Student Blog Post: Jacob

 Hi. My name is Jacob. I'm a College Steps student at SVC, and I'd like to share my passion for making stories. As far as stories go, I prefer to tell them with an application I use called RPG Maker. As the name implies, it is software that allows one to create their very own video game in Role Playing Game fashion. The three games I am currently working on are titled Chronicles of the Dream, The Daemon War, and The Fall of the Executors.

Chronicles of the Dream is a game featuring a demon named Illikas Marshall Rager, a human with the power to control dreams, named Moxo Holly Guinevere, and a genocidal, cannibalistic villain named Terrance Geraldo as the main characters and villain, in that order. Below are a few screenshots of this game:

The Daemon War is another game featuring too many characters to include here, but the prime main character is named Command Sergeant Major Zin Quetzal. This game takes place in the year 2710, during a war that has lasted 200 years thus far, and takes place after the events of Chronicles of the Dream. Included below are some more screenshots of this game.

Upcoming Information Session for RCC

ROCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE is a two-year college in the State University of New York system, located in Rockland County, New York. Established in 1959, RCC is a part of the SUNY system. RCC offers 51 programs and offers both associate degrees and certificates. Additionally, students can earn other degrees, including Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in the arts and sciences. The current enrollment is about 7,500 full and part-time students. RCC is a 2017 recipient of the Aspen Institute's Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Shining Light on Women with Asperger/Autism Profiles

Please see information below on a conference (with live stream broadcast option) AANE is co-hosting focused on Women with Asperger/Autism profiles this Friday March 3rd at Newton Wellesley Hospital in the Bowles Conference Center from 8:30-4:30.  

For more information & registration details, please use the following link: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07edp0daoqb97682d5&llr=b54cxzaab&showPage=true 

Conference Schedule

 8:30 AM–  9:00 AM

Registration

 9:00 AM–10:00 AM

William Mandy, DClinPsy Ph.D.

Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum: Misdiagnosis and the Female Autism Phenotype

10:00 AM–10:15 AM

Personal Accounts, 2 stories

10:15 AM–10:30 AM

Break

10:30 AM–12:00 PM

Sarah Hendrickx, MA

Autism in Girls and Women: Developing Social and Personal Relationships

12:00 PM– 1:00 PM

Lunch

  1:00 PM– 2:30 PM

Liane Holliday Willey, Ed.D.

Vulnerabilities and Support for Women with ASD

  2:30 PM– 2:45 PM

Personal Accounts, 2 stories

  2:45 PM– 3:00 PM

Break

  3:00 PM– 4:00 PM

Erika Drezner, MSW, LCSW

Mother-Daughter Relationships:

Strategies for positive growth

  4:00 PM– 4:15 PM

Personal Accounts, 2 stories

Hear Real Stories from Our Community

Preselected members of our community will read their first-person accounts. Topics include friendship, gender, late-life diagnosis, marriage, relationships, school, sensory, and work experiences. All attendees will receive a booklet of the first-person stories featured at the conference.  

Please contact AANE directly with questions regarding this conference

Vermont Receives International Award at United Nations Conference in Vienna

VERMONT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL ZERO PROJECT AWARD AT UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE IN VIENNA

FEB. 24, 2017, 1:18 PM BY PRESS RELEASE 0 COMMENTS

News Release — Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living
February 24, 2017

Media Contact:
Jennie Masterson
Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living/DDSD
Jennie.Masterson@vermont.gov
802-786-2571
Award Recognizes Program Innovation in Supported Employment Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

WATERBURY, VT – On February 23, 2017, the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) and its partner agencies were recognized by the Zero Project at its 2017 conference held at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. Vermont received the “Innovative Policy 2017 on Employment, Work, and Vocational Education” award for its Supported Employment Program for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. This award recognizes countries, governments, and organizations that incorporate innovative practices into their human services through sustained policies.

The Vermont Chapter of Association of People Supporting Employment First (VTAPSE) and the University of Vermont financed the travel cost for a delegation consisting of Bryan Dague, Research Associate at University of Vermont; Elizabeth Sightler, Executive Director at Champlain Community Services; and Lisa Culbertson, Employment Director at Upper Valley Services, to attend the conference and receive the award on behalf of DAIL and their supported employment colleagues. The delegation presented “Vermont Supported Employment Program of 1983 Innovation” to more than 500 participants from 70 different countries.

The positive impact to individuals, the scalability of its model, and the ability to sustain and enhance employment services are factors that led to the prestigious award. The path to receiving the 2017 Zero Project award began in 1983 when DAIL, partner agencies, and UVM launched a system change initiative to move people from segregated work and substandard wages into the typical workforce and jobs at prevailing rates. Job site supports for employees and employers addressing the needs of both allowed workers with significant challenges to be successful alongside their coworkers.

Today, about 1,260 Vermonters with developmental disabilities are working. Vermont’s employment rate for individuals who receive developmental disabilities services is 48 percent, as compared to the national average of 35 percent. DAIL’s employment program is known beyond Vermont for well-implemented employment practices and policies. Many states and countries come to Vermont to learn about the principles that guided the establishment of Vermont’s Supported Employment Program: employment, decent work, and meaningful vocational education and training of persons with disabilities.

College Steps Student Participates in Local Youth Summit

By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney, mmcgeeney@benningtonbanner.com

BENNINGTON — Students at Mount Anthony Union High School still entered the building early Thursday morning, even though school wasn't in session

Roughly 50 youth attended mini-mental health breaks and "Healthy State of Mind" workshops at the third annual Youth Summit sponsored by Teens4Change and United Counseling Service. 

The wellness theme carried throughout the day-long series which commenced after alum and keynote speaker Aaron Styles shared his experiences about overcoming bullying in high school and how he founded the first LGBTQ group at MAUHS. 

Styles graduated in 2007 and held a question and answer mini-mental health session for about seven students. He first asked how many had been bullied and how many had been the bully.

"When someone is picking on someone else, a lot of times it's not necessarily because of you, a lot of times it has to do with what's going on with their own energy, in their own body," he said. "People are bullying others to try to make themselves feel better. Anytime you are getting bullied, just remember that that's their energy." 

Students said they were bullied for their size, sexual identity and physical appearance. 

"If we're different, if you're short, or if you have a different personality, there's a lot of different ways [to get bullied]," 19-year-old Adelbert Capen said. "People can think of you as a target." 

"I feel like once you get to college, everyone matures a little bit and everyone treats each other a little bit differently," Styles said. "After graduation everyone's energy balances out a little bit. As we get older we learn how to deal with it a little differently."

Styles used to live in Bennington but has since moved to the Capital District in New York. His experience with public speaking specifically involves HIV reachout. He said a few participants reached out to him after his speech to ask about how he maneuvered through life emotionally. 

Participants warmed up for the day's activities with a zumba workout instructed by Andrea Malinowski, owner of Optionz Health and Fitness. In the cafeteria, local organizations were stationed at tables including the Bennington Oral Health Coalition, Bennington Rescue Squad, the Center for Restorative Justice and more.

A few workshops have returned from previous years: zen garden/mindfulness jars, suicide prevention and meaningful menagerie.

Participants took a few minutes to meditate before decorating a puzzle piece cut out of thick poster board during a meaningful menagerie workshop. Each piece was cut differently to be put back together at the end of the day to form a larger illustration.

"No matter what happened before they walked in the door, it's just about getting them to be in the present moment," workshop facilitator Lindsey Woodie said. "Before you hand them [the paint materials] hopefully that's where they're at."

Woodie said 21 pieces were cut out of a large square in three panels. 

"It's nice to have an individual piece but we wanted to do a bigger work of art," she said.

Sophomore Jazmin Baskin decided to paint a sun on the corner of her obscure puzzle piece without planning what else would go into the illustration. Woodie said at least three other materials must be included on the puzzle piece — feathers, magazine cutouts, pipe cleaners, etc. 

"I'm not good at painting but it relaxes me," Baskin said. 

She said she liked the transition into the task part of the workshop by meditating first. 

Reach staff writer Makayla-Courtney McGeeney at 802-490-6471 or @MC_McGeeney.

By Makayla-Courtney McGeeney, mmcgeeney@benningtonbanner.com

BENNINGTON — Students at Mount Anthony Union High School still entered the building early Thursday morning, even though school wasn't in session

Roughly 50 youth attended mini-mental health breaks and "Healthy State of Mind" workshops at the third annual Youth Summit sponsored by Teens4Change and United Counseling Service. 

The wellness theme carried throughout the day-long series which commenced after alum and keynote speaker Aaron Styles shared his experiences about overcoming bullying in high school and how he founded the first LGBTQ group at MAUHS. 

Styles graduated in 2007 and held a question and answer mini-mental health session for about seven students. He first asked how many had been bullied and how many had been the bully.

"When someone is picking on someone else, a lot of times it's not necessarily because of you, a lot of times it has to do with what's going on with their own energy, in their own body," he said. "People are bullying others to try to make themselves feel better. Anytime you are getting bullied, just remember that that's their energy." 

Students said they were bullied for their size, sexual identity and physical appearance. 

"If we're different, if you're short, or if you have a different personality, there's a lot of different ways [to get bullied]," 19-year-old Adelbert Capen said. "People can think of you as a target." 

"I feel like once you get to college, everyone matures a little bit and everyone treats each other a little bit differently," Styles said. "After graduation everyone's energy balances out a little bit. As we get older we learn how to deal with it a little differently."

Styles used to live in Bennington but has since moved to the Capital District in New York. His experience with public speaking specifically involves HIV reachout. He said a few participants reached out to him after his speech to ask about how he maneuvered through life emotionally. 

Participants warmed up for the day's activities with a zumba workout instructed by Andrea Malinowski, owner of Optionz Health and Fitness. In the cafeteria, local organizations were stationed at tables including the Bennington Oral Health Coalition, Bennington Rescue Squad, the Center for Restorative Justice and more.

A few workshops have returned from previous years: zen garden/mindfulness jars, suicide prevention and meaningful menagerie.

Participants took a few minutes to meditate before decorating a puzzle piece cut out of thick poster board during a meaningful menagerie workshop. Each piece was cut differently to be put back together at the end of the day to form a larger illustration.

"No matter what happened before they walked in the door, it's just about getting them to be in the present moment," workshop facilitator Lindsey Woodie said. "Before you hand them [the paint materials] hopefully that's where they're at."

Woodie said 21 pieces were cut out of a large square in three panels. 

"It's nice to have an individual piece but we wanted to do a bigger work of art," she said.

Sophomore Jazmin Baskin decided to paint a sun on the corner of her obscure puzzle piece without planning what else would go into the illustration. Woodie said at least three other materials must be included on the puzzle piece — feathers, magazine cutouts, pipe cleaners, etc. 

"I'm not good at painting but it relaxes me," Baskin said. 

She said she liked the transition into the task part of the workshop by meditating first. 

Reach staff writer Makayla-Courtney McGeeney at 802-490-6471 or @MC_McGeeney.

Virtual Career Fair: Employment for People with Disabilities

A good opportunity for a lot students looking to network, job hunt, etc that may have difficulty with the "in-person" experience.

Who is invited? 

• Students & Alumni Invited (Undergrad & Graduate Talent) - 1,500+ candidates in prior events
• Candidates seeking Full-time, Intern, & Co-op jobs
• Recruit graduate and undergraduate talent

College Steps at NCC Student 2-Dimensional Design Course Projects

College Steps students pictured here: Sean Cunningham with his "Self-Portrait" project.

And

Chris Potter with one of his repeating pattern projects hanging up in the hallways of NCC!

As a high-technology training center and learning institution from which students can either enter the workforce or proceed to four-year colleges, NCC possesses an outstanding physical plant and modern, up-to-date facilities. We believe in providing students with hands-on experience in a variety of real-world settings, all of which have been faithfully replicated at the College. From computer labs to electrical engineering laboratories, fine arts and graphic design studios to television studios, culinary arts kitchens to hospitality suites, NCC has the latest and most modern class environments in which to learn.

Come see for yourself. Norwalk Community College keeps track of the latest changes in the businesses and industries for which our facilities prepare students. But that does not mean that we have ignored more traditional disciplines. We also use the latest technology and teaching aids to assist students' understanding of English, History, Mathematics and the Sciences. Listed below are the facilities available at NCC.

Destination: Washington DC

A College Steps student at AIC is making plans to go with a mentor on this exciting trip!  The trip is sponsored by the AIC POWER organization and the trip will be taking place President's Day weekend.  Departing Saturday, they will head down to DC and check into their hotel and have some free time in the evening after a brief check in with the advisors.  The following day will be filled with visiting museums of choice and anything else they want to visit that day.  After dinner, the group will then go on a DC Ghost Tour.  Monday will be split between a short visit in the city, followed by stopping in Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell on their way back to campus.

You Are the Giants: Assuming Your Place in the Human Rights Movement

Professor Yohuru Williams of Fairfield University spoke at American International College during Black History Month. Members of AIC's photojournalism club, @AicNppa, documented the event.

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of History at Fairfield University came to AIC to speak about the human rights movement, both past, present and future.  Because it is Black History Month, he mostly focused on that movement.  All of the College Steps students at AIC and many mentors attended along with countless professors, staff, administration, and other AIC students.

Winter Thaw Event at AIC

One student and one mentor went together to this event with 20 other AIC students.  They went to the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, MA.  There, they were able to view numerous exotic insects, lizards, and amphibians from around the world.  The main attraction was the butterfly exhibit.  There are paths to walk around the rain forest habitat to view plants and flowers from around the world all while butterflies are free to fly around at will.  Afterwards, the students went to Yankee Candle for some shopping and lunch at their restaurant.