|
Virtual O&M Focus Groups at APH!
You can play a part in guiding the direction American Printing House takes in developing our O&M products by participating in one of our virtual O&M focus groups this October. If you would like to share your ideas, thoughts, or concerns regarding O&M products, please complete the form by October 9th by clicking the link below. We hope you¡¯ll join us in these discussions. Link: https://forms.office.com/r/SK3LUR3piU Denise Snow UX Research Strategist American Printing House dsnow@...
|
|
Requirements to teach in school districts
13
What states require O&M Specialist who teach in public schools to have their state license as well as ACVREP certification? Thanks
|
|
SOMA field trip sign-up deadline Sept. 29 . . .
Hi everyone! This is meant for those who are planning to come to SOMA but haven't registered yet -- I want you to know that if you want to go on one of the field trips to Space Camp or Helen Keller's home, we need to know by the end of next week -- September 28! So check them out at somaconference.org/field and sign up if interested by September 28 so we can finalize arrangements. If we need to cancel or rearrange any of the trips, we'll let you know by October 1st. BRING OLD / NEW CANES TO DONATE! "Cane Drive-SOMA 2024," organized by You Cane Give, is collecting canes -- new, old, or broken¡ªfor restoration and distribution to those in need around the world. So please bring your old or new canes for donation and leave them at the "You Cane Give" table at SOMA! Thanks! -- Dona Sauerburger
|
|
available position for and o and m instructor
Hello Everyone. The Lighthouse Vision loss Education Center has an available full time position for an o and m instructor. The Lighthouse is located in Sarasota, Fl . Consider working in beautiful, sunny Sarasota with a great supportive team! The position involves working with Teens, Adults and Seniors. No lessons in the snow :) some in the rain if you want ! Sarasota has beautiful weather all year round!! I began with the Lighthouse in 2020 and love it!!!! Feel free to contact me with any questions or call the Lighthouse directly at 941-359-1404 Rosemary Gribbin 941-999-7017
|
|
Those of you that have used thermoplastic beads to mold the grip of the cane to a learner's hand, would that work for someone who has had a stroke and states that after a long period of time things will slip out of their hand? Thanks, Julie
|
|
DeafBlind Leadership NOW Update
To our dear friends and partners in action, John here: Some updates from the DeafBlind Leadership NOW (DBLN) network! Reminder First, a reminder of what this is all about. Helen Keller Services recently hired yet another hearing-sighted person to be executive director of Helen Keller National Center. Qualified DeafBlind candidates were passed over. This constitutes the continued breaking of a promise made with our community ten years ago that a DeafBlind person would be chosen ¡°next time.¡± Over the span of ten days, two hundred sixty-two DeafBlind people signed a petition in protest. It demanded that a DeafBlind person be appointed executive director of HKNC. Further, we demanded that HKNC be separated from its distant parent organization, HKS, to become its own autonomous entity, and for it to be run by a DeafBlind-led board of trustees. No Response from HKS More than a week has passed since the August 9 deadline we set for Helen Keller Services to appoint a DeafBlind director and to begin transition processes toward separating HKNC from HKS and organizing a DeafBlind-led board. HKS has not reached out to us. As our petition explains, their failure to comply with our demands pushes us into the second stage of our movement. Are you all ready? Preparations The core team spent all week last week preparing to launch the second stage of our movement. One of our main projects was to set up a website. Please check it out! www.deafblindleadershipnow.org Congress We¡¯ve begun reaching out and talking with representatives and senators in Congress to share our petition and raise our concerns. We urge you all to get in touch with your U.S. congressional district representative and the two U.S. senators representing your state. Our advocacy team put together a fantastic resource to help you do so. You will find all of what you need to know at this page: https://deafblindleadershipnow.org/advocacy.html Also, two members of the advocacy team are available to answer any questions you may have or to provide further assistance in finding and contacting your representatives. Feel free to email outreach@... Fundraising We are now accepting donations! All donations will go into our advocacy efforts and only those efforts: basic costs for our website and other communications, legal fees, travel and logistics for possible meetings, and, if necessary, support for significant direct actions. Please consider donating to DBLN by visiting this page: https://deafblindleadershipnow.org/donate.html Media For those of you who use traditional social media, please consider using the hashtags #DeafBlindLeadershipNOW and #DBLNStrong. Feel free to post this email anywhere, use links to our website, and to initiate any conversations and commentaries. If you are a journalist or know journalists who may be interested in covering our evolving movement, our Media Team is ready to provide media kits and connections to compelling sources. Email media@... Volunteers Needed We have several task forces that are focusing on various projects. If you happen to have an interest or some knowledge in the following areas, we welcome your support! --Legal Team: Specifically to explore applying pressure on HKS via legal channels and, more broadly, to counsel our movement throughout all the planned stages of our process. --Foundations Team: To contact all the foundations that give money to HKS to advise them of our petition and concerns. --CARF Team: To file a set of complaints with CARF, an accredition body. --RSA Team: To pursue all avenues of opening dialogues with Rehabilitation Services Administration, the responsible agency for the great bulk of public funding HKNC receives. If you would like to volunteer, please email dbln@... Statements of Support We are heartened to receive statements of support from various organizations, agencies, and schools. Thank you! We are thrilled to continue circulating those statements and adding them to our website. If you belong to or work for an organization or agency, we appreciate your considering proposing that you and your colleagues
|
|
Making a high school accessible
4
Hi fellow O&Mers! If someone wanted to modify a high school to make it more accessible to blind and visually impaired, where would I go to look for resources? Or who would you recommend that I talk to? The stem club would like to make a 3D map of the high school and implement changes within the building to make it more accessible. Thanks, Laura
|
|
Chinese translation of "Distantism"
Dear fellow nudgers of our spinning globe, John here: Zihao Lin has orchestrated the publication of my essay ¡°Distantism¡± in Chinese translation! The translation was massaged into life under the capable hands of Raffia Lin and Xinche. My heartfelt thanks to Zihao, Raffia, and Xinche! Published here: https://tyingknots.net/2024/07/distantism/ It¡¯s also available through this WeChat channel: https://mp.weixin./s/MIovwx5h1Fdav7rTLw0S7A For those who may be interested, the essay is included in my latest book, ¡°Touch the Future: A Manifesto in Essays,¡± available through bookstores, audiobook vendors, and as an ebook in various formats, including Bookshare. PT cheers! John
|
|
Hi, I need help with a potential ADA question. The picture below depicts a rolling stand that mounts a TV that is used in a classroom (for projection ¨C not an interactive whiteboard). The front 2 legs stick out in a ¡®V-shaped¡¯ design significantly further than the ¡®base¡¯ of the stand which then has 2 smaller, ¡®v-shaped¡¯ legs sticking out the back from the base. There is no ¡®barrier¡¯ on the right and left sides so a person/student could walk into the side of the tv frame. Does the ADA regulate this type of mounting system? I¡¯ve been through the access board website and cannot find a definitive answer. One could easily ¡®candy cane¡¯ the legs with high contrast tape to bring visual attention in case of low contrast or possibly position the stand/tv between bookshelves or other ¡®barriers¡¯ to reduce the faceplant into the sides of the monitor. Or, consider installing pool noodles or pipe insulation around the frame of the tv, too¡. But, ultimately, does the design of this stand create a situation of ADA noncompliance? The image below is similar to the actual one I¡¯m referring to. Kevin J. Hollinger Teacher of the Visually Impaired Orientation & Mobility Specialist Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist Francis Howell School District Vision Program 636-851-6143 voice 636-851-4133 fax 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.
|
|
Greetings, My colleagues and I are seeking information on best practices. We work with adults in the vocational rehabilitation department of a state agency, most of the work is center based or within the city. The O&M staff is curious how O&Ms from similar backgrounds address balance concerns. Specifically, we would like to know how others assess and serve individuals who have a history of falls that cannot be accounted for by loss of vision alone. Our agency does not require medical records from our clients so we cannot glean any information from that source. Do you seek assessment from physical or occupational therapists? Which professional formal balance assessment is most appropriate for orientation and mobility? I know liability is a state-by-state issue, but what is your understanding of what can occur if an individual is injured after falling when they present with a fall history? Any information or direction would be greatly appreciated by the O&M staff. We want to serve our clients as safely and effectively as possible by addressing any balance concerns that might impact their training. Deana Allen COMS
|
|
Good morning, I have a cane-using 4th 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@... Facebook Twitter ¡°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@... Facebook Twitter ¡°Creating Contributing, Participating Members of Society¡±
|
|
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.
|
|
<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 https://sauerburger.org/meet.html * 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 ( https://sauerburger.org/counterpoint.htm ) 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. ¡ª Dona ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª 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
|
|
FW: Help Support the Week Without Driving
Thought this might be of interest. Becky Davidson ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Latricia Huston <latricia@...> Date: Wednesday, August 07, 2024 03:30 PM To: beckyb1120@... Subject: Help Support the Week Without Driving What kinds of communities would we have if we built them for everyone, not just those in cars? http://weekwithoutdriving.org What kinds of communities would we have if we built them for everyone, not just those in cars? Last year our Week Without Driving Challenge went nationwide! Over 140 organizations around the country urged hundreds of local decision makers to take the challenge, and understand the barriers that non-drivers face when trying to move safely in their communities. We are doing it again this year from September 30th to October 6, and we need your donation to help support the 200+ organizations in 43 states that are now promoting this powerful tactic for change. Support The Week Without Driving Now! (https://americawalks.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/americawalks/donation.jsp?campaign=6&&test=true) The impact is undeniable - hundreds of elected officials, agency leaders and individuals have directly experienced the failures in our transportation system that nondrivers depend on. If they commit to building places that work for the 25 percent of the population without access to vehicles - imagine what that means for the safety, health, and quality of life for all of us! If you aren't familiar with this innovative initiative, please check out this video (https://youtu.be/NhvUaPXmI88?feature=shared) that shows last year's highlights. Your donation means we will have the resources to provide training, materials and support to the grassroots organizations creating change. And here's the deal: the only dedicated funding source for this program is your donations. Disability Rights Washington asked us to take their state program to a national audience, and we did because we were confident that America Walks supporters would step up financially. So please contribute so that we can keep building the movement! Support The Week Without Driving Now! (https://americawalks.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/americawalks/donation.jsp?campaign=6&&test=true) P (https://americawalks.org/programs/) rograms (https://americawalks.org/programs/) |R (https://americawalks.org/resources/) esources (https://americawalks.org/resources/) | B (https://americawalks.org/blog/) log (https://americawalks.org/blog/) | A (https://americawalks.org/about-us/) bout (https://americawalks.org/about-us/) | D (https://americawalks.org/donate/) onate (https://americawalks.org/donate/) https://www.facebook.com https://www.twitter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ https://mailchimp.com Logo Copyright ? 2024 America Walks, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: America Walks PO Box 30833 Seattle, WA 98113 USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences (https://americawalks.us14.list-manage.com/profile?u=d35539cc015436b144b62c5e4&id=f2013291e9&e=4e5410ef00&c=a271eb0f88) or unsubscribe from this list (https://americawalks.us14.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=d35539cc015436b144b62c5e4&id=f2013291e9&t=b&e=4e5410ef00&c=a271eb0f88) . Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp https://login.mailchimp.com/signup/email-referral/?aid=d35539cc015436b144b62c5e4
|
|
SOMA O&M conference early-bird deadline next week!
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 field trips 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 SOMAconference.org, 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 presenters 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! Click here to check out the incredible program! 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 SOMAconference.org 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
|
|
Announcing IMC 19
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
|
|
DeafBlind Leadership NOW
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¡ªover qualified DeafBlind ones¡ªwe 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¡ªbut 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
|
|
Statement from Gallaudet linguistics department
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 -- Julie A. Hochgesang, PhD pronouns: she/they (English) & ? (ASL) Professor, Linguistics Dept, Gallaudet U
|
|
DeafBlind Leadership NOW, penultimate edition
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¡ªoptional 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
|
|
Holly - Question about guide horses
2
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.
|
Image Name
Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am