BlazeSports is a comprehensive program consisting of year-round local programs delivered by the community recreation provider, including state-level sport camps, clinics, junior teams, and regional competitions sponsored by USDAF.

BlazeSports has a variety of sports camps in July and August. For more information about any of these activities, visit BlazeSports' Web site at http://www.blazesports.com.

Abilities Expo, the leading show dedicated to educating and improving the lives of people with disabilities, senior citizens, and caregivers, is a great place for people with disabilities to discover new products and services. Products are conveniently displayed for you to see, test, and compare. The expo also hosts a series of free workshops and seminars.

Shows are held at several locations nationally: Chicago Metro, August 13-15; Metro Detroit, September 17-19; Northern California, November 12-14.

View additional information at http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/.

The Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA) is pleased to have been chosen by the International Society for Aging and Physical Activity (ISAPA http://www.isapa.org) to host the 6th World Congress on Aging and Physical Activity, "Research to Action for an Aging Society," from Aug. 3-7 in London, Ontario.

The World Congress is an opportunity for the world community to share the latest research findings in the area of aging and physical activity. This will include leading-edge methods on developing, implementing, and evaluating physical activity programs for older adults. Researchers, practitioners, organizations, older adults, and the general public who are interested in promoting active and healthy lifestyles for adults should attend.

For more information, go to http://www.uwo.ca/actage, call 519-661-1603, or e-mail wcapa@uwo.ca.

The Amputee Coalition of America will hold its 2004 Annual Conference and Exposition in Nashville, Tennessee, August 5-7.

The conference will include educational sessions, technology information, and peer-support sessions; fitness and gait labs to improve mobility; advocacy information on access to care; and exhibits displaying the latest technology.

For more information and to register, go to http://www.amputee-coalition.org/annual_meeting_about.html or call 888-267-5669.

The 2004 Brain Injury State Conference, ?It takes a Village: Building a Strong Texas Brain Injury Community,? will be held by the Brain Injury Association of Texas Aug. 14-15 in Houston, TX.

For more information, see the Web site at http://www.biatx.org, or contact the association at info@biatx.org or 800-392-0040.

From Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, people with disabilities, researchers, family members, service providers, disability advocates, staff of federal, state, and local government agencies and students from New Mexico, the Southwest, and the nation will come together to learn from each other, share ideas and the latest research findings, and discuss and debate current policies and issues concerning disability and health.

A special mini-theme will explore health-related aspects of disability, including promoting the health of people with disabilities, assessing the impact of disability on health, and evaluating health and disability.

Dr. James Rimmer, director of NCPAD, will be one of the keynote speakers.

For more information, see the conference Web site at http://cdd.unm.edu/swconf2004/.

To be held Nov. 11-13 in Orlando, FL, this conference will feature the latest market research on the mature population, world-class speakers, and more than 100 educational workshops, new activity sessions, and special events. The conference will also offer an unique opportunity to learn from and network with other professionals from such diverse fields as fitness, recreation, retirement, assisted living, rehabilitation, medicine, and wellness - all under one roof.

To view a conference schedule, learn about speakers, and find information about hotels and conference fees, go to http://www.icaa.cc/convention/conventionmain.htm or call the ICAA toll-free at 866-335-9777. To obtain a downloadable application form, go to http://www.icaa.cc.

NuStep Inc., a growing Ann Arbor company that designs, manufactures, and sells wellness and fitness products, plans to hire a Research Coordinator to conduct original scientific research as well as coordinate external research projects by leading researchers. The chosen candidate will conduct research in the areas of stroke, cardiac, obesity, and aging, and write grants for funding, publish and present data, stay connected with the scientific community, and run an exercise lab. Qualifications must include a Master's degree in exercise physiology, exercise science, or a related field, and preferably a Doctorate degree; three years' practical experience in scientific research and current or future certification from the ACSM; and excellent communication and presentation skills. If you want to join other friendly, fitness-minded people in a smoke-free, picturesque environment, e-mail your resume, a cover letter, and salary history to jbrant@nustep.com.

The School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, through the Health Research and Policy Centers, is currently accepting applications for postdoctoral fellowships in Gerontological Public Health. This training program is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and provides funding support for 2-3 years for postdoctoral trainees.

This is an integrated multidisciplinary program with academic faculty and researchers in public health, gerontology, geriatrics, epidemiology, biostatistics, psychology, sociology, disability and human development, medicine, and occupational therapy. The goal of the program is to develop highly trained future faculty and researchers in health and aging. This program focuses on developing research skills through mentoring, a comprehensive curriculum, presentations and publications, and internal workshops and seminars. Fellows will be matched with a faculty mentor working in their area of interest for intensive training, collaboration, and scholarship.

Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. For more information, go to http://www.uic.edu or contact Thomas R. Prohaska, Ph.D., Gerontological Public Health Training Program Director, Center for Research on Health and Aging (MC 275), 1747 W. Roosevelt Rd., Room 558, Chicago, IL 60608, e-mail: prohaska@uic.edu, T: 312-413-9830, F: 312-413-9835.

Parent Public Policy Fellowship Program:

Parents or close family members of a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities are invited to submit applications for a one-year fellowship in Washington, DC, to learn how legislation is initiated, developed, and passed by Congress or how programs are administered and regulations promulgated by federal agencies. Candidates should have solid policy experience in state level advocacy, education, development of community supports and services, or similar areas, beyond the level to benefit solely the candidate's own child. Salaried experience in the field is NOT a requirement.

Professional Public Policy Fellowship Program:

Mid-career professionals in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities are invited to submit applications for a one-year fellowship in Washington, DC, to observe and participate in federal public policy development through work as staff of a congressional committee or federal agency. Outstanding policy experience is sought in: 1) state-level advocacy; 2) education, law, economics, criminal justice, international issues, child welfare or other social services, housing, community organizing, etc.; 3) health or mental health care policy affecting persons with intellectual disabilities; or 4) development of family support services.

The deadline for both programs is September 1. Address questions about either program to Jill Fosse at 301-565-5476 and for application details, see the announcement at http://www.jpkf.org.

Nickelodeon Pro-Social "Let's Just Play" Campaign Grant Awards: Nickelodeon, which is celebrating its landmark 25th anniversary this year, supports television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines, and feature films. Launched in June 2003, the multi-platform "Let's Just Play" campaign is Nickelodeon's national, grassroots effort to get kids more physically active and to encourage more positive, healthy, and playful lifestyles for kids across America.

Nickelodeon's pro-social "Let's Just Play" campaign, which celebrates active, healthy lifestyles for kids, is announcing its first call for entries for a newly established "Let's Just Play" grants program, offering a half-million dollars in awards to schools and after-school programs to provide resources to create and expand opportunities for physical play. Elementary schools, middle schools and after-school programs across the country are eligible to enter the grants program by participating in "Let's Just Play" events within their own local communities. Criteria for entries, step-by-step details about how to apply, and other information are now available at http://www.everythingnick.com. An interesting grant application would be to target children with disabilities, who usually have a much higher level of physical inactivity and social isolation.

For more information, contact Lauren Sklar, T: 212-846-7653, e-mail: Lauren.sklar@nick.com, and Nancy Muldoon, T: 212-846-7491, e-mail: nancy.muldoon@nick.com.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a national non-profit cross-disability member organization, invites applications for the 2004 Paul G. Hearne-AAPD Leadership Awards program. The deadline is September 10.

Up to three people with disabilities who are emerging as leaders in their respective fields will be awarded $10,000 each through the program to help them continue their progress and development as leaders. They also will have an opportunity to meet and network with national disability leaders at the AAPD Leadership Gala in Washington, DC, in early 2005.

For complete application instructions and information on past awardees go to http://www.aapd-dc.org/awards/awards04/hearne_app04.html, or for additional requests for proposals in Disability, click on http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_disabled.jhtml.