- NOMC - lists.nbpcb.org

Attition: Winford
by debandjeff＠allophone.com 07 Jul '20

07 Jul '20

Hello Winford, Please write to me as soon as possible, I want to match you with a family for the Cane Walk. debandjeff at allophone.com Thanks, Jeff

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On the hunt for a positive deaf/blind mentor
by becky.keller＠dbvi.virginia.gov 07 Jul '20

07 Jul '20

Good morning everyone, I'm hoping to get some help from you all with finding a possible mentor for one of my former students. She completed our program at VRCBVI a couple of years ago and this past May finished up her undergraduate degree. She recently found out that she has experienced additional hearing loss (she received hearing aids towards the end of her training at our Center, and her hearing was functional at the time), and has the potential to lose even more moving forward. She is interested in learning about the potential for using a guide dog with her deaf/blindness, or perhaps begin receiving specialized deaf/blind training. She has the blindness skills mostly under her belt, but has never received help for her loss of hearing. I've put her in contact with another former student of mine with Usher's syndrome, who transitioned from a cane to a guide dog in the last few years, but I'm not sure how much of a response she will receive from that individual. I also sent her contact information for Guiding Eyes for the Blind and for the Helen Keller National Center to begin researching additional training. I was hoping that you all might have an idea for someone you felt I could introduce her to who would be a positive influence or strong role model. In turn arming her with another sounding board for guidance. Please let me know your thoughts and thanks in advance for your time. Take care and talk to you soon! *Becky Keller, NOMC, COMS* *Lead Orientation and Mobility Instructor* Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired 401 Azalea Avenue <https://maps.google.com/?q=401+Azalea+Avenue+Richmond,+VA+23227+(804&entry=…> Richmond, VA 23227 <https://maps.google.com/?q=401+Azalea+Avenue+Richmond,+VA+23227+(804&entry=…> (804) 371-3093 <(804)%20371-3093> becky.keller at dbvi.virginia.gov Facebook: VDBVI <https://www.facebook.com/VDBVI> Worldwide Web: Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired <http://www.vrcbvi.org/> YouTube: VRCBVI <http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwsqnBw28gUNgMMSkH_eYci37g9XY6Qzd> "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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Reminder: Register for Contemporary Issues in Rehabilitation and Education Conference
by ebell＠pdrib.com 06 Jul '20

06 Jul '20

Registration is now open! National Blindness Professionals Certification Board presents: Contemporary Issues in Rehabilitation and Education For the Blind NINETEENTH ANNUAL REHABILITATION AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY CONFERENCE First Cyber Conference Held Via Zoom Attendance Tuesday, July 14, 2020 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time Come and join us! Once again, this year's conference will be action packed with a variety of new speakers, topics, and hands-on events. But this year, for the first time, all conference sessions will be held online via the zoom video conferencing platform. To maximize the quality of conference participation we are asking that all participants have access to either the desktop Zoom application or the Zoom iPhone app. You do not need an account, but you are encouraged to have at least the free account, which you can sign up for <https://zoom.us/freesignup/> Here. Presentations and breakouts including: * Morning General Session filled with thought provoking and inspirational speakers * Hear from employed blind professionals on how they implement Structured Discovery in different teaching areas * Learn about technology and its place in consumer's learning * Learn about working with students who have secondary disabilities * Learn where to find new material and secrets to running a dynamic philosophy discussion. * Share ideas and network in multiple rehabilitation disciplines, including Braille, home management, cane travel, and access technology. * Bring Structured Discovery alive when Face-to-Face is not an option Schedule: (Note: all times are Eastern Daylight Time) 9:00 -Conference Begins 9:00 - 12:00 -General session 1:00 - 5:00- Interactive Breakout Sessions 5:00 - 7:00 pm-Happy Hour Mix and Mingle The registration fee for this online conference is $25 for both professionals and students and entitles you to all general and breakout sessions, continuing education points, and access to the recorded conference sessions. <https://nbpcb.org/members/er.php?eid=416> Register Here Visit the National Blindness Professionals Certification Board website to learn more about a career in changing lives: <http://www.nbpcb.org> http://www.nbpcb.org 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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Correction to information for instructors, please use the links in this e-mail
by debandjeff＠allophone.com 03 Jul '20

03 Jul '20

Hello Everyone, First of all, I want to thank all of the instructors that are offering to provide their time and teaching skills to the Cane Walk this year. This is an especially challenging year as all of you are aware, and your willingness to participate in this event, with its many unique aspects and potential benefits for our youngest Federationists, is truly appreciated. As soon as you have been matched with a participating family, please feel free to contact them to schedule a lesson, and to determine whether they will be needing canes, learning shades, or assistance with any part of the process. I wanted to put together a single e-mail that will provide each of you with the information you'll need to participate in the Cane Walk. Below should be all of the contact information and directions you will need to make this a successful experience for you and the families you are serving. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. *** For those of you that may have families in your area that are interested in participating in the Cane Walk, there is a twostep process that they need to follow. First, they need to register for the Parents of Blind Children conference at the link below: https://nopbc.org/2020-nopbc-conference-nfb-convention Next, they need to register for the Cane Walk itself at the link below: http://www.nopbc.org/canewalk Michell Gip has been assisting me with matching instructors with families, and some of you have already received contact information to begin arranging schedules with the families you will be working with. I do not know how many families will be participating at this point, and therefore I do not know if all of you will have the opportunity to provide training, but the number of families registering is growing. *** For some of the families there will be a need to assist them with fitting, and obtaining a cane for their child, and likely a teaching cane for themselves. Please follow the directions below. For Teaching Canes: Instructors should email freecane at nfb.org With NOPBC Teaching Cane as the subject line. They will need to include the parent's name and address, and, of course, the length of cane. If a cane is needed for a child, the parent should fill out the Free White Cane Request Form on the NFB website. (The instructor could do this on the parent's behalf, if the parent agrees. The NFB wants to make sure we get accurate information about the child who is receiving the cane.) If the instructor knows a Free White Cane form was filled out for a child, and the parent also wants a teaching cane, the instructor should include this fact in the email when he or she orders the teaching cane. The instructor might say something like: John Smith is the parent of Lindsay Smith, and he filled out a Free White Cane form for Lindsay this morning. We would appreciate it if these canes could be shipped together. We cannot guarantee that they will arrive together, but we will do our best to make this happen. One of our board members, Kimberly Banks, will be making learning shades for families who need them. If your instructors could ask families if they need learning shades, or if they already have them, that would be fantastic. Some families may already have a pair or two. If they do, great! If that is the case though, the instructor should send a quick note to Kimberlybanks1984 at gmail.com If Kimberly does not hear a family does not have shades, she will automatically send each family two-one for the child, and one for the parent. *** The following Cane Walk activities will be taking place during the time leading up to National Convention. July 6th, at 7:00 pm Central Time, the Zoom conference call for the introduction to the Cane Walk will be held. If you do not have the Zoom app loaded onto your phone, it is highly recommended that you do so. This meeting can be linked at: Join this meeting <https://zoom.us/j/94239536647?pwd=NnZJcG5xcVJlMEdZUlNXZWp6Q2gyUT09> via the Zoom app on your computer or mobile phone, Or call +1 646 558 8656. Meeting ID: 942 3953 6647 Password: 891056 Following the Cane Walk experiences with families, there will be two follow-up sessions, during which families can ask questions and provide feedback. These sessions will be held on the evening of July 13th and the morning of July 15th. I recognize that many of you will be busy with other commitments during this time; however, if you can work it into your schedule to attend these follow-up sessions, your presence will be very much appreciated. The Zoom links are listed below: Monday, July 13, at 8 pm eastern time. Join here <https://zoom.us/j/91449245971?pwd=WUQ0M3EzKzBnUlhxKy9TQ0VBNWNlZz09> , Or call +1 646 558 8656. Meeting ID: 914 4924 5971 Password: 412114 Wednesday, July 15, 11 am Eastern Time Join Here <https://zoom.us/j/92042391665?pwd=c1A0ZWZzVG5EeGdqN0N1SHppSTk2UT09> Or call +1646-558-8656. Meeting ID: 920 4239 1665 Password: 283583 Please do your best to have your first lesson completed during the week before convention; however, our format does allow for the flexibility for you to have this lesson after this time if the family's schedule does not permit, and also you are certainly welcome to arrange for more than one lesson with the family, as time will allow. If you should have any questions, or concerns, please contact me at: debandjeff at allophone.com Or (402) 489-9458 After normal working hours, or on the weekend please. Thank you, Jeff Altman MA NOMCT CVRCB

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Information for Instructors Participating in the 2020 Cane Walk
by debandjeff＠allophone.com 03 Jul '20

03 Jul '20

Hello Everyone, First of all, I want to thank all of the instructors that are offering to provide their time and teaching skills to the Cane Walk this year. This is an especially challenging year as all of you are aware, and your willingness to participate in this event, with its many unique aspects and potential benefits for our youngest Federationists, is truly appreciated. As soon as you have been matched with a participating family, please feel free to contact them to schedule a lesson, and to determine whether they will be needing canes, learning shades, or assistance with any part of the process. I wanted to put together a single e-mail that will provide each of you with the information you'll need to participate in the Cane Walk. Below should be all of the contact information and directions you will need to make this a successful experience for you and the families you are serving. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. *** For those of you that may have families in your area that are interested in participating in the Cane Walk, there is a twostep process that they need to follow. First, they need to register for the Parents of Blind Children conference at the link below: http://nopbc.org/2020-nopbc-confere Next, they need to register for the Cane Walk itself at the link below: http://www.nopbc.org/canewalk Michell Gip has been assisting me with matching instructors with families, and some of you have already received contact information to begin arranging schedules with the families you will be working with. I do not know how many families will be participating at this point, and therefore I do not know if all of you will have the opportunity to provide training, but the number of families registering is growing. *** For some of the families there will be a need to assist them with fitting, and obtaining a cane for their child, and likely a teaching cane for themselves. Please follow the directions below. For Teaching Canes: Instructors should email freecane at nfb.org With NOPBC Teaching Cane as the subject line. They will need to include the parent's name and address, and, of course, the length of cane. If a cane is needed for a child, the parent should fill out the Free White Cane Request Form on the NFB website. (The instructor could do this on the parent's behalf, if the parent agrees. The NFB wants to make sure we get accurate information about the child who is receiving the cane.) If the instructor knows a Free White Cane form was filled out for a child, and the parent also wants a teaching cane, the instructor should include this fact in the email when he or she orders the teaching cane. The instructor might say something like: John Smith is the parent of Lindsay Smith, and he filled out a Free White Cane form for Lindsay this morning. We would appreciate it if these canes could be shipped together. We cannot guarantee that they will arrive together, but we will do our best to make this happen. One of our board members, Kimberly Banks, will be making learning shades for families who need them. If your instructors could ask families if they need learning shades, or if they already have them, that would be fantastic. Some families may already have a pair or two. If they do, great! If that is the case though, the instructor should send a quick note to Kimberlybanks1984 at gmail.com If Kimberly does not hear a family does not have shades, she will automatically send each family two-one for the child, and one for the parent. *** The following Cane Walk activities will be taking place during the time leading up to National Convention. July 6th, at 7:00 pm Central Time, the Zoom conference call for the introduction to the Cane Walk will be held. If you do not have the Zoom app loaded onto your phone, it is highly recommended that you do so. This meeting can be linked at: Join this meeting <https://zoom.us/j/94239536647?pwd=NnZJcG5xcVJlMEdZUlNXZWp6Q2gyUT09> via the Zoom app on your computer or mobile phone, Or call +1 646 558 8656. Meeting ID: 942 3953 6647 Password: 891056 Following the Cane Walk experiences with families, there will be two follow-up sessions, during which families can ask questions and provide feedback. These sessions will be held on the evening of July 13th and the morning of July 15th. I recognize that many of you will be busy with other commitments during this time; however, if you can work it into your schedule to attend these follow-up sessions, your presence will be very much appreciated. The Zoom links are listed below: Monday, July 13, at 8 pm eastern time. Join here <https://zoom.us/j/91449245971?pwd=WUQ0M3EzKzBnUlhxKy9TQ0VBNWNlZz09> , Or call +1 646 558 8656. Meeting ID: 914 4924 5971 Password: 412114 Wednesday, July 15, 11 am Eastern Time Join Here <https://zoom.us/j/92042391665?pwd=c1A0ZWZzVG5EeGdqN0N1SHppSTk2UT09> Or call +1646-558-8656. Meeting ID: 920 4239 1665 Password: 283583 Please do your best to have your first lesson completed during the week before convention; however, our format does allow for the flexibility for you to have this lesson after this time if the family's schedule does not permit, and also you are certainly welcome to arrange for more than one lesson with the family, as time will allow. If you should have any questions, or concerns, please contact me at: debandjeff at allophone.com Or (402) 489-9458 After normal working hours, or on the weekend please. Thank you, Jeff Altman MA NOMCT CVRCB

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List of Cane Walk Participants
by debandjeff＠allophone.com 01 Jul '20

01 Jul '20

Hello Everyone, I have attached the list of families participating in the Cane walk at thispoint. There is every reason to expect that this list will grow over the next couple of days, and as that happens I will be sending you updates. If there is a family that you are familiar with, and you want to work with them this year, please let me know. I will also let you know if a family requests you as an instructor. If you have no preference, I will assign a family to you, just let me know. I'm sure it goes without saying, but please fully respect the confidentiality of each of the families on this list, and please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you, Jeff Altman MA NOMCT CVRCB P.S. Below is the current list of the instructors that have indicated that they wish to participate, so if you are not on this list, and you do want to take part, please let me know. I will be sending out the information for the introductory Zoom meeting for July 6th at 7:00 pm Central time, as well as the two follow-up meetings on the 13th and 15th. I would appreciate you joining us on Monday the 6th, but the follow-up meetings are optional, since I'm sure many of you will have other commitments. Once you have been matched to a family, please contact them as soon as possible, and arrange for at least one lesson before convention. You are of course welcome to provide additional lessons, and if the family agrees, you certainly can continue the relationship with the family beyond convention, as some of you already have. Cane Walk 2020 Jeff Altman Colin Wong Connor Mullin Mary jo Hartle Deja Powell Jimmy L. Morris, Scott Tokunaga Quinn Haberlj Dezman Jackson Sheena Manuel, Kristen Sims Yadiel J. Sotomayor Michell Gip Wayne Marshall Nickie Pearl(observing) Patrick Thibodeaux, Ben Vercellone Mike Harvey Winford Haynes

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Coming up Tuesday: Planes, Canes and Trains Documentary and Discussion
by fschroeder＠sks.com 30 Jun '20

30 Jun '20

Colleagues: The below announcement concerns a documentary titled, "Planes, Trains and Canes: Documentary screening and discussion." I have not seen the documentary but thought it might be of interest to people on this list. Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D. _____ From: 'Chancey Fleet' via Technology Programs at Andrew Heiskell Braille & Talking Book Library <HeiskellTech at googlegroups.com <mailto:HeiskellTech at googlegroups.com> > Sent: Monday, June 29, 2020 5:24:22 PM To: heiskelltech at googlegroups.com <mailto:heiskelltech at googlegroups.com> <heiskelltech at googlegroups.com <mailto:heiskelltech at googlegroups.com> >; new-york-news at nfbnet.org <mailto:new-york-news at nfbnet.org> <new-york-news at nfbnet.org <mailto:new-york-news at nfbnet.org> > Subject: Coming up Tuesday: Planes, Canes and Trains Documentary and Discussion Planes, Trains and Canes: Documentary screening and discussion Tuesday June 30, 2:00 - 3:30 PM Eastern Planes, Canes and Trains is a Youtube documentary by Dr. Mona Minkara, winner of the Holman Prize for Blind Ambition. We'll watch an episode about Mona's exploration of Tokyo using her mobility skills and public transportation. Then, we'll talk about the episode, how accessible technology is different in Japan, and how each of us navigates the world with our own mix of skills and strategies. Anyone is welcome. Our remote tech programs are an evolution of the in -person and hybrid workshops hosted at the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Librry. Our ; blind, sighted, or somewhere in between; local or far away, we welcome you for fellowship, learning and encouragement on your tech learning journey. To register, please fill this quick form. You'll receive a Zoom link and dial-in details. Please try to complete your registration as soon as you can: last call is 1 PM Eastern on the day of the event. tinyurl.com/heiskelltech <http://tinyurl.com/heiskelltech> To join our technology and Braille team's event announcement list, please drop a line to heiskelltech+subscribe at googlegroups.com <mailto:heiskelltech%2Bsubscribe at googlegroups.com> - we'll let you know about all the other remote programming we offer. To learn more about us or suggest a workshop, contact our tech coordinator: chanceyfleet at nypl.org <mailto:chanceyfleet at nypl.org> To support open discussion and patron privacy, our workshops are never recorded. -- Chancey S. Fleet Assistive Technology Coordinator Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library (212) 621-0627 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Technology Programs at Andrew Heiskell Braille & Talking Book Library" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to HeiskellTech+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com <mailto:HeiskellTech+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com> .

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Fwd: Audible Pedestrian Signals
by benv＠fastmail.com 29 Jun '20

29 Jun '20

Hello all, I am forwarding an e-mail I received from Gary Wunder regarding audible pedestrian signels. On a recent NOMC Zoom call, I discussed the information that Gary gives in this e-mail I'm forwarding. It was not in written form until now, as I understand it. So I requested that Gary consider writing it down. He did so, and he verified what he wrote with the other participants. Sincerely, Ben Begin forwarded message: > From: Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net> > Date: June 26, 2020 at 10:10:09 PM CDT > To: Ben Vercellone <benv at fastmail.com> > Subject: FW: Audible Pedestrian Signals > Reply-To: <gwunder at earthlink.net> > > ? > Here is the story. I confirmed it with all of the folks involved, hence the delay in responding. > > Greetings to all of you who did testing of audible traffic signals in Columbia. I told something like the story below, and when some of our professional folks heard the story, they wanted it in written form. So, before I commit it to writing, let me see if it jives with your recollections. Here it is: > > About four years ago our Columbia chapter became involved in the discussion about audible traffic signals. We were notified that the city planned to put some in, and all of the usual arguments about signals got floor time at the chapter meeting. > > As a chapter that had been in existence for well over forty years in the community, we were surprised and just a little bit angry about hearing that a decision had been made on something of such importance without us. We figured out what units of city and state government had been involved in the decision, but before we wrote to them about the signals, we thought it prudent to first do research. So it was that Dacia Cole, Justin Cole, Julie McGinnity, Debbie Wunder, and I piled into a car to investigate the intersections marked for a signal. Two of us used a cane, and two of us a guide dog. Four of the people I mentioned were blind. One could see, so he acted as our driver and our observer. > > He was quiet during all of our crossings, and when we asked him how well we had done after visiting four intersections, his answer was different from what any of us expected. "At no point were any of you in danger of being hit. You were crossing safely, but more than half the time you were crossing during the caution or don't walk signal. If I had seen something terrible, of course I would've yelled out, but again, you were safe, but most of the time you were wrong." > > For a long time I have been intrigued by the question of Are men made for laws or are laws made for men. Of course the latter is true, but, had we been hit, the fact that we were crossing against the light certainly would have weighed against us. We have worked hard to see that blindness is not used to find that we are contributorily negligent by traveling on our own, but I think that crossing against the light would certainly have to be an argument against us in almost any legal proceeding. > > >

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No O&M Conference call this week
by debandjeff＠allophone.com 29 Jun '20

29 Jun '20

Hello Everyone, Since there has been only one response to my request for subjects to discuss on the conference call this week, and this subject can likely be handled by an e-mail that will be coming out soon regarding the Cane Walk, we will not be holding the call tomorrow afternoon. If any of you have questions regarding the Cane Walk, please feel free to either e-mail me, or call me at: (402) 489-9458. We will be having a discussion breakout session at the National Conference on July 14th, so please be thinking about the items you want to talk about at that time. Thank you, Jeff

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TGhe e-mails going to the parents
by debandjeff＠allophone.com 27 Jun '20

27 Jun '20

Hello everyone, Melissa Riccobono has prepared the following e-mails for the parents of the young people we will be working with. I will be sending out an e-mail to all of you before the 6th that will provide you with all of the necessary contact information, Zoom links, and ordering instructions for canes and the like. Things are coming together, and and so if you think of anything that we are overlooking, please let me know. Jeff Altman MA NOMCT CVRCB Thank you for registering for the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children conference in conjunction with the National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. We are so glad you are planning to join us! And, thank you for your interest in our virtual Cane Walk! Our virtual Cane Walk is a chance for you and your blind child(ren) to work on cane travel skills with a cane travel instructor from the comfort of your own home. Get information on the advantages of a lighter longer cane, ask questions, work on the skills which are most important to you, and more! To begin your virtual Cane Walk, please Register Here <http://www.nopbc.org/canewalk> After registering you will receive an email with further information. Do you have questions? Feel free to contact Melissa Riccobono at MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com We look forward to working with you and your blind child(ren). Dear Cane Walk Participants, We are so excited that you have registered to join us for our virtual Cane Walk! This email contains important information you will need in order to take full advantage of this experience. Cane Walk Instructor: Within the next few days, you will be matched with a cane travel instructor. This instructor will contact you via email or telephone to get to know you and your blind child(ren). The instructor will be able to give you basic cane travel information, talk with you about skills you would like to work on with your child(ren) and, most important, schedule a time with you for an hour of virtual cane travel instruction. If you do not hear from a cane travel instructor in seven days, please contact Jeff Altman at debandjeff at allophone.com An introductory Cane Walk session will be held on Monday, July 6, at 8 pm eastern time. Families are strongly encouraged to attend this session. However, it will be recorded, and will be available if this is not a good day or time for you. Join this meeting <https://zoom.us/j/94239536647?pwd=NnZJcG5xcVJlMEdZUlNXZWp6Q2gyUT09> via the Zoom app on your computer or mobile phone, or call +1 646 558 8656. Meeting ID: 942 3953 6647 Password: 891056 We are hopeful that you will be able to schedule your virtual Cane Walk session sometime before the evening of July 13, or, at the latest, before the morning of July 15. This is because we will be having two "Debrief" sessions for Cane Walk participants to discuss what they learned, ask any lingering questions, and give us feedback on this virtual format. Please plan to attend one of these sessions: Monday, July 13, at 8 pm eastern time. Join here <https://zoom.us/j/91449245971?pwd=WUQ0M3EzKzBnUlhxKy9TQ0VBNWNlZz09> , or call +1 646 558 8656. Meeting ID: 914 4924 5971 Password: 412114 Wednesday, July 15, 11 am eastern time Join Here <https://zoom.us/j/92042391665?pwd=c1A0ZWZzVG5EeGdqN0N1SHppSTk2UT09> Or call +1646-558-8656. Meeting ID: 920 4239 1665 Password: 283583 If you have any additional questions, please contact Jeff Altman at debandjeff at allophone.com Or Melissa Riccobono at MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com Happy travels to you and your child(ren)!

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