NIC educator awarded for advocacy

RATHDRUM - She plans to skydive, bike 50 miles this summer, and is excited to turn 50 on Tuesday– all of which exemplifies Patrice Wheeler’s zest for life and her nonstop energy. Described as helpful, courteous and humorous, Wheeler is also pushing herself to complete another goal – a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Idaho.

As a North Idaho College assistive technology access specialist, Wheeler recently received a NIC Staff Achievement Award for the 2006-07 academic year.

Wheeler, who resides in Rathdrum, works at the Center for Educational Access, part of NIC’s disability services program. She has become a strong campus advocate for students with disabilities.

Originally Wheeler intended to major in biochemistry in college, but switched to education with an endorsement in special education in 1997. She was teaching math part time at NIC in 1998 when a blind student in her class helped her to find her calling.

“It is a real privilege to see students become independent thinkers,” says Wheeler. “I love to see students progress, gain confidence and reach their goals despite their disabilities.”

Assistive technology is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”

It is Wheeler’s job to provide access, through the use of technology, to college programs and courses so that students can reach their academic and personal goals. Wheeler also travels to NIC’s distance learning campuses in the five northern counties to complete this task.

“Assistive software and hardware is being improved or developed so quickly that it’s important to network with other professionals and research new and improved products on a regular basis,” says Wheeler.

Wheeler developed a class, CSC 107 College Educational Technology Skills, to introduce students to Dragon Naturally Speaking Voice Recognition software and Kurzweil 3000 scan and read software.

Dragon is a type of voice recognition software that allows the user to dictate through a microphone to the computer and that dictation is translated into electronic text.

Kurzweil 3000 reads and highlights text on the computer, has auditory dictionaries and thesauruses, and can be used in a variety of ways to assist the student with English and writing assignments as well as studying class materials for tests. For blind students there are screen readers that read all text on a computer and help them to navigate the Internet.

Among her many other accomplishments, Wheeler served as the CEA’s interim director when her supervisor traveled to Africa for a six-month sabbatical last year, and she just completed a term as NIC’s staff assembly chairperson.

During her time as interim director, Wheeler pursued and supported several long months of negotiation and effort, that resulted in the first ever articulation agreement between two institutions of higher education in the Idaho, for seamless service for disabled students.

Now students who leave NIC to study at Lewis-Clark State College and the University of Idaho will see the same level of service they became accustomed to while attending NIC.

This process was started by CEA Director Sharon Daniels-Bullock and NIC’s Vice President for Student Services Eric Murray.

Wheeler also received the 2006 Disability Rights Advocate Award from the Coeur d’Alene Disability Action Center in January. Each fall the Disability Action Center asks members of the community to nominate someone who has been involved in making life better for people with disabilities. Wheeler was nominated by Murray.

“It was an honor to nominate Patrice because she has contributed a great amount of time and energy into the success of students with disabilities at NIC.

“Her personal efforts and kind support have kept students enrolled at NIC,” says Murray. “Her leadership continues to help NIC set the mark for quality services in the state. And, her enthusiasm made possible a connection with sister institutions of higher education here in Coeur d’Alene.”

Robert Grandstaff, who completed his GED studies in June, will begin NIC classes this fall.

“No matter what your disability, Patrice encourages you throughout the whole process and never once allows you to think it cannot be done,” says Grandstaff. “Without her it would have been a scary experience in an unfamiliar world.”

“These awards are quite an honor,” says Wheeler. “It shows that I am making a difference in people’s lives, and that students are empowered to reach their goals.”