Abilities Digest Archives

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