Congrats to This Year's AFB Kirchner Research Award Recipient

Envision Research Institute (ERI) will receive the esteemed 2018 Corinne Kirchner Research Award, which honors individuals or organizations whose leadership and dedication illuminate the most pressing needs of people with vision loss through timely, innovative, and authoritative research. The award will be presented during Saturday's Migel Medal Luncheon at the 2018 AFB Leadership Conference. For more information, read the press release.

New Cortical Visual Impairment, Second Edition, now available From AFB Press

AFB Press is excited to announce a brand-new edition of our best-selling text, Cortical Visual Impairment: An Approach to Assessment and Intervention, by Christine Roman-Lantzyl.

This new and revised content brings the book up-to-date with new research and insights into CVI, its development and progression, and the best approaches to assessment and intervention with children affected by this condition. It also provides the viewpoints of parents and service providers, all of whom use the CVI Range from the perspective of their own situation or specialty.

As in the previous edition, assessment forms, including the CVI Range and CVI Progress Chart, provide a comprehensive method for evaluating the functional vision status of, and program planning for, children with CVI.

Whether you are a student, educator, therapist, physician, or parent of a child with CVI, this revised edition is a must-own for your professional collection.

Cortical Visual Impairment: An Approach to Assessment and Intervention is available in the AFB Store in print, e-book, and online subscription. Order now at the AFB Press bookstore or by calling 1-800-232-3044.

You're Invited: Join a National Conversation on Advocacy for Children with CVI

CVI = Consensus, Vision, and Initiative: Mobilizing Advocacy to Improve Special Education for Children with CVI

A National Teleseminar Presented by: The American Foundation for the Blind
Wednesday Evening, March 14, 2018
8:30pm Eastern, 5:30pm Pacific
To join the call:
Dial: 1-866-939-3921
Code: 46438061

For further information, contact:

Mark Richert, Esq.
Director, Public Policy, AFB
(202) 469-6833
mrichert@afb.net

Any successful advocacy effort requires at least three key elements: consensus both about the real problems to be addressed and the strategies best suited to solve them, a shared vision among stakeholders for what the overall desired outcome should ideally be, and demonstrable initiative on the part of committed change agents who are willing to play a long game while achieving milestones along the way toward the envisioned goal.

Any organized effort to advocate for improved special education services to children living with cortical visual impairment - what others refer to as cerebral visual impairment, and still others describe as neurological visual impairment - will require consensus about the problems and the solutions, a vision for the overall outcomes to be achieved, and initiative on the part of committed advocates. Can there be shared consensus, vision and initiative among parents, educators, and other advocates concerned about the education of students with CVI when many of these stakeholders cannot even agree on what CVI means? How can our field embrace the diversity of perspectives but yet come together to collaborate on national, state, and/or local strategies to transform the quantity and quality of special education services for children with CVI? If we can indeed achieve robust consensus, a shared vision for outcomes, and sustained initiative to get the job done, what are our first steps together to reach key milestones?

On Wednesday evening, March 14, 2018, beginning at 8:30pm Eastern, 5:30pm Pacific, you are invited to join in a spirited and substantive conversation with parents of children with CVI, groundbreaking thinkers in the field, front line educators, administrators of teacher training and other national programs, and prominent advocates who will come together to explore whether and how our field can achieve the consensus, vision and initiative necessary to affect much-needed changes in the extent and quality of special education services available today to students with CVI.

Please save the date for this first-of-its-kind national conversation. There is no charge to attend this AFB-sponsored national teleseminar, and there is no need to RSVP.

Stay tuned for future announcements which will feature the names of the panelists who will participate in a moderated discussion about the critical issues affecting the education of children with CVI. During the second half of this 90-minute conversation, we will be accepting your comments and questions. You will have a chance to voice your own perspectives, offer your own recommendations for change, and interact with the panelists. Please share this announcement far and wide via your own networks. Again, all are welcome, and we look forward to engaging in a lively conversation to hear different points of view but ultimately to consider how our field might build consensus, envision progress, and mobilize initiative to ensure that children with CVI, just like all children with vision loss and other disabilities, can finally receive an education that is truly worthy of their tremendous potential.

Seeing Beyond the Horizon Conference Announcement

Please join us in sunny springtime Nisku, Alberta, Canada, May 3-5, 2018, for our upcoming Canadian Vision Teachers' Conference. Come network, learn together and celebrate the privilege of working with students with a visual impairment and their families!

Get more information at the 2018 Canadian Vision Teachers' Conference website

Pre-conference Sessions on May 2nd:

  • Matt Tietjen, MEd — What's the Complexity Framework? (working with students with CVI)
  • Peter Tucic and Michel Pepin (Humanware) — BrailleNote Touch: the hands-on experience
  • David Wilkinson (HIMS) — Up Close and Personal with BrailleSense Polaris

Keynote Speakers:

  • Dr. Kevin Stewart of York Region District School Board in Ontario
  • Diane Brauner, creator of Paths to Literacy
  • Molly Burke Motivational Speaker, YouTuber and Spokesperson … who happens to be blind
  • Banquet Speaker : Lowell & Julie Taylor, formerly from The Amazing Race Canada

Leader Dog's Now Accepting Applications for the Leader Dog's Summer Experience Camp

Leader Dog's Summer Experience Camp

Application Deadline March 31

Summer Experience Camp is a week of outdoor fun, friendship and skill building. The program combines activities like rock wall climbing and tandem biking with leadership building exercises and things exclusively Leader Dog—GPS training and spending time with Leader Dogs in training. The combination helps increase independent travel skills, interpersonal skills and leadership skills.

The free program is for boys and girls ages 16 and 17 who are legally blind. Leader Dog covers all costs including airfare to Michigan—and everyone receives a free HumanWare Trekker Breeze+ GPS device. The 2018 camp dates are June 23–June 30. Applications are due by March 31, 2018.

For more information and to download an application, visit the Summer Experience Camp website or call the Leader Dogs for the Blind client services department at 888-777-5332.

10th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York Announces Official 2018 Lineup

Tickets On Sale beginning Monday February 12th, for Festival Presenting More Than 100 Film Screenings and Events at Dozens of Venues Throughout Greater NYC to Celebrate the Lives, Stories, and Artistic Expressions of People with Different Abilities

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan announced its official lineup of feature films for the 10th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York. The 2018 festival will take place March 8–14 at the JCC and more than 30 other venues across all five boroughs of New York City, as well as on Long Island and in Westchester and Rockland counties, making it the most geographically accessible festival in the country. Utilizing various technologies, the festival strives to offer the most accessible programs for those with special needs of all kinds. For the first time, the festival will offer Audio Description for all its feature films.

ReelAbilities Film Festival seeks to promote awareness of the stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities by celebrating the diversity of the shared human experience through engaging films and events. The festival also encourages inclusion and authentic portrayals in cinema of people with disabilities, the most underrepresented minority in American media. Following the flagship New York festival, selections from this year's program travel to ReelAbilities' growing network of festivals around North America that take place throughout the year.

The festival will open on March 8 at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street, with the previously announced 2017 Tribeca Film Festival-winner Keep the Change and will close with the New York Premiere of Matan Yair's Scaffolding, which took the Best Israeli Feature and Best Actor awards at the 2017 Jerusalem Film Festival. Other film highlights include Mad to Be Normal starring Elisabeth Moss, David Tennant, Gabriel Byrne, and Michael Gambon; Mind Over Matter, a documentary featuring a fan with Cerebral Palsy who—inspired by the music of Korn and against all odds—strives to make it as a rock and roll guitarist; Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw, which tells the story of basketball phenom Holdsclaw from her WNBA stardom to her struggle with mental illness; and the 2018 Oscar nominated short documentary film Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405.

During the opening night ceremony, the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment will present a Spotlight Award to actress and activist Marlee Matlin for her significant contributions to NYC's creative community, and for serving as an inspiration and a role model to artists with different abilities. The Spotlight Award illuminates excellence in the film, television, music, publishing, digital content, and advertising sectors. Previous honorees include hip-hop artist Nasir "Nas" Jones and "Late Night" host Seth Meyers.

"Marlee Matlin is not only a decorated television, Broadway and film actress — she's a fierce advocate for artists," said Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. "Marlee has used her celebrity to advocate for others in her community and continues to give back, paving the way for differently-abled actors and actresses of the next generation. She is an example of how diversity can truly make us stronger, and I can think of no better place to present her with this award than the landmark 10th annual ReelAbilities festival, a vital venue to experience films by and about people with all kinds of abilities."

ReelAbilities is the largest festival in the country dedicated to presenting films made by and about people with different disabilities whether physical, developmental, or psychological. Through film and special events, ReelAbilities seeks to unite the community in sharing and exploring stories of people living and thriving with disabilities.

This year's lineup of special events will include Advocacy in Action Shabbat Dinner & a Movie featuring Defiant Lives, followed by a discussion and panel of disability rights advocates; a performance from Off-Broadway's Addy & Uno, a new musical puppet show for all ages about disability, friendship and kindness; Heidi Latsky Dance—On Display, an exhibit where people engage with living "sculptures" that embody inclusion through dance; and Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0, a workshop designed for aspiring filmmakers and media professionals with disabilities; and many more. For a full line up of special events please visit http://www.reelabilities.org/newyork/events.

"ReelAbilities is New York's largest celebration of the disability community," adds Isaac Zablocki, director and cofounder of the festival. "Making this our most inclusive event to date allows the entire community to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this impactful festival together. We present great films that absolutely anyone can enjoy and be further impacted by the conversations."

ReelAbilities Film Festival also promotes awareness and fosters dialogue on the topic of disability through first-class international film selections, panel discussions, special performances, exhibitions and celebrity guest appearances. As the most inclusive festival in the country, ReelAbilities provides accessibility aids such as captions, ASL interpretation, audio description, and CART (live captioning). This ambitious undertaking is supported by members of the community, non-profit and government grants, and multiple sponsorships.

Tickets for Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan's 10th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New Yorkbecame available on February 12th. Please visit the Real Abilities New York webpage to purchase or for more information on venues and screening times.

RAZ Mobility Accessible Installer app released for Google's Android Platform

RAZ Mobility, a company that specializes in mobile assistive technology, released a new application in the Google Play Store called the RAZ Mobility Accessible Installer. The Installer app provides a selection of recommended android applications for individuals with disabilities and a simple way to download those applications onto a mobile device. Every app listed includes a description of its purpose, the Google Play rating and the cost. Basically, it is a master application that lists and describes other great applications.

The apps are divided into the following categories: General, Hearing, Vision, Speech, Mobility, Cognition, Health and Learning. So, if you are blind, you would select the Vision category, it you are deaf, the hearing category, etc. The Health and Learning categories could be of interest to anyone. When you see an application that you wish to install, simply tap on the image that reads Google Play and you will be navigated to the page on the Google Play Store where the app can be installed.

This is a very convenient way to learn about some of the best Android applications available to individuals who are blind. RAZ Mobility will be updating the Installer app regularly so that it includes the latest and best applications.

Join us at the 2018 M-Enabling Summit June 11-13, 2018

Please join us at the M-Enabling Summit, the leading conference and showcase promoting accessible technology and environments for seniors and users of all abilities, which will be held on June 11-13, 2018 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, in Washington, D.C. It is the annual meeting place for all who create and contribute to accessible ICT products, services and consumer technologies.

With its 2018 theme of "Accessible and Assistive Technologies Innovations: New Frontiers for Independent Living," the M-Enabling Summit sets the stage for focusing on next-generation innovation and breakthrough solutions for all in the accessibility field. It also offers a platform to network with accessibility professionals, organizations, and decision makers seeking to address compliance challenges and market development opportunities.

The Summit's program will focus on accessibility innovations, with over 120 speakers, private sector leaders, developers, policy makers, mobile accessibility experts and disability advocates sharing their knowledge and experience. Confirmed presenters include representatives of leading organizations facilitating the accessible technology market. Dr.

Jeff Jaffe, CEO of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), will be delivering the opening morning keynote on June 12, 2018. The M-Enabling Summit will also host the FCC Chairman's Awards for Advancement in Accessibility (Chairman's AAA) on June 12th. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will address Summit participants in his evening keynote.

Highlighted Sessions and Topics: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Aging in Place: Connected Health and Big Data for Activity Monitoring, Accessible Security, Identification and Privacy Protection, Digital Assistants, Autonomous Mobility, Consumer Technology Products and IoT for Independent Living, and Accessible Smart Cities, Higher Education & Workplaces

Due to the successful addition of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) Pre Conference Session at last year's M-Enabling Summit; the IAAP Annual Conference has been integrated into the 2018 Summit, where they will be hosting technical and organizational training tracks throughout the 3-day event.

View the complete agenda at this link.

The M-Enabling Summit offers a discounted early bird registration rate through April 27. You can register at this link.

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