Aloha everyone,
I have recently partaken in conversations about the legitimacy of attending the Washington Seminar of the National Federation of the Blind as part of the professional development of a mobility instructor holding the NOMC. I am writing to ask a few questions to see how this practice has been justified by others before me.
On the NBPCB website, there is a section discussing recertification. It reads:
Recertification
NBPCB recognizes the need for Certified Blindness Professionals to continue their education and training in order to remain current on innovations and policies in the field. Therefore, individuals must reapply every five years for recertification in order to maintain active NOMC status. The Recertification process is designed to ensure that all certificants maintain their skills and knowledge as cane travel instructors, and to promote continuous education within the profession.
Recertification can be met by either retesting or providing documentation of a minimum of 100 Continuing Education credits throughout the five-year certification period. The following activities are examples of opportunities which may be helpful in a crewing continued education credits:
o Professional Conferences and Presentations
o Contribution to published works in the field of rehabilitation for the blind
o Providing professional preparation
o Engaging in relevant training
o Conducting research in the field of rehabilitation of the blind
o Providing community service including rehabilitation of the blind
o Governmental Affairs
o Professional Ethics (10 points must come from this category)
Given that statement, it seems obvious to me that attending Washington Seminar is professional development because it helps us get recertified. I am hearing, though, that it has absolutely nothing to do with the job of a mobility instructor and that there is no way that it can be justified as professional development.
How exactly is it that others have successfully justified attending Washington Seminar as professional development?
Thank you in advance,
Justin Salisbury
Justin M. Salisbury, MA, NOMC, NCRTB, NCUEB
Opportunity Ambassador
National Federation of the Blind
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu