July 2015 - NOMC - lists.nbpcb.org

Discussion: Structure versus Discovery
by ebell＠pdrib.com 05 Aug '15

05 Aug '15

Dear NOMC, Although this list is primarily for posting jobs and other announcements, we did set it up as a discussion list and from time to time we have enjoyed a bit of back and forth on important topics. I received the below correspondence from an NOMC and I thought it was a good question and a good thing for all of us to think about and ponder. I have tried to take care to remove the personally identifying information about the person and state, but I do think that this is perhaps a broader issue and one that we should talk about openly. Maybe it is a growing problem, maybe it is not. What say you all? *** I have now seen three other NOMC's come through our state agency/center. . , I have got to work with a few that have made their way through. I have seen a common problem that concerns me. The problem is that I have seen all three of these NOMC's sit in their office all day long and never leave to teach-students are just ALWAYS sent out on independent routes. I have gotten their students when they have moved on or left the center/agency that have been here for months but are nowhere near where they should be. All of them have mentioned to me that their travel instructor never went out with them on routes. This concerns me a lot, and I'm not sure if it's a state problem or an NOMC wide one, but I suspect that this is NOT the only place this happens. I see this becoming a major issue in our field--that maybe we are understanding the independence aspect and structured discovery method the wrong way. In our Master's program, you and Darick always drilled into us the value of guided learning and teaching the skill set first--so I'm not sure why this is happening. I am concerned that this "laziness" (which is how I see it) might negatively impact our growth in the field and might need to be addressed. Maybe I'm way off--maybe it is just a center/state thing--if so, feel free to tell me. My frustration stems from teaching students who claim they are not getting any, or minimal, one-on-one instruction. My suggestion is some kind of friendly reminder to NOMC's about the value of hands on instruction and the detriments of leaving students to learn it ALL on their own. *** What do you all think? Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness Louisiana Tech University 210 Woodard Hall PO Box 3158 Ruston LA 71272 Office: 318.257.4554 Fax: 318.257.2259 (Fax) Skype: edwardbell2010 <mailto:ebell at latech.edu> ebell at latech.edu <http://www.pdrib.com> www.pdrib.com ************************************************************** "I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops." -- Stephen Jay Gould

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FW: thanks!
by jaltman＠neb.rr.com 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Hello Everyone, Here is a note from Carol Castellano expressing her appreciation for our help with the Cane Walk this year. In addition, I want to thank each of you for being there and the excellent work you did once again. Thank you, Jeff Altman MA NOMCT CVRCB From: Carol Castellano [mailto:carol.joyce.castellano at gmail.com] Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 10:14 AM To: Deb and Jeff Altman Subject: thanks! Hi Jeff, Thanks so much for coordinating the Cane Walk again this year. I love it each year--I never get tired of seeing the light of understanding hit the parents and kids! Please extend our thanks to the instructors who volunteered and let them know how much we appreciate their sharing of their time and expertise with our families. Warm wishes, Carol Carol Castellano Parents of Blind Children-NJ Director of Programs National Organization of Parents of Blind Children 973-377-0976 carol_castellano at verizon.net www.blindchildren.org <http://www.blindchildren.org/> www.nopbc.org <http://www.nopbc.org/>

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FW: [visionrehabtherapist] Please share: Rehab Teacher 3/Orientation and Mobility position open at Washington Department of Services for the Blind
by jeff.altman＠nebraska.gov 20 Jul '15

20 Jul '15

-----Original Message----- From: Tammy Freitag [mailto:ms.sunflower61 at gmail.com] Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:56 PM To: Altman, Jeff Subject: Fwd: [visionrehabtherapist] Please share: Rehab Teacher 3/Orientation and Mobility position open at Washington Department of Services for the Blind ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Cox, Kristina (DSB)" <kristina.cox at dsb.wa.gov> Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2015 17:29:22 +0000 Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Please share: Rehab Teacher 3/Orientation and Mobility position open at Washington Department of Services for the Blind To: "visionrehabtherapist at freelists.org" <visionrehabtherapist at freelists.org> There is an opening at the OTC in our Seattle office for an : Orientation and Mobility Instructor - Rehabilitation Teacher 3 (06636) - Seattle, WA<http://agency.governmentjobs.com/washington/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobI…> Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact Joe Vidales at (360) 407-8252 or jobs at des.wa.gov<mailto:jobs at des.wa.gov>. Thank you, Kristina Cox, Executive Assistant and Human Resources Consultant Department of Services for the Blind P.O. Box 40933, Olympia, WA 98504-0933 Ph: 360-725-3836, Toll Free: 1-800-552-7103 www.dsb.wa.gov<http://www.dsb.wa.gov> -- Independence is yours . Are you willing to reach for it? Tammy

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Teaching Visually Impaired Students to “Use Their Vision” is Destroying Them
by deja.powell＠gmail.com 17 Jul '15

17 Jul '15

I hope you all don't mind me sharing this here. After a day of teaching a student with low vision, who has been discouraged over and over again about using non-visual techniques, I couldn't hold back on writing a post I've been wanting to write for some time now. I would love your feedback on this topic...if you're willing to share. This post has already revved up a lot of controversy on social media--but I suspected it would. Teaching Visually Impaired Students to ?Use Their Vision? is Destroying Them http://slateandstylish.blogspot.com/2015/07/teaching-visually-impaired-stud… Deja M. Powell, MA, NOMC PhD Student, Capella University <http://www.capella.edu> Cane Travel Instructor, Utah Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired <http://www.usor.utah.gov/division-of-services-for-the-blind-and-visually-im…> Co-Director, Club SILVER (Southern Utah) Cell: 801.891.3430 Work: 801-323-4343 Email: deja.powell at gmail.com Blog: slateandstylish.blogspot.com *"You can never be Overdressed or Overeducated." -Oscar Wilde*

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