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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.

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

Andy

Hello. Does anyone know where to find a schedule for the sessions at the Penn Del AER conference in April?

Good morning, are there any specialists in here that know how to read braille. Andy

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

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

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.

Hi all! We are researchers from UT Austin working on accessible task assistance for blind and low vision people. For our research, we are looking for occupational therapists and orientation and mobility specialists who have experience assisting blind and low-vision people in cooking. This will be a 2-stage study and both will be on Zoom and take 1.5 hours. During the first session ($45 for 1.5 hours), you will be re-writing a cooking recipe to make it more accessible to blind and low-vision individuals. During the second session ($45 for 1.5 hours), you will be actually providing remote guidance to a blind participant through a video call based on the recipe you have recreated in the first session.If you would like to learn more about the study and possibly participate, please send an email to minahuh@.... Thank you so much! (Please let me know if this email is inappropriate for this group). Best regards, Mina -- Mina Huh Ph.D. student, Department of Computer Science, UT Austin Austin, TX, 78712 http://minahuh.com

Registration is now open for Bravo Summer Camps! BRAVO (Blue Ridge Adventures ~ Vision Optional) is a nonprofit based in Asheville, providing outdoor adventure for youth with blindness and low vision. We have two camps available this summer: our Bravo Asheville Day Camp (July 7-11) and our Bravo Nantahala Adventure Camp (July 13-17). You can find out more at www.blueridgebravo.org. Details about our celebrated Adventure Camp are also posted below. Bravo Nantahala Adventure Camp Where: Nantahala Gorge, near Bryson City, North Carolina When: Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17, 2025 What: An overnight outdoor adventure camp for kids who are blind or have a significant visual impairment, and who are ready to stretch their legs and hit the trail. We plan to hike, raft, climb, swim, and zip in and around the Nantahala Gorge in Western North Carolina. We’ll stay in the Group Lodge at Wildwater Nantahala, and spend some time at the Nantahala Outdoor Center too. There are 12 spaces available for the 2025 camp. Who: Campers are rising 9-12 graders with blindness or low vision. Instructors include certified Teachers for the Visually Impaired and Orientation & Mobility Specialists, along with a few other adventurous souls, both blind and sighted. 2025 is our tenth year hosting an outdoor adventure camp for the blind. You can learn more about our eligibility guidelines and registration process at https://www.blueridgebravo.org/bravo-adventure-camp Contact: For more information, contact Jay Hardwig at jay@... (preferred) or by calling or texting or 828-335-1136. -- Jay Hardwig, MA, COMS, NBCT Buncombe County Schools IFB Solutions

Hi everyone I am trying to have an APS installed for several of my clients.. however I was told they are too expensive. Does anyone know of a grant that will pay for this ? I understand that there are APS that are not as expensive but work just as well. Does anyone have any info on this? I would greatly appreciate it thank you Rosemary Gribbin. COMS

Rosemary, I have also been told that APS installation is too expensive. If you break it down installing a new plus intersection will cost around one million dollars. APS will cost roughly $10,000 or relatively speaking one percent of the cost for a new intersection. Cost is not a factor. It’s an excuse! JoAnne Chalom, COMS. Ed.S -- JoAnne Chalom, COMS, Ed.S. In Focus Mobility