MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT BETH BRABBS
Dear Michigan AER Members,
Happy New Year! The year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of AER as well as MAER, and I feel a little old saying that I have been a member of this organization for 37 of those 40 years! I’d like to take some time with this President’s message to reflect on the significance of AER in my professional life, and to thank all the Michigan AER members who have been with us for 40 years, as well as those of you who have joined since. You all have continued to help MAER grow and become one of the most vital chapters in the nation. Every year for 40 years we have met the challenge of providing excellent services to our members. It is my sincere hope that we live on for at least another 40!
When I became a Michigan AER member in 1986, I was encouraged to join by the professors at Western Michigan University (WMU), where I was finishing up my O&M master’s degree program. It’s wonderful that WMU encourages students to join when the fee is significantly lower (student rate), because I was sold on the value of being an AER member without having to make too much of a financial investment initially. Also, back then, AER was the certifying body for O&M Specialists, and so membership wasn’t really an option if one wished to be certified. Since the inception of Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) more than 20 years ago, I have not needed to be an AER member to maintain my status as a Certified O&M Specialist (COMS). And I certainly don’t get the student rate anymore; so why do I continue my membership with AER? It’s simple: the benefits are worth the cost!
AER has helped me grow as a professional and as a person. I’ve met a multitude of fabulous people through my membership with AER, and that’s a priceless benefit. The good times and learning that I have experienced through those people has sustained me through 37 years of working in the blindness field. I’ve gained experience in leadership and advocacy through my involvement on our Michigan board of directors for many of those years. The free resources of the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (JVIB), along with the monthly E-Newsletter, The Voice, and previously Review, have helped me stay current in the happenings of our profession. Additionally, I’ve had many opportunities for online professional development and continuing education hours through the AER learning portal.
I have also benefited from discounted conference registrations and travel-related discounts on hotels and car rentals. But one of the most important reasons that I have maintained my AER membership all these years is that I believe my support of the organization will allow it to continue to provide valued functions for its members, and for the profession itself. Thank you to our members for continuing to support AER along with me and the rest of our board of directors. Your support of AER not only benefits you, but also benefits the profession of blindness and low vision in many ways!
Submitted By Beth Brabbs
MAER AWARDS
Here is everything you should know about the Michigan AER Awards! The Michigan AER Chapter 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 Lifetime Achievement 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 being 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.
Here are some of the individuals who have received the David and JoAnn Search Lifetime Achievement Award: Wilma Seely, Abraham Nemeth, Virginia Dean, Paul Ponchillia, Sue Ponchillia, Marv Weesies, Cheryl Nametz, Paul Glatz, Jeanne Church, Catherine Hula, Collette Bauman, Rod Haneline, Helen Lee, Ann McKay-Bacon, Julie Haase, and Judy Holmes.
Nomination forms will be posted to MAER members and to various listservs after January 1st. The due date for nominations is the first Friday in March.
If you have questions or wish to receive a nomination form right away, please contact Roberta McCall, Awards Chair at
Mccallr6246@att.net Or (517) 230-0751.
Submitted By Roberta McCall
SAVE THE DATES
The 2024 MAER Conference will be held on April 25th and 26th at the Park Place Hotel and Conference Center Downtown Traverse City, Michigan. On April 24th, DeafBlind Central will provide a half-day pre-conference. We hope to see you there!
RECRUITMENT SPOTLIGHT
AER is working hard to draw more professionals into our field. As part of our efforts, we are creating a list of all vision professionals who are providing recruitment efforts and a description of the events that they have held. After posting an email to the Michigan VI Listserve, here are some of the responses I received:
- Adonna Wright’s VI team shared with other teachers, having one person join the Consortium!
- Becky Jackson presented at a local middle and high school during career week!
- Amy Bayes presented at a local elementary and middle school during an investigating differences class!
- Dawn Anderson and the Western team were able to do presentations with the special education majors!
- Please continue to share your efforts to: jklenk@washtenawisd.org
Submitted By Jessicia Klenk
NEWS FOR YOU
Seedlings Braille Books For Children:
Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy and education by providing high quality, free and low cost braille books for children. Seedlings offers free braille book programs to children with vision loss and TVIs – known as the Book Angel Program and TVIP Program respectively.
Book Angel Program: This program offers each child, ages birth-21 with vision loss in the U.S. and Canada, to order 5 free braille books per calendar year.
TVIP Program: Certified Teachers of Visually Impaired in the U.S. may also order 5 free braille books per calendar year!
To learn more and place an order, please visit: www.seedlings.org/special.php
We also offer our Braille 4 Beginners Program (B4B) for Early Intervention Programs of toddlers and preschoolers ages birth to 3, across the U.S.
If you are part of an Early Intervention Program that would be interested in receiving braille books through B4B, please contact Kari Nelson at seedlink2@ameritech.net for more information.
If you have questions about any of our free braille book programs, please contact Seedlings by phone: (800) 777-8552 Or email: info@seedlings.org.
Submitted By Barrie Brown
Accessible BooksResources For Students:
The Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) can be an incredible resource for students who are blind, have low vision, or have a physical, perceptual, or reading disability that makes it difficult to read or hold a standard print book.
We are a part of a national network of libraries through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Our collection is similar to a public library, with both fiction and nonfiction titles. However, our books come in either audio or braille format. They can be downloaded directly through the free NLS BARD mobile App, or we can provide a digital talking book player or braille eReader and send books on cartridge through the mail.
With multiple accessible book options available, TCVIs often ask me ‘why BTBL’? I recently partnered with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) on a blog post for their new FamilyConnect series that answered that question. It’s titled “Books, Books, Books: That All May Read”, and it provides a short overview of the accessible books landscape nationwide, including NLS, BookShare, Learning Ally and more. If you are asking yourself this question, check out that blog post for more information.
What’s new at BTBL?
The eReader! This 20-cell Humanware refreshable braille display is available on loan for FREE to students. If you have a braille reading student, you will want to check this out.
Braille on Demand: Receive any braille book available in our collection for free TO KEEP. That’s right, your students can grow their own libraries at home. NLS is offering to send copies of books to patrons to keep (forever!).
Libraries Without Walls: This Accessible Technology Conference hosted by BTBL in Lansing, MI will take place once again this Spring. With an engaging keynote speaker, multiple session options every hour, and a student track, this AT conference is a great place for both TCVIs and students to come, learn, and connect. Keep a look out for more information!
Programming Options: BTBL offers a Technology Club and a Tech Tidbit Tuesdays with rotating topics. NLS also offers direct programming with options like Patron Corner and The Many Faces of BARD. Or, looking ahead to next summer, BTBL will once again offer a Summer Reading Program for all ages.
How to receive updates from BTBL?
For general updates, including information on programming, events, book lists, newsletters, and more, join our email distribution list. Or, follow us on Facebook at @MichiganBTBL.
For account specific questions, training questions, or general requests, reach out to Stephanie Wambaugh, BTBL Outreach Librarian, at: wambaughs@michigan.gov
Submitted By Stephanie Wambaugh
Michigan Mobility Matters (MMM):
Have you heard of Michigan Mobility Matters? We are a professional learning community for Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists.
We do 2 things:
First, we meet in person 5 times a year (near Lansing) to learn together and support one another. Each meeting has a deep dive (cane tips & tricks, O&M in Early On, adapting sports/P.E., etc) and we always take time to problem solve, test new ideas, learn about the latest gadgets or techniques, conduct case reviews and talk about what is working well in our practice.
Second, we offer 2 large group O&M lessons each year, in which MMM members bring their students, to address needs that are difficult to address in the home area. We’ve explored college campuses and APS, toured Leader Dog, taken Amtrak to the BSBP training center in Kalamazoo—we’ve even introduced students to air travel and flown on an airplane!
If you are a COMS, or a student in a university program on your way to becoming a COMS, we’d love to have you join us! Email me if you’re interested in becoming a member.
Rikilynn Layher, COMS, CVRT
Submitted By Rikilynn Layher
Opportunities At Leader Dogs For The Blind:
Leader Dogs for the Blind has opportunities to support you and the clients you work with. Our client programs are always accepting applications and provided at no cost thanks to dedicated donor support. In addition to the training, meals and housing during training, travel and equipment costs are all paid by Leader Dogs for the Blind. Check out our ACVREP virtual and in-person continuing education opportunities at https://www.leaderdog.org/resources/virtual-learning/blind-rehab-professionals/ and https://www.leaderdog.org/programs/professional-and-university-opportunities/.
With the new year right around the corner our team is in full planning mode for our summer teen opportunities. Teens are welcome to join for one or both of these programs. Please share with your students.
TEEN SUMMER CAMP
June 23- June 29, 2024
Application Deadline: Friday, April 5, 2024
This free program combines fun activities with exploring mobility options in a group setting such as guide dog travel, night travel and accessible GPS. Campers receive a free GPS to help increase their travel independence, experience working with a guide dog, discover leadership skills and build friendships with peers from across North America. Teen Summer Camp is provided free of charge at Leader Dogs for the Blind’s Rochester Hills, Michigan campus to those who are legally blind, 16 or 17 years of age, regardless of whether they plan to train with a guide dog. Public transportation to and from Leader Dog campus, accommodations and meals while training are also provided free of charge.
https://www.leaderdog.org/programs/teen-summer-camp/
TEEN O&M
Teen O&M is provided to high schoolers while their supporters (i.e., family member) receives education 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. Public transportation, meals and hotel expenses are covered by Leader Dog. Date options for summer 2024 are June 9-15, July 14-20 and August 4-10.
https://www.leaderdog.org/programs/orientation-and-mobility/youth-orientation-and-mobility/
- Participants have completed freshman year of high school/grade 9 through senior year of high school/grade 12.
Please contact our Client Services team at clientservices@leaderdog.org Or (888) 777-5332 if there are any questions.
Submitted By Erica Ihrke
Leader Dogs For The Blind Surveys:
We at Leader Dogs for the Blind want to hear from you. Your input helps us fulfill our mission to empower people who are blind or visually impaired with life long skills for safe and independent travel. Please take a few minutes to complete one of the surveys below. Your opinions will ensure our data stays relevant. Thank you for supporting Leader Dogs for the Blind. With your help, we can continue making people unstoppable.
