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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-NZ link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>(Sorry, if you get two copies of this – I just realised I am subscribed under my personal email address, but posted from my work address.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi there Pibe-Divisioners!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am a Resource Teacher: Vision (I don’t like the title, but that’s what we officially are here…) living in Whanganui, New Zealand. I work itinerantly, and have five students who I see regularly, plus others who get monitored. Two of my students are braille readers and the other three have stable low vision and use large print. Additionally, last year I passed my Trans-Tasman UEB proficiency exam, and this year I am working on my Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching (Blind and Low Vision). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I feel extremely privileged to have attended two NFB National Conventions, both some years ago, with my now ex-husband, who is blind. I often direct parents to NFB material, and cite it throughout my studies. My experiences with many competent blind adults have come to give me a positive philosophy of blindness that is based on difference, not deficit. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am looking forward to corresponding with others working in this field who share a similar philosophy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kind regards <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-NZ'>Amanda Gough</span><span style='color:white;mso-fareast-language:EN-NZ'>e Teacher Vision<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white;mso-fareast-language:EN-NZ'>BLENNZ Whanganui<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>