March 2018 - NOMC - lists.nbpcb.org

Checking to see if a message sent out yesterday was received
by jeff.altman＠nebraska.gov 28 Mar '18

28 Mar '18

Hello Everyone, Yesterday I sent out a reminder about the up coming Cane Walk at national convention. We hav had a change of e-mail addresses, and I want to make sure it came through. Please let me know if you have received this e-mail. Thanks, Jeff Jeff Altman MA NOMCT CVRCB NCBVI - The Nebraska Center for the Blind 4600 Valley Road, Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68510 (402) 471-8119 [NCBVI"AJC Email Logo]<http://www.ncbvi.nebraska.gov/>

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Derrick Williamson
by wmarshall＠cocenter.org 26 Mar '18

26 Mar '18

Sometimes a person comes into our lives for a reason or just a season. I am glad that 2017-2018 was the season that I had the pleasure of meeting and establishing a relationship with our friend, colleague, and teacher, Mr. Derrick Williamson. Last year, Derrick visited the Colorado Center for the Blind with Dr. Bell and some of the LA Tech Students and then at the Colorado State Convention where Derrick presented on behalf of LA Tech and the NBPCB. Derrick was one of the reasons that I decided to attend LA Tech where I had the very wonderful experience of having him as one of my instructors. I truly liked Derrick and I will miss him, however, I will always cherish my time with him both personally and professionally. I send my condolences to his family and all of you at LA Tech and LCB who will no longer have him to share with the rest of us. Sincerely, Wayne F. Marshall NOMC Student and Senior Services Specialist Colorado Center for the Blind 2233 W. Shepperd Ave. Littleton, CO 80120 Phone: 303.778.1130 Ext: 233 Fax: 303.778.1598 Take Charge with Confidence and Self-Reliance cocenter.org<http://cocenter.org/> Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/coloradocenterfortheblind> Twitter<https://twitter.com/cocenter4blind> YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/user/cocenterorg>

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FW: In memory of Darick Williamson
by ebell＠pdrib.com 23 Mar '18

23 Mar '18

The LCB family has lost another of our beloved members. Darick Williamson suffered a heart attack and passed away last night. We are in shock, and words cannot adequately convey the grief we feel as we mourn the loss of someone whose presence has made such a positive impact on countless lives. Our love and prayers are with his wife Trish and their sons, as well as the many cherished family and friends who will miss Darick and remember him as a man of strength, compassion, humor, and integrity.

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Darick Williamson
by ebell＠pdrib.com 23 Mar '18

23 Mar '18

Dear Friends, By now, most of you have heard the shocking and terrible news, but I regret to inform the rest of you that Darick Williamson passed away last night. Totally and completely unexpected by us all and he will be terribly missed by us all. I will inform you all as soon as I know more about arrangements or other details. Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness Louisiana Tech University 600 Mayfield Ave / 210 Woodard Hall PO Box 3158 Ruston LA 71272 Office: 318.257.4554 Fax: 318.257.2259 <mailto:ebell at latech.edu> ebell at latech.edu 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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O&M position in Yuma Arizona
by jklgabias＠hotmail.com 20 Mar '18

20 Mar '18

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. Spring has sprung here in Arizona with a beautiful 70 degree weather forecast. If any of you are tired of the snow or the humidity, I have just the opportunity for you! Attached is a job posting for an Orientation and Mobility Instructor position in Yuma Arizona. Yuma is only 2.5 hours from San Diego right on the border between Mexico, Arizona and California. They have some really amazing food and a great center out there. I currently work at the Tucson center of SAAVI Services for the Blind. We currently have 5 NOMCs working for SAAVI and a NCRTB. We are not a full structured discovery center but we all strive to teach the structured discovery methods in all of our classes. We are working towards building a strong philosophy at all 3 of our site locations. If you have any questions about Yuma, SAAVI or anything about Arizona you can contact Tarik Williams, Colin Wong, Conrad Austen, Karoll Austen or myself. You can also contact Amy Porterfield, the COO, directly at aporterfield at saavi.us (520) 795-1331. All the best, Joanne Gabias, M.A., NOMC, NCUEB, NCRTB Orientation and Mobility Instructor SAAVI Services for the Blind Tucson, AZ

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Question on using translators on travel
by yadiel.sotomayor＠gmail.com 15 Mar '18

15 Mar '18

Good evening everyone: I recently encountered a unique situation at work, and I want to hear your thoughts. I currently have a student with severe hearing lost and a language barrier. The student only speaks Spanish, so he uses a translator for communication. When I am working with the student, communication is not an issue. My first language is Spanish, therefore, I rarely need the translator. The reason for this email is, how should I handle the translator and the student when I send the student on independent assignments? Should I send the student with the translator so that he can communicate with the public, and risk the translator interfering with the lesson by assisting the student? Do I send him by himself with no way to communicate, and have him use deafblind communication signs instead? Or perhaps, me and the translator follow the student from a distance, until communication is needed? I would love to know if you had a similar situations and how you handled it. I have been thinking about this since I got this student, and I have not been able to come up with a satisfactory answer. Any suggestions are appreciated. Yadiel

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Position Announcement - Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - St. Louis, MO
by Michael.A.StJulien＠dss.mo.gov 14 Mar '18

14 Mar '18

Good Afternoon, Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind is currently recruiting for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor position in our St. Louis-South District Office. Please see the attachments for further details. If you have any questions regarding the position please contact the District Supervisor, Katherine Cronin, at 314-933-7330. Thank you. Michael St.Julien Assistant Deputy Director Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind 573-751-4989 (Office) 573-680-4074 (Cell) 573-751-4984 (Fax) michael.a.stjulien at dss.mo.gov<mailto:michael.a.stjulien at dss.mo.gov> "This communication is being transmitted by the Department of Social Services (DSS), and is confidential, privileged, and intended only for the use of the recipient named above. If you are not the intended recipient, unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender and destroy the material received."

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Recruiting Structured Discovery Coaches
by ebell＠pdrib.com 12 Mar '18

12 Mar '18

Dear NOMC You may, or may not be aware that recently the Alabama Department for the Blind and Deaf has embarked on a new endeavor and has begun a residential training program in Birmingham called The Freedom Center. Their goal is to provide Structure Discovery training to their consumers. I have been brought in to manage a project to help them meet their objectives. I can tell you that they have a long way to go and that their success in becoming a true Structured Discovery center is by no way assured. However, I strongly believe that all blind individuals deserve the best training possible regardless of their ability to relocate to one of the currently recognized training facilities and so I am willing to do what I can to ensure that the administration and staff of The Freedom Center have the tools to function under the spirit and expectations that we espouse under the Structured Discovery Trademark. Toward that end, I'm recruiting coaches like yourself to help in this effort. My ask. I am asking you to travel to Birmingham for at least a few days, preferably a full five-day week to provide coaching and mentoring. By mentoring, I mean encouragement, suggestions, and recommendations. By coaching, I mean being straight with them where their practices are not effective and helping to draw the line between what is Structured Discovery, and what is not. What is my role? I have made it perfectly clear to everyone involved with the project that I will assist in every effort to assist them become a Structured Discovery program. I have been equally clear that I will not recommend that they be recognized by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board as a Structured Discovery center unless they meet the standards that you are familiar with. What I am asking you to do is to communicate with me before the trip regarding any questions, logistics or details and then to communicate with me during or after the trip about your experience and impressions. I will need you to be completely and brutally honest with me regarding the good, the bad, and the ugly. Many of the staff are sincerely dedicated to the spirit and life that is Structured Discovery. Realizing this ideal, however, is sometimes easier said than done. I will keep any communications from you confidential but I will use your valuable input towards developing future training, in my own evaluations of the program, and in the final analysis of the overall health of the center. Compensation. For this work, I will cover your transportation, lodging, and an honorarium for your time. The honorarium is up to $1,000 for the full five days on-site, but I will have to prorate it based on the actual amount of time you can commit. I hope I can call upon you to provide your invaluable experience and professionalism in this project. Structured Discovery is a brand of rehabilitation that we have perfected for more than 70 years, and it is something that you and I have worked very hard to ensure that it does not become bastardized or watered down by those who want the title but not the work. I commit to you that I am dedicated towards this mission as well. Wherever a center like this truly shares in our passion, dedication, and philosophy I am committed to helping them achieve a first-class training program. With equal passion, I am committed to discrediting, disavowing, and calling out all of those who would seek to use our name without merit. I hope you have the time and ability to help me build this program, and as importantly, to hold its feet to the fire that is Structured Discovery. Please call or email me with any questions. I look forward to your active participation in this effort. 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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Position Announcement - Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Kansas City, MO
by Michael.A.StJulien＠dss.mo.gov 09 Mar '18

09 Mar '18

Good Morning, Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind is currently recruiting for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor positions in our Kansas City District Office. Please see he attachments for further details. If you have any questions regarding the positions please contact the District Supervisor, Rekha Nanchal, at 816-889-2850. Thank you. Michael St.Julien Assistant Deputy Director Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind 573-751-4989 (Office) 573-680-4074 (Cell) 573-751-4984 (Fax) michael.a.stjulien at dss.mo.gov<mailto:michael.a.stjulien at dss.mo.gov> "This communication is being transmitted by the Department of Social Services (DSS), and is confidential, privileged, and intended only for the use of the recipient named above. If you are not the intended recipient, unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender and destroy the material received."

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Position Announcement - District Supervisor - Jefferson City, MO
by Michael.A.StJulien＠dss.mo.gov 09 Mar '18

09 Mar '18

Good Morning, Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind is currently recruiting for the position of District Supervisor in our Mid-Missouri District Office located in Jefferson City, MO. Please see the attached position announcement for more details. If you have any questions regarding the position please contact me directly at the contact information below. Thank you. Michael St.Julien Assistant Deputy Director Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind 573-751-4989 (Office) 573-680-4074 (Cell) 573-751-4984 (Fax) michael.a.stjulien at dss.mo.gov<mailto:michael.a.stjulien at dss.mo.gov> "This communication is being transmitted by the Department of Social Services (DSS), and is confidential, privileged, and intended only for the use of the recipient named above. If you are not the intended recipient, unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please notify the sender and destroy the material received."

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