National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) 24th Annual National Rehabilitation and Orientation and Mobility Conference Agenda-2025 Contemporary Issues in Rehabilitation and Education for the Blind July 8, 2025 8:30 AM-7:30 PM EDT New Orleans Marriott 555 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70130 888-236-24-27 Acknowledgements We would like to express our appreciation to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). The NFB has not only hosted these rehabilitation events for more than 20 years, but more importantly, it has provided the philosophy, leadership, and guidance upon which the most effective rehabilitation practices have been established. We would also like to give special thanks to the many individuals who contributed their time, energy, and expertise to making this rehabilitation and orientation and mobility conference a success. It is through the dedication, determination, and fortitude of these leaders in the organized blind movement that we have collectively shifted the focus of rehabilitation in this country. Together, we are truly helping people to live the lives they want! General Session Room: Studio 9 7:30 AM - Registration Opens 8:30 AM - Opening Remarks * Joni Martinez, NOMC, Conference Co-chair, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board; Austin, TX 8:35 AM - Stronger Together: Changing Lives Through a Partnership Between the National Blindness Professional Certification Board and the National Federation of the Blind * Mark A. Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, MD 8:55 AM - Keynote: Remember the Why, the Purpose, and the Philosophy * Denise Mackenstadt, NOMC, Orientation & Mobility Specialist, Mackenstadt Rehabilitation Services; Edmonds, WA 9:25 AM - The Current State of Vocational Rehabilitation * Dorothy Young, President, National Council of State Agencies for the Blind; Madison, MS 9:45 AM - A Personal Exploration of Working in the Field of Blindness * Jamie Sibson, MRC, Director, New Mexico Orientation Center for the Blind; Alamogordo, NM 10:00 AM - Braille Instruction; What We Can Learn from K-12 * Casey Robertson, ED.S., NCUEB, Teacher of Blind Students, Lead Instructor, Professional Development Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech; Hamilton, MS 10:15 AM - Research on Policy and Pedagogy * Justin M.H. Salisbury, MEd, NOMC, NCRTB, Graduate Student, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Minesota; Minneapolis, MN 10:25 AM - Applying the Zone of Proximal Development in Structured Discovery Instruction * Joanne Williams, NOMC, NCRTB, NCUEB, Chief Quality Officer, Tucson SAAVI Services for the Blind; Tucson, AZ * Terik Williams, MA, NOMC, NCRTB, Recruitment & Training Manager, Tucson SAAVI Services for the Blind; Tucson, AZ 10:40 AM - Forging Ahead with Student Leadership: How to Build a Student Government * Maureen Nietfeld, NCRTB, Director of Student Services, Colorado Center for the Blind; Littleton, CO 10:55 AM - A Primer on Facilitating a Student Directed Seminar * Pamela Allen, Executive Director, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, LA 11:15 AM - Panel: Teaching the Cornerstones of Blindness Training * Carley Mullin, NCATB, Assistive Technology Instructor, Founder, CM Training Services LLC; Baltimore, MD * Joanna Solowska, MAESL, TESOL, NCRTB, NCUEB, Braille Instructor, Phoenix SAAVI Services for the Blind; Phoenix, AZ * Delfina Rodriguez, NCRTB, Home Management Instructor, Colorado Center for the Blind; Littleton, CO * Maurice Peret, NOMC, Orientation & Mobility Instructor, Ho'opono Services for the Blind Orientation Center; Honolulu, HI * Moderator: Joni Martinez, NOMC, Conference Co-Chair, Board member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board; Austin, TX 11:50 AM - Closing Remarks and Announcements * Joni Martinez, NOMC, Conference Co-chair, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board; Austin, TX 12:00 PM-2:00 PM - Lunch Break 2:00 PM-2:50 PM - Breakout Group 1 Session A: Working with Seniors Using Structured Discovery Methodology Room: TBA * Stefanie Parris, NCRTB, Older Blind Specialist, Colorado Center for the Blind; Littleton, CO Session B: Recruiting & Developing Effective Mentorships in the Profession Room: TBA * Carley Mullin, NOMC, Recruitment sub-Committee Chair, Founder, CM Training Services LLC; Baltimore, MD * Michell Gip, NOMC, Mentorship sub-committee chair; Orientation & Mobility Instructor, State Services for the Blind; Minneapolis, MN Session C: Working with the Whole Student: Recruiting, Admission, & Beyond Room: TBA * Joni Martinez, NOMC, Admissions Coordinator, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center; Austin, TX 3:00 PM- 3:50 PM - Breakout Group 2 Session A: Cane Travel Breakout: Fundamentals of the Tap & Slide Technique Room: TBA * Roland Allen, NOMC, Cane Travel Instructor, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, LA * Marco Carranza, MA, NOMC, Cane Travel Instructor, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, LA Session B: Access Technology Breakout: Developing & Building a Structured Discovery Focused Curriculum: TBA * Speaker: Curtis Chong, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Non-visual access technology consultant; Aurora, CO Session C: Working with Students & Interpreters Room: TBA * Jose Marquez, BA International Studies, Certified Healthcare Interpreter, Medical Interpreter, Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters; Houston, TX 4:00 PM-4:50 PM - Breakout Group 3 Session A: TBA Room: TBA Session B: Cultivating Valuable Student Mentorships in the Classroom Room: TBA * Jeff Altman, NOMC, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Session C: The Purpose & Curriculum of Shop Class in Structured Discovery Training Room: TBA * Chase Holladay, Shop Instructor, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, LA * Certification Board, Cane Travel Instructor, Nebraska Center for the Blind, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Lincoln, NE NBPCB Reception/Mix and Mingle Room: Riverview I Time: 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm Facilitated by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board * Speak with the day's presenters in a less formal setting. * Networking opportunity for job seekers and employers. * Meet our newest NOMC certificants. * Meet our newest NCRTB certificants. * Meet our newest NCUEB certificants. * Awards and recognition * Announcements from centers across the nation * Cash bar and light snacks will be available. Sponsors National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) Adelmo Vigil, President www.nbpcb.org admin@nbpcb.org Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB), Louisiana Tech University Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Director www.pdrib.com ebell@latech.edu <mailto:ebell@latech.edu> *Agenda subject to change NBPCB Office PO Box 2373 Ruston LA 71273 318 299-7340 <mailto:admin@nbpcb.org> admin@nbpcb.org <http://www.nbpcb.org> www.nbpcb.org <https://www.nbpcb.org/pages/lookup.php> Click here to verify the status of NBPCB certified professionals