[Rehab] 2021 20th Annual Rehabilitation Conference Agenda .docx

Mon Jun 7 15:10:10 UTC 2021

National Blindness Professional Certification Board

20th Annual Rehabilitation

and

Orientation and Mobility Conference

20 Years of Innovation in Rehabilitation and Education for the Blind

July 5-6, 2021

10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. ET

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Zoom links will be emailed to registered participants prior to the conference.

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge our appreciation to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). The NFB has not only hosted these rehabilitation events for more than 20 years, but more importantly, it has provided the philosophy, leadership, and guidance upon which the most effective rehabilitation practices have been established. 

We would also like to give a special thanks to the many individuals who have contributed their time, energy, and expertise to making this rehabilitation and orientation and mobility conference a success. It is through the dedication, determination, and fortitude of these leaders in the organized blind movement that we have collectively shifted the focus of rehabilitation in this country. Together, we are truly helping people to live the lives they want!

Agenda

Registration link: https://nbpcb.org/members/er.php?eid=434 

Continuing Education Credits (CEC) are available for conference registrants.

Monday, July 5, 2021

Morning Session

10:00am-12:50pm

Location: Zoom

10:00am - Welcome and Opening Remarks 

*	Adelmo Vigil, President, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico; Las Cruces, NM
*	Colin Wong MA., NOMC, Conference Co-Chair, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board; Phoenix, AZ

10:10am - Keynote: Revolutionizing Blindness Training, The Inception of the National Blindness Professional Certification Board

*	Joanne Wilson, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Leader in the National Federation of the Blind; Alexandria, VA

10:40am – Applying Structured Discovery Techniques Through Virtual Instruction

*	Amy Porterfield, Chief Operations Officer, SAAVI Services for the Blind; Tucson, AZ
*	Tarik Williams, NOMC, Student Services Manager, SAAVI Services for the Blind; Tucson, AZ

11:00am – Following the Code of Conduct 

*	Edward Bell, PH. D, Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University; Ruston, LA
*	Maria E.  Morais, Coordinator of Braille Programs, National Blindness Professional Certification Board; Ruston, LA

11:20am - Structured Discovery Through the Years, (Panel)

*	Moderator: Joni Martinez, NOMC, Conference Co-Chair, Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center; Austin, TX
*	Jeff Altman, NOMC, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Cane Travel Instructor, Nebraska Center for the Blind, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Lincoln, NE
*	Dezman Jackson, NOMC, Independent Contractor, Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services; Baltimore, MD
*	Carley Mullin, NOMC, Orientation & Mobility Instructor, New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Newark, NJ
*	Michell Gip, MAT, NCUEB, NOMCT, Youth Services Coordinator, Blind Inc.; Minneapolis, MN

12:00pm – Working with RSA to Engage Students

*	Brian Dulude Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Regional Program Manager, SBVID, Arizona Department of Economic Security, Rehabilitation Services Administration; Phoenix, AZ

12:20am - Dare to Be Remarkable: Report and Looking Ahead 

*	Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, MD

12:45pm – Morning Wrap-Up

*	Joni Martinez, NOMC, Conference Co-Chair, Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center; Austin, TX

12:50pm-1:30pm – Lunch

Zoom will remain open to mix and mingle.

Afternoon Session

1:30pm-5:00pm

Location: Zoom

1:30pm-3:20pm – Topical Work Groups

Implementing Structured Discovery in Braille

*         Chelsey Duranleau, Communications Instructor, BLIND Inc.; Minneapolis, MN

Implementing Structured Discovery in Home Management

*         Yadiel J. Sotomayor, MA, NCRTB, NOMC, NCUEB, Home Management Instructor, BLIND Inc.; Minneapolis, MN

Implementing Structured Discovery in Orientation & Mobility

*         Roland Allan, NOMC, Cane Travel Instructor, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, LA

*         Jeff Altman, NOMC, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Cane Travel Instructor, Nebraska Center for the Blind, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Lincoln, NE

Implementing Structured Discovery in Technology

*         Jack Mendez, Director of Technology, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, LA

Implementing Structured Discovery with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Training Center Management

*         Brian Dulude Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Regional Program Manager, SBVID, Arizona Department of Economic Security, Rehabilitation Services Administration; Phoenix, AZ

*         Adelmo Vigil, President, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico; Las Cruces, NM

3:20pm – Day One Wrap-Up

*	Joni Martinez, NOMC, Conference Co-Chair, Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center; Austin, TX

3:30pm-5:00pm – NBPCB Networking Mix & Mingle

*	Speak with the day’s presenters in a less formal setting 
*	Network opportunity for job seekers and employers
*	Interact with blindness professionals across the nation 

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Morning Session

10:00am-12:30pm

Location: Zoom

10:00am – Opening Remarks

*	Colin Wong MA, NOMC, Conference Co-Chair, Board Member, National Blindness Professional Certification Board; Phoenix, AZ

10:10 am - Why A Network is Critical in Times of Uncertainty: Leveraging Participation in the Organized Blind Movement

*	Mark A. Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, MD

10:30 am- Changing the Future: Youth and Structured Discovery

*	Kristen J. Sims, Med., NOMC, NCUEB, Instructor, Orientation and Mobility, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University; Ruston, LA

10:45am - Facilitating Effective Senior Services

*	Duncan Larsen, NOMC, Director of Older Blind Services, Colorado Center for the Blind; Littleton, CO

11:00am - Partnering to Narrow the Gap for Blind and Low Vision Students in Maryland: A Partnership within the NFB of Maryland 

*	Conchita Hernandez (M.A.T), Maryland Blind and Low Vision Specialist, Maryland Department of Education, Maryland School for the Blind; Baltimore, MD
*	Ronza Othman, J.D, President, NFB of Maryland; Baltimore, MD

11:15am - Expanding Structured Discovery in Conventional Agencies

*	Garrett Aguillard, NOMC, Orientation & Mobility Program Specialist, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Texas Workforce Commission; San Antonio, TX

11:30am - General Session Wrap-Up

*	Joni Martinez, NOMC, Conference Co-Chair, Vocational Rehabilitation Teacher, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center; Austin, TX

11:40am-12:30pm – Breakout Session One

Session A: Real Talk About LGBTQ+ & Blindness Training

*         Jedi Moerke, NOMC, NCUEB, NCRTB, Cane Travel Instructor, New Mexico Orientation Center for the Blind, New Mexico Commission for the Blind; Alamogordo, NM

*         Carley Mullin, NOMC, Orientation & Mobility Instructor, New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Newark, NJ

Session B: Working with Blind Seniors

*         Duncan Larsen, NOMC, Director of Older Blind Services, Colorado Center for the Blind; Littleton, CO

Session C: Facilitating Impactful Philosophy Sessions

*         Pamela Allen, Executive Director, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, LA

Session D: NOMCT Meeting (Invitation Only)

*         Jeff Altman, Cane Travel Instructor, NOMCT Committee Chair, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Nebraska Center for the Blind, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Lincoln, NE

12:30-pm-1:00pm Lunch

Zoom will remain open to mix and mingle.

Afternoon Session

1:00pm-5:00pm

Location: Zoom

1:00pm-1:50pm – Breakout Session Two

Session A: Making the Most of Community Based Instruction 

*         Adelmo Vigil, President, National Blindness Professional Certification Board, National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico; Las Cruces, NM

Session B: Working with Individuals Who Speak English As A Second Language

*         Conchita Hernandez (M.A.T), Maryland Blind and Low Vision Specialist, Maryland Department of Education, Maryland School for the Blind; Baltimore, MD

Session C: Building a Successful Structured Discovery Training Center 

*         Jennifer Kennedy, NOMC, Executive Director, Blind Incorporated; Minneapolis, MN

*         Lucy Mallahan, Director, New Mexico Orientation Center for the Blind, New Mexico Commission for the Blind; Alamogordo, NM

2:00pm-2:50pm – Breakout Session Three

Session A: Mental Health and Consumers 

*          ShaLacey Bertrand, LPC, NCC, Therapist, Lifestance Health; Denver, CO

Session B: Right Versus Right Decisions: A Framework for Ethics in our Personal and Professional Lives.

*         David A. Ticchi, Ph.D., Educator, Businessman; Cambridge, MA

Session C: Building A Successful Deaf/Blind Program

*         Trae Shaw, Training Support Supervisor, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center; Austin, TX

3:00pm-3:50pm – Breakout Session Four

Session A: Useful Apps and Proper Implementation 

*         Seth Leblond, Assistive Technology Manager, SAAVI Services for the Blind; Phoenix, AZ

Session B: Consumers with Additional Physical Disabilities

*         Denise Mackenstadt, NOMC, Retired; Sequim, WA

Session C: Strengthening Survivor Support 

*         Daphne A. Mitchell, MRC, CRC, LRC, NCUEB, Vocational Rehabilitation Unit Manager, New Mexico Commission for the Blind, NFB Survivor Task Force Member; Albuquerque, NM

*         Kathryn Webster, Project RISE Coordinator, NFB Survivor Task Force Member; Boston, MA

4:00pm-5:00pm - Paying Recognition to Structured Discovery Professionals

*	Edward Bell, PH. D, Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University; Ruston, LA