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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Evening All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>IK was asked to share the below message with our membership. Please share with others as appropriate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My Best,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marty<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Hello,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>I hope this message finds you well. I am part of a research team at Texas Tech University led by Drs. Adam Schmidt and Sarah Victor. We are conducting an NIH-funded project (Grant number: R01ey036767). Our project is the first of its kind and focuses on the experiences that blind, visually impaired, and low vision children have and how those experiences impact their mental and physical health. Dr. Schmidt is blind and the father of a visually impaired child, while Dr. Victor also has lived experience with a disability.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>We are recruiting children who are blind, have low vision, or are visually impaired, along with their primary caregiver, to participate in a virtual study. Children must be between the ages of 9 and 17 and located in the United States. Any child who is blind, low vision, or visually impaired and who can communicate (in any form) about their thoughts, emotions, and perceptions are eligible to participate regardless of whether they have other disabilities. Our sessions will take around 3-4 hours and consist of accessible surveys and interviews with parent and child. Families can be compensated up to $250, if they complete all portions of the study. We will also provide all participating families with mental health resources in their state because we will be asking for sensitive mental health information, and we want to make sure families have the resources if there should be significant concerns that may arise during the research.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, you can check out our website at <a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youthviewresearch.org%2f&c=E,1,h-5TVwePgik_CipEOtRoMYA1WWwdCzlh1Tim9F3q7W_MLooCffD1HBc8AOHRTzpoHmnQjDRqT14D64k5YPDuGH_Xsdgk66_NFXL-GlzYu1sR&typo=1" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.youthviewresearch.org/. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://www.youthviewresearch.org/</a>. There, you can learn more about our team and the project, as well as reach out with any questions. If you are interested in enrolling you can complete our screening survey (<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2ftinyurl.com%2fwhalaby&c=E,1,LjuKRFzweuRKdKnPpRowpKDo-CnLcOJzw81HnJUx9L2YGI1e9-G4WkbKTvqaFHm-unkd18VyAkP6TPSkUSzya9DeH_61IfgkOKH7ydhVytXqIwebja8,&typo=1" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://tinyurl.com/whalaby. Click or tap if you trust this link.">tinyurl.com/whalaby</a>) and a team member will reach out to schedule a session with you and your child, if you are eligible. Feel free to share our attached flier with anyone you know who may be interested in learning more about our research.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>If you are Interested in assisting with recruitment, you can act as a WHALABY Ambassador. You would serve as a local representative of our national study to share our information about the study and its findings in your local region. If you opt to help spread the word about our paid research opportunities with families on behalf of our team, you will have your name entered for two annual drawings for $250 Amazon gift cards. Your efforts would ensure that our work captures the experiences of as many families in the U.S. as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>If you have any other questions or interest in participation, you can reach out to us directly via email at <a href="mailto:psychology.youthview@ttu.edu" title="mailto:psychology.youthview@ttu.edu">psychology.youthview@ttu.edu</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><br>We greatly appreciate your time and consideration, and we hope we get a chance to engage with as many folks from your community as we can!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Penny<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>L. Penny Rosenblum, Ph.D.<br>Owner, Vision for Independence, LLC<br>Research Professor Emerita, University of Arizona</span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Email: <a href="mailto:rosenblu@arizona.edu"><span style='color:#0563C1'>rosenblu@arizona.edu</span></a></span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Visit </span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pathstoliteracy.org%2fresource%2fproject-inspire%2f&c=E,1,x5Gdx4jwKCbxMpKE0E6zehI47RasHIwByS7bANN2HBKJTv7YB1BNjViHa5VutiVX-VI0x0d52Awe3PjJOz4DKobus5zLy9pec7O_P7ym&typo=1"><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Project INSPIRE</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> for professional development materials, student program materials, and resources focused on STEM for students who are blind or have low vision. </span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>