National Federation of the Blind
SIXTEENTH Annual Rehabilitation
and
Orientation and Mobility Conference
Contemporary Issues
In Rehabilitation and Education for the Blind
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
9939 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, Florida 32819-9357
July 10, 2017
7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Panzacola F-2
Agenda
Registration
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Location: Panzacola F-2
Continuing Education Credits (CEC) are available for conference registrants.
Morning Session
8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Panzacola F-2
8:30 Welcome from our Sponsors.
Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D., President, National Blindness Professional
Certification Board (NBPCB), Vienna, VA;
Edward Bell, Ph.D., Director, Professional Development and Research
Institute on Blindness (PDRIB), Louisiana Tech University, Ruston.
8:40 From Education to Rehabilitation: How the Organized Blind Effect
Outcomes Across the Lifespan. Mark A. Riccobono, President, National
Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, MD.
9:00 Keynote Presentation: The Driving Philosophy Behind Structured
Discovery: How to Keep the Spirit Alive. Deja Powell, PhD Candidate, Capella
University, Salt Lake City, UT.
9:20 Teaching Structured Discovery Methods and Principles in a Conventional
Agency.
Domonique Lawless, NOMC, Virginia Department of Rehabilitation, Richmond.
Conrad Austen, NOMC, SAVI, Tucson, AZ.
Jennifer Kennedy, NOMC, Cane Travel Instructor, Utah State office of
Rehabilitation, Salt Lake City.
10:05 Contemporary Issues in Rehabilitation: Teaching Foundational Skills in
a Technological World.
Darick Williamson, M.A., NOMC, NCRTB, Cane Travel Instructor, Louisiana Tech
University, Ruston.
Benjamin Versalone, M.A., NOMC, Cane Travel Instructor, St. Louis, MO.
Ron Brown, M.A., NOMC, Independent Contractor, Cane and Able, Indianapolis,
IN.
11:00 Professional Development and Research in Blindness Rehabilitation.
Edward Bell, Ph.D., Director, PDRIB, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston.
11:20 Beyond the Resume: Job Readiness Skills to Prepare for the Changing
Workforce. Dick Davis, President, NFB Employment Committee, Minneapolis, MN.
11:40 Questions and wrap up.
12:00 Adjourn.
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch on your own.
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. National Certification in Unified English Braille
(NCUEB) Official Examination. Preregistration is required, see www.nbpcb.org
http://www.nbpcb.org for details.
Location: Wekiwa 8
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions
2:00 - 3:15 Session I
Dare to Be Remarkable Planning Session
Location: Wekiwa 10
Dare to be Remarkable is a national conference to highlight advances in
Structured Discovery Rehabilitation Methods and Principles over the last
decade. Rehabilitation and education professionals who want to learn
Structured Discovery hands-on and participate in deep philosophical
discussions around SD should attend the conference. This session will serve
as an initial agenda planning meeting.
Guide Dogs and O&M: Concepts and Misconceptions
Location: Wekiwa 9
This event, sponsored by the National Association of Guide Dog Users
(NAGDU), is a panel for dog trainers and O&M instructors to discuss myths,
misconceptions, and best practices surrounding guide dog use.
3:30 - 4:45 Session II
Right Versus Right Decisions: A framework for Ethics in our personal and
professional lives.
Dr. David Ticchi, Special Assistant to the president, Legal Sea Foods, and
Newton High School Faculty
Location: Wekiwa 10
What are ethics? What are our most important shared values? What would be
considered to be an unethical practice? What is the difference between
ethics and law? How do you make ethical decisions? Come and find out how to
sharpen your ethical decision-making skills.
Structured Discovery Cane Travel Methods and Principles.
Jeff Altman, NOMC, Instructor, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and
Visually Impaired, Lincoln; Darick Williamson, NOMC, Instructor, Louisiana
Tech University, Ruston.
Location: Wekiwa 9
Teachers, parents, and professionals are welcome to come and learn more
about Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) T: its methods, principles,
and techniques. NOMC-certified instructors will be on hand to provide
one-to-one and small group lessons for novice, intermediate, and advanced
cane users. Learn about becoming an O&M instructor, how the National
Orientation and Mobility Assessment is conducted, and how to advocate for
mobility services.
5:00 Adjourn Afternoon Sessions
The NFB Employment Committee invites all seminar attendees to come to the
Job Seeker Seminar Monday afternoon from 12:30 to 4 pm, the NFB Job Fair
Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 11:30 am, the Upward Mobility Seminar Thursday
evening from 7 to 9 pm, and the Employment Committee meeting/networking
session Friday evening from 7 to 9 pm. See convention agenda or
https://employment.nfb.org for details. - Dick Davis, Chairperson
NBPCB Reception
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Panzacola H-2
* Speak with the day's presenters in a less formal setting.
* Network opportunity for job seekers and employers.
* Meet our newest NOMC certificants/recertificants.
* Meet our newest NCRTB certificants.
* Meet our newest NCUEB certificants.
* Awards and recognition.
Cash bar and light snacks will be available.
Sponsored by:
National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB)
Fredric K. Schroeder, President
www.nbpcb.org
admin at nbpcb.org
National Organization of Professionals in Blindness Education (PIBE)
Eric Guillory, President
www.nfb.org/divisions
ericguillory at aol.com
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB),
Louisiana Tech University
Edward Bell, Director
www.pdrib.com
ebell at latech.edu
Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC
Director, Professional Development and Research
Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
210 Woodard Hall
PO Box 3158
Ruston LA 71272
Office: 318.257.4554 Fax: 318.257.2259 (Fax)
Skype: edwardbell2010