend doing each activity will be the aspect of the Practicum that is negotiated.  Each student will work this out with the Practicum Coordinator. 

Conclusion:
This is a great opportunity to earn Practicum hours in relationship with activities that have very real life meaning and learning.  If you have additional questions, you can contact Dr. Rebecca Curtis (curtirs@auburn.edu/334-844-2091) or Chad Duncan (duncaj2@auburn.edu/334-844-5943).
  

DEADLINE for signing-up is May 6, 2005, Friday by 5:00 p.m. 
CONTACT CHAD DUNCAN TO SIGN UP

http://www.apse.org/