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By Cynthia Hubert and Phillip Reese
Six months after he was discharged to a Greyhound bus and shipped out of Las Vegas, one former patient of Nevada's primary hospital for mentally ill people stabbed a man to death in Iowa.
Another former patient, responding to voices in his head, set off explosions in a grocery store and a doughnut shop in Tennessee just a month after Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas gave him a one-way ticket to Knoxville in July 2012.
Nevada bused yet another Rawson-Neal patient, a convicted child molester, to San Diego in 2011, even as he faced criminal charges in Las Vegas for failing to register as a sex offender. He also failed to register in San Diego, where he disappeared into the streets and soon became the target of a citywide manhunt.
Yet another former Rawson-Neal patient was found dead, his body floating in the American River near a homeless camp, seven months after he received a Greyhound ticket to Sacramento courtesy of the state of Nevada.
Even as Nevada's embattled state mental hospital works to revamp operations, the fallout from its aggressive busing policies continues to resonate from California to Florida. A Sacramento Bee investigation into the fates of hundreds of mentally ill men and women whom the Nevada hospital shipped out of Las Vegas via Greyhound bus in recent years has found that crime and tragedy often followed.
The Bee recently obtained Greyhound bus receipts listing the names of more than 1,000 people who, after arriving at Rawson-Neal, were issued one-way tickets to cities across the country over the past three years. More than 325 of them boarded buses to California.
A check of passenger names against criminal databases found dozens of apparent matches across the state and nation for arrests involving murder, attempted murder, assault, sex crimes, drug crimes, theft, vagrancy, vandalism and other violations in the counties to which they were shipped in the months after they arrived. Many of the crimes involved repeated offenses for minor violations often associated with homelessness.
The names of bus passengers on the list did not include dates of birth or other unique identifiers, which can help establish specific identities. Many of the names were uncommon, indicating a high probability the matches were accurate. But additional information was required to confirm that an individual passenger was the same person later arrested for a crime in the destination city. All of the former Rawson-Neal patients named in this story reflect cases in which identities could be confirmed through interviews with the individuals, their families or, in one case, media reports.
The analysis also found more than 50 matches between names of mental patients bused out of Nevada and suspects facing criminal charges in Las Vegas. In most cases, proceedings in those cases stopped cold and judges issued bench warrants for arrests of these suspects soon after the patients were bused. Without dates of birth, the matches could not be confirmed by name alone. But interviews with patients or their families confirmed that in at least some of those cases, the hospital effectively helped suspects skip town.
In recent months, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has ordered reviews of the state's mental health care system and additional funding for services. But his administration also has defended Rawson-Neal's busing practices as safe and humane. On Friday, in response to The Bee's latest findings, Sandoval said he is "appalled."
"An investigation is underway, and those responsible will be held accountable," Sandoval said through his spokeswoman, Mary-Sarah Kinner. "This type of conduct is indefensible."
Kinner said Sandoval is assembling a panel of legislators, law enforcement officials and mental health experts to investigate "mental health services throughout the state," including those provided by Rawson-Neal.
It has been nine months since The Bee first reported Rawson-Neal's unusual busing program, which sent about 1,500 mental patients to cities across the lower 48 states between July 2008 and April of this year. Patients typically were dispatched by taxi to a Las Vegas Greyhound station and put on buses, alone and sometimes heavily medicated, for journeys that in many cases spanned multiple states and several days.
Nevada health authorities revised the protocols in April, saying they no longer would bus patients across state lines without chaperones. But state officials have generally defended the decades-old program, contending the vast majority of patients were bused to their "home communities" and only after Rawson-Neal staff had contacted family at the destination and made arrangements for treatment and care.
Former patients and their families have told a different story, asserting that the hospital made no such arrangements, and in some cases shipped former patients off to cities where they had tenuous ties, or none at all. Many of those interviewed ended up on the streets, at public hospitals or in shelters, which essentially shifted the burden of their care from Nevada to their destination cities.
In some cases, the program came at broader public expense: The hospital exported not only mentally ill people and the costs of their care, but criminal conduct as well.
'I hope he's dead'
Consider Mark Hesselgrave's case.
Convicted in 1993 for strangling his wife at their home near Phoenix, Hesselgrave spent about 20 years in prison before making his way to Las Vegas earlier this year. Depressed and unable to find work, he tried to kill himself by stepping in front of a cab, he said in an interview.
That episode got him admitted to Rawson-Neal in Las Vegas Jan. 31 of this year. Hospital records from his stay show Rawson-Neal kept him about two days before putting him on a Greyhound bus back to Phoenix.
The records note that staff members did not contact anyone in Phoenix about his discharge "as the patient did not consent" for them to do so. Hesselgrave said the hospital never asked him about arrangements for treatment or housing. "They didn't even ask me for a phone number. Nobody knew I was going to Arizona," he said.
Rawson-Neal was aware Hesselgrave had been released from prison just three months before on a second-degree murder conviction, the records show. The patient "feels depressed most of the time," the records note, but "endorses no homicidal thoughts. No evidence of psychosis, although he does report occasional feelings of paranoia, especially during times when he takes drugs."
On Feb. 2, two days after he was admitted, Rawson-Neal deemed Hesselgrave fit for bus travel, the records state, and discharged him with a bus ticket, psychiatric medications for the ride and a recommendation to seek out Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Phoenix.
After a bus ride that he described as "crazy," Hesselgrave said he arrived at the Phoenix terminal with no one waiting for him. Without money or a place to live, he said, he ended up walking about 20 miles to a friend's house in the suburbs.
From Arizona, Hesselgrave migrated to North Dakota to pursue a job in the oil fields. He quickly found work. Things were going pretty well, he said, until May 12, when he stabbed his roommate repeatedly. Eddie Bergeson survived, but suffered stab wounds in his face, stomach and back, according to a police affidavit.
"I hope he's dead, I think he's dead, I'm glad he's dead," Hesselgrave said as he stood over Bergeson, according to the affidavit.
Hesselgrave remains jailed in North Dakota, awaiting trial on charges of attempted murder. Police say he planned the attack;
Hesselgrave contends they were drinking and got in a fight. He said he wonders whether things would have turned out differently had he received more treatment after his release from prison.
Rawson-Neal "didn't try to treat me or nothing," he said. "They could have kept me for 21 days. They could have ... got my depression in check."
A free ride
Joseph Ceretti is another former Rawson-Neal patient now facing a lengthy prison sentence.
Unlike Hesselgrave, Ceretti had lived on and off in Las Vegas for years, splitting time between Nevada and Des Moines, Iowa, where he had family. He had a criminal history in both places, and had been arrested repeatedly for crimes related to drugs and assault.
"I was a violent guy," he said in an interview from Polk County jail in Iowa.
Ceretti said he had been to Rawson-Neal multiple times over the years, often after feeling suicidal. He has been diagnosed, he said, with schizoaffective disorder, depression and anxiety.
"They warehoused you," he said. "They haven't done nothing for me."
On May 21, 2012, he landed at Rawson-Neal after another breakdown.
Ceretti's medical records state that he told staff he was depressed, anxious and suicidal. "He is a known patient at this hospital with several previous admissions and most recent about six weeks ago," the records state.
The intake records also show the hospital was aware he had a lengthy criminal record, including a history of assaults. Ceretti said he knew from other patients that the hospital would hand out bus tickets without asking too many questions. He said he told them about having family in Des Moines. "I wanted a free ride," he said.
The medical records note that Ceretti had requested a bus ticket "back home," and that during two days of care, he showed "No aggression or Manic outbursts. ... " He was discharged May 23, 2012, with a bus ticket to Des Moines, psychiatric meds and a recommendation to continue getting mental health treatment in Iowa. The medical records say that Ceretti's mother, Diane Mazzie, had agreed to pick him up when he got to Des Moines.
But Mazzie said she had no notice he was coming. "I never got a phone call," she said in an interview.
She said she was staying at a friend's house when her son arrived, and was unable to offer him a place to stay. "I was on the streets," Ceretti said. "I slept outside for a week."
A month after he arrived, Ceretti was arrested for trespassing. Two months later, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse causing serious injury, and later pleaded guilty to that charge.
In November 2012, while still homeless, Ceretti stabbed an old friend, Eric Naylor, killing him. Police describe the attack as a drug encounter gone bad. Ceretti called it self-defense. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
"I would just like to say to the family I'm really sorry," he said at his sentencing hearing.
Ceretti later tried to take back his plea, saying he had failed to disclose he was on psychotropic medications when he agreed to the deal. He was charged with perjury, and pleaded guilty. He remains in an Iowa prison.
Homeless in Vegas
The Nevada hospital issued a bus ticket to another patient, Justin David Brinsky, even as he was still under court supervision for battery and disorderly conduct convictions in Las Vegas. Brinsky was bused to Sacramento in June 2012, and now sits in the Sacramento County Main Jail, awaiting trial on two charges of attempted robbery.
Brinsky said in a jailhouse interview that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and disabling "manic" episodes and depression. He said he became homeless in Vegas after traveling there to live with a family friend, and was arrested for stealing food from a supermarket. First he went to jail, he said, then to Rawson-Neal.
Brinsky could not recall how long he stayed at the hospital, but said that at some point, he was offered a bus ticket to Sacramento, where he has relatives. "They asked me where I wanted to get sent, and I was fine with it," he said. "There are some good people there. It's not a bad hospital."
In the months since he arrived in Sacramento, he has been arrested for a variety of serious crimes, including accusations of fighting with a police officer and trying to break into the home of a young mother in the middle of the night while under the influence of methamphetamines. At the county jail, he has spent weeks in isolation for attempting to assault both inmates and officers, according to court records.
When a reporter, separated from Brinsky by a Plexiglas barrier, asked for further information about his experience, Brinsky dropped to his knees and clasped his hands as if in prayer.
Then he waved goodbye.
A body in the river
Martin Roller may have simply given up on life after the Las Vegas hospital bused him back to Sacramento in July 2010, said his former wife, Patricia.
When he returned to the capital city, where he and Patricia once lived together, the couple were estranged, she said. She had minimal contact with him. Seven months after his bus trip, he was dead.
Roller was a drug abuser, may have had bipolar disorder and had attempted suicide at least once while he was living in Las Vegas, his former wife said. She found out about his hospitalization and subsequent bus trip only after he returned to Sacramento, she said.
In the months after he arrived in Sacramento, Roller was arrested for alleged battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.
On Feb. 9, 2011, Roller's body was discovered in the American River near a transient camp. A coroner's report said he likely drowned and that no evidence of drugs was discovered in his system. Because of his history, the report did not rule out the possibility that he took his own life.
"He may have tried to kill himself," his former wife said. "I guess we will never know."
A manhunt in San Diego
Trouble also followed Christopher Dustrude, a Montana native who records indicate was bused from Las Vegas to San Diego in 2011. In 2004, Dustrude was convicted of sexually assaulting two family members, then 7 and 9, in Montana. In 2010, he was rearrested for failing to notify Montana authorities he had moved. He also had been convicted twice for violating protective orders, court records show.
While awaiting sentencing on those charges, Dustrude headed to Las Vegas, where police arrested him in January 2011 for failing to register as a sex offender. That criminal case was still outstanding when, for reasons that are not clear, he wound up at Rawson-Neal. Patient busing receipts show the hospital bought a Christopher Dustrude a seat on a Greyhound bus bound for San Diego on Jan. 26.
Within days, a federal magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest, and the U.S. Marshals Service initiated a manhunt in San Diego. Law enforcement authorities said in media reports at the time that Dustrude would sometimes pretend to be mentally disabled or suicidal to gain entry to hospitals and shelters, where he would then volunteer to work with children.
Marshals finally tracked him down in early February at a San Diego psychiatric hospital. Authorities said they had gotten complaints from families in the area, who said Dustrude had made sexual advances toward them and their children.
An aunt, who described Dustrude as mentally disabled and childlike, said he since has disappeared onto the streets of Montana. Dorothea Butler said her nephew had no ties to San Diego, and that she had no idea why the hospital might have sent him there.
"He needs to be in an institution of some kind. But he just gets tossed around," she said.
"I can't understand why that hospital would send him to San Diego. They just put him on a bus and sent him on. They just wanted to get rid of him."
'A wing and a prayer'
Marc Berrier is among several former Rawson-Neal patients who went from being homeless in Las Vegas to homeless somewhere else after the hospital bused them out. Berrier, a native of Pennsylvania with an alcohol addiction, said he faked a mental illness to get off the streets of Vegas in the spring of 2012. "I told them I was suicidal," he said.
Once he landed at the Nevada state hospital, he received psychiatric medications and enjoyed "a nice break from the streets," he said. "I sat around and watched TV, mostly," he said.
A fellow patient told him that the hospital "will give you a bus ticket to anywhere you want to go," he said. Berrier looked at a map and decided "on a whim" to ask for a bus ticket to Seattle.
"They asked me to verify that I had relatives there, so I wrote down a fake phone number and said I had an uncle there," Berrier said. "They brought me a ticket to Seattle that night."
"I didn't know anything about Seattle," he said. "I left wearing shorts and a T-shirt, with four bottles of Ensure, on a wing and a prayer." He took Xanax with some young bus passengers near Portland, he recalled. "That's the last thing I remember about the trip." He said he woke up at Harborview Medical Center, a public hospital in King County.
Weeks later, King County officers arrested him for assault after he refused to cooperate when they asked him to refrain from drinking alcohol in a public park, records show.
Berrier now lives at a homeless mission in Seattle and is working to overcome his alcoholism and improve his life. "I've experienced a long, strange series of events to get here," he said.
Hospital staffers may unwittingly have helped him, he said, by busing him to Seattle, where the mission is helping him get back on track. But he wonders about other patients.
"I'm glad everything worked out for me," Berrier said. "But there were a lot of guys in there who weren't getting any help. I wonder what's happened to them."
'The client makes the choice'
Whether Rawson-Neal has any responsibility for what happens after patients leave their facility is a matter of debate. Psychiatric hospitals, including Rawson-Neal, are not required to check the criminal backgrounds of patients, and rarely conduct such checks, according to interviews with mental health experts.
Kathleen Piche, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, said her agency might request a background check on a patient who caretakers are aware "has been involved in some kind of violence." But such cases are unusual, she said.
Agencies should not "assume that someone might have a criminal record because they are being treated for a mental illness," said David Wert, a spokesman for San Bernardino County. He said the county does not routinely conduct criminal background checks on mental patients.
But neither do most agencies routinely place mentally ill patients alone on public buses for long trips across the country, as Rawson-Neal did until recently.
"Certainly the hospital has a moral responsibility" to do everything possible to make sure that patients who board buses, as well as the passengers around them, are safe during their journeys, said DJ Jaffe, executive director of the Mental Illness Policy Organization. "And what about the impact on taxpayers in the states where these untreated patients are going? That is going to be considerable."
In recent months, Nevada health officials have explained the busing program by noting that Las Vegas is an international destination. They say many visitors and transplants who suffer mental breakdowns welcome the offer of free travel vouchers to return to a community where they have a stronger support system.
"The general purpose of the policy has always been to help people with transportation back to their home community, or community of choice, where they have family, employment and/or mental health support," Mary Woods, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, said in a written response.
"Transportation vouchers provided may or may not be used by a client," Woods said. "The client makes the choice to take the bus trip they requested."
Woods also noted that the state has launched multiple internal reviews and has revamped policies and procedures at Rawson-Neal since The Bee first reported on the busing policy.
"Those investigations resulted in termination of staff, strengthening of policies, and implementation of corrective action plans including increased scrutiny and oversight in our discharge practices, as well as the requirement for an accompanied chaperone," Woods said.
"We take all allegations of improper treatment or discharge very seriously," she said, "and will further evaluate if additional policies, procedures and/or laws need to be revised or created." Woods said the hospital does not routinely do criminal background checks on patients, but will notify a law enforcement agency about a pending discharge if that agency has requested such information.
But Nevada state health officials have also acknowledged that they do not routinely follow up to see what happens to patients after they are bused to other cities or whether they arrived safely.
Busing patients out of town without properly treating their illness and arranging for future care is a prescription for disaster on many levels, said Dr. Jeffrey Geller, director of public sector psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
"Increased incidence of petty crime and serious crime," Geller said, listing the possible consequences to the communities that receive mental patients who are unmoored to family and services.
"New jail and hospital occupants. Burdens to general hospital emergency departments, courts, sanitation departments and mayor's office," he said. For the patients, "there is further estrangement from any natural supports that might exist, and an increasing sense in the individual with mental illness of being unwanted and unworthy."
Jaffe said he suspects Nevada's busing policy was motivated by finances, not treatment protocol. Between 2009 and 2012, as Rawson-Neal bused patients out of state at a steadily increasing rate, Nevada cut spending on mental health services by 28 percent to address state budget shortfalls.
"When they bus someone out of state, it's one less person that they need to care for," Jaffe said. "Any time the mental health system turns someone over to the criminal justice system, it's a victory for them" financially, Jaffe said.
Nevada officials, acknowledging that budget cuts have taken a toll, have targeted $30 million in additional funding for state mental health services, boosting outpatient programs aimed at treating mentally ill people in the community and steering them away from emergency rooms.
The state is remodeling a closed building on Rawson-Neal's campus that will serve as a satellite facility to Lake's Crossing in Reno, the state's only mental hospital for criminals. Rawson-Neal has been given additional state funding, and is poised to hire more staff.
In addition, the state has increased the number of beds available for inpatient care; established jail re-entry programs; and introduced home visiting programs for mentally ill patients, their families and the community.
"The Legislature and the governor have responded," said Clark County Public Defender Christy Craig, who has represented mentally ill people charged with crimes.
"The effects locally have been akin to an atomic bomb going off," she said of the national media attention over the busing policy. "We have been asking for some of these things for 20 years, and shining a light on the issue worked. It really worked."
Sheila Leslie, a former Nevada state senator who coordinates Washoe County's mental health and other specialty courts, remains skeptical. Leslie said the actions taken so far are not enough to repair a broken mental health system that has been ravaged by budget cuts during the past nine years.
"The whole situation has been a great wake-up call to state staff, legislators and the governor," she said. But, she added "clearly, it's not enough."
Nevada's support system for mentally ill people, including housing and outpatient treatment centers for those released from the state hospital, remains dangerously frayed, she said. As a result, Leslie said, Rawson-Neal continues to be a revolving door for patients unable to get meaningful help to turn around their lives.
"We're failing ourselves," said Leslie.
Nevada continues to grapple on several fronts with the consequences of its controversial busing policy. In July, following an investigation by the Joint Commission, Rawson-Neal lost its coveted accreditation. It remains under investigation by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which has threatened to pull the hospital's Medicare funding.
In September, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit seeking class-action status against Nevada, accusing its leaders of essentially outsourcing mental patients to other states to avoid having to pay for their treatment and housing. The suit demands reimbursement for the public costs San Francisco and other California cities have incurred in caring for Rawson-Neal patients transported to their communities without arranging for services.
Sacramento attorney Mark Merin also has filed suit, accusing the hospital of violating the constitutional rights of indigent patients.
Herrera said Nevada must be held accountable for what happened to the patients under its care and the communities that received them. "In my opinion, they certainly are responsible morally for their failure to look after very vulnerable patients who they knew were unable to take care of themselves," Herrera said. "Then they tried to shift the financial burden to other jurisdictions. It's a terrible thing on two levels."
(c)2013 The Sacramento Bee


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NFL Training camp season is always a time for irrational exuberance. Every team thinks it can win the Super Bowl, even though 31 of those teams will end being horribly wrong. And so, to preview the upcoming NFL season, which could be the most unpredictable ever, we now give you five reasons why your favorite team could win the Super Bowl. Today, it's the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. Because they can ALWAYS win the Super Bowl. Ah, those old reliable Steelers. Steady like a rock. While the rest of the NFL went bonkers with coaching changes at the end of last season and free agency moves in August, the Steelers just sat back and twiddled their thumbs as they always do, always reliant on their PITSSBURGHISH way of doing things: namely, drafting very good players and locking those players in the fruit cellar until they're the perfect ripeness. Anyway, it's hard to bet against the Steelers when the core of last year's AFC title team is returning, including Ben Roethlisberger, who is cleared to play all 16 games, provided of course...
2. Big Ben can outrun the pillaging hordes. The Steelers will be without two of their tackles from last season: Max Starks and Flozell Adams. This is alarming, because the line wasn't very good last season to begin with. Now all that's left is Maurkice Pouncey, the corpse of Willie Colon, and a pile of scrap. Roethlisberger has shown an uncanny knack for evading the rush over the years. He'll need to rely on those instincts even more this season, because opposing pass rushers are going to be in his face A LOT.
3. You can't fine the James Harrison out of James Harrison. God bless James Harrison. Every time the NFL fines him for what they deem overly aggressive play, the man becomes that much more determined to obliterate everything in his way. If Roger Goodell fines Harrison yet again this season (and he will), we could very well see Harrison morph into the Balrog, growing to twenty feet high and able to wipe out opposing offense with a snap of his firewhip. Don't put it past him. While the Steelers have issues with their O-line and in the defensive backfield (safety Troy Polamalu wasn't himself last postseason and the corners are iffy), their linebacking corps remains the best in football.
4. Rashard Mendenhall runs better than he tweets. So running back Rashard Mendenhall wasn't quite as overjoyed about Osama bin Laden's death during the offseason as everyone else was. The man can still tote the rock, and that will be more important than ever with the pass protection so iffy. If the Steelers can get a career year out of Mendenhall (and I'm talking 1,500+ yards), then Big Ben will be under less duress, and then there won't be as many sacks and turnovers. All very important. For a team coming off a Super Bowl appearance, things feel a bit more delicate this season. Harrison and Polamalu are getting older. Hines Ward is getting older. The heart of a team that won two Super Bowls in the past six years is tilting just past prime age now. They need the likes of Mendenhall and wideout Mike Wallace to step in and become dominant. Knowing the Steelers, that's all but preordained.
5. Big Ben didn't go to Georgia ONCE this summer! Well, not that you know of.

subset: commoncrawl


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Solidly into the hustle and bustle of December, we are back with more updates from around the world. Omar El Adl shares the latest in film and academia from Egypt. We learn about the happenings on the Polish literary scene from Julia Sherwood. Finally, Cassie Lawrence updates us on recent literary prizes and a new publisher in the UK.
Omar El Adl, Asymptote Editor-at-Large for Egypt:
The Townhouse Gallery is hosting an event titled Mise.en.scène on the representation of women and the main female characters in author Ehsan Abdel Qudoos's work, through the screening of films based on his writings. The event took place over two days, December 5 and 6. The first day featured a screening of Henry Barakat's Thin Thread, followed by a conversation with women's rights advocate Doaa Abdelaal. On the second day, there was a screening of I Am Free by Salah Abu Seif, followed by a conversation with Arabic literature professor Samia Mehrez, moderated by Nour El Safoury.


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The purpose of this site is to provide resources for Liberal Studies majors as they progress through their degree work. Included are materials pertaining to degree development, planning, and independent studies. There are also numerous contacts and links to web-based material.
Please note: Some of the material has been taken directly from Liberal Studies core classes such as LIS 301 and LIS 451. It is important to remember that the information you receive directly from your instructor and/or advisor takes precedence over materials found on this site. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their instructor and/or advisor when making changes to their degree plans.
Many areas will often have new and updated information, so check back often. Quick links:
General Student Resources and Forms
- Online Course History
- The LIS Student/Faculty Handbook for Liberal Studies. You may want to also purchase (at the UIS Bookstore) a copy of this handbook which will be utilized throughout your degree process.
- Change of Major/Minor/Advisor form to submit to change a student's academic major, minor, or student advisor.
- LIS Copyright Form (doc) By filling out this form, you give the UIS LIS Program permission to use your materials as an example of student work.
- Student Petition Form for submitting a Student Petition. Instructions are on the second page.
- Honor's Thesis Proposal Packet (doc) This packet must be completed prior to enrolling in LIS 471 Honor's Thesis.
Liberal Studies Educational Guides
- "A Liberal Studies Discussion" by Dr. Ed Cell (pdf)
An essay by Dr. Ed Cell. The article discusses the philosophical ideas found within the LIS program, particularly the categories for education designed by Ernest Boyer. This article may help you to decide which of Boyer's categories best suits your needs and provide some guidance as you develop your own degree plan.
- Knowles Chart 1 (pdf) A comparison chart showing the assumptions and processes of teacher-directed (Pedagogical) and Self-Directed (Andragogical) learning.
- Knowles Chart 2 (pdf)
A self-rating chart used to determine competencies of self-directed Learning.
- "Rediscovering Basic Values" by Eugene Raudsepp (pdf)
In this article, Eugene Raudsepp discusses how to understand your needs and beliefs.
- "Seven Principles" by Arthur W. Chickering and Zelda F. Gamson (pdf)
This article discusses seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education.
- Learning Verbs (pdf)
This paper gives you some "verbs" to help make your writing more interesting and descriptive.
Degree Development
There are a number of various tools that are used to assist in developing your degree plan and helping you to focus on the thematic nature of your degree. The tools listed here and may be downloaded for your use.
- LIS Degree Plan (doc)
This file contains instructions and general information on completing your degree plan as well as a checklist. Use this form to not only plan your degree, but also when communicating to your advisor or instructor changes that may be needed after LIS 301.
- Boyer Chart (pdf)
You may use this chart to help map out your courses in accordance with the Boyer categories.
- Model of Competencies (pdf) This file contains tables that may assist you in organizing your Learning Needs.
- Developing a Theme (pdf)
Worksheet to assist you in Theme development.
- Stepping Stones (pdf)
A worksheet to help you identify specific and important periods of your life.
- Timelines (pdf)
A form similar to the Stepping Stones worksheet.
- Significant Experiences (pdf)
A worksheet to assist you in determining significant learning experiences in your life.
- Values List (pdf)
A worksheet to help you learn more about your personal values.
- Non-Credit Activities (pdf)
This form will help you to organize non-credit activities that compliment your degree coursework.


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Mullen: Family Support Vital to War Effort
- Details
- Category: Latest
- Created: Tuesday, 03 August 2010 03:09
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 03 August 2010 03:09
- Written by Administrator
"This is our ninth year at war," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said. "We continue at a level that has generated extraordinary results from the best military that I have ever been associated with in some 40-plus years."
Providing support to families of Guard members has been a vital component to mission success, Mullen told the volunteers. "We couldn't be anywhere close to where we are without you," he said.
The National Guard has transformed since Sept. 11, 2001, Mullen said. "There's no institution where things have changed more dramatically than in the Guard," he said. "We would not be anywhere close to where we are in terms of our execution of mission without the Guard and reserve."
And like other elements of the armed forces, the chairman said, the Guard has improved its family programs. "You represent the best of the best," Mullen told attendees at the 2010 National Guard Family Program Volunteer Workshop.
"You represent so much of what America is, coming from every single community across the land," Mullen told the group. "Thanks for your dedication. Thanks for your service. Thanks for caring about those who are serving and who are sacrificing."
Further improvement in family readiness can be achieved across the military, Mullen said, but that does not mean new programs. "We have seen our programs multiply by the dozens," he said. "I don't need any more programs. I need the ones we have to really be working well."
States, territories and the District of Columbia should share best practices to improve existing programs, Mullen said. "We don't have time to have everybody developing a best practice," he explained. "Exchanging ideas ... on what's working and what isn't is absolutely critical."
Community-based support can be improved, Mullen said, and the same is true of efforts to eliminate the stigma surrounding the seeking of help for treatment of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. Other important issues, he said, include homelessness among veterans, medical plans, suicide prevention and programs for wounded warriors.
"The emphasis is on disability and money," Mullen said. "The emphasis needs to be on ability and on people and on their future."
It was the chairman's second visit to a National Guard Family Program Volunteer Workshop. He first attended the annual event in 2008.
"To me, this is an inspirational group," Mullen said after his visit with workshop attendees. "They care a lot, they work the issues, and there is a lot of capability there."
Throughout the armed services, "we have made enormous improvements in focusing on our families," Mullen said.
"I don't think any of us can rest on our laurels," he added, "and we need to move forward."
Leadership needs to look at what has gone well and seek to fill any gaps to ensure families' needs are being met, the chairman said.
"This is not an infinite list," Mullen said. "It is schools. It is child care. It is medical care. It is ... preparation for deployment. It is what we do on deployment. What do we do when we get back? ... And address the stress levels, which are clearly there, and it's something that's going to be with us for a significant period of time."
Addressing suicide in the armed forces, Mullen said everyone has a responsibility to attack the problem. "Leadership has to stay focused on this," he said. "I'm talking about leadership at the E-4, E-5 and E-6 level. All of us have a responsibility.
"It's a very complex problem," he continued. "We need to understand it. We need to thoroughly conduct training so people understand symptoms and can head this thing off. Oftentimes, buddies and families are the first ones that see the symptoms."
Increased time at home between deployments as operations in Iraq wind down will help, Mullen said.
"That will take some of the pressure off," he told the group. "That said, it's not just all about deployments, because there have been an awful lot who have committed suicide that haven't deployed, so there's a completely comprehensive approach that has to be taken here."
2010 is a year of increasing discussion about the future of the transformed National Guard. The Guard's participation in overseas operations has transformed the force, Mullen said.
"That participation fundamentally changes every unit that goes," he said. "It changes the whole military mix in that state, and we need to learn from that.
"Longer term," he continued, "what does a strategic reserve look like? What does an operational reserve look like? And what's the rotational cycle? That's still all to be determined."
*Related Sites:*
National Guard Bureau [ http://www.ngb.army.mil/ ]
*Related Articles:*
Mullen Seeks End to 'Yes-No' Box on Predeployment Checklists [ http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60282 ]
Suicide Solution Involves Leadership, Mullen Says [ http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60279 ]


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- 3 Mark
- 4 Follow ups
Columbia Focus Group
Columbia, Missouri - March 2, 2007
Focus Group
1. Describe your current network. How is it configured? How much bandwidth do you have? How do you get it? What does it cost? How is it funded? Is it scalable?
All the libraries are on MOREnet
All the libraries and their branches have a minimum T-1 line.
Some have of T-3
Paid for based on a formula of:
• Part state money (REAL) (pays for local routers, some local connections, and databases)
• Part local money on a formula ranging from $600 - $20,000
• E-rate
Main problems are with local phone companies who may not have the same quality as MOREnet.
Is it scalable? If you experience slow down in response rate-does MOREnet catch or do you? MOREnet notices it before the library—during high traffic the library does notice/cost goes up if need to add bandwidth/may give fraction of a t1 if need to increase bandwidth, don't have to get a full t1—if doing something to maximize pipeline there is not additional cost.
2. What do you use your bandwidth for?
Internet connectivity – describe uses
Internal operations – describe uses
ILS/PAC – describe
Current Uses
• Streaming media – audio visual
• Public access computers
• Video conferencing and programming (Legislative updates)
• Gaming and social networking – flash animation eats up bandwidth
• Databases
• Remote usage (database access, reserves)
• VPN with Branches
• Security
• Downloadable video and audio
3. What would you like to do with your Internet Connection that you cannot do with your current environment?
Future Uses
• Library online, more of a community center, a virtual library
• Book clubs on line
• Federated and visual search
• Customized web interface based on electronic profiling based on informatin on the library card
• Automatic notification of books or programs based on profiling
• Podcasting of book reviews, children's story hour
• Downloadable audio and visual
• Gaming for teens
• Second life and other social networking
• More databases so people don't have to come to the library
4. Is your bandwidth sufficient? If no, what problems does the insufficient bandwidth cause for your staff and patrons?
They don't really have any problems because MOREnet anticipates their bandwidth needs and provides them with increased bandwidth as they need it.
Some slow down in the middle of the afternoon due to student use but nothing major.
5. What would you consider sufficient bandwidth? How did you arrive at that amount?
MOREnet does all the planning for them.
6.If you had more bandwidth, what would you use if for? What is your vision for your library's connectivity?
See above
7. What are the barriers to getting more bandwidth?
They don't have any barriers. MOREnet does it all.
Most barriers have to do with weather impact on cooper wires, loss of city power, different phone companies. MOREnet negotiates for repairs or restoration of service.
8. E-rate: What role does e-rate play in high speed access for public libraries?
Who applies for the E-rate funds?
How does CIPA impact?
• MOREnet applies for all the telecommunication e-rate funds for them. They just have to do the technology plan for MOREnet.
• Some apply for their own erate funds for POTS and internal connections.
• Erate is complicated and for some not worth the effort
• For others, it brings in needed dollars.
• MOREnet provides the filtering as well. Only Columbia does not filter and they pay extra to be off the filtering.
9. Who at the regional or state level provides you assistance in analyzing your needs and getting you more bandwidth?
For the MOREnet services, MOREnet provides everything. Other than MOREnet, assistance comes from:
• MOREnet training
• MLNC training
• Contract
• Own staff
• MORE technic peer assistance via email
• MOREnet conferences
• KCMLIN – Training on applications
• WebJunction
Some have done studies to see how much their internet services would cost without MOREnet. Some said they would have no computers for the public at all.
10. If the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation were to offer assistance in getting more of US public libraries with higher bandwidth, what would be most helpful?
• Support MOREnet
• Tell other states about MOREnet
• Encourage multi-state networks
• Support REAL
• Advocate lighting dark fiber. Management of issues relating to this.
• Training
• Equipment and software and routers and switchs.
Why/How MOREnet
Why and how did MOREnet get established from their point of view.
• There were equal partners between school, public, and academic libraries
• They showed the efficiencies of aggregation
• The State Library set up a committee to figure out how to get internet to rural parts of the state. They established REAL which initially stood for Rural Electronic Access to Libraries and then became Remote electronic Access to Libraries
• Bill Mitchell was instrumental. He had vision and provided leadership of what could be done with internet access
• He delivered an inspiring message of what the internet could do for rural communities
• They held a conference (MOREnet Conferences) to see what others were doing. Demonstration of uses. Sent the message "If we can do it, so can you."
• Rural public libraries and school districts got computers at the same time. This showed true equality.
• They gave out 20 grants: 10 for 56k lines and 10 for dial up. This was the REAL appropriation from the legislature.
• Wrote letters to politicians about how important REAL was.
• MOREnet provided email to legislators for free
• This aggregation created a market for telecom companies
• The library community are good advocates
• There are topnotch tech people at MOREnet
• MOREnet supported local ISPs at the beginning. Often, MOREnet provided the only internet access in town.
Teleconference Focus Group
Missouri Focus Group
March 1, 2007
Note: This was a slightly abbreviated focus group. Not all of the questions were asked
1. Describe your current network. How is it configured? How much bandwidth do you have? How do you get it? What does it cost? How is it funded? Is it scalable?
Rolling Hills: Use MOREnet and also Cable companies
T3 into one library and cable access at all four libraries.
Internet goes through T3.
Usage: MOREnet comes to them and tells them they need more
Mid-Continent: MOREnet 20meg connection, used to be ATM
Buy separately from AT&T Frame relay. T-1s some bandwidth problems
Springfield: ½ through MOREnet
10 meg at main facility.
City utilities connections
T-1 connections
Moving to MOREnet for those facilities
St. Louis: Main at central, was 10meg and at 96% capacity. From MOREnet
Now have 20 meg and now at 75% of that line.
17 locations about the city and that comes from AT&T but get bottled up. Funding: Comes out of normal operation
2. What do you use your bandwidth for?
Internet connectivity – describe uses
Internal operations – describe uses
ILS/PAC – describe
• Streaming video and audio
• Blogs
• Wireless.
• Social networking
• Subscription databases, Rosetta Stone
• Downloaded video from recorded books
• Video conferencing
• Limited bandwidth at some places but limited.
• Prioritizing traffic. Hold out putting out new computers until have bandwidth.
• Prioritizing traffic. Video is low priority.
• Library automation traffic is only 6% of traffic.
• VOIP prioritize voice to ensure quality.
3. What would you like to do with your Internet Connection that you cannot do with your current environment?
• More video conference at all of the facilities
• Share interesting programs at multiple locations
• Have computer wants around system
• More public computers. One branch wants 10 more computers and waiting for bandwidth to install.
• YA department wants gaming.
• Remove restrictions on wireless connections.
4. Is your bandwidth sufficient? If no, what problems does the insufficient bandwidth cause for your staff and patrons?
• Sufficient bandwidth between main trunks.
• Between main and branches is the bottleneck.
• Need bandwidth to put out more computers.
• Turned sound on had a huge impact. Can watch news, or music videos. Did damage to data connections.
• Every time free up a bottleneck another one occurs
5. What would you consider sufficient bandwidth? How did you arrive at that amount?
• MOREnet does a good job of planning.
• How much depends on philosophy and what they allow patrons to do. Not a numbers game.
• Not say that a certain number of computers means certain bandwidth.
• 30 or 40 PCs at a branch. Process of trying to figure out what they allow to go on the PCs.
• 10 years ago ½ T-1 might be ok. With 15 computers T1 is the lowest to consider.
• 50 PCs 2 T1s
• T1 is minimum for even small connection.
• Rely on MOREnet to anticipate growth.
• Next generation network is scaled to meet long range goals.
6. If you had more bandwidth, what would you use if for?
7. What is your vision for your library's connectivity?
8. What are the barriers to getting more bandwidth?
• Communication on what MOREnet provides.
• Not sure what MOREnet provides. Only one connection to the library or more??
• In rural areas, infrastructure limits build out
• MOREnet bidding those in bulk. If doing it alone, could not do it.
• Aggregation makes it work so have to serve rural as well as urban.
8. E-rate: What role does e-rate play in high speed access for public libraries?
Who applies for the E-rate funds?
How does CIPA impact?
• MOREnet does erate for internet. Does own internal connections.
• Rules are always changing
• Yearly time constraints.
• After to apply for following year.
• Between aug and jan may be tracking 3 years at one time
• MOREnet does the filtering for some.
• Check out the MOREnet solution
• Worth the money
9. Who at the regional or state level provides you assistance in analyzing your needs and getting you more bandwidth?
• In house network so talk to AT&T.
• Talk with vendors from who got routers
• City
• MOREnet for internet connections
• For smaller libraries, depend on MOREnet for all support. Could not do it without MOREnet. MOREnet tracks usage, problems, etc.
• Gates gives money. Problem isn't bandwidth (St. Louis) but maintenance of computers. Gates has helped.
10. If the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation were to offer assistance in getting more of US public libraries with higher bandwidth, what would be most helpful?
• Fund MOREnet.
• Help with misc equipment inside the library like switches and firewall. Want to isolate public computers from private network.
• Funding for telecom/networking fee.
• Just the Gates name brings positive attention.
• The fact that he supports, believes in and supports libraries makes a big difference.
In Missouri, we know about roads. What happens when you don't maintain the roads? What happens to citizens when they buy nice cars and try to run them on gravel roads? Broadband is needed not just from Gates but state and federal government. We need an Eisenhower initiative to build the network. We can prolong the life of a computer but need the high speed highways to drive on.
It is a public issue the state should understand that they need to maintain the state highways and not take private money to do this. This is a state and federal necessity.
Additional Resources
MOREnet Branch Connection Policy http://www.more.net/programs/real/branch.html
Campus Connction Poliy http://www.more.net/programs/real/librarycampusconnection01.html
Missouri State Library Staff Interview
Carl Wingo, Technology and Digitzation Services Consultant
Barbara Reading, Library Development Director
Role of the State Library in establishing MOREnet
MOREnet established.
Criteria for local public libraries to join. State library screened.
Had to have two computers for the public, networked.
Collected data. If didn't have computers or networks or whatever, the state library encouraged/assisted the local libraries to get it.
State Library used LSTA and LSCA funds to help libraries get to the level where they could join REAL.
Libraries had to have an email account and come to training once they were accepted in the REAL program.
MOREnet set up a help desk.
When a library was accepted, MOREnet goes out and installs network, routers, etc. MOREnet had user groups.
Training paid for by state appropriation.
MOREnet would also review local infrastructure network configurations and do a consult but would not go out and provide direct technical support through a visit.
State Library approves local technology plans so MOREnet could apply for erate.
OCLC rep M-LINK was a big partner and great help doing training and road show
Technology standards
Established technology standards for equipment.
People got practice in justifying why they needed equipment or connections. The state library would go out and help them make the case to city government.
Regional library director groups formed and meet regularly and help coach each other along.
Directors and techies each have an email list and they shared information about policies and trouble shooting. This turned into legislative clout which MLA used..
Addresses isolation that rural libraries feel.
Not use WebJunction much at the state library. Not a partner and not buying coupons now. Push people toward MOREnet instead.
Because MOREnet was handling the connectivity so well, the State Library could deal with applications and policies and leveraging grants to keep making progress.
Factors contribution to success:
Collaboration at the top
Support from state library
Financial help at the local level from state, federal, gates
Education of schools, libraries, and universities
Need to access internet
Integrated network of school, public, academic
Immediate feedback on applications from internet access and database access, digitization
Also retrospective conversion grants
Show Me the World development
Virtual integrated catalog using OCLC Worldcat
Group catalog: First search results are Missouri holdings
Pay for online ILL
Have general databases, health, business, newspapers
Students come in for homework
Missouri Virtual Schools might also have an impact.
What can Gates do?
Influence e-rate to lessen paperwork.
Pay for a roadshow to demonstrate what you can get with more bandwidth.
Interview with Carl Fuchs
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Director of new Virtual School Initiative
Involved in the beginning of MOREnet.
Worked with Bill Mitchell at Univ. of Missouri, who was running the computer system.
There were developing own network in Columbia, MO.
Began to brainstorm about Columbia's needs and realized that a lot of public libraries needed connection as well.
Felt it was important to have a state run network.
Set up a network in Columbia of the school, public library, and university and then expanded it around the state.
Curt and Bill traveled around the state to convince people that a statewide network was a good idea. They tried to convince people that the whole state really needed a network. Particularly in Missouri where there are so many rural areas. A lot of small schools and public libraries needed internet access.
With support from local communities they were able to go to the legislature. They convinced the legislature to fund the network. They used the concept of accessibility, particularly in rural areas so students could get to the internet. They talked about the haves and have nots. The Capitol wanted everybody to be treated equally.
It was very important that they had the right people at the table.
Schools, Department of Education
Public libraries, MLA, State Library and State Librarian
University of Missouri
City government in Columbia but they dropped out when talks turned to state wide.
"Have to have the right people at the table."
Have similar needs of users. Able to do so many new things when they work together.
The key players are still at the table.
Once it's established, also important to have the right people on the table over time.
Barriers to the network
Fear of change
Fear of losing local control
They overcame this by providing them what they didn't have – internet.
They talked about the amount of resources available on the internet.
They did demonstrations of what will be available once the network is in place.
They did a "dog and pony show" to demonstrate the uses on the internet.
"Nothing better than a dog and pony show."
They talked that the service could provide statewide contracts for resources that would allow everybody to have access.
When they bought EBSCO for the first time people said "WOW"
They had to build the interest statewide.
Membership in MOREnet is voluntary so they had to convince local communities AND legislature that it was worth while.
Use of MOREnet
Video conferencing
Data base access
It has become a way of life that is taken for granted. All data is collected on MOREnet.
Their acquisition system for data is dependent on MOREnet. If there is a threat, then people complain.
Some people think it can be done cheaper but it would not as good. They might have internet connection but not all the other services.
MOREnet also provides the training. No other place does this. They have a help desk that people can call. They do train the trainer workshops. Network security. CISCO training. Not as much end-user training but rather through the help desk and train the trainers.
MOREnet not only provides access but does not leave local libraries "out there holding the bag." This is a way to mitigate fear. They not only provide the service but help them with problems. Some small school and libraries still don't have the technical staff. Down time on MOREnet is minimal, almost non-existent.
Next issue big issue is increasing bandwidth. The new school system is a heavy bandwidth user. The Missouri Virtual School is mainly students who will access the Internet at home. May not have much impact on MOREnet if they access but home but could have if they access from the public library.
New Services needed
Need more bandwidth.
Whole organization of MOREnet is to provide internet service throughout the state plus a lot of extra services.
REAL – money from legislature that goes to state library then to MOREnet.
This money provides databases and "tail circuits" last mile.
$2.9 million. There is a membership fee to belong to MOREnet. Assessed on population and some other factors.
The State library charges the MOREnet fees and sets a formula so all libraries pay. The least pays about $500 for small libraries to $20,000 for large libraries.
Public library participation goes through state library budget.
Higher ed and elem and sec schools goes through higher ed budget.
Internet 2
A lot of excitement but little benefit to school and public libraries.
Higher ed may have a different answer.
Video streaming
Schools are purchasing videos online to show as part of the curriculum.
Future issues
State funding. Legislators take it for granted.
Bandwidth demand. Applications are using more bandwidth.
There is a lot of bureaucracy MOREnet has to deal with because they are part of a major university.
RFPs have to go through university and can take months.
MU concerned that if MOREnet goes out of business, MU doesn't want to be left holding the bag. Put policies in place to protect themselves.
Rely on MOREnet for the vision for the future. They take a leadership role in this.
Future of broadband for libraries
Have a statewide network like MOREnet. MOREnet negotiates all the contracts for the state. Aggregates demand.
Subsidy for the last mile.
Development of content (current and historical)
Make more things available electronically
Nancy and Mark pulled together excellent notes about our joint sessions in Missouri. The only "solo" interview I did was a conference call with 3 cable system representatives. Only one of them seemed to recognize anything about libraries, education and cable TV and it seemed to me that he got some perspective from other work environments, not from his current cable job. The other reps were sort of helpful but not informed about libraries nor had ever had conversations with Missouri library people. They did acknowledge that there could have been others in their respective companies that had been involved with the state network, MORENET, libraries, etc. One of them cited a free cable service to a set of St. Louis(?)K-12 schools.
When asked about the biggest impediments their answers were consistent about what could be done to encourage buildout: a) less regulation and fewer requirements; b) more exchange of information within the state; and c) last mile issues.
Mark Redding
Mark is the Executive Deputy Secretary of State and used to work in the state budget office at the time of MOREnet's creation
Exec Summary
- There are many champions within MO that made this happen (not just one)
- Collaboration between various state agencies (in MO case Higher Ed, Library, K12, Budget Office and Governor's Office) is very important in his mind for success
- One thing we haven't talked about before is collaborating with the state budget office. Had Mark not intervened in 2002, K12 may have pulled out of MORENET, which would have pulled some funding.
Mark worked for the state budget office from 1993-2003. While there, he saw a need to bring information technology to state government as a way of reducing costs (to which he encountered reisistance from the state data processing people. Basically, Mark is a budge analyst at heart and enjoys figuring out how to pay for things and the politics involved to ensure that the money makes it through to the legislators.
Here is Mark's take on the creation and continuation of MORENET
- A group of individuals got together to discuss how to get Missouri connected
- Bill Mitchell from the Higher Ed Community
- Elden Wallace (also of higher ed community, but used to work at state governor's office
- Mike Hartsmann from the Governor's Office
- State Librarian (Anne ?) (
- Additional note Mark is married to one of the employees of the state library
- Mark (at the state budget office)
- They wanted to figure out how to connect the higher ed, K12 and libraries using a common network platform
- The group worked collaboratively to establish MORENET and ensure that MORENET continued to exist
- Received some seed money from State Budget's office
- Approrpriation originally appeared in 3 separate budget requests
- Office of administration (for libs) and then was transferred to state library
- Higher Ed
- During 2002 budget crunch, K12 was looking to cut funding to MORENET
- But Mark (working as the de facto budget director for the state) removed appropriation from K12 budget and placed it into the higher ed approps (which would prevent Ed. Dept. from slashing funding
- Presently, MORENET is funded by 2 appropriations
- One to state library for last mile to libs and databases
- One to higher ed to pay for backbone and last mile to k12 and higher ed
- The group collaborated to make educational/maketing literature and to determine bandwidth requirements for entities (we'l
- Thinks MORENET helped spur broadband deployment (eg. Anchor/tenant)
- Upcoming
- Barriers @ formation
- Not many; they made their communication to leg. clear as to their intents and the group seemed to be good @ policticing
- MORENET was created during a time of fiscal health, so lots money was available, they had the right group at the right time
- Future Barriers
- Republican leg and governor who don't see MORENET as essential and would like to cut funding
- Indirectly, the term limits affect their ability to inform legislatures on the importance of MORENET
- Attempt to fold MORENET into something it's not e.g. connecting additional state agencies or foregoing MORENET in favor of complete state-wide network w/ all gov't agencies on it
Here are his suggestions for B&MG Foundation
- Would like to see help to rural libraries to get connected to MORENET
- In other states, he would recommend encouraging collaboration between libaries and other stakeholders within a state to form an action plan @ the state level to help entities get connected
MOREnet Staff
Several people attended this session including:
- Bandwidth
- Drew a graph to illustrate bandwidth
- Started out low and remained flat from 1986-1990
- In 1990, with the advent of Gopher and the opening of NSFnet to more than the large research Universities, MOREnet noticed a large spike in bandwidth and was brought down for
- Bandwidth increased steadily from 1990-1994
- In 19994, there was another spike in bandwidth utilization (due to the advent of Mosaic)
- Steeper increase from 1994-late nineties, when it spiked again and in continues to increase at a faster rate then previous
- Hitting a wall now because of video, audio and social networking sites
- Has bandwidth monitoring software to monitor bandwidth utilization
- Uses this to forecast future demand. This forecasting is not so much an exact science as empirically based
- Has to time bandwidth increases to (so is important to forecast):
- E-Rate
- University Procurement Procedures
- Termination penalties (e.g. has to sign contract to use circuit for x years, with penalty for early termination)
- Vendor build-out
- Overbuilds capacity in order to facilitate future expansion of bandwidth needs
- Drew a graph to illustrate bandwidth
- Funding
- MOREnet charges a flat rate for all libraries to be a member
- This rate is used to aggregate demand and take care of 'accidents of geography'
- Does not matter if they are near an urban environment or rural (low v. high cost, relatively)
- Does not charge based upon bandwidth allocation (one exception mentioned in E-Rate)
- Allows for equitable access to all libraries
- Technology and Biddings
- Picture of backbone can be found on the web
- Hit brick wall when wanted T1s to all facilities in 1998
- Became anchor-tenant whereby SBC had to build out the capacity, which allowed other entities to connect
- Approaching that wall in current situation—Fiber is needed but not built out across the state
- Getting to the point where they outstrip the providers
- Used to be able to solicit one bid to get everyone connected, but now is getting to the point where bandwidth for each entity is customized, which requires a separate RFP to build
- Finds this inefficient and is looking to get FTTP in order to be able to dial up the speed at no extra marginal cost
- Backbone currently operated by Show-me (a consortia of Missouri Electric companies) and Light Corp (affiliated with Century Tel)—currently runs @ 1 Gb, but expects to have 2 Gb soon
- Has implementation of QoS on backbone
- Allows institutions to control which packets have priority
- Video and MOBIUS (statewide ILS used by Universities and a few other libraries
- Has a Network Operations Center (NOC) to determine in real time bandwidth allocation and ensure there is a big enough pipe out to the Internet (ensures that the traffic on the backbone-traffic available to get out on Internet
- Connects institutions via Frame Relay and T1s all the way to the backbone via one of the nodes.
- Uses Ethernet to traverse the backbone
- 3/4 of the budget goes to AT&T and other Telcos to pay for the last mile to the institutions
- Issued an RFP to build a new backbone on the day we visited
- Permanently lease 2 strands of fiber for 20 years (owned by Missouri State University) and managed by MOREnet
- Expects bidders to be Level 3 and Show-Me (not traditional telcos)
- Will not be able to use E-Rate to pay for backbone because the backbone will be owned by MOREnet and not run by a 'Qualifying ISP' as required by E-Rate rules
- New backbone will have 2 strands, each going at 10 Gbps, with the possibility of expanding capacity by upgrading electronics---not having to buy new capacity (a large cost savings)
- Nodes will be in Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis, Jefferson City and Springfield
- Connection to Commodity Internet and I2 out of St Louis and Kansas City
- Seeking to peer network with neighboring states to ensure passage of packets for no charge
- Permanently lease 2 strands of fiber for 20 years (owned by Missouri State University) and managed by MOREnet
- Best Practices
- Collaboration
- Thinks building infrastructure alone is inefficient
- One point of contact for helpdesk for schools, libraries and university
- Librarians to assist librarians (they have a librarian on staff to help communicate with librarians)
- MOREnet helps foster collaborations between libraries K12, Higher Ed and Libraries
- Independent business reportable to members
- Internally
- Run to maximize profit
- Not good to keep secrets and ensure transparency
- Auditable @ state and federal level
- Working with great people that are great so they don't have to work for money because they enjoy services supplied by MOREnet
- Employees
- MOREnet has 105-110 employees
- A majority work in support, training and customer service work
- Believes that it is not about the wires & boxes
- Good idea to partner with state CIO
- Funding model
- Aggregate demand to leverage buying power of combined demand
- Leverage E-Rate
- Allows for quality service
- Conferences
- Holds its own conferences and training sessions
- Also attends Missouri Library Association to open up communication
- Maximize usage of Funding sources (Gates, LSTA and appropriation)
- Help to train the human capital (combining technical training with Human training)
- Collaboration
- Challenges
- Senate bill requiring network mergers
- E-Rate
- Allows institutions to buy service elsewhere for cheaper than the MOREnet membership fee
- Institutions don't see value in tech support and databases
- Or value in centralized services for less overhead
- Only sees MOREnet as pipe, but it is more
- Complexity
- Allows institutions to buy service elsewhere for cheaper than the MOREnet membership fee
- Facilitating fiber deployment to hinterlands
- Maxed out T1 in 4 years; T3 in 1;
- Needs a new model to pay for bandwidth (thinks fiber is the key because there is no marginal cost in turning up the speed on the connection; only in getting the packet on the Internet)
- Misc
- Staff Development
- Believes that despite funding shortage, staff development is a key investment to make
- Thinks that it is important to mentor the next generation of leaders to run state network
- Fosters an environment of collaboration, technology and outreach to the MOREnet community using non-technical terms
- Works with younger staff to ensure there is a shared vision for the next generation of MOREnet
- Staff Development
State CIO OFfice
Dan Taylor, CIO of the state of Missouri and Pete Wieberg the Telecom. Director.
- By order of the governor all of the state agencies IT functions are being centralized under the office of the state CIO
- Both interviewees looked at MORENET as a partner
- Interesting note: MORENET is the ISP for the state government offices in Jefferson City, as it provides the least expensive option
- Interviewees work with state agencies to increase bandwidth to Government and health care
- To provide this connectivity, they are creating the next generation Network
- The network is designed to connect government agencies, public safety and for telemedicine
- The backbone of the network will consist of fiber owned by the MO Dept. of Transportation
- Fiber gifted to Dept. of Trans from Show-ME (a Missouri Electric company consortium) in exchange for the rights of way along the freeway
- Fiber is owned by the Dept of Trans, but prokered by the State IT office
- Fiber can only be used for governmental, non-commercial purposes
- Designed to run in parallel to MOREnet
- MOREnet, according to them is more than just a state network
- They did do not want to test in court if using the fiber to connect library and schools is a governmental, non-commercial purpose
- NGN is designed to be a private public partnership (e.g. state owns backbone but private sector provides last mile)
- Barriers to entry for Broadband
- There are over 40 telecom companies
- No coordination at the state libraries
- Thinks the state needs to do more
- No broadband deployment plans or authority
- Power company is laying fiber along the power lines
- Creates an is sue of regulated (telecos) and un-regualated (power) entities providing broadband
- How best to connect?
- Consolidate Demand
- Thinks it is best for institutions and companies to have one revenue stream to connect multiple entities instead of one revenue one connection
- Invest in the community to deploy the network
- Consolidate Demand
- Off the record: Thinks that owning the fiber for the backbone helps place the state in a better negotiating position w/ AT&T
- Funding opps for B&MG
- Important to frame in terms of economic development
- Believes that libraries in communities is a trusted entity that is highly respected and valued
- Best to promote a national agenda
- Make solutions as cost effective as possible
- Would like a review of telephone and broadband deployment
Rebecca Miller
Rebecca is the E-Rate coordinator who works at MOREnet
- Does E-Rate Internet connectivity in aggregate for all MOREnet members, including both schools & libraries
- E-Rate is not used to cover MOREnet membership fee, which libraries are required to still pay. Rather, it is used to keep their membership fee low
- Each libarary is required to file a letter of agency to MOREnet and other forms certifying they have filters
- Technology Plan is filed with the State Library, who reviews and retains them
- MOREnet receives the money and it is part of their budget
- For Schools and libraries, they received $5-6 Million for 737 connecting institutions (6% of the annual operating expenses of MOREnet)
- All but 3 library systems in the state are CIPA compliant
- MOREnet has a network filter or it can be applied at local level
- Libraries that are not CIPA-compliant are charged an additional fee per T1 connection ($1300 in current year) to cover for lost revenue due to not
- Libraries are encouraged to apply for POTS and cell phone E-Rate discount on their own.
- Rebecca provides training on how to file E-Rate paperwork (both for the paperwork required for MOREnet and POTS)
- Morning is training
- Afternoon is filling out the form
- Notes difficulty in getting paperwork in on time by the filing date, and casually reminds libraries that they will be charged per T1 if they do not file on time
Follow ups
Don Walsch OARNET
The key factor was the State of Ohio's decision to establish a strategic plan for networking which established at T1 as the desired standard for connectivity, and then the state need to create an environment where this level of service would be affordable statewide for all State Agencies including libraries, K-12 schools and higher education. As a result of issuing an RFP, which include all state entities, the state received favorable pricing due to the volume of the contract and the term which was 10 years. This approach is currently being considered in the next generation broadband where a T1 is no longer an adequate standard and we are looking to set a new goal to provide a range of ethernet connectivity (10 megabits to 1 gigabit) as the new standard. With the integration of voice, data, video and internet services using IP there will be rapidly increasing broadband requirements. As with the previous approach the key is to establish the standard and set that as the state goal and then to develop an RFP for the private sector to compete for the best price and options to deliver this service. We are also looking at expanding the scope to include all state, local and federal governments in the state as well as research faciities, education and education related and healthcare. The theory is by further expanding the eligibility entities the pricing may be more favorable in the RFP.


text:
You wake up one morning, head to the kitchen and place a tea bag in your cup. Are you drinking green, black, oolong? Or is that tea bag filled with activated carbon, leaving you not with tea but with clean drinking water?
The newly designed "Tea Bag Water Filter" does just that. The filter uses a basic tea bag design to contain activated carbon, which can remove chemical contaminants. This is why so many of our water filters use some form of carbon. Carbon can adsorb (not absorb) chlorine, lead, mercury, zinc and more, and it is used in Brita pitchers, inline filters, fridge filters, RO systems and even air filters.
But the tea bag water filter doesn't stop there. The prototype, designed by Stellenbosch University's Professor Cloete, also uses a biocide on the outside of the bag to kill off bacteria. Cloete cautions that "all technology has its limits," but he also says that they have yet to find a bacteria the tea bag water purifier can't kill.
Perhaps the most attractive aspect of the water filter is its ease of use. The filter attaches to the neck of a standard water bottle, so you have only to place it in your bottle, fill it up, and you've got filtered water at your fingertips.
So where can you buy the tea bag water filter? Not at FiltersFast— yet. The tea bag water filter is currently in production, though Cloete is working with manufacturers and hopes to have a version ready for sale by next month.
When you do purchase the teabag filter, you might be able to take comfort in the fact that your purchase also supports clean water initiatives in developing countries. Cloete hopes that a surcharge can be added to the purchase price so that a portion of all sales will lessen costs of the units for citizens of developing countries who may not otherwise be able to afford them.
Update: It appears this filter is not widely available at online and retail stores. We will keep you posted.


text: Now, feel the instant rush of moisture and resist the look of aging. Because moisture is one of skin's key defenses against signs of aging that appear too soon, everything about this creme works to keep your skin looking younger. You'll feel a dramatic moisture boost, instantly and all day. Over time, skin's moisture barrier is strengthened by 50%* with the exclusive Sustainable Moisture Complex™-so with continued use you'll see younger and healthier looking skin, year after year.


text:
This program offers to install promotional, third party software. Installation of these products is optional but you should pay close attention to avoid installing any unwanted software.
TreeSize Find out which folders take up the most space
WebWatchBot network monitoring and analysis
CardRecovery recover images from memory cards
Spytech SpyAgent local and remote pc monitoring


text:
Autism is a brain disorder that
often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others. With autism, the
different areas of the brain fail to work together.
Most people
with autism will always have some trouble relating to others. But early
diagnosis and treatment have helped more and more people who have autism to reach
their full potential.
Autism tends to run in
families, so experts think it may be something that you inherit. Scientists are
trying to find out exactly which genes may be responsible for passing down
autism in families.
Other studies are looking at whether autism
can be caused by other medical problems or by something in your child's
False claims in the news have made some parents concerned about a link between autism and vaccines. But studies have found no link between vaccines and autism. It's important to make sure
that your child gets all childhood vaccines. They help keep your child from
getting serious diseases that can cause harm or even death.
Symptoms almost always
start before a child is 3 years old. Usually, parents first notice that their
toddler has not started talking yet and is not acting like other children the
same age. But it is not unusual for a child with autism to start to talk at the same time
as other children the same age, then lose his or her language skills.
Symptoms of autism include:
There is no "typical" person with autism. People can have
many different kinds of behaviors, from mild to severe. Parents often say that
their child with autism prefers to play alone and does not make eye contact
with other people.
Autism may also include other problems:
There are guidelines your
doctor will use to see if your child has symptoms of autism. The guidelines put
symptoms into three categories:
Your child may also have a hearing test and some other
tests to make sure that problems are not caused by some other condition.
Treatment for autism involves
special behavioral training. Behavioral training rewards good behavior
(positive reinforcement) to teach children social skills and to teach them how
to communicate and how to help themselves as they grow older.
With early treatment, most children with autism learn to relate better to
others. They learn to communicate and to help themselves as they grow
Depending on the child, treatment may also include such
things as speech therapy or physical therapy. Medicine is sometimes used to
treat problems such as depression or obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
Exactly what type of treatment your child needs depends on the symptoms,
which are different for each child and may change over time. Because people
with autism are so different, something that helps one person may not help
another. So be sure to work with everyone involved in your child's
education and care to find the best way to manage symptoms.
An important part of your child's treatment plan is
making sure that other family members get training about autism and how to
manage symptoms. Training can reduce family stress and help your child function
better. Some families need more help than others.
Take advantage
of every kind of help you can find. Talk to your doctor about what help is
available where you live. Family, friends, public agencies, and autism
organizations are all possible resources.
Remember these
Raising a child with autism is hard work. But with
support and training, your family can learn how to cope.
Learning about autism:
Being diagnosed:
Getting treatment:
Ongoing concerns:
Living with autism:
The severity of symptoms varies
greatly, but all people with
autism have some core symptoms in the areas of:
Symptoms of autism are
usually noticed first by parents and other caregivers sometime during the
child's first 3 years. Although autism is present at birth (congenital), signs
of the disorder can be difficult to identify or diagnose during infancy.
Parents often become concerned when their toddler does not like to be held;
does not seem interested in playing certain games, such as peekaboo; and does
not begin to talk. Sometimes, a child with autism will start to talk at the same time as
other children the same age, then lose his or her language skills. Parents also
may be confused about their child's hearing abilities. It often seems that a
child with autism does not hear, yet at other times, he or she may appear to
hear a distant background noise, such as the whistle of a train.
With early and intensive treatment, most children improve their ability
to relate to others, communicate, and help themselves as they grow older.
Contrary to popular myths about children with autism, very few are completely
socially isolated or "live in a world of their own."
During the teen years,
the patterns of behavior often change. Many teens gain skills but still lag
behind in their ability to relate to and understand others. Puberty and
emerging sexuality may be more difficult for teens who have autism than for
others this age. Teens are at an increased risk for developing problems related
anxiety, and
Some adults with autism are
able to work and live on their own. The degree to which an
adult with autism can lead an independent life is related to intelligence and
ability to communicate. At least 33% are able to achieve at least partial
Some adults with autism
need a lot of assistance, especially those with low intelligence who are unable
to speak. Part- or full-time supervision can be provided by residential
treatment programs. At the other end of the spectrum, adults with
high-functioning autism are often successful in their professions and able to
live independently, although they typically continue to have some difficulties
relating to other people. These individuals usually have average to
above-average intelligence.
Many people with autism have
symptoms similar to
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But
these symptoms, especially problems with social relationships, are more severe
for people with autism.
About 10% of people with autism have some form of savant skills—special
limited gifts such as memorizing lists, calculating calendar dates, drawing, or
musical ability.1
Many people with autism
have unusual sensory perceptions. For example, they may
describe a light touch as painful and deep pressure as providing a calming
feeling. Others may not feel pain at all. Some people with autism have strong
food likes and dislikes and unusual preoccupations.
problems occur in about 40% to 70% of people with autism.3
Almost half of the children who have autism spectrum disorders tend to "wander off" from a caregiver, or "elope." For many caregivers of these children, elopement is one of the most stressful behaviors they must learn to cope with. Studies show that behavioral assessment interventions, such as applied behavioral analysis, may reduce the number of times a child wanders off.4
Autism is one of several types of
pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), also called
autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is not unusual for autism to be confused
with other PDDs, such as
Asperger's syndrome, or to have
overlapping symptoms. A similar condition is called pervasive developmental
disorder—not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). PDD-NOS occurs when children display
similar behaviors but do not meet the criteria for autism. Also,
other conditions with similar symptoms may also have similarities to or occur
with autism.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommends screening children for
autism during regularly scheduled
well-child visits.5 This policy helps doctors identify
signs of autism early in its course. Early diagnosis and treatment can help the
child reach his or her full potential.
When a developmental delay
is recognized in a child, further testing can help a doctor find out whether
the problem is related to autism, another
pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), or a
condition with similar symptoms, such as
language delays or
avoidant personality disorder. If your primary care
provider does not have specific training or experience in developmental
problems, he or she may refer your child to a specialist—such as a
developmental pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a speech therapist, a psychologist, or a child
psychiatrist—for the additional testing.
Other lab tests may be done under specific
circumstances. These tests include:
All doctors who see infants and
children for well-child visits should watch for early signs of developmental
Developmental screening tools, such as the Ages and
Stages Questionnaire or the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT),
can help assess behavior.
If a doctor discovers the following
obvious signs of developmental delays, the child should immediately be
If there are no obvious signs of developmental delays or
any unusual indications from the screening tests, most infants and children do
not need further evaluation until the next well-child visit.
children who have a sibling with autism should continue to be closely
monitored, because they are at increased risk for autism and other
developmental problems.
When socialization, learning, or behavior problems develop in a person at
any time or at any age, he or she should also be evaluated.
Early diagnosis and treatment
helps young children with
autism develop to their full potential. The primary
goal of treatment is to improve the overall ability of the child to
Symptoms and behaviors of autism can combine in many
ways and vary in severity. Also, individual symptoms and behaviors often
change over time. For these reasons, treatment strategies are tailored to
individual needs and available family resources. But in general children with
autism respond best to highly structured and specialized treatment. A program
that addresses helping parents and improving communication, social, behavioral,
adaptive, and learning aspects of a child's life will be most
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends
the following strategies for helping a child to improve overall function and
reach his or her potential:6
Many people with autism have sleep problems. These
are usually treated by staying on a routine, including a set bedtime and time
to get up. Your doctor may try medicines as a last resort.
Stories about
alternative therapies, such as secretin and auditory
integration training, have circulated in the media and other information
sources. When you are thinking about any type of treatment, find out about the source of the information and about whether the studies are scientifically
sound. Accounts of individual success are not sufficient evidence to support
using a treatment. Look for large, controlled studies to validate
Experts have not yet identified a way to prevent autism.
Public concern over stories linking
autism and childhood vaccines has persisted. But
numerous studies have failed to show any evidence of a link between autism and
the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.7 If you avoid having your children immunized, you put them and
others in your community at risk for developing serious diseases, which can
cause serious harm or even death.
Having a child with
autism requires taking a proactive approach to
learning about the condition and its treatment while working closely with
others involved in your child's care. You also need to take care of yourself so
that you are able to face the many challenges of having a child with
Ask your doctor or
contact autism groups to find training about autism and how to manage
symptoms. Parent and family education can reduce family stress
and improve a child's functioning. Understanding the
condition and knowing what to expect is an important part of helping your child
develop independence.6
Become informed about your
child's educational rights. Federal laws require
services for handicapped children, including those with autism. Also,
there may be state and local laws or policies to aid children who have autism. Find
out what services are available in your area.
Learning about autism will also help prepare you for when your child
reaches adulthood. Some
adults with autism can live by themselves, work, and
be as independent as other people their age. Others need continued support.
Close communication with others involved in your child's education and care
will help all concerned. The best treatment for children with autism is a team
approach and a consistent, structured program. Everyone involved needs to work
together to set goals for:
Work closely with the health professionals involved in
your child's care. It is important that they take time to listen to your
concerns and are willing to work with you.
Learn ways to handle the
normal range of emotions, fears, and concerns that go along with raising a
child who has autism. The daily and long-term challenges put you and your other
children at an increased risk for depression or stress-related illnesses. The
way you handle these issues influences other family members.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, is the leading
U.S. federal government agency supporting research on brain and nervous system
disorders. It provides the public with educational materials and information
about these disorders.
The Autism Science Foundation's mission is to support autism research. The organization also provides information about autism to the public and serves to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the needs of individuals and families affected by autism.
NCBDDD aims to find the cause of and prevent birth
defects and developmental disabilities. This agency works to help people of all
ages with disabilities live to the fullest. The website has information on
many topics, including genetics, autism, ADHD, fetal alcohol spectrum
disorders, diabetes and pregnancy, blood disorders, and hearing loss.
This website is sponsored by the Nemours Foundation. It
has a wide range of information about children's health—from allergies and
diseases to normal growth and development (birth to adolescence). This website
offers separate areas for kids, teens, and parents, each providing
age-appropriate information that the child or parent can understand. You can
sign up to get weekly emails about your area of interest.
The National Dissemination Center for Children with
Disabilities (NICHCY) is the national information and referral center that
provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for
families and professionals. The focus is on children and
youth, birth to age 22.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides
information to help people better understand mental health, mental disorders,
and behavioral problems. NIMH does not provide referrals to mental health
professionals or treatment for mental health problems.
CitationsVolkmar FR, et al. (2009). Pervasive developmental disorders. In BJ Sadock, VA Sadock, eds., Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 3540–3559. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Williams.American Psychiatric Association (2000). Autistic disorder. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., text rev., pp. 70–75. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.Zachor DA (2006). Autism. In FD Burg et al., eds., Current Pediatric Therapy, 18th ed., pp. 1219–1226. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.Anderson C, et al. (2012). Occurrence and family impact of elopement in children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 130(5): 870–877.Johnson CP, et al. (2007, reaffirmed 2010). American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report: Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 120(5): 1183–1215.Myers SM, et al. (2007, reaffirmed 2010). American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report: Management of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 120(5): 1162–1182.Peacock G, Yeargin-Allsopp M (2009). Autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence and vaccines. Pediatric Annals, 38(1): 22–25.Other Works ConsultedAnderson C, et al. (2012). Occurrence and family impact of elopement in children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 130(5): 870–877.Council on Children With Disabilities, Section on Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Bright Futures Steering Committee and Medical Home Initiatives for Children With Special Needs Project Advisory Committee (2006). Identifying infants and young children with developmental disorders in the medical home: An algorithm for developmental surveillance and screening. Pediatrics, 118(1): 405–4Dumont-Mathieu T, Fein D (2005). Screening for autism in young children: The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and other measures. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 11(3): 253–262.Johnson CP, et al. (2007, reaffirmed 2010). American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report: Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 120(5): 1183–1215.Parr J (2010). Autism, search date May 2009. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.Volkmar FR, et al. (2009). Autism and autism spectrum disorders: Diagnostic issues for the coming decade. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50: 108–115.Williams K, et al. (2010). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (9).Wong V, et al. (2004). A modified screening tool for autism (Checklist for Autism in Toddlers [CHAT-23]) for Chinese children. Pediatrics, 114(2): 166–176.
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Last Revised:
April 3, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & Fred Volkmar, MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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text:
kompetenzz. ist An-Institut der Fachhochschule Bielefeld
Startseite / English Information
English Information
Shaping Technologiy - Making Equal Opportunities A Reality
The main objective of the non-profit organisation Competence Center Technology-Diversity-Equal Chances is to actively help shape Germany's path towards becoming an information- and knowledge-based society. To this end, it develops and carries out a wide range of initiatives and projects that exploit the potential of women as well as men to make equal opportunity a reality in all spheres of society and work.
The strategy of equal opportunity presupposes recognition of people's diversity, their varied biographies, lifestyles and capabilities and promotes the development of the potential and opportunities this diversity entails. It uses diversity as a success factor in achieving gender and generational equality in social development.
Digital Integration
Training, Further Education and Careers
Higher Education, Science and Research
- to strengthen media literacy and increase Internet use,
- to foster new ways of thinking about career orientation and life planning,
- to promote equal opportunity and excellence in higher education, science and research.
To accomplish those goals, the organisation offers the following services
- Target-group oriented project and campaign development
- Event and project management
- Studies and expert opinions
- Consulting and benchmarking
- Development of course and training concepts
- Networking
Organisation members
German Federal Employment Agency, Cisco Systems, DAB Deutscher Akademikerinnenbund (German Federation of University Women), Deutsche Telekom, dib e.V - Deutscher Ingenieurinnenbund (German Association of Women Engineers), Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences , Research Centre Jülich, Fraunhofer Institute for Autonomous Intelligence Systems / AIS, Fraunhofer Society (Fraunhofer Society for the Advancement of Applied Research), GI - Gesellschaft für Informatik (Society for Information Technology), International Networking for Educational Transformation (iNet) , Initiative D21, Piona Point e.V. Netzwerk genderorientierte IT-Weiterbildung (Network for the promotion of gender-oriented advanced IT education), VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies, VDI Association of German Engineers, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, ver.di National Administration, and others.
Reference projects
National Pact for Women in MINT-Careers "Go-MINT", Network Gender-UseIT - Job-Chance-Internet. Women design Future, Excellence and Power in ICT, Women to Web, Gender Activities in Informatics Year, Gender Networking - Technology connects, Girls' Day - future prospects for girls, University Award - Get the Best - Nationwide training project for girls - idee_it - New Paths for Boys - Expanding Future Opportunities in Work and Family Life, Online-Year 50plus - Internet connects - ProICT - Promoting ICT to Female Students - Boys'Day - future prospects for boys