JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY’S 27th ANNUAL SOCIAL WORK CONFERENCE

KEYNOTER TO SPEAK ON HIS DISABLING DISEASE THAT TRANSFORMED HIM FROM RANGER/SPECIAL FORCES TO COMEBACK FROM THE DEAD FOUR TIMES

Scottie O’Neal has been considered disabled since 1994, at which time he was diagnosed with a rare blood disease called acute intermittent porphyria. His disease process has caused numerous health concerns and complications such as strokes and comas.  One coma, in 1999, left him paralyzed and he uses a power wheelchair for mobility.  He has had allergic reactions/intolerances to all forms of pain medications and all but two forms of anesthesia. He has had seventy-two comas, and has at one time been blind and at one time deaf.  He has coded seventeen times and been pronounced dead four times.  His medical bills to date total over 20.4 million dollars. His current prescriptions cost are $111,000 every three months.

 

Before his illness became active, he served as a US Army Ranger and Special Forces sniper, paramedic, rescue and recovery diver, firefighter, deputy state fire marshal / arson investigator, law enforcement officer, and a federal fugitive recovery agent.  He is the current Executive Director of Disability Solutions in Hartsville, South Carolina.  He also is a Vice-Chair of the Governor appointed South Carolina Independent Living Council (SCILC), a board member of the SC Spinal Cord Injury Association and serves as a national consultant to the US Department on Aging’s efforts to establish Aging and Disability Resource Centers around the nation.  He serves as a consultant to several local, state, and national organizations and agencies regarding disability issues.    

He hopes to one day see an America that truly stands for liberty and justice for all not liberty and justice for some.  He has testified before the US Congress on the Americans with Disabilities Act and he has been invited to the White House because of his advocacy for disabilities.  In his spare time, he teaches self defense to people with disabilities around the state of South Carolina (he is a certified instructor in three forms of martial arts).  He also gets wheelchairs donated and ramps built for people that need them.

He will be describing his experiences to raise awareness about disabilities during a presentation at Jacksonville State University’s 27th Annual Social Work Conference on April 18, 2008.  He will also explain how people might get involved to improve conditions for disabled people.  According to Dr. Mark Fagan, Head for Sociology and Social Work at JSU, “he is one of the most inspirational, educational, and motivational speakers I have heard in my 38 years spent around college campuses.”  There will also be two sessions on Autism, four sessions on special needs of children, and two sessions on social work advocacy.  See below for complete information.

 

BSW Program at JSU

April 18, 2008

Houston Cole Library

11th Floor

"Building on Strengths: Focusing on Ability, not Disability"

 

  8:00 – 8:45              Registration

 

  8:45 – 10:00          General Session One  (free to all JSU faculty and students--1103 A & B

                                  Raising Awareness About Disabilities

                                  

                                  Welcome 

                                  Dr. William A. Meehan, President, JSU

                                  Dr. Rebecca Turner, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs; JSU

                                  

                                  Keynote Speaker

                                  Mr. Scottie O'Neal, Executive Director, Disability Solutions; Hartsville, South Carolina                                  

                                 

10:00 – 10:15          Break

 

10:15 – 11:30          General Session Two--1103 A & B

                                   Autism Society of Alabama (early detection and diagnosis, effective interventions, resources

                                   Ms. Anna Bloom, Program Manager

                                   Ms. Jennifer Muller, Executive Director

                     

11:30 – 1:00             Lunch on Your Own

 

1:00 – 2:00                Breakout Sessions One

1.       Autism: A Parent's Perspective--1103 A & B

Ms. Deena Langdale, LBSW; Dr. Chris Murdock; Ms. Leigh Ann Murdock, LCSW, PIP; Ms. Lisa O'Dell, LBSW; and Ms. Tammy Wigington

 

2.       Americans with Disabilities Act--1101 C

Mr. Scottie O'Neal, Executive Director, Disability Solutions; Hartsville, South Carolina

 

3.       Special Needs Adoption: Challenges and Rewards--1102

Dr. Jennifer Savage, LCSW, PIP; Assistant Professor, BSW Program at JSU

     

  2:00 – 2:15              Break

 

  2:15 – 3:15              Breakout Sessions Two

1.      Training for BSW Field Instructors--1101 C

Ms. Robyn Snider, LCSW, PIP; BSW Program Field Coordinator at JSU

Mr. James Powe, MSW, ACSW; Field Supervisor, BSW Program at JSU

Ms. Julie Nix, MSW, LCSW; Field Supervisor, BSW Program at JSU

 

2.   Alabama Newborn Hearing Screening Program--1103 A & B

Ms. Erica Hardee, MS, CCC/A and Ms. Missy Kemp, MS, CCC/A; Children's Hospital Hear Center, Birmingham, Alabama

 

3.    Top Ten Special Education Advocacy Tips for Social Workers--1102

                                    Ms. Nancy Anderson, Staff Attorney and Ms. Tuwanna McGee, Senior Case Advocate; Alabama           

                                    Disabilities Advocacy Program; Tuscaloosa, Alabama

 

  3:15 – 3:30             Break

 

  3:30 – 4:15             Breakout Sessions Three  

                                  1.       Reactive Attachment Disorders--1103 A & B 

                                   Ms. Dee Barclift, LCSW, PIP; Instructor, BSW Program at JSU 

 

                                   2.      Social Work Advocacy--1101 C 

                                   Dr. Karen Starks; School of Social Work, University of Alabama

 

                                   3.   The Kids on the Block: Combating Childhood Obesity and Overweight--1102

                                   The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties

 

 

  5 CEUs for Social Work available and included in registration                               

 

Registration Form

Please print and mail to:

Gail Childs

306 Brewer Hall

Jacksonville State University

700 Pelham Road North

Jacksonville, AL 36265

 

**Please mail your check for $10 for full-time student or $25.00 for all others

**Make the check payable to the JSU Social Work Program

 

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