2017
Spring 2017
In This Issue
- Adapting Activities: Ensuring a great summer camp experience for Scouts with special needs.
- Awareness Events: The disabilities Awareness Challenge at the 2017 National Jamboree, and the Philmont 2017 conference on growing your Scouts with disabilities membership and resources.
- Enhancing Awareness:Hints on establishing a council disabilities awareness committee, an inspiring reading to use in adult leader training.
- Adapting Advancement: Guidelines for adapting the new Cub Scout requirements, standards and procedures for extending work on Eagle Scout requirements past age 18.
- Recognizing Abilities:The Special Needs Scouting Service Award square knot is now available.
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned for Future Issues
- Helpful Links: Accessing disabilities awareness materials
2016
Fall 2016
In This Issue
- Enhancing Awareness: Sign up for the 2017 National Scout Jamboree and visit the disabilities Awareness Challenge; report from the summer training session at Philmont; interpreting services using augmentative communications devices.
- Upcoming Event: Training conference at Florida Sea Base.
- Recognizing Abilities: It’s almost the end of the year: Be sure to nominate council volunteers for the Torch of Gold and/or the Woods Services awards.
Summer 2016
In This Issue
- Membership and Inclusion: STEM Scouts offer new opportunities for youth with special needs.
- Upcoming Events: Save the date for the conference at Seabase next January, seeking staff for disabilities Awareness Challenge at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree.
- Leadership Abilities: Arranging a “joining conference” with parents of new Scouts.
- Enhancing Awareness: Visit our Facebook page and “like” its new look, augmentative communications devices and telecommunications relay services, simulating sensory loss in a disabilities Awareness Challenge.
- Recognizing Abilities: Announcing the Special Needs Scouting Service Award and the requirements for earning it.
- Adapting Advancement: Tips for Scout parents and adult leaders when youth have ADHD.
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned for Future Issues
Spring 2016
In This Issue
- Enhancing Awareness: Scouting provides structure and focus for ADHD youth; points to remember as summer camp time approaches; augmentative communications devices for persons with hearing or speech disabilities
- Recognizing Abilities: Jim Africano receives the 2016 Woods Services Award
- Adapting Advancement: Changes to the Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge; Mentoring Eagle Candidates Who Have Special Needs
- Professional Corner: Make the Commitment to Attend Philmont This Summer!
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned for Future Issues
- Helpful Links: Accessing disabilities awareness materials
Winter 2016
In This Issue
- Upcoming Events: Disabilities Awareness Staff Opportunities at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree; Philmont Training This Summer: Serving More Scouts With Disabilities
- Abilities Training: Three new disabilities awareness training presentations are now available on www.scouting.org; Inclusion: The Key to Disabilities Awareness; Camping Considerations for Scouts With Disabilities; Program & Planning Strategies for Working With Scouts With Disabilities
- Enhancing Awareness: Disability etiquette and other thoughts on person-first language; national survey on disabilities in adults
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned for Future Issues
- Helpful Links: Accessing disabilities awareness materials
2015
Fall 2015
In This Issue
- The New Chief Scout Executive: Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh’s Vision for Scouts with Disabilities
- Recognizing Abilities: Remember the Torch of Gold Award; Woods Services Award Nominations Deadline Fast Approaching
- Enhancing Awareness: Remembering Yogi Berra’s Dedication to Scouts with Disabilities
- Adapting Advancement: Registering a Scout As Disabled or Having Special Needs
- Abilities Training: The Disabilities Aware-ness Conference at Philmont
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned for Future Issues
- Helpful Links: Accessing Disabilities Awareness Materials
Summer 2015
In This Issue
- From the Chief Scout Executive: Meet the Buddy Troop
- Enhancing Awareness: New Cub Scout Program Includes Disabilities-Focused Adventures
- In the News: Karen Jones Honored with the 2015 Woods Services Award; How Many Scouts and Scouters Served Have a Disability?
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned For Next Issue
- Recognizing Abilities: Archer Hadley Addresses National Employees
- Helpful Links: Accessing Disabilities Awareness Materials
Spring 2015
In This Issue
- Enabling Units: A Scout with Autism—Where to Start; Essential Resources for Autism and Scouting; Preparing for Summer Camp
- Enhancing Awareness: Handouts Supporting the New “Essentials” Presentation; Teaching Autism Acceptance
- Council Abilities: Commissioner Training for Disabilities Awareness; Council Produces Video on Scouts with Neurobiological Diagnoses
- Professional’s Corner: Organizing New Scouts with Disabilities Units—Initial Visit
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned For Next Issue
- Helpful Links: Accessing Disabilities Awareness Materials
Winter 2015
In This Issue
- Abilities Training Opportunities: Special Invitation from the National Disabilities Awareness Committee; New Advancement Educational Presentation Gains Traction; New Disabilities Awareness Educational Presentation on the Horizon
- Enhancing Awareness: Local Councils Promote Inclusion and Awareness on Youtube®; Disabilities Awareness Now on Facebook and Twitter
- Adapting Advancement: Using the New Request for Registration Beyond the Age of Eligibility; Individual Scout Advancement Plan—More Than Just a Form; Creativity—The Key to Alternative Requirements
- Your Feedback is Important: Random Sample Survey Coming Soon
- A Peak Ahead: Topics Planned For Next Issue
- Helpful Links: Accessing Disabilities Awareness Materials
2014
Fall 2014
In This Issue
- Abilities Training Opportunities: Florida Sea Base: Conference on Education for Advancement Administrators; Philmont Training Center: Disabilities Awareness–Building Council and District Resources; Northern Tier Welcomes Scouts with Disabilities; New Educational Presentation for Serving Scouts with Special Needs
- Council Abilities: Addressing Your Questions and Concerns
- Enhancing Awareness: Communicating in Person-First Language Matters; Supporting Scouts with Disabilities through Social Media
- Recognizing Abilities: Torch of Gold Award; Woods Services Award
- A Peek Ahead: Topics Planned For Next Issue
- Adapting Advancement: Merit Badges and Scouts with Disabilities; Advancement Planning Resources Now Online
- Helpful Links: Accessing Disabilities Awareness Materials and Websites
Summer 2014
In This Issue
- From the Committee: Welcome to the First Issue of Disabilities Digest!
- Council Abilities: What Can Councils Do to Help Scouting for Those with Disabilities?; Measuring a Council’s Special Needs Program
- Creating Awareness: Simulating Sightlessness; The Cane Maze
- Adapting Advancement: Registration Beyond the Age of Eligibility; A Resource for Advancement Planning
- In The News: Sonya Whitehead Honored with the Woods Services Award
- Helpful Links: Accessing Disabilities Awareness Materials