National Geographic Recruiting Blind or VI Participants for Compensated Online Study

From the Carroll Center for the Blind:

National Geographic Learning, a leading creator of K-12 digital classroom materials, is looking for participants to help ensure their digital products can be enjoyed and accessed by all individuals!

National Geographic Learning is launching an accessibility usability study which will take place over Zoom with a National Geographic Learning representative. During the session participants will be guided through the National Geographic Learning platform to test the accessibility of various user tasks. There will be no pre- or post-work required for participation.

Participant requirements:

• At least 18 years old
• Visually impaired or blind (we are looking for participants who rely on some form of assistive technology when using a computer, such as a screen magnifier, screen reader or refreshable braille display)
• Steady WIFI connection
• A desktop computer/laptop (Windows or Mac) or a Chromebook
• Zoom access set up prior to joining the session
• Ability to share audio and video during the test

Participant’s computer screen and audio will be shared through Zoom. The Zoom call will also be recorded for note-taking and internal research purposes. Although the product to be tested is designed for teachers and students, you do not have to be a current teacher or student to participate in the study.

The session will last no longer than 60 minutes, and compensation will be a $100 gift card. The compensation is not dependent on what you say, but only that you participated.

Please fill out the National Geographic Learning Accessibility Study Survey to express your interest in participating in this usability study. If you are chosen for this study, you will be contacted via email by a representative from National Geographic Learning to set up a time for the usability test. Usability tests will be conducted the week of March 1st during business hours (between 10 A.M. and 5 P.M. EST). Thank you for considering this opportunity! For any questions, please contact Mary Schwab.

About the Carroll Center for the Blind

ESTABLISHED IN 1936, the renowned Carroll Center for the Blind has been serving those with vision impairment for over eight decades; we are known nationally as a premier Vision Rehabilitation Center. Located just outside of Boston on a sprawling campus in Newton, Massachusetts, we proudly serve ALL ages and ALL stages of vision loss.

With the ongoing promise of improving the lives of people with vision-related problems, The Carroll Center for the Blind has pioneered many innovative services allowing people who are blind or have low vision to learn the skills to be independent in their homes, in class settings, and in their work places. Our services include vision rehabilitation, vocational and transition programs, assistive technology training, educational support, and recreation opportunities for individuals who are visually impaired of all ages. For over 80 years, the expertise of Carroll Center staff has provided help for thousands of blind and visually impaired persons with diverse opportunities for success and independent living.

About the Louisiana Deafblind Project

The mission of the Louisiana Deafblind Project for Children & Youth is to provide technical assistance and information dissemination to Louisiana students with combined hearing and vision loss, their families, schools, service providers, school districts, and the Louisiana Department of Education.

Living with Usher Syndrome, Wednesday, March 3, 6 PM

From Natasha Aymami, South Central Regional Representative of the Helen Keller National Center:

Hello All!

I wanted to share an upcoming webinar presented by one of our Louisiana DeafBlind Collaboration Team state partners, Megan Wimberly, next March 3rd Wednesday at 6pm, ‘Living with Usher Syndrome. This workshop will be provided by Megan Wimberly of the Louisiana School for the deaf. She will be sharing information about supporting children with Usher Syndrome at home and at school. 

The information provided will cover an overview of Usher Syndrome, growing up as a person with Usher Syndrome, how to work with children that have it, and support their socioemotional development. This presentation is appropriate for families and educators that work with children withe Usher Syndrome from birth to adulthood. For more information about the Family Workshop Series and accommodations, please go to this webpage: 

Zoom Meeting ID: 959 7530 1279
Password: s6ytaQ

Please share this webinar with the community.

About the Louisiana School for the Deaf

The mission of Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD) is to maximize the whole person potential of each student. LSD is also committed to serve as an exemplary resource in the education of deaf and hard of hearing students by providing:

• ASL/English Bilingual-Bicultural services within a language-rich environment.
• Rigorous educational curriculum while maximizing vocational training and job earning potential within a variety of professions.
• Established programs to address the social, emotional, cultural, physical, and educational needs of every child within a safe environmen
• A culture of high academic expectations and opportunities for students to study with an educator; emphasizing instruction; teaching study skills, time management skills, and organizational skills.
• Support and training for students to develop a culture of self advocacy

About the Helen Keller National Center

Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1967, HKNC is the only organization of its kind—providing training and resources exclusively to people age 16 and over who have combined vision and hearing loss.

Students travel from across the country to our headquarters in Sands Point, New York, for on-campus training in assistive technology, vocational services, orientation and mobility, communication and independent living, and our regional offices bring HKNC resources to communities throughout the United States.

Our instructors are sensitive to the cultural differences between students with different levels of hearing and vision loss and varying educational backgrounds, providing individualized training and guidance to each student.

HKNC also is a leader in professional learning, “training the trainers” to work with the deaf-blind community.

HKNC is the national division of Helen Keller Services, which also includes Helen Keller Services for the Blind, a regional division serving the New York City/Long Island area.

About the Louisiana Deafblind Project

The mission of the Louisiana Deafblind Project for Children & Youth is to provide technical assistance and information dissemination to Louisiana students with combined hearing and vision loss, their families, schools, service providers, school districts, and the Louisiana Department of Education.

Southeast Deafblind Webinar Series, March-June 2021

The Southeast Deafbline Webinar Series has published its webinars for March-June 2021.

Deafblind International Communication Network Webinars

The webinar series is based on the series of booklets Communication and Congenital Deafblindness and aimed at family members of children and adults who were born with deafblindness or those with limited language (speech or sign) who wish to develop their own communication skills and the skills of their deafblind family member.

Each webinar will be interactive and will have a maximum of 30 participants. Registrations are essential.

FHF NOLA Seeks Job Coach

From Carole Berke, Vocational/Transitional Counselor at Families Helping Families NOLA:

FHF NOLA seeks a part-time (20 hours) 1099 employee to provide vocational/ transitional services to students participating in FHF’s Coding for Youth With Autism. This position involves assisting individuals in the acquisition of the skills necessary to obtain employment and independently maintain employment in the community in the Technology Field. This support is individual-based and centered around work-related goals that focus on helping the FHF coding students obtain the maximum level of independence within their job. Job Coaches provide the supports necessary to ensure success at future employment opportunities. Services will be provided at the FHF NOLA, at FHF’s educational partner Operation Spark, or in the community. Applicants should have a BA degree and at least one year of experience delivering supported employment services or direct care services either in classroom, place of employment, day care, medical, or residential settings. Once additional funding is obtained the position will become full time salaried employment. For further information send a resume and cover letter to Carole Berke, Development Officer, FHF NOLA. The email address is carole@caroleberkeassociates.com. Please put Vocational/Transitional Counselor in the subject line.

Survey of Secondary Writing Instruction

Dear teachers,

Are you curious about the current state of writing instruction in middle and high schools with deaf and hard of hearing students? We are, too!

If you are currently teaching writing or have taught writing to middle and high school students in the past, you are in an ideal position to give us valuable first-hand information about your experiences. We would love to hear from you! You are welcome to share this with your colleagues as well.

This survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

To show our appreciation, you may enter into a drawing to win a $20 Amazon gift card (20 available).

Sincerely,

Kimberly Wolbers, PhD, University of Tennessee kwolbers@utk.edu
865-974-2375

Hannah Dostal, PhD, University of Connecticut hannah.dostal@uconn.edu
865-292-4219

Leala Holcomb, PhD, University of Tennessee lholcom5@vols.utk.edu
415-307-6410

Be a part of the new way to Relay

From Hamilton Relay:

Louisiana Relay is excited to announce the launch of our desktop Real-Time Text Trial. We are looking for testers in Louisiana who meet the following criteria:

• Deaf or combined Deaf and Low Vision
• Have high-speed internet
• Willing to complete online surveys sharing your experience
• Willing to use the device for 90 days

This trial will test first-of-its-kind technology that brings Real-Time Text (RTT) capabilities to a digital desktop phone. RTT phones may be a replacement for TTY machines and an enhancement to Video Relay Service. RTT allows both parties to communicate with both voice and text at the same time which allows for a smoother, more real-time experience. 

We value feedback from the community, and it would be a great impact if you or someone you know tested this innovative phone!

What is Relay Service:

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) connects individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking with family, friends and businesses over the phone. With specialized telephone equipment, individuals can communicate with standard telephone users through the use of specially trained Communication Assistants who facilitate the calls.

About the Louisiana Deafblind Project

Does your child or student have vision and/or hearing loss? We can help! The Louisiana Deaf Blind Project can provide:

• Information on deafblindness including effective strategies to support children and youth with hearing and vision loss
• Family Support
• Webinars
• Training
• Technical assistance

Services are confidential and are provided at no cost to school districts, families, or service providers.

Family Learning and Fun Week 2021/Semana de aprendizaje y diversión familiar 2021

From/De la Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired:

Due to COVID restrictions, our Family Learning and Fun event will be virtual this year. It will include a week of sessions and family fun. Please register below for this exciting event to be held on March 8th-13th.

Debido a las restricciones de COVID, nuestro evento familiar de aprendizaje y diversión será virtual este año. Incluirá una semana de sesiones y diversión familiar. Regístrese a continuación para este emocionante evento que se llevará a cabo del 8 al 13 de marzo.

One Teacher’s Steps to Transforming Perceptions of Math Instruction

From LDA Magazine:

Jim Franklin is an inclusion special education teacher from Elm Street Elementary in Rome, GA. Jim presented a session at the LDA Annual Conference in Atlanta and submitted this article to share a resource with the LDA Community after reading LDA Today last summer.

Survey on Resources Needed for Transition Age Children & Students with Disabilities

Exceptional Lives is an independent not-for-profit organization that develops tools and materials to help Louisiana families find information and resources for their children with special needs or disabilities. They are asking for input specifically on needed tools and resources to assist with the challenges of transitioning children into and out of the school system, mostly for kids that are between the ages of 2-6 or 14-21. If you have a child with special needs who is close to one of these transitions, please complete the following survey: