Message from the President, Patty Killey
The Michigan Chapter of AER has diligently worked for 40 consecutive years to put together an amazing conference. Our last in person conference was in 2019! Four years is a long time to not gather with other professionals in our field. This year, 2023, we are very excited to bring you back to an in-person conference. The title of our conference this year is New Beginnings. Together Again! We are happy that our keynote speaker this year will be Deana Criess, Senior Organizational Development Specialist at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts. Of course, we can’t have an amazing conference without YOU! We are grateful to our many Michigan AER members who have answered the call for papers, and we are excited and hopeful that we will have a fabulous turnout at the conference this year.
Our members asked for a larger facility to host our conference and we listened. We are excited to hold the conference at The Delta Conference Center in Kalamazoo. This facility will allow us to have room to move around and grow as a conference. Please let us know what you think of the new venue.
Do you want to meet other like-minded people in your profession? Are you passionate about the vision profession? Do you want to see MAER grow as an organization? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we want to hear from you. Please consider running for a position on the MAER board. We have several openings this year (President Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, and two Board of Directors positions). Go to this link to indicate your interest in being on the board Call for Board Member Nominations 2023 or email us at michiganaer@gmail.com requesting a nomination ballot (include in the subject line MAER Board Nomination Ballot).
The MAER board continues to work hard for their members. We would love to have you join us!
Patty Killey
MAER President 2022-23
Member Survey
Sincere thanks to all who participated in the Member Survey. Julie Haase was the winner of the drawing for the $50 gift card! We appreciated all your input about what you would like to see MAER accomplish for its membership. The MAER board selected a non-profit organization that we’ll give our $500 charitable gift to in 2023 from those that were nominated in the survey by members. The organization that we chose is Camp Fish Tales in Pinconning, Michigan. Camp Fish Tales is a year-round independent non-profit camp, conference, and retreat center. This barrier-free camp is for people of all ages and all disabilities. You can visit the Camp Fish Tales website at this link: Camp Fish Tales – Catch the Spirit, Release the Potential
Membership Report
The Michigan Chapter of AER currently has 135 members with active memberships. AER provides our members with a grace period of two months. For example, if your membership expires in January, your active membership will not be dropped until March. However, we encourage you to renew early to avoid any loss of member benefits. Our members include Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, TVIs, Low Vision Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Assistive Technology Professionals, Professors, Administrators, Students, Product and Service Businesses, and many other related professionals. AER members receive an online subscription to JVIB, the only peer reviewed journal dedicated to the field of blindness and visual impairment, a monthly e-newsletter, The Voice, that provides a monthly connection to information, division and chapter newsletters, and, critical topic position papers. Also offered are virtual educational sessions, leadership development resources, and 3 FREE division memberships. AER’s online educational platform offers members deep discounts on webinars. Earn continuing education credits in the comfort of your own home, or wherever and whenever it is convenient for you. Visit https://aerbvi.org/membership/reasons/ for additional membership benefits.
Please watch your email approximately 2 months before your membership expiration for an AER Membership Invoice. The email contains a link to renew online and additional pertinent renewal information.
Submitted by Sue Bradley, Membership Committee
Member Spotlight
Do you have a friend or colleague that you would like to feature in the member spotlight? This is an opportunity for us to get to know our colleagues around the state! Please submit an article about a friend or colleague who is an AER member to be spotlighted in the newsletter. It’s best if you get permission from the person first and submit a photo to go along with your short paragraph about the member. We’ll feature it in our next newsletter! We’ll do up to two members per newsletter, and submission can be sent to michiganaer@gmail.com with Member Spotlight in the subject line.
Members Spoke and We Listened!
You wanted more perks for being a member and your MAER Board has listened. We now have four scholarships and two mini grants available.
Scholarships
MAER Student Scholarship for students going into the field of blindness and visual impairments (excludes students in the Visual Impairment Consortium for Teacher Preparation)
- One scholarship to be awarded annually for $1000
- Application form is below.
MAER Student Scholarship
for Students Going into the
Blind or Visually Impaired Field
- Application due March 1st
- Applicants will be notified by April 15th
- One scholarship to be awarded annually for $1000
Applicant’s Name:
Email Address:
Phone Number with Area Code:
University and program:
Expected date of graduation:
Cumulative GPA:
Please attach the following:
- Michigan resident for at least two years, (proof could include a utility bill, state of Michigan ID, bank statement, credit card bill, voter registration card, transcript from school, etc.)
- Two letters of recommendation, one must be from an instructor in the program in which you are enrolled. The second letter must not be from a family member.
- Copy of transcripts
- Essays
- Why have you chosen to pursue a career in the field of BVI?
- Describe any experiences, accomplishments and/or challenges you encounter while pursuing your education.
*Students enrolled in the Visual Impairment Consortium for Teacher Preparation are not eligible for this scholarship
Submit the application online to michiganaer@gmail.com. In the subject area of the email include the words “Student Scholarship Studying BVI”.
MAER Scholarship for Michigan Residents who are blind or visually impaired, regardless of field of study
- One scholarship to be awarded annually for $500
- Scholarship Application is below.
MAER Scholarship for Michigan residents who are Blind or Visually Impaired regardless of field of study
- Application is due March 1st
- Applicants will be notified by April 15th
- One scholarship to be awarded annually for $500
Applicant’s name:
MAER member name:
AER member number:
Applicant’s relation to MAER member:
Email address:
Phone number with area code:
Post-secondary educational program:
Expected date of graduation:
Please attach the following:
- Proof of Michigan residency of at least 2 years, (proof could include a utility bill, state of Michigan ID, bank statement, credit card bill, voter registration card, transcript from school, etc.)
- Proof of the visual impairment adversely impacting educational performance (i.e. IEP, 504 plan, etc.) or documentation from an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or professional in the blindness field (For example, TVI, COMS, CVRT, RCRT) of a visual acuity of 20/70 or less, in the best eye with correction, or a visual field of 50 degrees or less
- Copy of high school diploma, GED, or certificate of completion,
- Two letters of recommendation,
- Enrolled in a post-secondary education program
- Essays:
- Explain your educational and career goals and how you plan to reach them, including how you plan to use the scholarship.
- Share and describe any commitments you have outside of your educational or career pursuits.
- Describe any experiences, accomplishments and/or challenges you encounter while pursuing your education.
Submit the application online to michiganaer@gmail.com. In the subject area of the email include the words “Scholarship for Michigan residents”.
MAER Scholarship for Members/Family Members
- Immediate family members are eligible and include spouse and immediate children/step children of MAER members, regardless of field of study.
- Two scholarships to be awarded annually for $1000 each
- Application form is below.
MAER Scholarship for Members/Family Members
- Immediate family members include: spouse and immediate children/step children of MAER members regardless of field of study.
- Two scholarships to be awarded annually for $1000 each
- Application is due March 1st
- Applicants will be notified by April 15th
Applicant’s name:
MAER member name:
AER member number:
Applicant’s relation to MAER member:
Email address:
Phone number with area code:
Post-secondary education program:
Expected date of graduation:
Please attach the following:
- Copy of high school diploma, GED, certificate of completion, or high school transcript (senior)
- Proof of enrollment in a post-secondary education program
- Two letters of recommendation
- Essays:
- Explain your educational and career goals and how you plan to reach them, including how you plan to use the scholarship.
- Share and describe any commitments you have outside of your educational or career pursuits
- Describe any experiences, accomplishments and/or challenges you encounter while pursuing your education.
Submit the application online to michiganaer@gmail.com. In the subject area of the email include the words “Scholarship for Members/Family Members”.
Mini Grant
Great News! The mini grant deadline has been extended to March 1st. Every year, MAER members can apply for mini grants (2 total will be given away, up to $1,000 each) to implement programs, activities or projects related to the promotion, development, and improvement of all phases of education and rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired persons of all ages. The MAER Grant Committee looks for programs that are innovative and promote excellence by enriching the lives of individuals with visual impairment throughout Michigan. For more information about the MAER Mini Grants, email us at michiganaer@gmail.com with Mini Grants in the subject line.
MAER 2023 Conference: New Beginnings. Together Again!
Don’t Miss Out! Registration is now open for the MAER 2023 Conference: New Beginnings. Together Again! Vendors and Participants can register using this link:
MAER Conference Registration Link
The conference will take place at the Delta Conference Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 20 and 21, 2023. Rooms are available for conference attendees at a rate of $124 per night. Book your group rate for The MAER Annual Conference 2023 using this link.
We hope you join us to celebrate our 40th Annual MAER Conference! We will post a detailed list of sessions that will be at the conference on our website as soon as possible and will email it to the membership as well.
NEWS FOR YOU
Programs for Youth at Leader Dog
Leader Dogs for the Blind Teen Summer camp applications are now open! Leader Dog is looking forward to welcoming teens who are 16 or 17 years old and legally blind to our Rochester Hills campus for a fun week of camp June 25- July 2, 2023. During the week of camp, we focus on leadership skills, mobility options such as a guide dog, accessible GPS, and making memories and friends to last a lifetime. The application deadline is Friday, March 31, 2023 and can be found here.
Leader Dog is also excited to announce a new Youth O&M program for 16- or 17-year-olds and education for a supporter (i.e., family member) to learn more about blindness, the skills their loved one uses and how to help in O&M goals. Participants in this program stay in a local hotel and participate in our traditional training environments. All travel, meals and hotel expenses are covered by Leader Dog. This program is one-week long, and will occur in June, July and August.
If you have any questions about these opportunities or any of the free Leader Dog programs, please visit leaderdog.org or contact client services at 888-777-5332 or clientservices@leaderdog.org
Submitted by Leslie Hoskins
Michigan’s Sports Education Camp is Back!
Sports Education Camp for Blind and Visually Impaired Children returns this year after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, camp planning was moving forward at full steam when the consequences of COVID became a reality. Everyone was disappointed to hear about the decision to cancel camp. In 2021, we gave virtual camp a try. Let’s just say virtual camp was not as fun as in-person camp. In 2022, we had high hopes for the return of camp, but as COVID cases continued to increase and new variations emerged, sadly the decision to not hold camp was made.
Now in 2023 we are back! Senior Camp will be held Thursday, May 18- Sunday, May 21, 2023. As of this writing, we are still working out details for Junior Camp, however, it will most likely be Monday, May 22 & Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The camps will be held on the campus of Western Michigan University. Camp is an overnight experience for the athletes, who are supervised by various professionals in the blindness community and other professions. Many of the volunteers are blind or visually impaired and serve as role models for the athletes attending camp.
Athletes who attend camp will have the opportunity to participate in swimming, goalball, tandem cycling, track & field, judo, wrestling, 5-a-side soccer, and hockey. Junior Camp is for children 9-12 years old and Senior Camp is for teens 13-18 years old still in high school. Some exceptions will be considered this year on a case-by-case basis. Keep an eye on the VI-list serve, the Sports Camp Facebook group “Michigan Sports Camp for Athletes with Visual Impairments”, MIblindSports.org, and other mediums for an announcement opening registration for both camp athletes and volunteers. In the meantime, if you have any question, you can reach out to Leanne Ford – Co-Director, at fordL1@michigan.gov.
Submitted by Leanne Ford
Programs from Michigan Department of Education-Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-LIO)
MDE-LIO SUPPORT SERVICES The MDE-LIO has a team of education consultants who are available to support families and school districts serving students who are blind or visually impaired (BVI). For more information, visit: BVI Outreach Support. Also, the MDE-LIO Support Team was created to help develop competent, informed, and knowledgeable teachers of students who are visually impaired (TVIs), teacher consultants of students who are visually impaired (TCVIs), and certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS) in Michigan schools. This program provides mentorship for teachers who are new to the field of BVI or have returned to the field after time away. For more details, visit: Support for New School Personnel.
EVENTS AT MDE-LIO
MDE-LIO continues to offer a variety of events for students, professionals and families. Many of our webinars are free of charge, and they cover a variety of topics. You may check out these events at this link: Upcoming Events | MDE-LIO (mdelio.org)
Nominate Your Colleagues!
Everything You Should Know About Michigan AER Awards
Michigan Chapter AER has two awards: The MAER Award and the David and JoAnn Search Lifetime Achievement Award. These awards are presented at the MAER Annual Conference. It is not mandatory that they be presented in any given year.
The MAER Award is designed to commemorate an event, organization, and/or activity. It can be presented to one or more persons or to an entity such as an organization serving individuals who are blind or have low vision. We solicit nominations for the MAER Award in late fall and winter to be awarded at our annual conference (usually held in late April). Anyone can submit a nomination, and the person or organization being nominated does not have to be a member of MAER to be eligible to receive the award, however preference is given to persons and organizations who have been involved with MAER.
Here are some of the individuals and organizations who have received the MAER Award: Abraham Nemeth, Michigan Commission for the Blind (10th Anniversary), Michigan Braille Transcribing Service (Jackson Prison), Lou Alonso, Alice Raftary, David and JoAnn Search, Sue and Paul Ponchillia, Michigan School for the Blind, Seedlings Braille Books, Dorothy Goldie, and many more.
The David and JoAnn Search Award is presented to an individual who is near or has recently retired in honor of a lifetime dedicated to serving individuals who are blind or have low vision. It is intended to recognize a life spent above and beyond the typical work life in the blindness field rather than to be a reward for “making it to retirement”. It was established in 1992 to honor David and JoAnn Search who dedicated many, many hours working within MAER in service to our organization from its inception in 1984. They coordinated conferences, served on the MAER Board of Directors, and chaired the Program Planning Committee for the AER Regional Conference held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the late 1990s. They were both Rehabilitation Teachers. JoAnn died in 2001 and David retired a few years later.
It’s that time of year again—time to honor your colleagues by nominating them for one of the Michigan Chapter AER Awards.
If you have questions or would like a copy of one of the award nomination forms, contact Roberta McCall at Mccallr6246@att.net or Michiganaer@gmail.com. You may also visit the awards page of our website to see past recipients: https://michiganaer.com/awards/
Bylaws Change Update
The proposed bylaws changes that were sent to the membership in November and voted on in December all passed. There were four amendments to the bylaws. The ballot response rate was 29% with 38 of 127 members casting a ballot. Thanks to all who voted!
The bylaws changes will be implemented to reflect this affirmative vote by you, the members of MAER. For your information, here are the updated bylaws from Article VI Elections, Section 4 Procedures of the Board Manual:
- Change 1: 4.4 A slate, based upon nominations from the membership and prepared by the Nominations Committee, accompanied by a biographical sketch of each nominee, shall be made available to each voting member of the Chapter prior to the ELECTRONIC VOTE (old language included voting at the annual conference).
- Change 2: 4.5 Electronic ballots (including biographical sketches and status i.e. incumbent) shall be distributed at least 30 but not more than 40 days prior to the scheduled Annual Membership Business meeting at the annual conference. One reminder shall be sent approximately 7 days prior to the expiration date of the ballot; Voting shall be open for at least 14 days. Election results shall be reported as part of the Annual Membership Meeting.
- Change 3: Deleted bylaw 4.7 from the board manual. Bylaw 4.7 had language about absentee ballots, which is no longer needed because we are now voting electronically only.
- Change 4: 4.8 The candidate receiving the most votes for each elected position shall become the holder of the office at the final business meeting of the Chapter’s annual conference. In the event of a tie vote in the election for any office, the election shall be decided by lot at the opening session of the first Business Meeting at the annual conference.
Submitted by Roberta McCall, CVRT
Bylaws Committee Chair.
Justice Department Clarifies Web Guidelines
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released guidance on the obligations of public entities (such as state and local governments) and businesses open to the public with regard to website accessibility. This guidance covers why website accessibility matters, examples of barriers, and when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires websites to be accessible. It also provides high-level resources for how to make websites accessible and states that web accessibility for people with disabilities is a priority for the DOJ.
Although this guidance links to commonly used accessibility standards, until the DOJ issues regulations clarifying what covered entities are required to do to meet their ADA obligations, many accessibility barriers will persist. In addition, it will be imperative for the DOJ to address how applications, like those that are downloaded to a smartphone, are covered under the ADA.
Submitted by Dr. Joe Todd
Advocacy and Legislative Committee Chair
HANG ON TO YOUR ACVREP CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Last year, the MAER Board of Directors decided that the charge for obtaining a replacement ACVREP Certificate of Completion was raised to $25. The decision was based on the need to offset the time involved in providing replacement paperwork.
So, hang on to yours! Create a file for your next recertification and toss all your supporting documents into it for safekeeping!
Submitted by Roberta McCall
MAER Secretary
MEMBERS SPEAK OUT
Do you have an article, resource, or other information you would like added to the MAER newsletter? Use this opportunity to get information to other members. The next newsletter goes out in June. Please send your submissions to michiganaer@gmail.com with the words “Newsletter Article” in the subject line by May 31, 2022!
MAER Board Officers and Directors
Please contact michiganaer@gmail.com with any questions.
PRESIDENT: Patty Killey
PAST PRESIDENT: Teresa Gest
PRESIDENT ELECT: Beth Brabbs
SECRETARY: Roberta McCall
TREASURER: Amy Schreiner
DIRECTORS: Leanne Ford, Jessicia Klenk, John Metz, Kristy Plesscher, Amber Strasz, and Dr. Joe Todd
Our AER Mission: To render all possible assistance to the promotion, development, and improvement of all phases of education and rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired persons of all ages.
Visit our website at Michigan AER.
