Assistive Technology

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• Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH)

  The Institute on Disability is funded to implement the New Hampshire State Assistive Technology Act Program. The program has two major activity areas:

  1. Training, Education and Outreach: AT Trainings, Classes, and Workshops and AT Policy
  2. Assistive Technology Services: Equipment Demonstrations, Loans and Refurbishing/Recycling

  ATinNH partners with organizations throughout the state to offer these services. 

  more info...

• AT Connects

  AT Connects aims to provide access to resources and information about assistive technology and its uses and to act as a gateway to the AT Act funded projects and programs in all states and territories. AT Connects. Sharing Information. Building Community.

  more info...

• Facilitated Communication (FC) Skill Builders

  With the support of Pascal Cheng from the Howard Center in Vermont, individuals who express themselves through Facilitated Communication (FC) get together to learn new skills, make new friends, see old friends, and stay in touch with the latest FC technology to support their expression.

  more info...

• getATstuff

  In a nationally unique collaborative effort, the six New England State AT Act programs have developed the New England Assistive Technology Exchange, a regional assistive technology classifieds website at www.getATstuff.org. The site permits individuals looking for AT to search for used equipment form throughout the region. The site is jointly funded and operated by the six New England state AT Act Programs and contains listings from New England and adjoining states.

• NH AAC Initiative

  The NH Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Initiative provides free professional development to all New Hampshire school districts (K-12) for students who benefit from other ways to communicate besides speech.

  more info...

Autism

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• Facilitated Communication (FC) Skill Builders

  With the support of Pascal Cheng from the Howard Center in Vermont, individuals who express themselves through Facilitated Communication (FC) get together to learn new skills, make new friends, see old friends, and stay in touch with the latest FC technology to support their expression.

  more info...

• Family-Centered Transition Planning

  Family-Centered Transition Planning (Sustainable Implementation) aims to improve high school transition, employment, post secondary education and community participation for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

  more info...

• Seacoast Child Development Clinic

  The Seacoast Child Development Clinic provides family-centered and culturally sensitive interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation to assist families of children who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs.

  more info...

• StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics

  StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics aims to improve knowledge about and access to existing data, and generate the knowledge needed to improve future disability data collection and dissemination. It is our goal to foster evidence-based decision making by people with disabilities and their families, advocates, policymakers, program administrators, service providers, and researchers by making data widely available and accessible.

  more info...

Community Living

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• Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL)

  Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL)
  The Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) is a collaboration between The Institute on Disability (IOD) and The Institute on Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at The University of New Hampshire (UNH). These two institutes have been actively engaged in projects related to aging and long term care for many years. Jointly, the IOD and IHPP provide ongoing support to the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, the ServiceLink Resource Center Network, and various other partners in the Aging Network, in designing, implementing, and evaluating systems change initiatives.

  more info...

• DirectConnect

  DirectConnect will address the growing direct care workforce shortage in New Hampshire by providing recruitment, training and retention opportunities aimed at creating a sustainable workforce.  These opportunities include college degree and certificate programs, nationally recognized training from Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, the College of Direct Support and more.
  more info...

• Employment and Asset Development Resource Network (EARN)

  The Employment and Asset Development Resource Network (EARN) is designed to provide high quality information and resources to individuals with disabilities, professionals, and family members that result in improvements in gainful community employment opportunities and financial well-being of persons with disabilities.

  more info...

• Employment Consultant Training

  This three-year project is developing online instructional modules to teach direct service employment staff to facilitate social inclusion and natural supports for employees with disabilities in the workplace.  Evaluation of the impact of training is taking place in two stages across 5 states before the final revised training module will be made available to community rehabilitation programs nationwide.

  more info...

• EPM-RRTC: Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center

  EPM-RRTC: The Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (a) investigates the impact of government policies and programs on employment, with particular attention to the effects of program interactions, (b) examines new ways of measuring employment outcomes, and (c) facilitates the translation of research findings into policymaking and program administration.

  more info...

• Family-Centered Transition Planning

  Family-Centered Transition Planning (Sustainable Implementation) aims to improve high school transition, employment, post secondary education and community participation for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

  more info...

• IC-RRTC: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Individual-Level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities

  IC-RRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Individual-Level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities is generating new knowledge about the role of individual characteristics on employment outcomes. Despite the ADA and advances in medicine and technology, people with disabilities, as a group, have become economically less self-sufficient over the last few decades. For people with disabilities, employment rates have declined, reliance on public benefits has increased, and household incomes have fallen further behind those of other households. In addition, there are substantial disparities in employment outcomes within the population with disabilities. The IC-RRTC will work toward improving strategies and interventions designed to foster better employment outcomes for the various subpopulations of people with disabilities.

  more info...

• NH Children's Mental Health Competencies

  The New Hampshire Children's Mental Health Competencies project is designed to assist New Hampshire’s community mental health center children’s directors, family organizations, and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a set of core competencies for direct service staffs in the children’s programs.

  more info...

• NH Leadership Series

  The New Hampshire Leadership Series is a seven-month training session for adults with disabilities, parents or family members of children with disabilities, and LEND Trainees. It is based on the national Partners in Policymaking model. The Series is funded by the NH Department of Education, NH Developmental Disabilities Council, NH Bureau of Developmental Services, NH Area Agencies, many public and private foundations statewide, as well as the Friends of Leadership fundraising events, and donations from NH Leadership graduates. Through the courses, leaders emerge who have a clear vision, knowledge about state-of-the-art supports for individuals with disabilities, and skills necessary for advocating with service providers. They know how to use the legislative process to achieve change, and how to organize communities to support inclusion. The Leadership Series enhances the ability of people and families to change laws, persuade schools and businesses to include individuals with disabilities, and educate communities about the importance of welcoming and including every member.

  more info...

• New Hampshire Public Mental Health Consumer Survey

  In fall of 2007 the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Behavioral Health contracted with the Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire to conduct the New Hampshire Public Mental Health Consumer Survey Project. The project, now wrapping up its second year of survey work, is part of a federally mandated annual survey of the nation’s Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC). With support by the project’s advisory board, the IOD and the UNH Survey Center conducted and analyzed findings for a consumer satisfaction survey of adults, youth, and family members of youth receiving services from New Hampshire’s 10 community mental health centers. Individuals were asked for feedback in a number of areas, including: general satisfaction with services, access to services, participation in treatment, quality of treatment received, cultural sensitivity, and outcomes.

  more info...

• RENEW

  RENEW is a structured school-to-career transition planning and individualized wraparound process for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges. Developed in 1996 by staff at the Institute on Disability (IOD), RENEW is being provided by schools, community mental health centers, community-based providers, and IOD staff members to youth. The model focuses on supporting each youth to design and pursue a plan for the transition from school to adult life. RENEW has substantially increased the high school completion, employment, and post-secondary education participation rates among our most vulnerable youth.

  more info...

• RRTC-CL: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living

  The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living (RRTC-CL) develops evidence-based programs, policies and practices that further community living and participation among people with disabilities. The goal of the RRTC-CL is to increase the interdependence and full community participation of people with disabilities through the development and implementation of scientifically sound, theoretically driven and evidence-based interventions.

  more info...

• The Center for START Services

  The Center for START (Systematic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Respite, and Treatment) Services provides consultation and training in crisis Prevention, management, and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities and behavioral Health needs. The mission of the Center for START Services is to enhance local capacity and provide collaborative, cost-effective support to individuals and their families through exemplary clinical services, education and training, with close attention to service outcomes. The START program model, which was first developed in 1988, presents a least restrictive model of care/support that offers provision of multi-modal clinical assessment and support, training and empowerment for families and caregivers including effective behavior management and therapeutic tools, a residential therapeutic respite facility, and optimal utilization of existing resources.

  more info...

• StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics

  StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics aims to improve knowledge about and access to existing data, and generate the knowledge needed to improve future disability data collection and dissemination. It is our goal to foster evidence-based decision making by people with disabilities and their families, advocates, policymakers, program administrators, service providers, and researchers by making data widely available and accessible.

  more info...

Health & Genetics

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• Disability & Public Health

  The New Hampshire Disability & Public Health project aims to promote and maximize health, prevent chronic disease, and improve emergency preparedness in order to increase the quality of life among people with disabilities.

  more info...

• Health Disparities Project

  The Health Disparities Project will use systematic scoping reviews and structural equation modeling of secondary data to develop a greater understanding of how health disparities differ between different disability groups and will develop policy and programmatic recommendations based on these results.
  
  more info...

• Health Disparities & Intellectual Disability

  Current research suggests that people with intellectual disabilities experience poorer health and that current public health and health care systems do not adequately monitor or address their needs. Health Disparities & Intellectual Disability expands upon current research by examining the factors associated with these disparities, in order to inform future changes to health policies, programs, and practices.

  more info...

• IC-RRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Individual-Level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities

  IC-RRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Individual-Level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities is generating new knowledge about the role of individual characteristics on employment outcomes. Despite the ADA and advances in medicine and technology, people with disabilities, as a group, have become economically less self-sufficient over the last few decades. For people with disabilities, employment rates have declined, reliance on public benefits has increased, and household incomes have fallen further behind those of other households. In addition, there are substantial disparities in employment outcomes within the population with disabilities. The IC-RRTC will work toward improving strategies and interventions designed to foster better employment outcomes for the various subpopulations of people with disabilities.

  more info...

• New England CCHD Newborn Screening Project

  The purpose of the New England CCHD Newborn Screening Project is to expand existing infrastructure among public health departments and birthing facilities to develop processes for Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) screening that set the stage for improved health outcomes for newborns. A multi-disciplinary team will share resources and expertise to develop screening protocols, educational materials and programs, and perform program evaluation.

  more info...

• New England Genetics Collaborative (NEGC)

  The New England Regional Genetics and Newborn Screening Collaborative (NEGC) cooperative agreement, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in June, will address the needs of individuals, agencies, and health care providers who interact with and treat individuals with genetic disorders and their families. The $4 million cooperative agreement, to be received over five years, will provide technical assistance, accessible information, educational opportunities, and other support for public health officials, consumers, advocates, primary and specialty health care providers, and other agencies and individuals who serve as formal and informal supports to those with genetic disorders throughout the New England region.

  more info...

• NH LEND

  The NH Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH LEND) is a collaboration between the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. NH LEND has provided graduate level interdisciplinary training in maternal and child health/developmental disabilities for students and professionals at UNH since 1993. In 2011, NH LEND began a partnership with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies/UCED at the University of Maine to serve an area that is not currently served by a LEND training program. Through this partnership, NH LEND assists in developing infrastructure and addressing regional needs, particularly in rural underserved regions of Maine. The purpose of NH LEND is to improve the health of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by preparing leaders to enter the field of maternal and child health. Trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines engage in 300 hours of training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families.

  more info...

• RRTC-CL: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living

  The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living (RRTC-CL) develops evidence-based programs, policies and practices that further community living and participation among people with disabilities. The goal of the RRTC-CL is to increase the interdependence and full community participation of people with disabilities through the development and implementation of scientifically sound, theoretically driven and evidence-based interventions.

  more info...

• Seacoast Child Development Clinic

  The Seacoast Child Development Clinic provides family-centered and culturally sensitive interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation to assist families of children who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs.

  more info...

• Center for START Services

  The Center for START (Systematic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Respite, and Treatment) Services provides consultation and training in crisis Prevention, management, and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities and behavioral Health needs. The mission of the Center for START Services is to enhance local capacity and provide collaborative, cost-effective support to individuals and their families through exemplary clinical services, education and training, with close attention to service outcomes. The START program model, which was first developed in 1988, presents a least restrictive model of care/support that offers provision of multi-modal clinical assessment and support, training and empowerment for families and caregivers including effective behavior management and therapeutic tools, a residential therapeutic respite facility, and optimal utilization of existing resources.

  more info...

• StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics

  StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics aims to improve knowledge about and access to existing data, and generate the knowledge needed to improve future disability data collection and dissemination. It is our goal to foster evidence-based decision making by people with disabilities and their families, advocates, policymakers, program administrators, service providers, and researchers by making data widely available and accessible.

  more info...

Inclusive Education

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• Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence

  Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) is a collaborative dropout prevention initiative of the Institute on Disability and the New Hampshire Department of Education, including 6 high schools that receive technical training and support to build positive behavior support and intensive school-to-career services for youth who are at risk of dropping our of high school. Collaborators include the NH Center on Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports (NH CEBIS), the NH Parent Information Center, and Strafford Learning Center. The project also includes statewide training and support in secondary transition best practices and a Summer Institute for high school teams.

  more info...

• I Am Norm

  I Am Norm is an initiative designed by young people to promote the acceptance, respect, and full inclusion of youth with disabilities in schools and communities. Their work is driven by a Youth Inclusion Taskforce and supported by a coalition of youth-serving partner organizations.

  more info...

• Including Samuel

  Dan Habib's award-winning documentary film Including Samuel examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. The film is built on the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel, 10, in all facets of their lives, a journey that transforms each of them. Including Samuel also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with teachers, parents, students, and disability rights experts.

  For more information:

  IOD Project Website

  Including Samuel Website

• National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC)

  The National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) is developing a multi‐state comprehensive assessment system for students with significant cognitive disabilities. UNH IOD is partnering with NCSC to assist with the professional development component, including short films highlighting the importance of communication for students with significant disabilities.

  more info...

• NH AAC Initiative

  The NH Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Initiative provides free professional development to all New Hampshire school districts (K-12) for students who benefit from other ways to communicate besides speech.

  more info...

• NH Children's Mental Health Competencies

  The New Hampshire Children's Mental Health Competencies project is designed to assist New Hampshire’s community mental health center children’s directors, family organizations, and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a set of core competencies for direct service staffs in the children’s programs.

  more info...

• NH Leadership Series

  The New Hampshire Leadership Series is a seven-month training session for adults with disabilities, parents or family members of children with disabilities, and LEND Trainees. It is based on the national Partners in Policymaking model. The Series is funded by the NH Department of Education, NH Developmental Disabilities Council, NH Bureau of Developmental Services, NH Area Agencies, many public and private foundations statewide, as well as the Friends of Leadership fundraising events, and donations from NH Leadership graduates. Through the courses, leaders emerge who have a clear vision, knowledge about state-of-the-art supports for individuals with disabilities, and skills necessary for advocating with service providers. They know how to use the legislative process to achieve change, and how to organize communities to support inclusion. The Leadership Series enhances the ability of people and families to change laws, persuade schools and businesses to include individuals with disabilities, and educate communities about the importance of welcoming and including every member.

  more info...

• RENEW

  RENEW is a structured school-to-career transition planning and individualized wraparound process for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges. Developed in 1996 by staff at the Institute on Disability (IOD), RENEW is being provided by schools, community mental health centers, community-based providers, and IOD staff members to youth. The model focuses on supporting each youth to design and pursue a plan for the transition from school to adult life. RENEW has substantially increased the high school completion, employment, and post-secondary education participation rates among our most vulnerable youth.

  more info...

• StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics

  StatsRRTC: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics aims to improve knowledge about and access to existing data, and generate the knowledge needed to improve future disability data collection and dissemination. It is our goal to foster evidence-based decision making by people with disabilities and their families, advocates, policymakers, program administrators, service providers, and researchers by making data widely available and accessible.

  more info...

• SWIFT

  The Schoolwide Integrated Framework for Transformation (SWIFT) Center will offer school, states and districts the ability to build capacity to scale up and sustain new practices for schoolwide inclusive reform in urban, rural and high-need schools in grades K-8 for students with disabilities. The SWIFT Center will focus on improving the knowledge and skills of classroom educators to implement inclusive schoolwide reform; increase the capacity of schools to implement fully inclusive reform in academic, extracurricular, and school-based settings; and increase family and community engagement in schoolwide reform. 

  more info...

• Who Cares About Kelsey?

  How can students with complex emotional/behavioral challenges be successfully included in regular education classes? The documentary film Who Cares About Kelsey? will explore the multifaceted answer to this question and the role PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) plays in improving academic outcomes and school climate for all students.

  more info...