[MDPOBC] Fw: December Note 2020

Wed Dec 2 16:44:32 UTC 2020

December Note 2020

December 2020 MSB Outreach Note

[Logo of the Maryland School for the Blind. It reads: The Maryland School for the Blind, Achieving Independence]

December

Welcome to our December newsletter! Can you all believe it is already the first of the month? We have some great information and resources for you.

[Image reads: Maryland Regional Braille Challenge. Braille Institute.]
Maryland Regional Braille Challenge

A December to Remember? No, A Braille Challenge You Need to Remember!

The Maryland Regional Braille Challenge is going to be virtual on February 6th, 2021! So you can join us for all of the events planned! Registration<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=0a2e1a8526&e=0bbd9667c5> is now available for the Early Childhood Program and the NFB Exploration Program. Registration for the Braille Challenge itself will be available shortly. Please spread the word to your families - this is a wonderful opportunity for families and professionals to take advantage of all the Braille Challenge is offering this year! More details to come and check out the website<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=38056ba21f&e=0bbd9667c5>!

Calendar of events:

  *   January 30th - Don't Mute Me! I'm Planning for My Future: A Meet and Greet with Other Blind Professionals
  *   February 4th - Career Education Skills Webinar by Dareen Barrios, Assistant Principal, MSB
  *   February 6th – Maryland Regional Braille Challenge
  *   February 11th – Screen Reader Trouble Shooting, Cody LaPlante, eye.t Assistive Technology for Vision Professionals
  *   February 18th – Braillenote Touch Trouble Shooting, Cody LaPlante, eye.t Assistive Technology for Vision Professionals
  *   February 25th – Braille Displays: Two Truth and a Lie, Cody LaPlante, eye.t Assistive Technology for Vision Professionals
  *   February 27th – Maryland Regional Braille Challenge Award Ceremony

Today: CVI free virtual webinar: Assessment, CVI Range and FVA Practices
Dec 2, 2020 03:00 PM EST
Join our presenter Christopher Russell for a free CVI webinar on December 2, 2020. He will be focusing on CVI Assessment, the CVI range and FVA practices. Webinar WILL be recorded. Register NOW:
Register now for  CVI Assessment: CVI Range and FVA Practices<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=4fb54bfec4&e=0bbd9667c5>

Questions? Reach out to Ruth Ann Hynson: ruthh at mdschblind.org

The Bridges Project: Free Helpdesk
Save your time for teaching, let us do the research for you!
Let us help you check off items on your to-do list!
Call or email us anytime for assistance with finding resources for your student, or for advice on how to make lessons accessible and inclusive.

The free Bridges Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Students, Their Families, and Their Educators is staffed by individuals with professional expertise and personal experience with transition and with blindness/low vision and students with additional disabilities. The Helpdesk is a safe anonymous place for you to find answers to specific questions or to discuss issues or situations you’re dealing with. Inquiries are confidential, and we will never share identifying information from anyone who contacts the Helpdesk.

Contact the Helpdesk:

  *   Accessible web form<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=dd69f685fe&e=0bbd9667c5>
  *   Phone: (443) 320-4003 (voice mail only, please leave a detailed message and we will return your call)
  *   Email: Helpdesk at imagemd.org<mailto:Helpdesk at imagemd.org>
  *   Facebook page (@Bridges4MarylandBlindLowVisionTransition)
  *   NEW! Website: https://imagemd.org/bridges-help-desk/<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=2c63a5c5ef&e=0bbd9667c5>

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

MSB Outreach presents: VIRTUAL IMPROV SONG WRITING WORKSHOP
Invite all your students to this great songwriting workshop. Open to blind and low vision middle & high school students.

The Google link for registration is available here<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=42ad984cf0&e=0bbd9667c5>

Tuesday, Dec. 8th from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Contact Ruth Ann Hynson for questions: ruthh at mdschblind.org

Braille Readers are Leaders Contest
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is once again sponsoring a Braille Readers Are Leaders contest. Children can compete against peers at their same age level in order to see who can read the most braille pages between December 1 and January 18. Read for pleasure. See how many pages you can read. Win prizes!
For more information on Braille Readers are Leaders and to register <https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=9638cf9381&e=0bbd9667c5>

Teachers of Tomorrow Program

An immersive, professional development program that connects teachers of blind and low-vision students to the lived experiences of blind people, equipping participants with knowledge about the skills and attitudes that can help blind students thrive in school and beyond. The program is free to participants thanks to a partnership between the National Federation of the Blind and the Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation. If you are preparing for a career in teaching blind students, or if you are an early career educator looking to enhance your teaching, then the National Federation of the Blind invites you to apply for a spot in the first cohort.The training will begin in January and continue throughout 2021. Sessions will address Braille literacy, orientation and mobility, access technology, accessible STEM instruction, diversity, and other topics that participants wish to explore. Importantly, we center the perspective of the blind community, drawing on the expertise of blind mentors and teachers experienced in integrating this perspective into their work with students and families.

More information and application for Teachers of Tomorrow available here<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=68d41eae83&e=0bbd9667c5>

Braille letters from Santa
Your students can receive letters from Santa from both the National Federation of the Blind and Braille works.
Letters from Santa from Braille works<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=ba4560f9b9&e=0bbd9667c5>
Letters from Santa from the National Federation of the Blind<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=d8e463d538&e=0bbd9667c5>

NFB Scholarship Opportunities
The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland each administer a separate scholarship program for post-secondary students.  The deadline to apply for an NFB scholarship is March 31, 2021, and the deadline to apply for an NFBMD Scholarship is April 15, 2021.

National Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB awards 30 merit-based scholarships totaling at least $120,000
To apply: Submit an application using the online application system<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=76f2cf35ef&e=0bbd9667c5> at  or download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by visiting:  National Scholarship website <https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=c4c4fe9775&e=0bbd9667c5>

State Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB of Maryland awards the John T. McCraw Scholarship to up to four students with a combined maximum total of $10,000.
Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by 11:59PM on April 15, 2021.
Submit an application usging the Maryland application system<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=98fba7fc3a&e=0bbd9667c5> or download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by visiting: Maryland scholarship application page<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=313fd5f020&e=0bbd9667c5>

MD/DC AER upcoming events
*Offered in conjunction with Maryland State Steering Committee for Programs Serving Students with Visual Impairments. ALL SESSIONS ARE FREE!

Dec 2, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: CVI Assessment: CVI Range and FVA Practices<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=a10a1cdabc&e=0bbd9667c5>
Register in advance for this webinar:

Jan 13, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: CVI Intervention Approaches and Strategies by Phase<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=df0a610fec&e=0bbd9667c5>
Register in advance for this webinar:

Feb 17, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: CVI and Communication Adaptations<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=bb642a960e&e=0bbd9667c5>
Register in advance for this webinar:

Apr 7, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Conducting an Informal CVI Range Assessment Virtually During the 20-21 School Year<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=5ba336429f&e=0bbd9667c5>
Register in advance for this webinar:

--Your DC/MD AER Board of Directors:
President: Ruth Ann Hynson
Past-President: Josh Irzyk (replacing Michelle Horseman because she no longer lives in Maryland)
President Elect: Dareen Barrios
Secretary: Kaitlin Kernan
Treasurer: Alan Kaufman
Members at Large: Krista Harris-Hermann, Gina Fugate, Rebecca Hommer, Matthew Spencer, Deb Nikila

Dare to be Remarkable Conference
A three-day national training conference for education and rehabilitation professionals who work with blind and low vision transition-aged students or adults.

Tuesday, December 15 through Thursday, December 17, 2020
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET
This conference will be hosted live via the Zoom conference platform.
Get more information on the conference here <https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=a9fe0f699b&e=0bbd9667c5>

Beyond Finger Walks: Multi-sensory Adventures for Body, Mind and Spirit

December 4, 2020, 2:00-3:00 PM  EST
She is back! Maia Scott returns to the APH Access Academy platform to share her passion for labyrinths of all shapes sizes. We invite you to come and build upon what Maia shared in July of this year. Be prepared to leave the academy with a better idea of incorporating, adapting, and creating finger labyrinths in a time of distance learning.
Register Here.<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=bc245e6478&e=0bbd9667c5>

Save the Date: ACB 2021 Convention
The Maryland American Council of the Blind convention will take place January 29-30, 2020. More information coming soon.

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