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 <mailto:ebell at latech.edu> ebell at latech.edu <http://www.pdrib.com> 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