[blindkid] {Spam?} National Orientation and Mobility Assessment Pilot Study #2

[Laura Bostick]

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.