AZ AER FALL CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Transcription

1 RADISSON POCO DIABLO, SEDONA AZ NOV. 5TH & 6TH, 2009 AZ AER FALL CONFERENCE PROGRAM Meet Our Guest Speaker: B.J. LeJeune B. J. LeJeune, M.Ed., CVRT, CRC, Rehabilitation Contents Meet BJ! 1 Resort Maps 2 Program Summary 3 Program Description 5 Business Meeting 8 Educator/Research Associate, serves in a number of capacities at the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (RRTC) at Mississippi State University, including that of Training Director, and Director of Deafblind programs. Her background includes working as a rehabilitation teacher, prevocational program specialist for Deafblind youth, geriatric program specialist, disabled student services coordinator, deaf-blind specialist, and rehabilitation counselor. She also is the Project Director and instructor of the Vision Specialist Certificate Program at Mississippi State University. BJ is the founder and executive director of CARE Ministries, a national Christian organization which serves people who are blind and visually impaired. Located in Starkville, MS, CARE Ministries serves over 1,800 patrons from every state and territor and 15 foreign countries. BJ has her Bachelor s degree in Psychology from the University of North Florida, her Master s degree in Rehabilitation Teaching from the University of Arkansas, and has completed all the coursework for her doctorate at Mississippi State University. FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to Sedona! I am thrilled that we are having our confe rence in one of Arizona s most beau tiful locales. Our theme is Latest an d Greatest and the program reflec ts innovative teaching ideas, thoug ht provoking topics, and recent advan ces in technology. This confe rence is not just an opportunity to learn new skills but to have a short retreat! Enjoy!

2 Resort Maps

3 Thursday, Nov. 5th 8:00-8:30 Registration: Pastries, coffee, juice and tea will be served. Poster Sessions 8:30-8:45 Opening Remarks/housekeeping 9:00-10:00 Keynote: Profiles in Courage: Battling Compassion Fatigue 10:15-11:45 A. Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injury Part 1: Neuro-Anatomy and Behavioral Mapping B. Assistive Technologies Currently Available to the Deaf-Blind for Community Access Purposes C. Bag of Tricks! Functional Vision Assessments with Infants, Preschoolers and Children with Multiple Disabilities 12:00-1:00 Lunch & Margaret Bloom Awards 1:00-1:45 Business Meeting 2:00-3:00 D. PERFECT Fitness: Personalized Exercise for Effective Conditioning and Training: A Pilot Project E. ACVREP: Moving Forward...Stakeholder Involvement in the Development of Certification Program F. Understanding Poverty in These Trying Times 3:00-3:30 Break & Visit Vendors 3:30-4:30 G. Teaching Orientation and Mobility Skills for Night Travel to Students with RP, Ushers Syndrome, and CVI H. Low Vision classroom solutions for K - 12 I. Jumping into the Johns: Informal Reading Inventory Administration Made Easy

4 Friday, Nov. 6th 7:45-8:15 Registration: Pastries, coffee, juice and tea will be served. Poster Sessions 8:15-8:30 Opening Remarks/housekeeping 9:00-10:30 J. Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injury Part 2: Rehabilitation Strategies K. Digital Books as Transition Tools L. Assistive Technology Assessment - ALL TVI's Can Do It 10:30-11:15 Business Meeting 11:30-12:30 M. Orientation and Mobility Sessions from the 2008 AER International Conference N. Preparing for Market - Selling Bokashi at the Downtown Farmer's Market O. A Comparison of Recording Devices

5 Program Description Keynote Presentation: Profiles in Courage: Battling Compassion Fatigue Presenter: B. J. LeJeune, M.Ed., CVRT, CRC, Rehabilitation Educator/Research Associate Abstract: With more demands and less help, it is easy to get lost in compassion overload! Through this presentation service providers will be able to identify signs of compassion overload and through profiles of courage and resilience find at least the potential for peace. A. Title: Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injury Part 1: Neuro-Anatomy and Behavioral Mapping Presenter: B. J. LeJeune, M.Ed., CVRT, CRC, Rehabilitation Educator/Research Associate Abstract: We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and yet an insult to the brain through trauma, injury or disease can cause a myriad of mild to disastrous results to persons of all ages. This introduction to the neurological system is designed to help service providers understand the ramifications of various types of brain injury. B. Title: Assistive Technologies Currently Available to the Deaf-Blind for Community Access Purposes Presenter: Ed Gervasoni, COMS Abstract: This presentation will cover various ways that Assistive Technologies (AT) and accompanying strategies can assist a person who is deaf-blind or has a combined vision and hearing loss to gain access to direct communication with others, obtain increased amounts of auditory & visual information within a given environment and to assist with safer, more efficient travel in certain community settings. Limitations of current AT along with future possibilities will be discussed. Additionally it will address how specific types of AT will benefit individuals who fall into one of the following four sub-groups: 1) age-related deaf-blindness, 2) Deaf living with vision loss, 3) Blind living with hearing loss, and 4) early onset of deafness & blindness. C. Title: Bag of Tricks! Functional Vision Assessment with infants, preschoolers, and multiple disabilities Presenters: Kartar Khalsa, DeEtte Snyder, Colleen Oakes, and Pam Mohn Abstract: The FUNCTIONAL VISION ASSESSMENT process is fundamental to the provision of services to infants and preschoolers with visual impairment! It becomes especially vital as youngsters approach 3 years of age and transition to preschool placement. The four presenters, all employees of the Foundation for Blind Children, propose to share formalized and non-standard methods to evaluate use of vision in functional routines. They will also demonstrate APH's TOAD Kit (Tools for Assessment and Development of Visual Skills).

6 D. Title: PERFECT fitness: Personalized exercise for effective conditioning and training: A pilot project Presenters: Irene Topor and Kathy Zwald Abstract: Individualized fitness assessment in the areas of strength, cardiovascular conditioning, body composition, and flexibility exercises were conducted with 8 ASDB students years. Exercise programs were developed for each student. Supervised biweekly workouts over 9 sessions contributed to the students' positive attitude for working out" as well differences in time devoted to cardiovascular exercise and amount of weight used in strength conditioning." E. Title: ACVREP: Moving Forward...Stakeholder Involvement in the Development of Certification Programs Presenter: Garett Holm Abstract: As a certifying body in the field of vision rehabilitation and education, it is the responsibility of ACVREP to develop and maintain certification programs that serves to fairly and accurately assess professional competency at the individual level and promotes the provision of quality services. Certification itself is build upon a foundation of relevant, field-driven professional standards and rigorous eligibility criteria. In this presentation, Garett Holm, President of ACVREP, will discuss the process of developing and maintaining professional standards and eligibility criteria in accordance to industry standards and guidelines for the purpose of certification. In addition, Holm will discuss plans and actions implemented by ACVREP to facilitate greater stakeholder involvement in this process F. Title: Understanding Poverty in These Trying Times Presenter: Miguel Gamez Abstract: Understanding Poverty" is a frank and informative discussion of the characteristics and impact of poverty in our challenging economic environment. Because the incidence of children with disability and handicap rises in low income groups this discussion of poverty is relevant for vision education and rehabilitation professionals who work with children and clients of all ages." G. Title: Teaching Orientation and Mobility Skills for Night Travel to Students with RP, Ushers Syndrome, and CVI Presenter: Ed Gervasoni, COMS Abstract: Assessment and instructional strategies for working with students who have RP, Ushers Syndrome and CVI during night travel will be addressed. Will share assessment form, discuss tasks to be assessed and variety of the lighting environments to conduct assessments and instruction in. Instructional strategies across environments will be discussed.

7 H. Vendor: HumanWare Presenter: Ed Wikdall Title: Low Vision classroom solutions for K - 12 Abstract: With a presentation and demo, this seminar will cover a range of solutions from HumanWare for Low Vision students for all grades, K I. Title: Jumping into the Johns: Informal reading inventory administration made easy Presenters: Irene Topor and Stephan Goudinoff Areas covered: Education, Low Vision, Assessment Abstract: Teachers of students with visual impairments are responsible for collaborating with team members to determine their students' reading media, fluency, accuracy and comprehension. One assessment that will help with this task is the Johns Informal Reading Inventory. The presenters will share an original, instructional DVD of an experienced teacher of two students administering the Johns Inventory. J. Title: Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injury Part 2: Rehabilitation Strategies Presenter: B. J. LeJeune, M.Ed., CVRT, CRC, Rehabilitation Educator/Research Associate Abstract: Strategies for rehabilitation of persons with both vision loss and brain injury can be fuzzy at best. Based on personal experience and extensive research, BJ shares both standard strategies and her take on what works and what to do when it doesn t work. Opportunity will also be given for discussion and problem solving. K. Vendor: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Title: Digital Books as Transition Tools Presenter: Mary Alexander Abstract: A discussion and demonstration of how the world of digital media has provided new tools for our students transitioning into college. This workshop will include demonstrations of downloadable media from RFB&D, BookShare, OverDrive and NLS. Also demonstrated will be the manner in which students can use their BrailleNotes or other note-takers to listen to DAISY books. Time will be allowed for questions. L. Title: Assistive Technology Assessment - ALL TVI's Can Do It! Presenters: Sam Ace and Gabino Lares Samuel Ace has compiled an Assistive Technology Assessment that is easy for all TVI's to complete. The assessment is based on information from the LMA and FVA, and combines the best of other existing technology assessments. The assessment ultimately uses a team approach to recommend the best possible technologies for a student with vision loss - technologies based on the student's literacy medium, as well as present and future needs.

8 M. Title: Orientation and Mobility Sessions from the 2008 AER International Conference Presenter: Erin Brewer, COMS Abstract: This presentation will touch on Orientation and Mobility sessions attended during the 2008 AER International Conference. Some of the session presentations that will be discussed will be: Street Crossings, Applying Grade Level Content Standards to O&M, Playful O&M for younger students, Severity Rating Scale for O&M, Putting Orientation back into O&M, Tips for safe and Efficient Travel, Accessible Pedestrian Signals and Rural Transportation. N. Title: Preparing for Market - Selling Bokashi at the Downtown Farmer's Market Presenters: Diane Raab, TVI Abstract: The continuing education students at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind get a true hands-on experience with a unique composting agent called Bokashi. This product has been produced at the school since 2000, and the Adult Preparation for Transition students learned how to first make Bokashi and then how to market it and sell it at the downtown Farmer's Market. The skills involved in this process are transferrable to any potential jobs they may seek in the future. O. Title: A Comparison of Recording Devices Presenter: Manny Aregullin, AT specialist Abstract: Not all portable recorders are the same. Come hear Manny share his product reviews on popular brands of portable recorders, such as the Victor Stream. A description of the various features suitable for different types of users will be discussed.

9 Thursday Business Meeting Agenda Friday Business Meeting Agenda

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