"Focus Talks"

"Focus" Talks

Learn whenever the time is right for you! “Focus” Talks is an on-demand webcast series on topics related to eye care, vision and vision loss. Presented by colleagues from across Massachusetts, we are so appreciative of everyone’s collaborative spirit and for the sharing of expertise, time and informational resources. Using the Zoom platform, with both captioning and deaf interpreting available for all sessions, “Focus” Talks vary in length from 25 minutes to 65 minutes and are always free. Featured “Focus” Talks will be highlighted monthly, and new topics and sessions uploaded when available. Be sure to visit often!

Attending is Easy as 1-2-3

Click the title for the “Focus” Talk you are interested to virtually attend.
After reviewing the information about the session, click "REGISTER to view this free session".
After registering, the "Focus" Talk of your choice will be available immediately. Please Note: The date you will see when registering for the "Focus" Talk is the date that the presentation was recorded. All "Focus" Talks are on demand.

Featured "Focus" Talks:
Sessions from the 16th annual "Focus" Conference

Individualized Approaches in Examination of Functional Vision and Vision Rehabilitation
- Presenter: Nicole C. Ross, OD, MSc, FAAO, Dip. AAO (LV), Associate Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry
- Length: 40 minutes
Beyond 20/20: Understanding the Nuances of Vision for Daily Living
- Presenter: Alexis G. Malkin, OD, FAAO Associate Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry
- Length: 50 minutes
When and When Not to Worry about Eye Pain
- Presenter: KC LaMattina, MD Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Medicine, Director of Pediatrics Service, Director of Uveitis Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Medical Center
- Length: 50 minutes
You Don’t Have to Have Vision to Have a Vision! Creating a Meaningful Vision while Incorporating Charting the Life Course Tools
- Presenters: Maureen O’Rourke King, Trainer, Department of Developmental Services, SE Region; Nancy Sharon, TVI, COMS, Director of Education and Community Services, The Carroll Center for the Blind; Lily McDonagh, M.Ed, Teacher of the Visually Impaired. The Carroll Center for the Blind
- Length: 54 minutes
Creative Arts for All Abilities and Interests
- Presenters: Malissa Kenney, Director of Outreach, Inclusion and CapeCodCAN
  Donna Rockwell, Art Director, Cotuit Center for the Arts
- Length: 22 minutes

Sessions By Category

Aging

DeafBlind

Environment

Eye Care/Visual Function

Post Session Support

At a Glance
Enjoy reading through these snapshots of available "Focus" Talks. For a full description and to register for each session, please click the corresponding title.

Aging

Dementia Friends
- Presenters: Beth Soltzberg, LICSW, MBA and Kathy Service, RN, MS, FNP-BC, CDDN
- Length: 69 minutes

DeafBlind

Communication and Conversations: Give Me A Reason!
- Presenters: Sharon Stelzer, M.Ed., Lead Teacher & Mary Zatta, Ph.D., Director of Professional Development Perkins School for the Blind
- Length: 44 minutes

Helen Keller National Center Intro to Inclusive Communication for Individuals Who Are Deafblind with Additional Disabilities
- Presenters:
  - Tara Brown-Ogilvie, M.S.Ed, COMS, VRT, New England Regional Representative (Serving MA, VT, RI, NH, CT, ME), Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults
  - Michael Richards, DeafBlind Immersion Experience (DBIE) Coordinator
    Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults
- Length: 50 minutes

Environment

Managing Light to Enhance Visual Functioning
- Presenter: Bob McGillivray, Certified Low Vision Therapist, Rehabilitation Engineer, Carroll Center for the Blind
- Length: 51 minutes
Modifying the Environment for People with Vision Loss
- Presenter: Darick Wright, O&M Coordinator, Vision Studies Program, School for Global Inclusion & Social Development, UMASS Boston
- Length: 25 minutes

Eye Care

CVI: Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment - An Introduction to CVI
- Presenter: Ali Mahady, M.S., Outreach and Engagement Manager, CVI Now, Perkins School for the Blind and CVI Parent
- Length: 25 minutes
Individualized Approaches in Examination of Functional Vision and Vision Rehabilitation
- Presenter: Nicole C. Ross, OD, MSc, FAAO, Dip. AAO (LV), Associate Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry
- Length: 40 minutes
Beyond 20/20: Understanding the Nuances of Vision for Daily Living
- Presenter: Alexis G. Malkin, OD, FAAO Associate Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry
- Length: 50 minutes
When and When Not to Worry about Eye Pain
- Presenter: KC LaMattina, MD Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Medicine, Director of Pediatrics Service, Director of Uveitis Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Medical Center
- Length: 50 minutes
Seasons of Life in Disability Eye Care
- Presenters: Greg Waldorf, OD, MPH, FAAO, Associate Dean for Clinical Programs, MCPHS School of Optometry and Dot Tolls, OD Center for Eye Care Southeastern Massachusetts, New England College of Optometry Developmental Disabilities Services, The Eye and Vision Center MCPHS School of Optometry
- Length: 61 minutes
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) and the Visual Behaviors of Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment
- Presenters: Lisa Miller, MS. Ed, TVI, COMS, CLVT, Perkins School for the Blind
  and Kristen Clark, M.Ed., COMS, Perkins School for the Blind
- Length: 53 minutes
Demystifying and EYE-Dentifying Visual Function and Behaviors
- Presenter: Jem Martin, OD, FAAO, New England College of Optometry
- Length: 52 minutes
Fifteen Years and Counting: Lessons Learned from a Successful Cataract Surgery Program for People with Intellectual Disability
- Presenter: Susannah Rowe, MD, MPH, FACS and Madhura Shah, BS, Medical Student
- Length: 32 minutes
"Implicit Bias” Toward Persons with Disabilities and Its Impact on Vision Care
- Presenter: Greg R. Waldorf, OD, MPH, FAAO, Associate Dean for Clinical Programs, MCPHS School of Optometry
- Length: 43 minutes
The Role of Binocular Vision on Learning, Development, and Activities of Daily Living
- Presenter: Sarah Williams, OD, FAAO, Assistant Professor of Specialty Care, New England College of Optometry, Attending Pediatric Optometrist, NECO Center for Eye Care
- Length: 41 minutes
Glasses: Considerations for People with Developmental Disabilities
- Presenter: Greg Waldorf, OD, MPH, FAAO, Associate Dean for Clinical Programs, MCPHS School of Optometry
- Length: 44 minutes

Self Determination

You Don’t Have to Have Vision to Have a Vision! Creating a Meaningful Vision while Incorporating Charting the Life Course Tools
- Presenters: Maureen O’Rourke King, Trainer, Department of Developmental Services, SE Region; Nancy Sharon, TVI, COMS, Director of Education and Community Services, The Carroll Center for the Blind; Lily McDonagh, M.Ed, Teacher of the Visually Impaired. The Carroll Center for the Blind
- Length: 54 minutes

Sensory

Creative Arts for All Abilities and Interests
- Presenters: Malissa Kenney, Director of Outreach, Inclusion and CapeCodCAN
  Donna Rockwell, Art Director, Cotuit Center for the Arts
- Length: 22 minutes
The Use of Props and Adaptive Materials in Music Therapy, Part 1
- Presenter: Mollie Caravello, MT
- Length: 36 minutes
The Use of Props and Adaptive Materials in Music Therapy, Part 2
- Presenter: Mollie Caravello, MT
- Length: 48 minutes
American Printing House for the Blind Tactile Book Building Kit Simplified
- Presenters: Georgia Wattendorf Guiney, M.Ed., COMS & Meaghan Famularo
- Length: 29 minutes

Technology and Access

Leveraging Mainstream Consumer Technology for Consumers with Visual Impairments
- Presenter: Alexander Pooler, MPA, Director of Assistive Technology and Consumer Database Information, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
- Length: 55 minutes
Intro to Assistive Technology Assessments
- Presenters: Kate Kutalak, M.Ed., TVI and HuyenTran Vo, M.Ed., TVI, COMS, CVRT, CATIS, Perkins School for the Blind (recorded at "Focus" Conference 2019)
- Length: 47 minutes
Talking Information Center
- Presenter: Anna Dunbar, Executive Director
- Length: 20 minutes

Wellness

Supporting Caregivers: Using Guided Imagery Focused on Relationships to Improve Mood
- Presenter: Felipe A. Jain, MD
- Length: 51 minutes
New Ways Caregivers Can Benefit from Guided Imagery: A Focus on Mentalizing, Mindfulness and Connectedness
- Presenter: Felipe A. Jain, MD, Director of Health Aging Studies, Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
- Length: 44 minutes
Friends Matter! One Friend Can Change Your Whole Life (from "Focus" Conference 2023)
- Presenters: Zach Rossetti- Associate Professor, Boston University, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
  Maureen O’Rourke King- Parent/Regional Trainer, Department of Developmental Services, Southeast Region
  Self-Advocates: Colleen Goff, Brenda Hunt, John Shimkus, Tricia Phillipe
- Length: 53 minutes
Friends Matter! One Friend Can Change Your Whole Life (2021)
- Presenters: Colleen Goff, Training Consultant; Maureen O'Rourke King, M.Ed., DDS SE Region Learning and Development; Luke Hutter Ross, Trainer; Zach Rosetti, Ph.D., Boston University, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
- Length: 59 minutes
You Are What You Eat
- Presenter: Marcia Richards, MEd, RD, MCHES
- Length: 20 minutes
Anatomy of a Food Label
- Presenter: Marcia Richards, MEd, RD, MCHES
- Length: 20 minutes
Building a Healthy Meal
- Presenter: Marcia Richards, MEd, RD, MCHES
- Length: 20 minutes
Let's Get Moving: Exercise Considerations During COVID
- Presenter: Matt LaCortiglia, M.Ed, CSCS, CIFT, Adapted Physical Education Teacher
  Deafblind Program, Perkins School for the Blind
- Length: 44 minutes

Connect with Us
If you have any questions or comments, ideas for topics not yet part of the “Focus” Talks series, and/or if you or someone you know would like offer a session, we’d love to hear from you! Please always feel free to reach out to [email protected]
Thank you!