[Pibe-division] {Spam?} Pilot Test of the National Orientation and Mobility Assessment

[Edward Bell]

National Orientation and Mobility Assessment

Pilot Study #2



We are contacting you today to invite you to participate in research that is 
being conducted by the Professional Development and Research Institute on 
Blindness (PDRIB) at Louisiana Tech University. The purpose of this research 
is to pilot test the National Orientation and Mobility Assessment (NOMA) for 
use with youth who are blind or visually impaired.



The National Orientation and Mobility Assessment (NOMA) is designed to 
identify difficulties that youth who are blind or visually impaired may be 
having in their day to day travels, to pin point those problem areas, and to 
result in appropriate recommendations for professional mobility services. 
The NOMA consists of two separate sections which are intended for two 
distinct target populations.



They are:

1.      Screening Inventory. This is intended for use by the parent and/or 
classroom teacher/TVI to assess the extent to which observable problems with 
day to day mobility are occurring, and whether those problems warrant a 
referral to a qualified O&M professional.

2.      Orientation and Mobility Assessment. This assessment is intended for 
use by a qualified O&M professional. The Assessment consists of four 
instructional domains used to determine the level of proficiency on various 
aspects of travel. Increasing scores are derived on each section as a 
function of the extent to which the youth gains proficiency with those 
travel demands. These proficiency levels may then be used to document 
progress, construct lesson plans, develop IEP goals, and report on IEP 
progress.



If you are a parent or guardian of a youth, who is visually impaired, or the 
classroom teacher, or TVI/TBS for a youth who is visually impaired, you are 
invited to participate in the pilot testing of the NOMA Screening Inventory. 
If you are a qualified O&M professional who works with youth between the 
ages of 3-21, you are also invited to participate in the pilot of this 
assessment.



In order to take part in this pilot study, all participants will have to 
agree to the following:

  1.. Read, understand and be willing to abide by the terms of the research 
consent form.
  2.. Give or obtain parental approval for involving youth in this study.
  3.. Agree to share a completed copy of all assessment results with the 
Principal Investigator.
  4.. Agree to return all completed assessment materials no later than June 
1, 2014
  5.. Agree not to share, copy, or distribute the assessment to any persons 
who have not directly gained approval by the Principal Investigator (PI); 
and to discontinue use of the assessment if directed to do so by the PI.
  6.. Provide, via email, telephone, or written correspondence, all 
feedback, comments, and issues that arise in the conducting of this 
assessment.


To participate in the pilot of the Screening Inventory portion, send an 
e-mail to ebell at latech.edu with the subject line "NOMA Screening Inventory."

In the e-mail, include: Your name, Email address, telephone, and role (i.e., 
parent, teacher, TVI).



To participate in the pilot of the O&M Assessment section, send an e-mail to 
ebell at latech.edu with the subject line, "NOMA O&M Assessment."

In the e-mail, include: Your name, email address, telephone, and position 
(i.e., O&M instructor).



If selected, participants will receive via e-mail the consent to 
participate, and an electronic copy of the assessment section that is 
appropriate for your situation.



All questions/concerns may be directed to Edward Bell, Principal 
Investigator, at 318-257-4554, or ebell at latech.edu.




Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC

REGISTER TO TAKE THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) Exam
http://www.nbpcb.org/pages/announcements.php

Director, Professional Development and Research
Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
210 Woodard Hall
PO Box 3158
Ruston LA  71272
Office: 318.257.4554
Fax: 318.257.2259 (Fax)
Skype: edwardbell2010
ebell at latech.edu
www.latech.edu/instituteonblindness
********************
"I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's 
brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and 
died in cotton fields and sweatshops."
-- Stephen Jay Gould