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What You Must Know Before Assessing a Child for Orientation and Mobility Instruction
Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from a recent article posted on the Professional Development section of AFB.org. There are important differences between how you teach orientation and mobility (O&M) skills to an adult and how you teach them to a child. Effective instruction of children begins with a careful assessment that takes into consideration their unique development and needs. From the very beginning, an instructor must understand these needs to be able to…
Attention Blindness Professionals: JVIB Wants Your Input
Are you interested in employment and transition? The Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) is planning a free online event that will coincide with the November-December JVIB Special Issue on Employment and Transition, edited by Karen Wolffe. The week of November 18th, JVIB will be hosting an open forum with a blog by Joe Strechay, program manager for CareerConnect, the American Foundation for the Blind's employment information resource for students and adults with…
Be an Advocate! Help Strengthen Specialized Services
As advocates for people who are blind or visually impaired, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) knows first-hand the value of specialized services. They change lives by teaching people with vision loss the skills needed to thrive in the classroom, the workplace and everyday life. Yet, these services are almost perpetually in danger of being cut due to shrinking state budgets. It is therefore crucial that we continue to advocate to our policymakers of their importance, and to ensure…
AFB Press Interviews Cynthia Sun, Mother of a Visually Impaired Student
[Editor's note: In 2007, AFB Press published "Cortical Visual Impairment: An Approach to Assessment and Intervention" by Christine Roman-Lantzy. Pictured on the cover was 12 year-old Jeremy Sun. We recently caught up with his mother, Cynthia, to see how Jeremy, now 18, was doing.] Tell us about Jeremy. How has he been doing? Jeremy is now 18 years old and ready to move on to a new environment this autumn. His case manager is now putting together a program which…
Welcoming People Who Are Visually Impaired to Your Worship Community
[Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from Diversity and Visual Impairment: The Influence of Race, Gender, Religion, and Ethnicity on the Individual, edited by Madeline Milian and Jane Erin. This excerpt was authored by Virginia Bishop.] The inclusion of visually impaired people in a religious community does not usually happen by accident; it is more often the result of planned efforts. Although each congregation is different, there are some general guidelines that may help in…
Webinar Alert: Using iPads in the Classroom for Students with Visual and Multiple Disabilities
The AFB eLearning Center is pleased to offer the second of an ongoing series of webinars that focus on the use of iPads in the classroom for students with visual and other disabilities. The webinar series is presented by Dr. Betsy Flener, who has over 25 years of experience as a teacher and consultant including serving as a regional consultant for the Kentucky School for the Blind. She is currently an assistive technology consultant for the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative.…
Listening Guidelines for English Language Learners
Editor's note: The following is a transcript excerpt from "Listening Guidelines for English Language Learners," a webinar presented by Madeline Milian. Teachers who work with students who are visually impaired know that smell, touch and hearing explain the world. But when the individuals can no longer rely on listening skills because the language they're using is different from the language of instruction, they suffer a significant setback in understanding what's…
For Teachers: Basic Tips For When You Have a Visually Impaired Student in Your Class
[Editor’s Note: The following post is excerpted from When You Have a Visually Impaired Student in Your Classroom: A Guide for Teachers, edited by Susan J. Spungin and available via AFB Press. Further details available at the end of this post.] Will you have a child with a visual impairment in your classroom this year? Individuals working with children with visual impairments, whether or not they have other disabilities, will find the following basic guidelines helpful in interacting with…
Hijinks Ensue: Audio Describing a Live Screening of Hitchcock's "The Trouble With Harry"
We're pleased to provide a guest post today by Madeleine Fix, on the experience of providing live audio description for a classic movie. By Madeleine Fix Recently I provided audio description (AD) for Alfred Hitchcock's "The Trouble With Harry," screened in the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) Summer Movie Series at the historic Ohio Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. The service is provided through a partnership between Accessible Arts of Central Ohio,…
Dr. James Jan Publishes Final Contribution in Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness
This summer, the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) will feature the final publication by a giant in the research of neuroplasticity of the brain and how it relates to vision. Dr. James E. Jan, founder, retired professor, and senior research scientist emeritus of the Visual Impairment Program at BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is best known for his groundbreaking work that contributed enormously to the field's discussion of the…