PaTTAN BVI Newsletter

• In the News
• It's That Time of Year
• PaTTAN's Desk
• On the Horizon
• Leisurely Learning

*Each section contains approximately four topics.

Braille Bites

Braille Bites is a series of early literacy activities for blind and low vision learners presented as easy-to-follow recipes by TVIs. Episodes typically run 5 min. or less. They can be found on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok! @prcvi_arcbc

• Introduction

• Episode 1 - Paper Growth Chart

• Episode 2 - Colouring Screen Board

• Episode 3 - Magnet Fishing Game

• Episode 4 - Magic Bag

• Episode 5 - Tactile Sorting Game

• Episode 6 - Early Tracking Stories

  
  

APH Braille Refresher Weekly Questions

APH has launched Braille Refresher Questions, a weekly email inviting you to answer a multiple-choice question on a particular aspect of the braille code. They are topical and designed to keep your knowledge of braille sharp. These no-stakes Braille Refreshers are for fun; they are in no way a “test."

• Weekly
• Multiple choice
• Immediate feedback
  
• Anonymous
• Great for TVIs and students

To subscribe to these emails at any time, please send your name and braille-related title to BrailleImprovement@aph.org.

Teachers of Visually Impaired Students in the U.S. may order 4 FREE braille books through our TVIP program today!

How to order:

1. Order your 4 free 1-volume books online (no multi-volume books please)!

2. Use the code TVIP22 as your 'Purchase Order number' so you won't be asked to pay.

3. In the Check Out Information, please include your school name & address for our records. You may enter your home address in the 'Send to' information so the books don't go to empty school buildings.

4. Please understand that by ordering these free books, you are agreeing to be on our email list for our quarterly newsletters & other updates.
   

The National Library Service (NLS) is launching the Braille-on-Demand project that will allow patrons to receive one hard-copy braille title per month to keep for personal use. Available braille titles are limited to books currently available on BARD. You can request a book by filling out a form. You can also call the library or send an email to NLS Reference at nlsref@loc.gov if you need assistance completing the form.

The Department of Special Education, Visual Disabilities Program at Vanderbilt University has a short online survey (https://redcap.link/tactileAAC ). They are asking TVIs, SLPs, and severe disability special education teachers how they pick tactile AAC (augmentative & alternative communication systems) for students with VI. They are hoping to get participation from TVIs, SLPs, and severe disability special education teachers from throughout the United States. The deadline for the survey will be on Monday, October 31. Questions about the survey can be directed to Dr. Rachel Schles at rachel.schles@vanderbilt.edu”

Camp Abilities PA at WCU is a sports camp that aims to empower youth with visual impairments through sport, physical activity, and wellness education.

When: November 12, 2022 9am-5pm
Where: West Chester University, West Chester, PA
Typical Wellness Day Activities include:

• Strength Training
• Hiking
• Lawn Games
• Lacrosse
• Nutrition Education
• Wellness Lessons

New and returning athletes welcome. Register online by October 20th: https://forms.gle/eXUKxnocPvojSZn67 (Flyer in Prof. G. Drive)

Penn-Del AER invites you to submit a call for presentations, a call for posters, and/or register to be an exhibitor. We encourage all visual impairment education professionals to share their expertise by presenting their fresh ideas, innovative insights, successful programs, or research results at this well-respected annual event.

Call for Presentations: PDF Doc

Deadline Date: December 1, 2022

Good maps is now available at the PaTTAN Central Office Building. “GoodMaps Explore was specifically designed to be accessible for people who are blind or have low vision but provides navigation assistance to all. This simple and intuitive app can provide a list of points of interest (POIs), narrate what is nearby, and give detailed routing assistance. This highly accurate indoor navigation is powered by revolutionary camera-based positioning and LiDAR mapping technology.”

A vacancy exists for a PaTTAN - East! Family Support Specialist for Blindness and Visual Impairment (BVI)!

The Family Support Specialist will provide technical assistance and training related to blindness and visual impairment. They will:

• Be responsible for assisting and providing leadership in communication with families and educators on improving services to students who are blind or visually impaired.
• Design and develop family engagement training materials and resources in collaboration with educational consultants and other family support specialists that will be used across statewide BSE/PaTTAN initiative areas.
• Provide training and technical assistance and professional development to families and educational professionals.
• Work collaboratively with statewide family organizations.

*Please pass this information on to any family member of students with visual impairments you believe would be great in this position!

Come together with various professionals in the field of supporting students with visual impairments. This series is designed to support professionals in their daily practice. This discussion series will tackle various barriers that teachers may face as itinerant teachers and identify potential solutions to these barriers. New teachers and veteran teachers are welcome to attend to share their solutions, experiences, and relevant resources with their colleagues from across the Commonwealth.

• October 12, 2022: Starting the School Year Right!
• December 8, 2022: Progress Monitoring and Data Tracking
  
• February 2, 2023: TVI and O&M Time: Assistive Technology

• April 12, 2023: TVI and O&M Time: Educational Team Collaboration

• Location & Time: Virtual; 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Registration is open through the PaTTAN Calendar.

Registration Code: email Greg Gerhart (ggerhart@pattan.net)

• November 14-16, 2022 - State College, PA
• Hybrid Conference
• NEW! Poster Session & Exhibit hall
• Learn More!

BVI Strand:

Monday, November 14, 2022

• 1:00-2:30 pm -- The Connection Between Learning Theory and Student Progress: Reducing Barriers to Success - Leslie Thatcher

• 2:45-4:15 pm -- Executive Functioning: Foundational Skills for the Educator (and Student ) - Leslie Thatcher

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

• 8:00-9:15 am -- Literacy for Phase I and Early Phase II Students with CVI - Diane Sheline
  
• 12:45-2:45 pm -- Literacy for Late Phase II and Phase III Students with CVI - Diane Sheline
• 3:00-5:00 pm -- The LMA for Students with CVI - - Diane Sheline

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

• 8:00-10:00 am -- 21st Rigorous Expanded Core - Robin Clark
  
• 10:15-12:15 pm -- VT and TVI: The Difference is More Than Just the “I” - Kerry Lueders, Elise Ciner

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.

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.

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.

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
• Paths to Literacy
• Paths to Transition
• Paths to Technology

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.

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

PaTTAN Central - 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112

• Greg Gerhart - ggerhart@pattan.net

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

• Greg Lazur - glazur@pattan.net