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Low Vision/Blindness Sessions.

 

These sessions will focus on strategies, tools, and other resources to help educate and guide student with varying degress of vision loss.  Sessions will be open to anyone interested in learning to improve students' lives in and out of the classroom.

Transitioning Blind & Visually Impaired Students from School to Work
Kevin Maynus

Thursday Session 1 9:45-10:45

Thursday Session 2 11:00-12:00

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This session will provide a brief overview of the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services Blind and Visually Impaired program, while discussing WVDRS Tentative Projects, WIOA and maintaining a strong collaborative relationship with Education to assist students in developing realistic and obtainable employment goals.

Implementing a Dual Media Curriculum
Trina Britcher

Thursday Session 1 9:45-10:45

Thursday Session 2 11:00-12:00

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Whenever braille and print are taught and used simultaneously, we call this Dual Media.  This presentation will cover how and when we make the decision to use dual media.  We will also review ways we can implement dual media with our students.  Often, we struggle to get students "on board" with this decision.  A method will be presented which outlines how to include our student in decision making. 

Developing Pre-Braille Skills
Debbie Adams

Thursday Session 1 9:45-10:45

Thursday Session 2 11:00-12:00

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We will discuss the foundational pre-Braille skills needed as well as discuss activities to use to develop pre-braille skills.

An Introduction to VoiceOver on the Mac
John Panarese

Thursday Session 3 1:00-2:00

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This session will cover the basics to VoiceOver, including important keyboard commands and information on how VoiceOver works with applications on the Mac

Assessment & Instruction in Problem Solving Skills in O&M
Fabiana Perla

Thursday Session 3 1:00-2:00

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Problem-solving skills are critical to remain safe and oriented while traveling in a variety of environments. This presentation proposes an approach for assessing current levels of problem solving skills and developing individualized strategies that take into account the student’s age, cognitive abilities and skill level in the area of problem solving.  Video clips and samples from the presenter’s experience will be used to illustrate the proposed strategies and approach.

​NOAH -Supporting Your Students with Albinism
Dan Oates

Thursday Session 3 1:00-2:00

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Patient support groups are a key resource for rare eye conditions that you can share with your clients/students and student’s parents.  NOAH is a one of a kind organization that provides information and support to people with albinism and the parents of children with albinism.  This presentation:
• gives a very brief history of NOAH,
• describes NOAH’s mission and vision,
• and provides a description of the broad range of services and provided by NOAH.

Mac for the Blind:
VoiceOver Gestures on the iPad and iPhone
John Panarese

Thursday Session 4 2:15-3:15

Friday Session 7 11:15-12:15

This session will cover all of the basic VoiceOver gestures on the iDevices and how they are used to operate a device.

Student Created O&M Portfolios
Fabiana Perla

Thursday Session 4 2:15-3:15

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This presentation discusses the use of O&M portfolios  created by children with visual impairments and their potential to promote student ownership and improve teacher-family communication. Potential uses of a mobility portfolio will be discussed, illustrated with concrete examples from students. Suggestions for constructing O&M portfolios that match the style, level of ability, and needs of various students, including the use of multimedia or electronic portfolios, will also be presented. 

Accessible Media for Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired
Cindy Camp

Friday Session 5 8:30-9:30

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Research has shown that the use of multimedia in the classroom is beneficial to all students.  However, teachers of the visually impaired may not use video because they are not familiar with audio description or cannot locate accessible media.  The Described and Captioned Media Program is a free, federally funded program, which provides accessible educational classroom media. Learn about this free resource and how accessible media can enhance your classroom.

CVRP Camp
Rebecca Coakley

Friday Session 5 8:30-9:30

Friday Session 6 10:00-11:00

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CVRP is a resource to teacher, students and parents. CVRP has many components (low vision clinics, mentor program, teacher training program, summer institutes, CVI clinics, low vision technology, functional vision assessments and bioptic clinics). Providing information, devices and technical support to your district through the many programs will enhance the education of your students.

Determining Your Student's Technology Toolkit
Donna Brown

Friday Session 5 8:30-9:30

Friday Session 6 10:00-11:00

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What is a Technology Toolkit? Why does a VI student need a Technology Toolkit? How do you determine what should be in a student’s Technology Toolkit, and who determines what tools should be in it? At what age should a VI student’s Technology Toolkit be created? Come and find answers to these and any other questions about a VI student’s Technology Toolkit as they  progress through their school years.

Access to JAWS, MAGic, and Video Magnifier Through APH Quota Funds
Michael Wood

Friday Session 6 10:00-11:00

Friday Session 7 11:15-12:15

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This session will focus on understanding the differences between Screen Reading and Magnification and the best combinations for your students. Attendees will have hands-on time with a portable handheld video magnifier.  Learn details about all the free resources that come with these APH offerings from VFO and Freedom Scientific including Training materials to assist Teachers and students with Typing, Windows Keyboarding and using JAWS and MAGic from the Keyboard.

Introduction to the WVIRC Online Library System
Mike Karolchik

Thursday Session 3 1:00-2:00

Thursday Session 4 2:15-3:15

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This session is a hands-on learning session of the new WVIRC online ordering and inventory system. Mr. Karolchick will take you through the sections of the database and the registration/ordering process.

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