April 21 - April 23, 2023
San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront
Burlingame, CA
Please join us in saying thank you
to our 2023 CTEBVI Conference
PLATINUM SPONSORS.
Thank you to this year’s additional sponsors:
American Thermoform ● Hims ● Liberty Braille
Vispero ● Wayfinder
Contents
Conference Information
General information including conference registration, Continuing Education Units and
hotel amenities
Conference Highlights
Daily schedules and speaker profiles
Paraeducator Training
Daily schedules and speaker profiles
Workshop Schedule
Available workshops by day and time
Presenters
Curriculum Vitae
Exhibitors
Exhibit Hall vendors and silent auction
Hotel Map
Event location information
California Transcribers
and Educators for the
Blind and Visually Impaired
2
4
5
6
26
56
Conference Information
ONSITE REGISTRATION
You may register at the Registration Desk. Please note that on-site registration is nonrefundable.
CHECK-IN FOR PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS ONLY
Thursday, April 20 7:00 am - 9:00 am
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
REGULAR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Thursday, April 20 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Friday, April 21 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, April 22 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS
CEUs are again being offered with an ACVREP fee of $35, payable in advance with registration fee. This fee will allow CEUs for an unlimited number of workshops. You will get instructions for receiving certificates after conference. Please provide an email address where you wish the instructions to be sent.
HOSPITALITY SUITE
Stop by and relax with friends on Saturday from 8-10:30 pm.
ANNOUNCEMENT BOARD
Have an announcement or job opening? Please feel free to post it on the board that will be located near the Registration Desk.
EXHIBIT HALL
Exhibit Hall attendance is free and open
to everyone. Browse the latest offerings
in assistive technology, educational aids, and more.
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed by workshop presenters and speakers during the course of this conference do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CTEBVI.
AMENITIES:
Free wireless internet connectivity is available in the public areas.
A dog relief area will be designated. Please ask for the location when you check in or at registration.
Additional amenities include concierge, valet, dry cleaning and room service.
ON-SITE DINING:
Flights View Lounge 1.650.692.9100
Starbucks 1.650.259.6588
NEARBY RESTAURANTS:
(Down the street on Old Bayshore Highway)
New England Lobster Company, HL Peninsula Hotpot, HL Peninsula Cantonese, and Benihana.
Information on these and other restaurants is available at the hotel concierge desk.
Conference Highlights
PRE-CONFERENCE EVENTS - THURSDAY, APRIL 20
COMPREHENSIVE VISION EVALUATION, PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL &
TESTING FOR STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Irvine
PARAEDUCATOR TRAINING 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Anaheim
CLEANING AND OILING A PERKINS BRAILLE WRITER
SESSION 1 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
SESSION 2 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Bayside I
THURSDAY, APRIL 20
WELCOME RECEPTION 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Bayside II & III
FRIDAY, APRIL 21
BUFFET BREAKFAST 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
GENERAL BUSINESS SESSION 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
EXHIBIT HALL/SILENT AUCTION 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Browse the exhibitor booths, see demonstrations of the latest assistive technology, and bid on silent auction items.
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
Showcase I, II, III, & IV 12:40 pm – 3:25 pm
BANQUET DINNER AND DANCE 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Location Salon F
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST/POSTER SESSION 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Location: Salon F
YOUTH INSTITUTE 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Anaheim
Each year CTEBVI hosts an amazing conference that brings blind and low vision students and their families together with the professionals who meet their educational and rehabilitation needs. Throughout this resource-rich weekend participants get the chance to connect with peers and learn about the latest and greatest. To help youth do just that, while connecting with peers from all over the state, the youth institute was born. Now that the conference is back in person the Youth Institute is ready to hit the ground running and continue with our daylong seminar for youth and young adults.
Our series of activities and presenters will start at 9:00 am on Saturday, April 22nd and will run through 4:00 pm that afternoon. The day will be filled with interactive activities and challenges addressing important concepts such as technology, navigation, and networking. Each session is led by professionals and a group of mentors who are blind or have low vision themselves. This year’s Youth Institute is open to all blind or low vision K-12 students as well as transition age college students that are under the age of 22.
EXHIBIT HALL 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
PARENT INSTITUTE 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Newport
Back for 2023, CTEBVI and the California Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (CAPVI) are co-hosting this year’s Parent Institute. We have planned a series of workshops designed to help you learn new ways to support your child, share best practices, and connect with other parents and guardians of children who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. Hear from a panel of parents of blind children of different ages and vision levels, then choose from workshops on Assistive Technology (and how to advocate for tech for your child), social-emotional skills for children who are blind, how to teach your child a range of independent learning skills (including hands-on practice!), and self-care for the caregiver. You do not need to be present the whole day in order to participate, but if you can, it is highly recommended.
Lunch will be provided.
SILENT AUCTION CLOSES 4:45 PM
This is the last day for the Silent Auction so get your bids in before 4:45 pm. Any unclaimed items will go to the next highest bidder.
HOSPITALITY SUITE 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Location: San Ramon
Keep the conversation going! Light snacks and beverages will be provided. No host bar.
SUNDAY, APRIL 23
BUFFET BREAKFAST/GENERAL SESSION 8:00 AM – 11:00AM
Location: Salon F
Following breakfast, join us for an interactive discussion with students, transcribers and educators about what works and what can be improved in the provision of educational materials for students who are blind or have visual impairments.
Legislative Update: Jeff Thom
Jeff Thom graduated from Stanford Law school in 1978, after
obtaining a bachelors degree in political science from Willamette University. Jeff worked as an attorney for the California Legislature for 30 years. He is a past president of the California Council of the Blind and its current voluntary Governmental Affairs Director.
Jeff is a current board member and former first vice president of the American Council of the Blind. He has served in a variety of blindness-related capacities on the national, state, and local level, including as a board member of the American Foundation for the Blind, and is currently immediate past president of the board of directors of both Disability Rights California and the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss. He is married, is a father of five, and grandfather and has had more than a dozen foreign exchange students. Among the awards he has received is the 2008 California Public Lawyer of the Year.
Michael Glacken, WCRI Recipient
Michael Glacken was introduced to Braille in 2009, becoming a certified transcriber in 2011 while at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, California. In 2014, Michael gave a TedX talk on the values and importance of transcribing while incarcerated.
In 2015, he transferred to the California Medical Facility to work at The Blind Project. Michael also co-founded a program, Foreseeable Future, teaching inmates to read Braille and operate a Perkins Braille Writer. Through CTEBVI, he was awarded a West Coast Reentry Initiative opportunity to assist him with beginning his career in transcribing upon his release. Michael has been a full-time freelance transcriptionist in Sonoma County, California since 2021.
Showcase 1: 11:05 PM—11:25 PM
Learn to type with Typio, an online accessible typing tutor from Accessibyte
Highly visual, fully audible, accessible from school or home on any device. Learn about typing instruction using Typio, Typio Pro and Braillio from the perspective of students and instructors.
Showcase II: 12:40 PM - 1:00 PM
How innovative solutions can solve the issue of lack of independence
of the blind and deaf-blind - 4Blind Canada, Inc
Within the showcase we will tell about technologies 4Blind use to design solutions which significantly increase the level of independence and privacy of people with blindness and deaf-blindness. We will share details of how our team creates innovative devices and how they can help in education, work and independent living. Moreover, we will review the future tactile technologies which can make blind people able to interact with virtual objects.
Showcase III: 1:20 PM - 1:40 PM
HumanWare - Please join Rachel Ramos to learn about the real benefits of the Brailliant BI40x and 20x Braille displays. The first braille display ever with text to speech and onboard wireless connectivity. Come by and see what all the buzz is about
Showcase IV: 3:05 PM - 3:25 PM
Top Tablet Systems for Students - NorthState Assistive Technology
An in-depth look at the 3 top, ultra-portable, tablet systems that function as video magnifier with tabletop and distance viewing with OCR/Text to speech, with and without computer connectivity.
Keynote Address: Sharon Giovinazzo
Sharon Giovinazzo is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco. Sharon is an innovative and visionary leader who leads the charge when it comes to leveraging the power of relationships and networks, to work across private, public, and corporate sectors to improve outcomes for the clientele served.
Sharon has proven that collaboration is the key to success to increase capacity to drive the impact directly related to reducing the economic burden of vision loss.
Sharon has been credited for the ability to develop services grounded in strategic thinking. She understands that human capital is the most important asset to employer believes that organization’s success will be determined by attracting, retaining, and optimally managing a quality and constantly evolving workforce. In partnership with her team, she is committed to overseeing all facets of an organization, including driving the mission, fundraising, operations, and engagement with employees and the board of directors.
Sharon is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Melvin Jones Fellow, the Tom Phifer Award from the AER-AR for outstanding contributions in the field of rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the US Army Freedom Team Salute presented for ongoing support of the “Army Family”,
American Legion Award for Military Excellence and one for Academic Excellence, and the VisionServe Alliance Roxann Mayros Organizational Champion Award in recognition and appreciation of innovative leadership to grow and strengthen the organization to better serve individuals with blindness and low vision.
Certificate of Recognition from The Honorable Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer for dedicated service to the blind, and visually impaired and unyielding advocacy for their needs thank you for embodying Lions international spirit of service, and for your leader ship in the pursuit of preventing avoidable blindness and improving the lives of the blind and visually impaired.
Paraeducator training
The IDEA is Federal Law, and requires each state to adopt statutes and regulations which implement the IDEA in that state. This training will familiarize you with the provisions of the IDEA and will introduce you to the elements of a complaint program of services for visually impaired students, as well as providing you with the necessary information and skills required for implementing programs for students with the low incidence disability of visual impairment. Your certificate of attendance should prepare you to function successfully within the framework of Federal law and as a support paraprofessional in most educational settings for students with a range of visual impairments.
Thursday, April 20
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Anaheim
Module 1: Introduction
Sharon Sacks
The first module will provide an overview of the role of the paraeducator (para) and the modules being introduced through the training. The importance of paraeducators collaborating with teachers of students with visual impairments (TVI) and general educators will be highlighted. Participants will be provided an overview of visual impairment, additional disabilities, and the expanded core curriculum.
Module 2: Students with Multiple Disabilities Including Deafblind
Julie Maier
The second module will focus on students with multiple disabilities including deafblindness/dual sensory loss. Participants will be provided an overview of unique issues of access these students face and effective strategies to support their development of concepts, communication, and other important life skills. Paraeducators will be introduced to the role of interveners who support students with deafblindness/dual sensory loss.
Module 3: Literacy and Access Technology
Penny Rosenblum
The third module focusses on the variety of ways students with visual impairments access print including braille, large print, and the use of optical aids. Participants will learn ways students with additional disabilities use communication books and other tools. Ways in which paraeducators can learn braille will be included. An overview of access technology used by students including video magnification, screen readers, and braille notetakers will be included.
Module 4: Material Preparation Including the Use of Technology
Sunngye Hong
The fourth module focusses on preparing materials for students with visual impairments. Participants will be introduced to the technology used to communicate and share materials between the educational team members and the student. Strategies for gathering and producing accessible materials will be highlighted. Paraeducators will be introduced to companies that provide materials for students including the American Printing House for the Blind.
Friday Workshop Sessions: 110 Socialization, 211 Orientation & Mobility, 311 Transition and Career Readiness, and 410 Promoting Professionalism. Location: Bayside II
Workshop Schedule
After each workshop number there is (are) the strand(s) for whom the workshop is most likely to appeal.
T=Transcriber
E=Educator
PP=Paraprofessional
P=Parent
Thursday, April 20
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Comprehensive Vision Evaluation, Psychoeducational & SLP Testing for Students w/ Visual Impairment
Rebecka Henry, Stephanie Herlich, May Nguyen, Shelby Zimmerman
Location: Irvine
Please join us for this full day workshop where we will discuss how to conduct a comprehensive assessment for students with visual impairments. The morning session will be for teachers of students with visual impairments to discuss comprehensive vision reports (FVAs, LMAs, and ECC assessments). In the afternoon, we invite psychologists and speech language pathologists to join us in learning how to conduct valid educational assessments for the visually impaired population. Participants are welcome to come for the morning session, afternoon session, or both.
Thursday, April 20
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cleaning and Oiling A Gunky Perkins Brailler
Chester Goodale
Location: Bayside I
Did you know that most braillers that need repair only need to be cleaned and oiled to be restored to service? At this workshop we will walk you through the steps to clean and oil a dirty, gummy, Perkins Brailler. Bring a dirty brailler (or two!) to clean, or practice on one of ours. Each attendee will receive a kit containing brushes, oils, tools, and a cleaning cloth. Receipts are available upon request.
Friday, April 21
10:00 am - 11:00 am
101 TGIL Graphics with PixBlaster and PageBlaster (T, E)
Rachel Bishop, William Freeman, Karen Poppe
Location: Newport Beach
Do you want to make more tactile graphics for your students but aren’t sure where to begin? Please join us to learn how you can use the free Tactile Graphic Image Library (TGIL) as a starting point for creating tactiles. You’ll learn how to use the TGIL, how to edit the files you download, and how to work with embossers when producing these files. We will cover Firebird, Tiger Designer, and Inkscape in this presentation as well as the APH PixBlaster and PageBlaster embossers. We will also examine alternative methods for producing graphics such as collage graphics.
102 Easy Method for Teaching Braille Reading & Writing Using Actual Tactuals Materials (T, E, PP, P)
Roberta Becker, Tamara Black
Location: Monterey
Actual Tactuals Braille is excited to introduce a book/curriculum for students who are beginning braille readers, or those having difficulty learning to read braille. A basic introduction, it covers tracking and tactile identification, Alphabetic Wordsigns, Groupsigns, phonics skills, additional words. We will discuss Volume 1 for Beginners. An excellent starting point for ANY braille reading program. Also discussing UEB Practice Sentences (UEBPS), another Actual Tactuals book used to teach braille literacy. They are both systematic, comprehensive methods for teaching braille. More information on UEBPS at: www.actualtactuals.com. Both books are easy to use and build confidence and skills in new braille readers.
103 Low Hanging Fruit (E, P)
Yue-Ting Siu
Location: Anaheim
Often times, adult and school-age clients alike can benefit from advantages of access technology without the financial commitment (and steeper learning curve) of more specialized technology. Knowing what can be introduced via freely available mainstream technology can make accessing information easy and get students’ buy-in to using access technology. This technology will explore some readily available technologies on any mobile or desktop computing device – BYOD (bring your own device) and be ready to experiment!
104 The Tactile Graphic Rich Elementary Classroom: Supporting Inclusion and Literacy (T, E, PP, P)
Jessica McDowell, Naomi Rosenberg
Location: Salon C
Tactile graphics…not just for math and science! They support literacy and a child’s enjoyment and engagement with reading. Early elementary classrooms are filled with books with pictures. How can we support our students in accessing books and instruction? How can tactile drawing skills help our students build skills in interpreting tactile graphics? Discussion will include ways to make a blind student’s drawings on a Draftsman visually accessible to others. Options for tactile graphic creation will be explored with focus on ways to produce unique graphics quickly on-site. Session will include hands-on time making quick and easy tactile graphics.
105 Can, Not Can’t! (E, PP, P)
Brian Anderson, David Grimes, Juandez Scruggs
Location: Santa Barbara
Our panel of BVI individuals will address teachers, parents, and students, about the struggles, success, and workarounds that they experience in everyday life. This panel will be moderated and will encourage audience participation. Let’s talk about what we can do, instead of what we can’t!
107 Collaborative Models Between the TSVI and O&M: Assessment, Goal Writing, and Lesson Planning (E)
Manda Nordes, Vincent Valenzuela, Joe Vona, Zachary Zorndorf
Location: Santa Clara
This spring, two TSVIs and O&Ms go head-to-head! There can only be one winner…the student! Join us as we explore collaborative assessment, goal writing, lesson planning, and service delivery, focusing on the Expanded Core Curriculum.
108 The Truth About Animals: Building Language & Literacy Skills of Students w/ VI (E)
Cheryl Hannan
Location: Bayside I
Building a knowledge base that is both broad in scope and deep within specific domains begins with early language development and grows through reading exposure. Using animals as a popular topic represented in storytelling and literature, the presenter will explore truths about language development and the connection between language, literacy, and overall academic achievement.
109 Echo…Echo…Echolalia and VI (And Other Forms of Unconventional Language) (E, PP, P)
Rebecka Henry, Shelby Zimmerman
Location: Bayside III
Have you ever noticed any of your students frequently repeating language that he or she hears? Did you wonder what message the student was trying to convey, or did you possibly assume that it was meaningless word repetition? This presentation will discuss the relationship between echolalia, other repetitive types of atypical language, and vision impairment. Echolalia is commonly seen in students with vision loss but is not widely understood. Join us to learn what echolalia is, what other forms of atypical language you may come across, when they might emerge, and what communicative purposes they may serve.
110 Socialization
Adrian Amandi
Location: Bayside II
This workshop focuses on the unique impact of a visual impairment on a student’s development of social skills. Strategies will be shared on how to integrate students with visual impairments with sighted peers in all settings including academic, break times, and extra-curricular. Topics discussed will include ways paraeducators can assist students with networking, collaborating with peers on assignments, and developing friendships. Ideas to support students in the use of social media will be included.
111 Advancing STEM Accessibility with Tactile Graphics Displays
(E, PP, P)
Cary Supalo, Greg Williams
Location: Marina del Rey
We are now closer than ever to having dynamic tactile displays in the hands of BVI students and TVIs, with vendors nearing release of innovative new products. STEM is seen as one area where these devices will have significant impact. In this workshop, we will discuss the state of the technology, opportunities, research results, and the potential impact for educational technology and assessments.
Friday, April 21
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
201 The Future of Dynamic Braille with the eBRF (T, E, P)
William Freeman
Location: Santa Clara
Please join us to learn about the eBRF, a new dynamic and interactive file type being developed by APH with the DAISY Consortium and over 30 international partners. This new file type will feature many improvements including links for quick navigation, a dynamic page size, the inclusion of tactile graphics, and interactive content. We will also look embossers, and multi- and single-line displays and how they will benefit from this new file type. Please bring your opinions, questions, and concerns as these will help us as we continue developing this standard.
202 Producing Braille Math with the Duxbury Braille Translator (T, E, PP)
Caryn Navy
Location: San Ramon
We will look at tips and tools to use with DBT 12.6 for producing braille math as either UEB with Nemeth or UEB Math/Science. With an emphasis on simplifying the data entry and procedures, our exploration will include tools to use with Microsoft Word, working with LaTeX files, and tips and techniques to use in DBT itself.
203 National Coding Symposium and Day of Code (E, PP, P)
Adrian Amandi, KatrinaBest, Denise Snow
Location: Santa Barbara
The American Printing House (APH) and California School for the Blind (CSB) have partnered to host the annual National Coding Symposium for the past two years. This year we are proud to announce the first ever Day of Code! Join us to learn ways to help students increase their chances of success in programming or related fields. Resources will be shared including lesson plans, activities, and recorded videos for use by teachers and students to get started with coding. See how you can be part of introducing or advancing a new set of skills for your students. No knowledge of coding is needed to benefit.
204 VoiceOver on iOS: What to Do When You Have No Clue! (T, E, PP, P)
Scott Jaffray
Location: Anaheim
Teaching the VoiceOver for iOS screen reader to individuals with a visual impairment can be a daunting task. It does not get any easier when you, as a new user, TVI, or parent does not know how to approach learning, or teaching this technology. This presentation demonstrates an online website that allows anyone to learn or teach the VoiceOver for iOS screen reader. Anyone needing to can learn VoiceOver for iOS; an individual with a visual impairment, parent, or TVI can begin by having the student open this website on an iOS device, and then follow the instructions as the student learns lesson by lesson. Bring your iPhone or iPad, and after this session, learning or teaching the VoiceOver for iOS screen reader may not be as daunting as you thought!
205 APHCareerConnect: Brilliant Lessons and Curriculum for Inside and Outside the Classroom (E, PP, P)
Lisa Lloyd, Lisamaria Martinez, Richard Rueda
Location: Monterey
Entering its third decade, APH CareerConnect continues to innovate outside the box, including offerings of Pre-ETS lesson plans and resources. Focusing on blind and low vision teens and adults, CareerConnect has the critical digital tools for today’s active career curious minds. APH ConnectCenter staff will walk guests through the CareerConnect catalog demonstrating how these digital tools can spark conversation and awareness while beginning to motivate teens and young adults to think and plan for their life changing future. Overview of Career Conversations, College Conversations, the updated APH ConnectCenter TransitionHub, and our newly formatted online Job Seekers Toolkit will round out this session.
206 Taking on the Real World: A Conversation with LightHouse’s Pre-employment Program Graduates (E, PP, P)
Jamey Gump, Daisy Soto
Location: Newport Beach
Foundational soft-skills, leadership, and confidence-building experiences are essential building blocks as students begin planning for college, work opportunities, and the what comes next conversations. During this workshop, audience members will hear from a panel of blind and low-vision graduates of LightHouse’s YES (Youth Employment Services) Academy about how they have taken on college and career opportunities after finishing the program. Students will share on what techniques worked best for them, what training experiences they found most valuable, and what they would like to see in future pre-employment programming. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions of both the YES graduates and program coordinators.
207 Cerebral Visual Impairments: Other Ways of Seeing and Being (E, P)
Amanda Lueck
Location: Bayside III
This session reviews visual and other consequences of CVI reported in the literature or by individuals who have CVI. It illustrates ways in which possible effects of CVI might influence development in young children as well as ways in which individuals with CVI might experience and understand their world in unique ways. This information will assist practitioners and families and provide support to learners who have CVI.
208 Hands-on Introduction to Reading Tactile Maps Using TMAP (E, PP, P)
Divina Carlson, Jerry Kuns, Frank Welte
Location: Bayside I
Tactile Graphics Literacy is an important skill that will contribute to the success of today’s blind and visually impaired students, both inside and outside of the classroom. Participants will learn essential techniques through hands on exercises for reading tactile graphics in general and tactile maps focusing on TMAPs, a unique form of tactile street maps. Each participant will receive a presentation packet to keep. A working knowledge of braille is recommended.
209 Learning SmART: Learning Concepts Through Art (T, E, PP, P)
Karen Poppe
Location: Salon C
Learning concepts through art activities is at every student’s fingertips. The audience will learn to think outside the box on ways to use tactile-drawing products to make concepts come to life in meaningful, engaging, and creative ways to teach a variety of concepts to their tactile learners. A plethora of concepts related to tactile literacy development, orientation and mobility, science, math, and more can be conveyed with interactive, creative tools such as TactileDoodle, Picture Maker, Graphic Art Tape, Color-by-Texture Marking Mats, tactile drawing film, and more.
211 Orientation & Mobility
Nicholas Casias
Location: Bayside II
This workshop provides information about orientation and mobility (O&M). Participants will learn about the tools that may be used by the student. The roles and responsibilities of paraeducators in supporting O&M instruction will be described with a focus on maximizing independence while minimizing risk.Information will be provided on reinforcement, monitoring, practice, supervision, and communication between the paraeducator, O&M specialist, and TVI.
Friday, April 21
2:00 Pm - 3:00 pm
301 Expanding Access to Braille Transcribing: Styling and Formatting with MS Word and Duxbury (T)
Sue Reilly
Location: Newport Beach
Use templates with predesigned styles to help in the production of accurately formatted braille. This workshop will discuss the use of the English (UEB) BANA template installed by Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) as a tool in Microsoft Word. Most of the formatting needed for braille production is addressed using Word styles and is an invaluable aid to producing braille according to the standards of the Braille Authority of North America. The target audience for this workshop is familiar with basic word processing and braille formatting. Expand your knowledge and skills to get fast and accurate braille in the hands of your students!
302 Feeling stuck? Want to improve your braille? I have resources! (T)
Elizabeth Symington
Location: Marina del Rey
Gather together to discuss common stumbling blocks to learning braille and braille transcription. Focus on how to keep the momentum going when faced with challenges. Complete with recommendations for getting plugged into online and local communities for accountability, suggestions for affordable study aids, free braille reference sheets and ideas for making learning braille to be a fun and enjoyable experience. NOTE: This workshop will be repeated in Session 6.
303 The BrailleSense 6 for Connectivity with Teachers and Classmates (E, PP, P)
Thomas Simpson, Robert Sweetman
Location: Salon C
We’ll discuss powerful new features in the BrailleSense 6. Intuitive file management allows students to efficiently manage assignments. They can quickly share assignments with teachers using Google Drive or Email. Students can create documents directly in course folders. Handy layout features allow creation of document headings. Users can work with Word, PDF, PowerPoint, and Braille documents. The Bookshare application and DAISY Player facilitate downloading and reading books from Bookshare. Google, WikiSearch, and the dictionary help with research assignments. Records can be named appropriately for quick retrieval, using the high-quality recorder. Google Assistant is available for quick questions.
304 What’s Available in Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments (T, E, PP, P)
Adrian Amandi, Mallory Carr, Scott Jaffray, Allison Mello
Location: San Ramon
Roses are red, Violets are blue, AT is so sweet, It’s the VI Teachers glue! Come join us discussing fantastic and practical ways to improve your students’ use and integration of assistive technology in every setting. This session is appropriate for all VI educators and will provide extensive resources in What’s Available in Assistive Technology.
305 Learning to Take Out the Trash Starts When I Can Walk So, How Do You Teach That at Home? (P)
Kathy Abrahamson, Bobbi Pomfrey, Terry
Wedler
Location: Anaheim
This presentation addresses the topic that teaching independent living skills starts at home, and the parent is the child’s first teacher. Sometimes parents don’t know where to begin, and that totally understandable – but through sensory awareness, active participation, communication, and structured discovery, blind and low vision kids can learn to be an equal contributor in the family which carries over to school in academics, full class participation, social skills, and developing self-esteem. While we will focus on supporting parents, we will also discuss the importance of partnership with teachers and the self-empowerment of your child. Independent Living Skills are a component of the Expanded Core Curriculum; learn how this component supports your child’s development. Description: What expectations do you have of your blind/low vision children as they learn to do the day-to-day skills that many children learn? Will you expect them to learn how to make their beds? Do dishes? Set the table? Dress themselves? Pick up their toys? Wiping down a countertop? Washing their own hair? Tying their own shoes? Taking out the trash and separating the recycling? If you have these realistic expectations of your children, do you know where to start as their first teacher? This session will provide you with some of the practical skills and strategies for teaching skills around the home that transfer to school and life-long skill development. We hope they are also strategies that will spark curiosity and problem solving in your children so that taking out the trash can become a discovery of responsibility, accomplishment, or even an inventor of how to dispose of trash ecologically.
306 What Is an Independent Living Center (E, PP, P)
Jacob Lesner-Buxton
Location: Santa Barbara
Every county in California is covered by an Independent Living Center. These non-profits provide services that give people with all types of disabilities the ability to live independently in the community. This workshop will cover the legacy of Independent Living Centers as well as some of the services that these organizations offer to you.
307 CA Department of Rehabilitation: Independence and Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
(T, E, PP, P)
Peter Dawson, Melissa Harris
Location: Santa Clara
The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works to provide services and advocacy resulting in successful employment for all individuals with disabilities. The DOR will showcase their services which includes career exploration and assessments, vocational training and education, assistive technology, paid work experiences, on-the-job training opportunities, training support, equipment for employment, and much more!
308 Hands-on Introduction to Reading Tactile Maps Using Tactile BART Station Maps (E, PP, P)
Divina Carlson, Jerry Kuns, Frank Welte
Location: Bayside I
Tactile Graphics Literacy is an important skill that will contribute to the success of today’s blind and visually impaired students, both inside and outside of the classroom. Participants will learn additional techniques through hands on exercises for reading tactile graphics in general and tactile maps as they explore the rich set of symbols and textures that comprise the detailed, multi-level views comprising each tactile BART station map. Each participant will receive a presentation packet to keep. A working knowledge of braille is recommended. Attendance at both sessions of this workshop is strongly encouraged but not mandatory.
309 Enlarging Printed Music – Tips and Tricks (T, E, P)
Chester Goodale
Location: Monterey
Your student with low vision wants to become a musician? He cannot see the print music and does not know how to read braille? No problem! This workshop will show you how to quickly create large print or extra large print copies of music that your student can view. Come see how one TVI supports a high school student with 20/800 vision who is active in her school’s marching and symphonic bands!
311 Transition and Career Readiness
Olaya Landa-Vialard
Location: Bayside II
This workshop explores transition and career readiness for students with visual impairment across K-12 education. Information will be highlighted on independence skills and the role of the paraprofessional in supporting students in developing responsibility, self-awareness, self-advocacy, self-determination, and career exploration. Resources will be shared that paraprofessionals can use to support students in career readiness and exploration.
Friday, April 21
3:30 Pm - 4:30 pm
401 Tips for A School Transcriber (T)
Angela VanAppelen
Location: Monterey
This workshop will discuss tips on how to work smarter, not harder. Some topics touched on include organization, sending files to students, searching for books, the importance of networking, quick ways to produce tactile graphics, and many other day-to-day things helpful in working as a school transcriber.
402 Multimedia Math Access for Teachers, Students, and Alt Media Specialists (T, E, PP, P)
Adrian Amandi, Vanessa Herndon
Location: Newport Beach
Braille, auditory, and large print users can read and input math efficiently using technology. In this workshop we will provide attendees a snapshot into tools and methods available for teachers to provide accessible math to students and for students to produce print math to turn in. Our goal is that you will leave this workshop with efficient ways to digitize math.
403 Using the Duxbury Braille Translator to Convert Braille Math to Printed Math (E, P)
Location: Caryn Navy
Marina del Rey
We will explore how to take a file with braille math from a braille notetaker and use DBT to create inkprint math from it. We will cover several options. The input options are using UEB with Nemeth or using UEB Math/Science. The options for producing the printed output include using Word with MathType, using a LaTeX renderer, and others.
404 T3 Tablet for Tactile Literacy (T, E, PP, P)
Lucia Hasty, Steve Landau
Location: Santa Barbara
This workshop will introduce T3 Tablet, a new learning aid that combines visual, auditory, and tactile content in a sleek, portable package. T3 provides instructional activities for learning to read tactile graphics, and provides access to maps of the world, astronomical images, STEM, and games. T3 also delivers the Mangold training in UEB. Attendees will also learn about the latest developments on T3 Creator, a new tool that will allow teachers to design and produce their own talking tactile graphics.
405 Let’s Talk About Ableism: Examine Disability-based Oppression on Students & Clients We Serve (E, PP, P)
Bobbi Pomfrey, Laura Millar, Lee Staub
Location: Anaheim
What is ableism? How does ableism come up in our field and what is our responsibility to act? Using a framework of cultural humility, this session will examine implicit bias and how it factors into our work; the difference between medical model vs. social model in framing our understanding of disability; and the impact of microaggressions on our students’ long-term success. Participants will come away with a greater understanding of what ableism is, the effect on the students or clients we serve, and why and how we should address this in our field.
406 CA Department of Rehabilitation Student Services: Building Our Youth for the Future (T, E, PP, P)
Joe Stansil, Laura Rasmussen
Location: San Ramon
The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) student services staff will present the five core services they provide to students with disabilities. The DOR Team will speak to their various roles in working directly with students and provide an overview of the five DOR Student Services. They will highlight innovative strategies used to ensure student success, provide an overview of the Summer Training & Work Experience Program for Students (STEPS) that is funded by DOR and provides paid work experience opportunities to students with disabilities through partnerships with local Workforce Development Boards. The DOR staff will conclude the presentation with a high-level overview of the various other vocational rehabilitation services and supports DOR provides to individuals with disabilities and how to engage in partnerships or receive services from DOR.
407 Training Solutions for Paraeducators of Students with Visual Impairments (E, PP, P)
Nick Leon
Location: Santa Clara
Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments are often tasked with training paraeducators. School districts also share the responsibility, and paraeducators often must pursue training independently. Regardless, time constraints on all parties can cause this to be a daunting task. This presentation will introduce solutions for training paraeducators to meet the diverse needs of students with visual impairments. This will include an overview of essential training needs, asynchronous resources for efficient training, and solutions to meet the support needs of complex cases.
408 Braille Brain: Online UEB and Nemeth Tutorial (E, PP, P)
Kim Blackwell, William Freeman, Cheryl Hannan, Gina Michell
Location: Bayside III
Braille Brain is an online UEB and Nemeth code training program supported by the U.S. Department of Education (H235E190002). Designed for professional development, paraprofessionals, and family members to learn braille, it includes carefully sequenced modules promoting mastery of the UEB and Nemeth codes. A secondary purpose is for print readers learning braille to have an online option for learning the braille code. Attendees will view Braille Brain activities and materials.
409 Intro to Braille Music (T, E, PP, P)
Chester Goodale
Location: Salon C
Your students with blindness or low vision want to learn to play a musical instrument but cannot see the print music? Time to teach them about Braille Music code! This workshop will introduce you to the fundamentals of Braille Music code. At the end of the session, we will work together to produce a musical rendition of two simple tunes. No prior musical experience is required!
410 Promoting Professionalism
Yue-Ting Siu
Location: Location: Bayside II
This workshop is a capstone that pulls all of the training in the previous modules together and introduces paraeducators to career pathways within the field of visual impairment they can follow to increase their knowledge and skills. Resources for professional development and further career opportunities will be shared.
Friday, April 21
5:00 Pm - 6:00 pm
SFSU Social
Yue-Ting Siu
Location: San Ramon
All are welcome to join the SF State social! Come say hi if you are SF alumni, a current student, potential employer, or simply want to learn more about our VI and O&M programs. We will have information available about recruitment initiatives and program updates. Join us for this BYOB Happy Hour!
Saturday, April 22
10:00 am - 11:00 am
501 NIMAS and Braille 2000: Leveraging Files for Math…and More! (T)
Rosemary Baggott, Elizabeth Schaller
Location: Bayside II
Producing braille math has historically been challenging and time-consuming. With the advent of MathML in NIMAS, however, there is a new opportunity for automated translation of some math content. In this workshop, the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) team pairs up with a skilled textbook transcriber to discuss how transcribers can use NIMAS files and BrailleBlaster and Braille2000 software to help support creation of high-quality braille math in Nemeth and UEB. We will be devoting some time to Q&A related to using NIMAS with Braille2000, so please bring your questions!
502 What’s New in Library of Congress Certification (T)
Jennifer Dunnam
Location: Marina del Rey
This workshop will cover the latest general information about the process of obtaining Library of Congress certification in literary, mathematics, or music braille for transcribers and proofreaders. Frequently asked questions about course eligibility, final project requirements, and much more will be discussed.
503 Brailliant BI 40X Hybrid Design for Offline and Online Productivity (E, PP, P)
Rachel Ramos, Robert Sweetman
Location: Salon C
The Brailliant BI 40X combines off-line productivity Braille output. Also, it has high-quality speech. Its Bookshare application allows rapid download of books. The NFB Newsline feature allows automatic download of newspapers and magazines. Victor Reader allows students to efficiently navigate books. The built-in editor allows reading of Word documents and creation of documents in text file format. Connectivity features allow seamless connection of multiple devices using either USB or Bluetooth.Files and folders can be transferred to and from a computer when connected via USB. Powerful PC keyboard commands are available for controlling a PC from the braille keyboard.
504 Unlock the Power of VoiceOver Recognition on iPhone and iPad (E)
Chris Fleizach
Location: Bayside III
Leave with the knowledge and tools to effectively use VoiceOver Recognition, including Screen Recognition and Image Descriptions. Learn about Magnifier Detection Mode to be more independent when navigating to your destination with iPhone and iPad.
505 So, Whatever Happened to Teaching Social Skills to Students with Visual Impairments? (E, PP, P)
Adrian Amandi, Sharon Sacks
Location: San Ramon
This workshop provides a rationale for teaching social skills and examines possible reasons why social skills may not be taught on a consistent basis. Workshop participants will learn how to integrate social skills instruction into their lesson planning and will be provided with quick and easy instructional strategies to promote social competence for their students.
506 CTEBVI Resources (T, E, PP, P)
Jonn Paris-Salb
Location: Monterey
The mission of CTEBVI is to support the professionals working with blind and visually impaired youth in K-12. This workshop will highlight the many resources on our website to include legal references, transcriber links, TVI links, O&M links, paraeducator links, youth links, parent, and many documents covering all the forementioned groups. The workshop will also cover our professional journal, monthly newsletter, specialists, and 150 archived workshops from the past two virtual conferences.
507 Using Accessible Media with Students Who Are Blind and Low Vision (E, PP, P)
Cindy Camp
Location: Bayside I
Research has shown that the use of multimedia is beneficial to all students. However, it is not always easy to find educational media with high quality audio description. The Described and Captioned Media Program is a federally funded program, which provides accessible educational media and much more. Learn about this free resource. We’ll discuss how described media can enhance learning and the classroom experience.
508 Language of Lines (T, E, PP, P)
Vanessa Herndon,Jerry Kuns
Location: Santa Clara
A picture is worth a thousand words, but often, access is limited to auditory description for students who are blind. As sighted peers are seeing words and pictures in the environment from infancy, students who are blind or visually impaired also deserve access to the same breadth of information. Spatial, relational, graphic, and pictorial information can be communicated through lines and enrich knowledge of environment, math, science, and art appreciation. This is its own basic literacy. We will discuss teaching practices, strategies to create tactile graphics, and the importance of developing literacy of the Language of Lines.
509 STEM Resources: Project INSPIRE’S Professional Development and Middle School Student Materials (PP)
Penny Rosenblum
Location: Santa Barbara
To be successful in STEM, students need high quality materials and instruction. Project INSPIRE has designed and field tested five online courses focused on Nemeth Code in UEB Contexts and methods and materials for math instruction. We have developed and piloted Nemeth in a Box, a set of activities for middle school braille readers and we conducted Mission INSPIRE, a science fair type activity for 11–15-year-old budding rocket scientists. Come learn about the free, on-demand courses and student materials. You will also hear about what participants have to say about Project INSPIRE’s impact on them and our plans for the future.
Saturday, April 22
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
601 Math Worksheet Fundamentals on the BrailleSense 6 (T, E, PP, P)
Thomas Simpson, Robert Sweetman, John Taylor
Location: Monterey
Providing math to students has been difficult in the past. Many approaches require specialized software or require a deep understanding of the Nemeth Code. In this presentation, we will show how anyone, including parents, mainstream teachers, TVIs, and transcribers can easily create math worksheets with Microsoft Word, and how students with the BrailleSense notetaker can complete and submit these assignments.
602 Feeling stuck? Want to improve your braille? I have resources! (T)
Elizabeth Symington
Location: Salon H
Gather together to discuss common stumbling blocks to learning braille and braille transcription. Focus on how to keep the momentum going when faced with challenges. Complete with recommendations for getting plugged into online and local communities for accountability, suggestions for affordable study aids, free braille reference sheets and ideas for making learning braille to be a fun and enjoyable experience. NOTE: This is a repeat of Workshop 302.
603 From Problem-finding to Problem-solving: Using AT Process Framework for Schools to Determine AT (E, PP, P)
Patricia Camarillo
Location: Salon C
An assistive technology (AT) process framework for schools uses the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) AT cycle to provide an effective way to integrate AT into the problem-solving process. In this workshop, we will review the AT process framework for schools by identifying the problem, analyzing the problem using a task demand analysis, developing an implementation plan, creating progress monitoring, and then repeating as student need for technology changes over time.
604 Creating Lesson Activities with Google Forms (T, E, PP)
Allison Mello
Location: Santa Clara
Our students often have to work in the Google ecosystem. The Google ecosystem is web-based. When introducing our students to web browsers, they will interact with various web elements like headings, links, edit fields, buttons, etc. Interactions will differ based on the type of assistive technology our student is using. Google Forms provides the customization to build activities that encourage exploration of these elements, allow for error, incorporate students’ individual motivators, and build skills imperative to their success navigating and interacting with the web.
605 Middle School Through My (Non-working) Eyes (E, PP, P)
Kylee Hansbury, Manda Nordes, Vincent Valenzuela, Joe Vona
Location: Salon G
In this presentation a middle school student describes her experiences gaining access to curriculum, building relationships with peers, teachers, and staff, and her role within the Individualized Educational Plan process. She will discuss the tools and strategies that have led to her successes and challenges inside and outside of the classroom. At the end of the presentation there will be an opportunity to ask questions to the student, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and Orientation and Mobility Specialist.
606 Equal Access: Ensuring Meaningful GEC Participation for Learners with Multiple Disabilities (E. PP, P)
Julie Maier
Location: Bayside III
Students with multiple disabilities, including deafblindness, require individualized adaptations and supports to access the GEC in meaningful ways. This session will share an approach for modifying curriculum and lessons that consider a learner’s sensory profile and relevant life experiences. Participants will leave with strategies they can use immediately to provide meaningful access and increase the academic participation of these students.
607 The Implications of Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) (E, PP, P)
Ilse Willems
Location: Bayside II
This presentation will discuss visual perception and implications that may arise with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI). Research from the field and functional examples will be integrated alongside the CVI visual behaviors as it relates to the impact of visual accessibility and the use of valuable compensatory strategies. An overview of the essential components of the Perkins CVI Protocol will also be shared.
608 Examining Impact of Professional Devel on the Accurate Production of Secondary Nemeth Mtl (T, E)
Penny Rosenblum
Location: Salon I
A six-hour synchronous online professional development opportunity was offered to teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) who wanted to review and increase their knowledge and skills with Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts at the middle and high school level. Seventeen TSVIs completed a pre-test, met with instructors for three consecutive weeks for two-hour sessions, and took a post-test and post-survey. In addition, they were asked to prepare a math worksheet that was analyzed. We will examine their error patterns and discuss how we can support TSVIs to improve accuracy of secondary Nemeth materials.
609 Guide Dog Readiness – Knowledge for Educators and Orientation and Mobility Specialists (E)
Sarahelizabeth Baguhn, Arielle Silverman, Theresa Stern
Location: Salon J
Orientation and mobility specialists and teachers of children who are blind or have low vision prepare children with the foundational skills to move through the world and engage in the many activities they will choose throughout their lifetime. As such, educators can expand access to their students in the future by recognizing the readiness skills and information adolescents need to make well informed choices about dog guide use in their future. Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) and the American Foundation for the Blind engaged in a study to better understand the landscape of dog guide use in the United States and Canada. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods we gathered data from a great range of stakeholders. Participants included individuals who have used GDB services, or have participated in other guide dog programs, allied professionals such as O&M Instructors, individuals who do not use guide dogs, and staff members from GDB and other guide dog programs across the U.S. and Canada. This presentation goes beyond sharing the results of this study, to promote the successful practices it identified and providing California educators expanded perspectives about guide dog readiness.
Saturday, April 22
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
CAPVI Annual General Meeting
(E, PP, P)
Anne Ward
Location: Bayside III
The annual general meeting of CAPVI (California Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairment) takes place each year at CTEBVI. Parents, grandparents, educators, and other interested parties are welcome to attend, learn what has been happening with CAPVI in recent years, sign up for email alerts, and discuss matters pertinent to California families of children with visual impairments.
Saturday, April 22
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
701 Formatting Elementary Worksheets
Bonnie Grimm, Sarah Esajian
Location: Marina del Rey
Transcribing elementary school worksheets and adapting braille for a student’s unique level of braille skills can be challenging! How do you transcribe these worksheets for a student who only knows a few contractions? Do I double space or single space? Center heading or 5th cell? What do we do with tables and graphics? Join us to hear new ideas on how to transcribe and format classroom worksheets for our elementary school student’s individual needs.
702 NLS’s The New Nemeth Certification Course (T)
Jennifer Dunnam
Location: Monterey
This workshop will cover the updated course for certification in the Nemeth Code, which was created to align with the new 2022 edition of the Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation developed by the Braille Authority of North America. Topics of discussion will include the background and necessity of the new course, eligibility requirements, new features of the course, and more. Note that this will not be a detailed discussion of the provisions of the updated code.
703 A Lesson in Braille with Braille Technology (E, PP)
Joe Vona
Location: Salon H
Level up your lessons and make them more techy. This workshop will be focused on how to integrate teaching braille with braille technology. We’ll be exploring ways to include braille notetakers and electronic braille displays in your braille lessons. Expanding access has never easier when you teach tech and braille together!
704 Improve Student Productivity with a Hybrid CCTV (T, E, PP, P)
Andy Roberts, John Taylor
Location: Salon C
There is no one size fits all for low vision. Every student and situation are unique. Finding the solution that best fits individual needs whether it is one tool or a combination of tools requires careful consideration and a hybrid CCTV may be the type of device you’re looking for.
705 Self-advocacy and ECC from the Beginning (E, P)
Melisa Matthews
Location: Bayside II
Participants will be provided examples of ways to implement self-advocacy skills through many of the ECC skills into their daily routines. There will be short videos of families with their children modeling various skills, ways to communicate choices and empower their child at younger ages to communicate their needs and wants. Participants will also be offered time to practice this skill with others in the session.
706 Utilizing a University Certificate Pgm to Attract Professionals to Birth-3 Vision Intervention (E)
Amanda Bybee-Ramos, Faith Cardenas
Location: Santa Barbara
Wayfinder Family’s participation in the VIISA Program (Vision Impaired In-Service in America) of SKI-Hi Institute out of Utah State University will be discussed in this presentation by WFS Child Development Program Directors, Amanda Bybee-Ramos and Faith Cardenas. They will describe the benefits of VIISA’s Train the Trainer’s hybrid program and a six-month VI certificate program designed and delivered by Elizabeth Dennison, TVI, specifically for early intervention service providers who work with birth-three children and their families.
707 Research Proven, Not Research Based: Recent Research in Trans Svs Best Practices Pt 1 (E, P)
Rob Schulenburg
Location: Salon I
Great transition services go beyond good transition programming. Recent research informs where the current gaps exist in the field and how they create barriers to desired student outcomes. This workshop shares the results of a 2020 field study evaluating transition services in California conducted as part of dissertation related research. The findings debunk the convention of 20/80 program design. The presentation will include case studies related to student outcomes and recommendations for curricular design that are not just research based but are research proven. Discussions will include how service providers and parents can incorporate these findings in their own practice.
709 Representing Color in Tactile Graphics (T, E, P)
Dan Gardner
Location: Salon G
Teaching use of color to blind students is often not considered important, yet most online images are in color. When text describing a diagram refers to colors, not only must the diagram be modified, but also the matching text if the diagram is to be represented in an accessible way to the blind person. Concepts such as color mixing for paints and dyes are also may be difficult to describe.
Saturday, April 22
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
801 Tools for Quick and Easy Braille Text and Math Transcription (T, E, PP)
John Taylor
Location: Bayside III
Learn how a few tools can help make your braille transcription life so much easier! These tools make it simple and easy to output braille text and math to devices like braille embossers and braille notetakers.
802 Accessible Coding with Python (E, P)
Arif Syed
Location: Salon J
Learning the Python coding language is fun and easy, and thanks to the free screen reader NVDA, it is also accessible! In this workshop, participants will learn how to get started with learning and teaching Python.
803 VoiceOver on Mac: Tips to Improve Efficiency and Productivity (E)
Ryan Dour, Marc Sutton
Location: Salon C
Learn advanced tips to improve your speed, efficiency, and productivity with VoiceOver on Mac. Discover tools like advanced heading navigation, Keyboard Commander, Activities, navigation hot spots, and using automation to speed up repetitive tasks.
804 Classroom Math Solutions Using Braille and Speech for the Modern JAWS User (T, E, P)
Zhi Huang, Ian Ramos
Location: Santa Barbara
This presentation will overview the process of how to effectively engage available tools in the JAWS screen reading program to create, formulate, and complete math solutions to increase math efficiency for the visually impaired student.
805 Cultural Pedagogy for Students with Visual Impairments and Blindness (E, PP, P)
Jeanine Interiano
Location: Salon G
In both research and practice there is limited knowledge about students of color with visual impairments and blindness or the educational areas that need to be improved upon to provide better opportunities for them (Correa-Torres & Durando, 2011; Gee & Zebehazy, 2020; Milian, 2017; Milian & Correa, 2001). With a growing diversity in student populations, it is imperative that we as a field gain a better understanding of how to better support students of color. As Coleman et al. (2022) highlights TSVIs must not only consider their students’ disability-specific needs, but their multiple and intersecting marginalized identities as well.
806 The 10 Truths of Residential Camping for Children and Adults Who Are Blind & VI (T, E, PP, P)
Anthony (Tony) Fletcher, Mark Lucas
Location: Marina del Rey
This presentation is designed to educate participants about the importance and benefits of why children, youth, and adults who are blind and visually impaired, and their families should participate in summer residential camping. Co-presenters Mark Lucas from Wayfinder Family Services/Camp Bloomfield and Tony Fletcher from the LightHouse for the Blind/Enchanted Hills Camp utilize research driven outcomes and testimonials from campers, parents, and professionals and provide their observations from their combined 50 years of providing camping and recreational services for people who are blind to discuss the 10 Truths of Residential Camping for people who are blind and visually impaired.
807 Research Proven, Not Research Based: Recent Research in Trans Svs Best Practices Pt 2 (E, P)
Rob Schulenburg
Location: Salon I
Great transition services go beyond good transition programming. Recent research informs where the current gaps exist in the field and how they create barriers to desired student outcomes. This workshop shares the results of a 2020 field study evaluating transition services in California conducted as part of dissertation related research. The findings debunk the convention of 20/80 program design. The presentation will include case studies related to student outcomes and recommendations for curricular design that are not just research based but are research proven. Discussions will include how service providers and parents can incorporate these findings in their own practice
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808 Teaching the Periodic Table Using Tactile Graphics (T, E)
Dan Gardner
Location: Monterey
Strategies for teaching key chemistry concepts using the periodic table and tactile graphics will be shared.
809 Creating Early Literacy Opportunities Using Universally Designed APH Products (T, E, PP, P)
Stephanie Walker, Leslie Weilbacher
Location: Bayside II
Early environmental exposure to words and letters is essential in foundational literacy. The tools and strategies presented in this session use movement and play to engage students in a multi-sensory approach to literacy. The use of universally designed tools for instruction benefits and fosters inclusion for all.
PResenters
Kathy Abrahamson
Senior Director Rehabilitation Services, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco
Kathy Abrahamson (She/Her), M.A., CTRS, and Senior Director of Rehabilitation Services at the LightHouse for the Blind, started as an aquatic specialist at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind in 1980 joining full time in 1986. Throughout Kathy’s 36 years of teaching, program development, and grant writing at the LightHouse, she attended the Rehabilitation Teaching Program in CA through Fresno State University and received a California State K-8 Teaching Credential. Eight years ago, Kathy became an adjunct faculty in the TVI program at SFSU providing upcoming TVI’s the training in living skills as they connect to the ECC. Kathy works with students of all ages, ensuring they leave no stone unturned when it comes to opportunity for exploration, being inquisitive, and having the problem-solving skills to make personal and informed choices for themselves.
Justin Adams
Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments, Madera County Superintendent of Schools
Justin Adams is in his 8th year as a TSVI with Madera County. Justin has been working in education for the past 20 years in the Fresno/Madera Area. Justin has had the opportunity in two past CTEBVI conferences to help present brailler cleaning.
Adrian Amandi
Director of the Education Resource CenterCalifornia School for the Blind
Adrian Amandi is the Director of the California Education Resource Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired at the California School for the Blind. Adrian has a multitude of experiences ranging from coordinating the Assistive Technology Center at CSB to in-home infant services at BCLC. He has worked in self-contained classrooms and itinerant settings; and is presently working at CSB to provide consultation, assessment, and technical assistance, without cost, to the entire state of California through the Education Resource Center.
Brian Anderson
Arts and Accessibility Coordinator, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
I am Brian Anderson, born and raised in Cincinnati, OH. I am the Art & Accessibility Coordinator at Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. I’ve been at Clovernook for 11 years and I am their 2022 Employee of the Year.
I am an author, poet, spoken word and recording artist, and host of The Mic Drop with B. Anderson.
The Mic Drop with B. Anderson is an interview platform, to give artists who use a microphone the space to share all things about them. Guests promote their current projects, dive into their journey, and look at what’s next.
I’ve been legally blind since birth. My experiences are very relatable and I touch on them in my debut book of poetry, “A Penny for My Thoughts”, and even more so in my follow up poetry book, “VISIONoverSIGHT A Legally Blind Poet’s Truth”. From my childhood to parenthood, ridicule, stereotypes, beliefs, and mental illness, I walk you through my journey. These things almost destroyed me but finding my way back to God and Poetry saved me. VISION (internal) always beats sight (physical sense). If you love poetry that expresses raw emotions from the heart, you’ll love “A Penny for My Thoughts” and “VISIONoverSIGHT A Legally Blind Poet’s Truth”.
My debut spoken word album, A King Pen Collection Volume 1, Here’s My Two Cents, was released in September. I was inspired to explore the realm of music because having multiple avenues to relay your message is essential to expanding your audience and it gives individuals a new perspective.
Maximo Avendano
Assistive Technology Specialist, California School for the Blind
Max is an Assistive Technology Specialist at the California School for the Blind’s Assistive Technology Center. He has experience as an Intervener and a TVI with an emphasis on Deafblindness and other students with multiple disabilities in grades K-12.
Rosemary Baggott
Braille Transcriber, Rhyomai, Inc.
Rosemary has been a Library of Congress Certified Braille Transcriber since 1990. In 2016, she received a UEB certificate through Hadley Institute or the Blind. She has been transcribing textbooks from kindergarten through secondary since 1988, using EBAE, UEB, Nemeth, and UEB Technical. Rosemary has worked with NIMAS files, as an AMP, since 2017. She also has a permanent Teaching Certificate in PA for Education of Visually Impaired and Elementary. For 10 years, she taught blind and visually impaired students in classrooms, resource rooms, as an itinerant with the local I.U., and with adult individuals in the community. Rosemary has also worked with subcontractors who provide tactile graphics for the math and science books she transcribes.
In spring 2022, Rosemary collaborated with APH and the NIMAC on a series of transcriber trainings for transcribers utilizing NIMAS files with Braille 2000 and BrailleBlaster.
Sarahelizabeth Baguhn
Research Specialist, American Foundation for the Blind
Sarahelizabeth Baguhn, PhD has worked itinerantly and in a residential school as a COMS, CATIS, and TVI. She is the Research Specialist for the American Foundation for the Blind, where her work aims to inform data-driven decisions in policy and advocacy efforts in blindness space with rigorous research. Dr. Baguhn serves on the board of directors for the Michigan Blind Athletic Association, the subject matter expert committee for Assistive Technology with ACVREP, as well as the advisory council for Audio Description. She has published in JVIB on techniques for teaching echoidentification in O&M, and assessment validation.
Roberta Becker
CEO and Author, Actual Tactuals Braille
Roberta Becker is a Library of Congress Certified Braille Transcriber, former Vision Rehabilitation Teacher, and a retired TVI (31 years). She is currently writing curricula that promote braille literacy.
Katrina Best
Product Manager, Accessible Coding, American Printing House for the Blind
Katrina is the Product Manager for Accessible Coding with APH. She started with APH in June of 2022. Previously, Katrina worked as a TVI, O&M, CVRT, and CATIS, and has experience co-founding a start-up Educational Technology Training Company prior to being hired on at APH.
Rachel Bishop
Braille Product Manager, American Printing House for the Blind
Rachel Bishop, M.F.A., began her career at APH in 2015 as a research assistant and then moved into the role of Braille Product Manager in 2018. She has been the product manager for several recent APH products, including VIPS Video Library Series: Every Child Can, Quick Pick: Braille Contractions, and most recently the PageBlaster embosser. She is an NLS Certified Braille Transcriber.
Tamara Black
Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, San Ramon Valley Unified School District
Tamara has been a TVI for 13 years. Prior to that, she was a General Education Teacher for 13 years, and taught all grades, kindergarten through 6th.
Additionally, Tamara was a Mentor Teacher for Student Teachers from San Francisco State University’s Vision Program. She has also been a Teacher Induction Program Mentor for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
Kim Blackwell
Amanda Bybee-Ramos
Director of NorCal Child Development Program/WFS, Wayfinder Family Service
Amanda Bybee-Ramos, MA O&M, TVI, ECSE Director of NorCal Child Development Program at Wayfinder Family
Patricia Camarillo
Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, Fresno Unified School District
Patricia Camarillo is a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments in the Fresno Unified School District. She is currently a third-year doctoral student at Pepperdine University, a National Board-Certified Teacher, holds a master’s degree in Special Education, including an early childhood special education credential from Fresno Pacific University, has an Education Specialist in visual impairment credential from San Francisco State University, multiple subjects teaching credential from Fresno State, and an added authorization in orthopedic impairment. In 2010, she obtained her Assistive Technology certificate from CSUN, and is currently attending the University of Chicago, IL, AT program leading to ATP certification through RESNA.
Cindy Camp
Communications Specialist, Described and Captioned Media Program
Cindy Camp is the Marketing and Communications Specialist with DCMP. She holds a master’s degree in English, is a nationally certified interpreter, as well as a C-Print captionist and trainer. She has provided access services for students with disabilities for over 30 years.
Faith Cardenas
Director of SoCal Child Development Program, Wayfinder Family
MA in Education
Divina Carlson
Braille Instructor, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Divina Carlson, B.A., braille instructor since 2005 is proficient in Unified English Braille (UEB) and received her certification of literary braille proficiency by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) in 2018. She graduated with a B.A. degree in Sociology with honors at San Francisco State University. Her accumulated blind skills coupled with her 30 years of working at the LightHouse for the Blind contribute to an invaluable teaching experience for her braille students.
Mallory Carr
Teacher for the Visually Impaired
San Diego County Office of Education
Mallory Carr has been working as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired in San Diego, CA since 2017. She has been working in the field of education for more than 15 years, starting as a math tutor and paraprofessional for VI students, then going on to receive her master’s degree and teaching credential from San Francisco State University. She has a love for math, technology, braille, and finding new ways to adapt difficult concepts. She is currently working on her Orientation and Mobility credential through San Francisco State University.
Nicholas Casias
Assistant Professor Special Education and Counseling, California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Nicholas Casias serves as Assistant Professor in the Orientation and Mobility Program in the Division of Special Education and Counseling at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Casias is a certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of La Verne. His dissertation, The Roles and Responsibilities of Paraprofessionals Who Work with Students with Visual Impairments in Public Schools, has been used as a framework for professional development for O&M practitioners in school settings and preservice training in university personnel preparation. He is the Board President of the Southern California Association of Orientation and Mobility Specialists and is engaged with local, regional, and national issues in the O&M field. Dr. Casias has extensive K-12 public school experience as an O&M specialist and has held a Clinical Rehabilitative Services credential in Orientation and Mobility since 2011.
Peter Dawson
Regional Director, Department of Rehabilitation
Peter Dawson has a Master’s in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. In his current position as the Regional Director for the Blind Field Services Division he oversees 14 different districts within the department that serve individuals who are blind/low vision throughout the state of California.
Rebecca Deerr
Adult Services Manager, Wayfinder Family Services
Sofeya Devji
Teacher of the Visually Impaired, School District #8 Kootenay Lake
Vision Teacher and Orientation and Mobility Instructor
Ryan Dour
Accessibility Quality Engineer, Apple, Inc.
Ryan Dour works on Apple’s software engineering Accessibility Quality Assurance team. With over 15 years at the company, Ryan tests, qualifies, and has helped develop some of Apple’s most innovative accessibility features.
Tyler Duncan
Braille Transciber
Tyler Duncan is a full time Braille Transcriber and grad student working towards his masters in social work. He is experienced in UEB, Nemeth, Chemical Notation Codes and tactile graphics. With seven years of experience as a school transcriber, Tyler has worked in two SELPAs - servicing eight different districts in the Santa Clarita, Burbank, Glendale, and La Cañada/Flintridge communities.
Jennifer Dunnam
Manager of Braille Programs, National Federation of the Blind
Jennifer Dunnam has thirty years of experience with Braille instruction and production. Blind herself, she is a certified Braille transcriber and also uses Braille every day. For sixteen years she has served as the Manager of Braille Programs for the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. Under a contract with the National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, she coordinates the administration of courses for persons seeking certification in braille transcribing and proofreading. She authored The Slate Book: A Guide to the Slate and Stylus and has also written and presented widely about various aspects of braille translation software. She represents the National Federation of the Blind on the board of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) and served as chair of the BANA board from 2015-2019.
Sarah Esajian
Teacher for the Visually Impaired, Tulare County Office of Education
Sarah Esajian is the current Treasurer for CTEBVI. She is going on her seventh year of teaching as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired for Tulare County Office of Education in Visalia, CA. She has been a certified braille transcriber since 2006 and has her Master’s Degree in Special Education from San Francisco State University and Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Religion: Theology and Biblical Studies. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters.
Chris Fleizach
Mobile Accessibility Manager, Apple, Inc.
Chris Fleizach manages the iOS Accessibility team. With over 16 years at Apple, he has been involved with developing some of Apple’s most innovative Accessibility features. Chris also contributed to a study on Screen Recognition to help make inaccessible apps more accessible through Machine Learning.
Anthony (Tony) Fletcher
Senior Director, Camp and Community Services, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
With an M.A. in Special Education with emphasis as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist from San Francisco State University, Tony began work at LightHouse for the Blind in 1989 as Youth Coordinator. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children. He is an Associate Visitor with the American Camp Association and part-time lecturer in the Special Education Department at San Francisco State University. He enjoys hiking, swimming, and motorcycle riding.
William Freeman
Tactile Technology Product Manager, American Printing House for the Blind
William Freeman is the Tactile Technology Product Manager at APH. A Certified Braille Transcriber and former quality assurance tester, he is passionate about literacy and accessibility. He currently lives in Louisville, KY with his wife and dogs and spends his time hiking, writing, and complaining about user interfaces.
Dan Gardner
CEO, ViewPlus Technologies, Inc.
Dan Gardner is the CEO of ViewPlus Technologies, as well as the son of the founders. He is an employee who receives a salary and is a shareholder. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego.
Chester Goodale
Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), Madera County Superintendent of Schools
Chester Goodale is in his tenth year as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, working for the Madera County Superintendent of Schools. He and his wife live near Fresno, CA. They have three adult children and one grandchild! Chester plays a couple of musical instruments and loves to sing.
Leanne Grillot
Senior Director of Outreach Services
American Printing House for the Blind
Ms. Leanne Grillot is the Senior Director of Outreach Services for the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. This position directs the operations of APH’s Outreach Services Department, which provides consultation, support, and other services to Ex Officio Trustees, professionals in the field of vision, families of people who are visually impaired, and consumers. Outreach Services links APH with educational practice in the field of vision and promotes sound models of best practice. Previously, Ms. Grillot worked for almost 10 years at the Florida State Department of Education and over 20 years in three of the largest states (CA, FL, NY) as a teacher of students who have a visual impairment and as an orientation and mobility specialist.
David Grimes
Quality Assurance Coordinator, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
David Grimes has worked as a Corrections and Quality Assurance Coordinator at Clovernook for 20 years in the Braille Printing House. Due to experiences of visiting museums that weren’t accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals, David jumped at the chance to work on Clovernook’s Arts & Accessibility Initiative. He is involved in accessibility audits, visitor experience audits/focus groups, and provides quality assurance for accessible exhibit materials. David has also served on the board of the Braille Authority of North America (2002-2004). David’s outside interests include birdwatching by ear, being active in his church, and enjoying nature.
Bonnie Grimm
Braille Transcriber, Clovis Unified School Disrict
Bonnie Grimm is a Past President of CTEBVI and a past BANA board member. She is currently a CTEBVI board member and CTEBVI Exhibits Chair. She has been a certified braille transcriber for over 22 years. She works as a transcriber for Clovis Unified School District in Clovis, CA, transcribing literary, textbooks, nemeth and UEB for students of all ages. She also mentors new students taking the transcribing course for certification. Bonnie enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren.
John Alexis Guerra-Gomez
Assistant Teaching Professor, Northeastern University, Khoury College of Computer Science, San Francisco Bay Area
John Alexis is an Information Visualization Researcher and Engineer. He helps people extract insights from their data using interactive InfoVis and data science. He has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Northeastern University Bay Area. He conducts research on Visual Analytics, Accessibility, Big Data, Human-computer Interaction, and Web Development.
Jamey Gump
Youth Services Coordinator, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco
James Gump, or as many of his students and friends know him, Jamey, works tirelessly to create and implement programming for our blind and low vision youth, their families, and educators. Now in is early thirties, Jamey has been connected to the LightHouse for most of his life. Beginning in middle school, Jamey was a camper at Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa. Four years later, he became a camp counselor and went on to spend many years at camp training future camp counselors and leading various programs.
Jamey, who is blind due to achromatopsia, came to Enchanted Hills Camp to enjoy nature and learn blindness skills. But most importantly, he came to help foster a community of friends and mentors who are also blind. EHC and LightHouse helped him enter the blindness world with confidence, cane first, so that he could partake in the greater world more richly. He has served as the LightHouse’s Youth Services Coordinator for eight years and is an excellent role model to the blind and low vision youth around the Bay Area and beyond.
The programming Jamey coordinates contains an astonishing array of activities, many of which are held on the weekends and after school. Jamey has organized cooking, music, and art classes; rock climbing, horseback riding, and sports outings; overnight kayaking and rafting excursions, and so much more. He looks forward to hosting more adventures and hope you will join us for the fun!
Cheryl Hannan
Professor, California State University, Los Angeles
Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, Ph.D., is a professor and researcher at California State University, Los Angeles. A leading expert in the field of visual impairment and blindness, her research agenda focuses on language, literacy, and technology. She is co-author of Reading Connections: Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, co-editor of the textbook, Foundations of Education (3rd Ed.), and co-contributor to the Assessment of Braille Literacy Skills: Unified English Braille (ABLS-UEB; 4th Ed.). She is actively working on the development of the Braille Brain UEB and Nemeth Code training materials, soon to be available through the American Printing House for the Blind. Dr. Kamei-Hannan’s most recent research focuses on the development of a theoretical framework for digital competencies (Kamei-Hannan and Tuttle, in press) and an intervention study on using a multi-sensory storytelling approach to enhance language and literacy skills of young children with visual impairments (Kamei-Hannan, Chang, and Fryling, 2020). Dr. Kamei-Hannan earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at the University of Arizona with a specialization in Visual Impairment and a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Special Education, along with credentials in Visual Impairment and Blindness and Orientation and Mobility from San Francisco State University. She has worked in the field of visual impairment and blindness for over twenty years as personnel preparation coordinator, researcher, reading specialist, middle school language arts classroom teacher, itinerant teacher, and a resource room teacher of students who are visually impaired.
Kylee Hansbury
Kylee is a middle school student enrolled in general education classes and receives TVI and O&M Services. Kylee is passionate about technology, music, and is a self-advocate. Kylee enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Melissa Harris
Team Manager, Staff Service Manager I, Blind Field Services, CA Department of Rehabilitation
Melissa Harris, Blind Field Service (BFS), Team Manager, Staff Service Manager I (SSMI) for the Northern Region is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) with a Master’s Degree of Vocational Rehabilitation (MS) and a Bachelor of Science Communication Disorders (BS). She started out as a Graduate Student for VRED (2008) in the Fair Oaks Office for a year, then became a BFS Counselor for four years (2009-2012) covering Solano County, She promoted to a Staff Service Manager I covering Santa Maria Office (2013) under the Santa Barbara District for a year, then came home to Blind Field Services as Team Manager (2014-present) where she has spent the last nine years guiding, mentoring and coaching a wonderful counseling team who serve both high school students and adults of every age.
Lucia Hasty
Owner, Rocky Mountain Braille Associates
A fifteen-year Touch Graphics collaborator, Ms. Hasty is a certified teacher of blind or visually impaired learners. Lucia is co-author of the BANA Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics. She served on the Tactile Graphics Committees of Braille Authority of North America (BANA) as chair, National Braille Association as past chair, and is a member of the tactile graphics committee of International Council on English Braille. She serves on the advisory boards of NASA Standard Touch, Dolphin Alternate Format Advisory Group, AHEAD’s Alt Format Advisory Group. Lucia reviews all tactile materials produced by Touch Graphics for conformance to BANA standards and provides advice to the company on best practices for teaching blind children.
Rebecka Henry
Speech Language Pathologist, California School for the Blind
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Rebecka Henry is a Speech and Language Pathologist on the Assessment Center team at the California School for the Blind (CSB). She graduated from Emerson College with a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She worked primarily in Early Intervention and with school-aged students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing before joining the CSB team and dedicating her career to the language and communication needs of students who are blind and visually impaired.
Stephanie Herlich
Assessment Center Coordinator, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, Orientation and Mobility
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California School for the Blind
Stephanie Herlich, M.A., has been a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for over 20 years. Currently, she is the Assessment Center Coordinator for the California School for the Blind in Fremont, CA and an educational consultant for Exceptional Teaching in Livermore, CA. She has worked as both an itinerant and resource room teacher of students with visual impairments, a low vision specialist, and an Assistive Technology Specialist. Most recently Stephanie created the Beginning Braille 6-part webinar series available on YouTube. She is the author of The Mangold Braille Program, Unit 3 UEB (Exceptional Teaching), co-author of Getting to Know You: A Social Skills Curriculum for Students Who Are Visually Impaired and Their Sighted Peers (American Printing House for the Blind), contributing author of Learning to Listen Listening to Learn, (American Foundation for the Blind), and contributing author of ECC Essentials; Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum to Students with Visual Impairments (American Foundation for the Blind). Stephanie has also published many articles in the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. Stephanie was a researcher on the Alphabetic and Contracted Braille Study funded by American Printing House for the Blind. She has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally on braille literacy, technology, and social skills for students with visual impairments. Stephanie taught beginning and advanced braille courses at San Francisco State University, where she also worked as a University Supervisor for student teachers.
Vanessa Herndon
Low Vision Program Coordinator, California School for the Blind
Vanessa’s background is in leveling the playing field for blind and visually impaired students. Some of her interests include assistive technology, accessible coding curriculum, and tactile graphic literacy (ÒgraphicacyÓ). She currently provides consult, support, and training to students with low vision and their IEP teams without cost at CSB and throughout the state of California through the CSB Education Resource Center.
Erica Hogle
Short-term Program Coordinator, California School for the Blind
Erica Hogle has been a COMS for ten years. During her career, she has primarily worked with the student-age population at the California School for the Blind. Her involvement in the field includes teaching university courses for the O&M program at San Francisco State University. She is currently an O&M Internship Coordinator. Her passion for serving those with disabilities has led her to expanding her skill set abroad as she has provided blind services development and consultation outside of the United States in Argentina, Lebanon, and Uruguay. Currently, Erica is embarking in her new role this school year as the California School for the Blind’s Short-term Programs Coordinator.
Sunngye Hong
Associate Professor, University of Arizona
Dr. Sunggye Hong is an Associate Professor of the department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies and the program coordinator of the visual impairments teacher training program. He received both his master’s and doctoral degrees from The University of Arizona in Special Education/Education of Students with Visual Impairments. He has conducted research in the areas of braille reading, assistive technology, and expanded core curriculum of students with visual impairments. His research agenda is aimed at promoting equal access to educational opportunities including curriculum materials, classroom activities, and other school programs of students who are blind or visually impaired with or without additional disabilities. Dr. Hong teaches classes on braille, literacy development, Nemeth code, and instructional strategies and adaptations of educating students with visual impairments.
Zhi Huang
Assistive Technology Specialist, Access Ingenuity
Zhi Huang has over 25 years of experience as an end user of assistive technology and over 12 years in the assistive technology field with Access Ingenuity, the Sacramento Society for the Blind, and the Disabled Student Services Office at SUNY. Certified to teach Assistive Technology through Access Technology Institute 2011, JAWS certified 2020, and NVDA certified 2019, Zhi has trained a variety of students at work, school, and home to help them become proficient in the use of their assistive technology Ð especially JAWS. In the workplace, he has worked taught students how to navigate internal websites, databases, and documents to maximize their productivity and efficiency on the job.
Jeanine Interiano
Adjunct Professor, Doctoral Candidate, and National Institute of Health Scholar, California State University, Los Angeles
Jeanine Interiano is an adjunct professor and doctoral candidate at California State University, Los Angeles. She received her B.S. in business management from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2013 and completed the Multicultural Women’s Executive Leadership Program at USC in 2019. In 2020 she received her M.A. in special education option in visual impairments and blindness from California State University, Los Angeles and has worked as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and Blindness for several years. In 2021 she received an Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP) from California State University, Northridge.
Scott Jaffray
Assistive Technology Specialist, California School for the Blind
Scott Jaffray received his Master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from California State University, Los Angeles and has served children and adults with visual impairments since 2010. He currently works at the California School for the Blind as the CERCBVI On-Campus Assistive Technology Specialist and previously worked at the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center in Palo Alto CA as an O&M Specialist, Computer Access Technology Specialist, and Computer Access Technology Supervisor, as well as serving as an itinerant O&M Specialist in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.
Waleed Jarjoura
Assistant Professor, Arab American University, Palestine
Waleed is an Occupational Therapist.
Jerry Kuns
Consultant
After receiving a B.A. in Social sciences and an M.S. in Counseling Psychology, Jerry worked as a Vocational Counselor and Supervisor for the California Department of Rehabilitation. In 1975, Jerry helped form Sensory Access Foundation to explore emerging technologies to enhance education objectives and develop employment opportunities for people with visual issues so they could compete with sighted peers.
In the late 1980s, Jerry contributed to the formation of HumanWare, a leading manufacturer of a wide variety of adaptive technology for people who are blind or visually impaired. Jerry reentered the field of education in 2004 as a Technology Specialist for the California Department of Education. He retired in late 2014 and now enjoys consulting for companies developing information access tools.
Olaya Landa-Vialard
Director, APH ConnectCenter
Olaya Landa-Vialard, Ph.D., is a National Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities Fellow and Graduate of Texas Tech University. She is President-elect for AERBVI. She has been a Bilingual Educational Diagnostician for Students with Visual Impairment/Blindness/Deafblindness/Multiple Disabilities, TVI, University Professor, Bilingual Family Engagement Coordinator for the Illinois State Deafblind Project, Project Reach, currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor for multiple university VI programs andÊis currently the Director of APH ConnectCenterÊPrograms.
Steve Landau
Owner, Touch Graphics, Inc.
Steve first learned about how raised line diagrams are used by the blind as a substitute for visual graphics from Dr. Karen Luxton Gourgey of City University of New York 25 years ago. Soon after that, Steve founded Touch Graphics to develop new methods for printing tactile graphics. Since then, Steve has organized a group of skillful and energetic collaborators, to realize projects in four product categories: exhibits, education, maps, and signs.
Nick Leon
TVI, COMS, and Manager, Sonja Biggs Educational Services
Nick Leon is a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialist with Sonja Biggs Educational Services, based in CA, serving as a hybrid service provider and department manager. He began his career in 2010 and is experienced working with all populations including early intervention, K-12 education, and working-age adults. He specializes in Access Technology, Remote Services, and Material Production, typically to meet the needs of general education students who are Braille users.
Jacob Lesner-Buxton
Systems Change Coordinator, Independent Living Resource Center
Jacob Lesner-Buxton is a person with cerebral palsy and low vision who is a community organizer in Santa Barbara. In his job, Jacob helps communities on the Central Coast advocate for disability rights. Jacob also enjoys writing articles, doing yoga, traveling, and going to movies
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Lisa Lloyd
Parent Liaison, Parent
Yuki Long
Staff Services Manager 1, Department of Rehabilitation
Yuki Long has a Master’s in Education with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. She has worked with the Department of Rehabilitation Blind Field Services for 13 years.
Mark Lucas
Manager of Camping and Recreation Services, Wayfinder Family Services
Mark has more than 30 years of providing sports, recreation, and camping experiences for people who are blind and visually impaired.
Amanda Lueck
Professor Emerita, San Francisco State University
Dr. Amanda Lueck has been addressing the needs of individuals who have CVI through direct service, research, and contributions to the literature for many years. This work includes collaborating on two books related to CVI: Vision and the Brain; Understanding Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children (APH Press) and the CVI Companion Guide to the Developmental Guidelines for Infants with Visual Impairments (APH).
Julie Maier
Project Coordinator, California Deafblind Services
Julie Maier is the Project Coordinator of California Deafblind Services and has provided deafblind technical assistance and training to educational professionals and families for over decade. She has worked in the field of special education since 1987, including as a faculty member in San Francisco State University’s Special Education Department. Julie is passionate about access and educational equity, authentic assessment, collaborative planning, self-determination, empowerment of families, and the development of positive social relationships.
Lisamaria Martinez
Founder of Be Confident Be You Coaching LLC, Confidence Coach & Consultant/Program Assistant, Be Confident Be You Coaching LLC/APH ConnectCenter
Lisamaria Martinez, known as LM to many, is a fierce, fabulous, 41-year-old mom of three children, ages 12, 8, and 6.
She left her job of 10 years in 2018 to become a confidence coach and consultant. She is the founder of Be Confident Be You Coaching LLC.
Her passions are, in no particular order: braille, advocacy for the blind, crocheting, loom knitting, hanging out with her kids, pole dancing, her family, and her friends. She is a voracious reader and usually reads more than 150 books a year!
Melisa Matthews
APH FamilyConnect Digital Content Manager
Melisa Matthews is a mother of two children with albinism11er career started as an elementary education teacher and has evolved to TVI and serving children birth to three through early intervention. This experience provided an opportunity to support parents and children in their home to support routine-based practices to encourage Self-Advocacy and ECC skills. Providing education for families to better understand ECC skills and the role of Self-Advocacy through simple changes and activities supported more independence and confidence in their child.
Ashley McDaid
School Psychologist, California School for the Blind
Ashley McDaid is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (CA LEP #4071), Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (CA LMFT #111502). She graduated from California State University, East Bay with a Master of Science in Clinical Child, and School Psychology. In her current role as a campus School Psychologist at the California School of the Blind, she provides social-emotional instruction, psychoeducational assessments, individual counseling, and consultation services to CSB students, families, and staff.
Joseph McDaniel
Sales Director, Vispero Western Region
Joe McDaniel enjoys working in the assistive technology industry. For the past 11 years working with Freedom Scientific (now Vispero), Joe has enjoyed educating others on the technologies available to empower those with sight loss. In his position as Sales Director for the Western Region, Joe has worked with many educators to find classroom solutions that benefit students and teachers.
Jessica McDowell
Teacher for the Visually Impaired
Marin County Office of Education
Jessica is a TVI and O&M Specialist who has taught in Marin County for 16 years. She currently serves as the CTEBVI Assistive Tech Specialist. She has been inspired by how technology can level the playing field for our students. Play and literacy enthusiast - she loves collaborating, solving problems, and sharing ideas. Find @JesTVI_andM on YouTube and Twitter
Sarah McIntyre
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, LightHouse for the Blind, San Francisco Bay Area
Sarah McIntyre (She/Her) is an O&M Specialist at LightHouse for the Blind in San Francisco. She graduated with a BS in Psychology in 2000 and an MA in Special Education in 2002. Prior to joining LightHouse in 2016, she held a variety of O&M jobs throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including work in both adult and school settings, and has also taught ILS, braille, and assistive technology to adult students. These varied positions have allowed her to recognize the pervasiveness of spatial skills across all aspects of life and the unique challenges faced by adults who struggle with spatial awareness and to develop concrete spatial learning strategies.
Allison Mello
Assistive Technology Specialist, California School for the Blind
Allison is an Assistive Technology Specialist with California School for the Blind’s Assistive Technology Center. She has a Master’s in Special Education with an emphasis in visual impairment from the University of Northern Colorado. She has also received a Certificate in Assistive Technology and applications from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She has spent time working in university level disability services as well as in K-12 education as both a braillist and teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) with Seattle Public Schools.
Gina Michell
California State University, Los Angeles
Laura Millar
Sex Educator/Community Researcher, Blind Positive Sex Ed Group
Laura Millar, M.P.H., M.A., MCHES (she/her) is an outspoken blind neurodiverse disability rights and queer rights advocate. With a Master of Public Health and a Master’s in Human Sexuality her work/research as a sex educator examines the intersection between blindness and sexuality; and highlights the importance of creating a culture centered around consent. She is deeply committed to advancing positive messages around blindness and sexual health.
Caryn Navy
Senior Technical Staff, Duxbury Systems, Inc.
Caryn grew up using the Nemeth code from elementary school through her math work in graduate school and teaching math to sighted students. In recent years she has also familiarized herself with UEB Math/Science. Among her roles at Duxbury Systems, she has worked on developing and supporting the tools for producing braille math in DBT as well as those in MegaDots. She is currently a consultant to the BANA Technical Nemeth Code Committee.
May Nguyen
School Psychologist, California School for the Blind
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May Nguyen is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (CA LEP #4057) and Nationally Certified School Psychologist serving the California School of the Blind Assessment Center. She leads the California State Special Schools & Diagnostic Centers Psychology Workgroup. In addition, May is an adjunct faculty member for the School Psychology Program at California State University, East Bay, and has experience teaching courses in psychoeducational report writing, cognitive and developmental assessment, advanced school psychology service delivery, and crisis in schools. She is a co-founder of the Resilient Minds Collective, a network of licensed educational psychologists, school neuropsychologists, and marriage and family therapists who strive to support individuals of diverse strengths and challenges to achieve their goals and overall wellness and quality of life. To give back to the field, May serves as a National Association of School Psychologists BVI Psych Interest Group Co-coordinator, California Association of School Psychologists Assessment Co-specialist, and member of CASP’s Mental Wellness Committee. She has publications in CASP Today and the CTEBVI JOURNAL and has participated in the peer review process for the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. In an effort to disseminate resources, May has created PsychCircular, a website about free educational psychology resources. Her efforts to serve the community were recognized with the Laura Whitmore Meritorious Service Award from the Santa Clara County Association of School Psychologists and Certificate of Appreciation from the Community Advisory Committee of SELPA III, Santa Clara County, for above and beyond service to children. During her free time, May enjoys volunteering for Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services with her dog Sunny.
Manda Nordes
Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, Stanislaus County Office of Education
Manda Nordes received her master’s and credential from San Francisco State University and has been working as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments since 2016. Currently, she is working with Stanislaus County Office of Education, but has previously worked at California School for the Blind as their technology lab teacher during the year of distance learning. Manda is experienced in working with students from birth to 22, including students with extensive support needs. She has a passion for professional development and has co-presented webinars and presentations emphasizing the importance of sexual health education and consent for students with visual impairments. In her free time, Manda enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking.
Jonn Paris-Salb
Immediate Past President,
CTEBVI Board
Jonn retired from education after a career spanning 44 years including as a teacher, principal, and administrator for the California Department of Education. He has served on the CTEBVI board for 14 years.
Michael Parker
Director, Access Ingenuity
Michael Parker is the Director of Access Ingenuity and has twenty years of experience in the accessibility and assistive technology field. He has developed products for the visually impaired as well as implemented access solutions for people with disabilities in many different settings Ð from individuals to employment centers, libraries, hospitals, and universities. Michael has a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and holds IAAP’s Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) and the DHS’ Trusted Tester certifications.
Julie Parrish
Director of Transition and Adult Services, Wayfinder Family Services
Bobbi Pompey
Rehabilitation Teaching Specialist, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Bobbi Pompey (She/They), CVRT is a book loving foodie from NC. Since 2018, she has worked at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind as an Independent Living Skills Specialist. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the TVI graduate program at San Francisco State University. Her teaching style is based on clear and empowering language with an emphasis on consent, non-visual skills, student exploration and problem solving.
Karen Poppe
Tactile Literacy Product Manager, American Printing House for the Blind
Karen J. Poppe, Tactile Literacy Product Manager, has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She designs and develops tangible products, offered by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), that are used directly by students with visual impairments and blindness, teachers, braille transcribers, and parents. As a member of APH’s Educational Product Innovation team (formerly Research Department) for more than 25 years, she has created many well-known tactile products such as Tactile Town, Tactile Treasures, TactileDoodle, Sense of Science series, All-In-One Board, and Setting the Stage for Tactile Understanding.
Ian Ramos
Assistive Technology Specialist, Access Ingenuity
Ian Ramos has been an Assistive Technology Specialist for the past 14 years, working with educators, business professionals and government agencies to provide screen reader training, support, computer integration and assistive technology. Ian enjoys seeing the positive change in peoples’ lives that can happen using the technologies available to benefit the visually impaired community.
Rachel Ramos
Blindness Product Specialist, HumanWare
Rachel Ramos has worked in the Access Technology field for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Counseling from Bob Jones University in South Carolina. She holds a COMPTIA A+ technology certification, as well as a Certification in Assistive Technology from California State University, Northridge. She has extensive experience teaching braille, Assistive Technology, and presenting at various regional, national, and international educational and technological conferences. She has hosted various personalized online workshops for educational groups and service providers, discussing and demonstrating HumanWare products that benefit all manner of users.
Laura Rasmussen
District Administrator for Blind Field Services, California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
Laura Rasmussen is the District Administrator for Blind Field Services at California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). As an individual born legally blind, she was provided services through the VH programs in the public schools as well as summer camp for the blind. After a series of medical issues in her 40’s her vision was corrected enough to do limited driving. Laura began her work with California DOR in 1988 where she has worked as a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Team Manager, and District Administrator. Laura earned her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from San Diego State University and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from CSU Northridge.
Sue Reilly
BANA’s Administrative Assistant; CTEBVI Workshop Chair, Braille Authority of North America; CTEBVI
Sue Reilly retired after 33 years in San Diego Unified. She is a NLS certified braille transcriber. Her career led her from the Program for Students with Visual Impairments to an administrative position as an Operations Specialist in Special Education.
Sue has been involved in CTEBVI since 1984Ñserving in many roles over the years. She represented CTEBVI on the board of the Braille Authority of North America for 17 years and now serves as BANA’s administrative assistant and chairs its committee on digital assets. Her role includes the preparation of all agenda items and reports for the board in both print and braille.
Andy Roberts
Sales Manager, Assistive Technology Specialist, Sweetman Systems
Andy Roberts, Sales Manager and Assistive Technology Specialist at Sweetman Systems, has been working with Assistive Technology for over 10 years. Andy enjoys helping students and professionals master the technology that makes them competitive with their sighted colleagues and more independent at work and home.
Naomi Rosenberg
Senior Designer, Media and Accessible Design Laboratory, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco
Naomi Rosenberg is Senior Designer in the Media and Accessible Design Laboratory (MAD Lab) at the LightHouse, developing design standards and processes for tactile maps and graphics produced by 3D printer, embosser, and UV printer. Naomi has produced tactile graphics and 3D models in collaboration with educators and researchers creating curriculum for BVI students. As a designer for the TMAP project, Naomi aims to ensure that the maps are useful to the widest range of BVI travelers and educators.
Penny Rosenblum
Owner, Vision for Independence, LLC
Dr. Rosenblum is the owner of Vision for Independence, LLC. Her company consults on a wide range of topics in the field. Dr. Rosenblum has served as the Director of Research at AFB, as a faculty member at the University of Arizona and Florida State University, and as a TVI. She has more than 35 years of experience and has published and presented on a range of topics including nondriving, braille codes, and COVID-19’s impact.
Richard Rueda
Digital Content Manager, APH ConnectCenter
Richard Rueda has worked in the field of Human and Social Services specializing in Blindness and Low Vision since 1992. Richard began his professional career in 2001 with the State of California’s Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) as a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. In 2005, Richard stepped into the statewide role of Transition Coordinator at DOR where he worked with students and staff at the California School for the Blind as well as hosting summits and Transition forums across California. Since 2010 Richard worked with well-known nonprofits in southern and northern California, including Junior Blind of America and LightHouse for the Blind, where he continued to organize, implement, lead, and influence Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) residential and nonresidential programs.
Relocating to Sacramento in 2015, Richard joined Society for the Blind to develop CareersPLUS, a one-of-a-kind Transition program for youth, young adults, and families.
In autumn 2020, Richard joined the American Printing House for the Blind’s ConnectCenter, where he manages CareerConnect. Richard is excited to continue expanding and introducing CareerConnect to transition age youth, job seekers, teachers, and rehabilitation professionals.
Richard is a 2001 graduate of California State University, Los Angeles where he holds his Bachelor’s degree in Vocational Counseling.
Sharon Sacks
Adjunct Professor, San Francisco State University
Sharon Z. Sacks has worked in the field of educating students with visual impairments, including students with multiple disabilities for over forty years. Sharon worked as a TVI, assessment diagnostician, curriculum special, and program administrator. She was a full professor coordinating programs in Extensive Support Needs at San Jose State University, and coordinator of the Teacher Preparation Program at California State University, Los Angeles. Sharon worked as Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Staff Development, and was Superintendent at the California School for the Blind. Sharon has published and presented widely in the areas of social skills instruction, transition programming, psychosocial implications of visual impairments, and strategies for teaching students with multiple disabilities. She is the recipient of the Mary K. Bauman Award and the Fred L. Sinclair Award.
Elizabeth Schaller
NIMAC Manager, National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)
Elizabeth (Liz) Schaller is the NIMAC Manager. In that capacity, she oversees day-to-day operations of the NIMAC, and assists the Director with outreach and training efforts. Prior to starting with the NIMAC in April 2020, Liz worked for five years on the Louis Database at APH. She received her BA in History and Art History from the University of Kentucky, and her Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
Rob Schulenburg
Executive Director, Disability Solutions International
Rob Schulenburg has spent his career working with Transition Age Youth and vulnerable populations at the local and international level. He holds an M.A. and Ed.S. degree in Special Education from the University of Arizona and has held teaching credentials in cross-categorical high-incident disabilities, visual impairment, and high school English. Rob enjoys international travel and looks for opportunities to learn from programming in areas of high constraint and low resources. He has recently defended his EdD dissertation for USC related to Transition Services. Rob and a growing group of specialists and troubleshooters formed Disability Solutions International to improve equity for people with disabilities in their communities locally and around the world.
Terena Scott
Orientation and Mobility Specialist and Teacher of the Visually Impaired, The Avalon Academy
Terena Scott is a graduate of San Francisco State University with more than 25 years’ experience working with students and adults with multiple impairments and vision loss. She currently works at The Avalon Academy, a private non-profit school for medically fragile students with severe disabilities. Terena is also a writer and the mother of a young woman with multiple disabilities.
Juandez Scruggs
Adaptive Sports Coordinator, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Arielle Silverman
Director, Research, American Foundation for the Blind
Dr. Arielle Silverman, Ph.D,. is the Director of Research for the American Foundation for the Blind. Her portfolio of research includes including studies related to Workplace Tech, Blind Leaders Development, and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Dr. Silverman served as an independent research and training consultant specializing in disability research and inclusion training. She has also worked as a technical writer for the National Rehabilitation Information Center and as a postdoctoral fellow and research scientist at the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Dr. Silverman has authored or co-authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed research articles, and she is experienced with conducting both quantitative and qualitative research related to blindness and visual impairment. Her research interests include disability identity, employment, methods of improving public attitudes about disabilities, and neurodiversity.
Thomas Simpson
VP Marketing and Sales, HIMS, Inc.
For over 10 years, Thomas has worked with assistive technology in a variety of capacities, including product development, distribution, product training, and more. He has a passion for helping students succeed in the classroom and at life.
Yue-Ting Siu
Director, TVI Credentials, San Francisco State University
Dr. Yue-Ting (Ting) Siu is a teacher of blind and low vision students (TVI) and coordinates the teacher preparation program in Visual Impairments at San Francisco State University (https://viprogram.sfsu.edu). She has worked with students of all ages with visual impairments and additional disabilities including deafblindness. Her mission focuses on advancing teachers’ proficiency with access technology and promoting innovations in multimedia accessibility. Ting is the author of the textbook Access Technology for Blind and Low Vision Accessibility (2020), available from APH Press. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @TVI_ting (www.tplus.education).
Denise Snow
UX Research and Content Strategist, American Printing House for the Blind
Denise Snow is a UX Research and Content Strategist at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). She believes strongly in understanding and breaking down the barriers of access for individuals with physical and cognitive impairments. As a customer advocate at APH, she works on several phases of product and process development including research, testing, design, and documentation. Denise has a Master of Science degree in Technical Communications from Northeastern University and holds CPACC and CKM certifications. She is a bona fide proofreading geek who someday hopes to be able to play the ukulele and to speak fluent Italian/Spanish. You can contact Denise at dsnow@aph.org.
Daisy Soto
Youth Services Coordinator, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco
Daisy is a multi-lingual project coordinator with a passion for diversity and intersectionality, recently graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A in Spanish and Race and Resistance Studies. As a Youth Services Coordinator at the LightHouse for the Blind in San Francisco, Daisy works towards promoting independence and confidence in all students through mentorship, advocacy, and hands-on experiences. She aspires to be involved in positions that make spaces and information accessible to all. She can be reached at: www.linkedin.com/in/soto-daisy
Heather Spence
Director, APH Press, American Printing House for the Blind
Heather Spence joined APH in late 2020 as the Director for APH Press. She oversees the strategic and financial goals of the Press. She previously worked at AFB for over ten years in various roles including Business Systems Manager and Product Fulfillment and Customer Service Manager. Heather has two decades of experience working with nonprofits, with over a decade working in the field of blindness and low vision.
Joe Stansil
Team Manager, Department of Rehabilitation Blind Field Services
Joe Stansil is a Team Manager with the Department of Rehabilitation Blind Field Services located in the San Joaquin Valley District. His unit covers from south of Sacramento to just north of Los Angeles. His team works with students 16 to 22 years old providing student services. The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) seeks to ensure that students and youth with disabilities have meaningful opportunities to receive the services needed to achieve quality competitive integrated employment outcomes. His unit is one of the nine that covers the State in providing these services.
Lee Staub
O&M Specialist and Adjunct Lecturer, San Francisco State University and San Francisco Unified School District
Lee Staub, M.A., COMS (he/him) is an adjunct lecturer in the Orientation and Mobility department at San Francisco State University. He’s conducted workshops and trainings on the topics of ableism and building a culture of consent in the field of Orientation and Mobility. He currently works as an O&M Specialist at San Francisco Unified School District. Lee holds a Master of Arts in Special Education (2013) and Women and Gender Studies (2007).
Theresa Stern
Vice President of Interdisciplinary Client Services and Engagement, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Theresa began her tenure at Guide Dogs for the Blind in 1999. She has worked in the field of blind rehabilitation for over 30 years, including at the LightHouse for the Blind in San Francisco as a rehabilitation teacher and director of its Enchanted Hills Camp. To meet the growing need for comprehensive access to technology sales and training, she helped to create AccessAbility, Inc., an access tech company and served as the low vision products sales manager. Theresa Stern holds a BA in liberal studies from the University of California at Riverside and a Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in blind rehabilitation from San Francisco State University. She serves as the Vice President of Interdisciplinary Client Services and Engagement, overseeing the programs and services that educate potential clients and professionals about programs, which prepare clients to live and work with a guide dog and live the lives they wish to live, ensure public policy addresses the needs of our clients, and connect clients with one another to build a strong, sustainable community of support.
Theresa has been blind since birth and travels with her guide dog, Wills, whom she received in December of 2014. She loves horseback riding, travel, and spending time with her two-legged and four-legged families!
Cary Supalo
Research Developer - Accessibility Standards & Inclusive Technology, Educational Testing Service
Dr. Supalo received his Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in 2010, with a research interest in chemical education. He focused on the development of a series of talking and audible laboratory tools that promotes a hands-on science learning experience in the secondary science laboratory classroom. Through his research, he modified various laboratory curricula to develop a set of best practices for teaching science in a hands-on way to students who are blind.
Supalo also currently serves as a research developer with the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey. His research addresses accessibility as it relates to high stakes assessments and working to help develop the next-generation interfaces needed to promote inclusion in the STEM fields of study. He has a strong passion for collaborating with anyone interested in working to make the hands-on science learning experience for students with disabilities more of a reality.
Marc Sutton
Accessibility Quality Engineer, Apple, Inc.
Marc Sutton works on Apple’s software engineering Accessibility Quality Assurance team, testing, qualifying, and helping develop accessibility features for all of Apple’s products. Marc has been involved with accessibility software and hardware development for over 30 years, including some of the first graphical user interface-based screen readers.
Robert Sweetman
CEO, Sweetman Systems
BS, JD, MS
Sweetman Systems has been providing assistive technology to people with visual impairments since 1989. Bob honed his assistive technology skills during his 15 years as an attorney and as the technology instructor with Junior Blind of America and Sweetman Systems. He earned a BS from Stanford University, a JD from UC Davis, and an MS in Assistive Technology from California State University, Northridge.
Arif Syed
Coordinator of Access Tech, Hatlen Center for the Blind
With almost 20 years of experience at The Hatlen Center for the Blind, Arif Syed has a proven track record of successfully teaching technology to a wide variety of clients. Arif received his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and obtained an Adaptive Technology certificate from CSUN.
Elizabeth Symington
Owner, UEB Study Group and Braille Adventures; Coordinator, Braille Production and Training Program, Sacramento Society for the Blind
Elizabeth is a Certified Braille Transcriber, and she is endlessly curious about how things work! She created the UEB Study Group, a free, online professional development community that supports students working on their NLS literary braille certification. And she is the owner of Braille Adventures - Where Learning Braille is FUN! - with the goal to support parents, TVIs and student transcribers to improve their braille skills.
Elizabeth’s undergrad focused on interactive art (Academy of Art University), and she’s currently studying to become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (San Francisco State University). Elizabeth is the Coordinator for Sacramento Society for the Blind, where she is helping found the Braille Production and Training Program.
John Taylor
Product Specialist, Sterling Adaptives
John Taylor, Products Specialist, focusing on all things technology related to braille and low vision for education in Northern California. John joined the Sterling Adaptives team in August of 2019 but came bringing ten years of experience in the assistive technology industry. John got his start with assistive technology, working with braille embossers and tactile graphics at ViewPlus Technologies and Irie-AT, where he focused on being a national trainer on braille embossers and tactile graphics, and low vision products. In John’s free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and newborn son, helping others, and when he has the time, he can usually be found camping or fishing. When asked what motivates and inspires him, John says that more than anything, it’s the people that he gets to rub shoulders with each day. He says, At the end of the day, I feel like I did some good, and made a difference in someone’s life.
Marguerite Tibaudo
Assistant Director of CVI Assessment and Interventions, Perkins School for the Blind
Marguerite Tibaudo, M. Ed, TVI, has over 20 years of service in the field of visual impairment and deafblindness. Marguerite is the CVI Assistant Director of Assessment and Interventions at Perkins School for the Blind. She holds a Master of Education degree from Boston College in Severe Special Education with a specialization in Deafblindness and a Master of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts, Boston in Vision Studies. Marguerite has additionally completed the CVI Certification graduate program through UMass Boston, the first graduate certificate program focused on the specialized needs of students with CVI.
Peter Tucic
Director of Strategic Partnerships, HumanWare
Peter Tucic graduated from the University of Illinois, Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Peter is currently the Director of Strategic Partnerships for HumanWare. He works closely with key partners throughout the field of vision loss as it relates to assistive technology. Peter has presented at the National ACB and NFB, in addition to the CSUN and ATIA conferences amongst many others. Peter has also been published in Closing the Gap magazine and regularly creates written and video tutorials for a wide array of HumanWare blindness products.
Vincent Valenzuela
O&M Specialist, Stanislaus County Office of Education
Vincent Valenzuela, M.A., entered the field of Orientation and Mobility with a background in Child Development and is in the San Francisco State University O&M graduating class of 2020. He works with the school-aged population from birth-22 years of age. He is passionate about teaching O&M skills that his students can incorporate in their everyday lives. In his free time, he enjoys golf, exploring new places, and spending time with family and friends.
Angela VanAppelen
School Transcriber
Sweetwater Union High School District
Angela Van Appelen has been working with students who are visually impaired since 1994. She started as an instructional assistant and became a Certified Braille Transcriber in May 2000. She currently works full-time for the Sweetwater Union High School District. She has been with Sweetwater Union High School District since 2003. She has transcribed for colleges and K-12 (several AP Classes). She is dedicated to making sure all her students have their work before the time needed and creating an inclusive not an assistive environment.
Joe Vona
Teacher Specialist of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Stanislaus County Office of Education
Joseph Vona has been a teacher specialist of the blind and visually impaired for nearly a decade. He’s a novice tech nerd and an advocate for braille literacy. He currently serves Stanislaus County Office of Education where he lives with his wife and two children.
Lynn Wales
Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Central Okanagan School Board, Kelowna, British Columbia
Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Creator of the Marine Science Camps
Stephanie Walker
Outreach Specialist - SW, American Printing House for the Blind
Stephanie Walker is the APH Outreach Specialist for the Southwest Region. Her experience working in the field of visual impairments extends over 18 years as a TVI, COMS, and Coordinator for the Texas Sensory Support Network. She is currently working on her Educational Diagnostician certification at Texas A&M Commerce University. Stephanie resides in Texas.
Anne Ward
CAPVI Northern California Co-chairperson, CAPVI: California Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
Anne is the mother of a blind adult son. She has spent many years advocating for her son and other parents and children.
Terry Wedler
COMS/TVI and Parent, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco
Terry Wedler, COMS & TVI, (She/Her) is a mom of a now blind adult, grandmother, wife, and professional in the field of blindness and low vision. While Terry enjoys some retirement, she also continues teaching adults with the LightHouse for the Blind and, upon request, back in the school district where she taught for years. Terry is grateful for her son for being blind and notes ‘he was instrumental in helping me develop a new part of myself that I would have never found had it not been for him being my son.’
Leslie Weilbacher
Outreach Specialist - NW, American Printing House for the Blind
Leslie is the Outreach Specialist for the Northwest Region with APH. Her experience working with students with visual impairments extends over six years as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and O&M Specialist, including summer programs in independent living skills and career experiences. Leslie lives in Washington with her retired guide Gwenny, and two horses.
Frank Welte
Senior Accessible Media and Braille Specialist, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Frank Welte, B.S., an NLS-certified UEB Braille Transcriber and lifelong braille reader and tactile graphics user. He applies his knowledge and experience to the production of the high-quality materials produced by the Media and Accessible Design Laboratory (MAD Lab) at the LightHouse.
Ilse Willems
CVI Project Coordinator, Educational Programs - Perkins School for the Blind
Ilse Willems is a CVI Project Coordinator at the CVI Center at Perkins. She has worked at Perkins for over 11 years, working with students with visual impairments, dual sensory loss, and multiple disabilities. Ilse holds a Bachelor’s in Child Development and Wellbeing from the College of the Holy Cross, a Masters in Severe Special Education with a concentration in Deafblindness from Boston College, and a Masters in Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) with a certificate in Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment from UMass Boston.
Greg Williams
Independence Science
Dr. Greg Williams received his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, in theoretical chemistry. His undergraduate background is in both chemistry and mathematics. Dr. Williams has been blind since birth and is originally from Northwest Indiana. He has been working with Independence Science since 2010 and some of his research interests are in science access technology development and technical braille codes. Dr. Williams has presented papers on science access at national meetings of the American Chemical Society, California State University North Ridge (CSUN), Assistive Technology Industry Association, and others. He has worked for See Write Hear, GH LLC, and Purdue University. He currently lives in Lafayette, Indiana and is happily married with two children.
Yan Zhang
Tactile Graphics Designer, American Printing House for the Blind
Yan has been a Tactile Graphics Designer in the Accessible Tests and Textbooks Department at the American Printing House for the Blind since 2002. Prior to his career at APH, Yan worked as a Tactile Graphics Illustrator for course material production at Tactile Access to Education for Visually Impaired Students (TAEVIS) at Purdue University. He designs, develops, and quality reviews tactile graphics for textbooks and tests, provides instructions to transcribers all over the United States and Canada, and has conducted trainings on tactile graphics across the United States, Southeast Asia, and China.
Shelby Zimmerman
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Assessment Center, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, California School for the Blind
Shelby Zimmerman is a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist on the Assessment Center team at the California School for the Blind (CSB). In addition, she is a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor with Occupaws Guide Dog Association. With a Master of Arts in Special Education, Shelby has itinerant and center-based experience teaching orientation and mobility and independent living skills to children and adults, has supervised university student teachers, and previously coordinated the low vision program at CSB. She also developed a guide dog instructor trainee program in Uruguay.
Zachary Zorndorf
Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Stanislaus County Office of Education
Zach is an Orientation and Mobility Specialist working for Stanislaus County Office of Education. He received his B.A. from Humboldt State University and received his master’s from San Francisco State University’s Orientation and Mobility program. He is interested in looking for ways to collaborate with his colleagues and is a strong advocate for a team approach to maximize student learning. During his free time, Zach enjoys swimming, playing golf, and getting outdoors!
Maria Fernanda Zuniga-Zabala
Co-creator, BTactile.com
Maria Fernanda is co-creator of BTactile.com and ProyectoIris.com as well as a co-founder of DUTO S.A. With training in Systems and Computer Engineering, and a master’s degree in Physical Instrumentation. She has 19 years of experience in applied research in visual accessibility technologies.
Exhibitors
4Blind Inc
84 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-982-1855
Website: https://4blind.com/en
Contact: welcome@4blind.com
Academy of Music for the Blind
911 Norumbega Dr
Monrovia, CA 91016
Phone: 626-358-5379
Website: www.OurAmb.org
Contact: info@ouramb.org
Access Ingenuity
4751 Hoen Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Phone: 877-579-4380
Website: www.accessingenuity.com
Contact: michaelp@accessingenuity.com
Accessibyte
P.O. Box 633
Forest Park, IL 60130
Phone: 708-405-9043
Website: www.accessibyte.com
Contact: contact@accessibyte.com
Actual Tactuals Braille
2116 Vine Drive
Merrick, NY 11566
Phone: 516-434-1506
Website: www.actualtactuals.com
Contact: actualtactuals@gmail.com
American Printing House for the Blind
Dot 6 Innovation and Strategy
1839 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY 40206
Phone: 812-895-2405
Website: www.aph.org
Contact: sales@aph.org
American Thermoform/ Braillo/ Zychem
1758 Brackett St
La Verne, CA 91750
Phone: 909-593-6711
Website: www.americanthermoform.com
Contact: pnunnelly@americanthermoform.com
Braille Wear
Phone: 805-338-9853
Website: www.braillewear.shop
Contact: braillewear4u@gmail.com
California School for the Blind
Administration Office of the Superintendent
500 Warren Ave
Fremont, CA 94536
Phone: 510-794-3800
Website: https://www.csb-cde.ca.gov
Contact: info@csb-cde.ca.gov
CAPVI
California Assoc. for Parents of Children with Visual Impairment
414 West Mill Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: 707-463-2296
Contact: inland2wards@gmail.com
Department of Rehabilitation
Blind Field Services
721 Capitol Mall, 4th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-558-5480
Website:
www.dor.ca.gov/home/blindfieldservices
Contact: blind.services@dor.ca.go
Described and Captioned Media Program
National Association of the Deaf
Spartanburg, SC 29307
Phone: 864-585-1778
Website: www.dcmp.org
Contact: info@dcmp.org
Guidelights And Gadgets, Inc.
1597 Suncrest Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: 617-699-7500
Email: bscheur.gadgetsandtech@gmail.com
Website: www.guidelightsandgadgets.us
HIMS, Inc.
4616 W. Howard Ln, Suite 960
Austin, TX 78728
Phone: 888-520-4467
Fax: 512-837-2011
Contact: sales@him-inc.com
HumanWare
1800 rue Michaud
Drummondville, QC, J2C 7G7
Phone: 888-723-7273
Website: Humanware.com
Contact: gregory.julien@humanware.com
Independence Science
3000 Kent Ave Suite 1718
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: 866-862-9665
Website: www.independencescience.com
Contact: info@independencescience.com
LightHouse for the Blind and
Visually Impaired Programs,
MAD Lab, Adaptations Store
1155 Market Street, 10th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415-431-1481
Website: www.lighthouse-sf.org
Contact: info@lighthouse-sf-org
NorthState Assistive Technology
Phone: 877-682-0452
Website: www.northstateat.com
Contact: info@northstateat.com
OrCam
1115 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 619-992-7747
Website: www.orcam.com
Contact: jason.messing@orcam.com
Sterling Adaptives, LLC
541 Farmers Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Phone: 415-878-2922
Website: www.sterlingadaptives.com
Contact: lesley@sterlingadaptives.com
Sweetman Systems
14237 Gain St
Arleta, CA 91331
Phone: 818-893-5887
Fax: 818-698-8199
Website: www.sweetmansystems.com
Contact: sue@sweetmansystems.com
The Seeing Eye
P.O. Box 375
Morristown, NJ 07963
Phone: 973-539-4425
Website: www.seeingeye.org
Contact: info@seeingeye.org
Touch Graphics Inc
11 Harvest Lane
Elkton, MD 21921
Phone: 800-884-2440
Website: www.touchgraphics.com
Contact: info@touchgraphics.com
ViewPlus Technologies Inc
1965 SW Airport Ave
Corvallis, OR 97333
Phone: 541-754-4002
Website: www.viewplus.com
Contact: dephena.maxwell@viewplus.com
Wolf Products, Inc.
106 Purvis Rd
Butler, PA 16001
Phone: 724-285-5428
Website: mathwindow.com
Contact: wolfproductsinc@gmail.com
YesAccessible!
911 Norumbega Dr
Monrovia, CA 91016
Phone: 626-358-5750
Website: www.yesaccessible.com
Contact: info@yesaccessible.com
SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT MARRIOTT WATERFRONT
CONFERENCE MAP
Thursday, April 20
Registration for Pre-conference
7:00 am - 9:00 am
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Registration
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Welcome Reception
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday, April 21
Registration
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Breakfast/General
Business Session
7:30 am - 9:30 am
Banquet Dinner
& Dance
6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Saturday, April 22
Registration
7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Breakfast/Poster Sessions
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Youth Institute
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Parent Institute
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday, April 23
Breakfast/General Business Session
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Hospitality Suite:
Saturday, April 22nd
8:00 pm to 10:30 pm