La Wanda Cook

Overview

LaWanda Cook joined the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability in July, 2010. She has extensive experience in vocational counseling, personnel management and program development within non-profit organizations. She holds a BS in Rehabilitation Services from the University of Connecticut and a MS in Human Resource Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a certified rehabilitation counselor. Ms. Cook completed a PhD from the College of Applied Health Sciences/Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois. Her research explores the well-being and the inclusion of people with disabilities in integrated work and leisure settings.

Publications

Journal Articles

• LaWanda Cook, John T Foley, Luz M Semeah. 2016. An Exploration of Inclusive Worksite Wellness: Considering Employees with Disabilities, Disability and Health Journal . 9(1):100-107. (DOI:10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.08.011)
• LaWanda Cook, Kimberly Shinew, . 2014. Leisure, Work, and Disability Coping, Leisure Sciences . 36(5):420-438. (DOI:10.1080/01490400.2014.912169)
• LaWanda Cook. 2012. “I’m not the typical handicapped person”: The Significance of Leisure for Employed People with Disabilities, Social Advocacy and Systems Change Journal . 3(1):22-37.
• Hannah H Rudstam, Wendy Strobel, LaWanda Cook. 2012. Beyond Yellow Ribbons: Are Employers Prepared to Hire, Accommodate and Retain Returning Veterans with Disabilities., Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation . 36(2):87-95.
• Idethia Shevon Harvey, LaWanda Cook. 2010. Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Self-management Practices among Older African American and Non-Hispanic White Women with Chronic Conditions, Chronic Illness . 6(2):111-124.

Professional Activities

• Work-Life Balance and Disability. Presented to Hotel School, Alumni Affairs. Cornell University . 2016.
• A Proposed Model of Work, Life and Disability Management. Presented to NARRTC. Alexandria, VA. 2016.
• Workplace Bullying, Harassment, and Disability. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. webinar. 2016.
• Air Travel for Individuals with Disabilities: Intersection of the ACAA and the ADA. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. webinar. 2015.
• Impact/Outcome Stories: Using the ADA TN Curriculum to Create Change. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. 2015.
• A Proposed Model of Work, Life and Disability Management. Presented to American Psychological Association. Atlanta, GA. 2015.
• A Proposed Model of Work, Life and Disability Management. Presented to NARRTC. Alexandria, VA. 2015.
• Creating Inclusive Recreation Spaces: Lessons Learned from the Hudson Estuary Accessibility Project. Presented to New York State Recreation and Park Society. Saratoga Springs, NY. 2015.
• Access for Everyone: How do we expand waterway access for recreation?. Presented to NYS Hudson River Estuary Program. Poukeepsie, NY. 2015.
• Interacting with Colleagues with Non-Obvious Disabilities. Presented to Tioga County. Owego, NY. 2015.
• Getting the Word Out: Marketing your Training Services. Presented to Northeast ADA Center. Online. 2014.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act: What it is and What it Means for the Hospitality Industry. Presented to Cornell Hotel School. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
• Interacting Effectively with Colleagues and Students with Disabilities: Legal, Human and Practical Considerations. Presented to UUP at SUNY-Oswego. Oswego, NY. 2013.
• Interacting Effectively with Colleagues and Students with Disabilities: Legal, Human and Practical Considerations. Presented to UUP at SUNY-Oswego. Oswego, NY. 2013.
• Business Continuity Awareness and Planning for HSO. Presented to FLIC and Tompkins County EMS. Ithaca. 2013.
• Managing Training Requests: Record Keeping, Contracts, References and Referrals. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
• ADA TN Orientation, Curriculum Roll-out & Change Agent Workshop. Presented to NEADA. Albany, NY. 2013.
• Worksite Wellness, Leisure, and Disability. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
• It''s about Talent and Relationships: Creating Opportunities for Job Seekers with Disabilities. Presented to Recruitment and Employment Center, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
• Using the Tools in YOUR Online Community. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
• The Ameriicans with Disabilities Act and Disability Disclosure. Presented to Mental Health Association of New Jersey. Union, NJ. 2013.
• Helping Individuals with Disabilities to Find and Maintain Employment. Presented to The Union County Community Work Council. Springfield, NJ. 2013.
• Attracting & Retaining Minority Employees with Disabilities. Presented to CWNYBLN. 2013.
• ADA TN Orientation, Curriculum Roll-out & Change Agent Workshop. Presented to NEADA. Trenton, NJ. 2013.
• Interacting Effectively with Clients and Colleagues with Disabilities:. Presented to Gannett Health Services. Ithaca, NY. 2013.
• ADA TN Orientation, Curriculum Roll-out & Change Agent Workshop. Presented to NEADA. Ithaca, NY . 2013.
• Impact Stories: Update on your Efforts and the Impact on your Local Community. Presented to NEADA. 2013.
• Increasing Well-Being through Empathic Design . Presented to Center on Disabilities at CSU Northridge. California State University, Northridge. 2013.
• Presented to Northeast ADA Center. St. Croix, USVI, St. Thomas, USVI & Puerto Rico. 2013.
• Perceptions of Access to Worksite Wellness Resources to Employees with Disabilities. 2012.
• Inclusive Emergency Management Services: Remembering People with Disabilities. Presented to Finger Lakes Independence Center. Ithaca, NY. 2012.
• The Development of the Access to Worksite Wellness Survey for Employees with Disabilities (AWWSED). Presented to North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity. Birmingham, AL. 2012.
• Getting Hired & Moving Ahead with a Disability. Presented to ACCES-VR. 2012.
• Developing capacity in a US disability context: A train-the-trainer program. Cape Town, South Africa. 2012.
• Workforce Developments that Impact People with Disabilities and Disability . Presented to APSE. Arlington, VA. 2012.
• Workforce Developments that Impact People with Disabilities. Presented to NYS APSE. Lake Placid, NY. 2012.
• "Serving Jobseekers with Disabilities in Challenging Times". Presented to ACCES-VR. 2011.
• We Work, too: Leisure, Disability & Work-Life Balance. Presented to National Recreation and Parks Association. Atlanta, GA. 2011.
• Trend Watch: Making Sense of Workforce and Workplace Trends that Impact People with Disabilities. Presented to Association of Persons in Supported Employment. Seattle, WA. 2011.
• ADA Trainer Network Program. Presented to DBTAC Regional Network. Albuquerque, NM. 2010.
• Disability IS Diversity: Tapping into the Talent of New Jerseyans with Disabilities. Presented to NJ Workforce Investment Board. Cumberland, NJ. 2010.
• Disability IS Diversity: Tapping into the Talent of New Jerseyans with Disabilities. Presented to NJ Workforce Investment Board. Salem, NJ. 2010.
• Disability IS Diversity: Including America''s Largest Diversity Population in ConEdison''s Workplace Strategy. Presented to ConEdison. NYC. 2010.
• Next Steps: Intersections & Crossroads: New York State Human Rights Law and the ADA. Presented to DBTAC/NIDRR. Webinar. 2010.
• The news is not all bad:  Workforce trends disability service professionals need to know about. Presented to APSE National Organization. Atlanta, GA. 2010.