<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Orientation and Mobility Assessment (NOMA)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As you may know the National Orientation and Mobility Assessment (NOMA) is a two part assessment: (1) a Screening inventory used to determine if a referral for O&M services is appropriate; and (2) the Skills Assessment, which is used to measure progress on the IEP through the service delivery during the year. The NOMA was developed at Louisiana Tech University to assist school districts and O&M instructors in determining if a student can benefit from direct orientation and mobility services and what skills need to be addressed in order to promote independent travel. If you need more information about the assessment or would like a copy, please contact Edward Bell, 318-257-4554, or <a href="mailto:ebell@latech.edu">ebell@latech.edu</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>We are also excited to let you know of a brand new tool to add to your toolkit. After considering the current concerns about needing a method to determine the appropriate amount of time that is recommended for direct service minutes in the area of O&M, Sheena Manuel, Outreach Specialist, has designed the NOMA Direct Service Scale. If you would like to add this tool to your professional toolkit, please email Sheena at </span><a href="mailto:smanuel@latech.edu"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>smanuel@latech.edu</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> for a digital copy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>SManuel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Louisiana Tech University<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>smanuel@latech.edu<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Director, Professional Development and Research<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Institute on Blindness<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Louisiana Tech University<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>210 Woodard Hall <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>PO Box 3158<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Ruston LA 71272<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Office: 318.257.4554 Fax: 318.257.2259 (Fax) Skype: edwardbell2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:ebell@latech.edu"><span style='color:blue'>ebell@latech.edu</span></a> <a href="http://www.pdrib.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.pdrib.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>**************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>"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." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>-- Stephen Jay Gould<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>