- NOMC - lists.nbpcb.org

Presidential release
by widearc2000＠gmail.com 01 May '20

01 May '20

First of all, big congratulations to Marcus and rosy on offspring number three. Which will teach travel in which will teach braille? LOL. Hi guys, I was just listening to President Riccobono?s presidential release for this month. When questions were allowed, I heard a couple of questions that sound like they are right up the alley of orientation and mobility instructors. I wanted to kick these are on the list and maybe even talk about them on Tuesday night if we have time, given that we already have an agenda, and see if everybody agrees with me or if anybody has better techniques than I have. I am always in the market for something better and in this group, it?s really not that hard to get. Someone asked about those invisible lines on the store now where are you have to stay behind them to maintain a social distance from the clerk or the customer ahead of you. Typically what I have been doing is asking someone in the store. If I?m shopping i probably have a clerk and ask about the one-way signs down each aisle. When I go to get the clerk, I try to stay a little more than a cane?s length behind the person ahead of me and when the person at the counter says next, I ask how close I should get. If I get confused, I can ask the person in front of me where is the marker so I can stop when you go up. Sometimes, especially in Walmart, the lines have been tactile but I?ve had to really concentrate to feel them. Easy answer, lines in a store, ask someone. Braille signs: Someone talked about braille signage and disinfection. Business is regularly disinfect door knobs and other things that we are expected to touch. They probably don?t think about the braille signage. Some blind people may feel extra vulnerable because of other disabilities or health issues. How many of us are currently running around with a bottle of purell in our pockets?. My solution is to disinfect the sign or whatever it is that my cane hits before I put my fingers on it. Once I have ascertained it is the sign I want, I can disinfect my fingers. nine chances out of 10, it is a restroom sign and there?s a place inside to wash my hands which is much better than using purell or any other hand sanitizer. Easy answer, clean it ourselves before we touch. There was some talk about returning to live meetings in the future and national convention in person in 2021. President Riccobono made a comment that he wasn?t sure how we would greet people at the presidential suite or in other places. I don?t know if this will become the new norm or if it?s just something that I do with my clients but for a month or so, my clients and I have have replaced the ritual of shaking hands with the ritual of sharing a bottle of hand sanitizer. How to locate said hand sanitizer? A Friend of mine in the Nebraska showed me a cool technique many many years ago and several of us have been teaching it over the past 20 years to our clients, colleagues, friends and any other blind person with a cane. The handshake technique is where two cane usersfind the tips of each other?s canes and bring the canes together. Once the canes are vertical and touching, we simply move our hands up and down canes until we can touch. In Lou of touching the hand with the hand, we can use the canes to find each other and then present the bottle of hand sanitizer from the top. The person receiving the hand sanitizer can be taught to look from below. Then, since it?s very likely a new client will hand you the sanitizer the same way he or she received it, I typically go above when I want to get it back. This might take a little practice and the good news is that if we touch each other, the hand sanitizer is still available. I have been telling my clients that this has replaced the cultural norm in our society for shaking hands. Easy answer, Don?t shake hands or elbows or feet, shake the hand sanitizer. so what do you say, kick this idea around and see if we can come up with some cool solutions to present to our national president. Then he might talk about them on the next release. Might even say that it was the orientation and mobility teachers who are certified NOMC who banded together and gave him these ideas. It would be a good marketing ploy for Louisiana Tech University as well. Anytime we come to the notice of the rest of the NFB, it reminds them what we have and what they might have. The younger ones will be reminded that there is an orientation and mobility program especially for blind people waiting just down south in Ruston. By the way, I want to know if any other listeners to the presidential release remarked on President Riccobono?s comment to Pam Allen. When asked if there would be a big reveal this year at convention regarding the location of the 2021 convention, he turned to Pam and asked if she thought they should tell people. Hey, anybody for begniettes at the 21 convention? fingers crossed that somebody says Naawlins. These general sessions had better and on time because I haven?t been to the Crescent city in 20 years and I?m headed for the quarter, the food and the hurricanes.. Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 30, 2020, at 2:09 PM, Dezman Jackson <djackson at bism.org> wrote: > > ? Thanks for sharing this Merry-Noel. > I know that we also have published works such as Mettler?s Cognitive Learning Theory and a book written by several of our own called Techniques used by Blind Cane Travel Instructors. Has there been any thought towards publishing an updated version or even just a modern textbook for structured discovery instructors? > > Regards, > Dezman > Dezman > >> On Apr 30, 2020, at 9:59 AM, Merry-Noel <owinm at yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> Hello all, >> >> (Link is attached) >> >> If you have not done so yet, download my dissertation study: Self-Confidence Levels in Sequential Learning Vs. Structured Discovery Cane Travel, Post Orientation and Mobility: A Comparison Study. >> >> It will soon NOT be available for free! Get it while you can. >> >> Ben, I do discuss ?informed choice? and the lack thereof in my dissertation. >> >> Here is the link >> >> https://commons.cu-portland.edu/edudissertations/266/ >> >> >> Merry-Noel >> >> >> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone >> >> On Thursday, April 30, 2020, 8:04 AM, Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> wrote: >> >> You don?t have on here where or how to download your study >> >> >> 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 >> >> ebell at latech.edu http://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 >> >> >> >> From: Merry-Noel <owinm at yahoo.com> >> Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 6:42 PM >> To: Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com>; 'Ben Vercellone' <benv at fastmail.com> >> Cc: 'NOMC Mailing list' <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> >> Subject: Re: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up >> >> >> Hello all, >> >> If you have not done so yet, download my dissertation study: Self-Confidence Levels in Sequential Learning Vs. Structured Discovery Cane Travel, Post Orientation and Mobility: A Comparison Study. >> >> >> It will soon NOT be available for free! Get it while you can. >> >> >> Ben, I do discuss ?informed choice? and the lack thereof in my dissertation. >> >> >> Merry-Noel >> >> >> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone >> >> On Wednesday, April 29, 2020, 4:54 PM, Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> wrote: >> >> Ben, >> >> Informed consent or not, VR counselors know next to nothing about cane travel. They will understand it as O&M most likely, but nothing on the internet or agency brochures will shed light on any difference between COMS and NOMC. >> Consumer advocacy, public education and availability in each state will be what makes the difference. >> On that note, we are accepting applications for Summer and Fall and yes we do have scholarships, so please help us to recruit for the next generation of NOMC >> >> 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 >> 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 >> >> >> From: Ben Vercellone <benv at fastmail.com> >> Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 4:50 PM >> To: Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> >> Cc: Keller, Becky <becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov>; NOMC Mailing list <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> >> Subject: Re: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up >> >> Hi Dr. Bell, >> >> Thank you. Your approach definitely sounds encouraging and Effective. Can you tell me how well informed choice is implemented nation-wide? I'm in the lower half when it comes to understanding legal things in-depth. But I am guessing that agencies for the blind are more likely to tell people about SDCT than are web searches for O&M-related terms that don't include "Structured Discovery". Is this correct? If so, then this will make it less critical for our web presence to command the same footprint as the COMS perspective in the near future. It just seems to me that SDCT too often remains one of the best-kept secrets unless someone or some legislation makes it a conversation topic. >> >> Sincerely, >> Ben >> >> >> On Apr 29, 2020, at 4:33 PM, Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> wrote: >> >> ? >> Hi Ben, >> >> As I said earlier, I am glad to make space available and host more information on either site and we also have a blog we can use if people want to. >> One thing I have tried promoting all of my professional life is the notion that Structured Discovery is uniquely and distinctly different than COMS instruction. >> If you google search today the term ?Structured Discovery? the first three hits are NBPCB, NFB and PDRIB. >> So, I think we are positioned well so long as we always talk about Structured Discovery Cane Travel or the Structured Discovery form of O&M. >> Not even Donna Sauerburger Tries to pretend she knows anything much about Structured Discovery any more. >> Just my $.02 >> >> >> 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 >> 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 >> >> >> From:Ben Vercellone <benv at fastmail.com> >> Sent:Wednesday, April 29, 2020 4:26 PM >> To:Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com>; 'Keller, Becky' <becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov>; 'NOMC Mailing list' <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> >> Subject:RE: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up >> >> Hi All, >> >> When I brought up the website topic last night, my main hope was for us to have a large hub for everything NOMC, similar to how many COMS instructors and supporters view Dona Sauerburger?s website as a large hub for everything COMS. I now realize that creating a new and unified website may not be necessary. But what is necessary is for our philosophy to command more attention from COMS professionals and from search engines. Whether our web presence is based on one website or multiple, and whether or not it involves creating any additional websites, I?m pretty open-minded. Someone on yesterday?s Zoom call said he/she (I think he) has been working on a podcast or audio/video content (I can?t remember exactly). But this sounded excellent. I?ll look for the YouTube channel Dr. Bell mentioned shortly. As I said last night, an O&M specialist in Missouri thinks that Dona Sauerburger is the O&M goddess, I didn?t comment when I heard him say this. But is sure did persuade me of the need to maximize our outreach. I don?t want to reinvent wheels, but I?m hoping that we can have a much larger web presence in at least 2 ways. First, I am hoping that our website/s will somehow be glued into the consciousness of many COMS when they?re sharing O&M information. In other words, when they recommend http://sauerburger.org, they?ll also feel the moral obligation to share http://nbpcb.org, http://pdrib.com, ETC. Second, when one searches online for O&M advice, especially regarding recommended cane length, he/she will probably agree with me that the COMS perspective is vastly more prominent. People aren?t supposed to use Google as their doctor, but many people do this anyway. Similarly, almost everyone researching blindness for the first time will use a search engine. They should have super easy access to our empowering philosophy and teaching methodology. In my opinion, they currently don?t, unless they get ?lucky? or hear of SDCT some other way. >> >> What do you all think? I really am not nit picky about the solution. All I know is that a problem seems to exist, which I?ve fleshed out a little bit in this e-mail. And having increased audio and audio/video content may truly be a homerun, especially in people?s constantly accelerating lifestyles. The drop route videos sound awesome. >> >> Finally, I have a brief Structured Discovery story to share. Just last year, I got utterly fed up with my inability to understand diverging diamond interchanges (DDI?s). I had already received some instruction on at least 2 occasions by a COMS instructor, but I still did not get it. Well, to my delight, cooperation took place between Rehab Services for the Blind of Missouri and Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services where Jane Lansaw works. Jane came and taught me to cross at the oldest DDI in the U.S. which is in Springfield, Missouri. Immediately afterword, we took the bus to a newer and much larger DDI in Springfield, and I independently crossed there. Talk about transferable skills and SDCT! It was wildly cool. I did also use tactile graphics of these DDI?s, since this learning modality helps me a lot. But the tactile graphics probably helped no more than one third in this process. The main help was the SDCT approach, delivered by Jane Lansaw. Anyway, I do have some audio and video footage, but the weather was kind of bad that day. I?ll review the files soon if I can. At the very least, I wanted to share a summary of that great success here. If an increasing number of people hear and believe stories like this one, and if they can very easily find these SDCT testimonies with their search engine of choice, imagine what will be possible. >> >> Sincerely, >> Ben >> >> >> From: Edward Bell >> Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 11:56 AM >> To: 'Keller, Becky'; 'NOMC Mailing list' >> Subject: Re: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up >> >> Hi Becky, >> >> This is all really good. >> >> I am willing and able to add resources to either the PDRIB or NBPCB web pages. Just let me know what and where and I can get it done. >> Of course, anyone subscribed to this list can also post information here to get it out more quickly. I also believe we have a YouTube channel if there is video to post. >> >> >> 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 >> 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 >> >> >> From:NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of Keller, Becky >> Sent:Wednesday, April 29, 2020 10:24 AM >> To:NOMC Mailing list <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> >> Subject:[Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up >> >> Good morning everyone, >> Thanks so much for all of your input and energy last night. We had some really good discussion, and the two hours seemed to fly right by. At one point, we had 28 folks in attendance. Pretty neat if I do say so myself. >> >> Jedi and Jane, thank you also for volunteering to give us an example of your virtual drop routes. We look forward to hearing it when you send it out to everyone. >> >> Below you will find the last remaining questions we had on our original agenda. We touched a little bit on some of them towards the end of our meeting, but I included them just in case you had additional thoughts or suggestions. Between now and Monday the 4th, please send me any further topics or questions that you wish to have posed to the group. >> >> In addition, a proposal was introduced last evening that focused towards developing a new, or expanding our current Structured-Discovery websites, to include resources, readings, O & M media, etc., sort of an information portal for instructors. I've pasted our current links below for everyone. Dr. Bell, we were hoping to get your feedback and counsel regarding this topic. >> >> Thanks again everyone for your participation and contributions. Have a wonderful week, and talk to you soon. >> Take care, >> >> http://www.pdrib.com/ >> https://nbpcb.org/index.php >> >> Questions: >> How could we work with folks to plan detailed hypothetical out of town trips, so they have an understanding of what goes into planning for a vacation or business trip? This way we could potentially utilize O&M as well as tech skills. >> >> How can we get folks thinking about mental mapping places they haven?t been yet? >> >> How can we help our students overcome fear, especially in uncertain times? In general, not necessarily focusing solely on cane travel... >> >> Becky Keller, NOMC, COMS >> Lead Orientation and Mobility Instructor >> Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired >> 401 Azalea Avenue >> Richmond, VA 23227 >> (804) 371-3093 >> becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov >> Facebook: VDBVI >> Worldwide Web: Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired >> YouTube: VRCBVI >> "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." >> -Arthur Ashe >> >> **CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE** >> This message (including any attachments) contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the intended recipient (or authorized to receive for the intended recipient), you may not read, print, retain, use, copy, distribute, or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail, and destroy all copies of the original message (including any attachments). >> >> _______________________________________________ >> NOMC mailing list >> NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org >> http://lists.nbpcb.org/listinfo.cgi/nomc-nbpcb.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> NOMC mailing list >> NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org >> http://mailsecurity.bism.org:32224/?dmVyPTEuMDAxJiY3MjhlODZjODE4OGQwOGM0Mz0… > > _______________________________________________ > NOMC mailing list > NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org > http://lists.nbpcb.org/listinfo.cgi/nomc-nbpcb.org

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Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up
by owinm＠yahoo.com 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

Hello all, (Link is attached)? If you have not done so yet, download my dissertation study:?Self-Confidence Levels in Sequential Learning Vs. Structured Discovery Cane?Travel, Post Orientation and Mobility: A Comparison Study. It will soon NOT be available for free! Get it while you can. Ben, I do discuss ?informed choice? and the lack thereof in my dissertation.? Here is the link https://commons.cu-portland.edu/edudissertations/266/? Merry-Noel Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Thursday, April 30, 2020, 8:04 AM, Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> wrote: #yiv7829103544 #yiv7829103544 -- _filtered {} _filtered {}#yiv7829103544 #yiv7829103544 p.yiv7829103544MsoNormal, #yiv7829103544 li.yiv7829103544MsoNormal, #yiv7829103544 div.yiv7829103544MsoNormal {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;}#yiv7829103544 a:link, #yiv7829103544 span.yiv7829103544MsoHyperlink {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;}#yiv7829103544 p.yiv7829103544yahoo-quoted-begin, #yiv7829103544 li.yiv7829103544yahoo-quoted-begin, #yiv7829103544 div.yiv7829103544yahoo-quoted-begin {margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;}#yiv7829103544 p.yiv7829103544msonormal, #yiv7829103544 li.yiv7829103544msonormal, #yiv7829103544 div.yiv7829103544msonormal {margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;}#yiv7829103544 span.yiv7829103544gmaildefault {}#yiv7829103544 span.yiv7829103544EmailStyle30 {font-family:sans-serif;color:windowtext;}#yiv7829103544 .yiv7829103544MsoChpDefault {font-size:10.0pt;} _filtered {}#yiv7829103544 div.yiv7829103544WordSection1 {}#yiv7829103544 You don?t have on here where or how to download your study ? 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 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 ? ? From: Merry-Noel <owinm at yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 6:42 PM To: Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com>; 'Ben Vercellone' <benv at fastmail.com> Cc: 'NOMC Mailing list' <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: Re: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up ? Hello all, If you have not done so yet, download my dissertation study:?Self-Confidence Levels in Sequential Learning Vs. Structured Discovery Cane?Travel, Post Orientation and Mobility: A Comparison Study. ? It will soon NOT be available for free! Get it while you can. ? Ben, I do discuss ?informed choice? and the lack thereof in my dissertation.? ? Merry-Noel? Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Wednesday, April 29, 2020, 4:54 PM, Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> wrote: Ben, ? Informed consent or not, VR counselors know next to nothing about cane travel. They will understand it as O&M most likely, but nothing on the internet or agency brochures will shed light on any difference between COMS and NOMC. Consumer advocacy, public education and availability in each state will be what makes the difference. On that note, we are accepting applications for Summer and Fall and yes we do have scholarships, so please help us to recruit for the next generation of NOMC ? 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 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 ? ? From: Ben Vercellone <benv at fastmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 4:50 PM To: Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> Cc: Keller, Becky <becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov>; NOMC Mailing list <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: Re: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up ? Hi Dr. Bell, ? Thank you. Your approach definitely sounds encouraging and Effective. Can you tell me how well informed choice is implemented nation-wide??I'm in the lower half when it comes to understanding legal things in-depth. But I am guessing that agencies for the blind are more likely to tell people about SDCT than are web searches for O&M-related terms that don't include "Structured Discovery". Is this correct? If so, then this will make it less critical for our web presence to command the same footprint as the COMS perspective in the near future. It just seems to me that SDCT too often remains one of the best-kept secrets unless someone or some legislation makes it a conversation topic. ? Sincerely, Ben ? ? On Apr 29, 2020, at 4:33 PM, Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com> wrote: ? Hi Ben, ? As I said earlier, I am glad to make space available and host more information on either site and we also have a blog we can use if people want to. One thing I have tried promoting all of my professional life is the notion that Structured Discovery is uniquely and distinctly different than COMS instruction. If you google search today the term ?Structured Discovery? the first three hits are NBPCB, NFB and PDRIB. So, I think we are positioned well so long as we always talk about Structured Discovery Cane Travel or the Structured Discovery form of O&M. Not even Donna Sauerburger Tries to pretend she knows anything much about Structured Discovery any more. Just my $.02 ? ? 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 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 ? ? From: Ben Vercellone <benv at fastmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 4:26 PM To: Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com>; 'Keller, Becky' <becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov>; 'NOMC Mailing list' <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: RE: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up ? Hi All, ? When I brought up the website topic last night, my main hope was for us to have a large hub for everything NOMC, similar to how many COMS instructors and supporters view Dona Sauerburger?s website as a large hub for everything COMS. I now realize that creating a new and unified website may not be necessary. But what is necessary is for our philosophy to command more attention from COMS professionals and from search engines. Whether our web presence is based on one website or multiple, and whether or not it involves creating any additional websites, I?m pretty open-minded. Someone on yesterday?s Zoom call said he/she (I think he) has been working on a podcast or audio/video content (I can?t remember exactly). But this sounded excellent. I?ll look for the YouTube channel Dr. Bell mentioned shortly. As I said last night, an O&M specialist in Missouri thinks that Dona Sauerburger is the O&M goddess, I didn?t comment when I heard him say this. But is sure did persuade me of the need to maximize our outreach. I don?t want to reinvent wheels, but I?m hoping that we can have a much larger web presence in at least 2 ways. First, I am hoping that our website/s will somehow be glued into the consciousness of many COMS when they?re sharing O&M information. In other words, when they recommend sauerburger.org, they?ll also feel the moral obligation to share nbpcb.org, pdrib.com, ETC. Second, when one searches online for O&M advice, especially regarding recommended cane length, he/she will probably agree with me that the COMS perspective is vastly more prominent. People aren?t supposed to use Google as their doctor, but many people do this anyway. Similarly, almost everyone researching blindness for the first time will use a search engine. They should have super easy access to our empowering philosophy and teaching methodology. In my opinion, they currently don?t, unless they get ?lucky? or hear of SDCT some other way. ? What do you all think? I really am not nit picky about the solution. All I know is that a problem seems to exist, which I?ve fleshed out a little bit in this e-mail. And having increased audio and audio/video content may truly be a homerun, especially in people?s constantly accelerating lifestyles. The drop route videos sound awesome. ? Finally, I have a brief Structured Discovery story to share. Just last year, I got utterly fed up with my inability to understand diverging diamond interchanges (DDI?s). I had already received some instruction on at least 2 occasions by a COMS instructor, but I still did not get it. Well, to my delight, cooperation took place between Rehab Services for the Blind of Missouri and Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services where Jane Lansaw works. Jane came and taught me to cross at the oldest DDI in the U.S. which is in Springfield, Missouri. Immediately afterword, we took the bus to a newer and much larger DDI in Springfield, and I independently crossed there. Talk about transferable skills and SDCT! It was wildly cool. I did also use tactile graphics of these DDI?s, since this learning modality helps me a lot. But the tactile graphics probably helped no more than one third in this process. The main help was the SDCT approach, delivered by Jane Lansaw. Anyway, I do have some audio and video footage, but the weather was kind of bad that day. I?ll review the files soon if I can. At the very least, I wanted to share a summary of that great success here. If an increasing number of people hear and believe stories like this one, and if they can very easily find these SDCT testimonies with their search engine of choice, imagine what will be possible. ? Sincerely, Ben ? ? From: Edward Bell Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 11:56 AM To: 'Keller, Becky'; 'NOMC Mailing list' Subject: Re: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up ? Hi Becky, ? This is all really good. ? I am willing and able to add resources to either the PDRIB or NBPCB web pages. Just let me know what and where and I can get it done. Of course, anyone subscribed to this list can also post ?information here to get it out more quickly. I also believe we have a YouTube channel if there is video to post. ? ? 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 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 ? ? From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of Keller, Becky Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2020 10:24 AM To: NOMC Mailing list <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: [Nomc] Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up ? Good morning everyone, Thanks so much for all of your input and energy last night.? We had some really good discussion, and the two hours seemed to?fly right by.? At one point, we had 28 folks in attendance.? Pretty neat if I do say so myself.?? ? Jedi and Jane, thank you also for volunteering?to give us an example of your virtual drop routes. We look forward to hearing it when you send it out to everyone. ? Below you will find the?last remaining questions we had on our original agenda.? We touched a little bit on some of them towards the end of our meeting, but I included them just in case you had additional thoughts or suggestions.? Between now and Monday the 4th, please send me any further topics or questions that you wish to have posed to the group.? ? In addition, a proposal was introduced last evening that focused towards developing a new, or expanding our current Structured-Discovery websites, to include resources, readings, O & M media, etc., sort of an information portal for instructors. I've pasted our current links below for everyone.? Dr. Bell, we were hoping to get your feedback and counsel regarding this topic. ? Thanks again everyone for your participation and contributions.? Have a wonderful week, and talk to you soon. Take care, ? http://www.pdrib.com/? https://nbpcb.org/index.php? ? Questions: How could we work with folks to plan detailed hypothetical out of town trips, so they have an understanding of what goes into planning for a vacation or business trip? This way we could potentially utilize O&M as well as tech skills. How can we get folks thinking about mental mapping places they haven?t been yet? How can we help our students overcome fear, especially in uncertain times? In general, not necessarily focusing solely on cane travel... Becky Keller, NOMC, COMS Lead Orientation and Mobility Instructor Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired 401 Azalea Avenue Richmond, VA 23227 (804) 371-3093 becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov Facebook: VDBVI Worldwide Web: Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired YouTube: VRCBVI "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." -Arthur Ashe **CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE** This message (including any attachments) contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the intended recipient (or authorized to receive for the intended recipient), you may not read, print, retain, use, copy, distribute, or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail, and destroy all copies of the original message (including any attachments). ? _______________________________________________ NOMC mailing list NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org http://lists.nbpcb.org/listinfo.cgi/nomc-nbpcb.org

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Cane Travel Meeting Follow-Up
by becky.keller＠dbvi.virginia.gov 30 Apr '20

30 Apr '20

Good morning everyone, Thanks so much for all of your input and energy last night. We had some really good discussion, and the two hours seemed to fly right by. At one point, we had 28 folks in attendance. Pretty neat if I do say so myself. Jedi and Jane, thank you also for volunteering to give us an example of your virtual drop routes. We look forward to hearing it when you send it out to everyone. Below you will find the last remaining questions we had on our original agenda. We touched a little bit on some of them towards the end of our meeting, but I included them just in case you had additional thoughts or suggestions. Between now and Monday the 4th, please send me any further topics or questions that you wish to have posed to the group. In addition, a proposal was introduced last evening that focused towards developing a new, or expanding our current Structured-Discovery websites, to include resources, readings, O & M media, etc., sort of an information portal for instructors. I've pasted our current links below for everyone. Dr. Bell, we were hoping to get your feedback and counsel regarding this topic. Thanks again everyone for your participation and contributions. Have a wonderful week, and talk to you soon. Take care, http://www.pdrib.com/ https://nbpcb.org/index.php Questions: How could we work with folks to plan detailed hypothetical out of town trips, so they have an understanding of what goes into planning for a vacation or business trip? This way we could potentially utilize O&M as well as tech skills. How can we get folks thinking about mental mapping places they haven?t been yet? How can we help our students overcome fear, especially in uncertain times? In general, not necessarily focusing solely on cane travel... Becky Keller, NOMC, COMS Lead Orientation and Mobility Instructor Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired 401 Azalea Avenue Richmond, VA 23227 (804) 371-3093 becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov Facebook: VDBVI Worldwide Web: Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired YouTube: VRCBVI "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." -Arthur Ashe **CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE** This message (including any attachments) contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the intended recipient (or authorized to receive for the intended recipient), you may not read, print, retain, use, copy, distribute, or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail, and destroy all copies of the original message (including any attachments).

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Fw: Traffic Sounds
by owinm＠yahoo.com 28 Apr '20

28 Apr '20

Hello, Per your request, here are several sites for traffic?intersection sounds.? O&M with Linda is the main one I was discussing at our meeting. O&M with Linda: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCQcrHDR2CGQowxXo0x-6Jw Free Sound Clips Bites: http://soundbible.com/tags-traffic.html Remote and Virtual O&M Services http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=2536433#anchor Intersection sounds (some from other countries) https://freesound.org/search/?q=intersection+traffic Dr. Merry-Noel Chamberlain Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, MA Orientation & Mobility Instructor, MA Certified Blindness Professional Educational Unit #3 6949 South 110th Street LaVista NE 68128 ph: 402-597-4969 mchamberlain at esu3.org

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FW: Webinar recording available! --teaching street crossings with simulation / distance-based
by ebell＠pdrib.com 27 Apr '20

27 Apr '20

FYI, not sure if this is instructional or comic relief, but thought I would share with the group Subject: Webinar recording available! --teaching street crossings with simulation / distance-based Hi everyone! I?m very pleased to tell you that the recording of last week?s APH webinar ?Street Crossings with No Traffic Control? is now available! There is a link to that, as well as videos and descriptions of remotely teaching street-crossing skills, FAQs, and more, at www.sauerburger.org/dona/Remote.html <http://www.sauerburger.org/dona/Remote.html> (at this point, no ACVREP credit is offered for the webinar). Among other things, the webinar introduced remote instruction of some street-crossing skills. It was emphasized that remote / simulated O&M instruction can be an effective tool to AUGMENT or ACCELERATE learning, but it should never stand alone ? it is essential that the O&M specialist assess the student in real situations to ensure that whatever was learned during remote / simulated instruction can be applied effectively to real situations. I?m so grateful to Jeremy Cefaratti who, as far as I know, is the first person ever to get some O&M training in street crossing REMOTELY (while each of us were in our own homes)! Several segments of that training were shown during the webinar, and I?ve posted some more at <http://www.sauerburger.org/dona/Remote.html> www.sauerburger.org/dona/Remote.html. Jeremy and I plan to have another remote O&M session next week, and then videotape our lessons when we can resume in-person training. PLEASE SEND ME YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH REMOTE O&M TRAINING! Almost 800 people attended the webinar, and a lot of people seemed enthusiastic about teaching some of these skills remotely. I am hoping to have some follow-up, when folks can share their experiences with remote / simulated instructions ? perhaps with another webinar, and/or post it on line. So please contact me if you are providing (or considering providing!) remote instruction for street-crossing using some of the strategies highlighted in the webinar. Thanks -- enjoy! -- Dona ________________________________________ Dona Sauerburger, COMS Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind Gambrills, Maryland dona at sauerburger.org <mailto:dona at sauerburger.org> / 301-858-0138 www.sauerburger.org <http://www.sauerburger.org> ________________________________________ From: Dona Sauerburger Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 9:20 PM To: Linda Myers Subject: Webinar April 15 - teaching street crossings with simulation / distance-based? Hi everyone! I?m really excited to tell you about a free, 3-hour webinar ? <https://www.aph.org/athomewithaph-webinars/> Street Crossings with No Traffic Control?! Dr. Amy Parker at the Portland State O&M program organized the webinar, hosted by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), which will include a discussion of distance-based O&M consultation with students. ACVREP credit is available. Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 10 am-1 pm EST Description: APH?s ?Crossings With No Traffic Control? software provides simulation experiences and information that help instructors teach students to analyze situations at street crossings where there is no traffic control, including recognizing when they don?t have enough warning of approaching vehicles (?Situations of Uncertainty?). This field-tested tool can assist with building confidence and competence with young and older clients through instruction and coaching. The presenters will provide an overview of this multimedia product, along with case studies for its use. Experienced O&M panelists will also explore the ethical use of this product for distance-based consultation with specific clients and students, with a question and answer discussion from the attendees. Instructors: Laura Zierer, Independent Living Project Leader at APH; Dona Sauerburger, COMS; Stephanie Carmicheal, COMS at Vermont Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired; Amy Parker, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of O&M Program at Portland State University (moderator) More information is at <https://www.aph.org/athomewithaph-webinars/> https://www.aph.org/athomewithaph-webinars/ including a <https://aph.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gL4wHjvyTr2utTs0dDhKig> link for registration . Hope to see you there! NOTE: If you wish to stop receiving announcements from me, please respond to this email and let me know. Thanks! -- Dona ________________________________________ Dona Sauerburger, COMS Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind Website: www.sauerburger.org <http://www.sauerburger.org> ________________________________________

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Job Posting - College and Career Commons Project Coordinator
by ebell＠pdrib.com 24 Apr '20

24 Apr '20

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2884bf8> here <https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2020/04/3274…> <https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/2769887/college-and-career…> College and Career Commons Project Coordinator Location: Des Moines, IA Job Type: Internship Agency: 131 Iowa Department for the Blind Job Number: 20-02566 Post Close Date: May 5, 2020 Point of Contact: <mailto:sarah.willeford at blind.state.ia.us> Sarah Willeford Job Description This is a non-paid internship. As the College and Career Commons Project Coordinator, you will focus the development of a physical and online College and Career Commons for the library. The member will also provide accessible programs and materials to patrons in the areas of college and career exploration. As a Summer Reading Program Coordinator member at the Library, you will be an integral part of our summer programs. No two days will be the same ? flexibility and adaptability are key aspects of your role! Your Summer Reading Corps member duties include: You will be involved in all facets of the summer reading program. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1. Expand the development of the library's College and Career Commons 2. Coordinate with library staff, Iowa Department for the Blind staff and other agencies to create physical and online resources for library patrons 3. Create and promote programming and resources 4. Track data related to the programs 5. Register eligible participants for library services, programs, and the summer reading program You might be the right person if... * You can successfully communicate with a diverse group of people through various channels ? public speaking, written communications, one-on-one trainings, etc. * You are comfortable and confident working with computers. * Your peers consider you to be highly organized. * You are computer savvy and know the basics of the Microsoft Office suite. * You enjoy working independently and can effectively manage your time ? when things are slow or hectic. * Being a part of a team and working towards the greater good fuels you. This job will allow you to: * Gain valuable experience that can translate to future library, non-profit, government, and corporate employment opportunities. * Develop professional skills while sharing your talents with the community. * Take advantage of Iowa Campus Compact/Corporation for National and Community Service program benefits supported outside of the Library including: * Living allowance during time of service ? totaling $3,000 over nine weeks * Education award at end of service ? $1,289.95 * Get to know the Library staff for the excellent, friendly resource that they are. * Become knowledgeable about the Library facility and its many resources. * Give back to your community through service. What you bring to the table: * Ability to commit to a nine week term of service starting May 26, 2020. * Ability to attend a mandatory online training on May 20th or 22nd. * Ability to work comfortably with people, systems, and technology. * A positive, "can-do" attitude that has you excited to walk in the Library's door and get started. * Ability to read, write, and follow written and verbal instructions. * Ability to walk, bend, reach, sit, and stand for periods of time. Your time commitment. * This is a full-time, nine week program commitment. Service at the Library is 5/26/20- 7/25/20. * Summer Reading Corps members are allowed to hold outside employment if it does not conflict with their Library duties. How do I apply? * Positions will be filled on a rolling basis until May 5, 2020. * Must be a United States citizen, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident of the United States and at least 17 years of age. * Must have obtained a high school diploma, GED, or is working to obtain during their term of service. * The Member must pass Iowa Campus Compact's review of the Member's criminal history. All prospective AmeriCorps Members are subject to a National Sex Offender * Registry check using the National Sex Office Public Website (NSOPW), Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Criminal Background Check, state of residence (if other than Iowa) check, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and (the FBI check includes fingerprinting). * Submit cover letter and resume Minimum Qualification Requirements Applicants for positions in this class must be currently enrolled students in a degree program at an accredited educational institution, as determined by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services ? Human Resources Enterprise. For additional information, please click on this <https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClas…> link to view the job description <https://get.adobe.com/reader/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> (Download PDF reader). <https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2017/02/1217…> Phone: 515-281-1333 E-mail: <mailto:information at blind.state.ia.us> information at blind.state.ia.us Iowa Department for the Blind 524 Fourth Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 Stay Connected with the Iowa Department for the Blind: <https://www.facebook.com/idbonline/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://twitter.com/idbonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://blind.iowa.gov/newsroom/blogs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelive…> <https://www.youtube.com/user/IDBonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliv…> <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/topics?qsp=IACIO_30> Manage Subscriptions <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/edit?preferences=t…> Help <https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/> <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2884bf8?reqfrom=sh…> 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 From: Janice Eggers <Janice.Eggers at blind.state.ia.us> Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 3:14 PM Subject: FW: Courtesy Copy: Job Posting - College and Career Commons Project Coordinator _____ Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2884bf8> here <https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/2769887/college-and-career…> College and Career Commons Project Coordinator Location: Des Moines, IA Job Type: Internship Agency: 131 Iowa Department for the Blind Job Number: 20-02566 Post Close Date: May 5, 2020 Point of Contact: <mailto:sarah.willeford at blind.state.ia.us> Sarah Willeford Job Description This is a non-paid internship. As the College and Career Commons Project Coordinator, you will focus the development of a physical and online College and Career Commons for the library. The member will also provide accessible programs and materials to patrons in the areas of college and career exploration. As a Summer Reading Program Coordinator member at the Library, you will be an integral part of our summer programs. No two days will be the same ? flexibility and adaptability are key aspects of your role! Your Summer Reading Corps member duties include: You will be involved in all facets of the summer reading program. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1. Expand the development of the library's College and Career Commons 2. Coordinate with library staff, Iowa Department for the Blind staff and other agencies to create physical and online resources for library patrons 3. Create and promote programming and resources 4. Track data related to the programs 5. Register eligible participants for library services, programs, and the summer reading program You might be the right person if... * You can successfully communicate with a diverse group of people through various channels ? public speaking, written communications, one-on-one trainings, etc. * You are comfortable and confident working with computers. * Your peers consider you to be highly organized. * You are computer savvy and know the basics of the Microsoft Office suite. * You enjoy working independently and can effectively manage your time ? when things are slow or hectic. * Being a part of a team and working towards the greater good fuels you. This job will allow you to: * Gain valuable experience that can translate to future library, non-profit, government, and corporate employment opportunities. * Develop professional skills while sharing your talents with the community. * Take advantage of Iowa Campus Compact/Corporation for National and Community Service program benefits supported outside of the Library including: * Living allowance during time of service ? totaling $3,000 over nine weeks * Education award at end of service ? $1,289.95 * Get to know the Library staff for the excellent, friendly resource that they are. * Become knowledgeable about the Library facility and its many resources. * Give back to your community through service. What you bring to the table: * Ability to commit to a nine week term of service starting May 26, 2020. * Ability to attend a mandatory online training on May 20th or 22nd. * Ability to work comfortably with people, systems, and technology. * A positive, "can-do" attitude that has you excited to walk in the Library's door and get started. * Ability to read, write, and follow written and verbal instructions. * Ability to walk, bend, reach, sit, and stand for periods of time. Your time commitment. * This is a full-time, nine week program commitment. Service at the Library is 5/26/20- 7/25/20. * Summer Reading Corps members are allowed to hold outside employment if it does not conflict with their Library duties. How do I apply? * Positions will be filled on a rolling basis until May 5, 2020. * Must be a United States citizen, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident of the United States and at least 17 years of age. * Must have obtained a high school diploma, GED, or is working to obtain during their term of service. * The Member must pass Iowa Campus Compact's review of the Member's criminal history. All prospective AmeriCorps Members are subject to a National Sex Offender * Registry check using the National Sex Office Public Website (NSOPW), Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Criminal Background Check, state of residence (if other than Iowa) check, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and (the FBI check includes fingerprinting). * Submit cover letter and resume Minimum Qualification Requirements Applicants for positions in this class must be currently enrolled students in a degree program at an accredited educational institution, as determined by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services ? Human Resources Enterprise. For additional information, please click on this <https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClas…> link to view the job description <https://get.adobe.com/reader/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> (Download PDF reader). Phone: 515-281-1333 E-mail: <mailto:information at blind.state.ia.us> information at blind.state.ia.us Iowa Department for the Blind 524 Fourth Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 Stay Connected with the Iowa Department for the Blind: <https://www.facebook.com/idbonline/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://twitter.com/idbonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://blind.iowa.gov/newsroom/blogs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelive…> <https://www.youtube.com/user/IDBonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliv…> <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/topics?qsp=IACIO_30> Manage Subscriptions <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/edit?preferences=t…> Help <https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/> <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2884bf8?reqfrom=sh…>

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Job Posting - Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher
by ebell＠pdrib.com 23 Apr '20

23 Apr '20

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2880497> here <https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2020/04/3274…> <https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/2768349/vocational-rehabil…> Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher Education and Training Division Location: Des Moines, IA Salary Minimum: $49,691.20 Salary Maximum: $75,691.20 Job Type: Full-time Agency: 131 Iowa Department for the Blind Job Number: 20-02545 Post Close Date: May 3, 2020 Pointe of Contact: <mailto:helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us> Helen Stevens To Apply: For consideration please submit your resume, and cover letter to Helen Stevens Education and Training Director Iowa Department for the Blind 524 4th Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 <mailto:helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us> helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us Job Description: This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department for the Blind. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise. The Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking passionate applicants for a position that will promote IDB's mission, vision and values through leading support groups and teaching braille across Iowa. Duties and responsibilities to include the following: * Provide weekly or bi-weekly small group braille training throughout the state. Teach the braille code, writing with a slate and stylus, writing using electronic braille devices, proper reading technique, and encourage a positive attitude toward braille and the student's ability to use braille in employment and independent living. Facilitate small group discussions on topics related to blindness. Encourage the creation of peer supports and the building of community to promote resilience, self-sufficiency, and a positive attitude toward blindness. Empower VR and IL clients to improve their independence and employability through braille literacy. * Assist other VR and IL teachers in the creation and facilitation of community based trainings (CBTs). Provide client training at CBTs in braille and daily living skills as needed. Find sites, coordinate with site managers, arrange for needed supplies, communicate with other teachers and clients to increase client participation and ensure that the event operates smoothly. * Provide information and outreach to community groups and service providers about IDB programs and services. Make presentations and answer inquiries about VR, library, IL, and other services that IDB offers to increase awareness and spread IDB's positive message about the capabilities of blind Iowans. * Participate in Education and Training Team planning and training activities. * Communicate regularly with staff from all IDB areas to be able to share up-to-date and relevant information to clients and community members regarding IDB programs and services. Essential functions of this position: * Teach the reading and writing of braille including proper contraction usage and the rules of Unified English Braille * Facilitate small group training and discussion of blindness related issues. * Organize and coordinate meeting logistics. * Recruit and facilitate client attendance at trainings. * Produce clear written reports on client training sessions. * Experience teaching blindness skills preferred. It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment. Minimum Qualification Requirements Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work; OR the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria established by the agency; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years. For additional information, please click on this <https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClas…> link to view the job description. <https://get.adobe.com/reader/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> (Download PDF reader) <https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2017/02/1217…> Phone: 515-281-1333 E-mail: <mailto:information at blind.state.ia.us> information at blind.state.ia.us Iowa Department for the Blind 524 Fourth Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 Stay Connected with the Iowa Department for the Blind: <https://www.facebook.com/idbonline/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://twitter.com/idbonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://blind.iowa.gov/newsroom/blogs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelive…> <https://www.youtube.com/user/IDBonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliv…> <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/topics?qsp=IACIO_30> Manage Subscriptions <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/edit?preferences=t…> Help <https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/> <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2880497?reqfrom=sh…> 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 From: Janice Eggers <Janice.Eggers at blind.state.ia.us> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2020 9:19 AM Subject: FW: Courtesy Copy: Job Posting - Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2880497> here <https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/2768349/vocational-rehabil…> Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher Education and Training Division Location: Des Moines, IA Salary Minimum: $49,691.20 Salary Maximum: $75,691.20 Job Type: Full-time Agency: 131 Iowa Department for the Blind Job Number: 20-02545 Post Close Date: May 3, 2020 Pointe of Contact: <mailto:helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us> Helen Stevens To Apply: For consideration please submit your resume, and cover letter to Helen Stevens Education and Training Director Iowa Department for the Blind 524 4th Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 <mailto:helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us> helen.stevens at blind.state.ia.us Job Description: This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Department for the Blind. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise. The Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) is seeking passionate applicants for a position that will promote IDB's mission, vision and values through leading support groups and teaching braille across Iowa. Duties and responsibilities to include the following: * Provide weekly or bi-weekly small group braille training throughout the state. Teach the braille code, writing with a slate and stylus, writing using electronic braille devices, proper reading technique, and encourage a positive attitude toward braille and the student's ability to use braille in employment and independent living. Facilitate small group discussions on topics related to blindness. Encourage the creation of peer supports and the building of community to promote resilience, self-sufficiency, and a positive attitude toward blindness. Empower VR and IL clients to improve their independence and employability through braille literacy. * Assist other VR and IL teachers in the creation and facilitation of community based trainings (CBTs). Provide client training at CBTs in braille and daily living skills as needed. Find sites, coordinate with site managers, arrange for needed supplies, communicate with other teachers and clients to increase client participation and ensure that the event operates smoothly. * Provide information and outreach to community groups and service providers about IDB programs and services. Make presentations and answer inquiries about VR, library, IL, and other services that IDB offers to increase awareness and spread IDB's positive message about the capabilities of blind Iowans. * Participate in Education and Training Team planning and training activities. * Communicate regularly with staff from all IDB areas to be able to share up-to-date and relevant information to clients and community members regarding IDB programs and services. Essential functions of this position: * Teach the reading and writing of braille including proper contraction usage and the rules of Unified English Braille * Facilitate small group training and discussion of blindness related issues. * Organize and coordinate meeting logistics. * Recruit and facilitate client attendance at trainings. * Produce clear written reports on client training sessions. * Experience teaching blindness skills preferred. It is the policy of the Department for the Blind to conduct background checks on all finalist candidates prior to any offer of employment. Minimum Qualification Requirements Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in human service-oriented sciences, education, marketing or business and experience equal to three years of full time professional work; OR the equivalent of three years of full-time experience as a rehabilitation counselor or teacher shall be considered as qualifying provided the employee has successfully completed training to meet the certification criteria established by the agency; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting the equivalent of one year of full-time professional work experience for each year of the required education to a maximum substitution of four years. For additional information, please click on this <https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClas…> link to view the job description. <https://get.adobe.com/reader/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> (Download PDF reader) Phone: 515-281-1333 E-mail: <mailto:information at blind.state.ia.us> information at blind.state.ia.us Iowa Department for the Blind 524 Fourth Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 Stay Connected with the Iowa Department for the Blind: <https://www.facebook.com/idbonline/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://twitter.com/idbonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://blind.iowa.gov/newsroom/blogs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelive…> <https://www.youtube.com/user/IDBonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliv…> <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/topics?qsp=IACIO_30> Manage Subscriptions <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/edit?preferences=t…> Help <https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/> <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/2880497?reqfrom=sh…>

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Job Posting - Summer Reading Program Coordinator
by ebell＠pdrib.com 23 Apr '20

23 Apr '20

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/28803ee> here <https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2020/04/3274…> <https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/2768334/summer-reading-pro…> Summer Reading Program Coordinator Location: Des Moines, IA Job Type: Internship Agency: 131 Iowa Department for the Blind Job Number: 20-02537 Post Close Date: May 5, 2020 Point of Contact: <mailto:sarah.willeford at blind.state.ia.us> Sarah Willeford Job Description: As a Summer Reading Program Coordinator member at the Library, you will be an integral part of our summer reading program. You will assist in the coordination of our Summer Reading program outreach programs, work with staff to provide programs and materials to youth, help with planning and conducting online events and special public events. No two days will be the same ? flexibility and adaptability are key aspects of your role! Your Summer Reading Corps member duties include: You will be involved in all facets of the summer reading program. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1. Expand the development and delivery of ILBPH's summer reading program. 2. Coordinate with partner public libraries, other organizations, and library staff to provide summer outreach programs 3. Create and promote an online summer reading program 4. Track data related to the programs 5. Register eligible participants for library services, programs, and the summer reading program You might be the right person if: * You can successfully communicate with a diverse group of people through various channels ? public speaking, written communications, one-on-one trainings, etc. * You are comfortable and confident working with computers. * Your peers consider you to be highly organized. * You are computer savvy and know the basics of the Microsoft Office suite. * You enjoy working independently and can effectively manage your time ? when things are slow or hectic. * Being a part of a team and working towards the greater good fuels you. This job will allow you to: * Gain valuable experience that can translate to future library, non-profit, government, and corporate employment opportunities. * Develop professional skills while sharing your talents with the community. * Take advantage of Iowa Campus Compact/Corporation for National and Community Service program benefits supported outside of the Library including: * Living allowance during time of service ? totaling $3,000 over nine weeks * Education award at end of service ? $1,289.95 * Get to know the Library staff for the excellent, friendly resource that they are. * Become knowledgeable about the Library facility and its many resources. * Give back to your community through service. What you bring to the table: * Ability to commit to a nine week term of service starting May 26, 2020. * Ability to attend a mandatory online training on May 20th or 22nd. * Ability to work comfortably with people, systems, and technology. * A positive, "can-do" attitude that has you excited to walk in the Library's door and get started. * Ability to read, write, and follow written and verbal instructions. * Ability to walk, bend, reach, sit, and stand for periods of time. Your time commitment: * This is a full-time, nine week program commitment. Service at the Library is 5/26/20- 7/25/20. * Summer Reading Corps members are allowed to hold outside employment if it does not conflict with their Library duties. How do I apply? * Positions will be filled on a rolling basis until May 5, 2020. * Must be a United States citizen, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident the United States and at least 17 years of age. * Must have obtained a high school diploma, GED, or is working to obtain during their term of service. * The Member must pass Iowa Campus Compact's review of the Member's criminal history. All prospective AmeriCorps Members are subject to a National Sex Offender Registry check using the National Sex Office Public Website (NSOPW), Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Criminal Background Check, state of residence (if other than Iowa) check, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and (the FBI check includes fingerprinting). * Submit cover letter and resume This is an Unpaid internship Minimum Qualification Requirements: Applicants for positions in this class must be currently enrolled students in a degree program at an accredited educational institution, as determined by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services ? Human Resources Enterprise. For additional information, please click on this <https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClas…> link to view the job description <https://get.adobe.com/reader/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> (Download PDF reader). <https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2017/02/1217…> Phone: 515-281-1333 E-mail: <mailto:information at blind.state.ia.us> information at blind.state.ia.us Iowa Department for the Blind 524 Fourth Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 Stay Connected with the Iowa Department for the Blind: <https://www.facebook.com/idbonline/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://twitter.com/idbonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://blind.iowa.gov/newsroom/blogs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelive…> <https://www.youtube.com/user/IDBonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliv…> <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/topics?qsp=IACIO_30> Manage Subscriptions <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/edit?preferences=t…> Help <https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/> <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/28803ee?reqfrom=sh…> 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 From: Janice Eggers <Janice.Eggers at blind.state.ia.us> Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2020 9:18 AM Subject: FW: Courtesy Copy: Job Posting - Summer Reading Program Coordinator _____ Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/28803ee> here <https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/2768334/summer-reading-pro…> Summer Reading Program Coordinator Location: Des Moines, IA Job Type: Internship Agency: 131 Iowa Department for the Blind Job Number: 20-02537 Post Close Date: May 5, 2020 Point of Contact: <mailto:sarah.willeford at blind.state.ia.us> Sarah Willeford Job Description: As a Summer Reading Program Coordinator member at the Library, you will be an integral part of our summer reading program. You will assist in the coordination of our Summer Reading program outreach programs, work with staff to provide programs and materials to youth, help with planning and conducting online events and special public events. No two days will be the same ? flexibility and adaptability are key aspects of your role! Your Summer Reading Corps member duties include: You will be involved in all facets of the summer reading program. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 1. Expand the development and delivery of ILBPH's summer reading program. 2. Coordinate with partner public libraries, other organizations, and library staff to provide summer outreach programs 3. Create and promote an online summer reading program 4. Track data related to the programs 5. Register eligible participants for library services, programs, and the summer reading program You might be the right person if: * You can successfully communicate with a diverse group of people through various channels ? public speaking, written communications, one-on-one trainings, etc. * You are comfortable and confident working with computers. * Your peers consider you to be highly organized. * You are computer savvy and know the basics of the Microsoft Office suite. * You enjoy working independently and can effectively manage your time ? when things are slow or hectic. * Being a part of a team and working towards the greater good fuels you. This job will allow you to: * Gain valuable experience that can translate to future library, non-profit, government, and corporate employment opportunities. * Develop professional skills while sharing your talents with the community. * Take advantage of Iowa Campus Compact/Corporation for National and Community Service program benefits supported outside of the Library including: * Living allowance during time of service ? totaling $3,000 over nine weeks * Education award at end of service ? $1,289.95 * Get to know the Library staff for the excellent, friendly resource that they are. * Become knowledgeable about the Library facility and its many resources. * Give back to your community through service. What you bring to the table: * Ability to commit to a nine week term of service starting May 26, 2020. * Ability to attend a mandatory online training on May 20th or 22nd. * Ability to work comfortably with people, systems, and technology. * A positive, "can-do" attitude that has you excited to walk in the Library's door and get started. * Ability to read, write, and follow written and verbal instructions. * Ability to walk, bend, reach, sit, and stand for periods of time. Your time commitment: * This is a full-time, nine week program commitment. Service at the Library is 5/26/20- 7/25/20. * Summer Reading Corps members are allowed to hold outside employment if it does not conflict with their Library duties. How do I apply? * Positions will be filled on a rolling basis until May 5, 2020. * Must be a United States citizen, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident the United States and at least 17 years of age. * Must have obtained a high school diploma, GED, or is working to obtain during their term of service. * The Member must pass Iowa Campus Compact's review of the Member's criminal history. All prospective AmeriCorps Members are subject to a National Sex Offender Registry check using the National Sex Office Public Website (NSOPW), Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Criminal Background Check, state of residence (if other than Iowa) check, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and (the FBI check includes fingerprinting). * Submit cover letter and resume This is an Unpaid internship Minimum Qualification Requirements: Applicants for positions in this class must be currently enrolled students in a degree program at an accredited educational institution, as determined by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services ? Human Resources Enterprise. For additional information, please click on this <https://das.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/hr/documents/class_and_pay/JobClas…> link to view the job description <https://get.adobe.com/reader/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> (Download PDF reader). Phone: 515-281-1333 E-mail: <mailto:information at blind.state.ia.us> information at blind.state.ia.us Iowa Department for the Blind 524 Fourth Street Des Moines, IA 50309-2364 Stay Connected with the Iowa Department for the Blind: <https://www.facebook.com/idbonline/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://twitter.com/idbonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> <https://blind.iowa.gov/newsroom/blogs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelive…> <https://www.youtube.com/user/IDBonline?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliv…> <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/topics?qsp=IACIO_30> Manage Subscriptions <https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/subscriber/edit?preferences=t…> Help <https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/> <https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/IACIO/bulletins/28803ee?reqfrom=sh…>

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Question about zoom participants
by ebell＠pdrib.com 23 Apr '20

23 Apr '20

Hello, First, my apology for the dropped zoom call today. I now know what the problem is and will work for that not to happen again. My question is about participation in any future of these zoom meetings. At national convention we open our conference to anyone interested, but we keep this NOMC list primarily restricted to only certified NOMC. Last week, I mostly only allowed NOMC onto the zoom call list. This week I am getting increasing numbers of requests to participate by O&M people who are not NOMC. So far, I am adding them to the registration list; however, I do realize in these times you all are discussing somewhat sensitive information, some of which others may not agree with. My question to those who are NOMC: From next week forward for as long as we do these weekly zoom calls, are you all comfortable with conventional O&M joining this conversation or would you rather I restrict it to only NOMC at this time. I am glad to do it either way 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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Free Braille Books for Blind Kids
by ebell＠pdrib.com 23 Apr '20

23 Apr '20

*** Note from Maria Morais *** Hello, Could you please help distribute this information to families with braille readers. The National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) has been overwhelmed with requests for free books but we have been able to secure more inventory. If folks have already received some materials from us we ask that they do not request more as our stock is limited and we would like to help out as many families as we can. We will do our best to accommodate requested titles whenever possible. We will be shipping with the use of free matter on Mondays. We can only ship out two or three books per child because we are limited on the size of our mailers. Also, to keep the materials in as few hands as necessary, we ask that only parents contact us with their requests. If you are a teacher, please feel free to pass along this information to the parents of braille readers. Requests can be made by contacting us at braille at nbpcb.org <mailto:braille at nbpcb.org> . Please consider ordering a Whittle pocket braille reference book. They are available in print or braille and each is $10. It is a very handy little book and it helps us fund braille literacy projects for kids. You can place an order at www.nbpcb.org <http://www.nbpcb.org> . Here are some of the titles we are currently sending out for free. Uncontracted Braille Touch and Feel Dinosaur Animal Kisses That's Not My Elephant That's Not My Monkey What's Wrong Little Pookie? Never Touch a Shark Spanish Titles The Chicks Are Singing My Animals My Clothes My Numbers My Colors My Food Are You My Mother? Buena's Noches Luna La Llama Llama Rojo Pajama Sweet Dreams Besos for Baby Contracted Braille Animal sounds Grumpy Bird Clifford The World of Sharks Finding Nemo 4 Sheep in a Jeep Happy Hippo Paw Patrol 5Monkeys Jumping on the Bed Sometimes I like to curl up Little Engine Birthday Monsters Brown Bear, Brown Bear Goodnight Moon Dino Clean Their room Dino Play with Friends Lady with Alligator Purse Very Hungry Caterpillar Curious George Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom Have You Filled a Bucket Today Knots on a Counting Rope Days Like This Mouse House Good Night Good Knight I Don't Want to Be a Frog Totally Silly Jokes Again, requests should be made by contacting us at braille at nbpcb.org <mailto:braille at nbpcb.org> . Please do not respond to this message. Stay safe!!

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