Domain 1 Module: Professional Information (5 test questions) Flashcards
Financially funded
Offer services to veterans with vision loss
Can communicate about clients you share
Center based rehab training
Outpatient services
Home based follow-up
VA Blind Centers
Can network with other service providers (VRT, Burses, etc.)
Can collaborate and develop treatment plan
Center and community based training
Students from 0-99
Private agencies for the blind and visually impaired
Provides educational curriculum along with blindness specific instruction
Expanded core curriculum
Comprehensive assessment services
Technology training
Professional development activities
State Schools for the blind and visually impaired
1.assist persons who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind in the development, acquisition or updating of skills that will enable them to secure or maintain employment
2.can collaborate and set goals with VR counselor
3. new techniques, materials, and equipment
4. transportation and training
5. scholarship information
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Standardized assessment information
Accommodations
Certification of professionals and their responsibilities
Department of Education
Founded 1999
Private, not-for-profit organization
Primary certifying body in the US who work with B/VI
Required for certification
Can apply for revert every 5 years
Can find and post jobs
CEU opportunities
Academy for Certification for Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals. (ACVREP)
Founded 1984
Membership organization for professionals working with B/VI
Support services: professional development, publications, info about field,
advocacy, conferences and workshops
AER report – keeps members informed about news and policies
AER journal – research and practice in Blindness/Visual impairments
Trending topics of blindness and professional opportunities
AER
Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually Impaired
Founded 1921
National organization
Information source for people who are visually impaired, their families, the public,
professionals, schools, organizations and corporations
Provides wide ranging web-based published resources
Professional development and training opportunities
Told-free hotline
Consultative services
Research
Promotes accessibility and inclusion in employment and society
Advocates for services, legislations, and access to information and products
Advocacy
Job education support
AFB
American Foundation for the Blind
Founded 1922
Information regarding a wide range of disabilities
Strategies for teaching a variety of disabilities
Emphasizes right of families to decide what assistance they wish to receive and how they wish to receive it
Professionals can make suggestions, provide rationale, explain processes (but families ultimately decide)
CEC
Council for Exceptional Children
1978
held every 2-3 years
Purpose: to enhance level of expertise of Mobility instructors through an international exchange of ideas and information and to promote level of mobility series in general and specifically in countries where the conference is being held
IMC
International Mobility Conference
1921
Articles on professional research in relevant topics
Continuing education services
Essential professional resource
Most up to date in the field
JVIB
The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
Networking
Local guidelines for eligibility
Regional O&M professional associations
What are three consumer organizations?
- American Council for the Blind (ACB)
- National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
- National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people.
accept all people who are blind or visually impaired, regardless of their skills or abilities.
believe that people who are blind or visually impaired should strive to be the best they can be, and we believe that each blind or visually impaired person has the right and responsibility to define success on his or her own terms.
do not believe that there is a single “right” way to be blind.
it is a fundamental responsibility of government at every level to provide a framework of laws, policies, infrastructure, tools and training that permits people who are blind or visually impaired to participate equally in all aspects of society, including education, employment, civic and spiritual life.
ACB national organization exists to meet the needs of our individual members, local chapters, and state and special interest affiliates.
American Council for the Blind (ACB)
oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940 and currently headquartered in Baltimore, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in all fifty states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico
Through network of blind members, coordinate many programs, services, and resources to defend the rights of blind Americans, provide information and support to blind children and adults, and build a community that creates a future full of opportunities.
the only organization that believes in the full capacity of blind people and has the power to transform our dreams into reality. We believe in blind people because we are blind people—from our democratically elected leaders to our diverse nationwide membership.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
voluntary, non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to the parents of children with visual impairments
enables parents to find information and resources for their blind or visually impaired child; helps parents to address the unique needs of visually impaired children who have additional disabilities; and provides parents with leadership, support, and training that enables them to help their children reach their fullest potential.
Promotes outreach and networking programs; advocates the educational needs and welfare of affected children; and provides referrals to needed services.
promotes the development of state and local organizations by and for parents of visually impaired children, and fosters communication and coordination of services among federal, state, and local agencies.
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
In 1972, O&M interest group appointed a committee to investigate the concern in need for a code of ethics and to pull together some principles that may be a part of that code. This code would outline what would be considered standard practice among all professionals in the field. The committee surveyed O&M specialists for their ideas to better represent the wide range of members of the profession. The committee presented a draft of the Code of Ethics at the 1973 AAWB convention where it was edited and finalized.
The history and development of the Code of Ethics for Orientation and Mobility Specialist
O&M specialists pledge themselves to standards of acceptable behavior as it relates to the following: Commitment to the Learner; Commitment to the Community; Commitment to the Profession; Commitment to Colleagues and Other Professionals; and Commitment to Professional Employment Practices.
Code of Ethics for Orientation and Mobility Specialist
Influx of blinded veterans
forced the field to look at how O&M programs were organized nationally
“care training for persons becoming blind as a result of the united states defense program and possible participation in the present world war”
plan that authorized VA to provide rehab for disabled veterans.
Existing organizations felt that development of rehab programs for blinded veterans should have been their prerogative
The successful growth of an innovative approach to O&M resulted from the status of the new program within the office of the Surgeon General and later, the Veteran’s Administration
WWII
Blinded soldiers returning from Battle of the Bulge
Hoover and others develop long-cane mobility techniques while under blindfold
The first thing people need to know is how to get around
Believed blind people did a hell of a poor job getting around
1944
“foot travel”
clients taught under blindfold to be able to teach others
Valley Forge Army Hospital:
Started by Colonel Derrick Vail
18-week program
Purpose – social adjustment of the war-blinded prior to discharge from the service
“mental adjustments as may be necessary to develop a proper attitude and a will to overcome the handicap”
Cane was “unnecessary;” had veterans discard cane on arrival
Focused on “facial vision” (now known as obstacle perception)
Echolocation, surface changes, memorizing layout of buildings and campus)
Avon Program
First program led by a blind veteran
Combined social and travel training aspects of the profession’s programs
Blindfolded instructors
First 6 orientation and mobility instructors
Developed a program that introduced cane techniques from Valley Forge and orientation techniques from Avon
Hines Hospital
Organized be Father Carroll
Helped establish O&M as a profession
Minimum prep of 1 year of graduate study with set of requirements
Gloucester Conference (1953)
1960
established first O&M graduate program for instructor preparation
Boston College
First certification committee was established in 1966 at the AAWB convention.
Before the 1967 convention, this committee formulated standards based heavily on recommendations from thru COMSTAC report.
Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited university
Member in good standing of at least 1 professional organization
Provisional/permanent certification depended on experience.
Must have 20/20 vision.
Presented and accepted in 1967.
Officially marked the beginning of COMS.
Interest group IX appoints an accreditation committee (certification standards committee)
Certification evolved from a lifetime credential to a renewable process that requires continuing education to maintain knowledge and skills.
An appeals process was established to contest decisions of the certification committee.
In 2000, an official independent certifying body (ACVREP) was established.
Established accountability and standardization of the profession.
Development of the O&M certification program
Conclusion of a study conducted to project the method, scope, and structure necessary to carry out an accreditation program in the field of work for the blind
Recommended the formulation of standards for agency administration and service programs, and an organization to administer a nationwide system of voluntary accreditation based on these standards.
Initiated the process that eventually led to the development of standards and a process for certifying O&M specialists
COMSTAC Report
Father of O&M in cane use
Cane use
developed a successful cane technique, replacing the traditional short wooden cane with a lightweight long cane cut to a prescription length and using the technique of arcing the cane from side to side with the tip touching the ground in front of the trailing foot
1948 – began training in cane techniques
in step
set up O&M program ay Valley Forge Army General Hospital
emphasized importance in the role of the student as a full collaborator in the training
formed the basis of the interpersonal relationship that has been central to the success of O&M instruction
Richard Hoover
Mother of the dog guide movement
Established the Seeing Eye in 1929
Dorothy Eustis
played an important role in setting up the program for blinded military personnel at Valley Forge
Trained by Hoover at Valley Forge
Taught other veterans the cane touch technique
Advocate for/established systematic instruction of O&M in various hospital settings
Established blind center at Hines
Because of his determination and development of a training curriculum, the long cane method of travel which was developed by Dr. Richard Hoover was implemented to prepare blinded veterans for return to civilian life
C. Warren Bledsoe
Blind WW2 veteran
Rehabbed at both Valley Forge and Avon
initiated the Blind Rehabilitation Center at the V.A. Hospital, Hines
First chief at Hines VA blind center
Educated on principles which gave insight into the internal attitude of blind people and their capabilities
THE WILLIAMS PRINCIPLES
“blind” is not an ugly word; people who think so have little faith in the ability of blind people to meet the conditions of life with all resources at their disposal
a program for the blind depends on its staff
staff should be someone who gets a sincere pleasure out of the growth of someone else and has good standards; someone who will have respect for others
Russell William
Director of Perkins in 1860s
Structured teaching of mobility
System of physical training at high perfection
Without his influence, instruction would falter
Knighted in 1090 for work as an educator of blind children and youth at Royal National College and Academy of Music for the Blind in the UK (both schools he founded)
Blind mobility instructor
Experimented with mobility techniques when he worked at Perkins
the original pioneer and advocate for the expanded core curriculum
Benign Surreptitiousness:
“in order to minimize impact of blindness on others, do nothing that will make it clear to all that you are blind”
O&M should be done unobtrusively, in such a way that the pupil hardly knows he is being taught
NO FORMAL TEACHING OF O&M OR CANE
France Campbell
Entered work for the blind at the command of the church
Assigned to the catholic Guide for the Blind
Appointed to Surgeon General’s advisory committee
Avon’s chaplain
Against pitying the blind
Introduced idea for safe cane skills
Organized the Gloucester conference
1952 he brought the idea of safe cane travel skills to the Center in the form of the first mobility program
conducted the first National Mobility Institute to link the war blind and civilian programs of orientation and mobility.
St. Paul’s Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, which Fr. Carroll established in 1954, was the first civilian facility offering comprehensive rehabilitation for the newly blinded. This was renamed the Carroll Center in 1972
Father Thomas Carroll
Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Initiated the Vocational Rehabilitation Act that supported O&M specialists
In 1954, she shaped the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, referred to as the Magna Carta in the work for the handicapped. Amendments to this act would put vitality into the State-Federal program for the blind
Public Law 565 with its research and demonstration features, its concern for rehabilitation education, its mandate to construct necessary rehabilitation facilities, it’s totally new characteristic of international efforts and cooperation regarding rehabilitation, and perhaps, above all, in its expanded funding base for more personnel and programs for those in need of rehabilitation services
Mary E. Switzer
John Malamazian
Stanley Suterko
Alfred Dee Corbett
Edward Thuis
Lawrence Blaha
Edward Mees
the first six mobility specialists
