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Hey everyone, This is such a powerfully strong community here and I am just in awe every step of the way on how you all support one another. I'm so grateful to be here! I just learned about a full-time COMS need for the upcoming school year. This is for a public school district in the Southeast Houston area. Feel free to share out my contact info if you know anyone in the area. Mandi Rivera Blazer Jobs 813-540-9714 mandi.rivera@... They've had a couple of other folks who were in the role that ran into some personal challenges and now they are in a pinch for some students.

hi, Is there anyone on this list, besides me, who would be willing to work on the following when it comes to guide animals... also, I have a document that I wrote, on how to bond with your mini guide horse when it is off-duty, written from personal experience, if anyone is interested in reading it. Shifting a deeply ingrained cultural default—from “dogs only” to “open to miniature guide horses”—is absolutely challenging, but not impossible. It essentially comes down to replacing one set of learned associations with another, through exposure, education, and social reinforcement. Here are some avenues that could help “deprogram” the dog-first mindset and make guide horses a familiar, acceptable—and even preferred—option: 1. Visibility and firsthand experience ? Public demos and “meet-and-greets.” Bring guide-horse teams into schools for the visually impaired, community centers, malls and transit hubs. When people see a calm, confident mini guiding successfully, and experience the bonding rituals for themselves, those visceral “aha” moments can break through long-held assumptions. ? Media storytelling. Short documentaries, social-media mini-series and human-interest segments featuring real guide-horse pairs (and their handlers’ voices on how fulfilling the bond is) can reach millions. Repeated exposure to these stories chips away at the “horses don’t belong in cities” narrative. 2. Institutional endorsement ? Guide-dog schools offering mini tracks. If one or two major guide-dog schools piloted a miniature-horse program—alongside their dog training—it would send a strong message: “This is just as legitimate and supported as guide dogs.” ? Professional conferences and certifications. Incorporating guide-horse training modules into orientation for orientation & mobility (O&M) specialists, occupational therapists, and ADA coordinators would mainstream the idea among the professionals who guide clients’ decisions. 3. Peer-to-peer advocacy ? Ambassador programs. Empower current guide-horse handlers to mentor prospective users, share tips, and host small-group workshops. Peer advocates often carry more weight than institutional voices. ? Support networks. Online forums and regional meetups where both blind and sighted people can ask questions, view bonding demonstrations, and swap success stories help normalize the unusual. 4. Educational campaigns ? Myth-busting fact sheets. Simple, shareable infographics—“Five Surprising Truths About Guide Miniature Horses”—can counter misconceptions on spooking, cleanliness, steerability and hygiene. ? Continuing education credits. Offering CEUs for rehab & O&M professionals who complete a module on guide horses encourages busy practitioners to learn the facts. 5. Policy and regulation tweaks ? Clear ADA guidance. Working with the Department of Justice to issue supplementary guidance or FAQs that highlight miniature-horse rights in public spaces (and suggest best-practices for businesses) can reduce institutional resistance. ? Insurance and liability frameworks. Demonstrating liability data showing that well-trained minis are no riskier than guide dogs may allay venues’ fears and lead to smoother access. 6. Leveraging social proof ? Testimonials from celebrities and influencers. If a well-known blind public figure or a popular lifestyle influencer adopted a guide horse and shared their journey, it could have outsized impact on public perceptions. ? Academic partnerships. Publishing small-scale studies in rehabilitation journals—measuring handler satisfaction, bond depth, and public-access success rates—adds credibility and invites coverage in mainstream media. Can it really be deprogrammed? Yes—culture shifts every time a new technology or social norm breaks through (think bicycles, cell phones, e-books). It requires a concerted, multi-pronged effort over years, but by combining direct exposure, professional buy-in, peer advocacy and myth-busting campaigns, you can recalibrate perceptions. Over time, “guide horse” could become as instinctive a choice as “guide dog” is today.

From: Alan Kaufman Date: April 10, 2025 at 2:50:24 PM EDT Subject: Webinar on O&M and CVI ? Hey O&Mers, I just wanted to share this registration for a webinar at Perkins on CVI and O&M. I know I feel woefully inadequate when it comes to O&M and CVI, and I'm guessing some others do too. I know this webinar falls on spring break for many of us, but maybe you can attend while tanning in the Bahamas. https://perkins-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bJ11qd_KQsydMmTR1imnSA?j=167975&sfmc_sub=24603861&l=535_HTML&u=6829064&mid=534002510&jb=5&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=04.10.25_CVINow&utm_content=Expanding+O%26amp%3bamp%3bM+for+students+with+CVI#/registration -- Al Kaufman, COMS (Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist) Cell phone number 404-402-6561 Prince George's County School System Vision Program John Carroll Rm. 19 1400 Nalley Terrace Landover, MD 20785

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. ?

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!

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@...

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

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

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.

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?