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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><img width="323" height="133" style="width:3.368in;height:1.3888in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:ii_kl8dlj4w0" alt="VRCBVI logo (small).jpg"><br><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt">VRCBVI is pleased to offer virtual training opportunities through March and April, 2021!</span></i></b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Like our prior trainings, we will be using Zoom as our virtual platform. If any accommodations are needed, please contact Amy Phelps (<a href="mailto:amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov" target="_blank">amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov</a>) no later than fourteen days in advance of the training. And if you have any questions about the registration process or virtual training sessions, please contact Greg Chittum at 804-371-3204 or <a href="mailto:greg.chittum@dbvi.virginia.gov" target="_blank">greg.chittum@dbvi.virginia.gov</a>. Finally, we offer certificates of participation to individuals who need to maintain professional certification. If you would like a certificate for a training you attend, please email <a href="mailto:brooke.rogers@dbvi.virginia.gov" target="_blank">brooke.rogers@dbvi.virginia.gov</a> with the title of the presentation, the beginning and ending codes, and the certification you are maintaining. </span></i></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#0b5394">Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired<br>Virtual Trainings - March / April, 2021 <br>Mondays and Wednesdays </span></b></p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#0b5394">March 1 to April 28</span></b></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:#6aa84f">Please note that no trainings are scheduled for March 29 and 31</span></b></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:red">Monday, March 1</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"> - 1:00 to 3:00 (2 hours)<br><b>The 2 Steps to Living a Healthy Life</b><br>A new year means new beginnings. Make 2021 the year you begin living your best life by living a healthy life. Learn how to prevent and treat chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes with a healthy lifestyle, including accessible resources that can help you on your journey. <br><b>Presenter </b>– Kim Ladd, Diabetes and Health Educator<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, March 3</span></b> - 1:00 to 3:00 (2 hours) <br><b>Planning to Be Your Own Boss: What to Think About When You’re Thinking About Starting a Business</b><br>Lots of folks dream of creating a business, but many aren’t sure how to do it. We’ll explore the basics about how to get started—including how to decide what business you want to go into, how to get practical advice, and how to develop a business plan.<br><b>Presenters</b>– Joanne Wiggins, Adult Basic Education Instructor, and Kris Foley, VRCBVI Case Manager<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Monday, March 8 </span></b>– 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes) <br><b>GPS Apps: The Icing on the Traveler’s Cake</b><br>Learn about and explore three fully accessible GPS applications: Microsoft SoundScape, Good Maps Explorer and Lazarillo. Will also discuss the pros and cons of each app and determine when GPS applications would best be used in the travel process.<br><b>Presenters </b>– Mike Fish, Lead Technology Instructor, and Jimmy Morris, Orientation and Mobility Instructor<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, March 10</span></b> – 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes) <br><b>Proper Positioning for Powerful Promotion Potential</b><br>In this session, we’ll discuss practical strategies to succeed, and even set yourself up for promotion, in a new job. Believe it or not, the process begins before you get the job and extends beyond a successful interview!<br><b>Presenter </b>– Greg Chittum, Coordinator for Community Engagement<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Monday, March 15</span></b> – 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes)<br><b>Getting Started In The Kitchen/ Basic, Non-visual Techniques for Preparing Foods</b><br>What are some of the fundamental techniques that blind people use every day in their kitchens? In this session, we will demonstrate from our VRCBVI Training Kitchen some of the basic, non-visual techniques that many blind people utilize on a daily basis to safely and effectively prepare meals. How do you measure ingredients non-visually? Or pour liquids? Or use a knife? Join us, as we demonstrate and discuss some of these essential Independent Living Skills. Let's get started!<br><b>Presenter</b>: Dave Fuller, Personal and Home Management Instructor<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, March 17</span></b> – 1:00 to 3:00 (2 hours) <br><b>Conversations About Blindness - The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired: Who We Are, What We Do, and What Does That Information Mean to You?</b></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">In this session, you will hear an overview of the programs available at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Staff will describe the classes they teach, and former students will share their stories of how participating in a residential skills of blindness training program transformed their lives and gave them the confidence to pursue their personal and career goals. Spoiler alert: The transformations did not happen as the result of passive osmosis but through hard work, realistic self-assessment, and active participation. Find out if VRCBVI is the right fit for you or your loved one.<br><b>Facilitator</b>: Melody Roane, VRCBVI Director<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Monday, March 22</span></b> - 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes)<br><b>The Power of Self-belief, Determination, and Taking Ownership</b><br>This discussion will delve into the importance behind these key factors for successful adjustment to blindness training. Whether you are learning at a Center-based facility, or in your local or home environment, we will define each area and share insights that will help one work past challenges, and towards personal independence.<br><b>Presenter </b>- Jimmy Morris, Orientation and Mobility Instructor<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, March 24</span></b> – 1:00 to 2:00 (1 hour)<br><b>Braille for Beginners 1 </b><br>Have you ever wanted to learn Braille but weren’t quite sure where to start? Do those little dots on a page seem incomprehensible? VRCBVI’s Braille Instructor, Domonique Lawless will introduce you to the letters of the Braille alphabet and teach you your first Braille contractions. What if you don’t have any Braille at your house? No problem! Grab a muffin tin or an egg carton cut in half. Use tennis balls, ping pong balls, or crumpled up paper to make Braille dots. This is a great hands on way to begin learning Braille. <br><b>Presenter </b>– Domonique Lawless, Braille Instructor<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Monday, April 5</span></b> - 1:00 to 3:00 (2 hours)<br><b>Medical Care When You Have Low/No Vision</b><br>Do you feel that you are treated differently than a sighted person when receiving medical care? Are you given non-accessible education materials from doctors and hospitals? Are you defined as a "fall-risk" just because you are blind? Join this discussion to share stories and develop strategies to advocate for yourself to receive the medical care that you deserve. <br><b>Presenter </b>– Kim Ladd, Diabetes and Health Educator<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, April 7</span></b> - 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes)<br><b>No Fear Job Descriptions: Make Them Work for You</b><br>Job descriptions can be daunting, especially for those of us who can’t walk on water or juggle flaming swords. But they are also treasure troves of information. We’ll explore how to approach them, how to figure them out, and how to use them to help you move forward in your job hunt and career.<br><b>Presenter </b>– Joanne Wiggins, Adult Basic Education Instructor </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;color:red">Monday, April 12</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt"> – 1:00 to 3:00 (2 hours)<br><b>JAWS Basics Workshop</b><br>Back by popular demand, with a twist! If you are looking for an interactive JAWS training, then this workshop is for you! Prior to the session, on Friday, April 9, a resource containing JAWS commands and a practice activity will be sent to all registered participants. This way, participants will be able to try the practice activity ahead of time and bring their questions, problems and successes to the workshop for Mike to address. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your JAWS skills!<br><b>Presenter </b>– Mike Villafane, Technology Instructor<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, April 14 </span></b>– 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes)<br><b>Using Job Descriptions to Prepare for Interview Questions</b><br>As indicated in Joanne Wiggins’ description for her presentation April 7, No Fear Job Descriptions: Make Them Work for You, job descriptions are indeed “treasure troves of information.” In this session, we will pick up where Joanne left off, discussing why and how job descriptions can, and should, be used to prepare for the questions you will likely encounter in interviews. <br><b>Presenter </b>– Greg Chittum, Coordinator for Community Engagement<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Monday, April 19</span></b> – 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes) <br><b>The Basics of Oven Safety for the Blind and Vision Impaired</b><br>In this session, we will be demonstrating and discussing the basic fundamentals of safely operating an oven. Topics will include how to properly set temperatures, how to safely place foods into and take out of a hot oven, how to center dishes onto the oven racks, types of oven gloves, and non-visual techniques for determining when oven foods are properly cooked. <br><b>Presenter </b>- Michael Triplett, Personal and Home Management Instructor<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, April 21</span></b> – 1:00 to 3:00 (2 hours) <br><b>Conversations About Blindness - Do These Pants Make Me Look Fat, What Color Should I Paint the Walls In the Guest Room, and Other Questions Requiring Visual Feedback </b></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Have you ever wondered if someone would tell you whether an outfit looks better on you or on the hanger or if you are getting good, tasteful advice on home decorating ideas? Tune into this session for practical strategies to help you get the visual information you need to present yourself and your home in a positive, attractive light.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Facilitator </span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt">– Melody Roane, VRCBVI Director<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Monday, April 26 </span></b>– 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes)<br><b>Inside the Head and Heart of a Travel Instructor</b><br>This will be a spirited panel discussion which will include a small group of seasoned veterans from the orientation and mobility field. While hearing about triumphant experiences, rocky challenges, and tough learning opportunities, we hope to discover from our panel what it takes to become a competent, confident, and successful blind or vision impaired traveler.<br><b>Presenter </b>- Becky Keller, Lead Orientation and Mobility Instructor<br><br><b><span style="color:red">Wednesday, April 28</span></b> – 1:00 to 2:30 (1 hour 30 minutes)<br><b>Braille for Beginners 2 </b><br>Grab your muffin tins or egg cartons and log on for part two of Braille for Beginners, an interactive intro to the Braille code. We will continue learning the letters of the Braille alphabet and introduce some more contractions. Let’s see if you can make your first sentence in Braille!<br><b>Presenter </b>– Domonique Lawless, Braille Instructor</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:24.0pt"><a href="https://www.formrouter.net/forms@VRCB/VirtualTrainingsMarApr2021.html" target="_blank">Use this link to register!</a></span></b></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><p class="MsoNormal">-- </p><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Greg Chittum</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Coordinator for Community Engagement</p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">401 Azalea Ave.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Richmond, VA 23227</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">804-371-3204</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://vrcbvi.org" target="_blank">vrcbvi.org</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>