This newsletter is not an endorsement of any organiaztion that may appear.

Beginning in 2024, APH will institute a modified definition of blindness for the purpose of carrying out the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind by creating a third category. If the student does not meet either of the first two categories, Meet the Definition of Blindness (MDB) or Function at the Definition of Blindness (FDB), they will qualify under the category for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) definition of blindness — an impairment in vision, that, even with correction, adversely affects a child’s educational performance (34 CFR §300.8(c)(13)).*

Reminder, to be include in the Annual Federal Quota Child Count students must...

• Be enrolled in a formally organized public or private, nonprofit educational program of less than college level
  
• Have the parent permission form signed

This APH CareerConnect article provides key considerations when considering college from the perspective of a first year college student with a visual impairment. As the author says "These were a few key areas I needed to have covered and under my belt to start at university. These bullets might change from person to person, but the overall goal in figuring out whether or not you are ready and poised for success in college is to identify your weaknesses or worries and tackle them head-on. "

A few topics covered in the article are:

• Self-advocacy
• Tools and access needs
• Accessible campuses
• Disability resource offices
• Cane and braille skills

Project INSPIRE's goal is to support professionals, youth in grades 6-12, and young adults in building their skills in the two braille codes used in the United States for STEM classes. To accomplish this goal the project continues to develop:

• Six-week online courses for teachers of students with visual impairments, braille transcribers, adult service providers, and university disability resource center personnel
• Engaging virtual sessions for targeted groups of students (middle school, high school) to learn and practice Nemeth code within UEB Contexts through our "Nemeth in a Box" program and in 2023 and 2024 UEB Technical.
• Fun virtual STEM Braille Bowl Competitions to challenge braille users in grades 6th-12th throughout the U.S. to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the STEM braille codes

Learn more about their free on-demand self-paced courses available to anyone. They have developed seven lessons that teachers, families, and others can use with middle school braille readers.

In this Perkins webinar, learn about what's happening in math education and its implications for TVIs, students and educators. "Math instruction in the K-12 system, as well as in the college environment, has evolved. It’s moved beyond the paper and pencil worksheets of the past (or the braille and tactile worksheets for visually impaired students) to digital delivery, via digital textbooks and online tools for both learning material, for calculations, and for expressing problems and answers. Students encounter these tools in early elementary school, through iPad based games and practice for younger students. By high school, laptop based tools combined with braille devices allow students to engage in, study, and write more advanced topics for students in Algebra 1 and 2 in high school. But these exciting tools require instruction for students with visual impairments. Yet, what is the role of a TVI in this new world? What skills must a TVI teach to allow the development of these more contemporary math access skills? What role does the math teacher play?"

Be My Eyes' Virtual Volunteer gets a new name and will soon be open to beta testing on iOS. Learn more on their website.

Registration is open for the 2024 Summer Academy for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Summer Academy is designed to offer high school age students with visual impairments an opportunity to develop their knowledge, experiences, and awareness as it relates to their future academic and employment goals. Students will participate in 10-day program on a college campus where they will receive assessments, information, and educational experiences in various curriculum areas related to independent living, travel skills, vocational development, and assistive technology. It is available at no cost to eligible students.

Program Dates: Wednesday, June 19, 2023, to Friday, June 28, 2023

Age Range: 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade for 2024-25 school year

Hosted by:The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation/Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS)

• Student's must be enrolled with BBVS or in the process of enrolling

Application Deadline: February 5, 2024

2024 Summery Academy Student Application

Locate the program pamphlet and flyer (Professionals Serving Students with VI Google Drive (PSSVI) - Flyer Folder) to learn more details. (*Sign up for access to the PSSVI Google Drive at the bottom of the newsletter.)

"This area of the expanded core curriculum (ECC) highlights the importance of developing confidence. Self-determination involves the student identifying their own interests, values, and motivations, as well as a personal understanding of their own abilities and limitations. The student then takes this information to explore how this personal awareness relates to various life choices."

This article discusses:

• What is Self Determination?
• Why Teach Self-Determination as a Specific Area?
• How Do TVIs Approach Instruction of Self-Determination Skills?
• Practicing Self-Determination
• How Can We Support Instruction in Self-Determination in Schools?
• Self-Determination resources

"Students need to understand their visual impairment in order to effectively communicate and advocate for their needs. It is equally important for students to learn how to problem solve in order to make the necessary adaptations in order to be successful."

This article discusses:

• Knowledge of Disability & Needs
• Advocating for Needs
• Problem Solving
• Accessing Visual Impairment Resources

"Transition to a new classroom or campus gives students who are blind or visually impaired a chance to practice their self-determination skills, but explaining their eye condition and visual functioning, articulate their accommodations, and more." Read more on the Paths to Literacy website.

The journals listed below specialize in visual impairment and have numerous articles on self-determination and self-advocacy.

• The New Re:View - Access through your professional or organizational AER Membership.
• Journal of Visual Impairment Blindness - Access through Sage Journals or professional/organizational AER Membership.
• British Journal of Visual Impairment - Access through Sage Journals.

The Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education (BSE), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is sponsoring a year-long opportunity for early career (three years or less) special education teachers, teachers of the deaf, teachers of the visually impaired, special education administrators, and school psychologists to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of special education professionals with five or more years of experience. The application for mentees is currently open.

Student Led IEPs (SLIEP) Hub - This PaTTAN resource is great way for students to develop self-advocacy skills, such as learning how to speaks to others about their visual impairment. It has topics and resources for youth, families, and school/educators. To get started checkout the "SLIEP Assessment of Practices" to determine baseline data and create an action plan for future goals.
PaTTAN Recordings

• Student-Led IEP (SLIEP) Team Meetings: An Introduction for Professionals
• Student-Led IEP (SLIEP) Team Meetings: An Introduction for Youth and Families

BVI Sessions

Dates: February 28-March 1, 2024

February 29, 2024

• Dyslexia in Students with Visual Impairment by Marnee Loftin, M.A. - Much discussion has occurred in the educational and assessment professions about the possibility of dyslexia in students with visual impairment (VI). Much of the discussion has been based upon outdated definitions of dyslexia and a lack of knowledge about appropriate evaluation procedures. This session discusses the characteristics of dyslexia and best practice guidelines for evaluation in this low incidence population. A comprehensive case study is presented at the end for application of the concepts covered in this session.
  
• Intervention Strategies For Dyslexia in Students With Blindness and Vision Impairment by Carol Evans, Ph.D. - This session will explore compensatory and remedial intervention strategies for dyslexia in students with blindness and low vision, emphasizing the use of auditory materials along with braille or print. Called variously “dual-modality reading,” “audio-assisted reading,” and “audio-supported reading,” it is effective with students at all levels and adults in postsecondary settings. Braille reading rates average about 50 percent of print reading rates. Audio combined with braille can increase reading fluency to near average in print.

March 1, 2024

• Collaborative Comprehensive Assessment of Students with Blindness and Vision Impairment by Carol Evans, Ph.D. and Marnee Loftin, M.A. - This session will explore the need for and the process of collaboration between teachers of students with vision Impairments (TSVIs), school psychologists, and other assessment personnel around the comprehensive assessment of cognitive, academic, speech/language, and motor development abilities of students with vision impairments. It will focus on the need for mutual respect for the complementary knowledge and expertise of all team members (including parents) as they plan and carry out assessments, draw conclusions, and come to a consensus on students’ strengths and needs, additional eligibilities, and services.

Learn more details on the PDE Conference website.

Supervisors and lead teachers, join us to discuss caseloads and job descriptions. In addition hear from our special guest speakers from the US Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

BVI Special Guest Speakers:

• Rebecca Sheffield - US Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
• Eric Caruso - US Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

Target Audience: Pa Supervisors of programs for the visually impaired and lead teachers

When: February 6-8, 2024

Where: PaTTAN Central; Harrisburg, PA

How: In person only; workgroup activities

Registration: PaTTAN Training Calendar - filter by topic "DeafBlind"

Registration Code: Contact Jennifer Edgar at jedgar@pattan.net

Topics Include:

• Creating caseloads workgroup
• Job Descriptions workgroup
• What's new at OSEP? A Sensory Needs Update.
• State and National updates
• PaTTAN Office Hours

Each year Penn-Del AER recognizes achievements of its members and others dedicated to the field of visual impairment in education and rehabilitation. The 2023 Awards Committee seeks nominations for this year’s awards that highlight professionals who are committed to providing quality services for children or adults with visual impairments.

• The Penn-Del AER Richard L. Welsh Service (Welsh) Award was established to recognize a professional who serves the education or rehabilitation needs of individuals with visual impairment in Pennsylvania or Delaware and who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the chapter or to the field. To be eligible for the Welsh Award, an individual must be a current member of AER and not a current member of the AER Board of Directors. Nominees do not have to be direct service providers.
  
• The Elinor Long Educator of the Year (ELEY) Award was established to recognize an outstanding professional in the field of education of students with visual impairment. The awardee is encouraged to be an AER member, but it is not a requirement. Nominations for the 2023 ELEY Award target educators of children with visual impairment (birth-21 years of age).

Find the nomination form on the Penn-Del AER Website. Nominations must be received by February 1, 2024.

The Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind held in January through March each year in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. The Braille Institute developed the Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.

• Hosted by: The Veering Cane
• When: Saturday, February 10, 2024
• Where: PaTTAN Central in Harrisburg

Register your student for this event and keep up to date on coming details.

The 2024 InSights Art Contest is Officially Open! Since 1992, The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) has hosted the InSights Art Competition, an international art contest open to artists of all ages with vision loss. This popular program reflects APH’s mission to promote the independence of people who are blind and low vision by encouraging artists to create original works, in addition to improving arts education and arts opportunities for individuals who are blind and low vision.

• Students from preschool through high school can download the Student Entry Form 2024
• Only one artwork per artist can be submitted each year.
• Lean more on their website page.
• Deadline is March 29, 2024

Encourage your students to submit an entry!

Did you know that PaTTAN has a monthly BVI Family Newsletter? The BVI Family Newsletter for March includes information about the Parent UEB survey, ESY Determinations, summer camp options (more to come in future newsletters), and a family special education quick start guide. We encourage you to share this resource with families and check it out yourself!

• Sign up

All families of children who are blind or visually impaired (BVI), deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), or deaf-blind (DB) are invited to sign up for the PaTTAN Family Resource Group.

The goal of this group is to send out resources, event information, and contacts that can benefit your family and child. It is an easy way for you to get updates and take advantage of any available opportunities.

For more information:

• Watch our 2-minute video
• Contact us by email: FamilyResourceGroup@pattankop.net
• Check out the PaTTAN website for additional information!
• Sign up today: Blind-Visual Impairment Initiative and Family Resource Group Sign up

Resources to share with families:

• Family Resource Group Information
  
• Family Resource Group Poster
  
• Family Resource Group Flyer
  

Do you know families who may be interested in connecting with other families of children who are blind or visually impaired? APH (American Printing House for the Blind) FamilyConnect and the Chicago Lighthouse have partnered together to provide a virtual support group that connects on the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm (ET). Visit the FamilyConnect website to view additional details and resources.

AER continues with synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities, with a discount if you are an AER member. AER is releasing has a slew of exciting upcoming live opportunities , which can be viewed on their events page. They also created an extensive library of recorded courses, presented by experts in the field. Complete your continuing education from anywhere: home, work, even at the park! Every webinar on this site is approved for ACVREP credits and will provide a certificate upon completion.

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Hive offers a variety of free online courses for vision professionals and educators to increase their ability to respond to the needs of students with visual impairments. This “one-stop” for professional development offers ACVREP continuing education units upon successful completion of a course.

The APH ConnectCenter includes FamilyConnect, CareerConnect, and VisionAware – a hub of websites that offer curated advice and resources to assist children, parents, adults, job seekers who are blind or visually impaired, and their associated professionals, leading to greater independence and success in their lives.

Access Academy is your one-stop resource for the meaningful education and training webinars you need to get the most out of APH products and services. From tutorials on new products and hacks on how to get the most from your beloved tech, to information on resources, services, and programs: our goal is to give you the info you need for home, the classroom, and the workplace.

APH is also hosting many live events, including a focus on transition. Visit the APH Connect Event page to register for live online learning opportunities and earn ACVREP credits.

Eschenbach Academy is a "new online educational platform designed to supplement the knowledge and training they currently provide via in-person and webinar formats. Eschenbach Academy’s educational content ranges from interactive low vision courses, low vision training modules and general business courses useful for practice managers and owners.

This new eLearning platform provides training content that will help you and your staff become more efficient and effective in providing low vision care to your patients who have a vision impairment. In so doing, it will allow your low vision care service to deliver even more successful outcomes for both your patients and your practice."

This resource will be added to future newsletters under "Leisurely Learning."

Hadley offers a variety of free online learning opportunities in the following categories:

• Daily Living
• Recreation
• Braille
• Adjusting to vision loss
• Technology
• Vision loss

*Sign-up/log-in to get access to the entire training.

Perkins School for the Blind has a number of offerings for those working with students with visual impairments to increase their knowledge and skills. Visit the following sites to learn more:

• Perkins eLearning - Professional Development
• Accessible Science
• College Success
• Paths to Literacy
• Paths to Transition
• Paths to Technology

We encourage all supervisors and professionals in the field of visual impairment to sign up for access to our drives. We will be posting recorded presentations, resources and much more! Sign up today! Select your group below to request access.

• Supervisor Access Request Form
• Professional Access Request Form

PaTTAN East - 333 Technology Drive Malvern, PA 19355

• Jenifer Edgar - jedgar@pattan.net - Educational Consultant
• Tess Nasehi - tnasehi@pattan.net - BVI Family Consultant (statewide)

PaTTAN Central - 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112

• Greg Gerhart - ggerhart@pattan.net - Educational Consultant

PaTTAN West - 3190 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15238

• Tim Knight - tknight@pattan.net - Educational Consultant
• Greg Lazur - glazur@pattan.net - Educational Consultant