TPI Partners with OC Groups Toward a Brighter Future for People with Disabilities
Throughout California, the employment rate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) remains alarmingly low at 14.2%, when compared to the general population rate at 76.5% (Department of Developmental Services, 2016). The Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI), in partnership with many service providers, agencies, K-12 and post-secondary education institutions, developed the Orange County
Thompson Policy Institute on Disability Adds Another Leader in Equity and Inclusion to the Team
Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kevin Stockbridge has joined the team as the CalEPIC Project Manager. As part of the California Educator Preparation Innovation Collaborative (CalEPIC), Dr. Stockbridge will collaborate with Dr. Charlotte Achieng-Evensen, CalEPIC Senior Transformation Specialist, in supporting CalEPIC’s vision to build the capacity of California’s
The Thompson Policy Institute on Disability Welcomes New Team Members
Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI) has hired staff for three new positions. The new staff members will support TPI in establishing the California Educator Preparation Innovation Collaborative (CalEPIC) and developing the Strategic Practices for the Advancement of Inclusive Schooling (SPAIS). Through CalEPIC and SPAIS, Charlotte Achieng Evensen, Kacy Martin, and Jill Perez will work
Dr. Cathery Yeh of Chapman University and Dr. Daniel Reinholtz of San Diego State University, in collaboration with Drs. Meghan Cosier and Audri Gomez of TPI, have been awarded $14,676 to develop the Anti-Bias Developing and Researching STEM Education (ARISE) Project. The Office of Research, the Provost, and the Vice Provost for Academic Administration selected
Setting our Students up for Long-Term Success
By: Rachel Wiegand, Amy Jane Griffiths Introduction Imagine a former student with a disability arriving at her newly earned place of employment. As a member of her Transition-Focused IEP Team, you, your student, and all stakeholders collaborated extensively to ensure that her transition plan met her needs, suited her interests, and aligned to her long
Navigating the Special Education System with a Disability Studies Lens, Part 1
This blog post is the first of a three part series on navigating the special education system with a disability studies lens, written by Stephen Hinkle. Stephen is a Chapman Ph.D. student, self-advocate, international speaker, and a person on the autism spectrum. ____________________________________________________________________________ Since its beginning, the American special education system has been based on
Inclusion in Test Preparation
“Operation Varsity Blues” exposed a national cheat-your-way-to-college scam which continues to reverberate in the areas of privilege, race, ability, and equity in test preparation (Jaschick, 2019). As a professional who worked extensively in the field of college access for diverse learners, I am following these conversations with interest. Students with disabilities who need accommodations for
Just Keep Breathing!
Book Review: Growing Up Mindful: essential practices to help children, teens, and families find balance, calm, and resilience, by Christopher Willard Introduction According to the American Psychological Association’s 2014 study of stress in American life, the most stressed group in America are teenagers (Willard, 2016). Could this be due to more homework or expectations
Invisible Disability: Students with Invisible Disabilities in Higher Education
University students with hidden disabilities often confront challenges in the perceptions of their disabilities and in obtaining their education (Mullins & Preyde 2013; Olney & Brockelman, 2003). According to Olney & Brockelman, (2003) some students express feelings of disconnect with having a disability and having to confront others only enhances this feeling. Students with invisible
Becoming a Researcher
A Pilot Study not connect to The Thompson Policy Institute on Disability and Autism: Out from the halls of theacademy, a researcher is born, handed down knowledge from mentors and those who came before them, this is what is called the academictree. Now, I can trace my academic lineage from branches of a tree, that