Dear NOMC:
As you may be aware, the NBPCB has been working on major revisions to the
code of professional ethics. As a holder of an NBPCB certificate, you will
become bound by all provisions of the new code of ethics once it is adopted
by the board and it will become official policy.
I am pasting for you below the new code in its entirety.
Next week, April 13, the NBPCB board will be meeting with one intention to
adopt this new code. We are therefore giving you until this Friday to review
this code and provide any comments or questions that you may have before the
new code is enacted.
Please send all feedback to: admin at nbpcb.org
DRAFT
NATIONAL BLINDNESS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION BOARD
CODE OF CONDUCT
July 2002
(As updated April 2021)
PREAMBLE
The National Blindness Professional Certification Board's (NBPCB)
PROFESSIONAL CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT is a public statement of the common set
of values and principles used to promote and maintain high standards of
behavior among those specialists in work with the blind who elect and are
accepted to become Structured Discovery (SD) Professionals through this
Board's certification processes. The Board is committed to furthering the
ability of persons who are blind or low vision to function competently,
independently and successfully--not only in their own environments--but also
as fully integrated and participating citizens in the broader society. To
this end, all SD PROFESSIONALS, working at all professional levels, shall
treat persons who are blind or low vision with dignity and respect and will
provide the best possible training and related vocational rehabilitation
services which can be offered, based upon the most current techniques and
training principles available at the time.
Attainment of a Structured Discovery Professional certification commits
individuals to adherence of the stated ethical principles. Any action in
violation of either the spirit or purpose of this Code shall be considered
to be unethical and shall be grounds for immediate suspension or revocation
of certification. An intentional Code violation by any SD PROFESSIONALS
shall serve as prima facia evidence of the desire and voluntary choice to
relinquish NBPCB certification and to forfeit all rights or privileges which
inure to a person by reason of holding one of this Board's Structured
Discovery Professional certifications.
It is the responsibility of each SD PROFESSIONAL to review and to come fully
to understand these ethical principles. Lack of knowledge or understanding
of an ethical responsibility may not be used as a defense against a charge
of unethical conduct. Since the use-in connection with a certificant's name
and/or title-of a designation relating to one of the NBPCB certifications
(such as NOMC or NCRTB) is a privilege granted by the NBPCB, this Board
reserves unto itself the sole power to suspend or revoke this privilege upon
a determination that a Code violation has occurred. If a violation is found,
the SD PROFESSIONAL will relinquish the certification designation.
Individual Enforceable Standards are not meant to be interpreted in
isolation. Instead, Enforceable Standards should be interpreted as a body,
with each Enforceable Standard interpreted in conjunction with other,
related standards, throughout the Code. Actions of SD Professionals should
be consistent with the spirit, as well as the letter, of these Enforceable
Standards.
The Enforceable Standards within the Code are the exacting, enforceable
standards intended to provide guidance in specific circumstances and serve
as the basis for processing complaints initiated against certified SD
Professionals. A breach of the Enforceable Standards provided herein do not
necessarily constitute legal liability or violation of the law; such action
is established in legal and judicial proceedings.
SD Professionals need to be aware of laws related to their practice. At
times legal and ethical standards may conflict. In such situations, SD
Professionals are encouraged to consult with NBPCB board members,
supervisors, legal/ethical experts, and others as appropriate and to use an
ethical decision-making model to inform decisions.
SD Professionals acknowledge that resolving ethical issues is a process.
When SD Professionals are faced with ethical dilemmas that are difficult to
resolve, they are expected to engage in a carefully considered ethical
decision-making process, consulting available resources as needed. Ethical
reasoning includes consideration of professional values, professional
ethical principles, and ethical standards.
SD Professionals are expected to use a credible model of ethical
decision-making that can bear public scrutiny of its application. Through a
chosen ethical decision-making process and evaluation of the context of the
situation, SD Professionals work to resolve any ethical dilemmas that may
arise.
CORE VALUES AND BELIEFS
SD Professionals are committed to facilitating the personal, economic, and
social independence of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. In
fulfilling this commitment, SD Professionals recognize diversity and embrace
a cultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and
uniqueness of all individuals within their social and cultural context. They
look to professional values as an important way of living out an ethical
commitment. The primary values that serve as a foundation for this Code
include a commitment to the Tenants of Structured Discovery Methodology;
Beneficence; Nonmaleficence; Privacy and Confidentiality; Duties; Justice;
Veracity; and Fidelity.
SD Professionals are aware that all individuals exist in a variety of
contexts and understand the influence of these contexts on an individual's
behavior. Structured Discovery Professionals are aware of the continuing
evolution of the field, changes in society at large, and the different needs
of individuals in social, political, historical, environmental and economic
contexts. The commitment involves providing respectful and timely
communication, taking appropriate action when cultural diversity issues
occur, and being accountable for the outcomes as they affect people of all
races, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions, sexual
orientations, or other cultural group identities.
SD PROFESSIONALS operate from an understanding that persons who are blind or
low vision are normal people who cannot see and that blindness is a normal
characteristic like the hundreds of others which, taken together, mold each
person into a unique human being. Based upon this fundamental truth, the SD
PROFESSIONALS provide services with the high expectation that the blind or
low vision consumer, or potential consumer, will be able to do what normal
people do, upon completion of proper blindness training and services.
Personal empowerment and complete integration into the broader society are
the aspirational goals and objectives for consumers of SD PROFESSIONALS
services. The SD PROFESSIONALS strives at all times to help the blind or low
vision consumer, or potential consumer, achieve these objectives.
SD PROFESSIONALS understand that persons who are blind or low vision are
members of a visible and identifiable minority and that, therefore, the
primary problem faced by persons who are blind is attitudinal rather than
physical-that is, there are widespread public misconceptions and
misunderstandings about blindness which led to beliefs and feelings of
inferiority. While these public attitudes about blindness are socially
constructed rather than factual, they are prominent in our society and in
the emotions of consumers of services for the blind. Therefore, each of the
blindness services which are provided by SD PROFESSIONALS must be designed
and intended to teach consumers of services a new and constructive set of
attitudes, based upon an understanding that the prevailing views about
blindness are wrong and harmful.
SD PROFESSIONALS understand that the overarching objective of the services
which are being provided is to enable the blind or low vision consumer to
come emotionally-not just intellectually-to understand that he or she is a
normal person who can be truly independent and self-sufficient.
SD PROFESSIONALS understand that quality training in the skills or
alternative techniques of blindness is essential to freedom and independence
for persons who are blind or low vision and that the skills should not
merely be introduced-they should be mastered by the consumer. The SD
PROFESSIONALS also understand, however, that the simple skills of blindness
such as Braille or cane travel are not ends unto themselves but are merely
small parts of a larger objective-helping the consumer adjust fully to
blindness.
SD PROFESSIONALS understand that the blind or low vision consumer must learn
to cope calmly and unemotionally with the unusual or demeaning things other
people will do or say because of the public's misconceptions about
blindness. Therefore, discussions concerning prevailing misunderstandings
and misconceptions and the consumer's responses to them should appropriately
and conscientiously be intertwined throughout class or training sessions.
SECTION ONE. TENANTS OF STRUCTURED DISCOVERY METHODOLOGY
1.1 SD Professionals actively and consistently demonstrate the importance
and efficacy of non-visual Skills where ever sight is absent or faulty. SD
Professionals believe that non-visual skills are equal to their sighted
counterparts, and are transferable across all environmental situations.
1.2 SD Professionals actively and consistently use blindfolds in all
instructional environments as an integral tool in the development of
non-visual techniques
1.3 SD Professionals actively and consistently use long white canes as they
have been proven to be superior to short, folding, or telescoping canes.
1.4 SD Professionals actively and consistently use confidence-building
activities to provide novel experiences where consumers can apply developing
non-visual skills. All efforts are made to provide appropriate, diverse, and
challenging activities for all consumers.
1.5 SD Professionals actively and consistently promote role modeling as part
of the rehabilitation process. Consumers are afforded the opportunity to
engage with a wide variety of role models who demonstrate non-visual skills
and positive attitudes regarding sight loss. These role models can be
instructors, other students, and blind community members. Sighted
instructors can also serve as role models by demonstrating non-visual skills
with the use of teaching/sleep shades and by demonstrating expectations of
how sighted individuals should interact with blind people.
1.6 SD Professionals actively and consistently promote problem-solving
strategies. Consumers are taught to think critically, strategically, and
derive answers to novel or unique problems. SD training provides the
foundation necessary to engage in successful critical problem solving both
throughout training and far beyond.
1.7 SD Professionals actively and consistently demonstrate the importance of
positive Personal Attitudes regarding blindness. Every aspect of skill
training is in support of fostering positive attitudes, self-esteem, and
hope.
1.8 SD Professionals actively and consistently communicate that public
misconceptions and low expectations are the largest environmental barrier
facing blind people. All aspects of SD training include the development of
robust problem solving, advocacy, and support networks to combat
misconceptions and lowered expectations.
1.9 SD Professionals actively and consistently communicate the concept of
giving back or contributing in a meaningful way to the general community. SD
professionals understand that this concept is equally as important as skills
training, and that blind persons must be given opportunities to give of
their time, unique talents, and heart to help others.
Section Two. BENEFICENCE
2.1 SD PROFESSIONALS shall demonstrate an ongoing concern for the welfare of
consumers and potential consumers at all times.
2.2 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always use their best professional judgement and
accepted practices in assessing, training, and supervising consumers in all
settings according to the principles of Structured Discovery methods and
principles.
2.3 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always provide relevant, factual, and complete
information about programs and services to enable consumers and potential
consumers to make informed choices.
2.4 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always advocate for the provision of appropriate
services and/or referrals for consumers or potential consumers.
2.5 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always collaborate with consumers in setting
goals and priorities throughout training and ensure that goals are
appropriate and commiserate to the consumer's goals, abilities, and
potential capabilities.
2.6 SD PROFESSIONALS shall make every effort to advocate for consumers or
potential consumers to obtain needed high quality educational or adjustment
to blindness services through all available means.
2.7 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always be aware of and avoid imposing their own
cultural values, personal preferences, beliefs, and behaviors on to
consumers or potential consumers.
2.8 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always communicate information in ways that are
both developmentally and culturally appropriate to consumers or potential
consumers.
2.9 SD Professionals shall understand the unique nature of working with
minors and members of vulnerable populations and their responsibility to
appropriately involve parents, guardians and relevant decision makers in the
process.
Section Three. NONMALEFICENCE
3.1 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always take reasonable precautions to avoid
imposing or inflicting physical, emotional, or psychological harm to any
consumer or potential consumer.
3.2 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always consider the consumers' needs when
designing and implementing training lessons rather than considering personal
comfort or convenience.
3.3 SD PROFESSIONALS shall maintain relationships that do not exploit or
manipulate consumers or potential consumers sexually, physically,
emotionally, financially, socially, or in any other manner.
3.4 SD PROFESSIONALS shall not engage in personal virtual relationships with
current consumers (e.g., through social media and other platforms).
3.5 SD PROFESSIONALS shall not engage in electronic and/or in-person sexual
or romantic interactions or relationships with current consumers, their
romantic partners, or their immediate family members.
3.6 SD PROFESSIONALS shall not engage in electronic and/or in-person sexual
or romantic interactions or relationships with former consumers, their
romantic partners, or their immediate family members for a period of one
year following the last professional contact.
3.7 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always avoid actual or the appearance of
inappropriate or exploitive relationships with consumers, potential
consumers, their romantic partners, or their immediate family members.
3.8 SD PROFESSIONALS shall maintain relationships that do not exploit or
manipulate blind or sighted colleagues, stakeholders, or members of the
general public sexually, physically, emotionally, financially, socially, or
in any other manner.
3.9 SD Professionals shall understand the elevated responsibility when
working with minors and members of vulnerable populations and shall
appropriately involve parents, guardians, and related professionals in the
decision-making process.
3.10 SD PROFESSIONALS shall never condone or engage in the prejudicial
treatment of an individual or group based on their actual or perceived
membership in a particular group, class, or category including, but not
limited to race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age,
disability, or socioeconomic status.
Section Four. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
4.1 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always respect the privacy rights of consumers or
potential consumers, and only solicit private information when it is
beneficial to the assessment or training process.
4.2 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always protect and keep confidential all
privileged forms of written, verbal, and electronic communication concerning
consumers or potential consumers, unless consent has been provided by the
consumer, or unless otherwise mandated by local, state or federal laws or
regulations.
4.3 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always obtain permission from consumers or
potential consumers prior to any recording or videotaping sessions through
electronic or other means.
4.4 SD PROFESSIONALS shall always obtain permission from consumers or
potential consumers prior to observing or sharing sessions, reviewing
session transcripts, and/or listening to or viewing recordings of sessions
with others.
4.5 SD PROFESSIONALS shall never engage in duplicitous behavior in either
secretly recording, broadcasting, publishing, or posting information
regarding consumers or potential consumers.
4.6 SD PROFESSIONALS conducting research shall always follow best practices
in conducting research and obtain informed consent from consumers or
potential consumers before using any personal information which might be
published as a result of the research. Only statistical information may be
used without consent.
4.7 SD Professionals shall obtain consent from parents or guardians prior to
any interaction with minors or members of a vulnerable population and shall
protect all privileged communications between these parties from public
disclosure.
Section Five. PROFESSIONAL DUTY
5.1 SD PROFESSIONALS practice only within the boundaries of their
competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience,
professional credentials, and appropriate professional experience and do not
misrepresent their competence to consumers or others.
5.2 SD PROFESSIONALS act to avoid harming consumers, students, employees,
supervisees, and research participants and to minimize or to remedy
unavoidable or unanticipated harm.
5.3 SD PROFESSIONALS shall refer to or consult with other qualified service
providers whenever such a referral or consultation would be beneficial to
consumers or potential consumers.
5.4 SD PROFESSIONALS shall continuously monitor their effectiveness as
professionals and, when necessary, take steps to improve performance through
supervision, consultation, peer supervision, or input from other sources.
5.5 SD Professionals shall obtain specific training and continuing education
in the area of age/stage appropriate instruction for minors and shall work
collaboratively with parents and guardians on the development of training
programs that are developmentally appropriate for vulnerable populations.
5.6 SD PROFESSIONALS recognize the need for continuing education to acquire
and maintain a reasonable level of awareness of current scientific and
professional information in their fields of activity. They maintain their
competence in the skills they use, are open to new procedures, and keep
current with professional and community resources for diverse and specific
populations with which they work.
5.7 SD PROFESSIONALS shall provide appropriate supervision to supervisees
and ensure that responsibilities and goals are clearly defined, remediation
opportunities are offered without penalty, and ensure, when relevant,
supervisees' violations of this code are reported to this Board.
5.8 SD PROFESSIONALS actively develop and maintain knowledge, personal
awareness, sensitivity, and skills and demonstrate a disposition reflective
of a culturally competent SD Professional working with diverse consumer
populations.
5.9 SD PROFESSIONALS are alert to the signs of impairment due to their own
health issues or personal circumstances and refrain from offering or
providing professional services when such impairment is likely to harm
consumers or others. They seek assistance for problems that reach the level
of professional impairment, and if necessary, they limit, suspend, or
terminate their professional responsibilities until it is determined they
may safely resume their work.
5.10 SD PROFESSIONALS assist colleagues or supervisors in recognizing their
own professional impairment, provide consultation and assistance when
colleagues or supervisors show signs of impairment, and intervene as
appropriate to prevent harm to consumers.
5.11 SD PROFESSIONALS accurately represent the accreditations of their
academic programs and accurately describe their continuing education and
specialized training.
5.12 SD PROFESSIONALS do not condone or participate in any form of
harassment, including sexual harassment.
5.13 SD PROFESSIONALS are accurate, honest, and objective in reporting their
professional activities and judgments to authorized third parties (e.g.,
courts, health insurance companies, recipients of evaluation reports).
5.14 When SD PROFESSIONALS provide advice or commentary by means of public
lectures, demonstrations, radio or television programs, recordings,
technology-based applications, printed articles, mailed material, or other
media, they make reasonable efforts to ensure that: (1) the statements are
based on appropriate professional literature and practice; (2) the
statements are otherwise consistent with the Code; and (3) it is clear that
a professional teaching relationship does not exist.
5.15 When making professional statements in a public context, regardless of
media or forum, SD PROFESSIONALS clearly identify whether the statements
represent individual perspectives or the position of the profession or any
professional organizations with which they may be affiliated.
5.16 SD PROFESSIONALS do not exploit others in their professional
relationships to seek or receive unjustified personal gains, sexual favors,
unfair advantages, or unearned goods or services.
5.17 SD PROFESSIONALS recognize their own personal or professional
relationships may interfere with their ability to practice ethically and
professionally. Under such circumstances, SD PROFESSIONALS are obligated to
decline participation or to limit their assistance in a manner consistent
with professional obligations.
5.18 SD PROFESSIONALS identify, make known, and address real or apparent
conflicts of interest in an attempt to maintain the public confidence and
trust, discharge professional obligations, and maintain responsibility,
impartiality, and accountability.
5.19 SD PROFESSIONALS do not engage in any act or omission of a dishonest,
deceitful, or fraudulent nature in the conduct of their professional
activities.
5.20 SD PROFESSIONALS do not disparage individuals or groups of individuals.
Section Six. JUSTICE
6.1 SD PROFESSIONALS shall comply with all federal, state, and local laws,
ordinances, and policies.
6.2 SD PROFESSIONALS shall comply with the principles, both explicit and
implicit, of this Professional Code of Ethical Conduct.
6.3 SD PROFESSIONALS shall require those professionals whom he or she
supervises in educational or training to adhere to this Professional Code of
Ethical conduct.
6.4 SD PROFESSIONALS shall take reasonable steps to ensure that employers
are aware of the obligations set forth and promulgated in this Professional
Code of Ethical Conduct.
6.5 SD Professionals understand that employers or potential employers will
be notified by this organization of any violations to this code of ethics
that results in sanction from this board to the certified professional.
6.6 SD PROFESSIONALS shall take reasonable steps to ensure that consumers
and potential consumers are aware of the obligations set forth and
promulgated in this Professional Code of Ethical Conduct.
Section Seven. VERACITY
7.1 SD PROFESSIONALS shall claim or imply only professional qualifications
actually completed and correct any known misrepresentations of their
qualifications by others. They truthfully represent their qualifications and
those of their professional colleagues.
7.2 SD PROFESSIONALS shall disclose any professional, personal, financial,
business or volunteer affiliations that potentially could pose a conflict of
interest to those with whom he or she may establish a professional,
contractual or other working relationship.
7.3 SD PROFESSIONALS shall refrain from using or participating in the use of
any form of communication that contains false, fraudulent, deceptive or
unfair statements or claims concerning colleagues or service providers.
Section Eight. FIDELITY
8.1 SD PROFESSIONALS shall treat colleagues and other blindness
professionals with fairness, discretion, and integrity at all times.
8.2 SD PROFESSIONALS shall preserve, respect and safeguard confidential
information about colleagues and other professionals, unless otherwise
mandated by national, state or local laws.
8.3 SD PROFESSIONALS shall accurately represent the qualifications, views,
contributions and recommendations of colleagues and other professionals.
8.4 SD Professionals will not accept a position of employment where ethical
principles of Structured Discovery are compromised or abandoned, unless the
position is accepted with the intention of amending or modifying the
questionable practices. The SD Professional is prohibited from participating
in behavior which violates this Code.
8.5SD PROFESSIONALS shall take adequate measures to discourage, prevent,
expose, and correct any breaches of this Professional Code of Ethical
Conduct and report any breaches to appropriate NBPCB officials for curative
action.
8.6 SD PROFESSIONALS shall become familiar with established NBPCB policies
and procedures created for the purpose of handling and resolving complaints
arising out of alleged violations of the standards set forth in this
Professional Code of Ethical Conduct.
As indicated above in the Preamble to this document, an intentional
violation of any Section of this Code shall be prima facia evidence of a SD
PROFESSIONALS s affirmative decision to voluntarily choose to relinquish N
BPCB certification.
DEFINITIONS
Beneficence - To do good to others; to promote the well-being of consumers
Blind - any person who is totally blind or whose sight is sufficiently
affected that alternative techniques are necessary to perform daily
activities
Blindfolds - items designed and intended to preclude the use of sight
Board - the National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Inc.
Confidence-Building Activities - activities that are novel experiences which
are appropriate, diverse, and challenging and designed to increase the
confidence or self-efficacy of the consumer.
Consumer - any person receiving rehabilitation training by a Structured
Discovery Professional.
Fidelity - to be faithful; to keep promises and honor the trust placed in
Structured Discovery Professionals.
Justice - to be fair in the treatment of all consumers; to provide
appropriate services to all
Long White Cane - a cane designed for the use of blind people which gives
ample time to respond to received information and that is one singular piece
and cannot be reduced in size
NBPCB - the National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Inc.
Nonmaleficence - to do no harm to others
Non-visual skills - those skills, techniques and technology that blind
persons employ as alternatives to the use of sight
Potential consumer - any blind or low vision person that is currently not a
consumer
Problem-Solving Strategies - plans of action used to find solutions
Role Model - a person whose behavior, example, or success can be emulated by
others,
SD Professional - any professional in work with the blind who has qualified
for and received certification from the National Blindness Professional
Certification Board in the areas of Structured Discovery rehabilitation
training
Veracity - to be honest
Vulnerable Populations - those under the legal age of consent, those with
debilitating mental health conditions, or those with a cognitive impairment
We would like to thank both the American Counseling Association and the
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification for permission to adapt
each organizations' code of ethics in developing our own code.
By means of this email,
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
