<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Segoe UI";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.normaltextrun
{mso-style-name:normaltextrun;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal>FYI – just sharing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> the-nrtc-newsletter-request@lists.msstate.edu <the-nrtc-newsletter-request@lists.msstate.edu> <b>On Behalf Of </b>nrtc-blv@colled.msstate.edu<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 3, 2024 8:08 AM<br><b>To:</b> the-nrtc-newsletter@lists.msstate.edu<br><b>Subject:</b> News from the NRTC - Winter 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><img width=864 height=414 style='width:9.0in;height:4.3166in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01DA3E57.4F3919B0" alt="A red rectangular sign with white text
Description automatically generated"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>4to24 App: For Parents of Deaf-Blind Youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:105%;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>The 4to24 app is a free mobile app created for parents of youth who are deaf-blind or have combined hearing and vision loss and additional disabilities. It covers ages 4 to 24, from preschool age into young adulthood. It focuses on reaching the youth’s highest potential for independence, community engagement, and employment. <a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/news/newsletters/winter-2024-quarterly-connections-news-nrtc" title="To learn more, select the link.">Learn more…</a></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Current Research Highlight: Job Search Skills Training via Videoconference<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Job search skills training has proven to be an effective method for enhancing employment prospects among job seekers and positively impacting the well-being of individuals facing employment barriers. In one study, people who are blind or have low vision identified job search skills knowledge as a significant facilitator to employment, but a curriculum specific to this population was not available. The purpose of this project is to… <a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/news/newsletters/winter-2024-quarterly-connections-news-nrtc" title="To learn more, select the link.">Learn more…</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Training and Technical Assistance<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;background:white'><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:105%;background:white'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>New Online Course</span></i></b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:white'><a href="https://nrtc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/cultural-humility" title="To learn more about this course, select the link.">Cultural Diversity and Humility</a> provides an overview of key considerations for providing vision rehabilitation services with cultural awareness, humility, and competence… <a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/news/newsletters/winter-2024-quarterly-connections-news-nrtc" title="To learn more, select the link.">Learn more…</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:105%;background:white'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Featured Resource</span></i></b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>In celebration of January being Braille Literacy Month, the NRTC shares a featured course: </span><a href="https://nrtc.catalog.instructure.com/courses/braille-what-it-is" title="To learn more about this course, select the link."><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Braille: What It Is and Why It Is Important</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. This course provides an overview of how the code works, the equipment used for reading and writing braille, and barriers faced by those who want to learn and use braille… <span style='color:black'><a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/news/newsletters/winter-2024-quarterly-connections-news-nrtc" title="To learn more, select the link.">Learn more…</a></span><span style='color:#050505;background:white'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#050505;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Other NRTC News<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Vision Specialist Program Updates<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>We are proud of the 13 graduates of our Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation program for their extraordinary work in completing this intensive program! Additionally, we are pleased to announce that we have selected 14 professionals for the 2024 class... </span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/news/newsletters/winter-2024-quarterly-connections-news-nrtc" title="To learn more, select the link."><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'>Learn more…</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Publications, Presentations, and Miscellanies<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Publications<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>Cmar, J. L., & Steverson, A. (2023). </span><a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/research/publications" title="To access this publication on our website, select the link."><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'>Confidence and expectations among parents of and students with visual impairments</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>. <i>The New RE:view</i>, <i>1</i>(2), 51-67.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>Moffitt, C. (2023). </span><a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/research/publications" title="To access this publication on our website, select the link."><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'>Using checklists as a vocational rehabilitation tool for employed consumers</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>. <i>Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness</i>, <i>117</i>(5), 380-382.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>McDonnall, M. C., Cmar, J. L., & McKnight, Z. S. (2023). </span><a href="https://www.blind.msstate.edu/research/publications" title="To access this publication on our website, select the link."><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'>College degree majors and associated earnings: Are there differences between people with visual impairments and the general population?</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'> <i>Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation</i>, <i>59</i>(3), 263–272.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>McDonnall, M. C., Sessler-Trinkowsky, R., & Steverson, A. (in press). Use of braille in the workplace by people who are blind. <i>Journal on Technology and Persons with Disabilities</i>.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>McDonnall, M. C., Steverson, A., & Boydstun, J. (in press). Actual and preferred methods for learning to use assistive technology. <i>Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits</i>.</span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>Upcoming Webinars</span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:none'>January 19 (2:00 pm CST) – <i>Braille and Beyond!</i>: <span class=normaltextrun>With so many new and exciting things happening at NLS, it’s a great time to get to know what’s going on at the nation’s free library for people with visual and print disabilities, along with how it might be a great resource for your clients. The presenter will give an overview of what NLS has to offer in audio and braille, as well as how to enroll with the NLS cooperating library in your state or territory, and share some book lists to get your clients started! To learn more and register, visit our </span></span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="https://www.oib-tac.org/events/2023/12/braille-and-beyond" title="To learn more and register, select the link."><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'>event page</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>.</span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:105%;page-break-after:avoid'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>Upcoming Presentations</span></i></b><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>McDonnall, M. C., & Sessler-Trinkowsky, R. (2024, January 26). <i>Actual and preferred methods for learning to use assistive technology</i>. ATiA – Assistive Technology Industry Association, Orlando, FL.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white'>McDonnall, M. C., & Sessler-Trinkowsky, R. (2024, March 18-22). <i>Use of braille in the workplace by people who are blind</i>. CSUN, Anaheim, CA.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Additional NRTC News and Activities</span></b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Visit our website at </span><u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.blind.msstate.edu/" target="_blank" title="To visit the NRTC online, select the link.">www.blind.msstate.edu</a></span></u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>, like us on </span><u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theNRTC" target="_blank" title="To visit the NRTC on Facebook, select the link. ">Facebook</a></span></u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>, or follow us on </span><u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="https://twitter.com/MSU_NRTC" target="_blank" title="To visit X on Twitter, select the link.">X</a></span></u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'>,</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nrtc_blv/" title="To visit the NRTC on Instagram, select the link. ">Instagram</a>, <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nrtc-blindness-lowvision" target="_blank" title="To visit the NRTC on LinkedIn, select the link.">LinkedIn</a></u>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0-KPtZieU1ymDmzVjo2Gdg" title="To view the NRTC YouTube, select the link.">YouTube</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>This newsletter was supported in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIDILRR grant 90RTEM0007-01-00. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Health and Human Services, and should not indicate endorsement by the Federal Government. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to interested parties. </span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>To unsubscribe, send an email to </span><u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:sympa@lists.msstate.edu" target="_blank" title="To send an email to sympa@lists.msstate.edu, select the link.">sympa@lists.msstate.edu</a></span></u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'> with unsubscribe the-nrtc-newsletter in the message body. To subscribe or change your contact information, contact the NRTC at </span><u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:nrtc@colled.msstate.edu" target="_blank" title="To email the NRTC, select the link.">nrtc@colled.msstate.edu</a></span></u><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>