Colleagues, We are excited to bring you the agenda for this year's NBPCB conference on Sunday, July 7th in beautiful Las Vegas. While pre-registration is now closed, you may register the morning of the seminar in person between 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM before we start. I look forward to seeing you there! Best, Jennifer Kennedy National Blindness Professionals Certification Board presents: Contemporary Issues in Rehabilitation and Education for the Blind 18th Annual Rehabilitation and Orientation and Mobility Conference Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas, NV 89119 Sunday, July 7, 2019 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Tradewinds D Contemporary Issues in Rehabilitation and Education for the Blind Registration 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Location: Tradewinds D Morning Session 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Location: Tradewinds D 8:30 Welcome and opening remarks. Edward Bell, PhD, Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB), Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana; Jennifer M. Kennedy, MA, NOMCT, Conference Chairwoman, National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB), Utah. 8:40 Making the Commitment. Mark A. Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind, Maryland. 9:00 The Federation's Commitment to Youth: A Report from Previous Summer Program Participants. Jordan Caster, Software Engineer, California; Jesse M. Hartle, Federal Employee, District of Columbia. 9:30 Blindness Technology: An Aid or Impediment to True Independence? Gary Wunder, Braille Monitor Editor, Missouri. 9:45 I Pledge to Participate Actively: Professional Organizations Update. Jennifer M. Kennedy, MA, NOMCT, Board Member, Orientation and Mobility Specialists Association, Utah; Amy Porterfield, MA, CRC, President, National Association of Blindness Rehabilitation Professionals, Arizona. 9:55 Research That Makes Sense: A Preview to Today's Research Breakout Session. Merry-Noel Chamberlain, PhD, Nebraska; Arielle Silverman, PhD, Disabilities Research and Training Consultant, Disability Wisdom Consulting, Virginia. 10:15 Structure Discovery Beyond Cane Travel: A Panel Discussion. Sarah Belser Williams, Home Management Instructor, Alabama Freedom Center for the Blind, Alabama; Jack Mendez, Director of Technology, Louisiana Center for the Blind, Louisiana; Adelmo Vigil, NOMCT, Structure Discovery Coach, New Mexico; Jennifer M. Kennedy, MA, NOMCT, Moderator. 10:45 How Dedicating Time to Fitness Raises Confidence. LisaMaria Martinez, MA, CPC, Confidence Coach with Be Confident, Be You Coaching, California. 11:00 Staying the Course: A Panel Discussion on Resolution Writing and Working with State Agencies. Everette Bacon, President, National Federation of the Blind of Utah; Jennifer Dunnam, immediate past President, National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota; Ronza Othman, President, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Jennifer M. Kennedy, MA, NOMCT, Moderator. 11:40 The Jernigan Institute's Commitment to Rehabilitation. Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiatives, Jernigan Institute, Maryland. 12:00 Adjourn. Lunch on Your Own 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Concurrent Session 1 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. A. We Don't Need 40 Acres to Turn This Rig Around: Orientation and Mobility Impairments Workshop. Dezman Jackson, MA, NOMC, Rehabilitation and Outreach Specialist, Blindness Industries And Services Of Maryland, Maryland; Jane Lansaw, MA, NOMC, Service Provider, Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, Visual Services, Oklahoma; Treva Olivero, Med., NCUEB, Teacher of Blind Students, Louisiana. Location: Coral A Ever wonder if there's a way for your client to overcome gate issues? Wish you had more experience with wheelchair and support cane instruction? This breakout session will include both a presentation and a hands-on portion in providing orientation and mobility training to those who have mobility impairments in addition to blindness. Strongly encouraged for those providing cane travel instruction. B. Taking Charge: A Report on Research on the Blind by the Blind Presentation. Merry-Noel Chamberlain, PhD, Nebraska; Arielle Silverman, PhD, Disabilities Research and Training Consultant, Disability Wisdom Consulting, Virginia. Location: Coral B Go in-depth with our morning panelists and explore meaningful research to help support your blindness skills programs conducted about blind people by the blind themselves. C. National Orientation and Mobility Certification Trainers (NOMCT) Committee Meeting. Jeff Altman, MA, NOMCT, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Nebraska. Location: Coral C This is a closed meeting for members of the NOMCT committee to meet face to face and develop strategic plans for the year ahead. Concurrent Session 2 3:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. A. We Don't Need 40 Acres to Turn This Rig Around: Orientation and Mobility Impairments Workshop. Dezman Jackson, MA, NOMC, Rehabilitation and Outreach Specialist, Blindness Industries and Services of Maryland, Maryland; Jane Lansaw, MA, NOMC, Service Provider, Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, Visual Services, Oklahoma; Treva Olivero, Med., NCUEB, Teacher of Blind Students, Louisiana. Location: Coral A Ever wonder if there's a way for your client to overcome gate issues? Wish you had more experience with wheelchair and support cane instruction? This breakout session will include both a presentation and a hands-on portion in providing orientation and mobility training to those who have mobility impairments in addition to blindness. Strongly encouraged for those providing cane travel instruction. B. Secrets to Seminar Success. Domonique Lawless, MA, NOMC, Cane Travel Instructor, Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Virginia; Yadiel J. Sotomayor, MA, NOMC, NCRTB, NCUEB, Cane Travel Instructor, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, Utah. Location: Coral B Running a philosophy class is key to one's understanding of what blindness is and what it is not. Bring your thinking caps for an exchange of ideas on how to freshen up old seminar topics and where to look for new materials. C. Technology Instructors Roundtable Discussion. Jack Mendez, Director of Technology, Louisiana Center for the Blind, Louisiana; Jerry Neally, MA, NOMC, Field Services Instructor, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, Utah. Location: Coral C Discuss the latest and greatest ways to instruct the wide variety of technology to a wide range of consumers. Whether you are looking to strengthen your training center's completion projects or work in the field with seniors, there's sure to be a topic here to stir your interest. Concurrent Session 3 4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. A. NFB Code of Conduct: Why It Is Your Ethical Code Too. Candice Chapman, PhD Student, Mississippi; Tai Tomasi, JD, Program Manager, Alabama Freedom Center for the Blind, Alabama. Location: Coral A The National Federation of the Blind adopted a Code of Conduct in 2018. Learn how this code parallels the ethical way we should conduct ourselves as professionals and members of the blind community. B. Braille Instruction Roundtable. Chelsey Duranleau, Communications Instructor, Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions Incorporated, Minnesota; Connie LeBlond, Rehabilitation Teacher, SAAVI Services for the Blind, Arizona. Location: Coral B Braille has been in existence for over 200 years, but there are new approaches to teaching the code even today. Network with other Braille enthusiasts on best practices and new ideas for increasing literacy. C. Home Management Instruction Roundtable. Conrad Austen, MA, NOMC, NCRTB, NCUEB, Home Management Instructor, Louisiana Center for the Blind, Louisiana; Dishon Spears, Home Management Instructor, Colorado Center for the Blind, Colorado. Location: Coral C Still using the same curriculum from ten years ago. Join us and exchange ideas on innovated ways to liven up the typical cooking and cleaning assignments found in maintaining one's independence at home. Be sure to bring your favorite project ideas and recipes! NBPCB Reception 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Tropics B * 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 eguillory at louisianacenter.org Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB), Louisiana Tech University Edward Bell, Director www.pdrib.com ebell at latech.edu