Taking the "Dis" out of "Disabilities":

Special Needs SIG Seeks Support

Here's a reminder as the STC membership renewal process creeps up on its February 28 deadline. The Society's newest SIG, the Special Needs SIG, still needs new members to support its twin missions:

Assist technical communicators with disabilities in the practice of our profession
Provide all technical communicators with information that will help them make our communication products more accessible to users with disabilities.

The SNSIG has already made significant progress: a comprehensive web site at www.stcsig.org/sn/index.shtml, which contains a detailed mission statement; an online newsletter (the first edition is posted at www.stcsig.org/sn/newsletter.shtml); and extensive support to the 49th STC Annual Conference, including publication of Guidelines for Persons with Special Needs and an Addendum to those guidelines, a successful progression, and several articles in the Proceedings (conference materials available at www.stc-orlando.org/prodev/49notes/SNC.asp).

But there is much yet to do, and the SNSIG needs more people. It is looking for both active members to join their initiatives and patrons to help secure the budget needed to fulfill objectives.

If you would like to support the Special Needs SIG, you have the following options:

If you have not yet submitted your STC membership renewal, simply check the SNSIG box when you do.
If you have already submitted your STC membership renewal, download the SIG sign-up form from www.stc.org/PDF_Files/sigform.pdf and submit it directly to the Society Office.

In either case, to receive the SNSIG's newsletter and to add your name to the listserv without delay, contact daniel.w.voss@lmco.com or jvinegar@myranch.com.