Register for the 2015 AFB leadership Conference!
The American Foundation for the Blind's annual Leadership Conference covers the most pressing and relevant topics in the field of blindness and offers many opportunities to learn from the best and brightest minds in our field, make new connections, and reunite with old friends while earning ACVREP and CRC CEUs.
Join us in Phoenix for the joint 2015 AFB Leadership and Arizona AER Conference and make your reservation today at the beautiful Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel to lock in a special group rate of $179/night. This rate expires on March 19, so don't delay. Visit the Marriott reservations page or call 1-800-309-8138 to book your room today.
Registration is now open; register today and take advantage of our early-bird rates! And check out our amazing program for this year's conference. The popular Thursday half-day summits are back, along with numerous exciting break-out sessions on a wide range of topics. We are still perfecting this program, so check back often for updates!
The 2015 Joint AFB and Arizona AER Leadership Conference is proudly sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Delta Gamma, Google, IBM, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, CTIA, Actuate, AT&T, NIB, American Printing House for the Blind, HumanWare, and Helen Keller Services for the Blind.
2015 M-Enabling Summit: Conference and Showcase
The 2015 M-Enabling Conference will be held June 1–2, 2015 in Washington DC at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.
The two day high-level conference and showcase is entirely dedicated to solutions promoting and implementing accessible mobile communications and services for senior citizens and people of all abilities. During the Summit, participants will gain insight into how accessible mobile applications and services transform customer relations for the private and public service sectors. Further, the Summit will provide the opportunity to network with influential industry and government leaders from around the world.
For more information, visit the M-Enabling webpage, or contact:
Ron Akins
301-493-5500, ext. 3310
akins@ejkrause.com
Pat Hazan-Tessler
301- 493-5500, ext. 3386
tessler@ejkrause.com
Francesca Cesa Bianchi
Vice President, Institutional Relations
G3ict
678-534-8518
fcesabianchi@g3ict.org
Envision Announces Dates and Location for 10th Annual Envision Conference 2015
September 9–12, 2015
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Denver
Envision recently announced that its 10th annual Envision Conference will be held September 9–12, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt in Denver. Organizers of the program, which gathers specialists from around the globe to share knowledge on the latest findings and approaches related to addressing vision impairment, are now accepting submissions of prospective clinical education and research abstract presentations to be included on the four day agenda. Full details of the 2015 program are available at the conference website.
The Envision Conference typically offers 90 hours of clinical education and research sessions pertaining to low vision. Participants enhance their ability to:
- describe the most current research and clinical practices in low vision rehabilitation
- recommend appropriate patients who could benefit from low vision rehabilitation
- recognize the multidisciplinary nature of professionals involved in low vision patient care
- assess the potential for patients to maximize functional vision through low vision rehabilitation
- select appropriate resources and adaptive strategies for patients with permanent vision loss
- develop strategies for strengthening the role of low vision on the public health agenda
- address disparities in access to low vision care
- provide opportunities and training to address national eye health epidemics
Many sessions can earn attendees continuing education accreditation through agencies including: the Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE), the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP), the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC), Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), and the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).
Two Scholarships Offered
This year Envision is introducing two scholarships to attend its annual conference. Each scholarship will be awarded to either a full-time student studying clinical areas of low vision rehabilitation (optometry, ophthalmology, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, or low vision therapy), or to a Ph.D. candidate specializing in research related to low vision applications or clinical outcomes. Scholarships will cover the full cost of registration, but do not include travel or hotel expenses. Students interested in applying for a scholarship should submit a curriculum vitae, at least one letter of reference from a professor or clinical supervisor, a completed application, and a one-page narrative explaining their interest in low vision rehabilitation or research and outlining how attending the conference would benefit their education or career.
Applications are due by April 15, 2015. Notification of acceptance will occur by May 15, 2015.
Survey Research
The Department of Kinesiology, Sport Studies, and Physical Education (KSSPE) at the College at Brockport, State University of New York, is conducting a study to determine the accessibility of hotels and accommodation facilities with the life experiences of people with disabilities. The questionnaire has IRB approval and should take about 10 minutes to complete. The researchers are looking for participants who are people with disabilities, their families, and traveling companions. Results are expected to help improve the accessibility of accommodation facilities.
Contact Information:
Ozkan Tutuncu, Ph.D. Primary Investigator
585-967-8740
otutuncu@brockport.edu
Lauren Lieberman, Ph.D. Research Supervisor
585-395-5361
llieberm@brockport.edu
The survey is available now.
Retinal Consultants of Arizona Announces New Collaboration with University of Southern California Eye Institute
The USC Eye Institute and Retinal Consultants of Arizona are proud to announce a new collaboration enhancing eye care with a specific focus on joint educational and research programs.
The USC-RCA vitreo-retinal fellowship program will provide fellows with top tier training from ophthalmologists who have years of experience in retina and vitreous surgery and have made significant technical and clinical advancements in the diagnosis and management of vitreo-retinal diseases.
Additionally, the collaboration creates an international ophthalmology program for teaching, research, and clinical care. Ophthalmologists from around the world will now be able to receive education from leading doctors at both the USC Eye Institute and the Retinal Consultants of Arizona. The collaboration allows those involved in the program to have access to a wider variety of specialized ophthalmologists, each with their own unique focus and background in the field.
This collaboration further creates an extension program for epidemiological research with a specific focus on Native Americans, as well as clinical care in Arizona. Retinal Consultants of Arizona operates the Retinal Research Institute — the nation's leading independent retina and vitreous clinical research facility — allowing ophthalmologists from both organizations to jointly investigate eye diseases and disorders that are prevalent in specific ethnic groups in the United States and throughout the world.
Through research, clinical care, and education in a wide variety of ophthalmic conditions, USC doctors have made advancements in improving our understanding of the mechanisms that cause eye disease and the way that eye disorders are diagnosed and treated. The USC Ocular Epidemiology Center has conducted multiple community eye health studies to assess and prevent various eye diseases among diverse populations. In addition, advanced eye treatments have been created at the USC Eye Institute, including the Baerveldt glaucoma implant and the Argus II retinal implant.
Headquartered in Phoenix, RCA is Arizona's largest and most experienced retina practice and is a nationally and internationally recognized clinical research facility focused specifically on the diagnosis and management of diseases of the retina and vitreous. In many instances, RCA is the only retina group in Arizona to offer participation in specific research trials that evaluate treatments for blinding eye conditions such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Eyes on Success
The Eyes on Success radio show and podcast recently aired a two-part series about various aspects of working from home or telecommuting from the perspective of a blind person. These episodes may be of interest to those seeking employment or who are considering working from home.
In addition, in the archive of over 200 episodes of Eyes On Success listeners can find interviews with many blind people with interesting careers. Simply enter "job," "career," or a particular job title of interest into the search tool on the Eyes On Success website and you will be brought to a page with summaries of the corresponding shows along with links to the audio and show notes for each episode. You can find out more about Eyes On Success, download files from the archives, and connect with other listeners on the web site.
Outreach Statement from the United States Department of Education: Office of the General Counsel
Paragraph 3(b) of the Agreement entered into between the U.S. Department of Education and the National Federation of the Blind provides as follows:
The Department shall, beginning as soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days after the effective date of this Agreement, start to conduct outreach to blind and visually impaired borrowers. Through these efforts, the Department shall provide information about, and solicit input concerning, the accessibility of its websites and those of its servicers, the procedure for requesting alternative formats for student loan-related materials, and how to report problems with accessibility. The outreach shall be conducted via the Department's websites, as well as by posting notices in such publications as the Braille Monitor, as well as through other publications for blind, visually impaired, and large-print readers and newsletters published by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Copies of all draft outreach materials shall be provided to Counsel for Complainants for prior review and comment no later than 60 days after the effective date of this Agreement. Counsel for Complainants shall provide any feedback within 45 days.
The Department, consistent with its commitment to making its student loan resources and services accessible to all borrowers, has begun the implementation of its new standards for web accessibility , telephonic access, Word, PDF, and hard copy documents, forms, statements and publication.
The new standards are designed to:
- make student loan-related website materials accessible to blind and visually impaired borrowers
- enable visually impaired borrowers to obtain their student loan statements, notices, and written communications in an accessible format
- enhance borrowers' ability to request student loan-related hard copy documents and publications in alternative formats
- and enable them to independently complete, sign and submit certain student loan-related forms online
Students and borrowers are encouraged to contact their loan servicers to obtain information regarding the availability of alternative formats. To locate loan servicer information on your federal student loan, log in to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) or contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC): 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time. For additional contact options and other general information, visit StudentAid.gov.
To report problems regarding the accessibility of student loan websites, documents, forms, statements, or publications, borrowers may either: (1) submit a complaint through a link on the Department's website that will be available after April 8, 2015; or (2) file a formal complaint with the Department pursuant to 34 C.F.R § 105.41.
Leader Dogs for the Blind is Accepting Applications for their 2015 Summer Experience Camp
Are you a teenager who could use a week of fun, outdoor activity, and friendship this summer? Does kayaking, rock wall climbing, and tandem biking sound good to you? Would you enjoy the challenge of developing new travel skills and stretching your independence? If so, the Leader Dogs for the Blind Summer Experience Camp was designed with you in mind.
The program combines outdoor activities with things exclusively Leader Dog—audible pedestrian GPS training and the opportunity to spend time with Leader Dogs in training and guide dog mobility instructors. The combination will help you increase the skills you need to live independently!
Summer Experience Camp is for boys and girls ages 16 and 17 who are legally blind. The program is completely free including airfare to Michigan—and everyone receives a free HumanWare Trekker audible pedestrian GPS device to keep. Summer Experience Camp is scheduled for June 26–July 3, 2015. Applications are due by April 1, 2015.
For more information and to download an application, visit the Leader Dogs for the Blind website or call the Leader Dogs for the Blind client services department at 888-777-5332.
