Re: Needing Assistance

#1992

开云体育

Another option is to work with a PT or OT in developing a handle for the cane that might work for her? ?Could she used an AMD which might help her, instead of having to sweep the cane?

Meg Robertson COMS

Show quoted text

On Aug 7, 2024, at 3:05?PM, Chris Tabb <chris@...> wrote:

Joanna,

Have you considered the slim line cane from Ambutech? It’s grip is soooo much more slender (and lighter) that it may be something your student could use without adaptation.?

--
Sent from iPhone

Chris Tabb
chris@...
512.660.2750

On Aug 7, 2024, at 6:53?AM, Joanna Credeur <joanna.credeur@...> wrote:

?
Good morning,
?
I have a cane-using 4^th?grade student with brachydactyly (see picture below; used with parent permission). She uses a silicone strap which allows her to hold her cane steady to do diagonal cane technique, but it doesn’t give her enough stability to sustain movement to do constant contact or touch and drag. Can anyone think of a way to adapt her cane or to form a grip that would give her enough stability for movement, but also allow for quick release if needed?
?
Thanks in advance!
?
<image001.png>

?
Joanna Credeur,?M.Ed., M.A., CTVI, COMS
Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Tennessee School for the Blind
115 Stewarts Ferry Pike ??Nashville, TN 37214
O: (615) 231-7443 ??F: (615) 871-9312
C: (337) 842-8977
Joanna.Credeur@...
?

“Creating Contributing, Participating Members of Society”
?

?

--?
Joanna Credeur, M.Ed., M.A., COMS
Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Tennessee School for the Blind
115 Stewarts Ferry Pike ??Nashville, TN 37214
O: (615) 231-7443 ??F: (615) 871-9312
C: (337) 842-8977
Joanna.Credeur@...
?
<inline.0.part>
?
“Creating Contributing, Participating Members of Society”
?

Re: Needing Assistance

#1991

开云体育

Joanna,

Have you considered the slim line cane from Ambutech? It’s grip is soooo much more slender (and lighter) that it may be something your student could use without adaptation.?

--

Sent from iPhone

Chris Tabb

chris@...

512.660.2750

Show quoted text

On Aug 7, 2024, at 6:53?AM, Joanna Credeur <joanna.credeur@...> wrote:

?

Good morning,

?

I have a cane-using 4^th grade student with brachydactyly (see picture below; used with parent permission). She uses a silicone strap which allows her to hold her cane steady to do diagonal cane technique, but it doesn’t give her enough stability to sustain movement to do constant contact or touch and drag. Can anyone think of a way to adapt her cane or to form a grip that would give her enough stability for movement, but also allow for quick release if needed?

?

Thanks in advance!

?

<image001.png>

?

Joanna Credeur, M.Ed., M.A., CTVI, COMS

Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Tennessee School for the Blind

115 Stewarts Ferry Pike ??Nashville, TN 37214

O: (615) 231-7443 ??F: (615) 871-9312

C: (337) 842-8977

Joanna.Credeur@...

?

“Creating Contributing, Participating Members of Society”

?

?

--
Joanna Credeur, M.Ed., M.A., COMS

Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Tennessee School for the Blind

115 Stewarts Ferry Pike ??Nashville, TN 37214

O: (615) 231-7443 ??F: (615) 871-9312

C: (337) 842-8977

Joanna.Credeur@...

?

?

“Creating Contributing, Participating Members of Society”

?

Re: Low vision O&M instructors strategies

#1990

开云体育

Belinda,

?

You and I have some visual history in common. I am a congenitally legally blind COMS, now semi-retired. I was a bioptic driver up to about three years ago. I stopped driving at that time after nearly 50 years of bioptic driving, not because of any significant decline in vision, but because realistically, all physical functions slow down as we age. I was in my late 60s, and I wanted to stop driving on my own before it would become apparent that I should have done so. I consider myself still able to monitor students for safety, but I have purposefully slowed my practice down to a very part time schedule. I do not feel that I need to be out there working with four or five or mor students per day five or six days a week as I did at one time.

?

Being a COMS was a second or third professional change for me. I could not have become a COMS when working on my first Master’s degree back in the 1970s. As you probably know, legally or totally blind people were not allowed to sit for the COMS exam until 1994. I thus did other things in the rehabilitation and education professions, and went back to Graduate school to prepare to take the COMS exam in 2010. I practiced for the most part full time until 2021.

?

When in Graduate School at Texas Tech, I recall asking Dr. Griffin-Shirley? why there was not more literature or research on how legally blind and totally blind people adapted techniques to? monitor for safety, and effectively teach. ?She answered that the process was very individualized. She gave a few examples of adaptations they had made, but she did not seem to really want me to study the techniques that other legally blind people used as much as she wanted me to develop my own that I could prove worked for me in order to monitor and keep people safe while nonetheless teaching effectively.

?

I will mention just a few ways in which I teach differently than some other COMS who are fully sighted, ?that I have had the opportunity to observe. First of all, I back off as students increase skills as any COMS does, but I probably do not back off as far. When a student is ready to work routes without my being in the physical intervention position ?behind them. I am probably still closer to them than most instructors would be. I do not want to miss small details of cane use, positioning, gait, etc. that I might miss at further distance. I discuss this with the student ahead of time so that they understand what I am doing back there. After discussing my techniques with them, I probably physically touch their hands, arms, or shoulders more than totally sighted instructors would. This helps me evaluate the subtleties of grip, hand positioning, cane placement, etc. that I might miss or not see accurately. It did not initially occur to me ?that I was doing these things to accommodate my own visual impairment, I worked for several years in the field of deafblindness prior to entering COMS training, and I may have developed some of these techniques to accommodate communicating tactually. In terms of techniques most directly related to ?safety, I think I walk routs more ahead of teaching them than most COMS do. Because of some personnel changes at the agency where I did my internship, I actually worked under two COMS as an intern. Both of them would often scout out a route by driving it. They would spot broken sidewalks, elevation changes, speed bumps and other environmental features that might impact safety or orientation when I could not spot these while driving or riding in a car. ?I believe that anyone can pick up more of these features by actually experiencing them firsthand, but as a legally blind COMS, I believe that doing this is essential for monitoring and safety.

?

I notice that Dr. Bozeman has sent you a second message while I have been writing this telling you that you may feel free to contact her. She is much better qualified than I am to talk with you about training processes to become a COMS. After all, that is her expertise, while I have just been a work-a-day practitioner out there chasing blind and low vision people through the environment. If you would like to talk peer to peer, however, I make the same offer. ?Feel free to contact me. I will place my contact information at the end of this message.

?

One other thing that I might suggest. We low vision people who can drive with a bioptic are a kind of a strange hybrid bunch. We get to do something that most blind and vision impaired people can not do. We can drive, but we consider what routes we are going to drive more carefully and do more ?conscious route planning to avoid driving situations that we know might be difficult for us. You can transfer some of these techniques to the planning of walking routes. ?This is a skill that comes more naturally and easily to us low vision drivers.

?

I remember writing in one of my scholarship applications to get funding to return to COMS school, that I felt that in an ideal world, a blind or legally blind student, would be able to work with a blind COMS, a low vision COMS, and a sighted COMS. There are aspects of the work that each of these categories of people can naturally do best.? They may each have to work a little harder to master the areas for which they are not naturally well equipped, but they all have an important role to play in the profession. ?Needless to say, we are not in this ideal world. Many blind individuals do not get the opportunity to work very much with any COMS at all, and certainly not with a group of COMS. Thus, COMS candidates in each of the categories of vision simply have to work a little harder to emphasize the parts of the work that do not come as naturally to them. ?I think a further example of this was something I realized when I stopped driving. I think I was always competent at teaching the use of fixed route buses, but I found I became even better at teaching these skills once I had to use these buses for almost all of my daily travel. The everyday user learns tricks that the teacher of skills looking in from the outside may never know as intimately.

?

Well, I just read back over this post, and I am not particularly happy with it. It is rather disorganized and I have wondered around from topic to topic. This is probably because, although I feel it is a very important topic, I still ?struggle with how to organize and present information concerning it. Again, I extend the offer, if you think any of this seems helpful and want to talk further, feel free to contact me.

?

Michael Byington, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)

> President of Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.

>> Membership Coordinator for Friends In Art of the American Council of the Blind

>> 712 S. Kansas Avenue

>> Suite 414D-F

>> Topeka, Kansas 66603

>> (785) 221-7111

>> ByingtonCOMS@...

?

??

?

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Laura Bozeman
Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 3:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies

?

Hi Belinda,

I can respond from my experience with 5 universities. I am speaking for myself. You mentioned the Griffin-Shirley et al research and I am glad to be a part of the research team.

?

As you know, anyone can apply to an O&M program regardless of disability. Regarding safety, I?expect the student instructor to keep themselves and the person they are teaching safe in a dynamic environment-in all environments. They are assessed (in the hands-on course) informally each day and formally, at intervals throughout the course. I?have had people who are fully sighted with no other disabilities who could not do this. I?have had people with blindness or low vision who could. How?they monitor grip, cane position, and overall safety, etc. may be different.

?

In the universities where I have worked, we did not ask someone with low vision to undergo any assessments that we did not require for all applicants. Among other results of our research, being a competent traveler was noted to be necessary.

?

We would talk with the applicant, all applicants, about what is expected in the curriculum and that particular course.

?

I hope that is helpful.

?

Best,

Laura

?

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor and Director: Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

UMass Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

781-588-4274

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 10:47 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies

?

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

?

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

?

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

?

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

?

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

?

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

?

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

?

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?
Blog:?

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

?

Re: Low vision O&M instructors strategies

#1989

开云体育

Hi Belinda,

Please fee free to contact me off list and we can chat.

?

Best,

Laura

?

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor & Graduate Program Director:

Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

Cell: 781-588-4274

Fax: 617-287-7787

??? ?

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...>
Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 12:01 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies

You don't often get email from beloconnor@....

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

?Hi Laura,

?

It’s wonderful to hear from you noting your experience in this area as a university instructor and participation in the referred research. Thank you for responding!?

?

The below is very helpful and if you are willing, I would very much like to delve deeper.

?

I am particularly interested in examples of what it might look like where it is ‘perceived’ or ‘determined’ the student instructor has not maintained client safety. What are some examples that safety has not been maintained? How has that been communicated to the student instructor and what actions were subsequently employed? Is there a remediation action or period? Does the student fail a subject or a competency or the course? How are reasonable adjustments addressed in the course and practical placement where the student is learning? Eg, a student and the instructor may not know at the outset of the course what reasonable adjustments are needed. There may be an event which then triggers the need for a reasonable adjustment. How is that addressed? Or is the student just deemed due to that event not being able to maintain client safety?

?

What if one supervisor thinks the student instructor is maintaining safety (or has not raised it as an issue) but another supervisor based on the same thing, says safety is not being maintained??

?

I would love to have a meeting with you sometime if you are willing? Or happy to receive other resources from you.

?

Best Regards,?

Belinda?

Show quoted text

On 7 Aug 2024, at 6:57?AM, Laura Bozeman <Laura.bozeman@...> wrote:

?

Hi Belinda,

I can respond from my experience with 5 universities. I am speaking for myself. You mentioned the Griffin-Shirley et al research and I am glad to be a part of the research team.

?

As you know, anyone can apply to an O&M program regardless of disability. Regarding safety, I?expect the student instructor to keep themselves and the person they are teaching safe in a dynamic environment-in all environments. They are assessed (in the hands-on course) informally each day and formally, at intervals throughout the course. I?have had people who are fully sighted with no other disabilities who could not do this. I?have had people with blindness or low vision who could. How?they monitor grip, cane position, and overall safety, etc. may be different.

?

In the universities where I have worked, we did not ask someone with low vision to undergo any assessments that we did not require for all applicants. Among other results of our research, being a competent traveler was noted to be necessary.

?

We would talk with the applicant, all applicants, about what is expected in the curriculum and that particular course.

?

I hope that is helpful.

?

Best,

Laura

?

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor and Director: Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

UMass Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

781-588-4274

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 10:47 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies

?

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

?

?

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

?

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

?

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

?

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

?

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

?

?

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

?

?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

?

?

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?http://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

?

<image0.png>

?

?

?

Re: Low vision O&M instructors strategies

#1988

开云体育

Excellent point, Kevin.

?

There is so much involved with safety for the O&M specialist during a lesson, instructor positioning, knowing the student (how they move, how quickly they move) in addition to what we teach about safety.

?

Best,

Laura

?

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor & Graduate Program Director:

Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

University of Massachusetts, Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

Cell: 781-588-4274

Fax: 617-287-7787

??? ?

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of HOLLINGER, KEVIN via groups.io <kevin.hollinger@...>
Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 9:02 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

Good morning, happy to engage in the conversation as I have had over 50 interns in my summer program but I am not a university supervisor or professor. I will encourage you though to consider the language of “maintain“ safety as that the best we can do is “promote” it!- I feel an instructor should never tell a learner that if they do “X, Y, Z they will be safe”

I have seen numerous times when a traveler has done everything absolutely perfect in terms of strategies and alignment and so on and yet a close call happens or an injury occurred. That includes one of my students getting hit by a car. We promote safety.

Also, I had interns with low vision and blindness and they implemented many strategies they learned at their university.?

I also had to seek professional development for my staff to learn those strategies because they were not known to us.

Kevin?

?

~ ~ ~

Kevin Hollinger

CATIS, COMS, NBCT-ENS, TVI

Francis Howell School District

kevin.hollinger@...

636-851-6143 office

636-851-6030?fax

On Aug 6, 2024, at 11:01?PM, Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...> wrote:

?

?Hi Laura,

?

It’s wonderful to hear from you noting your experience in this area as a university instructor and participation in the referred research. Thank you for responding!?

?

The below is very helpful and if you are willing, I would very much like to delve deeper.

?

I am particularly interested in examples of what it might look like where it is ‘perceived’ or ‘determined’ the student instructor has not maintained client safety. What are some examples that safety has not been maintained? How has that been communicated to the student instructor and what actions were subsequently employed? Is there a remediation action or period? Does the student fail a subject or a competency or the course? How are reasonable adjustments addressed in the course and practical placement where the student is learning? Eg, a student and the instructor may not know at the outset of the course what reasonable adjustments are needed. There may be an event which then triggers the need for a reasonable adjustment. How is that addressed? Or is the student just deemed due to that event not being able to maintain client safety?

?

What if one supervisor thinks the student instructor is maintaining safety (or has not raised it as an issue) but another supervisor based on the same thing, says safety is not being maintained??

?

I would love to have a meeting with you sometime if you are willing? Or happy to receive other resources from you.

?

Best Regards,?

Belinda?

On 7 Aug 2024, at 6:57?AM, Laura Bozeman <Laura.bozeman@...> wrote:

?

Hi Belinda,

I can respond from my experience with 5 universities. I am speaking for myself. You mentioned the Griffin-Shirley et al research and I am glad to be a part of the research team.

?

As you know, anyone can apply to an O&M program regardless of disability. Regarding safety, I?expect the student instructor to keep themselves and the person they are teaching safe in a dynamic environment-in all environments. They are assessed (in the hands-on course) informally each day and formally, at intervals throughout the course. I?have had people who are fully sighted with no other disabilities who could not do this. I?have had people with blindness or low vision who could. How?they monitor grip, cane position, and overall safety, etc. may be different.

?

In the universities where I have worked, we did not ask someone with low vision to undergo any assessments that we did not require for all applicants. Among other results of our research, being a competent traveler was noted to be necessary.

?

We would talk with the applicant, all applicants, about what is expected in the curriculum and that particular course.

?

I hope that is helpful.

?

Best,

Laura

?

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor and Director: Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

UMass Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

781-588-4274

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 10:47 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies

?

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

?

?

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

?

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

?

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

?

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

?

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

?

?

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

?

?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

?

?

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

?

<image0.png>

?

?

?

This e-mail transmission from the Francis Howell School District including any accompanying data or files is confidential and is intended only for the use of the named recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, an addressee, or the person responsible for delivering this to an addressee, you are hereby notified that reading, using, copying, or distributing any part of this message is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender at the email address above, delete this email from your computer, and destroy any copies in any form immediately. Improper retention of this e-mail and any attachment(s) to this e-mail could subject you to legal action under pertinent federal and state statutes, and result in civil and criminal penalties.

Re: Low vision O&M instructors strategies

#1987

开云体育

Good morning, happy to engage in the conversation as I have had over 50 interns in my summer program but I am not a university supervisor or professor. I will encourage you though to consider the language of “maintain“ safety as that the best we can do is “promote” it!- I feel an instructor should never tell a learner that if they do “X, Y, Z they will be safe”

I have seen numerous times when a traveler has done everything absolutely perfect in terms of strategies and alignment and so on and yet a close call happens or an injury occurred. That includes one of my students getting hit by a car. We promote safety.

Also, I had interns with low vision and blindness and they implemented many strategies they learned at their university.?

I also had to seek professional development for my staff to learn those strategies because they were not known to us.

Kevin?

~ ~ ~

Kevin Hollinger

CATIS, COMS, NBCT-ENS, TVI

Francis Howell School District

kevin.hollinger@...

636-851-6143 office

636-851-6030?fax

On Aug 6, 2024, at 11:01?PM, Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...> wrote:

?
?Hi Laura,

It’s wonderful to hear from you noting your experience in this area as a university instructor and participation in the referred research. Thank you for responding!?

The below is very helpful and if you are willing, I would very much like to delve deeper.

I am particularly interested in examples of what it might look like where it is ‘perceived’ or ‘determined’ the student instructor has not maintained client safety. What are some examples that safety has not been maintained? How has that been communicated to the student instructor and what actions were subsequently employed? Is there a remediation action or period? Does the student fail a subject or a competency or the course? How are reasonable adjustments addressed in the course and practical placement where the student is learning? Eg, a student and the instructor may not know at the outset of the course what reasonable adjustments are needed. There may be an event which then triggers the need for a reasonable adjustment. How is that addressed? Or is the student just deemed due to that event not being able to maintain client safety?

What if one supervisor thinks the student instructor is maintaining safety (or has not raised it as an issue) but another supervisor based on the same thing, says safety is not being maintained??

I would love to have a meeting with you sometime if you are willing? Or happy to receive other resources from you.

Best Regards,?

Belinda?

On 7 Aug 2024, at 6:57?AM, Laura Bozeman <Laura.bozeman@...> wrote:

?
Hi Belinda,

I can respond from my experience with 5 universities. I am speaking for myself. You mentioned the Griffin-Shirley et al research and I am glad to be a part of the research team.

As you know, anyone can apply to an O&M program regardless of disability. Regarding safety, I?expect the student instructor to keep themselves and the person they are teaching safe in a dynamic environment-in all environments. They are assessed (in the hands-on course) informally each day and formally, at intervals throughout the course. I?have had people who are fully sighted with no other disabilities who could not do this. I?have had people with blindness or low vision who could. How?they monitor grip, cane position, and overall safety, etc. may be different.

In the universities where I have worked, we did not ask someone with low vision to undergo any assessments that we did not require for all applicants. Among other results of our research, being a competent traveler was noted to be necessary.

We would talk with the applicant, all applicants, about what is expected in the curriculum and that particular course.

I hope that is helpful.

Best,

Laura

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor and Director: Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

UMass Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

781-588-4274

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 10:47 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies
?

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

<image0.png>

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Needing Assistance

#1986

开云体育

Good morning,

?

I have a cane-using 4^th grade student with brachydactyly (see picture below; used with parent permission). She uses a silicone strap which allows her to hold her cane steady to do diagonal cane technique, but it doesn’t give her enough stability to sustain movement to do constant contact or touch and drag. Can anyone think of a way to adapt her cane or to form a grip that would give her enough stability for movement, but also allow for quick release if needed?

?

Thanks in advance!

?

Joanna Credeur, M.Ed., M.A., CTVI, COMS

Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Tennessee School for the Blind

115 Stewarts Ferry Pike ??Nashville, TN 37214

O: (615) 231-7443 ??F: (615) 871-9312

C: (337) 842-8977

Joanna.Credeur@...

?

“Creating Contributing, Participating Members of Society”

?

--

Joanna Credeur, M.Ed., M.A., COMS

Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Tennessee School for the Blind

115 Stewarts Ferry Pike ??Nashville, TN 37214

O: (615) 231-7443 ??F: (615) 871-9312

C: (337) 842-8977

Joanna.Credeur@...

?

“Creating Contributing, Participating Members of Society”

?

Re: Low vision O&M instructors strategies

#1985

开云体育

?Hi Laura,

It’s wonderful to hear from you noting your experience in this area as a university instructor and participation in the referred research. Thank you for responding!?

The below is very helpful and if you are willing, I would very much like to delve deeper.

I am particularly interested in examples of what it might look like where it is ‘perceived’ or ‘determined’ the student instructor has not maintained client safety. What are some examples that safety has not been maintained? How has that been communicated to the student instructor and what actions were subsequently employed? Is there a remediation action or period? Does the student fail a subject or a competency or the course? How are reasonable adjustments addressed in the course and practical placement where the student is learning? Eg, a student and the instructor may not know at the outset of the course what reasonable adjustments are needed. There may be an event which then triggers the need for a reasonable adjustment. How is that addressed? Or is the student just deemed due to that event not being able to maintain client safety?

What if one supervisor thinks the student instructor is maintaining safety (or has not raised it as an issue) but another supervisor based on the same thing, says safety is not being maintained??

I would love to have a meeting with you sometime if you are willing? Or happy to receive other resources from you.

Best Regards,?

Belinda?

Show quoted text

On 7 Aug 2024, at 6:57?AM, Laura Bozeman <Laura.bozeman@...> wrote:

?
Hi Belinda,

I can respond from my experience with 5 universities. I am speaking for myself. You mentioned the Griffin-Shirley et al research and I am glad to be a part of the research team.

As you know, anyone can apply to an O&M program regardless of disability. Regarding safety, I?expect the student instructor to keep themselves and the person they are teaching safe in a dynamic environment-in all environments. They are assessed (in the hands-on course) informally each day and formally, at intervals throughout the course. I?have had people who are fully sighted with no other disabilities who could not do this. I?have had people with blindness or low vision who could. How?they monitor grip, cane position, and overall safety, etc. may be different.

In the universities where I have worked, we did not ask someone with low vision to undergo any assessments that we did not require for all applicants. Among other results of our research, being a competent traveler was noted to be necessary.

We would talk with the applicant, all applicants, about what is expected in the curriculum and that particular course.

I hope that is helpful.

Best,

Laura

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor and Director: Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

UMass Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

781-588-4274

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 10:47 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies
?

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?http://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

<image0.png>

Re: Strategies for O&M instructors who have visual impairment

#1984

开云体育

gads, Belinda, that sounds SO frustrating and SO unfair!? My first thought is to wonder "how can these people, who serve B/VI people, be so ignorant and cruel!??!?

And then I remember, *I* thought the same as them!? After more than 30 years of helping people who are blind / visually impaired do things that most people thing requires vision, such as crossing streets . . I turned around and assumed they couldn't teach O&M because that would require vision.? Because that's the way that I teach O&M!

Well, Belinda, you're joining a HUGE huge HUGE group of people being discriminated against unfairly.? The only consolation is that in 30 years you can look back with pride at how you handled it . . . one by one.? Convincing employers and supervisors . . . one by blasted one.? Just know you're not alone, generations of blind O&Ms before you and probably after you went through the same thing.

I'd love to hear from Michael Byington, I think he's been a visually impaired O&M long enough to know discrimination -- possibly even from me, if he goes back far enough!? Michael, how'd you deal with it?

Meanwhile, Belinda, don't let it get you down, don't let it convince you that you aren't capable.? That's probably the hardest obstacle to overcome -- believing in yourself.

I once met a young blind American woman in China, who was sent there on a Fulbright scholarship (don't know if that's an American thing, but it's a BIg Deal -- awarded only to the brightest and most capable).? I asked her what it was like to be in China and she almost teared up, saying how hard it was to maintain her self-esteem in the face of discrimination she encountered there.? I asked her to write about it, which is .

So don't let this mess with your self-esteem and confidence.

Love,

Dona

On 8/6/2024 10:13 PM, Belinda O'Connor wrote:

?
?Thank you Dona, as usual you are providing very useful information. I applaud you in your advocacy efforts and supporting ways for inclusive training. Thank you.

I also like your website in that it is presented in a way to be easy to read for all users. I do find it odd in my contact with people in the?BLV?fields where they provide materials (regardless of audience) that are clearly inconsistent with WCAG eg, non screen readable, poor contrast.

Yes, Australia does seem to be at least 30 years behind in these matters particularly low vision. There are a few drivers for this including the change in funding for BLV services in Australia from government block funding to organisations to plan based funding to individuals. ?Blindness organisations are funded through their service providers (O&Ms, OTs, ATS, etc) meeting a 65% of billable hours target. There are no residential services only itinerant services in dynamic environments generally from the clients home. I have been told by several O&Ms in Australia that in the USA?BLV?people only deliver services in residential settings and not dynamic new environments. I know this is not true but that is the narrative they tell.

To give you an example of one of the barriers, every supervisor I have had has told me I will not have time to do a review of a route prior to visiting a client. This is despite myself advising that a route review by myself is a reasonable adjustment and a must for me to do. I am consistently denied. This makes me very uncomfortable (and nervous in real time) in supporting a client for their route travel because it does not give me the opportunity to the thematically analyse the environment and consider how best I would deliver the service as someone with low vision. The only vision impaired COMS in Australia does not drive, uses public transport and has told me that they exceed the billable hours target and are still able to do a good route review. So yes discrimination and ignorance. I also believe in Australia there is a gendered intersectionality lens compounding.

?

I have been very much aware of lack of LV services in Australia and thus addressing needs. So why we established Bioptic Drivers Australia in 2017, including the website/socials/media. This is my life’s work and why I am studying and seeking to certify to become COMS… to build on Chuck Huss’s COMS work for the Australian context.?

In attempting to complete the 350 hours required by ACVREP I have driven 30,000 km in seven months in regional and city across several boarders ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC. Never had an accident. One manager said I’ll be doing the majority of my placement by Telehealth and for any physical visits would only let me book a client where another employee was visiting that area so they drive. Of course they’d never say it’s because I’m a bioptic driver they didn’t want me driving on their work time. That took months to resolve. I had an O&M supervisor tell me I must wear my bioptic at all times when with clients, then to ask me what is a bioptic. Another tell me in detail their ‘what if‘ views why low vision conditions mean not able to consistently ensure a clients safety when crossing roads. Again months to address and many attitudes driving behaviour without resolution. I’m pleased to read the adjustment examples at this link including using a support person.?

I was also pleased to learn that there are courses in the USA that video their students delivering O&M. This is something I would welcome and will suggest. Yet, the real issue is the instructor‘s subjectivities in determining what actions (or lack of) result in maintaining safety (or not). And if not, how that is explored and addressed.

As it seems, BLV students and the university and supervisors alike don’t know what kind of adjustments may be employed, it does seem relevant that the material at these links are shared broadly in Australia.

The only LV COMS in Australia worked for one of the large blindness agencies for over 10 years and then set up their own business. This person is very well respected and has a considerable client base and works with other independent COMS to deliver group travel days. Yet, I’m told by O&Ms there were issues and concerns when teaching that person and the teaching model now is very different (less adaptive and more complex). In addition to myself there are now two other LV students studying the course to become an orientation and mobility specialist. I have been told both students have been seeking reasonable adjustment supports without resolution. So yes, whilst I am seeking ways to convince colleagues and supervisors that I could be capable, I and the other students can only benefit from the advice of those who have forged the path before us. And there seems to be quite a bit of experience in the USA to draw from.

I’m very much open to more discussion on these matters.

I am particularly interested in hearing from people with low vision who are COMS or working to be COMS.

I also welcome direct emails if you do not want to have the discussion open with the group.?

Best Regards,?

Belinda

On 7 Aug 2024, at 1:33?AM, Dona Sauerburger <dona@...> wrote:

? <sigh> Belinda, I hear ya about having supervisors and even O&M colleagues who have doubts that someone with low vision (or no vision) can provide for the safety of their O&M students.

Strategies for people with low vision to teach O&M vary - but I wonder if you’re really looking for ways to convince colleagues and supervisors that you could be capable? ?

That was a HUGE problem here in the U.S. about 25-30 years ago. ?I remember O&Ms on this listserv saying they would never allow their supervisor to hire a blind instructor (presumably they’d quit if that happened). The O&M Division of AER would not certify O&Ms who didn’t have normal vision and, long after blind instructors were certified, programs and supervisors (including our government agency, the Veterans Administration) had policies that their O&M instructors had to have normal vision.?

So perhaps Australia is now facing the same struggle with this problem. ?Collecting a list of strategies that people with low vision use might be helpful but in my experience, that’s not going to be enough. ?The ignorance and discrimination itself needs to be addressed.

I was one of the leaders of the O&M Division of AER at the time, and we:

* had leaders present at a general session at our conference with 2 blind certified O&M specialists explaining how they taught, and answered questions and concerns?

* had a newsletter column that featured O&M instructors including two who were blind?

* approved a position paper supporting blind O&Ms (Mark Richert and I drafted it - he was executive director at the time)

There was also a “point / Counterpoint” in JVIB about O&Ms with disabilities (??)

I think it’s safe to say that by now, several DECADES later, we’ve finally arrived at the stage where O&Ms who are blind or have low vision are accepted by the profession, but I assume that they have the same problems with discrimination by prospective employers that all people with visual impairments face - the employers need to be convinced that they can do the job.

— Dona
—————————

Dona Sauerburger, COMS

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind

On Aug 6, 2024, at 8:33 AM, Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...> wrote:

?
Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?
Blog:?

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

<image0.png>

--
-- Dona
-------------------------------

Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind

Re: Strategies for O&M instructors who have visual impairment

#1983

开云体育

?

?Thank you Dona, as usual you are providing very useful information. I applaud you in your advocacy efforts and supporting ways for inclusive training. Thank you.

I also like your website in that it is presented in a way to be easy to read for all users. I do find it odd in my contact with people in the?BLV?fields where they provide materials (regardless of audience) that are clearly inconsistent with WCAG eg, non screen readable, poor contrast.

Yes, Australia does seem to be at least 30 years behind in these matters particularly low vision. There are a few drivers for this including the change in funding for BLV services in Australia from government block funding to organisations to plan based funding to individuals. ?Blindness organisations are funded through their service providers (O&Ms, OTs, ATS, etc) meeting a 65% of billable hours target. There are no residential services only itinerant services in dynamic environments generally from the clients home. I have been told by several O&Ms in Australia that in the USA?BLV?people only deliver services in residential settings and not dynamic new environments. I know this is not true but that is the narrative they tell.

To give you an example of one of the barriers, every supervisor I have had has told me I will not have time to do a review of a route prior to visiting a client. This is despite myself advising that a route review by myself is a reasonable adjustment and a must for me to do. I am consistently denied. This makes me very uncomfortable (and nervous in real time) in supporting a client for their route travel because it does not give me the opportunity to the thematically analyse the environment and consider how best I would deliver the service as someone with low vision. The only vision impaired COMS in Australia does not drive, uses public transport and has told me that they exceed the billable hours target and are still able to do a good route review. So yes discrimination and ignorance. I also believe in Australia there is a gendered intersectionality lens compounding.

?

I have been very much aware of lack of LV services in Australia and thus addressing needs. So why we established Bioptic Drivers Australia in 2017, including the website/socials/media. This is my life’s work and why I am studying and seeking to certify to become COMS… to build on Chuck Huss’s COMS work for the Australian context.?

In attempting to complete the 350 hours required by ACVREP I have driven 30,000 km in seven months in regional and city across several boarders ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC. Never had an accident. One manager said I’ll be doing the majority of my placement by Telehealth and for any physical visits would only let me book a client where another employee was visiting that area so they drive. Of course they’d never say it’s because I’m a bioptic driver they didn’t want me driving on their work time. That took months to resolve. I had an O&M supervisor tell me I must wear my bioptic at all times when with clients, then to ask me what is a bioptic. Another tell me in detail their ‘what if‘ views why low vision conditions mean not able to consistently ensure a clients safety when crossing roads. Again months to address and many attitudes driving behaviour without resolution. I’m pleased to read the adjustment examples at this link including using a support person.?

I was also pleased to learn that there are courses in the USA that video their students delivering O&M. This is something I would welcome and will suggest. Yet, the real issue is the instructor‘s subjectivities in determining what actions (or lack of) result in maintaining safety (or not). And if not, how that is explored and addressed.

As it seems, BLV students and the university and supervisors alike don’t know what kind of adjustments may be employed, it does seem relevant that the material at these links are shared broadly in Australia.

The only LV COMS in Australia worked for one of the large blindness agencies for over 10 years and then set up their own business. This person is very well respected and has a considerable client base and works with other independent COMS to deliver group travel days. Yet, I’m told by O&Ms there were issues and concerns when teaching that person and the teaching model now is very different (less adaptive and more complex). In addition to myself there are now two other LV students studying the course to become an orientation and mobility specialist. I have been told both students have been seeking reasonable adjustment supports without resolution. So yes, whilst I am seeking ways to convince colleagues and supervisors that I could be capable, I and the other students can only benefit from the advice of those who have forged the path before us. And there seems to be quite a bit of experience in the USA to draw from.

I’m very much open to more discussion on these matters.

I am particularly interested in hearing from people with low vision who are COMS or working to be COMS.

I also welcome direct emails if you do not want to have the discussion open with the group.?

Best Regards,?

Belinda

Show quoted text

On 7 Aug 2024, at 1:33?AM, Dona Sauerburger <dona@...> wrote:

? <sigh> Belinda, I hear ya about having supervisors and even O&M colleagues who have doubts that someone with low vision (or no vision) can provide for the safety of their O&M students.

Strategies for people with low vision to teach O&M vary - but I wonder if you’re really looking for ways to convince colleagues and supervisors that you could be capable? ?

That was a HUGE problem here in the U.S. about 25-30 years ago. ?I remember O&Ms on this listserv saying they would never allow their supervisor to hire a blind instructor (presumably they’d quit if that happened). The O&M Division of AER would not certify O&Ms who didn’t have normal vision and, long after blind instructors were certified, programs and supervisors (including our government agency, the Veterans Administration) had policies that their O&M instructors had to have normal vision.?

So perhaps Australia is now facing the same struggle with this problem. ?Collecting a list of strategies that people with low vision use might be helpful but in my experience, that’s not going to be enough. ?The ignorance and discrimination itself needs to be addressed.

I was one of the leaders of the O&M Division of AER at the time, and we:

* had leaders present at a general session at our conference with 2 blind certified O&M specialists explaining how they taught, and answered questions and concerns?

* had a newsletter column that featured O&M instructors including two who were blind?

* approved a position paper supporting blind O&Ms (Mark Richert and I drafted it - he was executive director at the time)

There was also a “point / Counterpoint” in JVIB about O&Ms with disabilities (??)

I think it’s safe to say that by now, several DECADES later, we’ve finally arrived at the stage where O&Ms who are blind or have low vision are accepted by the profession, but I assume that they have the same problems with discrimination by prospective employers that all people with visual impairments face - the employers need to be convinced that they can do the job.

— Dona
—————————

Dona Sauerburger, COMS

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind

www.sauerburger.org

On Aug 6, 2024, at 8:33 AM, Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...> wrote:

?
Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?http://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

<image0.png>

SOMA O&M conference early-bird deadline next week!

#1982

Hi guys!? The SOMA O&M conference in Huntsville, Alabama October 26-29, 2024 has shaped into one INCREDIBLE conference, and this week about 4-6 people have been registering every day.? That's probably because . . .

?

. . .? next week on Thursday, October 15 is the deadline for early-bird registrations - it will cost $50 more after that.? The to Helen Keller's home and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Space Camp are also starting to fill up. For conference registration, hotel information, and field trips go to

?

Highlights:

Networking galore, including a reception Saturday night, and snack breaks twice a day
21 hours of ACVREP-approved program
40 sessions, most of them repeated to give you more choices and fewer conflicts
more than 50 from across North America and overseas
sessions for O&Ms working with students of all ages - everything from motivating movement in children, to working with adults with CVI
All-day coffee, tea and drinks

?

Topics include many unique ones and:

Collaboration or integration among professions
Students with additional disabilities or health concerns
Instructional ideas and programs
Canes and AMDs -- instruction, availability and technology
Technology and O&M
Street crossing
Travel and instruction in other countries
Guide Dog Mobility Instruction

As always, SOMA is leading the way with sessions that are interactive / hands-on / in-the-street, so bring your thinking cap and walking shoes!

?

FIELD TRIPS:

You might need your Space Suit, too -- we have arranged reduced-priced tickets you can purchase to two exciting field trips to enjoy before the conference:?

US Space and Rocket Center and its internationally-known Space Camp Program is just 15 minutes from the hotel! For $90 you can go to Space Camp where your group will receive astronaut training to complete a "space mission" and experience two space simulations.
Helen Keller’s Birthplace, Ivy Green, where you can see the well where she understood her first word.? The tour and transportation from the hotel is $10/person.

For conference registration and hotel information, go to

?

We look forward to launching into a great adventure with you!

?

The SOMA Team:

Karen Walker, Conference Chair?

Dee Recker, Registration

Program Committee:

Dona Sauerburger, Chair

Lukas Franck, GDMI Coordinator

Eileen Bischof

Sarah Bussey

Judy Porro

?

Re: Low vision O&M instructors strategies

#1981

开云体育

Hi Belinda,

I can respond from my experience with 5 universities. I am speaking for myself. You mentioned the Griffin-Shirley et al research and I am glad to be a part of the research team.

As you know, anyone can apply to an O&M program regardless of disability. Regarding safety, I?expect the student instructor to keep themselves and the person they are teaching safe in a dynamic environment-in all environments. They are assessed (in the hands-on course) informally each day and formally, at intervals throughout the course. I?have had people who are fully sighted with no other disabilities who could not do this. I?have had people with blindness or low vision who could. How?they monitor grip, cane position, and overall safety, etc. may be different.

In the universities where I have worked, we did not ask someone with low vision to undergo any assessments that we did not require for all applicants. Among other results of our research, being a competent traveler was noted to be necessary.

We would talk with the applicant, all applicants, about what is expected in the curriculum and that particular course.

I hope that is helpful.

Best,

Laura

Laura Bozeman, PhD, COMS, CLVT

Professor and Director: Vision Studies

Chair: School for Global Inclusion and Social Development

UMass Boston

Laura.bozeman@...

781-588-4274

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...>
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 10:47 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [OandM] Low vision O&M instructors strategies

?

CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER

Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?http://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

Announcing IMC 19

#1980

SAVE THE DATE AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS

?

IMC19 will be held in Gujarat, Ahmedabad, India. Conference dates are November 16-19, 2026. Ahmedabad, in western India, is the largest city in the state of Gujarat. The Sabarmati River runs through its center. On the western bank is the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati, which displays the spiritual leader’s living quarters and artifacts. Across the river, the Calico Museum of Textiles, once a cloth merchant's mansion, has a significant collection of antique and modern fabrics.

?

IMC19 will be hosted by The Blind People’s Association. wwwbpaindia.org

?

Soon there will be an IMC19 website with more details and updates as the planning progresses.

?

For more information contact Eileen Siffermann, IMC Executive Committee Chair at eileensiffermann@....

?

Eileen Siffermann, COMS

520-360-5238

?

Strategies for O&M instructors who have visual impairment

#1979

开云体育

<sigh> Belinda, I hear ya about having supervisors and even O&M colleagues who have doubts that someone with low vision (or no vision) can provide for the safety of their O&M students.

Strategies for people with low vision to teach O&M vary - but I wonder if you’re really looking for ways to convince colleagues and supervisors that you could be capable? ?

That was a HUGE problem here in the U.S. about 25-30 years ago. ?I remember O&Ms on this listserv saying they would never allow their supervisor to hire a blind instructor (presumably they’d quit if that happened). The O&M Division of AER would not certify O&Ms who didn’t have normal vision and, long after blind instructors were certified, programs and supervisors (including our government agency, the Veterans Administration) had policies that their O&M instructors had to have normal vision.?

So perhaps Australia is now facing the same struggle with this problem. ?Collecting a list of strategies that people with low vision use might be helpful but in my experience, that’s not going to be enough. ?The ignorance and discrimination itself needs to be addressed.

I was one of the leaders of the O&M Division of AER at the time, and we:

* had leaders present at a general session at our conference with 2 blind certified O&M specialists explaining how they taught, and answered questions and concerns?

* had a newsletter column that featured O&M instructors including two who were blind?

* approved a position paper supporting blind O&Ms (Mark Richert and I drafted it - he was executive director at the time)

There was also a “point / Counterpoint” in JVIB about O&Ms with disabilities (??)

I think it’s safe to say that by now, several DECADES later, we’ve finally arrived at the stage where O&Ms who are blind or have low vision are accepted by the profession, but I assume that they have the same problems with discrimination by prospective employers that all people with visual impairments face - the employers need to be convinced that they can do the job.

— Dona

—————————

Dona Sauerburger, COMS

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind

www.sauerburger.org

Show quoted text

On Aug 6, 2024, at 8:33 AM, Belinda O'Connor <beloconnor@...> wrote:

?
Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?http://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

Low vision O&M instructors strategies

#1978

开云体育

Hello orientation and mobility brains trust!

I would be grateful for a discussion with individuals who can provide me with advice about strategies O&M instructors (COMS) with low vision would use to maintain the safety of their clients when delivering itinerant services particularly new travel routes.

I am also interested in the feedback that students would receive from their placement supervisors as to what it means to maintain client safety. How that is addressed through university/ COMS (ACVREP) assessment criteria to determine if/ when a student has met competency.

Obviously, I understand and affirm an orientation and mobility instructor must be able to demonstrate they can maintain the safety of the client. However there seems to be a very broad application of what this might mean. Is there any assessment done prior to a vision impaired person undertaking a course to determine if they can maintain a client safety? (Not from what I’ve read) If there has been an incident where it is perceived a clients safety may not have been maintained, how is that addressed? (There seems to be anecdotal stories)

Currently I am undertaking postgraduate study in Australia to graduate as an orientation and mobility specialist and subsequently to sit the COMS exam.

I was born with low vision and am a bioptic driver for over eight years.?

In Australia, we only have one person with vision impairment working as a COMS. We have had only a handful of other vision impaired people who have attempted to become an orientation and mobility specialist. However, in my discussions with some of them, some supervisors and university staff, there seems to be a general consensus that vision impaired people are not able to maintain the safety of clients. To me this seems to be a lack of familiarity of how things can be done and are being done.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated please?

Note: I have read the recent study and been in contact with Dr Griffin-Shirley and Dr Bradley Blair. I’ve also been reviewing Dr Sauerburger’s work on road crossings.

Best Regards,?

Belinda O'Connor - DLI
Churchill Fellow 2022 "The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust Churchill Fellowship to identify success factors and barriers for low vision and telescopic glasses driving”?
Bioptic Drivers Australia (BDA)

Email:?beloconnor@...
LinkedIn:?https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaoconnor1/
Blog:?http://australianbiopticdriver.blogspot.com

I acknowledge that I live and?work on Ngunnawal?Country?of the Kulin Nations and pay?my respects to First Nations?Elders past?and present.?Sovereignty of the lands and?waters across the continent?has never?been ceded, and?this is and always will be?Aboriginal and Torres Strait?Islander land.

DeafBlind Leadership NOW

#1977

开云体育

DeafBlind Leadership NOW

?

Final Edition

August 5, 2024

262 signatures

Including 5 current DeafBlind HKNC employees

And the sole DeafBlind member of the HKS Board of Trustees

?

Contents

?

Introduction

The Petition

The Signatures

Appendix: Bryen M Yunashko’s Statement

?

Introduction

?

Ten years ago, Helen Keller Services promised to promote a DeafBlind person to the directorship of Helen Keller National Center for the first time. When it once again failed to fulfill that agreement with our community by selecting yet another hearing-sighted candidate—over qualified DeafBlind ones—we took action.

?

The first step of the DeafBlind Leadership NOW movement is to deliver this petition to HKS Board of Trustees and the U.S. Department of Education.

?

It is a special kind of petition, signed only by DeafBlind. Two hundred sixty-two DeafBlind from all paths of life, representing several countries and an extraordinary number of DeafBlind organizations and local communities, not only signed our names but also seized the opportunity to introduce ourselves a little. We hope it is clear from our historic document that Helen Keller Services has no excuses and that it’s time for DeafBlind leadership there. Please note that many who signed the petition have held or are holding top leadership positions—but none at the one place with the most explicit mandate to serve our communities, HKNC.

?

Helen Keller Services has until August 9, 2024, to comply with our demands.

?

Meantime, we urge everyone, DeafBlind and non-DeafBlind alike, to contact your representatives in Congress. Much of HKNC’s work is federally funded, including through a line item, by act of Congress. Share our petition with your House Representative and two Senators. Our Legislative Action Team Chair, Marc Safman, is available to give you the contact information for your representatives and to provide tips on how to write your letter or prepare for your calls or meetings. Feel free to email him at dbln@...

?

Anyone wishing to speak directly to Helen Keller Services Board of Trustees can write to Larry Kinitsky, Chair, at lkinitsky@...

?

Feel free to forward, post on Facebook and via other social media, discuss our cause across all media, and initiate a variety of other actions. Organizations and agencies, whether DeafBlind-related or -adjacent or in solidarity, are encouraged to consider making public statements. We are happy to include such statements on our website www.deafblindleadershipnow.org

?

Visit our website for updates as our movement evolves. We will not stop until our demands are met.

?

Thank you for your support!

?

The Petition

?

We, the undersigned members of various DeafBlind communities, are fed up with Helen Keller National Center continuing to be controlled by hearing and sighted people. HKNC’s mission is to serve DeafBlind, yet has always resisted DeafBlind representation and leadership.

?

Helen Keller Services, HKNC’s distant parent entity, recently selected yet another hearing and sighted person to be HKNC’s next executive director. Qualified DeafBlind candidates, including the top finalist, were passed over. HKNC has never had a DeafBlind person hold the position.

?

The current HKS Board of Trustees has only one DeafBlind representative.

?

Qualified DeafBlind leaders had expressed interest in the director position or applied for it since at least 1956, when HKNC was known as the Anne Sullivan Macy Services federal pilot program. There have been protests before. In recent years, HKNC made unspoken but clear promises that a DeafBlind director would be hired “next time.”

?

Enough is enough. It’s time.

?

We make the following four demands:

?

First, a DeafBlind person is appointed executive director of HKNC.

?

Second, HKNC is separated from Helen Keller Services (for the Blind), so that HKNC becomes its own, autonomous entity.

?

Third, HKNC’s newly created Board of Trustees is made up of 70 percent or more DeafBlind members.

?

Fourth, HKS and all of its subsidiaries will not retaliate against any HKS or HKNC employee, family member, or student for any civil action related to the selection process or related issues.

?

With this petition, we are also taking the opportunity to introduce ourselves a little, to demonstrate how diverse and talented we are. HKNC has no excuses.

?

The HKS Board of Trustees has until August 9, 2024, to comply with our first demand and begin legally binding transition processes toward fulfilling the next two demands. Failure to do so will prompt the second stage of our movement.

?

The Signatures

?

Five current DeafBlind HKNC employees

Requesting anonymity

?

Lisa Ainscough

Former fundraising specialist, DeafBlind Program, Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Carolynsue M. Alflen

Founder and former president, Missouri DeafBlind Association

?

Bryan L. Alkire, J.D.

Former HKNC student

?

Nicole Alleman

Former board member, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Sue Anderson

Voracious reader, grandmother

?

Xayan al-Amin

Student, College of the Sequoias, Fashion Design and Merchandising

?

Annie LeJeune Arabie

Loving housewife

?

Dan Arabie

Founder, National Association of the DeafBlind

?

Kim W. Archer, Honors B.A.

Disability Studies

?

Jorge H. Aristizabal

“I vote for this petition!”

?

Heidi Aulenbach

Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Karen Bailey, L.M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

Michigan

?

Jennifer Baratta

Former job seeker from Helen Keller National Center

?

Denis Bardet

France?

?

Laurie Barnes

President, Alberta Society of the DeafBlind

?

Aziz Bennani?

"Bien à vous"

?

Nadyne Berger

Usher, aide social, membre de l’ASUQ, locataire de la MDS

?

Nandani Bhowan

“Keep in touch!”

?

Ed Borrone

Former HKNC student; master woodworker

?

Erin Bradford

Librarian

“DeafBlind Can!”

?

Tashi Bradford, Ph.D. candidate

Linguistics, Radboud University; owner, Totaal Languaging

?

Jay Breese

Set-up specialist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Morgan Breese, M.A.

Manager, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

"No thanks to benevolent ableism"

?

Becca Brenowitz, M.P.A.

Protactile Theatre actress; secretary, barista, and line cook

?

Esty Brenowitz, Ph.D. candidate

Gallaudet University

?

Hayley Broadway, M.Ed.

Co-principal investigator, Protactike Kids grant, Gallaudet University; owner, Touch Seeds

?

Maria V. Brook

Never misses a meeting or an event

?

Scott Burch, B.S.

President's Scholar, Gallaudet University

?

Roberto Cabrera, M.S.

Former Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

?

Christian Call

Podcaster, volunteer, France

?

Emili Capili, M.A.

Public relations coordinator, DeafBlind Community of Texas

?

Dr. Francis Casale

Former candidate for the position of executive director of HKNC

?

Krista Caudill

Advocate; former HKNC student

?

Caroline Cerilli

Research Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center

?

Aimee Chappelow

Program Specialist, Missouri SSP-CN Program; former V.R. counselor; past president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Colleen Charbonneau

“Please add my name”

?

Lisa Chiango

Assistive technology trainer, Perkins School for the Blind; vice president, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Fanny Chopot

Product Owner Cybersecurity, France

?

Daniel Chu

Canada

?

John Lee Clark, Ph.D. candidate

Author of “Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays”

?

Keith Clark, M.A., C.P.A.C.C.

Marketing manager; former director, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Vincent Clark, M.A.

Retired DeafBlind specialist; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Debra Cole

Educator, Lexington School for the Deaf

?

Elizabeth Cole-Pope

Arkansas

?

Steven D. Collins, Ph.D.

Retired linguist and professor, Gallaudet University

?

James Cooley, B.F.A.

Artist

?

Jason Corning

Accessibility consultant

?

No?lie Coupin

Degree in Psychology, France

?

Hervé Couture

Usher, employé de la MDS, membre de l’ASUQ, locataire de la MDS

?

Allana Crew

Maryland

?

Iris Cruz-Whidden

Board member, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

John Cunniff

Retired employee, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Nykkolas C. Dauzyn?

ProTactile educator and mentor; Dialectical Behavioral Therapist;?Certified Trauma-Informed Care Peer

?

Barbara Davis

Traveler

?

Dana Dehaesus

President, Northern California Association of Deaf-Blind

?

Blaise Delahoussaye

Retired; longtime member, Metro Washington Association of the DeafBlind

?

Daniel Deschênes

Ex-directeur général et vice-président de l’Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec

?

Mindy Dill, M.A.

Retired school counselor; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Melissa Doty

Former HKNC student; all-around DeafBlind services

?

Jacqueline Doyle

"Please listen to the community"

?

Marie Doyle

Former executive director, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Abigail Strauss Drake

Manager, Alumni Engagement, Gallaudet University

?

Marsha Drenth, C.V.R.T., C.A.T.I.S. and T.V.I. in process

Access Technology Instructor; Social Worker; student, Salus-Drexel University

?

Paul Ducharme

“Feel me in or I mean count me in!”

?

Rhonda Eernisse, B.A.

Leader, Texas DeafBlind Camp; former case manager, Access Alaska, University of Alaska-Anchorage

?

Jagannath Einhorn

Performer and media artist; DeafBlind Entertainment

?

Kristeen Elliott

Giraffee and cat lover

?

Laura Engler??

"Anything is possible!"??

?

Jackie Engler-Morris

Interpreting and Professional Services Manager, DeafBlind Service Center

?

David Ernest Ennis, B.S.

Artist

?

Tom Erickson

Longtime member, Minnesota DeafBlind Association

?

Ridge G. Euler

"Peace and many thanks!"

?

John Fenicle, M.S.

Teacher

?

Lisa Ferris, M.Ed.

Curriculum specialist and co-owner, Miles Access Skills Training, LLC

?

Victor Figuereo

Former HKNC student

?

Lisa Flaherty-Vaughn

Vice president, DeafBlind Support and Access Network

?

Stephanie (Steffy) Floux

Belgium, DeafBlind mentor, co-founder and former president of the national French DeafBlind advocacy organization

?

Zachary Fox, B.A.

Historian

?

Tammy Frost

Minnesota

?

Jon Gabry Jr., B.F.A., M.A.

Fine artist;?educator; former HKNC student

?

Erick Gallegos

Website accessibility specialist

?

Haben Girma, J.D.

Author of “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law”

?

Laura Godbold, M.A.

Former adjunct professor, University of North Florida and Carolina University

?

Kevin Gdovin

Maintenance Services, Cherokee County Schools

?

Alberto Gonzales

Protactile Mentor

?

Sarah Goodwin, M.S.

Adjunct instructor and doctoral student; board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas

?

Lue Gordon

“厂颈苍肠别谤别濒测”

Andy Granda

Amateur endurance athlete

?

Martin Greenberg

Stalwart

?

Joseph Grigely, D.Phil.

Professor, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

?

Heather Grizzle

Horticulturalist, gardener, writer, mother of two young children, wife of a fellow DeafBlind

?

James E. Groff, M.P.A.

“A qualified DeafBlind person should lead a DeafBlind-centered organization”

?

Bryan R. Grubb

“I, Bryan R. Grubb, sign this petition”

?

Jon Paul Guerci

Former trainer, iCanConnect

?

Suzanne “Suzi” Guimond, M.A.

Former HKNC Regional Representative, Region 5; owner, Embrace Within LLC

?

Diane Plassey Gutierrez

Retired guidance counselor

?

Antonia Venesse Guy, B.A.

Certified Professional Astrologer; owner, Astro Woke; board member, Deaf Women United

?

Thor Halvorsen, B.A.?
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Hard of Hearing

?

John Hamilton, Jr.

HKNC student

?

Cristina Hartmann, J.D., M.F.A.

Writer

?

Casey Hassett

Founder, Tucson DeafBlind Social; chairperson, Community Outreach Program for the Deaf

?

Roméo Hatchi, Ph.D.

Applied mathematics; climate research engineer

?

Melissa Haynes

Athlete

?

Guinevere Head-Allen

Associate teacher and paraprofessional; student, Gallaudet University

?

Jose Herrera

Retired; longtime member, Minnesota DeafBlind Association

?

Jennifer Hess, M.A.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling; president, Board of Trustees, DeafBlind Service Center

?

Mike Higgins

Director, Linda Laurie Associates

?

Chris Holbrook

“DeafBlind need to be on the board!”

?

Rox’e Homstad

Assistive technology trainer, A.T.A.C.P., NolaVision LLC; service animal trainer, Believe Ability LLC

?

Brittany Houghton

Job seeker; former HKNC student

?

Donna Huff

Former coordinator, Pittsburgh DeafBlind Gathering

?

Amanda Lee Huston

Former HKNC student

“You can’t put us in one mold”

?

Sarah Idler, C.D.I.

ASL interpreter

?

Katherine Inman, B.A.

Graduate student, T.V.I. in process

?

Tracie Fields Inman

Writer; former first vice president, National Federation of the Blind Deafblind Division

?

Tara L. Invidiato, M.Ed.

Former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind; Tactifying Language Integrations

?

Ashley (AJ) Jackson, M.S.W.

Recent graduate, Gallaudet University

?

Ronald Jackson

“MY name is Ronald Jackson”

?

Timothy Jackson

Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Linda Jacques?

Présidente de l'ASUQ, Montréal, Québec.

?

Kathy Jankowski, Ph.D.

Retired Dean of Clerc Center, Gallaudet University

Author of “Agatha Tiegel Hanson: Our Places in the Sun”;

?

James Jensen

Former HKNC student

?

Grace Johnson

Community member

?

Kristin Johnson

Community member

?

Najma Johnson, M.A.

Director, Multicultural Student Programs, Gallaudet University; owner, Grow Touch, plant shop tailored for DeafBlind

?

Victor Jones

Chef; former HKNC student

?

Debra Kahn

President, Washington State DeafBlind Citizens; Braille instructor

?

Florida Kivlin

“I support it!”

?

Melissa Kosa

“I support this 100 percent!”

?

Evan Kurth, Certification in I.T.

Amazon employee

?

Line Laforest

Agente de communication

Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec (ASUQ)

?

?Mark Landreneau

Governmental relations specialist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Jaimi Lard

Retired spokesperson, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Amanda Lee

Intermediate Typist Clerk, Los Angeles County Publc Works

?

Jon Leitzke

Student, Rochester Institute of Technology

?

Riss Leitzke, M.B.A. candidate

Accessibility Coordinator, Wilderness Inquiry

?

Lucie Lessard

Cours Braille

?

Jacques Levesque

Sourd-aveugle, locataire de la MDS, membre de l’ASUQ

?

Christopher Loomis

Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Sheila Loos

“Proud DeafBlind mother and grandmother in Kansas City, Missouri!”

?

Craig MacLean

Creator, Five-Star Disability blog

?

Christopher Magliocchino

Retired IBM employee; proud sibling; cat lover

?

Victoria Magliocchino, M.Ed.

Retired teacher, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; past president, Florida DeafBlind Associaton

?

France Marchand

Sourde-aveugle, membre de l’ASUQ, locataire de la MDS

?

Josiane Marcoux

Sourde-aveugle, employée de l’ASUQ

?

Lisa van der Mark, Ph.D. candidate

The Netherlands

?

Maria Marquez

Loyal member, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

Eddie Martinez Jr., M.P.A. candidate

Accommodations Coordinator, Office of Students With Disabilities, Gallaudet University

?

Steven McCoy

Producer-Journalist, Sessions with Steven

?

Stephanie McEruiggan

Mom of two and grandmother of three; former HKNC student

?

Megan McHugh

Assistive technology instructor

?

Deborah McKenney-McNally

In process of founding Michigan DeafBlind Advocates; former chairperson, American Deaf and Hard of Hearing Postal Workers

?

Sarah K. McMillen, M.A.

Educator

?

Anne McQuade

Director, DeafBlind Access of the South

?

Kelly Monahan

Founder, DeafBlind Escape Cruises

?

Victorica D. Monroe, PhD candidate

Author of “Swishing”

?

Morrison, M.Ed.

Accessibility Consultant and Trainer?

?

Eddie Morten

Brother of Pier

?

Pier Morten

Brother of Eddie

?

Cynthia Moss

Former HKNC student?; board member, Northern California Association of DeafBlind

?

Annie Moureau

Secrétaire générale puis vice-présidente de Association Nationale pour les Personnes Sourdaveugles

?

Lea E. Moynihan, M.A.

Former employee of ?the State of North Carolina

?

Mae Mullen, B.A.

CNC Machinist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Teresa Myers

Missouri

?

Marquis Nath

New Jersey

?

Katie Noel

Mail inserter, Tandem

?

Chantal Nolin

Membre, Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec.

?

Terri Nolt

Chairperson, DeafBlind Planning Committee, Vancouver

?

Scott Oberg

Librarian

?

Ryan Ollis, B.A.

DeafBlind Program Coordinator

?

Angie C. Orlando, M.F.A.

Author of “Through the Tunnel: Becoming DeafBlind”

?

Sonia Orsingher

France?

?

Ruth Osorio

Associate Professor of English and Women's and Gender Studies

?

Patrick Pallies, M.S.W.

DeafBlind Specialist, New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

?

Angela Palmer, M.A.

Artist

?

Karen Park, B.A.?

Certified Horticulturist and Consultant; founder, Ecological Horticulture of Deaf; former coordinator, DeafBlind Communuty Class

?

Sricamalan Pathmanathan

Board member, Canadian National Society of the DeafBlind; chair, Action Committee, DeafBlind Association of Toronto

?

Heather Lee Pavey, B.S.

DB YEA! Mentor; retreat director, DeafBlind Community of Texas?

?

René Pellerin

Sole DeafBlind member of HKS Board of Trustees; former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Angele Periard

"Thank you!"

?

Matthew Pettit

Former HKNC student

?

Jamie Pope, M.S.W.

Consultant; former executive director, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Randall Pope

President, North Carolina Association of the DeafBlind; former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Guillaume Portalier

Vocational rehabilitation counselor, France

?

Samantha Porter

Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Diane Poulin

Protactile Educator

?

Lawrence Poulin

Athlete

?

Roger Poulin, B.A.

Technology instructor, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Kim Powers

Dynamo

?

Lenore Pressley, B.S.W.

Vice President, Northern California Association of the DeafBlind

?

Concetta Pucci, PhD., L.I.C.S.W., L.C.S.W.

University Professor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

?

Amelia Puildo

Accountant

?

Richard Putt

Former HKNC student; retired fiscal employee

?

Timothy Putt

Former federal government employee

?

Kayla Raquel, M.S.W.

“We want DeafBlind Leadership NOW!”

?

Jaime Recht, B.S.

Program Analyst, Federal Railroad Administration

?

Cheryl L. Rhodes

Co-founder, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

Jay Rhodes

Graduate student, Gallaudet University

?

Elio Riggillo

Protactile Educator

?

Brenda Roberts

“Yes, I agree!”

?

Jayce T. Romero

Former HKNC client

?

Yashaira “Yash” Romilus

Protactile Educator; co-founder, Protactile Theatre; former HKNC student

?

Christine ‘Coco’ Roschaert

Educator, writer, traveler

?

Amy Rowson, B.S.

Educator; former trainer, Missouri SSP Program

?

Trudy Ryall

Australia

?

Marc Safman

C.E.O., Safman Consulting; co-founder, New York DeafBlind Advocates

?

Winfield Sainpreux

Artist; founder, Florida DeafBlind Events

?

Rosemary T. Sanborn

Community member

?

Jane Sayer

Chairperson, Mantioba Deaf-Blind Association

?

Heather Schoenwald, M.S.

Johns Hopkins University; Liberty Resources Inc.; former director, Oregon Commission for the Blind

?

Howie Seago

Hollywood, television, and stage actor

?

Barry R. Segal, M.A.

Instructor, Saint Paul College

?

Faruqee Sikder

“搁别蝉辫别肠迟蹿耻濒濒测”

?

Robert T. Sirvage, M.A.

Design researcher

?

Elsa Sjunneson

Author of “Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman’s Fight to End Ableism”

Shaunna Smith

Collector

?

Allyson Snow

Protactile mentor

?

Sidney Snow?

Board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas?

Romain Solinas, M.A. candidate

Linguistics; Protactile educator

?

Debbie Sommer

Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Nancy Sommer

Former Independent Living Skills instruction, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Thomas Soret

President, Unanimes France; co-chair, French national task force on deafblindness

?

Jesse Stanley

President, DeafBlind Support and Access Network; director, DeafBlind Retreat of New England

?

Patty Starr
Retired, New York DeafBlind Advocates

Tracy Stine, B.S.

ASL teacher and freelance writer?

?

Cai Steele

“The irony is I’m (a student) here at HKNC right now”

?

Caryn Tenin, B.S.

Leader, Arizona DeafBlind Coalition

?

Angela Theriabult

Executive Director, DeafBlind Service Center

?

André Thibeault, M.A.

Ancien chargé de cours, Faculté d'éducation de l'Université d'Ottawa; Ancien vice-président, Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec

?

C. Thomas

“DeafBlind people should have an active role”

?

Tonilyn Todd

Determined

?

Barbie Tresnak

Entrepreneur, BYLD/Oncore Solar

?

Winnie Tunison, B.A.

President, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Jesus Valdes

Former HKNC student; board member, DeafBlind Contact Center

“Nothing about us without us!”

?

Bert Van de Sompele

Multiple leadership roles, including with the European Deafblind Youth Camp

?

Soline Vennetier, Ph.D. candidate

Co-founder, Réseau National des SourdAveugles

?

Bruce Visser, M.A.

One of three DeafBlind siblings; master craftsman; access technology trainer

?

Rhonda Voight-Campbell

Protactile Educator; owner, Two Fronds Consulting

“DeafBlind Know Best!”

?

Angeli Wahlstedt

Former software developer

?

Liz Walker

Former HKNC student; former board member, American Association of the DeafBlind

“I’m a supporter of the whole DeafBlind community!”

?

Lara Rose Wall

President, Florida DeafBlind Association; founder, PT Dream Adventures and DeafBlind Voyage

“It’s time we kicked HKNC’s butt”

?

Amanda Warren, M.P.A.

Coordinator, DeafBlind Community Class and DeafBlind Retreat, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Ann Warren

Vice president, Georgia Association of the DeafBlind; art director, DeafBlind Access of the South Retreat

?

Annmaree Watharow, Ph.D.

Researcher, University of Sydney

?

Janet Wayne

Member, DBCS

?

Krista Webb

Wood-burning artist

?

Theresa Wells

Former HKNC student; founder, Breezin’ Bytes, LLC

?

Arizona Welsh

Former treasurer, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Molly Wezel-Peterson

President, Minnesota DeafBlind Association

?

Brett Wilhelm

HKNC student and intern; president, Sight and Sound Impaired of St. Louis; manager, Missouri and Nebraska SSP programs

“Time has long since come to spread a positive example”

?

Ernest Willman, M.Ed.?

Certified Deaf Interpreter; Professional Life Coach

?

John Winstead

Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Brandie Young

Employee, AlphaPointe; founder, DeafBlind Social Group of Kansas City; former HKNC student

?

Bryen M Yunashko

Read his statement in the appendix below

?

Melissa A. Zagarella

Certification in ceramics, Cecil College

?

Kathryn Zarate

Former HKNC employee; current vice president, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

Caterina Zorrilla

Artist; former HKNC student

?

Appendix

?

Bryen M Yunashko’s Statement

?

August 1, 2024

?

Hello, my name is Bryen M Yunashko, and I am a DeafBlind business owner.?I have also worked in various roles with the Helen Keller National Center, having done some technology training work and also briefly serving as a policy representative for governmental affairs.?In 2014, I was invited to join the Helen Keller National Center Executive Director Search Committee.?I was one of two DeafBlind members of the committee, which also included members of HKNC's parent organization, Helen Keller Services; board members, and the CEO of HKS himself.

?

I was part of the committee during its last half of its functions.?So, I have limited knowledge of any discussions before my arrival.?But by the time I arrived, a plan was forming. I considered it a great hope for all DeafBlind. That hope is once again dashed.

?

In those final meetings, it was decided to create a new position for Chris Woodfill, a talented DeafBlind candidate for the top position.?The CEO himself expressed deep fondness for Chris and wanted to see him in the position but was concerned that Chris did not have enough financial management experience.

?

I personally approached Chris to find out how he really felt about this idea, since he apparently already knew of the plan as well.?It was clear he wanted the job, but he accepted that he needed more financial experience.?I did not press him any further to determine if this was his own words or not, but it was clear he was aware of the path and was willing to take this path.

?

It was during this search that the community held out hope that this time we would finally witness a DeafBlind leader at HKNC. And in my personal opinion, Chris was ready for the job, but I also respected the reservations being expressed and felt that Chris deserves to have a "learning period" before taking over the Center.

?

On the final day of interviews, Sue Ruzenski proved to be a well-prepared interviewee who presented very well. We agreed this would be the great union that not only achieves our goal of eventually having a DeafBlind executive director, but ensuring he would have the tools needed to keep the Center strong.

?

There was a previous conversation that stuck in my mind that day.?Sue expressed privately that she wanted the job but understood that now was the time for a DeafBlind to take over.?The tide was changing and like everywhere else in America, glass ceilings were being broken everywhere.

?

But she did get the job, with my endorsement of the plan that Chris would eventually fill the position when it became vacant again.?And although I had not been keeping tabs on HKNC activities in recent years, the several times I stopped by and had a conversation, I was always told that Chris was absolutely ready for the job. So I had no reason to question it.

?

It is now 2024.?HKNC has signed on yet another non-DeafBlind to be executive director of HKNC, this being the third hire since 2014.?It is clear that the promise has been broken and a betrayal exists.?This, I do not understand.

?

We were very clear during our final deliberations that we wanted this and we wanted to send a clear message of accountability to the community about why we chose this path.

?

To Sue, I regret that it has come to this, because I do believe that, deep down, you do wish good things.?But it cannot be ignored that you were a direct beneficiary of this plan. When you were promoted to become CEO of HKS, you did not follow through with the plan. For this I am deeply puzzled.

?

And to the newly apppointed Executive Director, please be aware that your hiring was contingent on breaking a decade-old promise made to the very community you signed on to serve.

?

It is time for change.?It is time for priorities to be determined by DeafBlind. It is time that we are the ones who should determine our destiny.

?

HKNC gets a significant amount of funding from the Federal Government via vocational rehabilitation funding.?What is the point if that funding is used to tell DeafBlind that we can never lead ourselves? It is time for a change!

?

Sincerely,

Bryen M Yunashko

?

Statement from Gallaudet linguistics department

#1976

开云体育

Hey everyone, John here!

?

The Department of Linguistics at Gallaudet University released a statement of support for DeafBlind Leadership NOW.? They sent a copy to the chair of Helen Keller Services Board of Trustees.? You can read the next below, and under that the note that was sent to HKS board chair.? You can see the board chair’s email address.? Please feel free to write there.

?

If your agency or organization would like to make a statement of support, we will soon be unveiling a website that can host such statements of support.? Please feel free to email me at jlc@... to coordinate.

?

Our team’s thanks to colleagues and friends in the linguistics department!

?

PT stomps,

John

?

August 5, 2024

?

Statement of solidarity?

?

The faculty of the Linguistics Department at Gallaudet University wholeheartedly support the DeafBlind communities' petition for DeafBlind leadership and their demands for Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) (posted August 5, 2024).?

?

We have long held that communities themselves should be centered in anything concerning them.?

?

In solidarity,

?

Paul Dudis, Professor of Linguistics

Deanna Gagne, Associate Professor of Linguistics, PI, Protactile Kids research project

Joseph C. Hill, Professor of Deaf Studies and Linguistics?

Julie A. Hochgesang, Professor of Linguistics

Gaurav Mathur, Associate Professor of Linguistics

Deborah Chen Pichler, Professor of Linguistics

Miako Villanueva, Professor of Linguistics

Pamela Decker-Wright, Linguistics Faculty

?

Sent: Mon, Aug 5, 2024 at 1:19?PM

From: Julie A. Hochgesang wrote:

To: Larry Kinitsky

lkinitsky@...

?

Dear Chair Kinitsky,?

?

Please find attached our statement of solidarity for the DeafBlind communities' petition for DeafBlind Leadership.?

?

Thank you,

Faculty of the linguistics department, Gallaudet University?

?

--

, PhD

pronouns:?(English) &???(ASL)?
Professor, Linguistics Dept, Gallaudet U

?

DeafBlind Leadership NOW, penultimate edition

#1975

开云体育

DeafBlind Leadership NOW

?

Tenth Edition

August 4, 2024

239 signatures as of 8 p.m.

Including 5 current DeafBlind HKNC employees

And the sole DeafBlind member of the HKS Board of Trustees

?

Contents

?

Introduction

The Petition

The Signatures

Appendix: Bryen M Yunashko’s Statement

?

Introduction

?

This is a special kind of petition, signed only by DeafBlind. If you identify as DeafBlind and would like your name added to the petition:

?

Please email jlc@... with:

?

Your name

Your credentials, such as degrees and certificates--optional

Your current or former jobs or roles—optional

?

Hearing and sighted friends and DeafBlind alike are encouraged to spread our call for signatures and public statements of support. Anyone wishing to speak directly to Helen Keller Services Board of Trustees can write to Larry Kinitsky, Chair, at lkinitsky@...

?

A new, updated, and numbered edition of this petition will be circulated every day for eleven days as it gathers more and more names. Signatures are accepted until August 5, 2024, when the latest version will be sent to HKS Board of Trustees and the U.S. Department of Education.

?

Feel free to forward, post on Facebook and via other social media, discuss our cause across all media, and initiate a variety of other actions. Organizations and agencies, whether DeafBlind-related or -adjacent or in solidarity, are urged to consider making public statements.

?

Thank you for your support!

?

The Petition

?

We, the undersigned members of various DeafBlind communities, are fed up with Helen Keller National Center continuing to be controlled by hearing and sighted people. HKNC’s mission is to serve DeafBlind, yet has always resisted DeafBlind representation and leadership.

?

Helen Keller Services, HKNC’s distant parent entity, recently selected yet another hearing and sighted person to be HKNC’s next executive director. Qualified DeafBlind candidates, including the top finalist, were passed over. HKNC has never had a DeafBlind person hold the position.

?

The current HKS Board of Trustees has only one DeafBlind representative.

?

Qualified DeafBlind leaders had expressed interest in the director position or applied for it since at least 1956, when HKNC was known as the Anne Sullivan Macy Services federal pilot program. There have been protests before. In recent years, HKNC made unspoken but clear promises that a DeafBlind director would be hired “next time.”

?

Enough is enough. It’s time.

?

We make the following four demands:

?

First, a DeafBlind person is appointed executive director of HKNC.

?

Second, HKNC is separated from Helen Keller Services (for the Blind), so that HKNC becomes its own, autonomous entity.

?

Third, HKNC’s newly created Board of Trustees is made up of 70 percent or more DeafBlind members.

?

Fourth, HKS and all of its subsidiaries will not retaliate against any HKS or HKNC employee, family member, or student for any civil action related to the selection process or related issues.

?

With this petition, we are also taking the opportunity to introduce ourselves a little, to demonstrate how diverse and talented we are. HKNC has no excuses.

?

The HKS Board of Trustees has until August 9, 2024, to comply with our first demand and begin legally binding transition processes toward fulfilling the next two demands. Failure to do so will prompt the second stage of our movement.

?

The Signatures

?

Five current DeafBlind HKNC employees

Requesting anonymity

?

Lisa Ainscough

Former fundraising specialist, DeafBlind Program, Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Carolynsue M. Alflen

Founder and former president, Missouri DeafBlind Association

?

Bryan L. Alkire, J.D.

Former HKNC student

?

Nicole Alleman

Former board member, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Sue Anderson

Voracious reader, grandmother

?

Xayan al-Amin

Student, College of the Sequoias, Fashion Design and Merchandising

?

Annie LeJeune Arabie

Loving housewife

?

Dan Arabie

Founder, National Association of the DeafBlind

?

Kim W. Archer, Honors B.A.

Disability Studies

?

Jorge H. Aristizabal

“I vote for this petition!”

?

Heidi Aulenbach

Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Karen Bailey, L.M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

Michigan

?

Jennifer Baratta

Former job seeker from Helen Keller National Center

?

Denis Bardet

France?

?

Laurie Barnes

President, Alberta Society of the DeafBlind

?

Nandani Bhowan

“Keep in touch!”

?

Ed Borrone

Former HKNC student; master woodworker

?

Erin Bradford

Librarian

“DeafBlind Can!”

?

Tashi Bradford, Ph.D. candidate

Linguistics, Radboud University; owner, Totaal Languaging

?

Jay Breese

Set-up specialist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Morgan Breese, M.A.

Manager, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

"No thanks to benevolent ableism"

?

Becca Brenowitz, M.P.A.

Protactile Theatre actress; secretary, barista, and line cook

?

Esty Brenowitz, Ph.D. candidate

Gallaudet University

?

Hayley Broadway, M.Ed.

Co-principal investigator, Protactike Kids grant, Gallaudet University; owner, Touch Seeds

?

Maria V. Brook

Never misses a meeting or an event

?

Scott Burch, B.S.

President's Scholar, Gallaudet University

?

Roberto Cabrera, M.S.

Former Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor

?

Christian Call

Podcaster, volunteer, France

?

Emili Capili, M.A.

Public relations coordinator, DeafBlind Community of Texas

?

Dr. Francis Casale

Former candidate for the position of executive director of HKNC

?

Krista Caudill

Advocate; former HKNC student

?

Caroline Cerilli

Research Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center

?

Aimee Chappelow

Program Specialist, Missouri SSP-CN Program; former V.R. counselor; past president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Lisa Chiango

Assistive technology trainer, Perkins School for the Blind; vice president, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Fanny Chopot

Product Owner Cybersecurity, France

?

Colleen Charbonneau

“Please add my name”

?

John Lee Clark, Ph.D. candidate

Author of “Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays”

?

Keith Clark, M.A., C.P.A.C.C.

Marketing manager; former director, DeafBlind Program, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Vincent Clark, M.A.

Retired DeafBlind specialist; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Debra Cole

Educator, Lexington School for the Deaf

?

Elizabeth Cole-Pope

Arkansas

?

Steven D. Collins, Ph.D.

Retired linguist and professor, Gallaudet University

?

James Cooley, B.F.A.

Artist

?

Jason Corning

Accessibility consultant

?

No?lie Coupin

Degree in Psychology, France

?

Iris Cruz-Whidden

Board member, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

John Cunniff

Retired employee, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Nykkolas C. Dauzyn?

ProTactile educator and mentor; Dialectical Behavioral Therapist;?Certified Trauma-Informed Care Peer

?

Barbara Davis

Traveler

?

Dana Dehaesus

President, Northern California Association of Deaf-Blind

?

Daniel Deschênes

Ex-directeur général et vice-président de l’Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec

?

Mindy Dill, M.A.

Retired school counselor; former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Melissa Doty

Former HKNC student; all-around DeafBlind services

?

Jacqueline Doyle

"Please listen to the community"

?

Marie Doyle

Former executive director, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Abigail Strauss Drake

Manager, Alumni Engagement, Gallaudet University

?

Marsha Drenth, C.V.R.T., C.A.T.I.S. and T.V.I. in process

Access Technology Instructor; Social Worker; student, Salus-Drexel University

?

Paul Ducharme

“Feel me in or I mean count me in!”

?

Rhonda Eernisse, B.A.

Leader, Texas DeafBlind Camp; former case manager, Access Alaska, University of Alaska-Anchorage

?

Jagannath Einhorn

Performer and media artist; DeafBlind Entertainment

?

Kristeen Elliott

Giraffee and cat lover

?

Laura Engler??

"Anything is possible!"??

?

Jackie Engler-Morris

Interpreting and Professional Services Manager, DeafBlind Service Center

?

David Ernest Ennis, B.S.

Artist

?

Tom Erickson

Longtime member, Minnesota DeafBlind Association

?

Ridge G. Euler

"Peace and many thanks!"

?

John Fenicle, M.S.

Teacher

?

Lisa Ferris, M.Ed.

Curriculum specialist and co-owner, Miles Access Skills Training, LLC

?

Victor Figuereo

Former HKNC student

?

Lisa Flaherty-Vaughn

Vice president, DeafBlind Support and Access Network

?

Stephanie (Steffy) Floux

Belgium, DeafBlind mentor, co-founder and former president of the national French DeafBlind advocacy organization

?

Zachary Fox, B.A.

Historian

?

Tammy Frost

Minnesota

?

Jon Gabry Jr., B.F.A., M.A.

Fine artist;?educator; former HKNC student

?

Erick Gallegos

Website accessibility specialist

?

Haben Girma, J.D.

Author of “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law”

?

Laura Godbold, M.A.

Former adjunct professor, University of North Florida and Carolina University

?

Kevin Goodovin

Maintenance Services, Cherokee County Schools

?

Alberto Gonzales

Protactile Mentor

?

Sarah Goodwin, M.S.

Adjunct instructor and doctoral student; board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas

?

Lue Gordon

“厂颈苍肠别谤别濒测”

Andy Granda

Amateur endurance athlete

?

Martin Greenberg

Stalwart

?

Heather Grizzle

Horticulturalist, gardener, writer, mother of two young children, wife of a fellow DeafBlind

?

James E. Groff, M.P.A.

“A qualified DeafBlind person should lead a DeafBlind-centered organization”

?

Bryan R. Grubb

“I, Bryan R. Grubb, sign this petition”

?

Jon Paul Guerci

Former trainer, iCanConnect

?

Suzanne “Suzi” Guimond, M.A.

Former HKNC Regional Representative, Region 5; owner, Embrace Within LLC

?

Diane Plassey Gutierrez

Retired guidance counselor

?

Antonia Venesse Guy, B.A.

Certified Professional Astrologer; owner, Astro Woke; board member, Deaf Women United

?

Thor Halvorsen, B.A.?
Rehabilitation Counselor for the Hard of Hearing

?

John Hamilton, Jr.

HKNC student

?

Cristina Hartmann, J.D., M.F.A.

Writer

?

Casey Hassett

Founder, Tucson DeafBlind Social; chairperson, Community Outreach Program for the Deaf

?

Guinevere Head-Allen

Associate teacher and paraprofessional; student, Gallaudet University

?

Jose Herrera

Retired; longtime member, Minnesota DeafBlind Association

?

Jennifer Hess, M.A.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling; president, Board of Trustees, DeafBlind Service Center

?

Mike Higgins

Director, Linda Laurie Associates

?

Chris Holbrook

“DeafBlind need to be on the board!”

?

Rox’e Homstad

Assistive technology trainer, A.T.A.C.P., NolaVision LLC; service animal trainer, Believe Ability LLC

?

Brittany Houghton

Job seeker; former HKNC student

?

Donna Huff

Former coordinator, Pittsburgh DeafBlind Gathering

?

Amanda Lee Huston

Former HKNC student

“You can’t put us in one mold”

?

Sarah Idler, C.D.I.

ASL interpreter

?

Katherine Inman, B.A.

Graduate student, T.V.I. in process

?

Tracie Fields Inman

Writer; former first vice president, National Federation of the Blind Deafblind Division

?

Tara L. Invidiato, M.Ed.

Former vice president, American Association of the DeafBlind; Tactifying Language Integrations

?

Ashley (AJ) Jackson, M.S.W.

Recent graduate, Gallaudet University

?

Ronald Jackson

“MY name is Ronald Jackson”

?

Timothy Jackson

Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Linda Jacques?

Présidente de l'ASUQ, Montréal, Québec.

?

Kathy Jankowski, Ph.D.

Retired Dean of Clerc Center, Gallaudet University

Author of “Agatha Tiegel Hanson: Our Places in the Sun”;

?

James Jensen

Former HKNC student

?

Najma Johnson, M.A.

Director, Multicultural Student Programs, Gallaudet University; owner, Grow Touch, plant shop tailored for DeafBlind

?

Victor Jones

Chef; former HKNC student

?

Debra Kahn

President, Washington State DeafBlind Citizens; Braille instructor

?

Florida Kivlin

“I support it!”

?

Melissa Kosa

“I support this 100 percent!”

?

Evan Kurth, Certification in I.T.

Amazon employee

?

Line Laforest

Agente de communication

Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec (ASUQ)

?

?Mark Landreneau

Governmental relations specialist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Jaimi Lard

Retired spokesperson, Perkins School for the Blind; former president, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Amanda Lee

Intermediate Typist Clerk, Los Angeles County Publc Works

?

Jon Leitzke

Student, Rochester Institute of Technology

?

Riss Leitzke, M.B.A. candidate

Accessibility Coordinator, Wilderness Inquiry

?

Lucie Lessard

Cours Braille

?

Christopher Loomis

Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Sheila Loos

“Proud DeafBlind mother and grandmother in Kansas City, Missouri!”

?

Craig MacLean

Creator, Five-Star Disability blog

?

Christopher Magliocchino

Retired IBM employee; proud sibling; cat lover

?

Victoria Magliocchino, M.Ed.

Retired teacher, Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; past president, Florida DeafBlind Associaton

?

Lisa van der Mark, Ph.D. candidate

The Netherlands

?

Maria Marquez

Loyal member, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

Eddie Martinez Jr., M.P.A. candidate

Accommodations Coordinator, Office of Students With Disabilities, Gallaudet University

?

Steven McCoy

Producer-Journalist, Sessions with Steven

?

Megan McHugh

Assistive technology instructor

?

Deborah McKenney-McNally

In process of founding Michigan DeafBlind Advocates; former chairperson, American Deaf and Hard of Hearing Postal Workers

?

Sarah K. McMillen, M.A.

Educator

?

Anne McQuade

Director, DeafBlind Access of the South

?

Kelly Monahan

Founder, DeafBlind Escape Cruises

?

Victorica D. Monroe, PhD candidate

Author of “Swishing”

?

Morrison, M.Ed.

Accessibility Consultant and Trainer?

?

Eddie Morten

Brother of Pier

?

Pier Morten

Brother of Eddie

?

Annie Moureau

Secrétaire générale puis vice-présidente de Association Nationale pour les Personnes Sourdaveugles

?

Lea E. Moynihan, M.A.

Former employee of ?the State of North Carolina

?

Mae Mullen, B.A.

CNC Machinist, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Teresa Myers

Missouri

?

Katie Noel

Mail inserter, Tandem

?

Chantal Nolin

Membre, Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec.

?

Scott Oberg

Librarian

?

Ryan Ollis, B.A.

DeafBlind Program Coordinator

?

Angie C. Orlando, M.F.A.

Author of “Through the Tunnel: Becoming DeafBlind”

?

Sonia Orsingher

France?

?

Ruth Osorio

Associate Professor of English and Women's and Gender Studies

?

Patrick Pallies, M.S.W.

DeafBlind Specialist, New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

?

Angela Palmer, M.A.

Artist

?

Karen Park, B.A.?

Certified Horticulturist and Consultant; founder, Ecological Horticulture of Deaf; former coordinator, DeafBlind Communuty Class

?

Sricamalan Pathmanathan

Board member, Canadian National Society of the DeafBlind; chair, Action Committee, DeafBlind Association of Toronto

?

Heather Lee Pavey, B.S.

DB YEA! Mentor; retreat director, DeafBlind Community of Texas?

?

René Pellerin

Sole DeafBlind member of HKS Board of Trustees; former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Angele Periard

"Thank you!"

?

Matthew Pettit

Former HKNC student

?

Randall Pope

President, North Carolina Association of the DeafBlind; former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Guillaume Portalier

Vocational rehabilitation counselor, France

?

Samantha Porter

Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Diane Poulin

Protactile Educator

?

Lawrence Poulin

Athlete

?

Roger Poulin, B.A.

Technology instructor, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Kim Powers

Dynamo

?

Lenore Pressley, B.S.W.

Vice President, Northern California Association of the DeafBlind

?

Concetta Pucci, PhD., L.I.C.S.W., L.C.S.W.

University Professor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker?

?

Amelia Puildo

Accountant

?

Richard Putt

Former HKNC student; retired fiscal employee

?

Timothy Putt

Former federal government employee

?

Kayla Raquel, M.S.W.

“We want DeafBlind Leadership NOW!”

?

Jaime Recht, B.S.

Program Analyst, Federal Railroad Administration

?

Cheryl L. Rhodes

Co-founder, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

Jay Rhodes

Graduate student, Gallaudet University

?

Elio Riggillo

Protactile Educator

?

Brenda Roberts

“Yes, I agree!”

?

Jayce T. Romero

Former HKNC client

?

Yashaira “Yash” Romilus

Protactile Educator; co-founder, Protactile Theatre; former HKNC student

?

Christine ‘Coco’ Roschaert

Educator, writer, traveler

?

Amy Rowson, B.S.

Educator; former trainer, Missouri SSP Program

?

Trudy Ryall

Australia

?

Marc Safman

C.E.O., Safman Consulting; co-founder, New York DeafBlind Advocates

?

Winfield Sainpreux

Artist; founder, Florida DeafBlind Events

?

Jane Sayer

Chairperson, Mantioba Deaf-Blind Association

?

Heather Schoenwald, M.S.

Johns Hopkins University; Liberty Resources Inc.; former director, Oregon Commission for the Blind

?

Barry R. Segal, M.A.

Instructor, Saint Paul College

?

Faruqee Sikder

“搁别蝉辫别肠迟蹿耻濒濒测”

?

Robert T. Sirvage, M.A.

Design researcher

?

Shaunna Smith

Collector

?

Allyson Snow

Protactile mentor

?

Sidney Snow?

Board member, DeafBlind Community of Texas?

Romain Solinas, M.A. candidate

Linguistics; Protactile educator

?

Debbie Sommer

Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Nancy Sommer

Former Independent Living Skills instruction, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Thomas Soret

President, Unanimes France; co-chair, French national task force on deafblindness

?

Jesse Stanley

President, DeafBlind Support and Access Network; director, DeafBlind Retreat of New England

?

Patty Starr
Retired, New York DeafBlind Advocates

Tracy Stine, B.S.

ASL teacher and freelance writer?

?

Cai Steele

“The irony is I’m (a student) here at HKNC right now”

?

Caryn Tenin, B.S.

Leader, Arizona DeafBlind Coalition

?

Angela Theriabult

Executive Director, DeafBlind Service Center

?

André Thibeault, M.A.

Ancien chargé de cours, Faculté d'éducation de l'Université d'Ottawa; Ancien vice-président, Association du Syndrome de Usher du Québec

?

C. Thomas

“DeafBlind people should have an active role”

?

Tonilyn Todd

Determined

?

Barbie Tresnak

Entrepreneur, BYLD/Oncore Solar

?

Winnie Tunison, B.A.

President, DeafBlind Contact Center

?

Jesus Valdes

Former HKNC student; board member, DeafBlind Contact Center

“Nothing about us without us!”

?

Bert Van de Sompele

Multiple leadership roles, including with the European Deafblind Youth Camp

?

Soline Vennetier, Ph.D. candidate

Co-founder, Réseau National des SourdAveugles

?

Bruce Visser, M.A.

One of three DeafBlind siblings; master craftsman; access technology trainer

?

Rhonda Voight-Campbell

Protactile Educator; owner, Two Fronds Consulting

“DeafBlind Know Best!”

?

Angeli Wahlstedt

Former software developer

?

Liz Walker

Former HKNC student; former board member, American Association of the DeafBlind

“I’m a supporter of the whole DeafBlind community!”

?

Lara Rose Wall

President, Florida DeafBlind Association; founder, PT Dream Adventures and DeafBlind Voyage

“It’s time we kicked HKNC’s butt”

?

Amanda Warren, M.P.A.

Coordinator, DeafBlind Community Class and DeafBlind Retreat, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

?

Ann Warren

Vice president, Georgia Association of the DeafBlind; art director, DeafBlind Access of the South Retreat

?

Annmaree Watharow, Ph.D.

Researcher, University of Sydney

?

Janet Wayne

Member, DBCS

?

Krista Webb

Wood-burning artist

?

Theresa Wells

Former HKNC student; founder, Breezin’ Bytes, LLC

?

Arizona Welsh

Former treasurer, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Molly Wezel-Peterson

President, Minnesota DeafBlind Association

?

Brett Wilhelm

HKNC student and intern; president, Sight and Sound Impaired of St. Louis; manager, Missouri and Nebraska SSP programs

“Time has long since come to spread a positive example”

?

Ernest Willman, M.Ed.?

Certified Deaf Interpreter; Professional Life Coach

?

John Winstead

Former president, American Association of the DeafBlind

?

Bryen M Yunashko

Read his statement in the appendix below

?

Melissa A. Zagarella

Certification in ceramics, Cecil College

?

Kathryn Zarate

Former HKNC employee; current vice president, Florida DeafBlind Association

?

Caterina Zorrilla

Artist; former HKNC student

?

Appendix

?

Bryen M Yunashko’s Statement

?

August 1, 2024

?

Hello, my name is Bryen M Yunashko, and I am a DeafBlind business owner.?I have also worked in various roles with the Helen Keller National Center, having done some technology training work and also briefly serving as a policy representative for governmental affairs.?In 2014, I was invited to join the Helen Keller National Center Executive Director Search Committee.?I was one of two DeafBlind members of the committee, which also included members of HKNC's parent organization, Helen Keller Services; board members, and the CEO of HKS himself.

?

I was part of the committee during its last half of its functions.?So, I have limited knowledge of any discussions before my arrival.?But by the time I arrived, a plan was forming. I considered it a great hope for all DeafBlind. That hope is once again dashed.

?

In those final meetings, it was decided to create a new position for Chris Woodfill, a talented DeafBlind candidate for the top position.?The CEO himself expressed deep fondness for Chris and wanted to see him in the position but was concerned that Chris did not have enough financial management experience.

?

I personally approached Chris to find out how he really felt about this idea, since he apparently already knew of the plan as well.?It was clear he wanted the job, but he accepted that he needed more financial experience.?I did not press him any further to determine if this was his own words or not, but it was clear he was aware of the path and was willing to take this path.

?

It was during this search that the community held out hope that this time we would finally witness a DeafBlind leader at HKNC. And in my personal opinion, Chris was ready for the job, but I also respected the reservations being expressed and felt that Chris deserves to have a "learning period" before taking over the Center.

?

On the final day of interviews, Sue Ruzenski proved to be a well-prepared interviewee who presented very well. We agreed this would be the great union that not only achieves our goal of eventually having a DeafBlind executive director, but ensuring he would have the tools needed to keep the Center strong.

?

There was a previous conversation that stuck in my mind that day.?Sue expressed privately that she wanted the job but understood that now was the time for a DeafBlind to take over.?The tide was changing and like everywhere else in America, glass ceilings were being broken everywhere.

?

But she did get the job, with my endorsement of the plan that Chris would eventually fill the position when it became vacant again.?And although I had not been keeping tabs on HKNC activities in recent years, the several times I stopped by and had a conversation, I was always told that Chris was absolutely ready for the job. So I had no reason to question it.

?

It is now 2024.?HKNC has signed on yet another non-DeafBlind to be executive director of HKNC, this being the third hire since 2014.?It is clear that the promise has been broken and a betrayal exists.?This, I do not understand.

?

We were very clear during our final deliberations that we wanted this and we wanted to send a clear message of accountability to the community about why we chose this path.

?

To Sue, I regret that it has come to this, because I do believe that, deep down, you do wish good things.?But it cannot be ignored that you were a direct beneficiary of this plan. When you were promoted to become CEO of HKS, you did not follow through with the plan. For this I am deeply puzzled.

?

And to the newly apppointed Executive Director, please be aware that your hiring was contingent on breaking a decade-old promise made to the very community you signed on to serve.

?

It is time for change.?It is time for priorities to be determined by DeafBlind. It is time that we are the ones who should determine our destiny.

?

HKNC gets a significant amount of funding from the Federal Government via vocational rehabilitation funding.?What is the point if that funding is used to tell DeafBlind that we can never lead ourselves? It is time for a change!

?

Sincerely,

Bryen M Yunashko

?

Re: Holly - Question about guide horses

#1974

开云体育

Holly, I LOVE your attitude! ?This might mean a very different approach from when miniature guide horses were first introduced.

I was not directly involved and can only pass on third- and fourth- hand information but was told that the original guide horse trainers were reluctant to learn from guide dog mobility instructors and went their own way. ?Who knows what really happened, perhaps they were only responding to rejection from the guide dog schools.?

Anyway, that’s all irrelevant now, and we can start afresh. Maybe that approach of doing their own thing, regardless of why they did that, explains why they haven’t developed a curriculum that can be shared with you now. I suggest that you contact some of the schools for guide dogs and find out what’s involved in becoming prepared to train guide animals and their blind handlers.

Meanwhile, I encourage any GDMIs in this listserv to speak up and give us your take on it (I’m blind-copying a few). ?How can Holly prepare herself to make this work?

— Dona

—————————

Dona Sauerburger, COMS

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind

www.sauerburger.org

Show quoted text

On Aug 4, 2024, at 6:22 PM, Holly Fisher <chromedcamo@...> wrote:

?
Hi Donna,
Thanks for reaching out?to me.?
I am surprised at the lack of training protocol standardization available?for how to train a miniature horse for guide services. I have been researching training options that are offered online through guide dog organizations.?

I do feel like I'm am ideal candidate to pursue & the miniature guide horse non profit organization. I have the facility, I am a Farrier of 18 years. My work schedule is very flexible to accommodate a proper guide horses training protocol. I believe honestly is the best policy, I am humble & transparent. My strong points are hands on experience & understanding of a horses mind, body & soul. I am intrinsically motivated to train miniature horses for individuals with visual disabilities, cultivating their partnership, giving both horse & handler a? more enriched life. I have been using positive reinforcement? (R+) since 2018 with my clients horses & my own horses.?
My weaker points would be I do not have any certification previous to training guide animals, but I am eager to learn. I take time everyday to explore all avenues.?
I would love to collaborate with you & map this uncharted territory so that others can train mini guide horse too.

What are your thoughts?
I look forward to hearing back from you,
Holly Fisher
Decatur Illinois?
Fishers Farrier Services

On Fri, Aug 2, 2024, 3:18 PM Dona Sauerburger <dona@...> wrote:

Hi Holly! I just realized that my original question wasn't included in the response I copied to you.? Here it is . . .?

?

On 08/02/2024 6:30 AM EDT Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

?

There are currently no standards for training guide horses. Just like there were no standards for training the first guide dogs in the 1920s and 1930s. However, Holly Fisher does have other trainers interested. This time its not just her, as in one person doing the training. Feel free to email Holly Fisher at:
chromedcamo@...
?

I am sure she would welcome your help and the help of others to develop training standards which should be adhered to, to ensure a good experience for the blind guide horse owner and handler.?

Holly - Question about guide horses

#1973

Hi Holly! I just realized that my original question wasn't included in the response I copied to you.? Here it is . . .?

?

On 08/02/2024 6:30 AM EDT Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

?

There are currently no standards for training guide horses. Just like there were no standards for training the first guide dogs in the 1920s and 1930s. However, Holly Fisher does have other trainers interested. This time its not just her, as in one person doing the training. Feel free to email Holly Fisher at:

chromedcamo@...

?

I am sure she would welcome your help and the help of others to develop training standards which should be adhered to, to ensure a good experience for the blind guide horse owner and handler.?