ALBANY, N. Y. August 14, 2007 - New York State United Teachers has rescued from the brink of extinction a teen-run newspaper on disability issues that had lost its backing by a state agency.

"We don't want the kids to have to say, 'Stop the presses,'" said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "This student-run project furthers a mission that is near and dear to NYSUT - strengthening education for all students and enabling students with disabilities to have every opportunity to succeed in school, college and beyond."

Student editors and volunteers worked with heavy hearts last spring on their annual Disability Awareness Newsletter, knowing it would be the last issue of the teen-edited publication. It contained student articles on disability issues, including interviews with experts as well as students' own experiences, and had been distributed annually to thousands of students statewide. Funded and supported by a state agency, the newsletter had been jettisoned in an agency re-ordering of priorities.

But when New York State United Teachers leaders read in the Albany Times Union about the newsletter's expected demise, they pledged the union's support to keep the publication going.

"NYSUT is proud to sponsor this project," said NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira, who oversees the union's research arm encompassing educational issues and special education. "First, it brings together students with and without disabilities for hands-on opportunities to write, edit and design a remarkable newspaper. Secondly, the end product reaches thousands of students, parents, and educators to promote awareness of disabilities from a student's point of view."

More than a dozen high school students from across the state, with and without disabilities, will spend three days at the union's Latham headquarters this week to research, write and edit the 2007 version of the Disability Awareness Newsletter. They will work with NYSUT staff and other volunteers to produce the publication. About 30,000 copies of the newsletter have been distributed annually to schools throughout New York state.

"I'm really excited that the newsletter is back up and running," said Rory Harte, this year's student editor and a senior at Guilderland High School. "It continues to be a wonderful way to learn about strengths and challenges that we all face."

Mitchell Goliber from Schenectady High School - who is autistic - agrees.

"I've really enjoyed working with all the people in the program. It's such a pleasure to be part of researching and writing the articles. Before this, I was not aware there were so many disabilities. Now I am more sensitive."

NYSUT, with more than 585,000 members statewide, will work with the student editors to help broaden the newspaper's circulation. "Through our partnership, we can make it possible for students to increase distribution across the state and through our Web site (http://www.nysut.org/)," Neira noted. The union also is underwriting student travel and workshop expenses, and contributing in-kind printing services for the publication.

Student editing will begin Wednesday evening, Aug. 15, and end Friday, Aug. 17 around midday. NYSUT staff, including volunteers from the union's research and communications departments, will be on hand as resources, but Neira noted that "the students take the lead in all phases of producing this informative newspaper."

Catharine McHugh, organizer and parent/student liaison for the project, said the newsletter serves two purposes: to encourage high school students and other readers to develop a keener awareness of disability issues and those affected by them; and to bring students with disabilities together with others so they can learn from each other.

NYSUT is an active supporter of many community and philanthropic initiatives, including United Way, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.

NYSUT represents more than 585,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.