Conference at a Glance
Seeing Beyond the Horizon
Seeing Beyond the Horizon
Download braille copies of the conference schedule (.brf or .dxb formats).
Download print copies of the conference schedule (.pdf and accessible .doc formats).
See Topics and Presenters section for Concurrent Session Topics
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Preconference Workshop- Technical Materials in UEB
Eileen Curran, Carroll Center for the Blind, Boston, MA
9:00-12:00 Session 1: Preparing Math Materials in UEB
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-4:00 Session 2: Preparing UEB for Print Readers
Download print copies of the conference schedule (.pdf and accessible .doc formats).
See Topics and Presenters section for Concurrent Session Topics
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Preconference Workshop- Technical Materials in UEB
Eileen Curran, Carroll Center for the Blind, Boston, MA
9:00-12:00 Session 1: Preparing Math Materials in UEB
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-4:00 Session 2: Preparing UEB for Print Readers
Thursday, May 5, 2016
9:00-10:30 Opening Keynote Presentation (Minoru Ballroom)
Special Education and Inclusion: A False Dichotomy?
Dr. Pat Mirenda, Professor, University of British Columbia
Practices related to inclusive education are now documented in over 30 years of research and other publications. Over this period of time, there has been considerable debate about the appropriateness of inclusion for students who are blind or visually impaired. This keynote will describe the use of processes and practices derived from Universal Design for Learning that can help to resolve this debate and insure that inclusive education is also special education for these students.
9:30-4:30 Vendor Exhibits Open (Minoru A)
10:45-11:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
12:00-1:30 Lunch/Visit Exhibits
1:30-2:30 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
2:30-2:45 Break/Transition
2:45-3:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
3:45-4:00 Break/Transition
4:00-5:00 General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
National Efforts in Blindness and Visual Impairment: Moving Canada Forward in Accessibility and Education
David Lepofsky, Co-Chair of Barrier Free Canada
Kim Zebehazy and Adam Wilton, Canadian Standards Update Committee
This panel presentation will share highlights of some national efforts currently being under taken to improve or promote effective services and better accessibility for individuals with visual impairment. The panel will include information about the updated Canadian National Standards for the Education of Children and Youth who are Blind and Visually Impaired and the principles of Barrier Free Canada and how the effort will support individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
9:00-10:30 Opening Keynote Presentation (Minoru Ballroom)
Special Education and Inclusion: A False Dichotomy?
Dr. Pat Mirenda, Professor, University of British Columbia
Practices related to inclusive education are now documented in over 30 years of research and other publications. Over this period of time, there has been considerable debate about the appropriateness of inclusion for students who are blind or visually impaired. This keynote will describe the use of processes and practices derived from Universal Design for Learning that can help to resolve this debate and insure that inclusive education is also special education for these students.
9:30-4:30 Vendor Exhibits Open (Minoru A)
10:45-11:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
12:00-1:30 Lunch/Visit Exhibits
1:30-2:30 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
2:30-2:45 Break/Transition
2:45-3:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
3:45-4:00 Break/Transition
4:00-5:00 General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
National Efforts in Blindness and Visual Impairment: Moving Canada Forward in Accessibility and Education
David Lepofsky, Co-Chair of Barrier Free Canada
Kim Zebehazy and Adam Wilton, Canadian Standards Update Committee
This panel presentation will share highlights of some national efforts currently being under taken to improve or promote effective services and better accessibility for individuals with visual impairment. The panel will include information about the updated Canadian National Standards for the Education of Children and Youth who are Blind and Visually Impaired and the principles of Barrier Free Canada and how the effort will support individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Friday, May 6, 2016
8:30-9:30am General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
CNIB's Path to Change
John Rafferty, CEO and President of CNIB, ON
The Path to Change is CNIB’s bold new strategic plan governing the organization’s work from 2014 to its centenary year in 2018. This presentation will delve into the plan’s two main goals which are to integrate post-vision loss rehabilitation therapy into the continuum of care and redefine CNIB as a brand that is relevant and meaningful to all Canadians.
9:30-4:30 Vendor Exhibits Open (Minoru A)
9:30-9:45 Break/Transition
9:45-10:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
10:45-11:00 Break/Transition
11:00-12:00 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
12:00-1:15 Lunch/Networking (BCVTA Meeting in Minoru B)
1:15-2:15 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
2:15-2:30 Break Transition
2:30-3:30 General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
Expanding the Core Curriculum for Preschoolers: Partnerships in Service Delivery
Dr. Kitty Greeley, New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Early Childhood Program
This session will highlight successful service delivery models for early intervention and the importance of incorporating support for the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for young children. The success of partnerships between families and service providers (including teachers of students with visual impairments) will be discussed.
4:00-5:15 Visit Posters and Exhibits (Minoru B)
7:00-9:00 Banquet
8:30-9:30am General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
CNIB's Path to Change
John Rafferty, CEO and President of CNIB, ON
The Path to Change is CNIB’s bold new strategic plan governing the organization’s work from 2014 to its centenary year in 2018. This presentation will delve into the plan’s two main goals which are to integrate post-vision loss rehabilitation therapy into the continuum of care and redefine CNIB as a brand that is relevant and meaningful to all Canadians.
9:30-4:30 Vendor Exhibits Open (Minoru A)
9:30-9:45 Break/Transition
9:45-10:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
10:45-11:00 Break/Transition
11:00-12:00 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
12:00-1:15 Lunch/Networking (BCVTA Meeting in Minoru B)
1:15-2:15 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
2:15-2:30 Break Transition
2:30-3:30 General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
Expanding the Core Curriculum for Preschoolers: Partnerships in Service Delivery
Dr. Kitty Greeley, New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Early Childhood Program
This session will highlight successful service delivery models for early intervention and the importance of incorporating support for the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for young children. The success of partnerships between families and service providers (including teachers of students with visual impairments) will be discussed.
4:00-5:15 Visit Posters and Exhibits (Minoru B)
7:00-9:00 Banquet
Saturday, May 7, 2016
8:30-9:30 General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
An Unorthodox Look at How Blind Kids Learn- or- Why is a Blind Child Like a Passenger Sitting Midflight on an Airplane Flying Over the Ocean?
David Lepofsky, Chair of TDSB Special Education Advisory Committee
This presentation will offer novel strategies for teaching children with vision loss. These will draw on the experience of a person who grew up with limited partial vision, becoming totally blind partway through law school. David Lepofsky has taught his strategies to parents of children with vision loss. He is a disability rights advocate, retired Ontario Government lawyer, and chair of the Toronto District School Board's Special Education Advisory Committee.
9:30-9:45 Break/Transition
9:45-11:45 The Development of Physical Literacy in a Peer Group Setting (Location: TBD)
Mike Lonergan, BC Blind Sports, BC
Christina Duncan, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, BC
Shawn Marsolais, Blind Beginnings, BC
Conference attendees are invited to come observe (any portion of time during the 2-hour session) and try a number of adapted activities as a group of blind, deaf/blind or partially sighted youth are led through a two-hour session of activities designed to promote physical literacy. Participants will include siblings.
9:45-10:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
10:45-11:00 Break/Transition
11:00-12:00 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
12:00-1:30 Lunch/Networking
1:30-3:00 Closing General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
Using the I-M-ABLE Program to support literacy development for students with visual impairments and additional disabilities
Diane Wormsley, Retired Professor and Education Consultant to the American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Students with multiple disabilities are often denied instruction in reading and writing because of low expectations and lack of curriculum appropriate for their needs. This session will describe the I-M-ABLE program which focuses specifically on the learning needs of this population and provides suggestions for educational teams on using individual interests and motivations to encourage development of reading and writing.
3:00-4:15 Braille Literacy Canada AGM (Steveston B)
8:30-9:30 General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
An Unorthodox Look at How Blind Kids Learn- or- Why is a Blind Child Like a Passenger Sitting Midflight on an Airplane Flying Over the Ocean?
David Lepofsky, Chair of TDSB Special Education Advisory Committee
This presentation will offer novel strategies for teaching children with vision loss. These will draw on the experience of a person who grew up with limited partial vision, becoming totally blind partway through law school. David Lepofsky has taught his strategies to parents of children with vision loss. He is a disability rights advocate, retired Ontario Government lawyer, and chair of the Toronto District School Board's Special Education Advisory Committee.
9:30-9:45 Break/Transition
9:45-11:45 The Development of Physical Literacy in a Peer Group Setting (Location: TBD)
Mike Lonergan, BC Blind Sports, BC
Christina Duncan, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, BC
Shawn Marsolais, Blind Beginnings, BC
Conference attendees are invited to come observe (any portion of time during the 2-hour session) and try a number of adapted activities as a group of blind, deaf/blind or partially sighted youth are led through a two-hour session of activities designed to promote physical literacy. Participants will include siblings.
9:45-10:45 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
10:45-11:00 Break/Transition
11:00-12:00 Concurrent Sessions (Minoru B-D, Steveston B-D)
12:00-1:30 Lunch/Networking
1:30-3:00 Closing General Session (Minoru Ballroom)
Using the I-M-ABLE Program to support literacy development for students with visual impairments and additional disabilities
Diane Wormsley, Retired Professor and Education Consultant to the American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Students with multiple disabilities are often denied instruction in reading and writing because of low expectations and lack of curriculum appropriate for their needs. This session will describe the I-M-ABLE program which focuses specifically on the learning needs of this population and provides suggestions for educational teams on using individual interests and motivations to encourage development of reading and writing.
3:00-4:15 Braille Literacy Canada AGM (Steveston B)