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Upcoming Events and Conferences
2012
MAER Annual Conference
"Expanding Boundaries"
The Marriott at Laurel Park Place
Livonia, MI
April 26 & 27, 2012
CONFERENCE TIME TABLE
THURSDAY- 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast
Sessions: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
FRIDAY- 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast
Sessions: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Click here to download the conference program in Word
Click here to download the conference program in PDF
Thursday, April 26, 2012
7:30 |
Michigan/Huron |
Continental Breakfast |
7:30 |
Michigan/Huron |
Exhibitors - open all day |
8:30 |
Ballroom |
Welcome – President Kathy Konow |
|
Ballroom |
Keynote Address: Mom, Do Chicken Nuggets Have Knuckles? L. Penny Rosenblum Dr. Rosenblum will do a motivational talk using quotes from children who are visually impaired to illustrate key points professionals need to consider in their work with children and adults with visual impairments. |
9:30 |
|
BREAK |
9:45
|
Salon B |
iBraille: Using Refreshable Braille Displays with iOS Devices Donna Brostek Lee Are you confused about how to select a refreshable Braille display for use with iOS devices (iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad)? During this hands-on workshop, learn how to use a refreshable Braille display with an iOS device. Hands-on training will include device pairing, navigation/accessing apps, reading, and writing. Note: This session is limited to 15 participants who must have a basic understanding of VoiceOver prior to attending. All attendees should bring ear phones/buds! iOS devices will be provided for those who do not have one. |
|
Salon C |
Strategies and Techniques for Teaching Social Skills to Students with a Visual Impairment Pat Love-Sypho Students with visual impairments can have a difficult time developing social and interpersonal skills. These are skills that their sighted peers acquire through incidental learning, while students with visual impairments require additional learning opportunities to develop these skills. This presentation will provide participants with strategies and techniques to: help students develop an awareness of their body, family, and environment; understand the importance of good social skills and its impact on self-esteem, independent living skills, promoting friendships, and safety issues. |
|
Salon D |
Do You Know What I See? Traumatic Brain Injury and Visual Impairments Marquita Andion When a person sustains a traumatic brain injury, there is a high probability that the injury will result in visual complications that may be temporary or permanent. This presentation will focus on types of traumatic brain injuries, the visual impairments that present, and strategies to implement in improving visual functioning. Click here to download the session handout |
11:00 |
|
BREAK |
11:15 |
Salon B
|
Spatial Processing Robert Hohendorf, O.D. This Spatial Processing presentation is designed to help others understand the way our brain processes visual information. It involves all of our sensory and motor abilities to develop and change. We are not born with spatial perception. The loss of eyesight impacts, but does not destroy our use of spatial perception. Visual restoration is not the same as visual rehabilitation. Understanding spatial processing is the key to visual rehabilitation regardless of the causative event. |
|
Salon C |
Leisure Skills Roberta McCall and Jenni Burch Crafts and leisure activities are an important part of the lives of everyone regardless of vision level. This session is designed to share ideas about how some of these activities can be adapted for adults and students who are blind or have low vision. Included will be adaptations for sewing machines, methods for counting in activities such as knitting, crocheting, golfing, etc., French/Rake loom knitting and instructions and adaptations for making items such as necklaces out of beads. A kit for making your own adapted counter will be provided to a limited number of participants. |
|
Salon D |
Supporting Braille Literacy Using a Meaning Centered Approach L. Penny Rosenblum Dr. Rosenblum will share ideas for supporting Braille literacy development using a meaning-centered approach (IM-ABLE developed by Dr. Diane Wormsley). Information on how to select key words for instruction, develop literacy activities, and monitor learner progress will be shared. Opportunities for participants to share ideas and ask questions will be provided. |
12:30 |
Ballroom |
Lunch / MAER Annual Business Meeting |
2:00 |
|
BREAK |
2:15 |
Salon B |
An Overview of New APH Products Collette Bauman APH staff will demonstrate, discuss and provide the opportunity for a clear understanding of their latest technology products available for student use. |
|
Salon C |
An O&Ms Guide to Guide Dogs Sarah Johnson & Meredith Griffin This session is designed for the Orientation and Mobility Specialist who is working with potential or current guide dog users. The presenters will discuss both the theoretical and practical applications of a variety of techniques for preparing potential users and working with current guide dog users. |
|
Salon D |
Thinking Ahead: How to Support Our Students with Additional Disabilities in Maximizing Their Potential L. Penny Rosenblum Children with additional disabilities benefit from well thought out programming. From a young age, professionals and families need to have long-term goals in place so that systematic planning can allow the goals to be achieved. Ample time for discussion and questions will be allowed. |
3:30 |
|
BREAK |
3:45 - 5:00 |
Salon B |
Five Minute ILS Lynn Pensari & Johanna Anand When do we find time for the expanded core curriculum with so many other things to do? The presenters will give over a hundred ideas of independent living skill activities that you can work on in five minutes or less! These activities will include many skills in the Michigan ILS Guide and will cover all age groups. |
|
Salon C |
Issues in the VRT Field Roberta McCall Join vocational rehabilitation professionals from around the state to discuss current issues in the field. |
|
Salon D |
Summer Opportunities: Michigan Summer Camp Programs Panel
Find out about the summer opportunities available for students and clients with visual impairments throughout the state of Michigan. Get details and find answers to all your questions about Lion’s Bear Lake Camp, ABVI’s STEPS & Summer in the City, GDABVI’s Summer Enrichment Program, Leader Dogs for the Blind Summer Experience, Camp Tuhsmeheta, and others. |
5:30 |
Salon A |
MAER Conference Hospitality Event |
Friday, April 27, 2012
7:30 |
Michigan/Huron |
Continental Breakfast |
|
Michigan/Huron |
Exhibitors – open all day |
8:00 |
Ballroom |
Keynote Address: Life Without Limits Bill Barkeley Join adventurer and world traveler Bill Barkeley to learn about overcoming adversity, planning, excellence, community and teamwork. |
9:00 |
|
BREAK |
| 9:15 | Salon A | Life Without Limits Bill Barkeley Continuation of keynote. |
Salon B |
Fun and Games for All Ages Johanna Anand & Lynn Pensari In this session, the presenters will show a variety of games adapted for the visually impaired. This will include popular games that are available for everyone. Games for all ages will be shown. |
|
|
Salon C |
Environmental Literacy: What You Need to Know to Get Where You Are Going Rob Wall Emerson There are many aspects of travel in the modern urban environment that travelers with visual impairments and their O&M instructors may not be fully aware of. These include complex intersection geometry, accessible pedestrian signals, roundabouts, quiet cars, to name some of the more significant features. |
|
Salon D |
Choosing the Right i Device Donna Brostek Lee Are you confused about the iOS devices (iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad)? During this presentation, learn about the similarities and differences between the iOS devices so you can assist your students and consumers in choosing the most appropriate device for their unique needs. Accessibility features built into the iOS devices will be demonstrated and resources for further learning will be shared. Click here to download the session PowerPoint
|
10:30 |
|
BREAK |
10:45 |
Salon B |
What’s Up Doc? Demystifying Low Vision Reports Dorothy Goldie Addison This presentation will focus on interpretation of low vision test results of students with visual impairments. Analysis of the optical prescription, distance acuity, near acuity, visual field, and oculomotor skills will be emphasized. Analysis of the test results and their implications for the classroom as well as recommended instructional strategies and appropriate low vision technologies will be discussed. |
|
|
Salon C |
The Michigan Severity Rating Scales: Data Proven Tools Susan Langendonk & Susan Bradley MDE-LIO and the Western Michigan University partnered to develop a survey aimed at establishing reliability and validity for the Michigan Severity Rating Scales. Data collected will be presented showing that these are valuable and trusted tools which can be used to suggest service time for Orientation & Mobility and Teacher Consultant services for students with visual impairments. |
|
|
Salon D |
Diabetes from a Real Life Perspective Roberta McCall, Curtis Kargus, and Brenda Kargus Diabetes is a life-long chronic disease that has to be handled and controlled every day of your life—no vacations, no days off, no liberation, not even for a few days. This session is designed to let those who are interested in hearing from individuals who have diabetes about what they deal with every day--what frustrates them, what there is to like and not like about dealing with diabetes. Participants are encouraged to come and listen and ask questions in order to get a fuller understanding of what their student(s) think and feel about their diabetes, how a parent feels about all the headaches, trials, and triumphs of their child who has diabetes, and from a colleague who has had diabetes for many years. |
|
12:00 |
Ballroom |
Lunch / MAER Awards Luncheon |
|
1:30 |
|
BREAK |
|
1:45 |
Salon B |
Is Dead Tree Really Dead? An Overview of electronic book reading options for visually impaired and blind students. Peter Zaeremba Paper books (aka dead trees) are no longer the norm. In 2011, Amazon.com sold more electronic Kindle books than paper based books. What will your student’s textbook look like five years from now? Participants will explore an array of options for accessing materials in formats other than traditional textbooks. Mainstream ebook readers (iPad, Kindle, Android) and specialized devices (note takers with Braille displays, digital audio players and tablet PCs, etc.) will be explored. Bring your questions. Click here to download the session PowerPoint |
|
Salon C |
Issues in the O&M Field Join O&M instructors from around the state to discuss current issues in the field. |
|
Salon D |
It Takes a Village: Meeting the Needs of Students Who Are DeafBlind Beth Kennedy Teacher Consultants for the Visually Impaired and Teacher Consultants for the Hearing Impaired must work together, often with several more professionals, to meet the needs of students who are DeafBlind. This requires a level of collaboration, team work, and role release not required when serving other students. This presentation will offer pointers to help the team function smoothly & effectively. |
3:00 |
|
BREAK |
3:15 |
Salon B |
Issues in the TCVI field Join TCVIs from around the state to discuss current issues in the field. |
|
Salon C |
Redefining the O&M Model Meredith Griffin & Sarah Johnson The Accelerated Mobility Program (AMP) is a unique O&M model. To become an independent traveler, the process usually takes three to six months of training for adults in traditional models. AMP is a week-long class that focuses just on O&M so the learning process is uninterrupted and travel skills instruction can occur in a condensed time frame. |
|
Salon D |
Transition Needs of Blind and Visually Impaired Youth Lydia Schuck This presentation is a first look at the results of survey research performed in Michigan in the fall of 2011. Parents were surveyed on their perceptions of transition planning, especially in the skill areas of Expanded Core Curriculum. |
4:30 |
END OF CONFERENCE. HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME!! Please be sure to turn in your evaluations and SB-CEU/ACVREP forms. Save the date for next year’s annual conference on April 25 & 26, 2013 at the Livonia Marriott at Laurel Park Place. |
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Click here to download the registration form in Word
Click here to download the registration form in PDF
Registration Fees |
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AER Member: |
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$150.00 (both days) $ 95.00 (one day) |
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Non-Member: |
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Add $30.00 |
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New Member: |
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$10.00 discount with purchase of AER Membership |
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Students/Parents/Retirees: *With copy of AER card or student ID |
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$95.00* (both days) $70.00* (one day) If you are a student & in need of financial support to attend the conference please contact Donna Brostek Lee donna.b.lee@wmich.edu no later than March 1st. |
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Return registration form and check (made payable to MAER) to: |
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For Program Information: |
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MAER c/o Mary Beth Kullen 16348 Pollyanna St. Livonia, MI 48154
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Kathy Konow e-mail: tomkonow@att.net 616-458-1187
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For Hotel & Registration Information or Issues: |
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Visit the MAERBVI website: |
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Call Mary Beth Kullen at (313) 272-3900 or email: kullen@gdabvi.org |
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www.maerbvi.org |
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The Marriott at Laurel Park PlaceReservations for sleeping rooms must be made by March 23, 2012 to get the conference rate of $127.00. Attendees are responsible for making own reservations. Call 800-228-9290 and ask for the MAER Room Block at the Livonia Marriott.
Directions: FROM I-94: North on I-275 to Six Mile Road. East to Laurel Park Place. FROM I-96: South on I-275 to Six Mile Road. East to Laurel Park Place. |
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Conference Registration includes continental breakfast & buffet lunch each day,
general sessions and concurrent sessions.
Pre-Registration: Postmarked prior to March 23, 2012
Late Registration: Postmarked after March 23, 2012 & at the door. Add $35.00
Purchase Orders: Purchase Orders must be received prior to March 23, 2012
Click here to download the registration form in Word
Click here to download the registration form in PDF
Click here to download director and officer nomination information in Word
Click here to download director and officer nomination information in PDF
2011
Thank you to all that attended the
MAER Annual Conference: Making It Happen!
Marriott at Laurel Park Place
Livonia, MI
April 14-15, 2011
Below are some resources provided by the speakers at the conference:
Anne McKay Bacon -
What to consider when planning to do a Functional Vision Evaluation (FVE)
Handout #1 - Suggested items for a Functional Vision Kit
Handout #3 - Functional Vision Assessment Direct Assmt Procedures
Handout #4 - FVA LMA Direct Assessment Protocol
Handout #6 - Index of Instruments by Area of Assessment
Handout #8 - Parent Questionnaire
Handout #10 - Checklist for Vision observation and history
Marliyn Gense -
Guidelines for Designing and Implementing a Program of Instruction for Learners with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and a Visual Impairment
Handout #1 - Critical Features of Quality Programs ASDVI Part 1
Handout #2 - Critical Features Part 2
Handout #3 - Critical Features Part 3
Handout #4 - Critical Features Part 4
Gwen Botting
Gardening with Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Handout #1 - Gardening speech MAER 2011
Donna Brostek Lee
iCrazed! Its Time to Get Hands-On With Universal Accessibility: Why Everyone is Crazy Over the iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch
Handout #1 - iCrazed
Marilyn Winograd and Lillian Rankel
Getting In On Science (and other subjects)
Handout #1 - Making Science Fair
Handout #2 - Additional Resources
Handout #3 - School Leader Article
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MAER AWARD
&
DAVID AND JOANN SEARCH
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
MAER AWARD for individual(s) or organization(s) who has/have made a significant contribution
to the field of blindness and/or in the service of blind and visually impaired persons in Michigan.
DAVID AND JOANN SEARCH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – for an individual who has
recently retired or is about to retire and has demonstrated a lifetime dedication to serving blind and visually impaired persons in Michigan.
Nominations must be received by March 1, 2011.
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| Invitation to Join |
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(703)671-4500