2015 VIRGINIA AER CONFERENCE UPDATE
“Becoming Agents of Change”
Wednesday, March 18, 2015:
9:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. “Bonus” Breakout Sessions
8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Conference Registration
11:00 A.M. – 1:30 P.M. Opening General Session with working lunch
1:45 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Breakout Sessions
6:15 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. “Extra Session” BlindSquare Intersection Analysis
Ø Mario Bonds, keynote, welcomes you. Courage, creativity and determination are critical to our success, yet you will quickly see how much there is to learn about the innate power of these concepts when you hear the story of Mario Arnauz Bonds. Bonds is a multitalented motivational speaker and singer/songwriter. Made famous by NBC Universal's 2012 run of The Glee Project, season two, in which he showed the world that a person with a disability can rise to meet any challenge, Bonds enjoys entertaining and inspiring millions.
Ø Special Guest Speakers: Commissioner Raymond Hopkins, DBVI & Lou Tutt, Executive Director, AER
Ø Achieving More Through Cooperation: GMU and UMass Boston collaborate to prepare Orientation and Mobility Specialists and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists to serve the needs of children and adults with visual impairment. Laura Bozeman, Ph.D., UMB & Robert McCulley, UMB
Ø Free & Low Cost Mobile Apps: Kara Zirkle, GMU & Stephanie Robbins, GMU
Ø The How, What, When, Where and Why of the ECC: Judy Hurst, TVI
Ø Mobile App Tool Kit for Teaching O&M Concepts Using iOS Devices: Andrea Bodnari, TVI FCPS, COMS and Melanie Hughes, DBVI
Ø Thoughtful Choices – Literacy Instruction for Beginning Braille Readers: Anna Swenson, M.Ed., TVI, Braille Literacy Consultant
Ø U.S. Currency Reader Program: Sabra Pressman, Bureau of Engraving and Printing. A free currency reader will be available to conference attendees.
Ø O&M Networking: Sarah Bussey, TBVI, COMS, CVRT, AIS
Ø Social Security Work Incentives & Student Transition to Employment: Sherman Gifford, CRC, LPC, Certified Work Incentives Specialist
Ø All About AIM-VA: Joyce Sharp, AIM Virginia
Ø Student Portfolios & Project Based Learning: Rachel Anne Schles, TVI FCPS
Ø Planning Routes for Guide Dog Travelers & Internet Assisted Exploration: Lukas Franck, Seeing Eye
Ø Building Partnerships in Transition – DBVI Ed Services, Voc Rehab & TVIs: Donna Cox, Ed Coordinator DBVI, TVI & Melissa Caudill, Transition VRC, DBVI
Ø Techniques & Activities for Students with Multiple Disabilities: Gillian Pilcher, TVI FCPS & Jen Bensaid, TVI FCPS
Ø Are You Getting What You Need from AER? Rachel Anne Schles, TVI FCPS & Mackenzie Savaiano, Ph.D., Univ. Nebraska-Lincoln
Ø “Extra Session” - BlindSquare Intersection Analysis: Andrea Bodnari, TVI FCPS, COMS and Melanie Hughes, DBVI. The BlindSquare app for conference navigation will be available to conference attendees.
Thursday, March 19, 2015, is dedicated to meeting with vendors, non-profit groups, and professional sharing.
7:30 A.M. – 8:45 A.M. Buffett Breakfast, Exchange Session, Meet with Vendors
9:00 A.M. – 6:15 P.M. Breakout Sessions
11:45 A.M. - 12:15 P.M. Extended break to meet with Vendors
1:30 P.M. – 2:45 P.M. Deli Lunch with Vendors
6:30 P.M. Thursday Evening Social sponsored by ITG & AIS
Virginia AER 2015 Silent Auction! All sorts of temptations waiting for your winning bid! All proceeds
go toward the Barbara McCarthy Scholarship Fund, offering scholarship opportunities to students pursuing a career in the education or rehabilitation of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. Silent Auction winners will be announced at the Thursday Evening Social starting at 6:30 P.M., sponsored by ITG & AIS.
Ø The Exchange & Outreach: Debbie Pfeiffer, Ed.D, CED & Lisa Auwarter, Ed Specialist DBVI, COM. Your opportunity to share an idea, a product, a resource or a challenge. Submit your proposal using the link on the Virginia AER website.
Ø Telescope Use – Factors of frustration, factors of success: Cynthia Bachofer, Ph.D., CLVT, TSBVI
Ø The Change to UEB: Judy Dixon, BANA
Ø TVI Networking: Rachel Anne Schles, TVI FCPS & Mary Filicetti, TVI FCPS, COMS
Ø iOS Devices – What they offer the blind & how we can get them into student’s hands: Michael Villafane, Computer & Tech Instructor, CRVT, DBVI & Michael Fish, Computer & Tech Instructor, M.Ed., TVI
Ø Inside & Outside of a Guide Dog: Michael Goehring, Guiding Eyes for the Blind
Ø Rehabilitaion Teaching in a Prison Environment: Mark Bragg, VRT DBVI
Ø UEB Basics: Judy Dixon, BANA
Ø Virginia Department of Education – Working with Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: Wanda Council, VDOE Ed Specialist BVI, DHH, DB
Ø Research Findings & Their Implications for Intimate Partner Violence & Older Adults: Pamela Teaster, Va. Tech
Ø Deafblindness – What Does the Academic Literature Have to Say? David Lojkovic, Ph.D., VCU
Ø “She Reads Funny,” Psychosocial Aspects of Reading with Low Vision: Cynthia Bachofer, Ph.D., CLVT, TSBVI
Ø Structure Discovery - A Means of Creating Success for Your Voc Rehab Client: Jennifer Kennedy, COM, NOMCT, DBVI & Michael Villafane, Computer & Tech Instructor, CRVT, DBVI
Ø UEB Roundtable – identifying needs, objectives, strategies, and collaborations that will help steer Virginia through a smooth transition to UEB. Mary Nelle McLennan, BANA, 2011 APH Hall of Fame Honoree
Ø Mission Possible – Quality Interactions with Students who have Multiple Disabilities:
Julie Durando, Ph.D., VDVP VCU
Ø Multiple Disabilities, Multiple Needs – AT Solutions that You Can Make: Morina Lamb, TVI Harrison City PS
Ø Getting In Charge of Getting Around: Cyntia Bachofer, Ph.D., CLVT, TSBVI
Ø Summer Academy for Students Transitioning to Post-Secondary Education – a Unique Partnership between Education & Rehabilitation: David DeNotaris, M.A. Admin/Supervision, director PA Bureau of Blindness & Vision Services & Shelly Faust-Jones, VR Specialist for PA Special Programs
Ø Motivate students & Clients who are learning braille or need to brush up on braille skills: Sarah Bussey, TBVI, COMS, CVRT, AIS
Ø Preparing & Presenting PowerPoint Presentation Non-Visually: Michael Villafane, Computer & Tech Instructor, CRVT, DBVI & Michael Fish, Computer & Tech Instructor, M.Ed., TVI
Friday, March 20, 2015
7:00 A.M. – 8:30 A.M. Breakfast & Checkout
8:45 A.M. – 11:00 A. M. Breakout Sessions
11:15 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. Closing General Sessions
Ø Strategies to “Keep it Moving” with Arthritis: Denise Stephens, M.Ed., CTVI, COMS, Ed Consultant DBVI & Natalie Jordan, M.Ed., COMS, DBVI
Ø Diabetes – Intervention & Basic Education – Teaching Evaluation Skills: Susan Dennisen, Health Ed Specialist, DBVI
Ø Breaking through Barriers to Meet the Needs of Children with Deafblindness: Valerie Schoenfeld, M.Ed., TVI LCPS & Elizabeth Martinez, Ph.D., Special Ed Supervisor, Loudoun County PS
Ø Developing tactile diagrams with electronic drawing programs using a validated texture palette: Tyler Ferro, Ph.D. Student VCU & Dianne Pawluk, Ph.D., VCU Haptics Lab
Ø Define the Superhero in You – Success Through Confidence Building: Jennifer Kennedy, COM, NOMCT, DBVI & Daniel Ashman, BFA, NCLB, DBVI
Ø Ethical Implications of Social Media Use - Ethical Implications for Rehabilitation Professionals: Christine Reid, Ph.D, CRC Professor VCU & Amy Armstrong, Ph.D, CRC Chair VCU
Ø TVI iOS Toolbox: Andrea Bodnari, TVI FCPS, COMS
Ø Tech Do’s & Don’ts – Preparing Students with Visual Impairments for Postsecondary Education: Korey Singleton, ATI Manager GMU & Stephanie Robbins, GMU