[MDPOBC] Fw: January 2021 note

Wed Jan 6 21:16:51 UTC 2021

January 2021 note
January 2021 MSB Outreach Note

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

January

Happy new year to all of you! Wether you are in person, online or hybrid we hope the year is off to a great start.

[2021 Maryland Regional Braille Challenge Logo  Picture shows 2021 Maryland Regional Braille Challenge Logo. Braille Readers Run on Dots appears in sym Braille. There are 4 icons in a row. The first icon shows hands reading dots, the second is a person running with a cance, the third icon shows the word "on " in print and the last icon shows a full Braille cell.]
2021 Maryland Regional Braille Challenge

The 2021 Maryland Regional Braille Challenge will be hosting a variety of webinars open to everyone! Please visit our Calendar of Events<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=f49b1b7869&e=0bbd9667c5> page to learn about what we are offering and what is open for registration at this time. Thank you!

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

Nominate a teacher for the Braille Institute Teacher of the year award
Nominate an amazing educator in Maryland for the Braille Institute's "Teacher of the Year for Excellence in Braille Instruction"  award. Go to the Maryland Regional Braille Challenge Awards page<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=966f58ad2d&e=0bbd9667c5> to nominate a deserving colleague. Nominations are due by Wednesday, February 22 so we can recognize them at the virtual Braille Challenge Awards Ceremony on February 27th.

Make and Take: Make your Word documents accessible
Calling all educators!
Learn how to make your word documents accessible to all students. Making your documents accessible ensures students can participate in your instruction without barriers. Bring a word document with you to make accessible during this session. No prior knowledge needed. This would be a great course for general educators.

Objectives:

  1.  Participants will learn the basic components of accessible documents and how to implement them
  2.  Participants will learn how to conduct their own accessibility checks of their word documents

January 26 at 3-4:30 pm EST via Zoom
Questions contact: Conchita.hernandez at maryland.gov

Register for webinar here<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=bcab08131f&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!

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=c0fcbfd890&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=49e2cc06da&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=e86cd64b0e&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

Recorded webinars
We now have our past AER webinars and others posted to our Youtube page. We have had great feedback on the presenters. Check them out below and subscribe to our Youtube channel<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=bbdc0bb1b9&e=0bbd9667c5> to get updates on all our latest content.

  *   Chris Russell Presentation: CVI Overview/Characteristics and Phases: Updates from the Field<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=327fd24917&e=0bbd9667c5>
  *   Chris Russell Presentation: CVI Assessment: CVI Range and FVA Practices<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=96d85ca4c2&e=0bbd9667c5>

The Bridges Project: Free Helpdesk
Happy New Year!
As we embark into 2021, please reach out to the free Bridges Helpdesk.
We stand ready to help you. We are staffed by individuals with professional expertise and personal experience with transition and with blindness/low vision and students with additional disabilities. All inquiries are confidential, and we will never share identifying information from anyone who contacts the Helpdesk.
Call, email, or complete our online intake form anytime, and please encourage your students and their parents to do so also.

  *   Accessible web form<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=089830cf61&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>

Check out our Transition Tip Tuesdays on our Facebook page<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=50fefdb402&e=0bbd9667c5>.
Visit our Bridges Helpdesk website<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=b9cc0dba90&e=0bbd9667c5> and check out our past Transition Tips on our Bridges Blog<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=8bb287bbbc&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.

MIRC has Spanish Braille Bricks
Do you work with a Spanish speaking family whose child is a braille reader or emerging braille reader? MIRC through APH now has Spanish Braille Bricks (as well as English ones). They are a great way to build braille literacy and engagement. Conchita Hernandez will be putting on webinars for families using the Spanish Braille Bricks with activities and information. If you would like to order a set, please reach out to your TVI who will be in contact with MIRC.
More information on the webinars coming soon.

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=63aee0e98a&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=a3929787df&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=bd36c897d3&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=4b7079af97&e=0bbd9667c5>

ACB 2021 Convention
The American Council of the Blind of Maryland is pleased and proud to announce our first-ever virtual convention, and you’re cordially invited to join us. Our convention will be held via Zoom and on ACB Radio on Friday, January 29 and Saturday, January 30, 2021, and registration is $10 per device. Although anyone is more than welcome to listen in free-of-charge through ACB Radio, your $10 registration will make you eligible to win door prizes and to ask questions of our presenters through Zoom. We also have several levels of monetary sponsorship, by which organizations/individuals can support our affiliate. Sponsors will be acknowledged throughout the convention.

Although several aspects of our program aren’t completely firmed up yet, here’s a sneak peak as to what you can expect when you make your virtual visit to Maryland in January, 2021:

Friday, January 29, 2021 – Exhibitors
5:00pm – 5:30pm Guidelights and Gadgets, Barry Scheur
gadgets for the audio or computer geek in all of us

5:30pm – 6:00pm Guidelights and Gadgets, Kaeann Rausch
Products and toys for your guide dog

6:00pm – 6:30pm:  AT Guys, J.J. Meddaugh
Blind shell phone and other products

6:30pm – 7:00pm:  Harbolt Company, Brent Harbolt
Information about their products and services

7:00pm – 7:30pm:  Pampered Chef, Margo Hope
What’s new and popular at Pampered Chef

7:30pm – 8:00pm:  Youngevity, Beverly Thompson
Health and wellness products

8:00pm – 8:30pm:  Mitsy Kit, Tammy Roussell
craft kits designed especially for the visually impaired

8:30pm – 9:00pm:  MDTAP, Denise Schuler
Maryland’s technology lending and demonstration center

Saturday, January 30, 2021
9:00am – 9:55am:  Introduction and welcome, Jo Ann Kucic, ACBM President;
Meryl Shecter, convention committee chair;
Introduction of convention committee and Master of Ceremonies, Patrick Sheehan

9:15am – 10:00am:  John Owen, Director, Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled
What’s new besides the name at the Maryland regional library, especially the new e-reader pilot program

10:00am – 10:45am:  panel discussion - How are ACB and Maryland dealing with the continuing Coronavirus pandemic
Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind and
Cecilia Warren, Director, Emergency Preparedness Policy, Maryland Department of Disabilities

10:45am – 11:00am:  Break, then door prizes!

11:00am – 12:00pm: Panel discussion - on-line food shopping
Instacart: Sandra Sermons, Consumer
Giant: Kendra Gibson, E-Commerce Sales Manager, Giant Food
Safeway: Robyn Hughes, consumer
Groceries by Phone: Todd Tolson

12:00pm – 12:30pm:  Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Magdalena Felton
Information concerning non-24 sleep disorder in blind people

12:30pm – 1:00pm: status report on Making a Real Change Happen (MARCH)
Sandra Sermons

1:00pm – 1:30pm: Update from Capital Area Guide Dog Users,
Ray Raysor, President

1:30pm – 3:15pm:  The wonderful world of Alexa and information on other Amazon products

3:15pm – 3:30pm:  Break, then door prizes!

3:30pm – 4:30pm:  Chesapeake Bay, Maryland’s greatest resource
Alexis Dickerson, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis, MD

4:30 – 5:00pm: Exhibitor: TCS Associates, Matt Belcher
Information on their products and services

5:00 – 5:30pm  Panel discussion – Floating bus stops and other hazardous transportation issues
Pat Sheehan, ACB Environmental Access Committee and
MaryBeth Cleveland, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, A to B and Back

5:30 – 6:00pm:  Panel discussion – Services to visually-impaired Marylanders from youth to adulthood
Conchita Hernandez: Statewide Blind and Low Vision Specialist, Maryland State Department of Education and
Toni March, Director, Office of Blindness and Vision Services, Maryland State Department of Education

6:00pm - 6:30pm Social time:

6:30pm – 7:30pm:  virtual banquet, including
Speaker, Chris Baugh, Reminiscences from a beloved teacher and mentor to many blind Marylanders

presentation of the newly formed Charles H. Crawford Leadership Award
Presenter, Susan Crawford
Presented to Cecilia Warren

7:30pm – 10:00pm  ACB of MD annual auction
auctioneer: Ray Raysor, assisted by Jane Carona

A word about the auction:  We’re hard at work gathering great auction items.  If you’d like to donate an auction item, please contact Jane Carona at 301-598-2131 or jane.e.carona at gmail.com<mailto:jane.e.carona at gmail.com>

How to register:  As previously mentioned, registration is $10 per device, and can be paid with credit card or by check.  To pay with credit card, please call or e-mail Jane Carona.  Checks payable to ACB of MD may be sent to the address shown below.  Registration is open now, and we’d like to have all registrations in by January 25, 2021.

We’ve worked very hard on making our convention fun and informative, and we hope you’ll think so too.  We look forward to you joining us in January!

Jane Carona, Treasurer
American Council of the Blind of Maryland
3511 Forest Edge Dr., #1G
Silver Spring MD  20906
301-598-2131
Jane.e.carona at gmail.com<mailto:Jane.e.carona at gmail.com>

Nemeth Courses

We (TSBVI) are offering several free online courses for teachers and paraprofessionals regarding Teaching and Learning the Nemeth Code. We will soon be offering the 3rd course (for a second time), and the 4th course online through registration. However, the first two courses have now been released and placed online for independent study, and they are located at: https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/resources/project-inspire-free-self-paced-courses-increase-stem-potential-individuals-who-read<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=9e21408a4b&e=0bbd9667c5>.

The new year is really starting out with a bang and many new STEM opportunities!!

Best wishes,
Susan

Susan A Osterhaus
Statewide Mathematics Consultant
Outreach Programs
Texas School for the Blind
  And Visually Impaired
1100 West 45th Street
Austin, TX 78756
susanosterhaus at tsbvi.edu<mailto:susanosterhaus at tsbvi.edu>
www.tsbvi.edu/math<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=bfff13c494&e=0bbd9667c5>
http://www.tsbvi.edu/videos-webinars/mathematics<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=b218a2f1c7&e=0bbd9667c5>
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/resources/project-inspire-free-self-paced-courses-increase-stem-potential-individuals-who-read<https://maryland.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=da8f913f82891276e85e5bd03&id=e4c6bfd1bc&e=0bbd9667c5>

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