Tobey Partch-Davies was recently voted the Co-Chair of the President’s Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities (CSPD) at the University of New Hampshire.
“I look forward to continuing my work with the CSPD as the newly elected Co-Chair, and I wish to thank the outgoing Co-Chair, Georgia Kerns, for her many years of stewardship,” shares Tobey Partch-Davies, IOD Project Director. “This year we intend to support a stimulating array of new programming in partnership with the Community Task Force promoting inclusive excellence, such as education and training on Universal Design for Learning.”
The CSPD facilitates a number of annual events and ongoing initiatives, including the International Day of Disability, which will be conducted this year during International Education Week. The commission hosts a panel each spring, where students with disabilities share their on-campus experiences. Other efforts include improving the UNH Accessibility Map and communication systems for those impacted by snow/weather alerts, as well as raising awareness about the new portal for reporting “access” or “disability” concerns or troubles.
Dr. Partch-Davies, PhD, is a Project Director with a focus on the social determinants of health. She is committed to advancing and sustaining the meaningful inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in every aspect of family, school, and community life. She currently leads several sub-studies for the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Evaluation in partnership with the Carsey School of Social Policy and the UNH Nursing Department. This project is charged with evaluating New Hampshire’s fidelity to the implementation of the Healthy Families America home-visiting model, as well as determining the effect of the model on maternal and child health outcomes. She also works at the state and national levels to improve employment and financial capability outcomes through policy and practice innovations. In addition, Partch-Davies teaches The Right to Be Disabled Honors course as part of the UNH Discovery Program.
The mission of the President’s Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities is to promote empowerment and inclusion of students, faculty and staff, and guests with disabilities at the University of New Hampshire. The Commission acknowledges that people with disabilities are a diverse group that includes individuals with both visible and non-visible disabilities. The Commission shall provide a forum for discussion and assessment of disability-related issues and opportunities that are relevant for the campus and larger community. In addition, the Commission shall advise the President, Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Inclusive Excellence, and the Director of Affirmative Action and Equity on disability–related issues, policies, services, attitudes, and practices on campus. This mission is motivated by the belief that people with disabilities are assets to our community, adding value and diversity to our living, working, and learning environment. Learn more about the Commission on their website.
