“CUTTING EDGE”

Marriott Hotel at Laurel Park Place Livonia, Michigan April 25 & 26, 2013

KEYNOTE PRESENTERS
Robert Fried: Fortune 500 marketing strategist and bestselling author, Robert Michael Fried, strikes a refreshing balance between making money and making meaning. Fired now works with many industries on helping individuals and companies make a true difference worldwide.
PHONE: 713-410-0004 / EMAIL:
Lou Tutt received his Masters Degree in Visual Disabilities from Michigan State University, 1971. Lou worked at four different Schools for the Blind from 1971-2011(Michigan, Missouri, Maryland, Colorado) as teacher, coach, principal, superintendent, president. Lou came to AER April 1, 2011. Lou says, “once a teacher, always a teacher!”
PHONE: 703-671-4500 / EMAIL:
CONCURRENT SESSION PRESENTERS
Dorothy Goldie Addison, M.A. has served as a Teacher Consultant for the Visually Impaired, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Assistive Technology Consultant and Low Vision Coordinator during her 38 years of service. She is currently providing Low Vision
Training and Coaching to Teachers of the Visually Impaired as a Low Vision Consultant with Oakland Schools and MDE-LIO.
PHONE: 248-752-8859 / EMAIL:
Johanna Anand is a teacher for the visually impaired from Livonia Public Schools.
EMAIL:
Dawn Anderson, PhD, COMS, TVI, teaches for BLVS at WMU and coordinates the TVI certification program at Silver Lake College in WI. She spent 20 years teaching children and adults with visual impairment. She has additional training in assessment, Montessori and the development of language and movement.
PHONE: 269-387-5944 / EMAIL:
Kendra Booth is a Board-Certified music therapist with a Masters from IUPUI. She has worked in special education for 12 years, and often co-treats with other therapists to maximize students learning.
Micah Bormann started as a TCVI/O&M in Mecosta-Osceola and Wexford-Missaukee ISDs for five years before moving to Kalamazoo RESA for the last five. He has worked with students at all grade levels and currently manages a caseload of elementary, high school, and post-high school students. He is part of the MDE-LIO’s Independent Living Skills team, instructs part-time at Western Michigan University in the Blindness/Low Vision department, and continues to volunteer with WMU’s sports camp for students with visual impairments. His professional interests include assistive technology, assessment,
and school to work or college transitions for students with visual impairments.
EMAIL:
Kari Branham is a genetic counselor and research investigator at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center. She received her BS in Biomedical Sciences from Western Michigan University and her MS in Genetic Counseling from the University of Michigan. She has worked at the Kellogg Eye Center since 1999, where she began her work in genetic research studies of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. She currently provides genetic counseling for patients affected with Inherited Retinal Dystrophies, such as, Retinitis Pigmentosa and Stargardt disease. She also is involved in several different research studies working to understand more about the genetic basis for these conditions.
PHONE: 734-936-8638 / EMAIL:
Brian Celusnak is currently completing his Masters of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy at WMU. He was a technical consultant at the university’s Multipurpose Enabling Technology Lab for the past two years while taking courses toward his degree.
Elyse Connors, MA, CVRT, COMS, is a faculty specialist at WMU and is co coordinator of the VRT program. She has been in the field of vision for 10 years and has experience with students from birth through adulthood.
EMAIL:
Adam Danapilis is currently the Transition Coordinator for Kalamazoo RESA. Prior to this position, he provided special education services for 10 years as a teacher and teacher consultant at Coloma Junior High School and Parchment School District. He
provides leadership for training local school districts on overall compliance and best practice issues relating to high school and postsecondary students. His most recent project is overseeing Project SEARCH at Bronson Hospital, which is a training program to develop transferrable and marketable skills for gainful employment.
PHONE: 269-250-9710 / EMAIL:
Amanda English has a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Western Michigan University in Special Education for Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility. She has been a Teacher Consultant for Visually Impaired and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist with Kalamazoo RESA for the past 13 years. Amanda is a MDE-LIO Independent Living Skills Trainer and is involved in a number of committees and camps throughout the state. Amanda is currently working to incorporate Travel Instruction for individuals with impairments other than vision impairment into her organization.
PHONE: 269-250-9706 / EMAIL:
Jim Griffiths is the Manager of Test Administration and Reporting in the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability (BAA). His primary responsibilities include oversight of
the administration and reporting of all statewide assessments administered by the BAA.
Dr. Hessburg is a graduate of Marquette University School of Medicine. As an ophthalmologist inventor he has spoken worldwide. In 1972 he founded the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology. The Institute has used the collegial research model to advance artificial vision and to better understand the relationship between vision and the safe operation of a motorized vehicle.
PHONE: 313-824-4710 / EMAIL:
Robert A. Hohendorf, OD 1975 Graduated from Illinois College of Optometry; 1975-2004 Optometrist/owner South Kent Vision center and South Kent Vision Services; 2004 - present Optometrist and Co-Founder of Vision and Sensory Center of MI LLC; 1992-present International Lecturer in Vision, Visual Therapy and Neuro Optometric rehabilitation; 1975-present Member Of Wyoming LIONS Club; State director of LIONS of MI sight Conservation and Project Kidsight chair; Member and lecturer for the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (largest post graduate Optometric education organization in the world).
PHONE: 616-534-4953 / EMAIL:
Linda Howley is the Assessment Accessibility Specialist in the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability (BAA). She oversees all development and administration work related to providing K-12 students equitable access to statewide assessments. Her primary focus is determining the adequacy of test development features, such as universal design, accommodations, and scaffolding, with the goal of ensuring appropriate
accessibility on all state assessments.
PHONE: 517-241-2525 / EMAIL:
Ted Hull was an integral part of Motown, and a shaping force in Stevie Wonder’s life. For six years, he was Stevie’s private teacher, advisor, road manager, and constant companion. As a teacher, Ted enabled young Stevie to pursue his education and his career. As a man who is legally blind himself, Ted helped Stevie discover that blindness does not have to impair independence, nor limit life’s adventure.
Leamon Jones is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling and Special Ed. He is the Division Director of Consumer Services programs. He was the Southeast Regional Manager in the Detroit Office, as well as a lead counselor and a vocational counselor with the agency. He has worked with a variety of community partners, school districts and employers to enhance opportunities for persons who are blind and visually impaired to achieve successful employment and independent living.
PHONE: 517-373-0579 / EMAIL:
Patty Killey is a Teacher Consultant for the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialist with a Masters from WMU. She’s been working with students with visual impairments for 12 years. She has worked for Macomb County ISD, Saginaw County ISD and is currently working for Midland County ESA.
PHONE: 989-631-5892x179 / EMAIL:
Julie Kushman graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors- Major: Teacher for the Visually Impaired and Minor: Adaptive Physical Education. Graduated with a Masters from Western Michigan University- Orientation and Mobility. Total of four years experience teaching. Julie has volunteered at Camp T, Special Olympics, and Sports Camp. She is currently working for MDE-LIO on mentoring programs.
PHONE: 269-250-9712 / EMAIL:
Jessica Kusku is working for Oakland Schools as a TCVI. She is completing her Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University in April 2013 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from WMU. Jessica has been working in the field of education
for 7 years and has been involved in adaptive sports and adaptive technology for the blind for 10 years. Throughout her various jobs in education, Jessica has always used apple devices to complete her work. She is currently working on creating a “paperless” system for the itinerant teacher using the iPad.
EMAIL:
Dr. Helen Lee has been teaching at Western Michigan University since 1994. Her areas of expertise include Assistive Technology and well as Low Vision. She has co-facilitated several “hands-on” workshops on iOS devices with VoiceOver including at the 2012 AER Regional and International conferences.
PHONE: 269-303-7349 / EMAIL:
Peter A. Lichtenberg, Ph.D. is the Director of both the Institute of Gerontology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute. Dr. Lichtenberg is a Professor of Psychology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well. Dr. Lichtenberg has enhanced the Institute
of Gerontology’s research, education and community outreach by increasing research grants, founding a pre-doctoral training program for students, and creating such events as the Art of Aging and Healthier Black Elder’s Health Reception to educate the senior population. He has published numerous articles, served on many boards and is a wonderful gerontologist.
PHONE: 313-577-2297 / EMAIL:
Mindy Miller started her career in special education as part of a resource program at Portage North Middle School in Portage, Michigan. She spent five years there working with 7th grade students with all types of disabilities and supporting them in the general education curriculum. With some experience under her belt, she moved to Portage
Central High School where she had the opportunity to support all types of students both in resource classes and in general education. It was here she developed her true passion, the importance of the transition process from school to adult life for students with disabilities. After 2/12 years at Portage Central, she had the opportunity to move to Kalamazoo RESA, where she worked as the Transition Coordinator for 4 years. Since January of 2011, she has blended all of her experiences by supervising both the hearing and vision programs and services for Kalamazoo RESA, where she gets to work with wonderful staff and students that teach her more and more each day!
PHONE: 269-250-9701 / EMAIL:
Lynn Pensari is a certified orientation and mobility specialist for Livonia Public Schools.
PHONE: 734-744-2600x 43260 / EMAIL:
Sarah Stargardt is a TCVI/OM working for Oakland Schools. She was educated at Michigan State University and Western Michigan University. Sarah served as a TCVI/OM in Chicago Public Schools before moving to Michigan 2 years ago. She has been in the blindness and low vision field for 13 years and has a passion for incorporating the use of technology with her students. She is currently using the iPad with several students who have low vision as well as 2 students who are totally blind.
PHONE: 773-680-9942 / EMAIL:
Jill Vani is a former elementary school teacher. She joined Leader Dogs for the Blind in 2008 and currently works as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor.
PHONE: 248-613-8407 / EMAIL:

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