Climb Aboard: Our Recruitment Initiative Is Ready to Launch

ILLINOIS AER Mail Spring 2008

Cast your Vote:

Would you be more interested in participating in a recruitment effort if: A. …you were offered a stipend of $20 (meant to cover gas costs, etc.) B. …your name were put into an annual drawing for $200 C. …no incentive needed. The prepackaged materials are all the incentive needed.

Please consider this question and send your answer to [email protected] or 125 Webster, Jacksonville, Illinois, 62650 or by calling 217-479-4324.

Climb Aboard: Our Recruitment Initiative is Ready to Launch

This past year, the board has made an effort to move recruitment initiatives into high gear. We have made progress and are just about ready to kick off the program. We are at a crucial point and value your input.

A Discussion of the Need Most of us are aware that our consumer population is increasing drastically due to the rise in the number of US citizens over age 40. But did you know that KC Dignan’s research has shown the number of students (aged 0-21) needing services is also increasing annually? (see http://www.tsbvi.edu/pds/needs-2007.htm) This problem is compounded by the fact that a large number of the professionals currently in our field will retire in the coming years. In fact, Dr. Dignan found that 16% of VI professionals in Texas are projected to leave the field over the next three years! I expect our Illinois numbers are similar. The need for recruitment into professions related to blindness is undeniable.

We Are Equipped Unlike most states, our residents have access to university prep programs that are fairly close to home. NIU, ISU, Western Michigan, and Vanderbilt all offer programs and are nicely situated in locations that meet the needs of most of our Illinois residents. In addition, on-line options are widely available among Illinois and other state universities around the nation.

Our Action Plan The board has tried in the past to encourage recruitment efforts, but our problem has come in our failure to use the talents of our members. It just doesn’t make sense for a 10-member board to try to handle recruitment in a state the size of Illinois. Instead, we would like to utilize the 1 talents of our members for this effort. As we have contemplated this idea, we have considered several areas we believe are key to our success.

Keys to Success A Leader - Pat Langdon has agreed to head up recruitment efforts. She has already been working to get necessary tools prepared and gathered. Soon she will work to iron out details related to our action plan and the implementation of this project.

Regional Action Team – We will build an Action Team to support the leader. This Action Team needs to consist of members who are strategically located to represent all portions of the state. This action team will be involved in finding local recruitment events and IAER members who can be present at these events.

Tools – Pat has already worked to put tools together to make recruitment efforts as simple and easy as possible for those wanting to use them. The tools currently consist of a brochure about blindness related to employment opportunities and training programs in Illinois. We have also put together a power point with speaker notes to be used and easily adapted for anyone preparing to talk to a group about our field. The National AER office has professionally produced some great looking recruitment brochures. All of these resources will be made available through one simple contact with Illinois’ Recruitment Team.

Finding Events – The next step is finding local events. It was mentioned in our board discussions, that many IAER members are quite willing to be involved in recruitment efforts, but just don’t know where or when they occur. The board suggested that this would be an excellent use of time for the Regional Action Team. Events that are identified can then be made known to local members who can actively participate in the events.

Incentive – Much discussion has centered around incentives. Would members be more likely to become involved in recruitment efforts if incentives were offered? We just don’t know and really need your feedback. Would you be more interested in participating in a recruitment effort if: A. …you were offered a stipend of $20 (meant to cover gas costs, etc.) B. …your name were put into an annual drawing for $200 C. …no incentive needed. The prepackaged materials are all the incentive needed.

We desperately need your feedback! Please consider this question and send your answer to [email protected] or 125 Webster, Jacksonville, Illinois, 62650 or by calling 217-479-4324.

Climb Aboard If you are passionate about recruitment and would be interested in Leading this recruitment effort or being part of a Regional Action Team, please use the contact information above to let us know. If you would be willing to talk to a college class, be present at a job fair, or participate in other identified recruitment opportunities, let us know that too! We will kick off these efforts at the international conference in Chicago this July. Plan now to climb aboard and join us in this worthwhile and essential effort!

Sincerely, Mindy Ely

2 IAER President

President – Mindy Ely Members-At-Large President-elect – Diane Finn Pam Duda Past President – Michelle Clyne Leah Gerlach Treasurer – Danette Johnson Pat Langdon Secretary – George Abbott Carol Otten Barbara Perkis Denise VanKoevering Newsletter Editor - Deborah Faynik Web Editor – Amy Simpson

Board Briefs George Abbott, Illinois AER Secretary

Here are the highlights taken from the Illinois AER official business meeting on December 7, 2007 and the board meeting held February 19, 2008.

The official 2007 business meeting was held at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in Chicago during the lunch period of the Discovery Low Vision Conference. 20% of the IAER members registered to attend the conference, or 18 members, needed to be present in order for the quorum to be satisfied so the business meeting could be recognized as official. Forty-four members attended. A pizza lunch was provided.

Members reported enjoying the time to interact and discuss important AER and vision field topics. Video conferencing has been used for the last three board meetings and it has proven effective for keeping the board connected, while reducing travel time for all board members. The board is determining ways to facilitate similar opportunities at future annual conferences.

President Mindy Ely explained that blast emails are being used to reach the Illinois membership. She reminded everyone to be sure that AER central office has members’ most current email addresses. -The IAER website (http://il.aerbvi.org) is a great place to view the board briefs, past board meeting minutes, and other relevant information. -The membership directory will be mailed in April. The directory is compiled every two years and distributed to the members only. The directory will be on CD-ROM. -Ballots for electing the next IAER board will be sent soon and are due back by April 1, 2008. A self-addressed envelope for the return will be provided. Members need to add their own postage. -Without a state conference in 2008, the board did not believe it would be fair to bestow the three awards upon its members because there is not a state conference to provide the appropriate recognition. Instead, members are being honored through various blast email articles and on the website. Recently a history of the early years of AER was written and the original IAER members’ names were listed. More articles are being prepared throughout the year. 3 -Seven scholarship applications were received this year. Three $500 scholarships were awarded to students pursuing a career in the field of visual impairment. -Stipends are being made available by IAER to help offset some of the expense of attending the International AER conference. Providing volunteer time during the conference will be required. Visit the website for more details. -Mini grants of up to $500 are available for IAER members. These funds can be used to help expand a program or workshop. Requests must be received by September 15 of each year. Contact Leah Gerlach. -Space camp is a tremendous opportunity for students who are visually impaired to learn about space, as well as to gain an understanding of the role math and science skills play in our lives. In 2008, one student will receive a scholarship from IAER, and a chaperone will have expenses covered. The board plans to find funding to send two students in 2009 and beyond. Visit the website for more details, or contact Pam Duda. -Without a state conference in 2008, the chapter is working to organize and sponsor workshops around the state. A workshop was held in November in Elgin on effectively working with children who have multiple disabilities. Northwest Illinois Association arranged the workshop and IAER provided some financial support. Fifteen of the 150 attendees were IAER members. -A workshop on accessible products from Freedom Scientific is being planned for March 6 to be held in Springfield at the Illinois Assistive Technology Program facility. Contact Pat Langdon at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired for more details. -If members wish to announce workshops in their area, they should contact Pat Langdon. She will get the information on the IAER website and in the newsletter when possible. -Mindy and Diane Finn attended AER-Lift. It is held each year and serves as a leadership training seminar for current and upcoming AER division and state board officers. She said that this meeting had an emphasis on strategic planning for the future of AER. In March, 2008 Mindy, Diane and George Abbott will be attending on behalf of IAER. Michelle Clyne will be attending as a national AER representative. More information about AER-Lift is available on the AER website. -A concerted effort, through a recruitment initiative, continues to progress. A PowerPoint and brochure will soon be available to members who have opportunities to educate others on the various professions in the vision field. -The board is discussing how to best identify career exploration and job fair opportunities, as well as how to build a pool of presenters. A committee is being formed. Interested IAER members should contact Mindy for more information or to join the committee. -Debbie Faynik has been producing the IAER newsletter for several years. She reports that in the past, up to 300 print copies of the newsletter went out. Now about 70 go out in print, while the rest are sent electronically. Debbie reminds members that we can submit articles and information to her for inclusion in the newsletter, including job postings. -Amy Simpson is the chapter’s website administrator. She is working to get information uploaded to the site and to help keep it current. She encouraged everyone to visit it at http://il.aerbvi.org. -With the International AER conference coming to Chicago in July, many volunteer opportunities exist. Anyone interested in helping with the conference should get in touch with Carol Otten.

4 STUDY ON DIVERSITY AND STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT SEEKS PARTICIPANTS

Dr. Silvia M. Correa-Torres, of the University of Northern Colorado, is seeking teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) and orientation and mobility specialists (OMS) to participate in a study to identify the training needs of educators who work with students with visual impairment who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. To participate, please visit http://dragonfly.unco.edu/phpsurvey/index.php?sid=5 read the opening statement, and complete the online survey. The deadline for participation is March 31, 2008. For more information, please contact:

Dr. Silvia M. Correa-Torres, COMS Program in Blindness and Visual Impairment School of Special Education Campus Box 141 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 80639 [email protected] 970-351-1660 (office) 970-351-1061 (fax)

Volunteer for a Brighter Conference Are you attending the AER conference this summer, called Chicago: My AER Kind of Town? Have you considered volunteering at the conference? This is a great way to help welcome all the out-of-state attendees to Illinois! We have a great chapter, and we want to show a warm welcome to all. Those IAER members who volunteer can also apply to receive a $100 stipend! To volunteer, send your Name, phone number, and email address to Mindy Ely at [email protected] or call 217-479-4324. A stipend form application is available within this newsletter or online at http://il.aerbvi.org

International 2008 AER Conference Stipends

If you have never attended an International AER conference, and the price is a little more than you can handle, but you love meeting people, helping others, and you desperately want to attend, we have something special to offer you. For all Illinois AER members we are offering a special 2008 International AER Conference stipend. All you need to do is complete the form, and be willing to volunteer a few hours during the conference. Our Illinois AER Board has set aside $100.00 each, for up to 45 members who are willing to volunteer and need some financial help. Please consider volunteering and joining us for this very special International AER event

5 right in our neighborhood. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact Leah Gerlach 630-690-7115 or e-mail [email protected] Illinois AER STIPEND APPLICATION FORM For the International AER 2008 Conference

NAME:______DATE:______

ADDRESS:______

______

HOME TELEPHONE: (_____)______WORK TELEPHONE: (_____)______

AER MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:______

International 2008 AER Conference “My AER Kind Of Town”

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE: ______

What are the professional goals you hope to accomplish by attending this conference?

Have you ever attended an International AER conference? Yes No

Have you ever received an Illinois AER Stipend before? Yes No

______Signature of Applicant

PLEASE NOTE: All recipients of a 2008 IAER conference stipend will be expected to volunteer at least two hours of time at the conference. You will be contacted by the Volunteer committee chair to set up your service hours. Please send completed application forms and a copy of your conference registration material to:

Leah Gerlach 219 E. Cole Ave Wheaton, IL 60187 6 630-690-7115 [email protected]

7 AERator: Derrald Taylor On June 22, 2007, the Illinois College of Optometry and Illinois Eye Institute honored Derrald Taylor, O.D., M.S., for his 30 years of service upon retirement. Dr Taylor was a Professor at the College, serving in the Low Vision Rehabilitation Services at the Illinois Eye Institute.

He earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Visual Science from Illinois College of Optometry, Doctor of Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry, and a M.S. in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Illinois Institute of Technology. He is married to Nancy, the parents of 4 children and one grandson and lives in Mokena, Illinois.

Dr Taylor has been involved in many areas of the vision field. His personal and professional goals have been to provide services for people with visual impairments. He has accomplished this through his exemplary teaching of low vision to students at the Illinois College of Optometry and his dedicated service to organizations serving visually impaired. He has been a constant support to colleagues, students, and teachers; acting as an advocate and resource person.

He has received numerous awards including: 1990- Illinois Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Distinguish Service Award Lions International Leadership Award Humanitarian Award from the ICO Alumni Association Lions International, Melvin Jones Award 2006 Chicago Lighthouse Centennial Medal of Honor 2007Illinois School for the Visually Impaired Visionary Award

His professional activities and accomplishments include: . Illinois Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Board member and program chairman for various conference committees . Member and Past Chairperson for the Advisory Council for the Illinois School for Visually Impaired . Member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Albinism and Hypopigmentation . Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Blind Children’s Foundation . Fellow Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry . Founder and continued director of the Lion’s Low Vision Clinic at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired for over 30 years. . Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services Blind Service Planning Council . Sights Unlimited . Illinois Discovery Low Vision Conference . Mokena Lions Trustee

Additionally, he has written over 20 publications in professional journals, submitted over 25 papers/posters at professional meetings, and provided instruction at the higher education level to colleges and universities throughout the United States. Dr Taylor is a familiar presence as a speaker at state and national conferences. He is constantly, actively, and passionately promoting issues of visually impaired persons. His dedication to the field of vision has been remarkable not only by his accomplishments, but his amazing ability to relate to every person he

8 encounters. Submitted by Pat Langdon

9 10 IAER Fundraiser – Jewel Shop & Share Days! For those not familiar, Jewel assigns three consecutive days (always Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays) for individuals to shop, using the attached slips. It costs you nothing, but 5% of what you spend is donated to IAER! All you and your friends have to do is sign the slip and hand it to your cashier as you check out. Even if your grocery needs are few, this is a great time to stock up on cleaning and laundry products, greeting cards, and other items. There are a few rules: 1) Feel free to make copies to give to family, friends, and colleagues. However, do not hand out the slips in or near the store. 2) There are three slips attached, one for each of the three shop and share months. Only the slip with the correct date can be accepted, so please check to be sure you are using the right one. (i.e.: we cannot use the May 5-7 slip in January and get credit for the sale).

About three weeks before each Shop & Share date, I will get multiple slips. If you think you can distribute at least 10 slips at work or to friends, I will be happy to mail some to you. Please contact me by email at [email protected] if you would like for me to send you multiple slips. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 708-207-3630 or email. Thanks for helping IAER raise money for the best conference ever, the 2008 AER International Conference in Chicago!

March 17-19 is immediately below:

May 5-7 is immediately below:

11 Adventures in Space Camp

October 10, 2007

Dear AER,

Thank you for sponsoring me so I could go to Space Camp. I had a really great time. It was fun meeting other visually impaired kids. Attached is an essay I wrote for my English class. I would like to submit it to the IAER newsletter to thank you for choosing me to send to Space Camp.

Sincerely, Holden P.

Space Camp

I’ve had the opportunity to go to space camp for the visually impaired kids. I had a lot of fun doing robotics, rocketry, and a mission to Mars. It was all very exciting. In robotics there were three people on my team. Gilberto and Chris were programmers. I was an engineer. We had to get our robot to bring oxygen to a space station, open the airlock for an astronaut, deploy the solar array, and put space debris in the space debris holding area. There was a competition; we were scored on how many tasks we completed. We didn’t score any points. In rocketry we got to build our own rockets. We used one clear tube, one white tube, one parachute, two big plastic peaces, and three peaces of balsa wood. On Wednesday we got to launch all our rockets. It three tries to get mine to launch. We went to Mars to collect and study samples. On the Mars mission I was the mechanic. I got to build different things, like land rovers and a work area. I thought my creations were ingenious. The Land Rovers were man-powered by the astronauts. They were shaped like a hamster ball. In conclusion my trip was very exciting. I had lots of fun building rockets and robots. I also had fun learning about Mars. I hope I can go again next year.

Shelbie F. Mary Miller Junior High

More SPACE CAMP Insights…

I went to space camp in Huntsville, AL on September 22-28, 2007. I was greeted by a lot of nice people when I arrived. I was put in to my group named Atlas. Our sister group was called Calypso. My roommate’s name was Leanne. She was from Pittsburgh. On my first real day at space camp I was assigned Mission specialist 2. I helped repair the communication tower and in the cockpit I controlled all of the payload bay doors. The next day of space camp we started the actual mission, Atlantis to the moon. I had to take a little physical to see if I could go do my mission. I got to ride and control the Up or Down controls of the Space Arm to make repairs. After our mission we calmed down and went to the museum for 12 an hour of rock climbing and scanning out the entire museum. We had a chance to ride the gyro chair, but I tricked Pam into riding it without me doing it. One the fourth day of camp, we did mission training for our mission to Mars tomorrow. I was assigned the job of Flight Commander. In this job I got to tell everyone else what to do during the training. Later that day we got to go swimming which was very relaxing. Day five we went on the mission to Mars. The mission was called Atlantis mission. It was really fun to watch everyone do their jobs and land back on Earth safely even though we landed in a swamp. We also go to on the 1/6chair. It is called that because the gravity on the moon is 1/6th of the gravity on Earth. It was like jumping up and down on a hard trampoline, but was a lot of fun. We ended the day at Rocket Park. On our final day at camp, we were back on Earth with a number of new experiences to solve. We had three different activities. They were all in Area 51 and were: the dying planet, rope ladder mission, and balancing on a platform. They were all physical and mental challenges. We had to work together as a team to accomplish these missions. That evening we had a guest speaker from NASA speak to us and then we gathered all of our stuff and packed. We had a graduation ceremony where I got a certificate and a picture of my group. Then we went to the dance, which was fun and extremely cool time. I made a lot of new friends that I am staying in touch with once I got home. I had an awesome time and would surely like to go again someday. Thank you IAER for my scholarship that allowed me to go to space camp this fall.

[Teacher Note: In addition to Shelbie enjoying her Space Camp experience, she has accepted the need to learn braille. She was able to see how well the campers that read braille were able to stay with the scripts and follow along. She would like to go again, and knows her experience will be much different and even more rewarding reading braille]

I had the pleasure of attending Space Camp 2007 as a chaperone for Shelbie Farrell. This was my second opportunity to attend. When I attended Space Camp in 2005, my student participated in the Aviation Challenge program. That program focuses on learning how to operate fighter jet planes, participate in a patrol on missions, and 3 days of intensive Navy Seals training. This year I chaperoned in the Space program. Both Shelbie and Holden did an excellent job describing the various activities they got to enjoy.

The networking is always a highlight for chaperones. I’ve been able to meet individuals serving in the field of visual impairments from all over the world. It is also very insightful to observe your students outside of the school day. Spending a week together really helps to identify strengths and deficits especially in the expanded core curriculum areas.

Unfortunately, IAER will only be able to finance 1 scholarship for the 2008 Space Camp. We lost funding from a long-time organization who is funneling their dollars in different avenues. Fundraising efforts are being explored to determine if we can again offer 2 scholarships by the 2009 Space Camp.

Please go to www.tsbvi.edu and click on the space camp link to see pictures from 2007 Space Camp. Shelbie was in the Atlas group and Holden is in the Aldron group.

Sincerely, Pam Duda 13 World-recognized inventor, entrepreneur, author, and futurist, Ray Kurzweil, visited the Special Education Assistive Technology Center at ISU on February 14 prior to his scheduled presentation at Braden Auditorium as part of the Sesquicentennial Series celebration. This was a great opportunity for students and faculty to meet the inventor of software widely used in our field.

In conjunction with Kurzweil's visit, teachers from Central Affiliation for Special Education (CASE) and ISU students participated in an instructional session on BrailleNotes presented by Mark Carson of Humanware. ISU currently has 17 students (Juniors and Seniors) in the LVB program.

Chris Clark, Ph.D., TVI, DTV Loana Mason, M.A., COMS [email protected] [email protected] (309) 438-8957 (309) 438-5829

activities coming up in the next few months: (Information and applications for these activities are available on the TransVision website at: www.transvis.org.)

March 28-29 - "Taste of College" at Northern Illinois University. This is a two-day college prep experience for juniors and seniors in high school who are anticipating (or considering) attending college after graduation. Students and parents meet for dinner on Friday evening. Then when the parents leave, the students have evening activities and stay in Holmes Student Center for the night. On Saturday, we have tours of the campus, meet with the disabilities office, talk with current students, and go over expectations and responsibilities of college students. We finish up with a "Readiness Checklist" where students can make an action plan to get ready for their future!

June 15 thru 28 - "Summer in the City" There will be two one-week sessions that students ages 13 and up may attend. During the week-long program, students have classes in activities of daily living, orientation & mobility, computers, physical fitness, and job readiness. In the evenings and weekend, we go out into the city for lots of fun activities such as sailing, theatre, restaurants, & more. Check out the website for details on eligibility and program applications.

For further information contact TransVision at 815-923-7545 or [email protected]

14 Well, it turns out that my two colleagues, Jodi Sticken and Kim Zebehazy, are off traveling to exotic places while I remain back on the ranch tending the home fires…hey, what’s wrong with this picture…I thought I’m the senior faculty member around here!

Jodi is off to New York City and Morristown, NJ for our annual Seeing Eye trip. As Jodi reports, “all the grad students and I are off to NYC for the weekend, on to New Jersey for the Monday through Wednesday intense seminar at Seeing Eye, where students will learn all about the dog guide experience from breeding, puppy raising, and training of dogs to application, admission, training, the return home, and follow-up for students. They will also learn appropriate techniques for working with a visually impaired person/dog guide team as a mobility specialist or teacher. Not much time for sleeping, but an unforgettable, in-depth experience with dogs, trainers, and trainees.”

Kim Zebehazy is off to Nicaragua for a week-long volunteer experience. Kim reports, “The volunteer work in Nicaragua is with VOSH (volunteer optometric services for humanity). I assist the optometrists who do the eye exams in various ways including taking initial acuities, and working with people who have low vision coming through the clinic.”

I, Gaylen Kapperman, on the other hand, get to travel from Sycamore to DeKalb and back again day after day, week after week, and month after month! So, I’ll be here to give away lots and lots of money to deserving persons who want to enroll in our graduate level Visual Disabilities Program. As always, we have big bucks to give away. We’ll pay for all tuition, fees, health insurance and we can award a stipend of approximately $5,000 per year. Classes start on August 25 and we are accepting applications now. Prospective students can contact us at: Galen Kapperman 815-753-8453 [email protected] Jodi Sticken 815-753-8456 [email protected] Kim Zebehazy 815-753-8452 [email protected]

The mailing address and fax number for all of us is: Department of Teaching and Learning Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115 Fax 815-753-8594

Working on College. Here are some helpful websites.

http://www.bazyncommunications.com/resources/successful_college_experience.htm

http://www.livingskillscenter.org/college.html

IAER 2008 Scholarship Recipients 15

Congratulations to the following recipients of the Norma DeMario Memorial Scholarship:

Sarah Piggott, Chicago, Illinois Western Michigan University, Graduate Program: O&M

Elyse Heinrich, Wonder Lake, Illinois Illinois State University, Undergraduate: TVI

Lisa Marie Bielaga, Darien, Illinois Northern Illinois University, Graduate Program: Vision Rehabilitation Therapist

Life With a Guide Dog?

What is life like with a guide dog? The Hadley School for the Blind's new story-based distance education course "Guide Dogs" can help by giving you, your students and clients, important information about guide dogs and their handlers. If you are blind or visually impaired, or if you are living or working with individuals who are considering a guide dog, this course will provide insight into the decision-making process as you learn about the guide dog lifestyle.

"Guide Dogs" includes five lessons and supplemental information. Using fictional characters, the course discusses the guide dog lifestyle, dispelling some common misconceptions, and describing the successful guide dog and its training. The course also offers information about applying to guide dog schools, examines the relationship between the handler and the dog and explores daily life with a guide dog. The appendix has a self-assessment to help a person in the decision-making process. Note: This course is not intended as a training course for guide dog use.

Students in Hadley's High School, Adult Continuing Education and Family Education programs may take the course now at no charge. Professionals may enroll in this course online through The Hadley School for Professional Studies (www.hadley.edu/hsps) at tuition of $99.

For questions about this course or to enroll, call Student Services at 800-526-9909.

This course was made possible through the support of Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Guide Dogs of America, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Leader Dogs for the Blind and The Seeing Eye.

FREE TUITION & STIPENDS

16 Northern Illinois University Department of Teaching and Learning DeKalb, IL 60115

There are three programs at Northern Illinois University to train students to work with children and/or adults with visual disabilities. Student support is available on a competitive basis.

Out-of-state Graduate Students Total: $20,000/year ($4,800 in stipends plus all tuition, fees, and health insurance)

In-state Graduate Students Total: $15,000/year ($4,800 in stipends plus all tuition, fees, and health insurance)

Rehabilitation Teaching: Counsel and teach the skills of independent living to adults who have visual disabilities. Graduate program only. Contact: Gaylen Kapperman (815) 753-8453, e-mail, [email protected], FAX (815) 753-8594.

Full-time Component: 16-month program includes on-campus training plus a full time, 16-week internship off-campus.

Orientation & Mobility: Teach the skills of independent travel, sensory development, concept development, and techniques of non-visual travel including use of the long cane. Graduate program only. Contact: Jodi Sticken (815) 753-8456, e-mail [email protected].

Full-time Component: 16-month program includes on-campus training plus a full- time, 16-week internship off-campus.

Visual Disabilities Program: Teach students with visual disabilities in any type of educational setting as a certified special educator. Graduate and undergraduate programs. This program includes an emphasis on assistive technology to meet the needs for training in this area for students who are blind or have visual disabilities. Contact: Dr. Gaylen Kapperman at (815) 753- 8453, e-mail [email protected], FAX (815) 753-8594

Visit our web page for more details: www.cedu.niu.edu/tlrn/visualdisabilities or find us on Google by using the search terms, teaching the blind.

Advertisement from NIU

17 On September 27th through 29th, I was fortunate to have been chosen to attend a workshop at the AFB Literacy Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Twenty-four professionals in the area of education and rehabilitation of the visually-impaired from around the United States and Canada were accepted for these few slots from hundreds of applicants. This workshop, titled Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach, was led by Dr. Diane Wormsley from North Carolina Central University, the author of the book with the same title. For two and a half days we were presented with information about Braille literacy. She began by refreshing our memories about reading instruction and the differences between Braille and print. This led into discussions about how to teach Braille reading and writing to students who are non-traditional learners. She defined these learners as “newly blind adults or children, children with mild to profound cognitive impairments or physical impairments, and children with deaf-blindness.” The attendees learned about her approach to literacy with these learners. Dr. Wormsley feels that a functional approach is best suited. She described this approach as “meaning- centered” rather than “skills-centered”. “Functional” does not mean that the learner is taught only about things relevant to functional tasks. The teacher should begin instruction with words that are important to the students, and therefore, functional. She describes many examples in her book of individualizing instruction for these learners using this approach. Dr. Wormsley explains how to make word boxes, tracking sheets, and games using words they know. After that, the learner can go on to learn letters, phonics usage, and read stories. She also covered Braille writing instruction on the braillewriter and on the slate and stylus. One thing that Dr. Wormsley stressed is that parts of this program can be used with any learner. It is up to the instructor which steps are helpful and in what order. This program is appropriate for use with “traditional” learners, as well. In her book she explains that some of the steps can be taught quickly or skipped altogether for learners with average or above-average cognition. This workshop will be very helpful in my position as an educator. Dr. Wormsley’s methods are directly applicable to my students. Her honest, straightforward, and humorous style of presentation enabled me to reflect upon how I could modify my current practices to include the valuable strategies she imparted to us. The book has many ideas, examples, and recording forms to chart reading growth. This book, Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach, would be a helpful addition to any teacher of the visually impaired’s bookshelf. Submitted by: Leah Gerlach

Consider advertising in the IAER Newsletter: ¼ page - $20 ½ page - $30 Full page - $50 Contact Deborah Faynik, for more information at: [email protected]

18 19 CVI - Damage to the Brain: A Common Cause of Visual Impairment in Children, is an online course broken into nine sections. The course provides participants an overview of the visual system and how it works, disorders of vision due to damage to the brain, and approaches to helping students with vision problems due to damage to the brain. Dr. Dutton provides participants theory and practical application from his expertise as a clinician working with children and their families having been diagnosed with CVI. The course is broken into eight learning modules. The ninth and last section is a question and answer forum for those who attended the Salt Lake City workshop. The intended audience for this course is any care provider working with a child diagnosed, or suspected of having, cortical (cerebral) visual impairment. For more information and to register for the course, which costs $75, please go to: www.emeraldevents.net/diopp/

Making Rough Days Manageable: Prevention & Intervention Approaches Presenter: Rebecca Molitor, LCPC Date: April 5, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Registration at 8:30) CEU: Illinois Credentials Pending Handling challenging behaviors can be exhausting for families and the professionals providing services. This seminar is designed to educate professionals on how to create a partnership with families in order to build upon their strengths and best meet the family and child’s needs. The presenter takes a holistic approach in helping families through coaching behavior management skills, attachment and bonding techniques, relaxation intervention strategies, and utilizing cognitive behavior, attachment and solution focused therapy approaches.

2008 Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo April 2-5, 2008 Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts

South of Eighty Parent Conference April 5, 2008 Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, Jacksonville, IL A FREE one-day conference for central Illinois families of children, who have vision impairment, ages 0-21, is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2008 at Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville. Five sessions will be provided on topics including Living and succeeding with vision loss, Exploring resources and camp options, Daily Living and Independence, and Assistive Technology. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of children of various ages and ability levels who have vision loss. For more information or for registration, contact Hearing and Vision Connections, toll free 877-731-8184 or by email at [email protected]. Children attending with families must be 12 years old or older. Childcare is not provided.

Illinois Council for Exceptional Children Spring Conference April 11 and 12, 2008, Peoria, IL

20 South of Seventy Parent Conference April 19, 2008 Rend Lake College, Mt. Vernon, IL A FREE one-day conference for southern Illinois families of children who have vision impairment, ages 0-21, is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Rend Lake Market Place in Mt. Vernon. Five sessions will be provided on topics including a parent perspective, Orientation and Mobility, using body language (teens only), and daily living skills (adults only). Finally, participants will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of children of various ages and ability levels who have vision loss. For more information or for registration, contact Hearing and Vision Connections, toll free 877-731-8184 or by email at [email protected]. Children attending with families must be 12 years old or older. Childcare is not provided.

2008 AER INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Featuring the Orientation & Mobility Conference within a Conference, July 22-27, 2008 at the Chicago Downtown Marriott. This meeting next summer will be largest in the field of blindness and visual impairment. It's THE place to attend sessions covering professional issues in education, rehabilitation and related areas as well as to network with colleagues. The Conference will officially open the evening of Wednesday, July 23rd and run through the weekend, culminating in the installation of AER's officers for the 2008-2010 biennium. The conference will feature clinical and research papers from a wide range of professionals. It will also feature the latest products and services in an expanded Exhibit Hall, networking opportunities, social events, and tours, and recognition of members at a Special Award event. There is no better forum in our field to learn current developments, meet your professional leaders, greet old friends and make new ones. And the Chicago Host committee is hard at work to make your visit to their city memorable.

Please Join Us in a "Card Shower" for Dr. Rex's 85th Birthday!

Dr. Evelyn Rex, retired professor from Illinois State University, will be celebrating her 85th birthday on March 31, 2008. Cards and notes from former students and colleagues would likely be appreciated. She lives in an assisted living environment at:

Dr. Evelyn Rex 14 Heartland Drive, Apt .#215 Bloomington, IL 61704

Although she has no memory for recent events, she does sometimes talk, or ask, about students and colleagues from the past. She even expressed the wish that she had a list of former students and where they are now. Evelyn had a mild heart attack a year ago, but recovered quickly, and does not remember she had one.

Virginia Mosler, also a former student, sees her several times a year, and is willing to be a contact for information about Evelyn. Contact Virginia at [email protected].

21 Reminder: Please check with the National AER office to be sure your contact information is correct. We rely on this information when corresponding with you. If you move or make changes to your email, don't forget to notify AER at www.aerbvi.org THANK YOU

Are you retiring? Do you know someone who is retiring from our field? Let’s honor that person. Please Let us know by calling or sending a note to a board member.

D. Faynik 1004 Buell Ave Joliet, IL 60435-6940