PI Highlight
Interwork InstituteDr. Caren Sax, professor and chair of SDSU’s Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, & Postsecondary Education (ARPE), teaches in the Rehabilitation Counseling Program and the Independent Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership, Community College Leadership Concentration Program. Her entire career has been focused on providing access and opportunities for persons with disabilities and non-traditional learners.
In addition to her department responsibilities, Dr. Sax co-directs the Interwork Institute with Dr. Fred McFarlane. The Interwork Institute is the organizational structure for extramural funding awarded to ARPE faculty and project staff. Interwork faculty and staff administer projects related to diversity, assistive technology, transition and supported employment, leadership, rehabilitation administration, psychiatric rehabilitation, cognitive disabilities, and access to postsecondary education.These additional activities and resources build on faculty expertise, enhance curriculum, and most importantly, offer students authentic experiences for applying theory to practice.
Seneca Sharp displays his poster of an
accommodation designed for a woman
with chronic back pain.
Lynn Gagne customized a book holder
for a woman with cerebral palsy.
Dr. Sax’s work at the Institute involves a variety of programs. She is responsible for approximately $10-12 million in grants and contracts annually. Many of her projects reflect her focus on collaborating across disciplines and organizations, specifically related to expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For example, she designed the Certificate in Rehabilitation Technology with Dr. Andrew Szeto, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, which offers coursework in the assessment for and access to assistive technologies used by individuals with disabilities to expand opportunities for employment, education, recreation, and community inclusion. Dr. Sax has published research on the use of a person-centered assessment tool (Matching Person & Technology) with the creator of the instrument, Dr. Marcia Scherer. Drs. Sax and Scherer are currently working on a short form of the survey to be used by rehabilitation professionals, as well as related service providers.
Dr. Sax facilitated a PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows
with Hope) with Camp Pendletonfamily members, EFMP
Exceptional Family Member Program) staff, and EFRC staff. In collaboration with the Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC), which became part of the Institute in 2007,
Dr. Sax serves as PI for Project Pendleton: Military Family Support 360 Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. This partnership among EFRC staff, Camp Pendleton families, youth with developmental disabilities and professionals from related agencies seeks to strengthen military families’ capacity to assist their children with developmental disabilities in maximizing their independence, productivity, integration and inclusion into the community. Dr. Charles Degeneffe (ARPE) and Mrs. Sherry Torok (EFRC Executive Director) co-direct the project.
Dr. Sax has expanded her strategies for interagency collaboration with colleagues in other countries. In addition to sharing expertise in the use of interdisciplinary teams related to assistive technology acquisition, she has conducted training, presented at international conferences, and written books and articles about interagency collaboration and systems change efforts required for quality outcomes for youth with disabilities as they transition from the K-12 system to adulthood. She has worked in Ireland, Thailand, China, Netherlands, the Caribbean, and in Pacific Island nations. As a result of some of these relationships, Dr. Sax has negotiated internships for graduate students.
Customized hand controls
for driving a car.
(Kanchanaburi, Thailand)
Customized lift built for a young
man with paraplegia in order for
him to run a motorcycle repair
shop.(Kanchanaburi, Thailand) It has been said that “the sun never sets on Interwork” as there are people and projects working across many time zones to ensure that learning is accessible and capacity is built locally to meet the needs of students and faculty.
Dr. Sax’s work is supported by national, county, state,and private sponsors including: the Administration for Children and Families; Rehabilitation Services Administration; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; the California Departments of Health Services, Education, Developmental Services and Rehabilitation; San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency; San Diego County Office of Education; Rady Children’s Hospital; Down Syndrome Association; Poway Unified School District; Palomar Pomerado Health; American Samoa Government Department of Education; and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.
Dr. Sax, along with co-instructor Tony Langton,
presenting certificates to participants after completion
of Assistive Technology training at Ratchasuda
College, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
To learn more about the important work accomplished by Dr. Sax, ARPE, and Interwork faculty and staff, please visit this website: http://www.interwork.sdsu.edu/ or email Dr. Sax at: csax@mail.sdsu.edu.