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Re: veering..
开云体育
Veering off course
seems to be a problem for many cane users.? There is no easy
solution.? Some exceptional blind cane users claim they can
guide themselves in a straight line by using echolocation like a
bat, basically flicking their tongues back and forthe like a
freaking reptile to sense environmental vibrations to guide
them.? A blind O&M instructor named Dan Kish has tried to
popularize the use of echolocation by blind pedestrians, but
there is a lot of controversy over whether this technique really
works or is just a bunch of malarkey. And of course,
echolocation would be totally useless for someone who is also
deaf or hearing impaired in addition to being blind, and sadly,
most O&M instructors have no clue how to train a blind
client who is also hearing impaired and do not understand that
wearing hearing aids is not a panacea. Some busy intersections
in major cities now have audible traffic signals that make it a
little easier for blind pedestrians to guide themselves in a
straight line from one side of the street to the other, but they
are not always kept in working order and they tend to be few and
far between, and incredibly, their installation has been ?
opposed by the largest, so-called blindness advocacy
organization in the US. ??
Gerald
On 10/25/2023 12:43 AM, Madison Martin
wrote:
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veering..
开云体育Hi all, I tend to veer a lot especially when crossing streets, my instructor says this is normal but I still find it annoying. Is this true and if so is there anything that I can do to prevent it from happening alltogether or at least reduce the chances of it happening? If it maters at all I use a folding cane with a roller ball tip because apparently it works the best on all surfaces. Look forward to any thoughts that anyone has. Thanks Madison |
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General Liability Insurance
Hi All,
I have been providing O&M instruction as a private contractor, Sole Proprietor dba, for the past 10 years to nonprofits and state agencies. I do not have employees or subcontract. I carry the AER based Professional Liability Insurance. I was recently asked by a new prospective agency to have general liability insurance. I am unsure if I need this extra layer of insurance. I will not be driving clients or have any products for sale. Do any of you have this extra insurance? Thanks and Aloha, Amy |
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Latest OSERS Blog Series | Paths into the Profession: Orientation and Mobility Preparation Programs
Please share. from Nancy M ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: OSERS Office of the Assistant Secretary <ed.gov@...> Date: Mon, Oct 16, 2023 at 1:19?PM Subject: Latest OSERS Blog Series | Paths into the Profession: Orientation and Mobility Preparation Programs To: <nmiller@...>
Nancy D. Miller, LMSW (she/her) Executive Director/CEO |
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Book launch and mini-fair!
开云体育Excited pats and tugs invite you to attend ? A PROTACTILE MINI-FAIR ? on Saturday, October 21, 2023, in Independence, Oregon, to celebrate the release of ? TOUCH THE FUTURE A Manifesto in Essays By John Lee Clark ? the continued reception of ? HOW TO COMMUNICATE Poems By John Lee Clark Winner of the 2023 Minnesota Book Award Finalist for the 2023 National Book Award (winner to be announced November 15) ? the inaugural exhibit and sale of tactile artwork by ? KIMI HAGER Bare Hands Art ? an exhibit of tactile rugs made by ? ERIN MANNING 3 Ecologies ? interactions with and activities led by our DeafBlind hosts ? ROBERTO CABRERA JELICA NUCCIO SOLINE VENNETIER ? and an assortment of other protactile experiences. ? Location: ? Independence City Hall 555 South Main Street Independence, Oregon ? Go to the back of the hall, where the entrance to Independence Civic Center is. Our event is in the Heritage Room, to the left upon entering the building. ? Time: ? 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ? Tables: ? Tables are available for additional exhibits or goods for sale related to touch. Interested folks can contact jlc@... for more information. ? Refreshments: ? Light refreshments will be provided. Donations of additional snackis and drinks are welcome, but please consult with John lee Clark first by emailing him at jlc@... ? Books: ? John Lee Clark’s books will be available for sale. Folks unable to attend can order the books at the following links or from any favorite bookstore.
Touch the Future: ? https://www.amazon.com/Touch-Future-John-Lee-Clark/dp/1324035366/ref=asc_df_1324035366?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80264495889921&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583864003455213&psc=1 ? How to Communicate: ? ? Masks: ? Masks are encouraged. Hand sanitzers will be available. ? Sponsors: ? Grateful acknowledgments are made to the following for making this event possible: City of Independence, Western Oregon University, and Tactile Communications LLC. Special thanks go to our volunteers! ? ? |
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Re: Fall Risk Certification
Mississippi State University OIB-TAC has a free excellent falls prevention course specifically?for the older blind and visually impaired population. The National Council on Aging also has falls prevention materials and you can also check with your state department of health. from Nancy M. On Mon, Oct 2, 2023 at 1:38?PM Julie Henry <jhenry@...> wrote: I have been working at a school district, but I have a new job with the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. Because of this, I am working with older individuals and I don't co-treat with PTs and OTs. My supervisor would like for me to get "fall risk certified" and I agree with her. I have seen the fall risk assessment in Chris Tabb's LiveBinder.? However, does anyone know of a good organization to go through to become certified to assess fall risk? --
Nancy D. Miller, LMSW (she/her) Executive Director/CEO |
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Fall Risk Certification
I have been working at a school district, but I have a new job with the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. Because of this, I am working with older individuals and I don't co-treat with PTs and OTs. My supervisor would like for me to get "fall risk certified" and I agree with her. I have seen the fall risk assessment in Chris Tabb's LiveBinder.? However, does anyone know of a good organization to go through to become certified to assess fall risk?
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O&M Symposium Presentation Apps Closing Soon!
Hey y'all, ? ?O&M Symposium Presentation Applications are closing next Thursday, October 5. We have an amazing group of presentation applications already and would love to hear from you! It only takes about 10 minutes to fill out the application once you have your idea. I don't want you to miss this opportunity.? ?All you need is:?
Other details: The 2024 International O&M Online Symposium is happening January 24-26, 2024.?
?Apply to present at .? Happy to answer any questions!? Best, ? ? Kassy Kassandra Maloney, M.S., COMS CEO, Allied Independence, LLC.?  |
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Join us at the HELIX Conference 2023 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
We are excited to invite you to the upcoming HELIX Conference 2023, taking place at the Lancaster Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from November 15th to the 17th. This year's conference promises to be an exceptional learning and networking opportunity for professionals and educators alike. Conference Highlights:·???????? Hybrid Format: We understand that not everyone can attend in-person, so we are thrilled to offer a hybrid format, allowing you to participate virtually if needed.·???????? Dedicated O&M Strand: For 2023, we've introduced a dedicated O&M strand for orientation and mobility specialists. ·???????? Wide Audience: The HELIX Conference welcomes a diverse range of participants, including family members, special education teachers, general education teachers, teachers of students with hearing loss, teachers of students with visual impairments, orientation and mobility specialists, speech therapists, supervisors, and more. It's a gathering of professionals from various disciplines, fostering a rich exchange of ideas. For In-Person Participants:·???????? Exhibit Hall: Explore the latest products, technologies, and services in our exhibit hall.·???????? Poster Sessions: Engage with cutting-edge research and educational projects during our poster sessions. ·???????? Networking: Connect with colleagues from across Pennsylvania and beyond, building relationships that can enhance your career and impact. ·???????? Hands-On Workshops: Participate in hands-on workshops designed to provide practical skills and knowledge that you can apply directly in your work. If you have any questions about the conference or need further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at helix@.... For more details and to register, visit our official conference website: .
Gregory Gerhart, Educational Consultant PaTTAN |
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Re: Walkers with sensors
开云体育Susan, this is absolutely amazing, thank you so much for sharing this with us!? It demonstrates how important it is to test and develop this carefully, AND is inspiring to think that maybe some one some day could take this on and develop it for distribution with careful fitting and testing.? It definitely looks way beyond my abilities and the potential for it to fail makes me reluctant to try it. Thanks again! On 9/23/2023 6:02 PM, Susan Langendonk
wrote:
--
-- Dona ------------------------------- Dona Sauerburger, COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind Maryland |
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Re: Walkers with sensors
I was not able to find my documentation on the "smart walker", but the paper the engineering students wrote is still available at MSU and I've attached it.? It gives technical data as well as the laser devices that were purchased to attach to the walker.? I hope it's useful. Susan On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 10:15?AM Susan Langendonk <susanlangendonk@...> wrote:
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Re: AR-AER's "Spooktacular" Conference
Hi Whitney? I'm Eric Calhoun. I'd like to know more about this conference! How much will it be, and what's its purpose? Where is the conference located, and how can I register, with a credit card? You may contact me off list, or via Facebook. I'm visually-impaired, so I need to find out the particulars.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Eric Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 3:39 PM |
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AR-AER's "Spooktacular" Conference
We are?in the final countdown to?AR-AER's?"Spooktacular" Conference, which will be held in Rogers, AR.??
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: October 25, 2023
Conference: October?26-27, 2023
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Be sure and save your seat for the event and register by?October 6th?to receive a complimentary t-shirt!
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Check out our??to?find all the spooky details, including conference registration, schedule-at-a glance, hotel details, and vendor forms.
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We hope to see you there...come if you dare!
AR-AER |
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Re: Walkers with sensors
开云体育Please share with the listserv - I have a client with the exact same issue— Dona ————————— Dona Sauerburger, COMS www.sauerburger.org/Dona On Sep 22, 2023, at 10:22 AM, Sheila Spencer <sheraspencer22@...> wrote:
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Re: Walkers with sensors
开云体育Thank you, Susan. I believe my client has a neighbor who is pretty handy and may be able to adapt her walker into a smart walker. I’d love to pass along any info you have.?Sheila On Sep 22, 2023, at 7:15 AM, Susan Langendonk <SUSANLANGENDONK@...> wrote:
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Re: Walkers with sensors
Hi Sheila,? I took a look at this and didn't get the impression that it alerts to obstacles for someone with vision loss, but rather gives some visual information via a laser line that may help the user gauge their steps or possibly see a difference in the laser line that would alert them to an obstacle or step..? I was part of a prototype "smart walker" that engineering students at MSU built for a former student with vision loss that operated more like the laser cane with an audible alert when it detected drop-offs.? I had hoped that someone would take it on as a project to manufacture since it was actually pretty good at its job.? This didn't happen.? If you have someone that's handy, I would share the information (once I find it) since it wasn't all that expensive to build. Susan On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 9:58?AM Sheila Spencer <sheraspencer@...> wrote:
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Walkers with sensors
开云体育Good morning -I have an elderly client who is legally blind and uses a rollator walker due to balance issues. She found a walker online that is supposed to alert her to obstacles.? Has anyone in the group ever used one of these? I would love to hear feedback. This client’s neighborhood has no sidewalks. She wants to stay as active as possible and is wondering if this walker would be an option for helping her with curb detection and managing uneven surfaces while walking in the street next to the curb. Thanks in advance for any information about this device. Sheila Spencer, COMS |
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Touch the Future
开云体育Dear everyone! John here: ? I can hardly breathe, because my new book “Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays” will be released next month, on October 17. So many people, a whole movement, have made the book possible, and I hope it gives them joy and a deep sense of satisfaction. I hope readers will love it, not because of me, but because in the book they have an invitation to join us DeafBlind folks in opening up new worlds. ? Preorders are available. Can you help spread the word? Feel free to forward this message and to post the cover, links, excerpts from the jacket text pasted below, and any comments via social media! ? Barnes and Noble has a preorder sale, good until Friday, so I am listing the link there first. Links to some other places for preordering are also listed below. And you can always preorder through your favorite independent booksore! ? Links and jacket text below. Thank you for spreading our community’s invitation to engage with the most important development in our history, Protactile! ? PT hugs, John ? Barnes and Noble, 25 percent off until Friday, code: PREORDER25 ? To sign up for Barnes and Noble’s free rewards program, required for this sale, visit: ) ? Amazon: ? Books-A-Million: ? Bookshop.org: ? Target: ? A revelatory collection of essays on the DeafBlind experience and the untapped potential of a new tactile language. ? Born Deaf into an ASL-speaking family and blind by adolescence, John Lee Clark learned to embrace the possibilities of his tactile world. He is on the frontlines of the Protactile movement, which gave birth to an unprecedented language and way of life based on physical connection. ? In a series of paradigm-shifting essays, Clark reports on seismic developments within the DeafBlind community and challenges the limitations of sighted and hearing norms. In “Against Access,” he interrogates the prevailing advocacy for “accessibility” that re-creates a shadow of a hearing-sighted experience, and in “Tactile Art,” he describes his relationship to visual art and breathtaking encounters with tactile sculpture. He offers a brief history of the term “DeafBlind,” distills societal discrimination against DeafBlind people into “Distantism,” sheds light on the riches of online community, and advocates for “Co-Navigation,” a new way of exploring the world together without a traditional guide. ? Touch the Future?brims with passion, energy, humor, and imagination as Clark takes us by the hand and welcomes us into the exciting landscape of Protactile communication. A distinct language of taps, signs, and reciprocal contact, Protactile emerged from the inadequacies of ASL—a visual language even when pressed into someone’s hand—with the power to upend centuries of DeafBlind isolation. ? As warm and witty as he is radical and inspiring, Clark encourages us—disabled and non-disabled alike—to reject stigma and discover the ways we are connected.?Touch the Future?is a dynamic appeal to rethink the meanings of disability, access, language, and inclusivity, and to reach for a future we can create together. ? John Lee Clark is an award-winning writer and Protactile educator. He has received the Krause Essay Prize and a National Magazine Award for his prose, and the Minnesota Book Award for his poetry collection?How to Communicate. A 2021–2023 Bush Fellow, he lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his partner, the ASL Deaf artist Adrean Clark, their three kids, and two cats. ? Praise for Touch the Future ? “John Lee Clark’s fervent manifesto for the Protactile language and movement will blow your mind, enliven your body, and connect you to other people in unexpected ways. Touch the Future is a book that enlarges the human world.”—Edward Hirsch, author of Stranger by Night ? “John Lee Clark writes against the grain with intellectual ferocity and dry wit; with linguistic playfulness and unsparing precision; and above all, with an expansive, curious, tireless compassion. Society may ignore and isolate DeafBlind people, but as Clark shows us again and again, it is the sighted and hearing world that is marginalized by its failure to understand DeafBlind life, and never the other way around.”—Andrew Leland, author of The Country of the Blind ? “John Lee Clark’s essays radiate with excitement and urgency. . . . To read Clark is not simply to be taught something by him, but to find yourself immersed and seeking alongside him—you don’t just learn, you come away changed.”—Katie Booth, author of The Invention of Miracles ? “Touch the Future opens doors to the multiple worlds of disability. . . . This is a book for anyone who is interested in the life of the imagination and the mind.”—Stephen Kuusisto, author of Eavesdropping ? “John Lee Clark is equal parts master storyteller, wry comedian, erudite historian, and brilliant teacher. . . . At times urgent, often hilarious, and always illuminating, Touch the Future will touch readers’ hearts while opening their minds to a whole new world.”—Robert Siebert, co-author of Deaf Utopia ? “Protactile leads the way in this exquisite book that invites us into the curious and joyful crafting of choreographies of encounter. . . . This is not a book to hold at a distance. This is a book that teaches us how to get into the tangle, knee against knee, hand enthusiastically tapping the thigh, to feel the world differently.”—Erin Manning, author of For a Pragmatics of the Useless ? “Through John Lee Clark's writing, we witness the emergence of a new language, new sensibilities, new art forms, new forms of embodiment and sociality—nothing less than a new mode of existence. Clark's eloquent writing brings to voice one of the most significant cultural movements of our time.”—Brian Massumi, author of Parables for the Virtual ? ? ? |
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FW: Tactile paving at closed crossings - Research study
From: oliviagq@... <oliviagq@...>
Sent: Sunday, September 3, 2023 3:26 PM To: b.butterfly@... Subject: Tactile paving at closed crossings - Research study ? Dear Becky Frankenberger, ? We are a group of researchers from the University of Washington. We would like to invite you to participate in a study of Tactile Pavings aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety for individuals with vision disabilities. As a valued expert in orientation and mobility, your insights are crucial in helping us understand how Blind pedestrian students detect, read, and comprehend tactile paving, especially in high-stakes situations such as closed intersections. Your expertise will contribute to improving the accessibility of pedestrian environments. ? Study Objective: The purpose of this study is to gather valuable feedback on three experimental treatments of tactile markings that have been installed at closed intersections in the City of Seattle. These treatments are designed to prevent pedestrian crossings at specific intersections, but also provide feedback on the possibility of standardizing closed intersection tactile paving markers in order to enhance safety. We hope to gain a deeper understanding of your perspective on these treatments through a pictorial assessment and your valuable insights via a survey and free-form commentary. ? Your Involvement: As an orientation and mobility specialist, you will be asked to: - Remotely review pictorial representations of the three experimental tactile markings at closed intersections. - Provide survey responses based on your professional experience and insights. - Share your thoughts and recommendations for improvements. ? If this mode of participation is not accessible for you, we will also have an opportunity to visit these tactile markers in person in early October.? ? Compensation: For your time and expertise, you will receive a compensation of $30 for your participation in this study in the form of a Tango card (like a credit card). ? Confidentiality: Your participation and responses will be kept strictly confidential. Any data shared will be anonymized and aggregated for analysis purposes. ? Questions to Expect: The survey will explore topics such as: - Training techniques for white cane and guide dog users to identify different tactile markings. - Strategies for distinguishing between treatments meant for crossing and those to prevent crossing. - Instances of misidentification and methods for course correction. - Inputs for future standards or guidelines for tactile paving installations. ? How to Participate: If you are interested in contributing your insights and making a significant impact on pedestrian access, please respond to this email or contact us at uwtcat@... to confirm your participation. Upon confirmation, we will provide you with further details. ? ? Your expertise is invaluable, and your input will directly shape the future of pedestrian safety for individuals with vision disabilities. We look forward to your participation in this important study. ? Thank you for your dedication to creating a more inclusive and accessible environment for all members of our community. ? Sincerely, the TCAT team. ? -- Olivia Quesada?|?she/her TCAT Community Engagements and Partnerships Manager BDes Interaction Design,?BA Disability Studies |
