A Warm Welcome2020 Vision to Touch the Future

Virginia AER Conference

Dear Conference Guests,

What a delight to welcome you back to Charlottesville for the 2020 Virginia AER Conference! We have changed the format to feature our awards and scholarship recipients at our opening banquet Monday night, and our inspiring keynote speakers on our closing afternoon Wednesday. The 1920’s themed Live Auction is Tuesday night at our social. Come in costume to be eligible for a prize. Be ready to bid on some fun, special items!

So we can provide our speakers feedback, we are asking all participants to complete an online evaluation after each session. This year you will find a handy drop-down menu with the session titles embedded. If you are seeking ACVREP credits, continue an additional of the same form to enter the BEGIN and END codes.

A tremendous thank you to Whitney Matheson, her co-chair Julie Parker, and their dedicated conference planning team for their investment to Touch the Future with an exceptional conference. Do make a special effort to acknowledge our presenters, most of whom have gifted their time to come share their experience with us.

Virginia AER is a professional association of dedicated volunteers, full of energy and passionate for service. We hosted to virtual “Meet and Greets” to hear your voice and nurture conversations within communities of practice. Be Sure to complete our 2020 Vision Professionals Survey and like us on the Virginia AER Facebook page! Reach out with us in 2020 to Touch the Future!

Kimberly ColemanVirginia AER Chapter Past President

And the Virginia AER 2019-2020 Board

Whitney Matheson -President ElectTracy O’Malley- Secretary

Mary Kate Harris – TreasurerBoard MembersDonna BrownDennis HelmsGillian PilcherJulie Macaluso

ACVREP CREDIT is available for conference sessions as noted in the program.

2020 DIRECTIONS FOR VERIFYING & RECEIVING ACVREP CREDIT

1. Proof of attendance with BEGIN and END Codes a. At session record BEGIN code provided by the host at the start of the sessionb. At the conclusion of the session record the END code provided by the host

2. Evaluation Form for each session attended

a. Submit Evaluation Form electronically. Title of session is now available in a drop-down menu on the form using link below or QR code.

https://forms.gle/u8Lxm8169gtKQQKN9

b. Complete the evaluation form for each ACVREP credit-bearing session attended including the correct BEGIN/END code for the session

The AVCREP Process:- Record correct Begin/End code at the session

- Go to the Google Form & fill-in the information for the session

- Submit the form online; no need to print it off or turn in a paper copy.

- Repeat for each session you attend

- Submit all forms by deadline (April 3, 2020) to receive credit

- All submitted forms will be verified and credit calculated

- “ACVREP Credit Certificate of Completion” will be sent to participant via email provided on

evaluation form

- If you need help with the forms, ask the Session Host or a peer.

- For further questions, check with Kimberly Coleman at kimkcoleman@aol.com or Julie

Macaluso at julie.macaluso@vbschools.com, ACVREP Coordinators.

The evaluation form is available at https://forms.gle/u8Lxm8169gtKQQKN9

Tentative Agenda: March 30-April 1, 2020

Monday, March 30, 2020

Monday, 4:00 - 8:00 pm Conference RegistrationMonday, 4:00 – 6:00 Silent Auction Open – Gallery C

Monday, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Welcome and Introductions: General Session with Dinner (provided – Room: Promenade)

Keynote: Welcome and Updates from AER National Mason and Dominion Awards presented

Tuesday, March 31, 2020Tuesday, 7:30 – 8:00 Silent Auction Open – Gallery CTuesday, 12:00 – 2:00 Silent Auction Open – FINAL BIDS @ 1:25

Tuesday, 7:00 – 8:00 Breakfast (provided – Room: Rotunda ABC)

Tuesday, 8:15 – 10:00 (1.5 CEU) Using Manipulatives to Help Visually Impaired Students Develop Higher

Level Math ConceptsRoom: Gallery APresenter: Michele HicksDescription: Looking for ways to help your middle and high school students succeed in the rigor presented in higher level math courses? Then please choose this hands-on session exploring strategies to introduce and reinforce higher level math concepts to students who are visually impaired. The session will include algebra, graphing inequalities, geometry and statistics SOLs using manipulatives found in many middle and high school math closets. Also, the session will demonstrate ways to introduce SOL approved graphing calculators.

Strategy to See: Strategies for Students with Cerebral/Cortical Visual ImpairmentRoom: Rotunda DPresenter: Diane Sheline Description: Children who have Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) or other forms of brain damage related vision loss have unique visual and learning needs. They require specialized educational strategies and often, environmental adaptations. In this presentation, Diane Sheline will talk about promising practices and assessment driven techniques and strategies to use with children who have a diagnosis of CVI (or some other form of brain damage related vision loss). Overall strategies will be discussed as well as how to adapt the environment and modify

the presentation of materials, toys, and other learning items. Diane will also share with participants her ideas for development of literacy materials and how to adapt ready-made books for children with CVI.

I Can Connect and DBVI Services for DeafBlind IndividualsRoom: Gallery BPresenters: Elizabeth Spiers and Charity Reid-DavisDescription: Attendees will learn what services the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired provides for deafblind Virginians. They will also learn about I Can Connect (the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program): what the program provides, who qualifies, and what services deafblind people receive from the program.

iOS Applications to Increase Independence Room: MontdomainePresenter: Michael FishDescription: Learn how to use the multitude of accessible applications for the iPhone to accomplish a wide variety of "sighted tasks." Scan the mail that keeps piling up, determine what’s in that box from the store, and figure out how much that crumpled bill you have is worth – all with the power of your iOS device.

Equipping Educators to Design and Promote Accessible Media!Room: Albemarle APresenter: Christina LieblerDescription: This presentation will review the historical and current legal and ethical responsibility of educators to provide accessible print/video/audio materials. It will also encourage participants to teach their own students and other educators to create accessible materials from design to production. Participants will learn about tools, tips, and guidelines for designing materials and presentations that meet the needs of students with disabilities. In addition, you will receive resources that you can take back to your schools and students that can help educate others about accessibility as a part of the Universal Design for Learning.

Tuesday, 10:15 – 12:00 (1.5 CEU) Technology for TVIs: Aiding Collaboration and Time with Students

Room: Gallery APresenter: Alicia Blevins Description: Learn how to use google and Microsoft forms, google sites, and an iPad to save time, and aid in collaborating with teachers. This presentation will also demonstrate how to create forms, google sites, and share Notability on an iPad that TVIs and students can use.

CVI Roundtable

Room: Rotunda DPresenter: Diane ShelineDescription: Children who have Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) or other forms of brain damage related vision loss have unique visual and learning needs. They require specialized educational strategies and often, environmental adaptations.

Diane Sheline will be here to answer questions that people have based on her Strategies to See book and program.

The New Talent PoolRoom: MontdomainePresenter: Greg ChittumDescription: The time for people who are blind or low vision to gain employment has never been better. The low rate of unemployment in the US is making it difficult for employers to meet their staffing needs. Additionally, many businesses have incentives in place to employ those with disabilities. The result? An increasing thrust in viewing people with disabilities as the "new talent pool." Learn how to take advantage of these trends as we discuss how to get your blind or VI child work experience (the most significant predictor of future employment) and programs to support vocational hard and soft skills.

Connecting Coaching with Cultural Differences in Early InterventionRoom: Albemarle APresenter: Patricia Eitemiller, Dana Childress and Cori HillDescription: Providing an overview of cultural considerations, we will dig deeper into how to support families from diverse cultural backgrounds through exploring Bradshaw’s Four Principles related to culturally responsive practices. Join us for an interactive session to learn how you can integrate new strategies in your work with all families.

I-M-ABLE: The Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education Room: Gallery BPresenter: Diane WormsleyDescription: This presentation is an overview of I-M-ABLE including the theoretical rationale behind the approach, a description/overview of each of the components of the approach, who it is appropriate for and how it came to be.

Tuesday, 12:00 – 2:00 Extended Lunch (provided Room: Rotunda ABC) with Exhibitors and Silent Auction

Tuesday, 2:00 – 3:45 (1.5 CEU)

Using iPad Games with Progress Tracking to Practice Core and Expanded Core Curriculum Based on Each Student’s IEPRoom: Gallery APresenter: Marty SchultzDescription: ObjectiveEd creates curriculum-based games that work with your teaching - giving visually impaired pre-K through 12th grade students the ability to practice what you teach, when you aren’t around. The skills are based on each student’s individual IEP and come from the Core and Expanded Core Curriculum. Each game operates uniquely, based on the objectives & skills that you want your student to learn and practice. Your student’s progress is tracked in a secure cloud, available to you and the IEP team through a web-based dashboard.The games teach skills including assistive technology (voice over gestures,

keyboard efficiency), braille literacy (pre-braille, contractions, speed), sensory efficiency (audio location & movement cues), orientation & mobility, and social interaction. You will learn why students acquire skills faster and achieve objectives sooner by “gamify-ing” education with mobile devices.

JAWS BytesRoom: Rotunda DPresenter: Michael FishDescription: Learn what’s new with the JAWS screen reader including features and pricing. Learn how to navigate, edit and spell check word documents, read, send and receive email via outlook, and browse and favorite webpages.

Updates in Pediatric OphthalmologyRoom: MontdomainePresenter: Christian Carter, MDDescription: Our field is ever evolving in relation to current medical trends, research, and practices.

Haptic Non-Verbal Signals Lead to Inclusion for People with Deaf-BlindnessRoom: Albemarle APresenters: Valerie Luther and Elizabeth LutherDescription: This is a small pilot presentation about Haptics. There will be discussion to develop an awareness of what Haptics is, how Haptics is used and who can benefit from its use. A set of signals will be taught for participants to practice during the session. The participants will be encouraged to teach the signals to a child or their students and provide the presenter feedback within a month. Feedback should include whether the Haptic signals were useful and whether there is interest to learn more.

Implementing I-M-ABLE: A Hands-On Session to Address the Most Important Component of the Approach, Teaching Key Vocabulary Words to your Students Room: Gallery BPresenter: Diane WormsleyDescription: This hands-on presentation will assist teachers who are implementing I-M-ABLE or wish to, with the most important aspect of the program, introducing the Key Vocabulary Words. Participants will help each other analyze words and determine how best to present them to achieve accurate word recognition and proper hand/finger usage.

Tuesday, 4:00 – 5:15 (1.0 CEU)

Visual Impairments in Infants and ToddlersRoom: Gallery APresenters: Pam Jungersen, Jill Tomlinson, Meg Walker and Lori FloydDescription: This session will focus on the aspects of normal visual development, visual milestones for infants and toddlers, and when to refer a preschool child for Vision Services.

Head-Mounted Devices: I Can See Clearly Now 2020.

Room: Rotunda DPresenters: Lori Pennington and Julia Halpern-GoldDescription: We will be demonstrating four different Head-Mounted Devices outlining the pros and cons to each. We will discuss which device better suits individuals with certain ocular conditions. If time allows, there will be a hands-on opportunity for participants.

Paratransit AdvocacyRoom: Albemarle APresenter: Claire StoneDescription: A key component of O&M instruction is working with clients to access public transportation. Issues dealing with ADA compliance in transit services will be addressed.

Hands-on Career Exploration Works!Room: MontdomainePresenters: Tish Harris and Michael FishDescription: Join us to hear how hands-on career exploration is leading to career pathway success. Virginia is leading the way with this innovative initiative. DBVI has posted a 95% success rate for high school students accessing a career pathway through their residential IT summer academy. Intro to IT for adults has also been successful in helping adult career seekers explore the often-confusing career pathways in Information Technology. How do we do it? We would love to share! Why is hands on so essential? Last year, we learned that only 3 of 21 high school students with disabilities had accessed Career and Technical Education classes at their high schools for a variety of reasons. Academies serve as a functional vocational evaluation for the participants and allow us to see what needs to be put into place for career success. Team challenges and evening activities build social and communication skills, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills. With adults, exploration into various areas of IT present opportunities to try out pieces of each career pathway, leading to informed decision making. We will also highlight Cyber Analyst Academies, which are sustainable problem solving and critical thinking academies that can be offered regionally throughout the state. We will also be previewing our newest offering coming this summer, and our partnership with Homeland Security grantees, the Cyber Innovation Center to bring true innovation to career exploration.

How to Incorporate Letters, Contractions, and Phonics Using I-M-ABLERoom: Gallery BPresenter: Diane WormsleyDescription: This presentation will incorporate the use of the I-M-ABLE Key Vocabulary words in teaching letters, phonics and contractions. Participants will select Key Vocabulary Words, and analyze them for their use in teaching letters, onset and rime sounds, and for teaching contractions

Tuesday, 7:00 – 9:00 Barbara McCarthy Scholarship Live Auction with AIS Social! The theme this year is the 20s – the 1920s! Dress accordingly and come join us for hors d’oeuvres and giggle water! (Room: Rotunda ABC)

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Wednesday, 7:15 - 8:30 Breakfast (provided - Room: Rotunda ABC) During breakfast: VDOE Updates – presented by Wanda Council and Lia Mason

(Rotunda D)

Wednesday, 8:30-10:15 (1.5 CEU)

Educational Implications for Students with Moderate to Severe Global Impairments Due to VI and Multiple DisabilitiesRoom: Gallery APresenters: Julie Conner and Christine JonesDescription: This presentation will include strategies for meaningful instruction, tips on data collection that provides clear evidence of progress, and goal-writing practice.

Hands-On with ObjectiveEd Curriculum and IEP-Based Mobile GamesRoom: Gallery BPresenter: Marty SchultzDescription: ObjectiveEd provides games that teach visually impaired pre-K through 12th grade students skills outlined in Core Curriculum & ECC, tied to the goals and objectives of each student’s IEP. You will be able to work with our O&M, Assistive Tech and Braille Literacy games on an iPad that is provided during the session.

Successes in Career Pathways – the Future of VR is Here!Room: MontdomainePresenters: Tish Harris and Paula MartinDescription: Career Pathways and Credentials have been buzz words around VR for quite some time, but have taken on a new importance with Virginia investing in training for practitioners across all 4 titles of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act. Career pathways and Credentials are uniquely situated to help VR attain countable, successful common performance measures. Join us to learn how Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities has been able to connect low vision and blind individuals to successful employment in pathways that are in high demand industries. We will share both a by the numbers as well as qualitative information and success stories that illustrate how CPID has strengthened outcomes for blind and low vision individuals. CPID will provide information on evaluation, career exploration, and successfully supporting individuals in their work goals, as well as lessons learned over the 4 years that the grant has operated. Not sure how career pathways work or why credentials are important? Interested in the changes jump-started by the pathways initiative, and the advantages for the individuals that we serve? Please join us for this look at the future of VR.

Scavenger Hunt, Part 1Room: Gallery CPresenters: Valery Kircher, Meg Walker and Catherine Bacik

Description: (Note: This is the first in a series of two. You must attend this one in order to attend the second.) This session will provide hands on experience with skills and technology necessary to plan a trip to the local mall including transportation options. The participant will be able to search for, schedule, and determine cost, of various public transportation options from the hotel to the mall.

Strategies for Working with Older Adults Who Are Visually Impaired with Age-Related DiseasesRoom: Rotunda DPresenter: Denise ScruggsDescription: (Note: This is the first half of this presentation; it will continue after the break.) This interactive workshop will provide an overview of the impact of dementia, Parkinson's Disease, diabetes, and stroke on vision, communication ability, and learning. Participants will engage in aging sensitivity exercises that give them the opportunity to "step" into the shoes of older adults who are experiencing vision loss compounded by these diseases. Adult learning principles, adaptations, and strategies for successfully engaging clients will also be provided, along with tips for collaboratively working with professionals in long-term care and community settings.

Promoting Music Literacy for Students with Visual ImpairmentsRoom: Albemarle APresenter: Kittie CooperDescription: The purpose of my presentation is to provide an overview of the benefits of music literacy—reading and writing braille and print music—for students with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. There are many stereotypes that students who are blind and visually impaired can learn everything through listening, but in reality all music students with visual impairments can benefit from learning to read and write music alongside their sighted peers. I will share teaching strategies that promote musical literacy from my own work experience and research: for example use of graphic and tactile pre-notation, movement and composition/performance activities that support literacy, and other strategies for teaching music braille and print music to students with visual impairments. TVIs often feel overwhelmed by helping students learn to read and write music, so I will also provide resources that can help TVIs support their students in accessing music curricula. As a TVI who specifically teaches music, I have had to create my own curricula for helping my students access musical notation, and have found ways to make these teaching strategies accessible even for TVIs or families who know nothing about music themselves.

Wednesday, 10:30 – 11:45 (1.0 CEU)

Partnering with ParaprofessionalsRoom: Gallery APresenter: Amanda ThompsonDescription: This presentation will provide a training document for paraprofessional training, which includes instructional videos and a training packet to help guide teams in determining appropriate skills to teach paraprofessionals for students. Tips for progress-monitoring braille instruction and documenting skills mastered by paraprofessionals working with students who are B/VI will be shared.

Orbiting the Future - Touching Words and Reading Through the Use of a Braille DisplayRoom: Gallery BPresenter: Michael FishDescription: Braille is the only form of literacy for the blind. Learn how to use the Orbit reader as both a stand-alone and connected Braille display. See how this low-cost 20 cell Braille display is used for teaching Braille as well as for providing access to electronic documents in Braille. Find out how to use Braille with your computer or iOS device.

Scavenger Hunt, Part 2Room: LobbyPresenters: Valery Kircher, Meg Walker and Catherine BacikDescription: (Note: This is the second in a series of two. You must have attended the first session in order to attend this session.) This session will involve traveling to a local mall where a group activity will improve O&M specialists' skill level in techniques related to travel with a long cane and provide an opportunity to use technology to assist in locating landmarks and destinations.

Age-Related Diseases Associated with Visual Impairment (cont’d)Room: Rotunda DPresenter: Denise ScruggsDescription: (Note: This is a continuation from the previous session.) This interactive workshop will provide an overview of the impact of dementia, Parkinson's Disease, diabetes, and stroke on vision, communication ability, and learning. Participants will engage in aging sensitivity exercises that give them the opportunity to "step" into the shoes of older adults who are experiencing vision loss compounded by these diseases. Adult learning principles, adaptations, and strategies for successfully engaging clients will also be provided, along with tips for collaboratively working with professionals in long-term care and community settings.

Tools and Strategies for Using Electronic Large-Print Textbooks with Students with Low VisionRoom: Montdomaine Presenters: Cindy George and Nicci DowdDescription: Hard-copy Large-Print books are quickly being replaced by electronic files. For many students and teachers accustomed to paper-based large print, the transition to an electronic format can be difficult. This presentation will provide strategies to help students with low-vision utilize electronic large-print effectively, whether they are learning to read or accessing content in middle and high school classrooms. Strategies incorporate the use of software tools and mobile technologies. Including: ZoomText Magnifier/Reader, built-in accessibility features found in Microsoft Word, the Chromebook, Adobe Acrobat and on the iPad. Participants will receive handouts and resources to help them integrate the strategies into their instruction.

***Wednesday, 12:00 DRAWING for the Barbara McCarthy Scholarship Quilt Raffle***

Wednesday, 12:00 – 2:00 Lunch (provided – Room: Rotunda ABC)

12:40 – 1:00 Movement with Morina Lamb

1:00 – 2:00 Keynote: Two Blind Brothers (1.0 CEU)

Wednesday, 2:15 – 3:30 (1.0 CEU)

Using Scripts to Teach Social/Emotional SkillsRoom: Gallery APresenter: Christine JonesDescription: Scripts provide a powerful framework for instruction in the areas of functional communication, social/emotional learning, and emotional regulation. Because Social Interaction is one of the nine areas of the ECC, it is important to provide a social foundation for students that can be built upon for many years. Scripts provide that foundation for not just our students with multiple disabilities and ASD, but for all students with visual impairments that have not had the benefit of incidental learning.

Sharing O and M TechniquesRoom: Gallery BPresenter: Catherine BacikDescription: Instructing a wide range of ages and learning styles requires learning new ways to present techniques and information to clients. From introducing canes and basic skills to explaining walking in step to finding ways to teach in rural areas and applying to cities, O and M’s need to grow their toolboxes of ideas of how to present and teach O and M skills.

Using iPads with Braille Sheets and Speech Recognition with Braille Displays to Practice BrailleRoom: Rotunda DPresenter: Marty SchultzDescription: ObjectiveEd creates curriculum-based games that work with your teaching - giving visually impaired pre-K through 12th grade students the ability to practice what you teach, when you aren’t around. Braille Sheets lets a student practice braille letters, words or sentences using an iPad to which a page of embossed braille is placed on the surface of the iPad. The page of embossed braille can be produced using any method that the teacher uses to provide students with hardcopy braille. With Braille AI Tutor, you set the braille lesson plan for the week, for each student. Based on that lesson plan, the game sends a sentence to the braille display, and the student speaks the sentence as they read the braille. The iPad records what the student is speaking, translates the audio into text, and compares the text to the original sentence. If they are the same, the student earns points in the game, and moves to the next sentence. Otherwise, the game corrects the student and the student tries again.

Work-Based Learning Experiences – Envisioning the Future for StudentsRoom: Montdomaine

Presenter: Caren Phipps and Cindy RobertsDescription: In this session, attendees will receive information on the importance of work-based learning experiences for blind, vision impaired and deafblind students while in high school, how to prepare students for these experiences, how students can access these programs, and how they can lead to positive and expanded employment options that are available after high school.

ANNOUNCEMENT: We Welcome the RETURN of the Barbara McCarthy Scholarship Quilt in 2020! (Donation of $3.00/ticket or 2 for $5.00 to benefit the Virginia AER Barbara McCarthy Scholarship!) Below is a photo of Julie Kay, smiling, in a red winter cap as she holds up quilt #1 in the 2nd series of her handmade scholarship quilts. This year's quilt combines the ideas of 20/20 vision and our 2020 conference theme. The optical illusion quilt made with shades of green and black stripes on a background of suggested eyeballs with intricate quilting gives the 3D-illusion that you can reach deep into the quilt.