Maintained by drc@ucsc.edu

E-Notes

DRC Electronic Advising Update February 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:
 
DRC Student wins National AHEAD Scholarship!

The DRC is proud to announce that UCSC’s own Nichol Baxter won the 2006-2007 AHEAD* Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. Only one undergraduate in the United States receives this award each year. It is a nomination based scholarship which recognizes: disability-related leadership and service; academic achievement; and well articulated goals. Congratulations, Nichol!!! We look forward to your future contributions as a researcher in the field of neuro science. (* AHEAD stands for the Association on Higher Education and Disability.)

DRC Student Seeks Bi-polar Type II Peers:
 
There is a DRC student in a senior seminar class who needs to interview others with Bipolar Type II for her research project. She is specifically studying the experience of the diagnosis process. If you have been diagnosed within the last 5 years, please consider participating in these interviews. Contact: cferguso@ucsc.edu if you are available. The results should be very interesting.

Guest Speakers to Discuss Disability Related Topics:

This quarter Dr. Roberto Manduchi is teaching an exciting new course, CMPE 80A, Assistive Technology and Universal Access. Dr. Manduchi is well respected for his research with assistive technology (such as a “virtual cane” for people with visual impairments). He has also scheduled a number of local experts to present in the class; and he invites other students, staff, and faculty to join the audience at any time. For example, on Wednesday, February 14, 9:30-10:30 AM, Earth and Marine, B206, Dr. Sybil Kline, educational psychologist, will discuss ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities.  For a calendar of the other presentations, visit the course website at http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/classes/cmpe080a/Winter07/

CCLVI Scholarship Program
 
On behalf of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI), we announce our revised CCLVI Scholarship Program.  Three scholarships in the amount of $3,000 a piece will be awarded for the 2007-2008 academic year.  Please share with others the following scholarship information.  If there are questions or additional information is required, please e-mail to scholarship@cclvi.org.  Thank you!
 
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) awards scholarships to entering freshmen and college students who are visually impaired, maintain a strong GPA and are involved in their school/local community.  Applications may be submitted each year beginning January 1st and all materials must be received by March 1st. Scholarship monies are awarded for the upcoming academic year.  To read the scholarship guidelines and complete an on-line application, please visit the web site www.cclvi.org/scholars.htm.  Applications will be available to submit on-line until March 1st at 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time.

---

New Student Advisory Committee: Give the University your input! New Student Advisory Committee being formed. We want you!
 
The Academic Resource Collaborative (ARC) is developing a new student advisory group to provide input and direction for the ARC, and develop campus publicity regarding ARC Resources. The ARC is made up of Learning Support Services, Educational Opportunities Program, Disability Resource Center, Services to Transfer and Re-Entry Students, Student Media, and Student Volunteer Connection. If you are interested please contact Eric at eric@ucsc.edu.

---

Grad Students Only:  ELA SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation, Inc. (ELA) is pleased to announce
that the 2007 ELA Scholarship application is now available at www.ela.org in the scholarship section of the ELA website.
 
The ELA Scholarship provides financial assistance to women with physical
disabilities who are enrolled in a college or university graduate program in
the United States. ELA Scholarship awards are based on merit and are given
in an objective and on a nondiscriminatory basis. Each applicant is required
to submit an application packet including an application form, a college
transcript, two letters of academic recommendation, a medical verification
form and an essay outlining how she will ³Change the Face of Disability on
the Planet." Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 per year.  The
application deadline is June 1st, 2007.
 
The vision of the Ethel Louise Armstrong (ELA) Foundation, Inc. is to
"Change the Face of Disability on the Planet".  Our mission is to promote,
through grants and scholarships, the inclusion of people with disabilities.
The ELA Scholarship is designed for women with physical disabilities who
join with us to pursue this vision.
 
Contact Deborah Lewis at executivedirector@ela.org for more information
about the ELA Scholarship.
 
CounterPULSE: Dance and Disability
 
About CounterPULSE:
CounterPULSE (founded in 1992 as 848 Community Space) provides space and resources for low-income and emerging artists, acting as a catalyst for the creation of original, socially relevant art and grassroots cultural experimentation by artists, activists, and community builders.  CounterPULSE offers a multi-disciplinary Artist in Residence Program, the Aerial Dance Artists in Residence (ADAIR) Program, and several annual festivals including STREAM/fest for emerging performers. Other programs include a gallery showcasing local artists, cultural events and participatory discussion forums, as well as a high-quality season of contemporary dance and performance. CounterPULSE works towards a world that celebrates a diversity of race, class, ability, gender identity & sexual orientation. No one will be turned away for lack of money for any event held at CounterPULSE.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Creative Work Fund, The San Francisco Arts Commission Cultural Equity Fund, The San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, Grants for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, and The Zellerbach Family Foundation.

 
CounterPULSE and Jess Curtis/Gravity present:
An exciting season of classes, workshops, performances, as well as a symposium on dance and disability. All activities are designed for exploring movement and generating awareness around physical diversity.

As a courtesy to you and your organization, we are able to offer group discounts and scholarships by application to the workshops listed below.  Jess Curtis/Gravity is also available for lecture/demonstrations, open rehearsals and master classes at low or no cost to you.
 
To take advantage of these opportunities, or for more information please contact us at CounterPULSE at 415-626-2060 or info@counterpulse.org

Please feel free pass this email along to anyone you think might be interested or would benefit from these exciting activities.

Thank for your interest in this project! Below is the listing of activities.

CLASSES/WORKSHOPS
 
CounterPULSE Pre-Jam Contact Improvisation Class
Tuesdays Feb. 6 – 27,  6:30-8pm  $12 drop-in or $15 if you stay for the jam
Jess Curtis teaches CounterPULSE’s weekly contact improv class assisted by members of the physically diverse project Under the Radar. Special attention on physical inclusivity and dancing with mobility impairments.
 
Flying with Gravity
Sat-Mon. Feb. 17 – 19,  12 - 5pm  $175*
Fun flying in a physically inclusive setting. Aerial equipment, Contact Improvisation and Contemporary Dance. How can objects and other bodies extend the limits of every body’s relation to gravity?
 
Touched by Gravity: Performance Intensive 
Mon – Fri March 26 – 30,  1-5pm  $250*
Interdisciplinary training, exploration and creation for experienced movers/ performers including contact, improvisation and accessible aerial work.  Open to people with and without disabilities who have a serious interest in working in a focused environment.
 
*Workshops require pre-registration.
CounterPULSE is wheelchair accessible.

About Jess Curtis
Over the last several years Jess Curtis has had the opportunity to lead a number of events involving the use of Contact Improvisation and Aerial Dance as teaching tools for persons with disabilities ranging from severe mobility impairments such as Cerebral Palsy, and Traumatic Spinal cord injury to Blindness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Severe Spinal Scoliosis. Mr. Curtis has developed physical and  pedagogical models that are both inclusive for those with mobility impairments and expressive of the unique movement potential of each individual.

The use of performance based techniques such as aerial equipment (harnesses, fabric loops, ropes, trapeze etc.) and contact improvisation techniques allows for persons with a wide variety of physicalities to alter and extend their range of mobility.
 
”It’s very enjoyable.  For some moments, we forget to be disabled. We are more free.”
Valérie – participant in a recent Gravity-led aerial workshop for the mobility impaired in Cachan, France.

PERFORMANCES/EVENTS
Symposium on Dance and Disability
Sun., March 4, 2-8pm
$10 for the afternoon or evening, $15 for the entire day
CounterPULSE, Jess Curtis/Gravity, AXIS Dance Company, the Arts and Disability Network, and the CSUEB Dance for All Bodies and Abilities program present a symposium on dance and disability.

Short Film Screenings 3-5pm featuring films by Kaz Langley, Victoria Marks, John Killacky and many more. Followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.
 
Preview Performance and Panel Discussion 6pm includes a sneak peak of Under the Radar by Jess Curtis/Gravity, a new work by Eric Kupers with Neil Marcus, video of AXIS ; and a lively conversation with members of Jess Curtis/Gravity, Judith Smith of AXIS, Kari Pope, John Killacky, and Eric Kupers.
 
US Premiere Under the Radar
Wed – Sun. March 14 – April 1  8pm
Jess Curtis/Gravity presents a new work dealing with issues of virtuosity, ability, and disability with an international cast of disabled and non-disabled performers.
 
….In a tiny cabaret called the Lost and Found on the outskirts of everywhere an odd group of characters drag themselves in out of the cold. From the stage, normality flies over the band and out the window, while the denizens of the dingy bar risk revealing themselves to each other.

Directed by Jess Curtis. Created and performed by Ulrike Bodammer, Claire Cunningham, Jess Curtis, Kaz Langley, Jörg Müller, Maria Francesca Scaroni, Matthias Herrmann.  Res/Info: 415-435-7552 or info@counterpulse.or
--
Jessica Robinson
Executive Director
CounterPULSE
1310 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone- 415.626.2060
Fax- 415.626.1643
jessica@counterpulse.org
Www.counterpulse.org