AERWAVESA publication of the Northern Rockies AER

(Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired)

May, 2015

President’s ReportBy Ken McCulloch The chapter officers have been following through with guidelines given at the October leadership meeting in Bozeman to make our organization more "legal" and responsible in the coming years.  In February an informal audit committee met and went through the bank records of the past seven years. This committee was led by treasurer, Claire Perrin and consisted of the following, Ken McCulloch, Beverly Berg, and Anne Rossmeier (office manager of an ophthalmology office). Although the last conference was costly and depleted treasury funds, no mismanagement of funds was apparent. Several factors went into the financial loss including the rather rural nature of the conference.  Our current balance stands at $15,358.22. Special thanks goes to Claire Perrin for her time and efforts as treasurer.  In March the chapter became officially incorporated (in

the state of Montana) and will need to file annual reports to remain viable. The board will need to decide which board member is best suited to file this report.  A "feeler" put out by the Utah Chapter last year in joining with our chapter has lost steam with new Utah officers. Several of our members, however, have been working on Utah members to come to our conference in Boise and we are expecting several to attend including the president.  The current by-laws are in need of "tweaking" and in need of some minor correction. Ken McCulloch, Pam Boespflug, and Amy Wicks are working on them to present to the board and then to the membership.  Dana Ard is doing a great job planning for the October conference. It sounds like a "doozy" and lots of fun. Be sure to plan to attend.  Please recruit people to join AER! Our NEW members get a free collectible tea pot.

MARILEE GROSS With a sad heart, we announce the passing of Marilee Gross, a dynamic leader for years in our organization. She held many of the chapter offices including president, and won several of the chapter awards.  She passed away on March 10 in Bend, Oregon.

 While she was on the Boise School Board, her fraternal organization took on the task of brailling books for the visually impaired in the Boise Schools. One of the first beneficiaries was our own Dana Ard. In her later years she trained many transcribers including many prisoners at the Idaho Penitentiary.  Her loving smile and great sense of humor will be missed.  

 2015 CONFERENCE SET FOR BOISE - OCTOBER 14 - 16 Plan Now To Attend The Exciting 2015 AER Conference With the theme, "CELEBRATING HISTORY NOW AND IN THE MAKING". It Will be Held at the beautiful Oxford Suites Hotel in the Theater District of South Boise just off

the interstate.  Tentative speakers include, Wendy David speaking on dependency and mental health issues in the V.I. community. Tracy Gavin will lead early intervention discussions. We have several panels planned and much more, so stay tuned!

Tours will include the Bose trolley, Idaho Commission, as well as a possible march to the capitol to celebrate White Cane Day on the 15th!  Please Plan to Attend and Bring Your Cohorts!  CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS Every two years, the chapter gives out awards to deserving folks and organizations serving the blind.  The H. Smith Shumway Award is given to the person who has done the most for the chapter. They should be a member but cannot be a current officer.  The Frank Smith Award is given to the person who has done the most for persons with visual impairments in the region. They do not have to be a member and cannot be an officer.  The community award (which we haven't given a name to yet) is "sometimes" given to the organization that has been of service to persons with blindness that we would like to recognize. We have given it to Wood River Lions

and Ski for Light in the past.  If you would like to nominate someone or organization for one of these awards, please send you nominations to Amy Wicks at awicks@msdb.mt.gov  by June 25th. 

Exciting gathering of professionals at: NRAER October Conference in Boise, ID!

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn and socialize with fellow professionals! The Northern Rockies AER 2015 Tentative Program is still a work in progress but the latest information posted in this newsletter was revised as of May 2015. The conference, held October 14th-16th, will be held at 1426 S. Entertainment Ave in Boise, ID. The location itself sounds fun. The theme set for this year is: Celebrating History, Now and in the Making.Just a taste of what we all can look forward to:

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14th

WORKING WITH ROUND-A-BOUTS(in-hotel presentation) – Michael Goehring

PANEL – How our states are working with newEducation and rehab directives in transitionModerated by Beverly Berg

NEW ZIPS, TIPS, AND MOVEMENT TO O&M – Jackie Macy

BOISE TOUR TROLLEY – MEET AT JOE'S CRAB SHACK SUPPER ON YOUR OWN – BOARD MEETING AT JOE'S

CRAB SHACK

VENDOR ROUND TABLESEschenbach, Humanware, Portland State University, Guiding Eyes, and others

VENDOR RECEPTION SILENT AUCTION OPENS

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 15

TRANSPORT TO IDAHO COMMISSION – 341 W. Washington for White Cane Day March to the Capitol (all attendees are invited to march to the capitol building – a short walk – for a white cane proclamation from the Governor's office – white cane users not attending the conference are also invited

IDAHO COMMISSION TOURS TRANSPORT BACK TO HOTEL CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY ISSUES IN THE V.I.

COMMUNITY – Wendy David – Washington V.A. ASSESSMENT FOR INFANT TODDLERS – Tracey Gaver LUNCH AND BUSINESS MEETING

Keynote - “Celebrating Our History – Now and In the Making” A panel – Ken McCulloch, moderator, Dana Ard, Michael Graham, Mary Rich-Williams

BUSINESS MEETING – Ken McCulloch AWARDS – Amy Wicks SILENT AUCTION CLOSES HOW TO READ AN EYE REPORT (TBA) GUIDE DOGS IN AND OUT – Michael Goehring TECHNOLOGY – Using the Latest Electronic

Equipment in Preparing Your Students and Clients – Carol Scholz

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE V.I. POPULATION – Wendy David

INTRODUCING A NEW DRIVER'S ED VIDEO ON WHITECANE LAWS AND OTHER V.I. ISSUES – Mark O'Brien

SUPPER ON YOUR OWN (Vendors Close)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION PANELS:A. SCHOOL TO WORK (TBA)B. TRANSITION TO PRE-SCHOOL – Tracey GaverC. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WORKING WITH OLDER VI ADULTS– panel: Stephanie Killian, moderator

DISABILITY RIGHTS IDAHO PRESENTATION PRESENTATION BY NORTHWEST BLIND ATHLETES

ASSOCIATION – Stacey Gibbons11:30 CONFERENCE CLOSESWe are very excited as the schedule develops and look forward to seeing you all in Boise!

Wyoming NewsBy Mary Rich-Williams

Wyoming RendezvousVision Outreach Services, a division of the Wyoming Department of Education has offered a Winter Rendezvous for several years on Casper, Mountain. This

event is attended by parents, staff and students from around the state each year. This year it was held on February 12th. Students enjoyed cross country skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. In the fall of 2015, on October 2nd, they will offer the first Fall Rendezvous in Grand Teton National Park. Activities will include hiking, complete with modern technology and GPS, as well as a campfire cookout. Laura Ozios-Townsend is the VOS Consultant to contact for further information about the upcoming Rendezvous at 307-265-8818.

Next Step Diagnostic ClinicThe Next Step Diagnostic Clinic is another project directed through Vision Outreach Services, Wyoming Department of Ed. This clinic is also part of the Deafblind Project for the State of Wyoming. Joanne Whitson is the Clinic Director and the Deafblind Project Manager for the State of Wyoming. The most recent clinic was held on April 17, 2015. The next clinic will be held in the fall. The clinic offers transdisciplinary assessment to students from around the State of Wyoming. The clinic has a nutritional team that consists of a speech pathologist, an occupational therapist and a nutritionist. There are three educational teams that have a teacher of the hearing impaired, a teacher of the visually disabled, an orientation and mobility specialist, an occupational therapist, a speech pathologist, an augmentative communication specialist, a physical therapist and an assistive technology specialist. There is a psychologist, an audiologist, an ENT, a pediatrician, an eye doctor and

a low vision specialist involved as well. It provides an opportunity for families, districts and child developmental centers that don’t have all the necessary local expertise to get comprehensive evaluations of their students.

Online Professional Development SeriesVision Outreach Services also sponsored an online professional development series once a month during this school year on a variety of topics. The topics were first presented in a live format each month then, were made available to individuals unable to attend that day and time. The last session for the year was presented in April. VOS is currently developing the series for the 2015-16 school year.WIND/WATRThe Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) and Wyoming Assistive Technology Resources (WATR) are valuable resources for adaptive materials and assistive technology in the state of Wyoming. WIND has the Wyoming Accessible Materials Clearinghouse and will be hosting the 2015 ECHO Conference on August 9 and 10 in Laramie, WY. WIND is also part of the Wyoming Vision Collaborative whose mission is to establish and ensure cohesive, statewide systems of care for childhood vision services. WATR offers assistive technology assessments, trainings, webinars and devices for loan. Both WIND and WATR are housed at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The website is http://www.uwyo.edu/wind/

Allen H. Stewart Lion’s Camp

The Summer School for the Blind and Visually Impaired at Allen H. Stewart Lion’s Camp has been operating since 1946. The 2015 camp is made possible through the Wyoming Lion’s Project and the Montgomery Trust Fund. The camp is available to visually impaired students ages 9-18 from the states of Wyoming, Colorado and Montana. There is no charge to attend, but transportation to the camp is the responsibility of the family. The camp offers educational, recreational and career skills to students addressing all the areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum. Classes on the current roster are Aids to Daily Living, Amateur Radio, Assistive Technology, Crafts, Digital Photography, Lapidary, Literacy Workshop, Low Vision, Music, Orientation and Mobility, Outdoor Adventures, Pottery, Physical Activity, Robotics, Oral Communication, Transition, and Woodworking. Past recreational and social activities have included swimming, bowling, goal ball, trips to the mall, parades, horseback riding, museums and air shows. Applications and brochures can be found on the website http://www.lionsofwyomingfoundation.org/ahslc.php

Wyoming Council for the Blind

The Wyoming Council for the Blind will be holding an annual conference on June 9th and 10th in Casper, Wyoming. The theme will be “Solutions for Daily Living”. WCB is an affiliate of the American Council for the Blind. WCB publishes a quarterly newsletter and offers scholarships to visually disabled students who are residents of the state Wyoming attending Post-secondary

schools. More information can be found at their website http://www.wycb.info/

Campbell County School District

Our longtime colleague Rennie Maki is retiring from Campbell County School District. She has plans to travel and relax with her dogs and family when she is at home. Mary Rich-Williams who also works for CCSD is transferring to a classroom position at Hillcrest Elementary working in a District Program for students with multiple disabilities. One of the TVI/COMS positions will be filled by Jerisha Ganske who is completing her Master’s degree through Salus University. This leaves CCSD with another position to fill. Interested applicants should apply through the district website http://www.campbellcountyschools.net/ Follow the employment tab to Job Openings & On-line Applications. It is listed as Exceptional Child Specialist/Visually Impaired. While dual certified individuals are preferred, applications will be considered for TVIs, COMS, and CVRTs. Mary and Rennie want to encourage you to consider Campbell County School District, as it a great place to work. They have each been with the district over twenty years. We hope some of you are interested in joining our team. Act fast, as the job opening closes on June 9th.

Idaho NewsBy Dana Ard

The Idaho Commission for the blind and Visually Impaired will hold its annual College Days program from June 29-July 3. The NFB of Idaho has partnered with the

commission to offer students an opportunity to attend the NFB national convention in Orlando, Florida following college days. Four students will be attending the convention. The ICBVI will also hold its Summer Work Experience Program June 22nd through July 31st.

AER member Dana Ard was recently elected state president for the NFB of Idaho, at their state convention in Boise.

Press Release May 11, 2015

The National Federation of the Blind of Idaho (NFBI) elected a Boise resident, Dana Ard, as its new President Friday, May 8. The statewide organization of blind people held its annual convention this weekend at the Boise Hotel and Conference Center. Ard recently retired as a rehabilitation counselor at the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired where she worked both in Southwest Idaho and in Lewiston during a career of 36 years. Ard is well-known in Boise where she is active in Toastmasters, sings with the Boise Choristers, and sings in the St. Michael's Cathedral Adult Choir.

Dana Neely Ard was the first blind child to be educated in the Boise Public School system. Her mother learned to transcribe books into Braille so Dana could read her assigned materials in school. Her stepfather, Graydon Smith, served as Idaho's Attorney General from 1955-59. Dana attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. She married Mike Ard in 1988.

Parnell Diggs, blind attorney from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, represented the NFB President and spoke to the convention at its banquet Saturday evening. He said that sighted people often perceive

that blind persons cannot do what is easy to accomplish without vision, but the blind must continue to work to educate others in order to participate competitively at work and in society.

Mrs. Carlton Cook Walker, attorney and teacher from Pennsylvania, came to the convention as President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, a division of the National Federation of the Blind. She addressed the convention and worked with Idaho's parents of blind children. Walker has a 14-year-old daughter who is blind. According to Walker, Parents should expect their blind children to grow up to lead normal and productive lives. "Parents are the first teachers," "but there will be many more teachers throughout school and life. Parents must push their blind children to perform, even when it seems difficult and a little scary. "She said we need more specially trained teachers, but the techniques exist for blind people to do almost anything except driving a car or truck.

Dana Ard says that that's what her parents did 60 years ago, and she appreciates it.

Montana NewsBy Sharon Woods

Montana Association for the BlindThe Summer Orientation Program (SOP) is a non-profit, program that teaches adults from Montana who have recently experienced vision loss the skills necessary to live independently and to function in their home, community, and at work. This year’s program begins June 15th and ends July 9th. SOP is held on the campus of Carroll College in Helena, MT. Please see

http://mtblind.org/sop.htm for more information. Skills taught include:

Safe travel in home and community Use of adaptive equipment for home and work Alternative methods of writing including Braille and

writing guides Computer programs for the visually impaired Methods of marking appliances and equipment Use of assistive technology Support networks are formed Community resources are shared Adaptive recreation

Montana Chapter of NFBThe Yellowstone County Chapter will be having a spaghetti dinner on June 7, 2015 at the Knights of Columbus 2216 Grand Ave. This event will begin at 5 PM and end at 8 PM with a cost of $5.00 per person for all you can eat. Everyone is welcome. Proceeds will go towards transportation to monthly meetings, social outings and purchasing adaptive aids for the blind to make their lives easier and more independent.Montana School for Deaf and BlindFamily Learning Weekend is designated for families of blind and visually impaired children. These popular weekends include dynamic national speakers and a wealth of information on learning to relate to their child’s unique needs. This year’s Family Learning Weekend is being held on the Montana School for Deaf and Blind campus in Great Falls on June 19-21st. This program is

designed to be both informative and empowering for families. The weekend provides opportunities for families to learn about blindness and visual impairment, share their experiences with other families, and communicate with one another in a warm and caring atmosphere.Participants include parents, professionals, and children of all ages, both blind and visually impaired, and their siblings. A wealth of information is presented by various experts, including technology and computer specialists, transition specialists, teachers of the blind, orientation and mobility specialists, and most importantly, parents. For more information: http://www.msdb.mt.gov/campus/summer-programs.html

Visually Impaired Summer Skills ProgramThe Visually Impaired Summer Skills Program is open to blind and visually impaired students, ages 9-16. During this camp participants learn a wide range of living skills, all of which build self-confidence. Campers cook meals, do laundry, learn to sew, plan menus, shop, and use public transportation. There are opportunities to learn new orientation and mobility skills, which can dramatically increase independence. Campers learn new communication skills, including Braille, JAWS - a computer program that reads information on the screen aloud - as well as other assistive technology. This camp includes many recreation and leisure activities filled with fun and adventure. Through all the experiences at camp, participants learn to overcome obstacles to living as

other children do, all the while enjoying the company of other kids with visual impairments. For information please see: http://www.msdb.mt.gov/campus/summer-programs.html

University Systems Support Training of VI Rehab/TVI/COMS

By Sharon Woods, secretaryArticle is written to get the word out about ways to strengthen our ranks of professionals serving individuals with visual impairments in our region. There are several university systems that are working in cooperation with our states and surrounding states for this purpose. The following compilation of information is a work in progress so please keep me posted on any other programs available to potential TVI/COMS/VI Rehab professionals.

Published by Portland State UniversityNews flash! The Pacific & Northwest Consortium for Vision Education (PNWCVE) hosted through PSU received a 5-year grant from the Office of Special Education Programs to train teachers of students with visual impairments over the next 5 years. Under this grant, eligible applicants will receive tuition waivers.

Please help me get the word out about this fantastic opportunity to prepare highly-qualified TVIs! Our next cohort starts in the summer of 2016.  We are, however,

accepting applications from individuals who are on a provisional license and need training starting in the fall 2015.

Recently published by VHA Healthcare Talent Management:

Visual Impairment and Orientation & Mobility Professionals Scholarship Program (VIOMPSP)

2015 VIOMPSP Application Period

VHA Healthcare Talent Management and Blind Rehabilitation Services are honored to inform you that VA will accept applications for VIOMPSP during the following dates

June 1, 2015 – July 15, 2015

As we strive to meet VHA’s needs for qualified blind rehabilitation specialists, we are asking for your assistance in attracting the best applicants to apply for this exciting scholarship and future VA employment opportunity

Eligibility Eligible applicants must be enrolled in, or accepted for enrollment in, an academic

program located in the United States that prepares graduates to meet the VA qualification standards for employment

Applicants must be citizens of the United States and pass a background investigation

Covered Expenses Full-time students

Tuition and required fees/Maximum $15,000 per academic year/$45,000 total award4 years to complete education

Part-time studentsTuition and required fees/Award maximums are based on ratio of full-time attendance

6 years to complete education

Service Obligation Participants work as permanent, full-time VA employees in blind rehabilitation practice

upon completing their educational program and licensure/certification Participants agree to a 3-year service obligation Participants sign a Mobility Agreement to relocate at their own expense if required to

fulfill their service obligation Participants who fail to meet the requirements of their service obligation shall repay an

amount equal to the unearned portion of the scholarship award, plus any penalty fees, to be determined by VHA Healthcare Talent Management

2015 Application PeriodStudents interested in applying must follow the instructions in the “How to Apply” section of the Program Announcement on USA Jobs. Applications will be accepted through USA Jobs at https://www.usajobs.gov/ June 1, 2015 – July 15, 2015

Application Process VA will publish the open period for accepting VIOMPSP Applications on VA Careers at

https://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/education-support.asp VA will post a Program Announcement and accept applications through USA Jobs at

http://www.USAjobs.gov

Applicants must submit a complete application package consisting ofApplication (VA Form 10-0491g)Academic Verification (VA Form 10-0491)Evaluation and Recommendation (VA Form 10-0491e). Include one each from:– the academic program where currently enrolled or where the applicant will be

enrolled; – a person who has known the applicant for a minimum of 2 years; and– if a current or previous VA employee, the applicant’s VA supervisor or

equivalentAcademic Transcript (An unofficial transcript is acceptable)RésuméDeclaration for Federal Employment (OF 306)

All applications must be received by the deadline date in the program announcement See https://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/education-support.asp for more

information and to download any required forms

How can you help?Please share this information with any audience who would express favorable consideration for this VA effort. We are confident that with your support and engagement, we can attract the best applicants, award students with excellent scholarships, and provide exciting opportunities in the visual impairment and/or orientation and mobility fields that will assist our Veteran population with receiving specialized treatment.

Texas Tech University

AER member states have been and continue to be involved in training programs for TVI’s and COM’s. These programs are primarily on-line. Each state has a contact person representing the state. Contact the following individuals: in Montana: Barb Balko, in Idaho: , In Wyoming For a comprehensive list of programs in the United States and abroad, please see: http://www.tsbvi.edu/pds/95-professional-prep/498-university-directory