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Michael Epp shared "@envisionus" with you
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Michael Epp shared a file with you Here's the document that Michael Epp shared with you. @envisionus This link only works for the direct recipients of this message. Open This email is generated through Envision-ICT/DAL's use of Microsoft 365 and may contain content that is controlled by Envision-ICT/DAL. ????? Michael Epp Manager of Professional Education Envision, Inc. 610 N. Main St. Wichita , KS 67203 Direct: 316-440-1515 Mobile: 316-204-3849 www.envisionuniversity.org ?Envision Mission: To improve the quality of life and provide inspiration and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education and research. ?NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any attached files are confidential. The information is exclusively for the use of the individual or entity intended as the recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, copying, printing, reviewing, retention, disclosure, distribution or forwarding of the message or any attached file is not authorized and is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic mail message in error, please advise the sender by reply electronic mail immediately and permanently delete the original transmission, any attachments and any copies of this message from your computer system. ?
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Awesome webinar on advocacy in the current administration
Hi guys! I was inspired and galvanized with hope by the amazing legislative webinar AER did a week or two ago, and want to share it with you. I was so pleased that the panelists focused on how to work with folks together, rather than demonize them and "just say no" and fight everything they are doing, with great examples of how that can be successful. I'm copying the AER announcement with the link below, which includes an announcement of an exciting webinar from the O&M Division: here is a link to the recording. It is free for all to access, so share it as you see fit. Coordinates in the Chaos: Plotting a Meaningful Route Through Today's Perplexing Federal Policy and Funding Landscape to Forge Meaningful Positive Change The takeaway from that webinar was to share our stories, share them often, and share them with everyone. Our advocacy messaging strategy is to: Affirm: Clearly state and reinforce our core message in a positive, impactful way Layer: Build upon our core message by adding stories, data, and testimonials to deepen the understanding and engagement of those receiving our messages. Sustain: Maintain consistent messaging across time and platforms (letters, social media, phone calls) to ensure long-term impact. Together, these techniques will help our advocacy message to resonate, stay relevant, and lead to action. To implement this advocacy strategy, AER is working on (1). launching an advocacy resource page for members on our website, (2). creating one-page documents for members to use as talking points to guide conversations with legislators and (3.) implementing an advocacy tool. Advocacy resource page: You can find our new advocacy resource page under "Professional Development" and then "Advocacy" on our website. There, you can find one-page fact sheets, helpful resources, and links to our advocacy tool and efforts. We will continue to add more content as it becomes available. One-page documents: There are some one-page documents on the website advocacy resources page already, and we are creating more. These one-page documents will provide members with talking points focused on different areas of our profession and current proposed legislation. Advocacy tool: After some delay in finding the right Advocacy Tool for AER, we have narrowed it down and hope to finalize things this week. The advocacy toolkit aims to provide AER members with the necessary information and tools to take action and make their voices heard. The online / phone app toolkit will include a variety of materials such as fact sheets, sample letters, social media graphics, and even ways to record your clients'/students'/your success stories to provide a deeper impact on our advocacy efforts. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to advocate for our clients/students and our professions. Sincerely, You AER President, Dr. Rebecca Renshaw rebecca@... How does the recent release of PROWAG affect APS & What's new with APS Technology: A Webinar presented by Polara and AER O&M Division 9 Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 7:00 pm ET The O&M Division is excited to invite you to an insightful webinar "How Does the Recent Release of PROWAG Affect APS & What's New with APS Technology?" Join us for an opportunity to learn from industry expert Matt Baker, Vice President of Sales at Polara Enterprises, as he explores the latest updates on PROWAG and cutting-edge APS technology. Register today!
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Tampa Bay area OMS School Need
Pasco county schools in the Tampa area are in need of OMS support for a small caseload of students around the county. If you know of anyone in the area who could help between now and the end of the school year; it's possible to even look at stipends for traveling. Through end of the school year 5/30/25. Feel free to call me at 813-540-9714 or email me directly mandi.rivera@...
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Early Bird Registration Rates Extended!
A reminder that the discounted, early registration deadline for Envision Conference 2025 has been extended! Several O&M sessions and multiple accessibility updates and vendors of interest. Twenty-one hours of ACVREP credit. We would love to see you there. The Envision Conference will take place May 28 - 31 in Dallas, Texas. See the agenda and register at https://www.envisionuniversityevents.com/Conference2025. Best regards, Michael
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Please join APH in making accessible GPS even better. Confidentially, APH is taking over the app currently known as GoodMaps Outdoors. We are adding a Virtual mode and hopefully transit integration. This survey will help us know what is missing from navigation apps, particularly from GoodMaps Outdoors so we can make improvements to the updated version. Please contribute through this survey and as a field tester. Indigo Field Evaluator Information and Application: Link: https://greatquestion.co/american-printing-house/uccilbfa QR code: Best, Mike May and Denise Snow APH
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Hello! I am wondering if anyone has ever had the opportunity to make a school stage more safe by putting some kind of tactile border near the edge of the stage. I wanted to put truncated domes on the stage edge and before the stairs, but everything I have searched either comes up as wet cement installation or 2'x4' warning pads, like at the crosswalks. Does anyone have any other brainstorm ideas, or something that they have used in a situation similar to this? Any links to an adhesive truncated dome - that can be installed onto a wooden stage - not concrete? Another question along the same line - I want to have a seperate, different texture area put on the stage floor to make students aware that this line is where the curtain closes, so they should stand behind that line before the curtains close at the end of a scene. Any ideas are very welcome and I thank you for your time! Suzanne
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NEW webinar on maximizing hearing and vision for uncontrolled crossings!
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HI everyone! We just completed a webinar on a topic I think has never been done before -- maximizing your skills for listening and looking for crossing streets with no traffic control. It is Part 3 of a 3-part series of webinars on preparing students for uncontrolled crossings, providing the very latest information for uncontrolled crossings (we no longer use TMAD!), and in each of them, the participants -- O&Ms like yourself -- try the skills and add their insights and ideas (and sometimes push back on material that is new to them!). The webinars are free, offering a total of more than 8 hours of ACVREP credit. The home page is at https://sauerburger.org/uncontrolledworkshop Enjoy! Dona ---------------------------- Dona Sauerburger, COMS sauerburger.org
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Sharing on behalf of Melanie Bush... ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Julie Grutzmacher <jgrutzmacher@...> Date: Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM Subject: Please join us: 2025 Focus on Eye Health Virtual Summit, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 11a-5 PM EST- register today! To: Dear ASPECT community, I’m writing to let you know about the Focus on Eye Health Summit and to encourage you to register today and share with your networks! It’s free to attend and will be held virtually. About the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Summit Theme this year: “Perspectives in Vision” Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Time: 11:00am – 5:00pm Eastern Location: Virtual The event will bring together professionals, policymakers, patient advocates, and innovators to exchange ideas, share experiences, and forge strategies to promote equitable access to vision care. Through dynamic keynote presentation, panel discussions, and interactive coffee chats, the agenda will include: Keynote Discussion: Leading the Way- National Lessons in Eye Health Advocacy and Collaboration and Reaction Panel Fireside Chat: Factors that Matter in Vision Research Putting Advocacy into Action The Future of Diagnosis and Treatment in Eye Care The virtual platform will offer simultaneous access to: Expert presentations Coffee chats Exhibitor hall Educational materials, videos, and toolkits On-demand educational video content Networking Who Should Attend: Patient advocates, eye care practitioners, public health officials, researchers, policymakers, non-profit and for-profit leaders, patients, and anyone passionate about vision and eye health. Registration is FREE. Register today to attend the interactive virtual event. Linked here: www.preventblindness.org/eyesummit Or copy and paste the following into your browser:https://eyesummit.vfairs.com/ We invite you to share the information below along with our social media posts about the 2025 Focus on Eye Health Summit with your networks. Be certain to register for this free event today and save the date on your calendar. LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X Threads Thank you to our 2025 Focus on Eye Health Summit Sponsors listed below: Platinum: PhRMA Gold: Amgen BrightFocus Foundation Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Innovation Silver: Alcon Laboratories, Inc. American Academy of Ophthalmology American Society of Retina Specialists Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Johnson & Johnson Kyowa Kirin Lions Clubs International Foundation Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Regeneron Research to Prevent Blindness Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Prevent Blindness at eyesummit@... for more information. Julie Grutzmacher, MSW, MPH (she/her) Director of Patient Advocacy + Population Health Initiatives| 312.363.6032 Director, ASPECT Patient Engagement Program Director, Center for Vision and Population Health Book Time with Me — Christopher J. Tabb, M.A., COMS chris@... Mobile: 512.660.2750 Digital Badge Confirmation Image: ACVREP Digital Badge for COMS Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail and any attachments are intended only for the individual or company to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary information which is intended only for dissemination to its intended recipients. Further, this e-mail may also contain Protected Health Information and related materials whose usage & disclosure is further governed by HIPAA//FERPA and other federal regulations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail and are not the intended recipient, you are instructed to notify the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
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Hi all, Does anyone have research based articles written on traveling without a sidewalk in residential and rural areas that they could share? I would love to have more resources to pull from. Thank you!
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Envision Conference Early Registration Deadline
A reminder that the discounted, early registration deadline for Envision Conference 2025 is March 8. The Envision Conference will take place May 28 - 31 in Dallas, Texas. See the agenda and register at https://www.envisionuniversityevents.com/Conference2025.
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Webinar
Announcing an informative webinarNot a member? For FREE CEUs, join OMSA here. The Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association (OMSA) is proud to host the following webinar with 1.5 CEUs exclusively for current OMSA members on March 6, 2025: A Delphi Approach to Examining the Role of Paraprofessionals in Orientation and Mobility, presented by Dr. Nicholas B. Casias, Ed.D., COMS Thursday March 6, 2025 7-8:30 PM Eastern Cost: No Charge to AttendWhile CEs are only available to current OMSA members, all orientation and mobility professionals who are interested are welcome to attend. *The CEs are awarded by ACVREP and approved by ACVREP and NBPCB To receive the webinar link, please register through Zoom Presenter: Dr. Nicholas B. Casias, Ed.D., COMS Dr. Nicholas Casias serves as Assistant Professor in the Orientation and Mobility Program in the Division of Special Education & Counseling. Dr. Casias is a certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of La Verne. His dissertation, The Roles and Responsibilities of Paraprofessionals Who Work with Students with Visual Impairments in Public Schools, has been used as a framework for professional development for O&M practitioners in school settings and pre-service training in university personnel preparation. He is the Board President of the Southern California Association of Orientation and Mobility Specialists and is engaged with local, regional, and national issues in the O&M field. Dr. Casias has extensive K-12 public school experience as an O&M specialist and has held a Clinical Rehabilitative Services credential in Orientation and Mobility since 2011. In addition to his work with K-12 students, Dr. Casias has experience as a clinical supervisor for O&M credential candidates at both Portland State University and Cal State LA. Details: Following a charge from the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Division of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, a study was undertaken to establish a set of parameters for paraprofessionals who could provide services under the direction of credentialed O&M specialists. The primary objective of this study was to establish roles and responsibilities in O&M services for paraprofessionals in the educational system and adult rehabilitation facilities. Attendees will learn about: Results of a study that was undertaken to establish a set of parameters for paraprofessionals who could provide services under the direction of credentialed O&M specialists. Applying results of the study to their own Orientation and Mobility instructional practices. Utilizing resources currently available to support paraprofessionals and O&M specialists instructional practices. Intended Audience: Orientation and Mobility Specialists All who are interested are welcome to attend. Registered OMSA Members will automatically be emailed a link to the CEU form. Recordings will be made available in our LiveBinders athttps://www.usomsa.org/ after CEUs have been issued. 1.5 CEUs will be provided exclusively for Current OMSA members. The CEs are awarded by ACVREP and approved by ACVREP and NBPCB Copyright ? 2025 Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association 10010 Winegar RdLaingsburg, MI 48848-9326 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
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Sharing on behalf of Valery Kircher, who is developing a tool to help orientation and mobility specialists in working with learners who have CVI. If you work with individuals who have CVI, please consider completing this brief survey. Thank you! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DBF2J5L — Christopher J. Tabb, M.A., COMS chris@... Mobile: 512.660.2750 Digital Badge Confirmation Image: ACVREP Digital Badge for COMS Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail and any attachments are intended only for the individual or company to which it is addressed and may contain proprietary information which is intended only for dissemination to its intended recipients. Further, this e-mail may also contain Protected Health Information and related materials whose usage & disclosure is further governed by HIPAA//FERPA and other federal regulations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail and are not the intended recipient, you are instructed to notify the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
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Help erasing lyric braille book
Hello, I was wondering if someone here would be able to help me with erasing braille from a book that I have with me? It has song lyrics. However, I do not want all of the songs to be erased. Andy
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Hi everyone! There’s a wonderful webinar on a condition that many of our students and clients have, the Charles Bonnet syndrome. It explains so many things I didn’t realize, and suggestions for dealing with it. Check out the link below. — Dona ————————— Dona Sauerburger, COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind www.sauerburger.org Begin forwarded message: From: Belinda Leibowitz <belinda.leibowitz@...> Date: February 22, 2025 at 5:16:23 AM EST To: Belinda Leibowitz <belindaleibowitz@...> Subject: Herewith the recording of the talk on Charles Bonnet Syndrome ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XL7-_W-H6I&t=2s -- BELINDA LEIBOWITZ OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST SPECIAL INTEREST IN LOW VISION
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Penn Del AER Conference
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Hello. Does anyone know where to find a schedule for the sessions at the Penn Del AER conference in April?
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Specialists
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Good morning, are there any specialists in here that know how to read braille. Andy
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Songs I would like erased from book
Hello, these are the songs I would like erased from the lyric book. OK, so the songs are on the following pages. The black dog can be found on page 4, and Cassandra is on page 36. Andy
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"Allied Independence" is going away! Here's a sneak peek into what's coming.
Hey friends, Kassy here with some exciting news! Allied Independence is evolving, and we can’t wait to share what’s next. Next week, we’ll be unveiling a new name, a fresh look, and a renewed vision to better serve our incredible community of educators. But don’t worry—our mission remains the same: empowering educators like YOU with the tools and knowledge to create lasting impact. Here’s a clue: our new name forms an acronym that reflects our vision for the future. Can you SEE what’s coming? Reply back and guess what our new name is going to be. Along with our new name, we’re unveiling a fresh logo that represents the heart of our mission: (New "SEE" logo. A dark green, 4-point compass with 3 rows of circles. Colorful dots line the exterior of the last circle while a white eye-shaped icon sits in the middle). Our new logo encompasses the spirit of community, finding your True North, and the importance of remaining true to your vision for success. THE COLORFUL DOTS represent our eclectic community members, all around the world. THE COMPASS guides our journey forward. THE EYE reminds us where we came from. As our organization grows, we can never lose sight of where we started. Stay tuned for the big reveal next week! ? Best, Kassy
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Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette
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In February 2025, Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Director of Government Affairs at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency. Following his testimony, he faced mockery from certain right-wing figures and MAGA supporters, primarily targeting his blindness. For instance, conservative commentator Ian Miles Cheong tweeted a clip of Hedtler-Gaudette’s testimony, stating: “The Democrats’ star speaker… says he can’t see any widespread abuse or waste from government spending. He is also blind, and is literally unable to see anything. The perfect witness.” Elon Musk also amplified the mockery by retweeting Cheong’s post, which led to a surge of derogatory comments directed at Hedtler-Gaudette. In response, POGO’s Executive Director, Danielle Brian, issued a statement condemning the personal attacks and emphasizing the importance of focusing on substantive policy discussions. These incidents highlight the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in public discourse, especially when discussions deviate from policy critiques to personal attacks. Yes, Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette has been diagnosed with type-2 Usher syndrome, a degenerative condition that affects both hearing and vision. This diagnosis has led to significant vision loss, rendering him legally blind. He has openly discussed his experiences living with this condition, including in a 2014 interview where he detailed the challenges and adaptations associated with his vision loss. In a recent congressional hearing, Hedtler-Gaudette wore sunglasses, a common accommodation for individuals with visual impairments, to protect his eyes from bright lighting. For more insights into his personal journey and advocacy work, you can refer to his profile on the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) website.
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