AZ AER Fall Conference

November 6-7, 2008

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Theme: “Get Moving: Physical fitness, sports, and movement activities for persons with visual impairment, including those with multiple disabilities”

KEYNOTE: “The Potential of Prosthetic Vision,” Duane Geruschat

The possibility of offering partial sight to the blind is upon us. Retinal prosthetics and cortical implants are rapidly moving from the laboratory to studies with humans who have implants. This presentation is an overview of the various new technologies that have been developed for offering prosthetic vision. The first large-scale clinical studies of this technology included an assessment of mobility skills. This presentation will also describe the functional challenges and opportunities with prosthetic vision in the context of movement activities.

  1. “The Importance of Physical Activity for Students with Visual Impairments and Its Effect on Academic Success and Social Interactions,” Kathy Zwald

Childhood obesity has more than doubled since 1990, and the health consequences are reflected in the rising cost of health care. The problem has been compounded by the significant drop in physical education programming in schools. The lack of physical activity and issues of weight can compromise the ability of the individual who is blind or visually impaired to maneuver through the environment safely and efficiently. This presentation describes the results of a study in which 175 TVIs shared their perceptions regarding the importance of physical activity and obesity and their relationship with academic success and social relationships.

  1. “Rhythm & Rhyme for the Visually Impaired,” Sandra Cook

In this lively session, participants will learn movement activities to enhance any lesson while increasing their own and their students’ self-confidence, balance and coordination, Included will be activities to increase reciprocal movement in students who are blind.

  1. “Tips and Tricks Sharing Session for Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (VRTs),” Patty-Arnold

Division XI sharing time- “Tips and Tricks Sharing Session for Vision Rehabilitation Therapists(VRTs)” –Bring your ideas on what’s new in terms of techniques: Bring devices to show; or just talk about what you’ve been up to lately as a VRT.

  1. “Adaptive At Home Exercises & Workouts for Children, Young Adults, and Older Adults,” Rachel Reitz, David Deweese, Lisa Banta

The presentation will discuss how to adapt specific exercises and/or an exercise programs at home for children, young adults, and older adults with visual impairments and/or multiple disabilities. The focus of the presentation will include a discussion of the numerous benefits of exercise.

  1. “I Don't See Very Well; Let's Cross a Big Street,” Duane Geruschat

Crossing at complex intersections is one of the most challenging experiences for the visually impaired traveler. The challenges include the need to acquire and process information that is constantly changing, and to make a crossing decision that is time sensitive. Using a portable eye tracker, we measure the visual behavior of low vision subjects while crossing the street. We categorize their visual behavior and compare it to their ability to identify the appropriate time to cross. A series of studies will be presented that demonstrate the visual demands and challenges when crossing the street.

  1. “Developing Compensatory Skills Through Outdoor Activities: How Global Explorer Programs Work for Students,” Oscar Quitero & Matt Hogel

The Global Explorers-Leading the Way adventure travel program not only enhances physical endurance and stamina but also challenges and develops compensatory skills for personswith a visual impairment. Oscar, visually impaired participant, and Matt, TVI, share their experiences from their summer 2008 expedition to Machu Picchu, Peru.

  1. “Enjoying the Outdoors with a GPS and a Dog Guide,” April & Jim Martin

The Sendero Group GPS’s ability to program manual routes makes it easy to enjoy the outdoors with greater independence following a path in a rural or non-mapped area with ease. Programming points of interest can further enhance the experience. Traveling with a dog guide can enable a totally blind person to travel quickly and with confidence. This session will describe how these techniques and devices can greatly enhance the camping and outdoor experience for those who are visually impaired.

  1. “All that Walking and a Career, too? How to Infuse O&M, TVI, and Career Ed While Walking the Streets of Town,” Dorinda Rife

Our students have such packed schedules from kindergarten on… how do we fit career awareness/exploration/planning into an already-packed day? Hint: We don’t do it alone or in isolation. This session will outline the process of helping visually impaired students examine the world of work as part of their O&M and ADL training. Career education curricula will be shared as well as a variety of lesson plans that move through the years with the child.

  1. “Raising Children: What Parents Tell Us and How TVIs, O&M Specialists and CVRTs Can Prepare Children and Adults for Parenthood,” Penny Rosenblum & Beth Harris

Raising children is a huge undertaking. We will share the experiences of parents who are visually impaired and are raising children. They shared many insights and strategies with us. We will discuss considerations for professionals who are working with children and adults. Attendees will gain practical ideas they can use in supporting current and future parents.

  1. “Believe and You Can Achieve!!!!,” Megan O’Connell & Kathy Zwald

Physical activity and exercise is an important component of a child’s daily educational program. Each student has the opportunity to access this curriculum through the appropriate accommodations in the program. This presentation will outline several modalities, adaptations and modifications for a student with visual impairment to successfully utilize a public school physical education curriculum.

  1. “Making Movement Fun for the Little Ones,” Venetia Hayden & Vicki Numkena

The presenterswill discuss fun ways to encourage movement in babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Trike riding over bubble wrap is way more FUN that just riding the trike. Attendees will learn how to make a semi little room in a home and other fun ways for making movement fun for the youngest of our clients.

  1. “VICTORSTREAM: Making Reading Easier, More Portable, and More Accessible,” April Martin

The VictorStream is the first device to provide access to the NLS/Talking Book digital pilot program; making it the first digital talking book machine. It also reads several other formats, including: text files, MP3, HTML, bookshare books, RFB&D books and audible.com files. The device is also an excellent digital recorder. The VictorStream is portable, light weight and easy to use.

  1. “Do Drivers Yield to Pedestrians When They Use a White Cane?,” Duane Geruschat

One of the main advantages of the white cane is that is communicates to drivers that the pedestrian has the right of way, encouraging the driver to yield. Many states also have a white cane law that requires drivers to yield to pedestrians who are carrying the white cane. We evaluated driver behavior to determine if they would yield to pedestrians at entry and exit lanes of a roundabout finding that under some but not all conditions drivers would yield. The implications for mobility instruction and for pedestrians who carry a white cane will be presented.

  1. “Laptop with Braille Display or Notetaker? An objective Comparison,” Dave Wilkinson, HumanWare

Blind people have been enjoying the power and productivity offered in notetakers such as the BrailleNote for years. Now the mainstream world has caught on. Computers are getting smaller and more powerful every day. Refreshable Braille displays are taking less of a footprint as well, and there are a multitude of connectivity options available. Thus, the question arises, "What should I choose—a notetaker or small computer with a refreshable Braille display?"

  1. “Connecting You and Your Families with AFB's & NAPVI's FamilyConnect Web Site,” Penny Rosenblum

NAPVI and AFB have teamed up to develop FamilyConnect, a phenomenal web site for families of children of all ages and abilities. Families can find content on a wide array of topics, meet others on message boards, read the blog, find services in their communities, and check for events on a calendar. Video clips and powerful video clips let families hear from other families.

AND More!!! “Trekker Breeze Walking Tours,” Kevin Hughes, HumanWare

HumanWare is pleased to offer hands on, outdoor, walking demonstrations with the "New Trekker Breeze GPS device". The Trekker Breeze is designedwith simplicity and accessibility in mind. During this outdoor tour theattendees will be shown how to create landmarks, search for nearbypoints of interest and create a route to a previously designatedlandmark.

Sessions will be one half hour in length offered at the following times:

Thurs. 2:00-2:30, 5:00-6:00 & Fri. 9:30-10:00

Please contact Kevin Hughes to reserve space for walking demonstration via email at r stop by the HumanWare tableto sign up.

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