The National Agenda for Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, Including those with Multiple D

1
The National Agenda for Children and Youths with
Visual Impairments, Including those with Multiple
Disabilities

• Anne L. Corn
• Vanderbilt University

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What is the National Agenda?

• Parents, professionals, and adults with visual
  impairments who have a passion for making
  education services for children with visual
  impairments and blindness better (numbers
  unknown)
• A journey with a destination but without a
  complete roadmap

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Background

• A satirical presentation
• An open letter to professionals and parents
• A topical meeting
• A steering committee formed
• Five committees write goals
• 19 goals are written

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Background

• Likelihood-impact analysis
• Data from 400 responses analyzed
• Eight goals are drafted
• Reviews by professionals, parents, and consumers
• National Agenda established
• National Goal Leaders

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Background

• Advisory board
• Endorsing organizations
• Publication of data
• Publication of the National Agenda booklet

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Eight Goals of the Agenda

• Goal 1 Early referral
• Goal 2 Parent participation
• Goal 3 Professional personnel
• Goal 4 Caseloads

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Eight Goals of the Agenda

• Goal 5 Array of services
• Goal 6 Assessment
• Goal 7 Access to instructional materials
• Goal 8 Expanded core curriculum

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Expanded Core Curriculum (Hatlen, 1996)

• Compensatory
• Orientation and mobility
• Social and interpersonal
• Independent living
• Career education
• Recreation/Leisure
• Technology
• Visual efficiency

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Basic Premises

• Change is measurable
• Empowerment of parents, professionals, adult
  consumers
• No ownership
• Parent-professional partnerships
• Flexibility at state and local levels
• For goal setting and activities

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Basic Premises

• National supports with state and local efforts
• Local and state efforts drive national directions
• The National Agenda is not the solution people
  are the solution

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Structure

• Steering committee
• Parent and professional leadership
• Ms. Donna Stryker, Parent, New Mexico
• Dr. Phil Hatlen, Supt. TX School for the Blind
• Advisory board
• National goal leaders (NGLs)
• State co-coordinators
• Endorsing organizations and school programs

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National Snapshot of Services

• National goal leaders gather data for their goals
• Report to the Nation is published
• States use national data to compare, contrast,
  set goals

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National, State, and Local Strategies

• A Call to Action
• National Web Site
• Video
• Pamphlets under development
• Parents
• Teachers
• Administrators

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States Efforts

• States Efforts
• Publications
• Web Sites
• Legislation (VA)

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Spin-off Projects (examples)

• National Plan for Training Personnel to Serve
  Children with Blindness and Low Vision (goal 3)

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Spin-off Projects (examples)

• Education Guidelines from the National
  Association of State Directors of Special
  Education

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Spin-off Projects (examples)

• American Foundation for the Blind Textbook and
  Instructional Materials Solutions Forum (goal 7)
• Research on the Expanded Core Curriculum for
  Students with Visual Impairments (goal 8)

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Uses of the National Agenda

• Vehicle to garner political support for change
• State planning
• Support for parents
• Organizer for communications, e.g., newsletters
  to parents (goal 8)
• Organizer for personnel preparation (goal 8)

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Benefits

• Functions as a change agent at the national level
• Facilitates parents and professionals forming
  partnerships
• Enhances communications among professionals

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Benefits

• Identifies assessments and a curriculum that all
  students with visual impairments should receive
• Helps administrators understand the roles and
  functions of the TVI, COMS
• Facilitates cross agency and cross-disciplinary
  communications

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Benefits

• Leadership opportunities
• Commitment of professionals and parents
• Empowers professionals and parents to make change
  (when state or government supports are not
  available)

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Challenges

• Politics within states
• States and organizations needing technical
  support
• Funding
• Communications and meetings
• Organizational status

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Challenges

• Autonomous efforts (in the name of)
• Insufficient data to track change
• Frustrations with how far we still need to go
• Accepting change that has occurred as
  accomplishments worthy of celebration

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Current Status

• Five-year re-assessment resulted in continuation
  of national goals
• New efforts to support states that are motivated
  but in need of mentorship
• American Foundation for the Blind has allocated a
  10-hour per week position to helping states
  achieve the goals

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Affirmation of Beliefs

• When
• there are early referrals
• parents are partners
• there are sufficient personnel
• there are appropriate case loads for
  professionals
• assessments are valid for the population

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Affirmation of Beliefs

• there is an array of placement options
• texts and instructional materials are in
  appropriate media and available at the same time
  as for sighted peers
• the Expanded Core Curriculum for Students with
  Visual Impairments is taught

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Affirmation of Beliefs

• Then
• children and youths with visual impairments,
  including those with multiple disabilities will
  receive an appropriate education in their least
  restrictive learning environment.

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National Planning

• Determine levels of satisfaction with current
  practices
• Acknowledge needs exist (if any)
• Volunteer Steering Committee
• Respected individuals
• Individuals without personal agendas
• Strengths and resources

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National Planning

• Consider barriers
• Communications
• A beginning plan
• Buy-in from individuals and groups
• Data
• Review and input from the field Time

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National Planning

• Commitment of several agencies to support effort
  (examples)
• American Foundation for the Blind
• National Goal Leader organizations
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Time
• Flexibility
• Patience

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Conclusion

• When education services are not what you want
  them to be
• believe you can make change
• Believe others want to join you in making change
• Believe you will arrive at your destination, even
  if you dont have the entire road map